Non fiction written in novel form really isn’t my thing. I struggled to adjust to the style and failed to get invested. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to try this book in exchange for an honest review. I hope the right audience will find and enjoy this story. DNF’d at 10%

I was so unhappy about this book,,, Read like a diary of a bunch of immoral drunks on their daily and nightly jaunts...
Way too much meandering with descriptions of clothing, buildings, etc. not really adding to the story. VERY unlikable characters everywhere, all of them I think. TOO LONG at 45o or thereabouts pages. And, after slogging through, there was no ending! Continued in next book..... Not for me.
I am sorry for the negative review, but just not my type of read maybe...

There are several good things about this novel, such as the detailed descriptions, and differentiated characterizations. The author immerses you in the time period and the crime ridden NYPD. I found the quotes that the author uses at the beginning of the chapters were usually very interesting and added to the tension of the tale. The subject of the book is interesting; an investigation of the Bomb Squad from many angles, but there is no real plot to follow, just event after event, sometimes thrillingly told, as when the team works to deactivate suspected bombs, but often times, repetitious as with the various conversations between the detectives. It feels as if DeLaurentis is leading up to something, but after many hours and pages of reading, we are just left with the end of Book One, not a completed story at all. A series should give you a climax and a denoument, even if you are coming out with a further book containing a storyline on the same characters. Perhaps, the author sees this as a history of sorts, with a few volumes. If that is the case, he'd best leave the fiction out. There are so many hackneyed expressions that’s it’s hard to get past the slick, talking, tough guy voice that runs through the novel, and it does wear thin over time. If you are into that certain kind of hard-boiled detective novel, this should work well for you, although I personally found parroting attitudes from the misogynist past, personally off-putting. It is hard at times to see where the author has drawn the line between the attitudes of his characters and his own attitudes. Nonetheless, DeLaurentis keeps you reading; I just wish there was a reward by the end of the book. 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Emergency Service Unit (ESU) is part of the Special Operations Bureau of the New York City Police Department.The unit provides specialized support and advanced equipment to other NYPD units.Members of ESU are cross-trained in multiple disciplines for police, medical, and rescue work.On July 7, 1925, former Police Commissioner Richard E. Enright established the Emergency Automobile Squad.The unit was created in order to address problems with growing urbanisation in NYC that were beyond the capabilities of regular patrolmen.

The Hazmat/Weapons of Mass Destruction Team is tasked with investigating and responding to any chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive incidents and also assisting the Bomb Squad on suspicious package calls.

The New York City Police Department established its first bomb squad in 1903. Known as the "Italian Squad," its primary mission was to deal with dynamite bombs used by the Mafia to intimidate immigrant Italian merchants and residents.

Black Hand (Italian: Mano Nera) was a type of Italian extortion racket. Originally developed in the 18th century, it was practised by Italian immigrant gangsters of the Camorra and the Mafia, especially in the United States in Italian-American ghettos or neighbourhoods.

Lexow Committee (1894 to 1895) was a major New York State Senate probe into police corruption in New York City.The Lexow Committee inquiry, which took its name from the committee's chairman, State Senator Clarence Lexow, was the widest-ranging of several such commissions empaneled during the 19th century. The testimony collected during its hearings ran to over 10,000 pages, and the resultant scandal played a major part in the defeat of Tammany Hall in the elections of 1894.

Lewis Joseph Valentine (March 19, 1882–December 16, 1946) was the New York City Police Commissioner from 1934 to 1945, under Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia during the Murder, Inc. era.Time magazine credited him with cleaning up the department so that New York City had one of the most honest police departments in the nation.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Suspicious Looking Packages: The Bomb Squad: A Crime Story by Gregory Delaurentis is a riveting historical crime thriller that plunges readers into the gritty underbelly of 1940s New York. The novel opens with a shocking explosion at the World’s Fair, setting off a chain of events that thrusts the city into a state of fear and uncertainty. This incident introduces a new, terrifying threat: a madman who uses pipe bombs to spread chaos and terror.

The story centers around three detectives, each uniquely skilled and deeply committed to their duty. Their friendship and professional bonds are tested as they navigate the treacherous waters of a city rife with corruption, particularly within the infamous Tammany Hall. The detectives’ pursuit of the bomber a race against time and a psychological battle, as they delve into the mind of a criminal mastermind.

