Button Man

By: Andrew Gross

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Following up The One Man and The Saboteur, Andrew Gross's next historical thriller audiobook brings to life the dramatic birth of organized crime in 1930s New York City from the tale of one family.

After a string of New York Times best-selling suburban thrillers, Andrew Gross has reinvented himself as a writer of historical thrillers. In his latest audiobook, Button Man, he delivers a stirring story of a Jewish family brought together in the dawn of the women's garment business and torn apart by the birth of organized crime in New York City in the 1930s.

Morris, Sol, and Harry Rabishevsky grew up poor and rough in a tiny flat on the Lower East Side, until the death of their father thrust them into having to fend for themselves and support their large family. Morris, the youngest, dropped out of school at 12 years old and apprenticed himself to a garment cutter in a clothing factory; Sol headed to accounting school; but Harry, scarred by a family tragedy, fell in with a gang of thugs as a teenager. Morris steadily climbs through the ranks at the factory until at 21 he finally goes out on his own, convincing Sol to come work with him. But Harry can't be lured away from the glamour, the power, and the money that come from his association with Louis Buchalter, whom Morris has battled with since his youth and who has risen to become the most ruthless mobster in New York. And when Buchalter sets his sights on the unions that staff the garment makers' factories, a fatal showdown is inevitable, pitting brother against brother.

This new audiobook is equal parts historical thriller, rich with the detail of a vibrant New York City in the 1920s and 1930s, and family saga, based on Andrew Gross's own family story and on the history of the era, complete with appearances by real-life characters like mobsters Louis Lepke and Dutch Schultz and special prosecutor Thomas Dewey, and cements Gross's reputation as today's most atmospheric and original historical thriller writer.

©2018 Andrew Gross (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"As usual, narrator Edoardo Ballerini's narration is eminently listenable...He captures the rich details of the era while engaging listeners with the story's relatable family dynamics." (AudioFile Magazine)

Surprise Find

What a great find. I cannot wait to find more books from this author and hope that they will have the same reader or one of the same quality. Audible should definitely his books

New to audiobooks and this will keep me going

Really loved the narrator’s voice and different characters. The story was really great. Made me feel all of the emotions.

Button Man.

Loved it. I really couldn't put it down. Powerful. Meaningful. Showed strength, courage and conviction. Highly recommend. Narrator was excellent.

Great story!

Despite a slow start, this was a great story. I could not stop listening. The narrator was very good and the story from almost start to finish was excellent.

Growing Up NYC

All the fast paced action of growing up in early 1900's NYC. REFRESHING in seeing that All People Struggle - BUT - those who struggle doing as much right & honest as possible usually do live to tell a Grand Tale.

Worth listening to!

I fully enjoyed listening to this story. All characters came to life through the narrator. This was my first time listening to an audiobook and I can’t wait for my next one!

Fast trip Back in time.

This was not so much action or mystery, or adventure. It is just a superbly told story of rags to riches, good choices versus bad from New York City in the 1930's. This novel conjures all of the Bowery Boys, Public Enemy and White Heat movies with Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney. It is just a great story that sort of sucks you in and makes you listen in black and white. I loved it.

Decent story

Am normally a great fan of Ballerini’s readings, but this time find he actually brought the story down.

Ten stars for Edoardo Ballerini!

I bought this book because I am a huge fan of Edoardo Ballerini. He is a master at voices and accents. Each character sounds different. He even nails women's voices. I can visualize the emotions on the face of each character. He gives life to each book he reads. But that said, I really enjoyed Button Man for the story and plot itself. Very well written.

FABULOUS! I didn't want it to end!!

I loved everything about this book. I loved the plot, the time-period, the characters, and I really loved the narration.
In my experience, it is difficult to find an audiobook where the narrator's character/accent changes don't interrupt your immersion in the story, but I did not have that issue here! Edoardo Ballerini's performance was wonderful!

I couldn't get enough of this story! I got through it within a few days and didn't want it to end. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of the tv series Boardwalk Empire or The Sopranos; fans of the podcast "Mafia" (if you've never listened - check it out!!); or anyone generally interested in mob history or NYC during the 1930's. It's a beautiful story with compelling characters. I was rooting for Morris to succeed the whole time!

Thank you, Andrew Gross, for such a fantastic novel!