organized crime with a twist

Adopted as a baby into a New York City crime family, blond, blue-eyed Vinnie Renaldi’s introduction into life is as natural as watching his mother clean his father’s gun while eating his breakfast of Cocoa Puffs. But when a member of the gang is found to have abused his children, a split forms between father and son.

On his own, with his favorite cousin by his side, Vinnie doubles down on intel involving a takedown by NYC Police of the city’s most infamous biker gang’s clubhouse. With opportunity, means, and plenty of motive, the new two-member “gang” infiltrates the bikers’ “house” and awaits the inevitable shootout and a possible huge payday.

But a crooked cop complicates Vinnie’s life as he navigates the intricacies of a new, clueless girlfriend, a new apartment, and the harboring of abused and fearful teens—two of whom, due to karmic craziness, were also adopted as babies.

Higher stakes could not be found as Vinnie bets his life on being smarter than the gang, the cops, and his father, the would-be don. Oh, and, yeah, you’re going to laugh. And tense up. And laugh some more.

M. G. Akins

enjoys freestyle frisbee, the outdoors, creating unique art, and embracing unapologetic humor. He particularly loves to turn his creative imagination into rollicking, off-the-wall fiction.

Writes Anne Brown from NYTrendNYC:

“In most mysteries, the tension revolves around the central question: whodunnit? In H.N. Hirsch’s latest book, Winter, the suspense runs deeper. While a campus murder sets the stage, the true intrigue lies in whether a decades-long relationship can endure grief, professional pressures, and the relentless passage of time.”

When UC San Diego professor Marcus George discovers a colleague’s body in his office, he immediately falls under suspicion. But his partner of nearly twenty years, defense attorney Bob Abramson, faces his own personal grief, leading the couple to navigate love, loyalty, and resilience under pressure.

Purchase your copy of Winter today!

In Winter, Hirsch continues to blend rich character development with the thrills of a whodunnit, offering a story that is as emotionally compelling as it is intellectually engaging. Readers encounter not just a murder mystery, but a vivid portrayal of partnership tested by time, loss, and moral complexity.

Elizabeth Ireland of The Times of San Diego writes, “Beyond mystery elements, the novel explores both the positive and problematic aspects of university life, drawing from Hirsch’s exposure to different academic environments throughout his career. The series also serves as a cultural time capsule, tracing the evolving experience of gay men in America.”

From Susan E. Nash of dLearningCorgi educational blog:

The novel’s strength lies in its authentic portrayal of academic culture, drawing on Hirsch’s extensive experience in higher education to expose the toxic intersection of intellectual ambition, institutional politics, and personal vendettas.

The murder investigation serves as a catalyst for exploring deeper themes of truth, loyalty, and moral compromise… Parallel to the mystery, an infidelity subplot provides the novel’s emotional core. Hirsch handles this marital crisis with remarkable sensitivity … creating a rich family tapestry that grounds the more sensational murder plot.

N.N. Light gave the book five stars and wrote: “Winter is a gripping murder mystery I thoroughly enjoyed. As the mystery unfolds, H N Hirsch’s writing skills are unmatched. The investigation is realistic and intricate with a fairly large list of suspects.”

And Molly Toolan of the London, UK, Daily Express had this to say:

“A new crime novel has hit our shelves this week and fans are describing it as “gripping”… In the chilling new murder mystery Winter, Marcus becomes entangled in a murder investigation and reluctantly finds himself playing amateur sleuth. Meanwhile, Bob is coping with a family tragedy and, as his 40th birthday approaches, faces personal demons as well.

Through the evolving lives of Bob and Marcus, the novels trace not only a personal love story but also the broader cultural and political shifts shaping the lives of gay men in America. Hirsch’s Bob and Marcus mystery series is filled with complex characters, colorful locations and plenty of thrills for anyone who loves a good whodunnit.”

Don’t wait—order your copy today!

R.F. Wilson’s latest Rick Ryder Mystery, Murder on the Rocks

Jeff Hutchins’s new dystopian novel, Dingdom Come

Laurie Holder’s stylized memoir, Clay Documentaries

Shade

The first novel from Hirsch–well known for his in-depth analysis of US Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter and his memoir of life as a gay, Jewish college professor (Office Hours)–is in the classic mystery mode: plot twists and turns, Ivy League backstabbing in the quest for tenure, old money tainted by new scandal, and a surprise ending that will delight and satisfy readers.

“Highly recommended,” says Diane Donovan, senior reviewer at Midwest Book Review!

Mort Malkin’s newest book, Homo Sapiens: A Violent Gene?, reflects his broad range of interest and his deep knowledge of cultural history.

Malkin has been, in turn—and sometimes simultaneously—a decathlete, a surgeon and teacher of others, an artist, a poet, an archaeologist, and a collector of artifacts from the Neolithic and Sumerian periods.

Homo Sapiens: A Violent Gene? will be released by Pisgah Press on April 13, 2021.

Unlike his many previous books, The Last of the Swindlers is a retro murder mystery, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina in 1978. Earlier in his life, Loewer himself worked as the editor of a small-town newspaper, and he drew on his experiences there to create the novel.

About the author >>