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The Bowery Slugger (Alex Cohen, #1)

Leopold Borstinski (Goodreads Author)

4.32 · Rating details · 19 ratings · 20 reviews

A turn-of-the-century Jewish boy punches his way into the gangs of New York.

When Alex Cohen arrives in 1915 America, he seizes the land of opportunity with both hands and grabs it by the throat. But success breeds distrust and Alex must choose between controlling his gang and keeping his friend alive. What would you do if the person you trusted most is setting you up to ...more

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Kindle Edition, 357 pages

Published November 10th 2019 by Sobriety Press

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Nov 28, 2019 Dash fan rated it really liked it

Shelves: blog-tour, crime-fiction, favorites, historical, mystery, profile, publisher-review, series, thriller

4 A Gritty and Authentic Historical Crime Fiction !

This is the first book in a gritty new series and I'm excited to read the next one!

The Bowery Slugger is a character driven story that's takes the reader on a dark and gritty journey that looks into immigration, survival, Jewish mobsters, life choices, new starts, making a reputation, falling in love.

Alex and his family arrive in New York as Jewish immigrants, with no job Alex starts to look to find work to support his parents.

But it's not easy ...more

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Nov 18, 2019 Jacqueline sharp rated it really liked it

Check out my blog Jackiesreading4leisure.home.blog for full review

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Nov 19, 2019 Yvonne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

It is set in 1915 and I arrived to this story as Alex Cohen arrives in America. He and his family settle and Alex finds himself a job, he starts at the bottom and gradually over the next few months he starts to climb the ladder.

This is a belter of a read and if, like me, you read and loved “Gangs of New York, then you are going to love The Bowery Slugger. It is the the story of a young man who finds himself working for the Jewish Mob. This kind of caught me unawares as I tend to think of this It is set in 1915 and I arrived to this story as Alex Cohen arrives in America. He and his family settle and Alex finds himself a job, he starts at the bottom and gradually over the next few months he starts to climb the ladder.

This is a belter of a read and if, like me, you read and loved “Gangs of New York, then you are going to love The Bowery Slugger. It is the the story of a young man who finds himself working for the Jewish Mob. This kind of caught me unawares as I tend to think of this being more a world associated with other nationalities. Surprise aside, I found this such an addictive read as I followed Alex’s story.

There is obvious mentions of strong arming, extortion, take overs and the like. I liked how the author didn’t go into full on bloody descriptions, he found just the right balance for me. Along side the gangs is the story of a more personal one Alex and his love life. He has his heart set on a girl who has heard rumours of Alex and his reputation is one that goes before him, there is a mutual attraction, but is it enough.

I do like historical fiction and when I love it when I come across something new or I learn something I didn’t know before. This book gave me loads of new words, they are Yiddish words and I thought there inclusion was a great addition to the story. Using them as part of conversations adds an authenticity to the story, it also keeps various characters voices in the style and speech of the time. It may be a stereotype that I hold in my head, but for me it gives a character life. This is where reading a digital copy came in very handy as I was able to use the dictionary as I read.

The story is a good pace and for me felt just right for the story. Alex seemed to be a character that had the confidence to stroll at his own pace and this pacing matched the story.

There are so many good things about this book that I liked, the characters were great enough for the story and it would have been easy to add too many as the story feels quite big, but the author got the numbers just right. The story line is one that I really enjoyed, in some respect Alex should be a baddie, but I actually liked him a lot. The dialogue felt right and fitted in with the characters and their manners.

If you like historical fiction then I think The Bowery Slugger is one you should definitely buy. A fabulous book and it is also the first in the series with the next book due out spring next year, and I for one cannot wait for next year! I thoroughly enjoyed The Bowery Slugger and would definitely recommend it. ...more

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Dec 02, 2019 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-insta, p-turners-archive

This is the first book in a brand new series from Leopold Borstinski. Whilst I have read previous books by this author before, I have never read one of an American gangster genre so I jumped at the opportunity.

Alex and his family left their old home, and his questionable employment to create a new and better life for themselves and a chance for Alex to go straight in the land of opportunity, America.

Landing in New York they quickly find that this is not the case and Alex is drawn back into ...more

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Nov 18, 2019 Neats rated it it was amazing

The Bowery Slugger is the first book I've read by Leopold Borstinski but it definitely won't be the last!

