Review of Hustling The Mob

[Stephanie Runyon]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hustling The Mob" by Don Spillane.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Don Spillane’s Hustling The Mob is a thrilling story involving Joshua and Sarah who were professional spies. Joshua and Sarah gather information for Joshua’s uncle, Sonny, who works for a private intelligence organization. Sarah and Joshua had stolen money from Geert Goossen’s bank account; an auditor caught the odd deficit. Goossen was arrested for money laundering and tax evasion. Joshua learned Sarah was now a target of the Belgian police and criminals. Joshua contacted Sonny, asking him to help find a place Sarah could move to. Sonny needed information about Ivan Kirov and his customer, Leon. He told Joshua about the job that would set them up in California. Joshua was concerned about Sonny’s file photo labeled “Matthew IRA.” Supposedly, Matthew was a hitman seen meeting with representatives of Hamas.

Sarah began scouting Whitlock, Katz, and Dixon’s accounting offices before Joshua arrived in California. Joshua had set up malware to watch the company computers and moved through multiple countries to avoid detection. It didn’t take long for the pair to infiltrate and get information about Leon. Leon owned a bank in the Cayman Islands. He was a money launderer for the infamous mobster, Nunzio. He had also stolen eighty million dollars from Nunzio. Sarah meets Dewayne at a party, where he tells her about his plans with his brothers. They were looking for investors to become record producers. Joshua and Sarah come up with a plan to get Leon to loan twenty million dollars to the young entrepreneurs while receiving a substantial finder’s fee from the deal. However, Leon hires Matthew to follow Sarah. Will Joshua and Sarah come out of this assignment unscathed?

Hustling The Mob builds suspense from the first page. Joshua and Sarah were a team that did contract work for Sonny. Since they were not official employees, the pair would take the money launderer’s stolen money. Despite not being a couple, Joshua and Sarah were secretly attracted to each other. After the Belgium debacle, Sarah wanted to stop working as a spy. The character development was exceptional and was paired with vivid details of how the money laundering and evasion tactics were executed. The unpredictable plot blurs the distinction between who was good and who was not. Several mistakes made on both sides end with murders and people being arrested.

Hustling The Mob is flawless. I found no errors in the book. I was fascinated by the alternate perspectives of each character. The supporting characters added depth to the story. Every plan left possible weaknesses that could be exploited. Joshua and Sarah had complementary skill sets that made it difficult for anyone who tried to catch them. For example, the duo made all of their phone calls using payphones and prepaid cards. They only used burner cell phones once, then removed the batteries, destroyed the SIM cards, and disposed of the components in different areas. I rate this exciting book five out of five stars.

Fans of thrillers showing the views of the mobsters and the spies will find Hustling The Mob appealing. The characters are relatable with their emotions and actions laid bare on every page. Violence and profanity make this novel better suited for mature readers.

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Hustling The Mob
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[Nneka Bridget]

The suspenseful storyline and complex dynamics between Joshua and Sarah sound like they’d make Hustling The Mob an intense read. The level of detail in their covert techniques adds an intriguing layer. It sounds like a captivating thriller for anyone who enjoys a blend of espionage and organized crime.

[Blueberry Dragon]

This sounds like an interesting book to pick up if I get a chance; thanks for the review, @Stephanie Runyon.

[NetMassimo]

There's a lot in this novel with mob, espionage, and more. Following Joshua and Sarah's points of view, an engaging thriller is built covering a number of crimes with suspense that surely lasts until the end. Thank you for your great review!

[Mary John 10]

Hustling The Mob by Don Spillane is a gripping spy thriller. Joshua and Sarah, professional spies, work for Joshua's uncle Sonny, who leads a private intelligence group. After exposing a money-laundering scheme, Sarah becomes a target of Belgian authorities and criminals. Joshua seeks Sonny’s help to protect her, but their next mission reveals a web of danger involving hitmen and international crime.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

The dynamic between the two, with complementary skills and romantic tension, seems fascinating! I hope Sarah gets a calmer life, though I guess leaving the spy life is not easy.