Gangster Nation

The Gangsterland Series, Book 2

By: Tod Goldberg

Narrated by: Johnny Heller

It's been two years since the events of Gangsterland, when legendary Chicago hit man Sal Cupertine disappeared into the guise of Vegas rabbi David Cohen. It's September 2001, and for David everything is coming up gold: temple membership is on the rise, the new private school is raking it in, and the mortuary and cemetery - where Cohen has been laundering bodies for the mob - is minting cash. But Sal wants out. He's got money stashed in safe-deposit boxes all over the city. He's looking at places to escape to - Mexico or maybe Argentina. He only needs to make it through the high holidays, and he'll have enough money to slip away, grab his wife and kid, and start fresh.

Across the country, former FBI agent Matthew Drew is now running security for an Indian casino outside Milwaukee, spending his off-time stalking members of the Family, looking for vengeance for the murder of his former partner. So when Sal's cousin stumbles into the casino one night, Matthew takes the law into his own hands - again - touching off a series of events that will have Rabbi Cohen running for his life, trapped in Las Vegas, with the law, society, and the post-9/11 world closing in around him.

Gangster Nation is a thrilling follow-up to Gangsterland, an unexpected examination of the seedy foundations of American life. With the wit and gritty glamour that defines his writing, Goldberg traces how the things we most value in our lives - home, health, even our spiritual lives - have been built on the enterprises of criminals.

©2017 Tod Goldberg (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Excellent listen

Great 2nd book to the series. As always Johnny Heller CRUSHED IT! Best narrator in the biz bar none!! Great ending and close to the story.

Gangster Nation

I found the story thrilling!!! As usual my favorite narrator was perfect in bringing the characters alive.

Gripping Story

What made the experience of listening to Gangster Nation the most enjoyable?

What kind of writer gets me to feel empathy for a mobster hit man? A good one. Is the whole story line believable? Maybe not, but it's a fun story anyway. One reason we care about Sal/David is the way he is so in love with his wife that he doesn't stray to other women--even after three years. It would be so easy to rationalize that, and Goldberg makes it feel real.

The other POV characters are equally interesting and emotionally charged. Goldberg makes some painful choices in this story--surprising ones that had me literally gasping out loud. I won't put any spoilers in this review, but it should be no surprise that not everyone in a book titled Gangster Nation makes it out alive and unharmed.

What other book might you compare Gangster Nation to and why?

Probably Gangsterland...they are two books in the same series.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At the end, I wanted to hit Tod, just a little bit. But that's the way I always feel when I come to the end of a fully entertaining story. "Nooooo....I WANT MORE!"

Any additional comments?

My ONLY peeve is that the narrator doesn't know how to say Nevada correctly. Even Sal would get it after living there for three years. :P

Decent second album

Good extension of the saga but the 9-11 subplot is a distraction from the main storyline.

Narrator continues to deliver a well crafted read which is keenly focused on the nuances of story and character.

Loved it.

Hopefully a sequel will get released soon. I am anxious to see what the future holds

Can't wait for the next one such a good book.

Loved this book and the series. The story is good and the reader is good as well. Couldn't stop listening.

Great story, wonderful narration

I enjoyed this continuation of the first book. All the way until the end, which was too abrupt and left too many loose threads dangling, even for a cliffhanger.

Good “Read!”

I selected this series simply because of Johnny Heller - but quickly got interested in the story line itself. Hope to see a sequel soon!

Great story!

Awesome pacing, really interesting characters and a great finish. Author Tod Goldberg totally hits the mark.

Great storytelling

fantastic storytelling a book kept me involved the whole entire time I can't wait for part three to find out what happens what a cliffhanger wow