The year is 1915 and Alex and his Jewish family have travelled to America from Ukraine in search of a safer and better life. The family have very little but manage to find somewhere to live in a tenement and teenage Alex quickly falls in with one of the gangs in The Bowery. This means that he is able to support his family but he tells his family very little about his 'work' as he knows that The Bowery Slugger is the first book I've read by Leopold Borstinski but it definitely won't be the last!

The year is 1915 and Alex and his Jewish family have travelled to America from Ukraine in search of a safer and better life. The family have very little but manage to find somewhere to live in a tenement and teenage Alex quickly falls in with one of the gangs in The Bowery. This means that he is able to support his family but he tells his family very little about his 'work' as he knows that they won't approve and will worry for his safety.

It doesn't take Alex long to move up the ranks within the gang but this is a double-edged sword as although it means that he's able to earn more money, it also means that he has to increasingly watch his back, as the higher he rises, the less people he can trust.

The other issue he has is that he thinks he could be falling for a girl who lives with her family in the same tenement as him but she views his choice of career badly and tells him in no uncertain terms that although she also has feelings for him, all the time he is a part of the gang they have no future together. Alex seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place, which way will he choose to turn?

The Bowery Slugger is a captivating read, with engaging characters that creates a real sense of atmosphere as well as giving a fascinating insight into life for an immigrant trying to survive in a foreign country whilst knowing little of the language. Although this is a tale packed full of violence, I didn't feel that it was unjustified, when people are struggling to survive they will do anything they can to ensure they can put food on the table and a roof over their families heads. The pace is fast and I was completely swept away by the author's skillful story-telling and character deveolpment.

I'm looking forward to finding out what comes next for Alex and I'm eagerly awaiting news of book two in the series. If you enjoy a gritty crime thriller then I'd highly recommend that you give this little beauty a try. ...more

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Nov 09, 2019 Namrata Ganti rated it liked it

The Bowery Slugger follows the life of Alex as he steps off a boat and onto American soil. This is a well-written story set during the onset of World War I, bringing the reader to a small part of the world and it's inhabitants. Alex, in his teenage years, is smart and ruthless, grabbing opportunities and finding his way forward. We are introduced to the Jewish New York mob and how it is run. We meet some very interesting people who add different views and dimensions to this story.

The story is ...more

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Nov 22, 2019 Sue rated it really liked it

New York, 1915: Alex Cohen and his family have fled yet another rising tide of violence against Jewish people in the Ukraine, looking for a new start in the land of opportunity.

Misnamed Fabian Mustard on their arrival at Ellis Island, Alex is forced to look for a way to support his parents and siblings, as the struggle to find gainful employment is harder than they anticipated. He finds himself drawn back into the criminal life he was embroiled in back home, by his new best friend Sammy, despite ...more

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Nov 20, 2019 Janice rated it really liked it

This is the first of Borstinski’s books that I’ve read, and I must tell you … he’s a fine storyteller! I would go so far as to say that there’s something a little reminiscent of Jeffrey Archer in the way he weaves a tale!

The Bowery Slugger is the first in a new series about Alex Cohen a.k.a. Fabian Mustard a.k.a. Slugger. In 1915, Alex arrives in New York with his parents and sister from the Ukraine to escape the rising violent anti-Semitism there. Along with many other confused and overwhelmed This is the first of Borstinski’s books that I’ve read, and I must tell you … he’s a fine storyteller! I would go so far as to say that there’s something a little reminiscent of Jeffrey Archer in the way he weaves a tale!

The Bowery Slugger is the first in a new series about Alex Cohen a.k.a. Fabian Mustard a.k.a. Slugger. In 1915, Alex arrives in New York with his parents and sister from the Ukraine to escape the rising violent anti-Semitism there. Along with many other confused and overwhelmed immigrants, they do their best to adapt to their new life in America and Alex quickly realises that it will be his role to be the breadwinner of the family. He’s just in his mid-teens but back home he was already involved with unsavoury individuals – another reason his parents were anxious to leave – so it’s only natural that he seeks out similar, like-minded people on the streets of his new neighbourhood.

With sharp, graphic descriptions of the early days of the Jewish mob, the author sets a scene that is very easy to visualise. Violent thugs mingle on the streets with every other type of person in the melting pot of the Bowery. Everyone’s out to make a buck, and you need to know who you can trust.

Young Alex wastes no time in making a name for himself and rapidly rises through the ranks of the gang-world that he inhabits. He hands over a sufficient portion of his earnings to his family and although they hear rumblings about his nefarious activities they don’t seem to be too bothered about accepting his money to live on. Nobody in the house is making much of an effort to do any better, so nobody mentions the origins of the income.

