The Rackets by Thomas Kelly

Set against the rough-edged world of New York City politics, organized labor, and construction, The Rackets is a gritty urban novel about loyalty, ambition, corruption, and the complicated ties of family.
 
Jimmy Dolan comes from a family deeply rooted in New York's labor movement. When circumstances draw him back into the world he thought he had left behind, he finds himself navigating the competing demands of unions, politicians, developers, and the criminal underworld. Thomas Kelly brings these overlapping worlds to life through characters caught between personal loyalties and institutions where power rarely comes without a price.
 
Fast-moving and distinctly New York, The Rackets blends political drama, crime fiction, and working-class family saga into a story with a strong sense of place.
 
❤️ Why You’ll Love It
Gritty, atmospheric portrait of New York City
Blends crime, politics, organized labor, and family drama
Strong working-class and Irish-American themes
Tough, character-driven storytelling
A good choice for readers who like their crime fiction grounded in real-world institutions and relationships
📚 Perfect For
Fans of New York crime fiction
Readers of political and organized-crime novels
Fans of Dennis Lehane and Richard Price
Readers interested in labor unions and big-city politics
Anyone who enjoys gritty, character-driven urban fiction