Blood on the Hills by Andrew Velasco is a crime novel set in San Francisco, around the turn of the twenty-first century. The criminal underworld in San Francisco is run by three groups: the Italians (Mafia), the Russians, and the Chinese. Although the Chinese rule Chinatown and beyond, there are different factions in this group: the Tongs and the Triads. The Tongs have overseen crime since the early days of the city. The Triads, more brutal and violent, only arrived from Hong Kong in the last generation, but they quickly enforced their own brand of loyalty and justice. Despite some violent “turf wars” in the 1980s, San Francisco has generally been quiet, with each criminal element staying in its own lane. It is time for a generational change, as each group faces the difficulties of competition in its ranks to take over. The younger members of these families are seeking change, power, and a new direction, even before the previous generation is ready to pass on the baton. Tensions run high as loyalties are pushed to the limit.

Blood on the Hills is a powerful, explosive exposition of familial links and loyalties in a criminal organization. Andrew Velasco's fascinating set of characters highlights these qualities across different ethnic gangs. The Mafioso setting of Anthony Mancini (Tone), the heir apparent to the crown, may as easily have been drawn directly from the pages of The Sopranos television show script. Tone wanted respect, action, and decision-making power now, feeling that the “old man” had lost touch with the city and his gang. A similar conflict was arising in The Way of the Dragon Triad, where Leo’s father, the Dragon’s Breath, had died, and Leo expected to be promoted to the top. When his uncle received leadership of the Triad, the scene was set for conflict and retribution. The author pulls no punches in descriptions of the violence and action. With a fast pace, there is plenty of action for the adrenaline junkie. Multiple perspectives allow the reader to get inside the minds and motivations of the characters, which gives the plot depth and breadth. This is a wonderful story, with a complex series of arcs and subplots. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.

For over four decades, the Mancini family had prospered, but things were not looking so bright recently, especially according to Anthony. He sees the current encroachment on their territory by the Chinese as a threat to the balance of power. There are also tensions with the Russians, but the family's boss, Don Salvatore Mancini, urges caution. Anthony sees his father as weak and intends to act. Meanwhile, the order of the Night Dragon is facing a leadership crisis as Ming Hoi, their leader, is on his deathbed. This is the weakness Anthony wants to capitalize on to weaken the Chinese. When Ming dies, his son wants to take over, but other leaders of the community elect Ming’s brother as the leader, which results in an internal struggle between the new leader and the young dragon. Anthony launches his war against his father’s wishes. How will things turn out in Blood on the Hills by Andrew Velasco?

Blood on the Hills by Andrew Velasco is a one-of-a-kind novel. Once you start reading this page-turner, there is no putting it down. The writing is engaging and filled with well-crafted dialogue that brings the story to life. Andrew used suspense effectively, which keeps one looking forward to the events of subsequent chapters, and I loved the uniqueness of the plot. It got me thinking about how young people sometimes rush to take power without being ready. The characters of Tao and Don Salvatore clearly demonstrate the value of experience and patience. All events and places were vividly captured, which helped to create a mental picture of what was happening. Honestly, I would love to see this work made into a movie; I believe it would be a great hit. This was a good read, and I look forward to reading something else by Andrew Velasco.