Two trains running
By: Andrew Vachss.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: Pantheon Books
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 447
Subjects: Illegal arms transfers -- Fiction.; Organized crime -- Fiction.; Black power -- Fiction.; Politicians -- Fiction.; Racism -- Fiction.; Mafia -- Fiction.; Gangs -- Fiction.
Genres: Fiction.
Description: The time, 1959-and America. The place-a small, entirely corrupt Midwestern burg named Locke City, currently owned top to bottom by homegrown Royal Beaumont. Crippled by a childhood disease, Royal rules from a wheelchair-throne; few, though, have ever doubted that his power is absolute. Or not until now, when rival mobs-one Irish, one Italian-suddenly sense windows of opportunity. They lurk at Locke City's perimeter and sniff around Royal's honey-pots-prostitution, gambling, protection-in a way calculated to cause maximum anxiety. In response, Royal sends for outside help in the form of Walker Dett, a man with the sort of "stillness" to him. Dett is a killer, a hired gun with the war smarts of a Clausewitz. There's plot and counterplot as hard guys maneuver for position and form unlikely alliances. Dett, however, is always in charge, a dodge ahead of his enemies. He schemes, lures and, when at last he pounces, few are left standing. But Dett has a softer side and it catches him unaware. One night, the Angel of Death meets an Earth Angel and, to his astonishment, he falls in love. Life altering for Dett; for the reader unexpectedly moving. A bit of a slow coach in the middle, but it recovers well.