Guy Bolton (1)

Historically based fiction is always a little tricky. Where do the history end and the fiction begin? Do the historical figure enhance the story or distract? These were the questions on my mind when I began the Syndicate, a historical fiction rooted in the murder of Mobster Bugsy Siegle.

This is one that works. The story is tight from the beginning with history and fiction entwining seamlessly. The characters are all fleshed out and not just ghosts from the past. I don't know that fun is the show more right word for a book this brutal, these are violent people in a violent time, but it does seem to fit.

Bob Craine is a former fixer for the motion picture industry in Los Angeles. A decade ago tragedy struck him and as a result, he retreated to a farm in northern California with his son to isolate from the world.

Unfortunately for him when mobster Bugsy Siegel is murdered, Meyer Kanksey the purported head of the New York mafia decides he's the guy to solve the mystery. Meyer uses Craines son as leverage to motivate him to take up the charge. The next 5 days are a descent into madness for Craine. Will he solve the crime and save his son? Will they both get out of this alive? Read and find out.

This is a good one, not quite perfect but as close as I've seen of late. Do yourself a favor and check it out. show less

This was an excellent debut by Guy Bolton as he captured Los Angeles, 1939 and the Golden Age of Hollywood Motion Pictures. Jonathan Craine is an LAPD detective who has helped cover up crimes committed by the movie stars by closing cases quickly before their names can appear in the newspapers. When a producer of The Wizard of Oz is found dead from a suspicious suicide and there is another murder of a prostitute across town, Detectives O'Neill and Craine question if there is a connection to show more these murders. When a conspiracy involving blackmail, prostitution, drugs and a Chicago crime syndicate is unraveled, many lives are endangered until the mystery is solved.
I found this book to be very well-written and researched. Bolton had a great sense of place and time and the plot was fast-paced with twists and turns that kept the story interesting. I enjoyed the characters of Craine and O'Neill and thought that they made a great team. I loved reading about the movie stars and their debuts and parties they attended. I look forward to reading more from Guy Bolton in the future. I would highly recommend this book to those who love noir thrillers. show less

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

I have not read Bolton's earlier book, "The Pictures", but was quite satisfied with his second outing. This is a really fast paced book, chock full of memorable fictitious characters and real-life personalities from 1940's America. Bolton has melded them together seamlessly and the depictions are quite believable. There are no characters who are either black or white, each one is some sort of gray and all are flawed in some fashion, show more especially the protagonist, Jonathan Craine. Bolton has woven a tapestry from several walks of life, the LAPD, the FBI, organized crime,newspapers and Hollywood moguls, leading men and ladies, all of whom seem to have been dinged a bit by what life has presented them, none more than Craine who is forced by circumstances to rise above his past and his preferred nature, in order to save his own life and that of his only son. He doggedly pursues his quest with a knack for straining the truth from the flood of lies, plots and deceptions, while the clock ticks relentlessly. Bolton proves to be up to the task of having a sense for the period, and one almost forgets that he is, in fact, British, not American. There are half a dozen words sprinkled in that Americans typically do not use in speaking or writing, but kudos to Bolton for having created a authentic and entertaining tale. Well worth the read!***** 5 stars show less

This was a surprising book. It took me a long time to read, mostly because of things happening in my life. But I also didn't like how it started, not because of the writing or anything, but because Detective Craine is a police officer who abuses his power for the powerful. One of my biggest pet peeves.

So as we get to know Craine, we see he is very flawed but as the story goes on I quit hating him and start to feel sorry for him, and by the end I was rooting for him. This is what I found show more surprising. It was a good story and it took me a little bit to get into it, but I am very glad I made it through. It was worth it. show less