Tod Goldberg

GANGSTERLAND, by Tod Goldberg, is the story of a mafia hitman, Sal Cupertine, who murdered 3 federal agents in Chicago and is abruptly relocated to Las Vegas and after several facial surgeries and months of Jewish education, becomes a Rabbi named David Cohen. Quickly Sal/David becomes entangled in the Mafia in Las Vegas and his past is starting to catch up with him. Can Sal/David balance his new responsibilities while also fending off his dangerous past?
What a delight to read. Sal/David, in spite of being a cold-blooded killer, is such a likable soul that the reader is pulling for him, even when his is committed horrible acts. Goldberg does an excellent job of not just creating the mafia underbelly of Chicago and Las Vegas, but the contrast is so clear and distinct that it adds character and depth the Sal/David's slow grasp of his upended life. All of the supporting cast, particularly the senior Rabbi in Las Vegas, are all wonderfully complex and I would read a story focused on many of them. Sal/David's past is felt slowly creeping in as the story progresses and the ending of the book is exciting, rewarding and fun.
GANGSTERLAND was a blast to read and I look forward to reading more books by Tod Goldberg. It's a mafia story, but it's also soo much more; it's the story of a man figuring out who he really is, about your past never really leaves you and how religion. or really just something to believe in, can guide you and make you a better person.
I received this book as aprt of the Goodreads Giveaway program.… (meer)

I'm not sure if this is the end to the series or not. Probably not as there are a few loose ends, but it does bring major parts of the plot to a close as hitman turned Rabbi David Cohen is increasingly encircled by his pursuers and his own mistaken actions. There are a few points of the plot here that are just ridiculous but are needed to keep the story going on. What makes it enjoyable are the characters, first and foremost the rabbi and his mentor, a real rabbi. I guess if there's another volume, I won't be able to resist, especially given how well Johnny Heller performs the audiobook version. It is nice entertainment while eating lunch in my car! One funny thing, however. When this started, I thought I had the wrong audiobook, since it repeats one of the stories--the one about the hitman's father--from Goldberg's collection of stories "set in the Gangsterland" universe.… (meer)