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Gang Rumble
It is a hot, sticky Philadelphia night. And teenager Johnny Broom is ready to score. He’s got his gang’s rumble set up with the Violets, the perfect cover for his real plans for the evening—opening up the warehouse his brother guards for Comber’s boys to clean out. Johnny’s got it all figured.
What he doesn’t figure is that the creepy kid Mike will show up and start taking over the action. He doesn’t figure that officer Vallera will be one step ahead of him, ready to bust the heist. He doesn’t figure that John Dexter Stephens, whom everyone knows is the only adult friend the kids have, will be tagging along on the bust. Johnny’s got the perfect plan, so why does everything start to go so wrong…
What he doesn’t figure is that the creepy kid Mike will show up and start taking over the action. He doesn’t figure that officer Vallera will be one step ahead of him, ready to bust the heist. He doesn’t figure that John Dexter Stephens, whom everyone knows is the only adult friend the kids have, will be tagging along on the bust. Johnny’s got the perfect plan, so why does everything start to go so wrong…
- GenresCrime
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Edward S. Aarons
282 books18 followersAKA Paul Ayres, Edward Ronns.
Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.
Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Edward Sidney Aarons (September 11, 1916 - June 16, 1975) was an American writer, author of more than 80 novels from 1936 until 1962. One of these was under the pseudonym "Paul Ayres" (Dead Heat), and 30 were written using the name "Edward Ronns". He also wrote numerous articles for detective magazines such as Detective Story Magazine and Scarab.
Aarons was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and earned a degree in Literature and History from Columbia University. He worked at various jobs to put himself through college, including jobs as a newspaper reporter and fisherman. In 1933, he won a short story contest as a student. In World War II he was in the United States Coast Guard, joining after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He finished his duty in 1945, having obtained the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 20, 2026
It seems I'm the first to review this book. It's quite a page-turner and deserves to have a better following than it does.
A juvenile delinquency tale, 1950s style, it's set mainly over a few hours on a hot summer night in Philadelphia. Johnny Broom is a 17-year-old living with his older brother, Pete. He is a teen destined to go to the bad and it seems Pete can't do much for him. Also the leader of a gang, Johnny decides to rob a warehouse for a local hood with the help of a gang member and a psychopathic outsider, Mike Tarrant. The warehouse is also where brother Pete does the night shift and things could go badly wrong for Pete if he doesn't help Johnny in his aim. After all, Johnny is armed, and if he's pushed to the limit....
Well, everything goes wrong in the robbery, Pete injured and another shot. Two cops are on his trail, and he resorts to hiding in a home with a young lady there held to ransom. Adding to Johnny's woes is the presence of the creepy outsider assistant, Mike Tarrant, who is bad enough to leave even Johnny feeling somewhat unnerved.
This book turned out to be an entertaining read. Sure, crime doesn't pay, but the book didn't seem quite as moralistic or preachy as some movies of the period were on this subject.
What fate awaits the desperate Johnny Broom, his gang assistant and the psycho Mike (who came from a good area, not the slums like the others)?
The second book I've read by this author, and both were good. I look forward to reading the other three I have. He also wrote under two other names, Edward Ronns, and Paul Ayres.
A juvenile delinquency tale, 1950s style, it's set mainly over a few hours on a hot summer night in Philadelphia. Johnny Broom is a 17-year-old living with his older brother, Pete. He is a teen destined to go to the bad and it seems Pete can't do much for him. Also the leader of a gang, Johnny decides to rob a warehouse for a local hood with the help of a gang member and a psychopathic outsider, Mike Tarrant. The warehouse is also where brother Pete does the night shift and things could go badly wrong for Pete if he doesn't help Johnny in his aim. After all, Johnny is armed, and if he's pushed to the limit....
Well, everything goes wrong in the robbery, Pete injured and another shot. Two cops are on his trail, and he resorts to hiding in a home with a young lady there held to ransom. Adding to Johnny's woes is the presence of the creepy outsider assistant, Mike Tarrant, who is bad enough to leave even Johnny feeling somewhat unnerved.
This book turned out to be an entertaining read. Sure, crime doesn't pay, but the book didn't seem quite as moralistic or preachy as some movies of the period were on this subject.
What fate awaits the desperate Johnny Broom, his gang assistant and the psycho Mike (who came from a good area, not the slums like the others)?
The second book I've read by this author, and both were good. I look forward to reading the other three I have. He also wrote under two other names, Edward Ronns, and Paul Ayres.
Displaying 1 of 1 review