Similarly when Alex sets his sights on his attractive neighbour Rebecca … her parents are initially opposed to a ‘friendship’ between them, and even she seems averse to the idea. But when it becomes clear that he will always be financially stable, even if he may have to keep looking over his shoulder, they’re willing to be on friendlier terms. Isn’t it funny how that works?

At times I needed to remind myself how young Alex actually was. I found it quite difficult to equate his age with his behaviour. I tried to remind myself that times were tough and that one had to do whatever necessary to get by, but I’m still unsure of the age factor here. I was also bothered by the use of our protagonist’s three different names – Alex, Fabian and Slugger – sometimes all within just two or three sentences. I found this a bit unneccessary, as if the author was trying to reinforce the identity of his character, and I kept wondering why. Lastly, I thought that there should be some sort of glossary at the end of the book. There is a lot of Yiddish slang used throughout the book, and although many of the words have become adopted in everyday language, there are also many that aren’t and might not be familiar to some readers. A glossary would be helpful.

Regardless of these criticisms, which are purely my own and which don’t detract from the story, which is extremely well told, I would still recommend this as it’s a great book! It draws you in from the very first pages and ends in the most perfect way to segue into the next installment of Alex’s life, which I look forward to reading about.

I would give this a 3.5 star rating – increased to 4 (due to the lack of half-star ratings). ...more

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Dec 15, 2019 The P.Turners added it

Shelves: blog-tour, k-2

Please see blog for [K]'s review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...

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Jan 05, 2020 Melanie Underwood rated it it was amazing

The first in a series, this is a fascinating tale of life in the Jewish gangs of early twentieth century New York. A gripping story of crime and violence in the underworld - this was a real eye-opener and a compelling read.

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Nov 19, 2019 Emma rated it really liked it

All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/

The Bowery Slugger is the first book in the Alex Cohen series by Leopold Borstinski and was published on 10th November 2019 by Sobriety Press. I received a free eARC of The Bowery Slugger but that has in no way influenced my review.

I occasionally indulge in a little historical crime fiction. Not often enough though, not as frequently as I would like. Which was why I was so excited to make a start on The Bowery Slugger. Set in the 1910s, All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/

The Bowery Slugger is the first book in the Alex Cohen series by Leopold Borstinski and was published on 10th November 2019 by Sobriety Press. I received a free eARC of The Bowery Slugger but that has in no way influenced my review.

I occasionally indulge in a little historical crime fiction. Not often enough though, not as frequently as I would like. Which was why I was so excited to make a start on The Bowery Slugger. Set in the 1910s, The Bowery Slugger is the first book in Borstinski’s Alex Cohen series. Teenage Alex has recently landed on the shores of America after a long and arduous sea crossing from his native Ukraine. Quickly discovering the streets of America aren’t paved with gold, Alex realises that providing for his family is his responsibility. Using skills he acquired at home he falls in with the gangs of the Bowery and soon makes a name for himself…

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Bowery Slugger. With its violent opening, I was hooked from the first page and sucked into Alex’s world. The author’s vivid descriptions made it easy for this reader to be whisked back in time to the Bowery in the 1910s, and I loved it! When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about it and keen to return to Alex’s gritty, violent world.

I really liked Alex, but I often tend to prefer the darker characters in the books I read. I was expecting there to be more violence in this book than there actually is but I wasn’t disappointed. Alex’s lifestyle draws him into some tricky situations and he reacts, for him, accordingly. None of the violence in this book is over the top or gratuitous and it fits perfectly into the story.

Alex’s flirtation with his neighbour, Rebecca, was a great sub-plot which softened Alex’s edges a little. I was surprisingly entranced by their ‘will they/won’t they’ relationship as I’m not a fan of romance in the books I read. But it added another layer to Alex Cohen which I enjoyed.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. This a great start to what promises to be a brilliant new historical crime series and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. The ending of The Bowery Slugger came maybe a little too quickly, but I can see exactly why the author ended the novel that way and how it will lead into the second book. Gritty, compelling and oh so good! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Bowery Slugger. The above review is my own unbiased opinion. ...more

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Nov 26, 2019 Cheryl M-M rated it really liked it

Let's be honest - Alex Cohen aka Fabian Mustard isn't exactly the kind of character the reader feels any kind of empathy with or sympathy for. Does he have any redeeming qualities? I think the one consistent positive quality is the way he supports his family and ensures that they stay both safe and have a roof over their head.

