Today I welcome TLC Book Tours back to the blog with a fast-paced mystery set during World War II in Florida. I welcome you to read my review and visit the other stops on the blog tour.
My Review:
Joe Coughlin has been a retired mob boss for years now, but he still works on the fringes of the business by making money for the Bartolo crime family in Tampa, Florida. Despite the fact that World War II is raging in Europe, Joe makes a lot of money for very important people, so he has no enemies, or so he thought.
When Joe hears a rumor that someone wants him dead, he has to find out who wants to kill him and why. I would classify this book not only as historical fiction, but also as a mystery since most of the book is taken up with Joe trying to figure out who has ordered a hit on him.
Joe is the kind of character in a book that is morally ambiguous but whom you want to root for. Even though he is involved in a dangerous, illegal business, he still thinks about what is right and wrong and goes to church on Sunday. His relationship with his nine year old son is very touching. Tomas is growing up without a mother and it is important to Joe that his son always feel loved, supported and never alone.
The plot of the book, which is filled with gangsters, shootouts, and witty dialogue, is fast paced and will be one that you read in a few days. What struck me most about the characters in this book is that, although they want nothing more in life than money and power, it certainly doesn’t bring any of them happiness. Every character in WORLD GONE BY has a sad story and a wretched life.
About The Author:
Dennis Lehane is the author of ten previous novels—including the New York Times bestsellers Live by Night; Moonlight Mile; Gone, Baby, Gone; Mystic River; Shutter Island; and The Given Day—as well as Coronado, a collection of short stories and a play. He and his wife, Angie, currently live in California with their children.
Click on the TLC Tour banner below to see the full list of blogs participating in the tour.
thebookbindersdaughter.com 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book for the tour!
LikeLike
I love Dennis Lehan’s writing. While I didn’t enjoy this as much as “Mystic River” or the Kenzie-Gennaro series, I always appreciate his emphasis on setting, in this case the history of this part of Florida. As usual, his characters are deeper than most in the genre. I thought this book worked a little better than “Live By Night.”
LikeLike