Button Man

Button Man follows Morris Raab's rise from a teenage garment worker in 1930s New York to becoming head of a major clothing manufacturer. As Morris builds his business alongside his brothers Sol and Harry, he faces escalating pressure from union racketeers and mob enforcers who control the garment industry through violence and extortion. The story tracks Morris's dangerous path as he refuses to give in to mob demands while striving to protect his workers and family. His resistance draws him into direct conflict with violent crime bosses and corrupt union officials, even as he works with Thomas Dewey's office to expose organized crime's grip on the garment trade. Set against the backdrop of Jewish immigrant life in New York City, Button Man recreates the complex social and economic forces that shaped the garment industry during the Great Depression and beyond. The novel examines connections between legitimate business, organized labor, and criminal enterprises in early 20th century America. The narrative explores themes of family loyalty, moral courage, and the immigrant experience in America. Through one man's struggle against corruption and violence, the book illuminates broader conflicts between individual rights and collective power that continue to resonate.

Readers appreciate the detailed historical backdrop of 1930s New York's garment industry and organized crime. Many note the authenticity of the Jewish immigrant experience and family dynamics. The real-life inspiration behind the story resonates with reviewers who had relatives in the garment business during that era. Readers highlight the fast pacing and building tension, though some found the writing style basic and dialogue stilted. Several reviews mention the protagonist lacks depth, with one Amazon reviewer noting "Morris feels more like a vehicle for historical events than a fully realized character." Common criticisms include predictable plot developments and an abrupt ending that leaves threads unresolved. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (850+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.2/5 (200+ ratings) "A compelling slice of history wrapped in a thriller," writes one Goodreads reviewer, while another states "solid research but formulaic storytelling."

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🔹 The novel is based on real historical events involving the Jewish mob and garment industry in New York City during the 1930s, including actual gangsters like Louis "Lepke" Buchalter and Dutch Schultz. 🔹 Author Andrew Gross was inspired to write Button Man by his own family history - his grandfather was a clothing manufacturer in New York's garment district during this era. 🔹 The book's title refers to "button men," a term for hired killers in the mob, but also plays on the garment industry setting where buttons were a crucial component. 🔹 During the time period depicted in the novel, the garment industry was the largest employer in New York City, with over 500,000 workers in Manhattan alone. 🔹 Before writing historical thrillers like Button Man, Andrew Gross co-authored five novels with James Patterson and was known primarily for contemporary suspense fiction.