City Gone Askew
Matt Cost
302 pages
Encircle Publications
published July 31, 2024
A PI named 8 in Brooklyn in the Jazz age. This is book two in the series and one of the fun things I liked, that continued from the first book, was all the references to people of that era. The subject this time around is a little tougher as it discusses how Hitler’s ideology could have (maybe did) wreak a little havoc in NY. It saddens me to think it happened at all let alone more widespread than central Europe.
This series gives me the movie noir feel. I can see this play out in my mind like an old time movie. It just does a great job of capturing the time and the feel. The events from music to sports have an authentic feel.
I like 8. He’s a good guy, trying to do some good things and help out those around him. He has a great cast of supporting characters. The package fits together well.
The suspense builds from 8 starting the case until the end when things climax on the corrupt streets of NY. It almost starts out a little cozy like but definitely takes a dark turn as 8 dodgedly works to solve the case.
While I mentioned this is book two, this can easily be read as a stand alone.
If you like a rag tag group of characters fighting injustice, you should take a step back in time and read this one.
About the book
Award-winning author Matt Cost brings us back to Brooklyn in the Roaring ’20s and Hungarian private eye, 8 Ballo, who is hired by Theda Lazar Vogel to prove that her husband was murdered. His colorful cast of friends returns, as well as legendary figures such as Dorothy Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Bugsy Siegel, and Lucky Luciano.
8 discovers that a priceless Aquila—an ancient eagle Roman standard carried into battle 2,000 years ago—was stolen from Karl Vogel when he was killed. This provides ties to a secret German organization known as the Batavi. But Vogel was also involved in the eugenics movement centered in Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island, as well as being involved with the Ku Klux Klan.
As 8 peels back layers of the underbelly of 1920s Brooklyn, the more complicated and dangerous it becomes for him and those who are important to him. What is happening at Cold Spring Harbor with Herman Wall and the eugenics movement? Who are the mysterious Germans threatening 8? And what is the identity of the charismatic Grand Cyclops? 8 must race against time to uncover the truth and put a stop to the most chilling triumvirate ever conceived.
Leave a Reply