The Mob Zone by Joseph DeMatteo

A wise-guy wonderland of seedy deals, savage violence, and loyalty to the family, The Mob Zone by Joseph DeMatteo is a bold and entertaining collection of stories from the world of organized crime.

The three stories are unique in their own way, but fall in line with classic gangster narratives: untouchable tough guys with sharp comebacks and quick trigger fingers. These surprisingly complex, small-cast tales are driven by intense, multilayered dialogue – or other forms of communication, as in the case of the two mute assassins from “Driving in Silence,” one of the standouts in the collection. Perfectly polished for the genre, yet original and unpredictable enough to hold readers’ attention, these stories may at first seem outlandish, but the one-of-a-kind characters make it a pleasure to get lost in the pages.

On the technical side, the colloquial speech patterns in dialogue are generally consistent, but there are a few tropes, stumbles or stilted moments in conversations that could use some polish. In terms of the prose, there is a gritty realism to the author’s linguistic flow, evidence of natural skill as a storyteller. There is a dearth of imagery, so the action tends to move quickly, but the writing fits well within this moody noir genre.

Anyone who enjoys true crime drama, gangster tales, or short stories from a skilled pen, this rough and raucous collection is an immersive plunge into the underworld.

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