I did not enjoy the writing style but I could see the style was appropriate for the subject and period. For me, there were too many unimportant allusions in the dialogue to enjoy a steady read. The subject was interesting but I found all the characters flat and lifeless despite the care taken by the author to avoid this. I received this as a LibraryThing Member GiveAway. Thank you. ( )

I received a KINDLE copy of this book from the author through a giveaway he had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.

Part of the Progressive Era in the US [1890’s – 1920’s] consisted of muckrakers, a moniker given to journalists, authors and others, to describe reform-minded who attacked recognized institutions and community leaders as being relatively shady. And in this book, in part, the author, Shaun Bailey, has directed our attention to the conditions the workers involved with the building of the Hoover Dam had to endure.

The term muckraker was used in the Progressive Era to characterize reform-minded American journalists who attacked established institutions and leaders as being shady.

The book deals with its protagonist, William Black, on two levels, the first deals with his activities in trying to unionize his fellow workers, in the early days of unions, to obtain better working conditions, better salary. The author dwells vividly into the daily routine of the hard-working laborers as they work with cement to build, and sometimes perishing, to finish the colossal project being built.

On the other level, we’ve got to not only remember the dam is being built not too far from Las Vegas, we’ve got to remember the racketing which existed there in its early days. William Black, while seemingly to be interested in the well-being of his co-workers; he’s more interested in numbers game he’s running complete with usual individuals involved in this illegal enterprise.

And as is the case with any such enterprise there’s always someone standing in the way of allowing to exist unabated, and for Black this individual comes in the guise of Simeon Eliason, the Sin City’s autocratic mayor. It’s a do or die situation for Black. Winning will make will the “King of the Road,” but losing will not put him in the worst possible situation, down to the bottom of the totem pole at work; losing would also prevent Las Vegas from becoming the gambling capital of the US.

For having given his readers, not one but two well-written fictionalized intertwined histories, I’m giving Mr. Bailey 5 STARS for his endeavor here. ( )