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THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS
by Robert Glinski
Minotaur Books, March 2015
272 pages
$25.99
ISBN: 1250049962


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Robert Glinski's THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS is one terrific book that leaves the reader gasping for breath: fast-paced, great plot, unforgettable characters, a healthy dollop of humor, a believable romance and all the parts fitting smoothly together. Glinksi has used his experience as a Philadelphia criminal defense attorney to create full-blooded characters that you may not approve of, but you can't help but root for.

If you are looking for a story where the forces of law and order win out over the mob, this is not the tale for you. The story opens after the leader of Philadelphia's largest crime family is sent to prison. A war for who will succeed him ensues – the winner, Raymond Rea, takes out the loser with a bomb. No points for subtlety there. Rea has no respect for previously established territories and alliances. He starts to send his thugs into the Polish area in Philadelphia which is called Port Richmond, long controlled by gang leader and sausage maker Anton Bielakowski. The book details how the Poles protect their position in the neighborhood and hold off the Italian invasion.

Another major player is Sonny Bonhardt, a long-time partner of Bielakowski, who came out of a Philadelphia orphanage and is more or less adopted into the Polish mob. His life story, barely touched upon in this book, would make a great prequel. Other characters include Bielakowski's son Marcek and Marcek's new girlfriend Angie who are getting ready for a scam of their very own; a motorcycle gang, an evangelical truck driver, and the gun-toting Jaracz family.

There is also a character that represents the Feds – an undercover agent operating under the alias of Nick Martin. Although his character is necessary to move the plot along, it was difficult for me to really care about what happens to him. He was too shadowy among all these very richly depicted criminals.

Family through blood or by choice is a very important theme in this book – Sonny has a drug-addicted son, and is also trying to find out more about his biological brother, Anton wants his son to do well, the Jaracz family is passing on traditions from grandfather to seven-year-old grandson- even the federal agent has a son whose picture he keeps as a lucky icon.

Change, be it how individuals age or how organizations adapt to evolving conditions is also dealt with using a variety of interesting twists. The book is set in the late 1990s, and attitudes towards illegal and legal drugs play an important role in the story line.

This book is a winner, and hopefully the precursor of many books to come. This reader is wishing Robert Glinski's debut outing will lead to a long line of mystery novels that follow the adventures of the characters introduced so successfully in THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS.

§ Phyllis Onstad has been a writer, editor, civil servant, teacher and voracious reader. She currently lives in the California wine country.

Reviewed by Phylllis Onstad, March 2015

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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