World Gone By
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4.5 • 44 Ratings
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
'The best gangster novel since The Godfather' Stephen King
Joe Coughlin is untouchable. Once one of America's most feared and prominent gangsters, he now moves effortlessly between the social elite, politicians, police and the mob. He has everything he could possibly want; money, power, a beautiful mistress, and anonymity.
But in a town that runs on corruption, vengeance and greed, success can't protect Joe from the dark truth of his past -- and ultimately, the wages of a lifetime of sin will finally be paid in full . . .
Chilling, heart-breaking and gripping, this is the most complex and powerful novel to date from Dennis Lehane, writer on The Wire and author of modern classics such as Shutter Island, Gone, Baby, Gone and The Given Day.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
If you're not already a Dennis Lehane fan, this novel will change that. We were hooked from the first scene: a glamorous and ominous gala hosted by notorious Florida gangster Joe Coughlin. Lehane’s shadowy characters are unusually interesting; as his story flits from Tampa to Cuba and between decades, we breathlessly await their fate. Crackling with tension and the threat of violence, World Gone By hits you with the force of a cinematic thriller. That’s no surprise given that Lehane—who has written for TV’s The Wire and Boardwalk Empire—is the author behind Mystic River, Shutter Island and The Drop.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Edgar-winner Lehane wraps up the Joe Coughlin saga that began with The Given Day (2008) and Live by Night (2012) in fine fashion. By 1942, Irish-American gangster Joe Coughlin is almost untouchable. In his own mind, he's an irreplaceable asset not only to Dion Bartolo, the head of the Bartolo crime family, but to Mafia bosses such as Meyer Lansky, Lucky Luciano, and Frank Costello. So Joe is shocked when convicted killer Theresa Del Frisco tells him that there's a contract out for him. Life in the mob is cutthroat and treacherous, and while Joe worries about a possible hit, other matters intrude as fights over territory turn bloody and fears of a snitch create suspicions. Coughlin is a marvelous creation, loyal to his friends and fiercely protective of his nine-year-old son, Tomas. The code he operates under allows him to navigate a path between brutality and charity, a shark among sharks. Lehane's many fans will relish this stunning conclusion to Joe Coughlin's journey.
Customer Reviews
Old Florida
A very bad man who is the hero. You want him to be good, but he has a very black heart. A bit like Don Corleone but in Florida not Brooklyn.
Disappointed
After the reviews I was very disappointed.