Praise for Gangster Nation Named 1 of 6 Crime Must-Reads This September by LitHub "The sequel conducts extended discussions on how America is defined by crime, boldly linking gangland violence to the 9/11 attacks . Sal/David''s mixing of Talmudic citations with Bruce Springsteen lyrics is still very funny. The sacred gets the stuffing kicked out of it by the profane in this wild and sometimes-shocking novel." -- Kirkus Reviews "Goldberg''s new novel is every bit as entertaining and at least as quirky as its predecessor--not an out-and-out comedy but certainly lighter than most books featuring organized crime figures and crazed law enforcers (although there are moments of memorable darkness). The book can be read as an installment in a series or as a stand-alone; Goldberg provides enough background to allow newbies to pick up the important plot threads." -- Booklist "One can''t help but think of such greats as Mario Puzo, Jimmy Breslin, Elmore Leonard, and Donald E. Westlake while reading this witty, brutal, vital book. Goldberg is a master, expertly building upon the grim goings-on of Gangsterland , merrily pursuing plot points set up there to their logical, wicked ends.
And, as if the impressive buildup of tension weren''t sufficient, he ends the current installment on a cliff hanger of truly epic proportions, setting up what appears to be the forthcoming and final installment of the Gangster trilogy. This reviewer is already getting itchy, waiting for that welcome denouement." -- Mystery Scene Magazine "Not only religion but family (what is the mafia if not a family?) and community are dissected in Goldberg''s sharp satires, which also happen to be excellent crime novels." --LitHub, 1 of 6 Crime Must-Reads This September "[A] fast-paced, addicting novel." -- San Diego City Beat "Fans of Elmore Leonard will quickly devour Tod Goldberg''s latest novel, Gangster Nation . This worthy follow-up sees Goldberg fine-tune his signature mix of dark humor, violent crime, Talmudic wisdom and suburban satire." -- Orange Coast Magazine "Written with humor and the same type of dark, up-close-and-personal style of dialogue that Don Winslow is known for, Goldberg also mixes in some eyebrow-raising historical facts about how criminals (of all types, but especially gangsters) have shaped and changed America throughout the country''s history. A touch better than its predecessor ( Gangsterland ), Goldberg''s latest novel is a bold and daring adventure that hits hard early on and never lets up.
The story twists and turns its way to a surprising ending, setting things up nicely for the planned third and final book in the Sal Cupertine trilogy, The Death of a Gangster." -- The Real Book Spy "Sal Cupertine is back--and better than ever. I love this guy." --Lee Child " Gangster Nation is a razor. It will slice you open and reveal your insides. And like the best of Tod Goldberg''s work, it''ll show you everything you are at your core." --Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author of The President''s Shadow "Tod Goldberg''s brilliant Gangster Nation is hilarious, complex, and a total page-turner. It''s also a little insane, in the best possible way.
" --Lisa Lutz, New York Times bestselling author of The Passenger Gangsterland was compelling in every way, and in Gangster Nation , its sequel, Tod Goldberg has written an enthralling portrait of consequences--emotional, physical, moral, you name it. Amid all the expertly choreographed violence and intrigue is a moving, thought-provoking story about the fluid nature of identity, spirituality, and love. I enjoyed every page." --Vu Tran, author of Dragonfish " Gangster Nation punches even harder than the excellent Gangsterland did: against the backdrop of 9/11, everybody''s roughed up and bleeding, and nobody''s hiding it well. Tod Goldberg''s weird world is getting The Sopranos -good, and The Sopranos -funny: he can hit you high, low, or straight in the gut. Meshugener wiseguys. It''ll make you a better killer--and a better rabbi." --Bill Beverly, author of Dodgers "Rabbi David Cohen has some problems.
His face is caving in due to bad jaw surgery. He hasn''t spoken to his wife or son in years. Also, he killed someone he shouldn''t have. I should really mention that he''s not a normal rabbi. He''s a hit man in disguise. Still, he''s good at what he does. He knows how to guide preteens to Bar Mitzvah manhood, counsel troubled members of his congregation, and shut down Kabbalah frauds--and maybe shake them down while he''s at it. Sound like the best premise for a novel you''ve ever heard of? Well, it is.