Delaurentis excels in creating a palpable sense of tension and urgency. The narrative is meticulously crafted, with each chapter peeling back layers of mystery and suspense. The historical setting is vividly brought to life, from the bustling streets of New York to the intricate workings of the NYPD’s bomb squad. The author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy adds depth and authenticity to the story.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of the human psyche. The detectives are portrayed as complex characters, each grappling with their own personal demons and moral dilemmas. Their interactions and the psychological toll of their work are portrayed with a raw honesty that adds a layer of emotional depth to the narrative.

The plot is further enriched by the innovative techniques employed by the bomb squad, reflecting the nascent stages of forensic science and psychological profiling. These elements not only enhance the story’s realism but also highlight the evolution of police work during this era.

Suspicious Looking Packages is a compelling blend of historical fiction and crime thriller, offering readers a gripping tale of suspense, intrigue, and human resilience.

Suspicious Looking Packages by Gregory Delaurentis is a story about police in New York City in 1940. We are primarily looking at the Bomb Squad who indeed have a stressful job, made no less stressful by the paranoid public. It starts off with a bomber who managed to kill some police officers at the World’s Fair in 1939, putting everyone on edge. What we saw was a police force that was full of men who risked their lives daily but who lived lives that were nowhere near above reproach: they drank during the day; they visited ladies-of-the-night, cheating on their wives; they consorted with criminals that had nothing to do with bombs; and they chased bombs and bombers. It was a fascinating look into a past with which I was totally unfamiliar. I want to say it is an accurate look.

Superintendent Valentine is a good cop, seeming straight as an arrow. He wants to know that the head of the bomb squad is as well so he sends in a ringer. One has to volunteer to be on the bomb squad but he has done all the paper work for his chosen mole, Dylan “Mac” Ateer, who is also straight as an arrow, young and extremely naive. He has his work cut out for him. He becomes part of the bomb squad and does things he had never dreamed of. His mother would be aghast, to say the least. I can’t say I found it an appealing read, however true it may be and however well-written and researched it is. I don’t wear blinders and I am not naive, but there are things I don’t want to know. It was a different time and New York is a lifetime away but I was not impressed.

I was invited to read Suspicious Looking Packages by Book Whisperer. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookWhisperer #GregoryDelaurentis #SuspiciousLookingPackages

Raw and Gritty Portrayal of New York Bomb Squad in the1940's
Suspicious Looking Packages is a very professionally written detective book based on historically true crime about the bomb squad who are stationed in New York in the1940's and have a job which is life threatening and the detectives who work there live hard and fast and have a friendship and special bond together. At the beginning of the book, they are called out to the World Fair where a pipe bomb is found. Sadly, it goes off and two of the bomb squad members are killed.
This book is the story of three friends who are thrust together and face the constant fact that they could die every time they go out to dismantle a bomb. They are hard men who go out drinking, smoking and going wild every chance they get. They have no respect for themselves due to how death is never far away.
People do not realise how often these men get called out to suspicious packages and must treat everyone as live. You cannot but feel sorry for Accorso, and Pyke’s wives. Accorso, and Pyke are key members of the all-male squad. We mostly follow Dylan Ateer, who is new to the bomb squad and is taken under the wing by Accorso and Pyke who are key members of the all-male squad.
I enjoyed this book, and I am glad I read about the men who take care of us when some nut case decides to pop a bomb in a place that can do so much harm to people. This happens all over the world so if you put this book into these contexts then you will see why it is a great read. The characters were alive. I could hear and see them and understood why they behaved the way they do even if I personally disagreed with their moral behaviour. The author created a period and told a story just as he promised. It is a lengthy read and be warned the book ends suddenly but the author Gregory Delaurentis has left it open for a second book. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Set during the 1940's before the war, this fictionalized account of how the NYPD's Bomb Squad was formed in response to the increase number of deaths and property destruction as homemade bombs became an oft used form of terrorism. The story sticks very loosely to the formation of the squad and the introduction of it's members, but strays far into the fiction side of the story with pages and even chapters devoted to the personal and profesional misadventures of those who would become the experts. The basic bones of the story are excellent, how it is fleshed out to make it readable didn't work for me. The intention is to write a series of similar fictionalized books. I'll definitely check out the next one to see if it's better written.

