Book Review - Bicycles of the Divine Father by Steve Bassett

Steve Bassett’s “Father Divine & # 39; s Bikes” is not only a great read, it’s a cultural experience in the post-WWII era. The city of Newark flourished during the war, only to fall into misery and want as peace spread throughout the world. With the post-war job shortage, people are losing jobs to people they never imagined to be a threat, and neighborhoods are on the decline. As gangsters strengthen their control of the city, a territorial war creates an atmosphere of fear in its citizens, instilling little hope of escaping to a better life. When two altar boys take paper routes to help support their families, they find themselves caught in the middle of mafia activities, executing numbers for a group of bookmakers posing as barbers and faithful followers of the Divine Father. controversial cult movement.

This was such a terrific read, definitely one of those books that stayed with me for several days after I finished reading. As I read, I was instantly transported to Newark in 1945, making my way among citizens trying to navigate life in a rapidly changing city. The vivid descriptions of the settings and situations, people, and cultural contrasts of everyday life in the city’s various districts are impressive and realistic. The author’s use of genuine dialogue adds to the overall atmosphere of authenticity. Language may be unpleasant to those of a particularly sensitive nature, but there was no such thing as being politically correct in 1945, and Bassett was successful in delivering it.

I had the idea before I started reading that this book was largely focused on the two journalists, and I was pleasantly surprised that the story played out strictly from their point of view. Rather, there is an attractive and distinct cast of characters, most of them oscillating between the protagonist and antagonistic tendencies as the story evolves. The way the back story was presented for each character forced me to worry and invest in their results. The writing is exceptional and Bassett has a charming way of influencing readers with his prose.

Steve Bassett’s “Father Divine & # 39; s Bikes” is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction, crime, coming of age and a pleasant reading experience. I was excited to know that this is book one in a series – the ending left me wanting more and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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