Scrapping with the Mob

About the Book

Scrapping with the Mob describes the adventures of scrap metal dealer Johnathon Michaels as he finds himself entangled with a Las Vegas mob-run casino, and all the dangers that come with the territory.

A Midwestern transplant, Johnathon discovers that there are many opportunities to do what is right—and wrong—when he lands his first post-college job, an opportunity that could prove too good to be true. As the plot unfolds, the characters and situations he encounters be- come more outlandish and life threatening until Johnathon finds himself at a crossroads.

Scrapping with the Mob is lively read that will surprise and entertain the reader as it uncovers a dark underworld that most of us can only imagine.

Author Doug Beaver had a degree in journalism and wrote both for newspapers and news radio. He worked for a scrap metal company and in the demolition field, where he experienced first-hand some of the things he describes in the novel.

★★★★★ Reviews

Hollywood Book Reviews, Reviewed by: Jack Chambers

In an effort to understand and explain the method and reasoning behind a person's choice to interact or engage with organized crime, some people turn to the world of fiction to put themselves into the shoes of people who would do such a thing. For sometimes only by walking in another's footsteps through the entertainment lens, whether it be video games, films, television, or especially literature, can a person understand real people's motivations. One such genre that encompasses this is the suspense thriller genre. As M.J. Rose once said, "A mystery is a whodunit. You know what happened, but not how or who's behind it. A thriller, or a suspense, is a how done it. You know what happened, and you usually know who did it, but you keep reading because you want to know how they pulled it off."

In author Doug Beaver's Scrapping with the Mob, the author explores both the physical and moral dangers that come from dealing with the Mob. Set in Las Vegas in the world of scrap metal work, a man finds himself confronted by a Mob-owned Las Vegas casino, where the mobsters begin to push him in direction's he never thought possible upon the post-college job he lands. As more and more outlandish situations arise, the man will find himself set at a crossroads and forced to discover just how far he is willing to embed himself in this life.

The author expertly dove headfirst into the world of organized crime in a very unique way. The instant thing that stuck out to me, as a reader, was the way the author captured the perspective not of one of the main mobsters or of the investigators looking into their illicit activities, but instead the perspective of an average worker who gets caught up in their world. The initial glamor and incentive that draws the protagonist into this world, followed by the stress and fear that comes with each growing "favor" that the protagonist finds himself forced to do, made the story feel so vibrant and alive on the pages.

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy crime thrillers, especially those that enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels. The way the author was able to balance out the personal character growth and connection readers had to the protagonist in particular with the dark and gritty tones of the underworld mixed with the bright lights of Vegas was amazing to read, as was the amount of detail put into the ins-and-outs of metal scrap yard work and how the industry operates.

There are many interesting characters in this book, starting with Howard Weiss, who seems to be an expert on everything. You get into the conscience of Johnathon Michael's and the torment he faces right verses wrong. Then there are all the employees that work for the company and the people they come in contact with, especially the ones related to the Millennium Hotel and casino. Captivating, intriguing, and engaging, author Doug Beaver's Scrapping with the Mob is a must-read mystery and suspense thriller. The tension and atmosphere that the author creates was truly memorable, and the descent that the protagonist finds himself on as he gets deeper and deeper embedded in the mob life was so entertaining to read about. If you haven't yet, be sure to grab your copy today!