Customer Reviews

'57, Chicago

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It took about 20 pages for me to get used to Steve Monroe's style. He uses many characters and juggles them through several subplots. But once I did, I couldn't put the book down. It is very readable and when it all comes together in the finale it paints a powerful picture of greed and tragedy. It is very obvious that he did a tremendous amount of research to bring the characters to life in historical context. He has a great gift for writing dialogue which makes the reader feel as if you are there eavesdropping. I look forward to his next novel.

This story was recommended to me by a friend and am I glad I listened! The story line keeps the reader on the edge of his seat at all times leading up to a fantastic finish. Monroe obviously has a great deal of knowledge about both the sweet science and the world of gambling. ....

I had the pleasure of meeting Steve in a Chicago bar, and when he told me his favorite writer was Elmore Leonard, I was hooked. '57 Chicago captures the city as it was some forty years ago, with all the dark characters, seedy activities, and those big shoulders. I didn't know who (if anyone) to root for, and the conclusion was in doubt until the final three pages. A great first effort that I highly recommend!

I have had a chance to review this book and find it a must read. This author has great literary skills and I am looking forward to his next book!

It simply doesn't get any better than 57, Chicago. Steve Monroe is a first-rate talent who has captured the gritty pulse of boxing and gambling in the "City of Broad Shoulders" - with a novel featuring unforgettable characters and gripping drama set against an amazingly rich historical backdrop.

This is an incredible first novel by a writer who is destined to be a literary force for years to come!

Goodfellas meets Raging Bull! Remember the mobsters in Raging Bull - the guy who played Coach on Cheers was their leader? Well, this is THEIR story and it's fascinating! I was intrigued by the title and cover and man am I glad I read this novel. It's an authentic, energetic look at the violent world of small time boxing in noir Chicago. The back flap says that '46, Chicago is next. I can't wait!!

Welcome to the openly criticized secretly celebrated underbelly of 1957 Chicago. In this Hemingwayesque story, Monroe masterfully weaves together the lives of bookie, fight promoter, fighter, mob and a cast of other memorable characters to give the reading public a refreshing and sometimes chilling view of what originally made Chicago famous. Not just a book about boxing, Steve Monroe's 57 Chicago makes you "sweat it out" all the way to the shocking end!

I was around in the year in which this book was based. I'm sure the author was, too. It depicts the gambling scene in 1957 Chicago to a T. The cover makes it look like this is a boxing book. It's not. It's a slice of underworld life and a suspense novel rolled into one. Real life murders and real life characters from the mob fill the background. A great, exciting read.

Welcome to the openly criticized secretly celebrated underbelly of 1957 Chicago. In this Hemingwayesque story, Monroe masterfully weaves together the lives of bookie, fight promoter, fighter, mob and a cast of other memorable characters to give the reading public a refreshing and sometimes chilling view of what originally made Chicago famous. Not just a book about boxing, Steve Monroe's 57 Chicago makes you "sweat it out" all the way to the shocking end!