Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats

An honors graduate of the Brooklyn streets, where he grew up across from the former headquarters of Murder Inc., Hesh Kestin reported on war, crime and terrorism in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. His work has appeared in publications as diverse as Forbes, Newsday, the Jerusalem Post and Playboy. After hanging up his trenchcoat Kestin founded two prize-winning newspapers, the independent Israeli daily The Nation, and The American, a weekly for expatriates. He is also the author of a collection of novellas, Based On A True Story. "You never stop being afraid," Kestin says of a former life in which he was often the only unarmed man in the room. "But having grown up in a part of New York where every day was a war, I had a unique advantage: I was used to it."

'There are innumerable books about New York gangsters but I can guarantee you'll never have come across anything as wacky, witty and irreverent as Kestin's novel.' -- Mail on Sunday 5* review 'Had Kurt Vonnegut written The Godfather, it would have read a lot like this.' -- Irish Times 'Everything a good novel should be and more, THE IRON WILL OF SHOESHINE CATS is by turns hilarious, brutal, irreverent, thought-provoking, vexing and terrific fun.' -- Declan Burke 'THE IRON WILL OF SHOESHINE CATS just may be the best book you never read. Think The Godfather on laughing gas, or Catch-22 with guns. It's also as good a novel about life in the 60s as you'll ever pick up. Witty, sexy, thrilling, and all story. You can't put the damn thing down. If you're still one of the blessed who reads for pleasure, get this book, because it's a pleasure to read.' -- Stephen King 'A vibrant, hilarious addition to the genre of mob tragicomedy...his snappy, concise prose and dialogue is on par with Raymond Chandler.' -- Publishers Weekly 'The best book I've read this year is out! Haven't read any good fiction lately? Go out and buy The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats, and don't blame me when you don't get anything done for two days.' -- Jonathan Evison 'In this smart and surprisingly poignant gangster story, Hesh Kestin peppers the stew with an unusual blend that's part American Graffiti, part Sopranos and part The Chosen.' -- Julie Salamon, author of The Devil's Candy and Hospital