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Reviewed by Paul F. Johnson for Readers' Favorite
Payback by Michael FitzGerald is an alternative look at history. It’s 1938 and the world is on the edge of disaster. The FBI decides to attempt to stop a new world war by assassinating Adolph Hitler. They know America can’t be involved so they decide to make it look like it wasn’t a government job at all. Deciding to collude with the Mafia for help, they have absolutely no plan to claim responsibility.
The Mafia offers up Benjamin (Bugsy) Siegel, a notorious hit man, totally aggressive and sometimes unstable. His nature makes him a dangerous, complicated element in the plan, but that can’t be helped. FBI agent Lugi Carmona, pretending to also be a Mafia hit man, enters Italy, along with Siegel, to carry out the assassination. Conning the Italian Mafia into thinking the target is their bitter enemy Mussolini, the pair must avoid rival gangs and the Italian police to avoid being caught and certain death before they can even get close to completing the job. Both are determined to succeed, but also wonder just what will happen if they achieve their goal.
I enjoyed this story very much. Mr FitzGerald has researched and developed a strong cast of characters providing interesting flaws and strengths. There were surprising twists and turns found throughout the story. The plot was good, although the pace of the novel slowed at times, but when the action picked up it sped right along. I kept waiting for the last big twist, but although this didn’t come, the story ended on an interesting note. If you like stories of what could or might have been, then this one’s for you.
