THE POWER HOUSE

by Benjamin Appel ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 15, 1939

Again Appel presents a tough story of tough guys, petty gangsters, their dames and their fixers, in his usual heavy-slugging, uncompromising fashion. The novel has a dual theme. Primarily it is the story of Bill, small fry mobster out to mussel in on the big-time rackets, starting with his gang of west side kids by inching in with a string of bawdy houses. From there he gets into the power-house game, labor racketeering, inciting strikes so that he can step in with his confederates and break the strike, smash the union, and get a fat pay-off from capital. Side by side runs the love story of Cathy Gebhardt and Bill's weakling brother Joe, Cathy determined to break Bill's hold over Joe, to set him straight, and finally betraying him. Appel knows his material -- unpleasant as it is -- and this novel is an eye-opener on one facet of the American scene which should not be shirked.

Pub Date: March 15, 1939

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1939

Categories: FICTION