Genre: Horror
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Bill the Butcher’s back. He climbed his way out of Hell itself and told the Devil to kiss his tail. The Butcher’s going to clean the streets of all the greasy foreigners and make New York a place run by good white men again.”
These words greeted Stephen Roberts upon returning to Manhattan. Though the infamous Bill “The Butcher” Poole died forty years ago, the streets were ablaze with his return. The infamous brotherhood known as the Bowery Boys were painting the streets with blood and their titanic leader appeared unkillable despite being shot in the head a dozen times.
Knowing there was more to this tale than met the eye, Stephen Roberts pitted his skills and will against the Butcher and The Satanic Gangs of New York.
From Frank Schildiner, an author known for delivering his own take on any genre he tackles, comes a supernatural historical epic pulled from one of the most violent periods of America’s past. THE SATANIC GANGS OF NEW YORK. From Schildiner’s Worlds and Pro Se Productions.
The Review
General Thomas Manton, born in Vermont, left for the big city at a young age. He made his fortune and founded one of the largest banks in the United States. The Mantons weren’t accepted by “old money” Manhattan families, but they later became connected to the New York City society with the Morgans, Vanderbilts and Rockefellers, and successfully rose above the “old money” clans with their intelligence.
The General has three sons: eldest, Thomas Jr., lawyer; Joseph, banker; and the youngest Colonel Benjamin. The were addressed as: General, Sir, and Colonel by Stephen Roberts, who was adopted at a very young age into the Manton family.
Stephen Roberts has some very peculiar missions which take him around the world and give him an opportunity to become knowledgeable in all things that make him an expert in what he does. Stephen has been requested home to Manhattan by the General to aid in a situation of scandals that need to be minimized.
Stephen first stops in the dangerous Bowery, overlooking a building that was burnt out twenty years before. He’s approached by two thugs, the Rat and the man-child named Stump. After dealing with thethem, the Rat warns Stephen of “Bill the Butcher.”
What does it mean? The Butcher has been dead forty years and the Bowery Boys fell twenty years past.
Stephen seeks out help from his old friend, Father Michael Reagan, and the Eel. He will also have to use his knowledge and brains to bring the most dangerous gang leaders and their thugs together to fight for their lives. The evil that they will have to face is out to destroy them all. But most importantly, the evil Butcher and The Children of the Light want power, wealth and to rid the streets of the immigrants to make NYC for white men only.
The Satanic Gangs of New York is terror at its best, exploring with the occult and the unspeakable cruelty brought upon both children and adults. It’s bloody, gritty, riveting and suspenseful at every turn. The novel also tells the stories of some of the immigrants who came to NYC to work, to support their families, and how they would come together at a time of extreme urgency.
Stephen Roberts made me curious as he travels the world investigating unique activities. He never has a love interest, and doesn’t seem to worry about it. But he’s an interesting character.
What made this an absolute hit for me is the way Schildiner took historical facts and melded them seamlessly with fiction. Many famous people make appearances, including J.P. Morgan, the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers along with famous gang leaders and gangs: Jack McManus, John Morrissey, Bill Poole, Hell-Cat Maggie, Goo Goo Knox, Gophers, Whyos, Five Pointers, the Bowery Boys, the Cherry Hill mob, the Plug Uglies and so many more.
It also was a time when one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works had men dressing as women, and there’s the very explicit poem of “Barnacle Bill the Sailor.” Boxing was a very big part of these gangsters’ lives, and of course they were into anything and everything illegal.
As I was doing some research on several of the gangsters, James T. Ellison caught my interest. He was known as Biff Ellison, and actually owned and managed several establishments, one was a gay bar and brothel under the name of Columbia Hall, aka Paresis Hall. I also, read that the Paresis Hall was a “gay and transvestite” establishment, and some sources claim that Ellison was gay.
My one gripe is that the book could use a good round of proofing. But I was still thoroughly entertained with the fiction and the facts that Schildiner fuses together in this intriguing and exciting story.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
