Button Man is my first Andrew Gross novel and it may be my last. Not because it’s bad; at three stars, it’s definitely not. But because it’s bland, predictable, uninspiring. And with a set up that’s right in my wheelhouse: gangsters, Prohibition, New York, etc., I should’ve liked it a lot more than I did.
Positives: Gross does get the era of 30s New York right. Supposedly, this story was inspired by tales of his family, some of whom were Jewish immigrants from Russia. I don’t know the nuances of being a Russian Jewish emigre but I’m familiar with the story of overflowing tenets, tight knit communities, tension between English and non-English speakers, and trying to make it on your own in America. Gross brings this to life in all its gritty glory. The book is well-researched and felt authentic. It’s easy to shoehorn the story in.
Unfortunately, the story itself, which sounds interesting, is not. A family tapestry of two brothers who went right and one who became a gangster, every twist and turn is telegraphed. Every character is one-note and the majority of them are moral or amoral. Also, this book does something I hate in other books: unnecessary cameos from historical figures. There’s Legs Diamond! There’s Thomas Dewey! It’s supposed to lend authenticity to the story but instead feels like an author out of ideas.
This is not a bad book, mind you, but it really should have been something better. Gross trying to shoehorn a crime novel into a family tale and he can’t synthesize both with any sort of effectiveness. It’s enjoyable trying but this is nothing you haven’t seen from plenty of books (and movies/shows) that have covered the subject sooner and more effectively.