Gangster Nation is a delight. A mitzvah, even. The plot''s got every twist and turn you could want, the jokes are Woody Allen good, and the writing (if you can slow yourself down to admire it) is beautiful. I couldn''t recommend this book more." --Lily Meyer, events manager, Politics & Prose Praise for Gangsterland "Complex characters with understandable motivations distinguish this highly unusual crime novel.Goldberg injects Talmudic wisdom and a hint of Springsteen into the workings of organized crime and FBI investigative techniques and makes it all work splendidly." -- Publishers Weekly , Starred Review "Sal''s transformation--and intermittent edification--into Rabbi Cohen is brilliantly rendered, and Goldberg''s careening plot, cast of memorably dubious characters, and mordant portrait of Las Vegas make this one of the year''s best hard-boiled crime novels." -- Booklist , Starred Review "Clearly influenced by the great Elmore Leonard, Goldberg puts his own dry comic spin on the material.
Clever plotting, a colorful cast of characters, and priceless situations make this comedic crime novel an instant classic." -- Kirkus , Starred Review "In his plotting, dialogue, and empathy for the bad guys, Goldberg aspires to the heights of Elmore Leonard. For those who miss the master, Gangsterland is a high-grade substitute." -- New York Times "For many of us, The Godfather , book or movie, ushered us into a second boyhood, teaching that the incorrigible vitality of a first-rate gangster story could temporarily inoculate us against adult sanity. For readers of a like mind, Tod Goldberg''s Gangsterland will arrive as a gloriously original Mafia novel: 100 percent unhinged about the professionally unhinged.torridly funny.the novel swells with a spiritual but jazzy tone."-- New York Times Book Review "As sharp as a straight razor.
But a lot more fun. Count me a huge fan." --Lee Child, New York Times bestselling author of Personal: A Jack Reacher Novel " Gangsterland is rich with complex and meaty characters, but its greatest strength is that it never pulls a punch, never holds back, and never apologizes for life''s absurdities. If this novel were a person, you could ask it for a bookie." --Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The Fifth Assassin "Tod Goldberg is a one-of-a-kind writer, and this is his best novel to date. Harrowing, funny, wise, and heretical, Gangsterland is everything a thriller should be." --T. Jefferson Parker, author of Full Measure "Tod Goldberg has long been one of the most interesting writers around, and Gangsterland is his biggest and best book so far.
" --Thomas Perry "With his eye for human detail and trademark wit, as dry as a desert breeze, Tod Goldberg charts Sal Cupertine''s unlikely transition from stone-cold mob hitman to Las Vegas rabbi. This tale of witness relocation-by-mob--part Elmore Leonard, part Theatre of the Absurd--is a compelling examination of salvation, which comes in various guises and moves in elusive ways. A wholly unique tale from a wholly unique voice." --Gregg Hurwitz, New York Times bestselling author of Don''t Look Back "Infinitely readable, infinitely funny, and infinitely better than anything else you''ll read this year!" --Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Mysteries and the basis for A&E''s hit series Longmire "Just when you thought the mafia novel was dead, Tod Goldberg breathes new life into it. Gangsterland , the best mafia novel in years, is a dark, funny, and smart page-turning crime story. It''s also a moving, thoughtful meditation on ethics, religion, family, and a culture that eats itself. I loved this book." --Sara Gran, author of Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway " Gangsterland is Tod Goldberg at the height of his hilarious and incisive and hell-bent powers as a writer of who we are and what we thought we wanted and how we tried to stay alive in America--if we were insanely funny and contemplative hit men.
No one does Vegas, the desert, money, and mayhem like Goldberg. I stayed up six nights in a row reading, unable to put this book down because I couldn''t wait to see how he''d play each card." --Susan Straight, author of Between Heaven and Here "Let''s get this part out of the way: Gangsterland is a thriller and provides a crackling good read for any fan of the genre. But the truth is, to call this book merely a thriller is inaccurate. It''s also a whip-smart comedy, a sublime morality play, and a gleefully blasphemous investigation of what and why we worship. There''s something for everyone here. Just make sure you set aside a good chunk of time, because once you start reading you won''t want to stop." --Ron.