Twenty-four year old Jersey Leo was a bartender during prohibition at a speakeasy the locals called Ink Well. He made news when he saved a young boy who was kidnapped the previous Christmas bringing him a level of notoriety.

Its six months later and he was behind the dark, cozy bar doing what he loved, serving moonshine and spending time with his customers. One night he received an unexpected phone call.

Aaron Garvey, a childhood friend and protector, was on death row for killing a Philadelphia cop. Garvey was set for execution in a few days and wanted Jersey Leo to share his last meal with him and stay for the execution. Jersey said no at first, but later changed his mind.

During the meal Aaron asked Jersey to do him a favor that ended up putting Jersey’s life on the line when crooked cops hassle him about his friendship with the prisoner. He got help from his father Ernie Leo, an ex-boxing champion currently living in New York, and managing the Hy-Hat, a Harlem social club Jersey owns.

He also had the help of several of his friends from the community as well as his childhood friend Myra Banks. When he tried to come to the aid of an escaped prisoner by hiding him at the bar, he wondered who was going to help his father if Jersey didn’t make it through the life and death challenges.

Blind Moon Alley is the follow-up novel to Sugar Pop Moon authored by John Florio. The noir style novel hits the spot for those who enjoy the genre. The quirky characters animate the fast-paced plot. Twists and turns will keep readers wondering what is going to happen next.

The novel addresses how things were during prohibition, the challenges of race, class and who had to endure the cruelty of those in power. The mean streets of the city took its toll on those who could not fight back.

Readers will relish how the Jersey Leo character reacts to the situations around him no matter how dire life seems. He has a resiliency of an underdog who tries his best to do right by those who also struggle.

Hopefully the series will continue as we follow Jersey Leo, his father Ernie, and others who life brings into his gritty orbit.

A special thank you goes to Seventh Street Books for providing a complimentary copy of Blind Moon Alley for our review. You can find John Florio’s books on Amazon.com.