Saint Mudd: A Novel of Gangsters and Saints

Growing up in St. Paul, I always heard the stories and whispers: St. Paul was rich in gangster history in the '20's and '30's. My parents next door neighbor delivered illegal liquor to the gangster bars etc. etc. for instance. But I won't bore you with the stories. It's too bad this book hasn't raised more interest than it has. I've read this book several times and have recommended it to all my friends and relatives. All have read it and loved it. And you don't have to be a St. Paul native to appreciate it. This book has it all. Wonderful story telling with a wide variety of real and fictional characters, who you get to know. It's very historical and you learn a few things about US history, not just Minnesota in general. Well known gangsters hung out here, and important arrests took place in the area. I've read plenty of mystery novels and I have never been a big fan of gangster stories, but this was one of the best books I ever read. If you are from the area, after reading this book you won't be able to see the Cathedral, drive down Warner/Shepard Road, drive by the entrance of Swede Hollow on Payne Ave or see the bluffs of Mounds Park without thinking of this wonderful story. I promise you that. It has it all. Sex, crime, compassion, good guys, bad guys,excellent story telling, and Grover Mudd, who is one of the most fascinating characters there is in any book out there. It's a fun, fast paced book.

You will read this book in an easy chair. You will read it in the car. You will read it when you're in the air, And maybe in a bar...At stop lights you can't resist-- The suspense is thick and strong... "Please let the red light persist!" With this book you can't go wrong.

There are not many writers out there these days that can write a good solid gangster novel. Steve Thayer shows that the gangster novel genre is not dead. Thayer has woven all the elements together to make the reader not want to put this book down.The story revolves around Grover Mudd, a World War I vet, and now journalist in St. Paul Minnesota. The era is the depression and Al Capone is not the only gangster in the nation. Just up the river from Chicago in St. Paul a new syndicate selling opium is on the rise. Mudd uses his column too expose the mob, and in turn gets himself in trouble with these bad guys.Mixing in real life mobsters like John Dillinger and Babyface Nelson, Thayer takes the reader on a real joyride through one of this countries more interesting eras. Strongly recommend

Steve Thayers books are filled with intriguing characters, imaginitive plot twists, and always great endings. Totally Unpredictable, which I think is rare these days by many authors. Also Thayer's books are rich with history and interesting facts about Minnesota, which is more interesting than it sounds. He is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, his new Book Silent Snow is also a must read. As is the weatherman.

Thayer does an excellent job of combinging the true, compelling mob stories in Saint Paul with his well developed charachter Grover Mudd. I would recomend this to anyone who likes historical fiction and a good crime story.