Speakeasy

"Speakeasy transports readers to the seedy underbelly of 1930s Greenwich Village, where the lines between right and wrong blur in the dim light of Jack Dansby's Speakeasy. Robert James Allen crafts and narrative that feels both timeless and immediate, with prose that echoes the depth and complexity of classic literature. The novel's atmosphere is this with tension and moral ambiguity, reminiscent of the brooding tones found in some of the greatest works of the past. Jack Dansby, the hard edged proprietor of the speakeasy, is a character who could stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the most memorable figures in literary history. Allen's writing is both evocative and precise, painting a vivid picture of an era defined by desperation and resilience. The interplay between Jack and his niece, Hayley, provides the emotional core of the novel, offering a poignant exploration of family, loyalty, and the lengths to which one will go to survive. The historical details are seamlessly woven into the narrative, creating a setting that is as much a character as the people who inhabit it. Speakeasy is a novel that lingers in the mind, not just for its gripping plot, but for its richly drawn characters and the moral questions it raises"

-Kirkus Reviews