American Gangster

by Max Allan Collins

The novelization of the major motion picture from Universal Pictures about Frank Lucas, drug czar of Harlem. The film stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, and is directed by Ridley Scott.

For decades the Mafia controlled the flow of heroin onto the streets of Harlem. Frank Lucas changed all that. Born in rural North Carolina, he came to New York and rose to power under notorious mobster Bumpy Johnson. When Bumpy died, Frank moved to take over the drug business. Caught in a squeeze play between the Mafia and the street dealers, Frank got creative. Instead of being a tool of the mob, he went straight to the source—Cambodia—and set up his own unique distribution system.

Using his brothers as his lieutenants and selling "quality" heroin in trademark blue plastic bags, Frank Lucas and his "Country Boys" became the kings of One Hundred Twenty-Fifth Street. Frank had it made. He was rich, successful, and untouchable…

…until Richie Roberts came along. Roberts, the Eliot Ness of drug enforcement, became a pariah among other detectives in the NYPD when he turned in the million dollars in cash he found in the trunk of a dealer's car. His personal life was a mess—his wife left him, and his son hardly knew him anymore—but on the job, Roberts was all business, and his business, heading up a Federal Narcotics Squad, was busting big-time dealers. His next target? Frank Lucas.

This violent, action-filled chronicle of a uniquely American family is based on Ridley Scott's film, itself based on a New York magazine profile, "The Return of Superfly" by Mark Jacobson.

Genres: Fiction, Crime, True Crime, Novels

Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 1997

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty look at a different type of gangster. This is a dark look into the life and times of gangsters and corruption. Funny, I have to admit, I never thought of African American Gangsters much, especially when you see all the movies and books on those like Al Capone, etc. This is a great story.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the way the character of frank Lucas was created (even if it was fictionalized). The portrayal of him as more of an educated, suave kind of gangster makes him more of a likeable villain, perhaps even more so than the character of Richie Roberts. Frank Lucas is predominately what makes this story a good read. It has good pacing with some historical events that people can identify with and the necessary plot turns. He is a memorable character especially when pictured as Denzel. The end is the best part of this story. Not something that made me just go wow after I finished it like some books have, but its definetly worth reading.

[Michael Baggetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible real life story of Frank Lucas's rise from a driver of a mob boss in Harlem to then becoming one of largest black crime bosses in history! I enjoyed how he used ingenuity and business smarts to offer a purer Heroin product at a better price than his rivals.It is the story of the American dream in business although this man decided to do it with drugs as his product! Great real life gangster story.

[G-E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce livre est basé sur le film du même nom. Il est évidemment fidèle à ce dernier. Lisez-le si on vous le prête et que vous aimez lire ce genre d’histoire, sinon écouter le film il est très bon et ça prend moins de temps.

[Feathzzz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read while in jail. Actual rating: 3.5

[Jay Hancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should have noticed this was a novelization or I probably wouldn't have read it.

[Kevin McAvoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook free in the PLUS catalogue.
Sounds like Denzel Washington but it isn't
Frank Lucas came to New York at the age of 14 and became a huge heroin seller.
There is a movie based on his life called Original Gangster.
Denzel is in that one
Well his story is similar to Rick Ross's except Lucas goes to Thailand for his kilos whereas Ross imports from South America.
Not much remorse shown for lives ruined but plenty of episodes of greed gone wild.
A light read that is a spotlight on corrupt police as much as the inner workings of the heroin trade.

[Erica Char · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really excited for this book. That quickly ended.

When by page 30 we revisited the same situation three times and barely written differently, I was pretty over this. I kept reading hoping that it would get better, but nope.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great novel about Frank Lucas and his life as the American Gangster. One of the most powerful men in NYC of his time. After watching an interview with the real Frank Lucas you quickly learn that a few things in the book/movie did not actually happen and was a spice up for tv which is to be expected.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty fun read. Somewhat Fictional telling of the real life gangster Frank Lucas(1930-2019) he passed away May 30th of this year.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Max Allen Collins work, however this wasn't one of his better books. Working backwards from screenplay to novel doesn't allow for much creativity and it showed in this effort. Still it makes me want to see the movie.

[Jake]

Entertainment

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories about famous people by a writer with The Village Voice. Good writing, interesting stories, I'm not done yet though.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. Very quick moving. Couldn't put it down.

[Ur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Base on a true story. Very good reading. It's just like the movie.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the different stories in this one. I know there was an expectation of more about the American Gangster, but all the other true stories in here were just as equally good.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting before I seen the movie and had to watch the movie the next day. Full of action.

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

only a tiny bit about the american gangster and a load of other boring stuff

[Eshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book dwells on detailed working of world's cocaine supply and how gangsters controlled it to their fabulously great advantage.
Must read for all fans of Mob-Fiction.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome read

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

719 - 2014

Untuk review-nya, kali ini hanya kupajang di blog saja ya:
http://threezstacks.blogspot.com/2014...

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you saw the movie, no need to read the book.

[Pradeep Badatiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to have one in your collection list.

[Cortney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes ya rather peeved that we as honest working citizens make what we make, when a drug lord can make $50,000 in 10 minutes! Gotta rethink my loan arrangements! lol

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Much like the movie but had a few slight differences. I really enjoyed it.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that doesn't disappoint as the movie, bcs the move was written first! LOL