It certainly isn't loyalty to his fellow comrades, because his loyalty only reaches as far as his own financial gain or territory, and when they are under threat he doesn't ...more

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Nov 20, 2019 Alaknanda Agarwal rated it really liked it

Read full review here .

Alex Cohen had a keen eye, quick hands and a sharp mind, and he rose up the ranks in Waxey Gordon’s gang fast. He also loved Rebecca, his simple downstairs neighbour, who wanted him to leave his gang life behind if he wanted to marry her. And wedged in between all this, is his trusted gang aide- Sammy, his go-to for female companionship- Sarah, his boss Waxey, and his crew. This story is all about Alex.

Alex’s character is very well made up by Borstinski. Inspite of being ...more

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Nov 19, 2019 Alex Jones rated it really liked it

This is the third book I’ve read this year by Leopold Borstinski, following reviews of The Heist and The Case.

This is quite different from both of those books and one I really enjoyed as we are introduced to Alex Cohen, a young Jewish boy who arrives in America in 1915. With his family struggling for work and money to pay the rent, Teenage Alex takes it upon himself to find some money for the family by any means necessary. This in turns introduces him to the street and gang life of New York.

The ...more

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Nov 03, 2019 Mandie rated it really liked it

The Bowery Slugger is the first book in the Alex Cohen series and although I absolutely love historical fiction, I will admit that this is not my normal read in this genre. Having never read any previous books by this author I was not sure what to expect. That being said, I found that I flew through the book and I was hooked from the beginning. Alex Cohen is a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine and he immediately falls in with the gangs of the Bowery, working his way up the chain quite quickly. The Bowery Slugger is the first book in the Alex Cohen series and although I absolutely love historical fiction, I will admit that this is not my normal read in this genre. Having never read any previous books by this author I was not sure what to expect. That being said, I found that I flew through the book and I was hooked from the beginning. Alex Cohen is a Jewish immigrant from the Ukraine and he immediately falls in with the gangs of the Bowery, working his way up the chain quite quickly. Never sure who he can trust often it is a case of do unto them before they do it to you.
Alex is quite a complex character as he is trying to support his family in the only way he knows how, whilst shielding them from what he is involved in to achieve this. Despite not being able to really speak anything other than his own language, Alex finds that hard work and his temper soon get him in a position of some standing within the gang. There is a downside to this though, the higher up the ranks he gets the fewer people he can trust and the more he has to watch his back. He also has a problem squaring away what he does for a living with his feelings for a girl in the same tenement as him. I think he really wants to be with her but as he finds it harder and harder to escape the life he has made for himself, there seems little chance of them finding happiness.
The Bowery Slugger does not shy away from the violence that was almost normal during that time, but I would not say that Borstinski depicts this in any kind of gratuitous way. He has created characters that have a depth and attitude that make them seem real and you certainly get the feeling for life in New York in the early 1900’s and how hard it was to forge any kind of living if you were an immigrant with little command of the language of your adoptive country and where so many people with the same skillset were housed in a condensed area.
With the book ending with Alex’s future heading in a different way to that of his past I will be intrigues to see what the author has in store for him and if he will ever truly escape his life in the gangs.
...more

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Nov 21, 2019 Ann Keeran rated it it was amazing

Historical fiction at its best. Borstinski brings to life the members of the different gangs in New York before WWII. Alex Cohen is a character to follow.

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Nov 17, 2019 Pat Eroh rated it it was amazing

This is a fabulous book that is excellently-written. Alex is a great character and all characters are really well-developed and realistic. This is the first in a series and I hope to read the rest of the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Nov 08, 2019 Elke rated it liked it

Actual rating: 3,5

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Sep 04, 2019 Jay Williams rated it it was amazing

This is definitely the best Borstinski book I have read. The writing captures the look and feel of the Bowery of the 1920s and provides an amazing story of a young Jewish immigrant from Ukraine. The characters are developed in depth and very realistic, both good and bad. The book includes lots of violence and action, but not in gory detail. The style of writing provides for great mental images without getting in front of the story. This is a perfect level of detail, and a definite "read again."

I ...more

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Sep 06, 2019 Linda Longo rated it it was amazing

Enter a time when Jews are fleeing Europe to escape pograms in their homelands. Arriving with very little, they have few prospects but tenement life. One boy wants more for his family, so he joins a gang in the Bowery. This is a glimpse into a time past - a time when a boy grows into a man while trying to balance a decent family life with racketeering.

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