"Where better to set a gangster novel than big, bad, brawling Chicago during Prohibition? Celestin perfectly captures the jazzy street rhythms of this proudly pugnacious city and its peculiar characters." -- Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

"In this engrossing follow-up to the award-winning The Axeman, a crime scene photographer, a gangster with a dark secret, and two Pinkerton detectives are bound together by a series of crimes that play out in 1928 Chicago." ― Library Journal

"Gripping. Rich description and meticulous attention to historical detail." ― Publishers Weekly

"Prohibition Chicago, early jazz, Capone and Moran--all are familiar elements in crime fiction, but Celestin gives them a fresh dusting, and what emerges sparkles with energy. His evocation of the jazz-filled South Side is particularly sharp, and his lead characters, Davis and Talbot, establish an easy, swinging rapport that will make readers want to hear more from them." ― Booklist

"Celestin captures 1920s Chicago in all its grimy, roiling, teeming glory in this intricate and absorbing thriller, which is surely destined to be an instant go-to for historical crime enthusiasts. Fantastic." ― Criminal Element

"Readers of hard-boiled murder mysteries will enjoy the ride to the very last page and will appreciate the honest portrait of a big city finding its way." ― Historical Novels Review

"Gripping, atmospheric, and satisfyingly meaty." ― Seattle Times

Praise for The Axeman:

"Celestin deftly weaves the rich history of New Orleans into the multiple plot lines while highlighting racial prejudice and political corruption that are more appalling than the Axeman's crimes. In sum, this is a tasty bowl of gumbo with a side of dirty rice." ― Publishers Weekly

"Ray Celestin skillfully depicts the desperate revels of that idiosyncratic city and its bizarre legends in his first novel, THE AXEMAN." The New York Times Sunday Book Review