Strange Fugitive

North America's first gangster novel—originally published in 1928, now public domain in the US—this page-turning thriller features characters both charming and terrifying. Set in Toronto during the era of speakeasies and underworld vendettas, the tale centers on Harry Trotter, an amoral figure who loses his job and his wife in quick succession. He soon evolves from a bootlegger into a reputable gangster, doing as he pleases and strong-arming anyone who stands in his way. Reviving the narrative that set the literary stage for the hard-boiled crime genre, this is a seething noir tale of crime, murder, betrayal, and knuckle-bruising politics.