I was somewhat disappointed with this story. The premise in which it's based is good, however, the delivery not so much. There's too many detailed descriptions of people, places, the weather, with not too much connection with the main theme. The story could be cut shorter and be somewhat more fast-paced.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Free ARC from Book Whisperer

I wanted to, and some of it is great, but it is just not enough of it.

Way too much day to day, at first interesting but then just redundant and far, far too little bomb stuff.

Sorry

Suspicious Looking Packages: The Bomb Squad had some positive things going for it, especially the premise for the story. Few of us are aware of the bombs, real and fake, that have plagued cities like New York since explosives were invented. Mr Delaurentis does an excellent job of setting up the history, the events that happened, and the city in which they occurred. He certainly knows his stuff.

Where I was lost was the excess of characters. As a true crime novel, and given the time, males dominated the book but I just got lost in the people and names and personalities. I finally realized who I needed to focus on and was able to move forward but I wish I’d found the right characters much earlier.

As a woman it may have hit me harder but the female characters (necessarily few) were treated with such degradation that I began to dread yet another visit to a whorehouse, any of the men going home to his wife, or even stopping by a bar. It got old.

As I neared the end of the 350+ pages I was curious how the book was going to tie up so many lose ends. Turns out this was book one (did I miss that in the beginning?) and nothing was wrapped up. It was less cliffhanger and far more disappointment.

Me Delaurentis has talents as a writer, setting the scene with care and detail. I would love to read his non-fiction version of this story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me a chance to read and review this book.

Love everything especially since I like anything that is true crime.

Suspicious Looking Packages is a crime fiction featuring bombs by Gregory Delaurentis. It tells tales of bombs and bombs scares that terrorized New York in 1940. A bomb squad is on alert for any package that might be the undoing if lives in the city. Accorso, and Pyke are key members of the all male squad. It is a lengthy read.
The writer is too much inlove with his world. He is lost in describing everything from passersby, their mode of dress, giving opinion on their feelings and still mentions a flagpoles nearby. Clearly there is great wandering. He mentions where the characters are facing and clearly describes the layout behind them and what the people are doing there.
The only thing I liked about the book is the tittle. It was alluring.
I quickly got disappointed from the first chapter without a reprieve. It would have been well to publish the images being described here because it felt as though someone was trying to describe still images they have seen.
One of the many things I disliked was the use of cusswords. The officers use crude language oftenly. The other thing was complex over description. This made the work tedious and no room for imagination for me. This was precision to a fault.
I rate the work 1 star out of 5 stars for the reasons mention above.
I recommend this book to readers who like historical fiction, crime fiction and highly descriptive works.

Enjoyed reading about how brave and unprotected these men were. I had no idea how bombs were handled without all the current technology! What an eye opener!

My thanks to Net Galley and Book Whisperer. Not what I expected. Language. I could not connect. I agree with the other reviews.

This book was fascinating. The characters were totally alive. I could hear and see them and understood why they behaved the way they did. The author created a time period and told a story just as he promised. When I got to the end of the book, I was so angry! I wanted more and now I have to wait until the next one is published.

Gregory Delaurentis’ Suspicious Looking Packages promised a gritty, atmospheric dive into the world of the New York bomb squad post-World’s Fair. While the setting is undeniably dark and compelling, the execution falls flat.

The novel is bogged down by repetitive plotlines and a lack of character development. It feels like reading an extended procedural without the payoff. The constant barrage of hoax bombs grows tiresome, and the characters remain one-dimensional throughout.

The most egregious issue is the ending. Instead of a satisfying climax or resolution, readers are left hanging with a “to be continued” cliffhanger. It’s as if the author tricked us into reading only the first part of a trilogy. A truly disappointing conclusion to an already underwhelming story.

Avoid this book unless you enjoy endless descriptions of suspicious packages without any real substance.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a great cover, but whilst I find the content interesting I was a little put I was put off by the unnecessary profanity.

