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Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
The Ragman by Don Lehmkuhl introduces Joey Schatz, who became an orphan after witnessing the murders of his parents. He was raised in the same home that gave shelter to his father, Our Lady of Providence Children’s Home. Here, he becomes friends with Tony Rosetti, the bastard son of a mob boss, who has a strong influence on Joey. Soon, he finds himself in the world of violence where The Hill Gang dictates the rules. Joey quickly gains the reputation of a ruthless killer as he matures, but what has become of the educated young man he was? Does he kill to protect his family, or does he find pleasure in it? Is there a way of getting out of this life of violence?
Don Lehmkuhl has crafted a psychological thriller that had me turning the pages nonstop, and the portrait of Joey is so vividly drawn that I found myself following him as layer after layer of his personality was peeled away. I found myself asking “why?” many times, trying to understand what motivates this young man. The author makes it even more compelling by developing the themes of multigenerational trauma, showing how broken families raise broken men. The setting in 1970s St. Louis offers a grim world to navigate, a time and place where crime is rife and infested by gangs that pit themselves against each other. The Ragman both entertains and prompts you to ask serious moral questions about the nature of evil. The riveting plot is powered by gorgeous prose and engaging dialogue, elements I always look for in a good read.
