SU 18 20.3 Gold Coast

[Kate S]

Gold Coast and Gold Coast both deal with organized crime. Read a book about the mafia or organized crime.

Please post any questions or thoughts about Task 20.3 here.

[Rosemary]

Would pirates count? I'm thinking of A High Wind in Jamaica

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

No, at least not for that book. It should be a broader organization with probably multiple operations rather than a group with a single operation. We will accept gangs. I know that sounds gray when not allowing pirates. If the pirates were boarding a lot of ships, etc., it should fit.

There are some lists, though you wouldn't be restricted to any of these books.

Best Mob/Mafia Novels

The Mafia Connection Group’s Favorite Mafia Themed Reads

Best Mafia Books

[Rosemary]

Yes, I see. Thank you!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I might add that the POV need not be the organization itself. For example, this season's group read The Day of the Owl would work for this task because the very existence of the Mafia is what drives the story, though no member is ever a character.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

A couple more lists:

1920's & 30's Mobster, Mafia, Gangster America

Thrillers with Russian Mafia

True Crime - Organized Crime, Mafia

Gangland Histories

[Connie]

Would Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow work for this task? It looks like it has gansters and racketeering in it.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Connie wrote: "Would Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow work for this task? It looks like it has gansters and racketeering in it."

Oh yes, it definitely fits this task. Dutch Schulz!

[Connie]

Thanks for getting back so quickly, Elizabeth.

[Tien]

Admittedly a biography on a policewoman but sounds like a lot of the time she dealt with the Razor Gangs... is this book ok?

Lillian Armfield: How Australia's first female detective took on Tilly Devine and the Razor Gangs and changed the face of the force by Leigh Straw

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Tien wrote: "Admittedly a biography on a policewoman but sounds like a lot of the time she dealt with the Razor Gangs... is this book ok?

[book:Lillian Armfield: How Australia's first female detective took on ..."

Yes, that works!

[Tien]

Thanks, Elizabeth :)

[Lalitha]

Would terrorist organizations fit the bill?

[Bea]

I am not ready yet in my reading to get back to the thriller genre or heavier mysteries...and I am not a big nonfiction reader. So...that made it a bit difficult to find a book for this task as cozy mysteries seem so fluffy for the topic, if you know what I mean. Then I found Oh, Play That Thing. This looks like it will work, right?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Lalitha wrote: "Would terrorist organizations fit the bill?"

Yes, as long as it deals with the organization, and not just a single terrorist who professes to take on the ideology.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Bea wrote: "I am not ready yet in my reading to get back to the thriller genre or heavier mysteries...and I am not a big nonfiction reader. So...that made it a bit difficult to find a book for this task as coz..."

Yes, that works.

[Lalitha]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lalitha wrote: "Would terrorist organizations fit the bill?"

Yes, as long as it deals with the organization, and not just a single terrorist who professes to take on the ideology."

Thank you.

[Megan]

Do fantasy/fictional organized crime syndicates qualify? I have A Criminal Magic on my TBR, about gangs of magic-users in a world where magic exists and is illegal.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Megan wrote: "Do fantasy/fictional organized crime syndicates qualify? I have A Criminal Magic on my TBR, about gangs of magic-users in a world where magic exists and is illegal."

Yes. Gangland activity in any setting will work for this task. But the gangs should definitely have victims, or victims who fear them, not just that their activity is illegal.

[Megan]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Yes. Gangland activity in any setting will work for this task. But the gangs should definitely have victims, or victims who fear them, not just that their activity is illegal."

Got it. Thanks!

[Sam]

Would any of these fit?
The Thorn of Dentonhill - description mentions a crime boss.
Low Town - mentions crime lords.
The Lies of Locke Lamora - organized crime groups plotting against each other.
Among Thieves - crime lords and underworld.

(Can you tell I'm trying to avoid actual mobs? lol)

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Sam wrote: "Would any of these fit?
The Thorn of Dentonhill - description mentions a crime boss.
Low Town - mentions crime lords.
The Lies of Locke Lamora - organi..."

The first two appear to be single criminals without an organization. The lies of Locke Lamora appears to involve an organization. Not sure about Among Thieves, though it seems to have just two opposing people, not an organization.

[Sam]

Gotcha, I think I was looking more at mobsters than actual mob. Locke Lamora is the only one I have on my shelves right now anyways, so I guess I'll go with that one!

Thanks!

[Katy]

I'm reading Macbeth by Jo Nesbø (one of the Hogarth Shakespeare retellings) -- it's great! And now I'm wondering if it qualifies for this task -- Macbeth is a police officer and is dealing with two rival drug gangs (one run by Hecate!) who have been running the town. Hecate definitely leads a criminal organization of drug dealers (as does the other "bad guy") -- would that work?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Katy wrote: "I'm reading Macbeth by Jo Nesbø (one of the Hogarth Shakespeare retellings) -- it's great! And now I'm wondering if it qualifies for this task -- Macbeth is a police..."

Sounds perfect!

[Lalitha]

I am currently reading Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden--from 9/11 to Abbottabad by Peter L. Bergen

I initially wanted to slate this one for the "Emily Bronte" task and Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units by Aaron Cohen for the Gold Coast task. Both of these books deal with counter-terrorism. The first one although has one criminal's name in the title, it talks of the downfall of the complete terrorist organisation as well. The latter deals with a counterterrorism unit and how they disband terrorist forces.

Do both books fit the Gold Coast Task? If so, I will have the first book for the Emily Bronte task.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Lalitha wrote: "I am currently reading Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden--from 9/11 to Abbottabad by Peter L. Bergen

I initially wanted to slate this one for the "Emily Bro..."

Yes, both of those work for this task.

[Lalitha]

Thank you, Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ha! Gold Coast is on the Kindle Daily Deals today.

[Rebekah]

Does the book have to be about organized crime or can it just be part of the book?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "Does the book have to be about organized crime or can it just be part of the book?"

It's easier to answer a specific example. The two books that were the inspiration for the task will work, for example, but I think no one would characterize them as being "about" organized crime, just that the organization is integral to the story.

[Rebekah]

I’d give you a specific example but when I do, I give away the book plot

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "I’d give you a specific example but when I do, I give away the book plot"

How about a title?

[Rebekah]

(view spoiler)[ it is a Murder mystery. Big suspect is Petrovich or one of his henchmen. He is a Russian that pretty much owns the police and politicians and most of the people on the island as part of his crime organization that does drug smuggling, money laundering, illegal gambling among other things. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

How about a title?

[Rebekah]

Death by Desire

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "Death by Desire"

That does not appear to fit the task. The crime organization must be integral to the story, not a peripheral aspect, even if the plot turns on it.

[Rebekah]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Rebekah wrote: "Death by Desire"

That does not appear to fit the task. The crime organization must be integral to the story, not a peripheral aspect, even if the plot turns on it."
Ok thanks

[Rebekah]

would this work for this task? Closet Full of Coke A Diary of a Teenage Drug Queen

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Rebekah wrote: "would this work for this task? Closet Full of Coke A Diary of a Teenage Drug Queen"

I don't see an organization mentioned in the description or the reviews, so no.

[Rebekah]

ok. I thought it might be she set up an organization but I couldn't really tell

[Lagullande]

What about state-sponsored crimes? eg Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Lagullande wrote: "What about state-sponsored crimes? eg Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West?"

No, sorry. That isn't the kind of organization that will work for this task.

[Lagullande]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Lagullande wrote: "What about state-sponsored crimes? eg Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West?"

No, sorry. That isn't the kind ..."

Okey doke. Thanks for clarifying.