“Suspicious Looking Packages” is a historical fiction book by Gregory DeLaurentis. The research that went into this book is tremendous - if you want to know more about NYC during the 1940s and the bomb squad, the historical information could be up your alley. Where I found this book incredibly difficult was that there were a LOT of details - like too much detailed history. The beginning was interesting, but then it started getting bogged down in mundane details about every day life - including the character’s love lives. There is a new person on the bomb squad and he’s followed - learning what to do, how to do it, and why to do it - but then the story got bogged down again with a confusing timeline (and some badly needed editing), and then … it ended. This book is the first of a new series - thus explaining the blunt ending - but between a lot of detailed detail, a lot of set-up, and the plot not living up to the beginning of the book - it was, sadly, a dud of a read for me.

I started this book with such high hopes.

Suspicious Looking Packages is about the development of the Bomb Squad in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Most of the action is set in 1941 and details the efforts of the squad to find the perpetrators behind a bombing at the World's Fair and a series of suspicious packages left at a utility company...and the efforts of the commissioner to determine the effectiveness of the squad.

The book started off with a bang, both literally and metaphorically. The atmosphere, characters, and pacing are compelling and it was easy to get sucked into the story. The first explosion was shocking and provided plenty of motivation to follow along and see how the NYPD would respond. At this point, I was expecting to rate the book a 4 or 5 stars.

After the initial section, however, the story begins to bog down. The next couple of chapters are heavy on exposition and character introduction...but I needed to keep notes, because for a while every character sounded like the same 1940s man in a suit coat and fedora. It took me a long time to make it to chapter 4, when the characters were mostly already introduced.

The middle section of the book was enjoyable enough. We mostly follow Dylan Ateer, a new recruit to the Bomb Squad and the somewhat reluctant protege of Accorso and Pedrotti, the flashy and irreverent stars of the squad's first unit. They expose the straight laced Ateer to the terror of the job and the debauchery required to survive such a stressful position. I was thinking the book was a solid 4 stars at this point.

By 50 or 60% of the way through the book, the writing standards started slipping. I found an increasing number of spelling and grammar errors, including plenty of sentence fragments, comma splices, and badly written clauses that occasionally made it difficult to parse the sentence and required some rereading. There were also some occasions where it became unclear which character was speaking and I believe the author also lost track of his characters. Most egregious of all was the fact that a secondary character's name changed a few times from Sienna to Sierra and back again, sometimes on the same page. The errors increased the reading difficulty and the book would benefit from a thorough review by an editor.

I also found myself a little confused about the timeline at this point in the novel. There are large portions of the story that take place in speakeasies and brothels, and although it was set in 1941, sometimes it almost sounded like Prohibition was still in effect.

By 80% of the book, I was getting worried about where the action was going. Typically in any story there is rising action at minimum by this point that can culminate in some sort of climax later, and Suspicious Packages just didn't have that rising action. The story continued to meander around through the next 50 pages or so and then ended abruptly, with no climax or denouement at all. The last sentence left me saying, "What?!" out loud and trying to figure out why the book was suddenly over. At this point, I was strongly tempted to award it only 2 stars.

It was not until I finished the book that I realized that this is intended to be the first book of a series. I have no issue with that and think that the bones of this story are good enough to support a very enjoyable series.

That said, the story needs more structure to make each book a more satisfying payoff. With the help of a good editor, Suspicious Packages could make an excellent series, but as it is, the first installment doesn't quite cut it as a stand alone novel.

I would recommend this book to crime enthusiasts and WWII history buffs, with the caveat that the first book, at least, is mostly exposition and ends too abruptly.

I also would warn readers that there are a high number of racial slurs in this book directed at all kinds of different ethnicities. Most of them sound like they fit the time period well enough, but it may leave some readers uncomfortable.

3 stars.

***

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. This review is cross posted between Netgalley and Goodreads. Ratings follow the Goodreads suggested rating system and are assigned as follows: 1 star - didn't like it, 2 stars – it was OK, 3 stars – liked it, 4 stars – really liked it, 5 stars – it was amazing. DNF books are only ever rated or reviewed if there was a reason not to finish related to the subject matter or writing style and if I believe I have something useful to say.