Little Mexico [Paperback]

Cathie John (Author), John Celestri (Author), Cathie Celestri (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

It’s 1943 and Newport, Kentucky (aka Little Mexico) is the bawdiest spot in America. Dozens of illegal casinos and brothels line the major thoroughfares of this outlaw hideaway just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, providing entertainment for the thousands of otherwise honest, law-abiding citizens swarming in from hundreds of miles around. This is the gambling Mecca of America, years before Las Vegas is a twinkle in Bugsy Siegel’s eye.

The Cleveland Syndicate controls almost all the major sources of gambling in the area, as well as the mayor, city council, police chief, and anyone who matters in Newport’s city government.

Nick Cavanaugh, a sailor on leave, finds himself taking sides with independent casino owners Carl and Pearl Jules against the powerful Syndicate, which wants to keep this territory all to itself.

Bruno Carpella, one of the mob’s vicious, up and coming enforcers, is given the job of “bothering” the Jules family into handing over the mom ‘n pop casino/supper club they’ve spent years building into one of the gems of Little Mexico.

When a hail of bullets “bothers” Carl right into a coma, Pearl digs in her heels and vows she won’t give up their dream to those gangsters from the Great Lakes — even if it means getting tossed into the Ohio River wearing a Newport nightgown of cement.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Based on true events and real-life people, John's novel tells the story of a seedy pre-Vegas gambling town in the foothills of Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The fictional Jules family owns the Oasis Club, a legitimate nightclub with an illegitimate casino in the back. Club owner Carl Jules sees himself as a respectable businessman, and he refuses to let the Cleveland Syndicate "buy him out," code for intimidating him into handing over the club, something that has already happened to another independent casino operator. When Carl is found shot after closing up one night, the suspects are plentiful: Could his beloved wife be after his cash? Could his hotheaded son be too eager to move up the ladder? Could it be the most obvious, the syndicate itself? Told from various perspectives, including that of the young Jules' best friend, an honest cop (a Newport anomaly), and a hooker, Little Mexico might not generate the power of Pileggi's Casino, but its combination of real-life gangsters and an engaging plot makes for entertaining reading. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"(an) intiguing series" -- Publishers Weekly

"The authors have successfully adopted a much edgier, harder tone for this intended series exploring Newport's reign as 'Sin City, U.S.A.' " -- Bookbrowser

"a fascinating look at how a little city found notoriety as a haven for gambling, prostitution and other crime". -- Cincinnati Post

“The history is rich and spellbinding....The characters are well-drawn and colorful people” -- Sally Fellows, Mystery News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: C C Pub; 1St Edition edition (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963418378
• ISBN-13: 978-0963418371
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,800,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, November 8, 2005

By 

Mary Ann Cunningham (Fort Thomas Ky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little Mexico (Paperback)

My parents grew up in this era as well as this area. My grandfather actually worked for Red Masterson. My father delivered newspapers around the bar scene. Both my parents have read this book as well as myself. We all thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

This time and place was different than any can imagine. We loved reading of locations and people known to us.

Thank you so much for a walk down memory lane

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Easy Reading, June 18, 2003

By 

Michael R. Wenzel (Rochester, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Mexico (Paperback)

You won't need much of an education to enjoy this book. Simple words, simple ideas, and simple plot will make you reach for comic books to enhance the mind.