In the days of the horse-drawn carriage, two men fight against Detroit's power brokers for the promise of the automobile-and the future of a city At the turn of the twentieth century, Detroit is still decades away from becoming the "Motor City." The budding manufacturing town is little more than a confederation of tightly knit ethnic enclaves, ruled over by men like Abner Crownover III, horse-coach baron, and James Dolan, a portly politician who runs the city government from behind the scenes. They had thought their grip on this young city was secure, but internal combustion is about to destroy their empire. An industrial wizard named Henry Ford has come to Detroit with a dream of making a fortune from horseless carriages. Twice bankrupted, he has lost the faith of every investor in town, save for Crownover's son Harlan. When Dolan and his father refuse to finance Harlan's new business venture, Harlan turns to the Mafia for the money. In the battle for its future, Detroit's streets will run with blood. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Loren D. Estleman including rare photos from the author's personal collection.
"A tour de force of descriptive energy, researched to hair's-breadth accuracy of detail, and packed with characters vivid enough to make Frank Norris dance a jig with Theodore Dreiser."
San Diego Union-Tribune
"A gritty novel of high ideals and low morals, of men trying desperately to outwit one another whatever the cost in the heady days of invention and industry in Detroit."
Publishers Weekly
"Estleman ranks among the best of current American novelists."
