The Bootlegger of Illinois

Synopsis

Chicago is a city already deep in corruption. Gangs of Irish and Italians vie for control and when the Volstead Act is passed in 1920, new opportunities for criminal enterprises are seized.

Sean O’Leary arrived in Chicago several years earlier, starting with his journey from a poor immigrant rising to be a mob boss. Successful at first, he is hit by hijacking and rivalry and needs a more secure source of booze for his speakeasy and bars.

Also in Illinois, in a small town, having gone through the Great War and returning home a war hero, young Jesse Hakerman has to face running the family farm, in debt to the bank. Naively, he sees bootlegging as a short-term fix to relieve him of money worries and to secure the farm from foreclosure. His troubles begin when O’Leary learns of a potential source of liquor on his doorstep.

When their worlds meet, violence is unleashed. Jesse has to pushback against the mobsters, and the bloodshed in his neighbourhood has him travelling to the City to deal with the mob boss to protect his friends.

The story of two men with different ideals and purposes, but both strong and courageous.

Author: Keith Lawson
Format: Hardback, Paperback, Kindle
Store: Amazon Books