Gangsters and Demons is a dark, pulpy, and strangely heartfelt novel set in 1920s Chicago. The story follows Jimmy Maloney, a dockworker trying to survive amid the city’s industrial grime, systemic poverty, and rising organized crime. What starts as a classic gangster tale gradually transforms into something much more unexpected, something deeply strange, even supernatural. As Jimmy gets drawn deeper into a criminal underworld, he confronts not just mobsters but literal demons, both personal and paranormal. The lines blur between addiction and possession, loyalty and survival, faith and fear. O’Neill stitches together Prohibition-era crime drama with elements of horror and religious myth in a way that feels both ambitious and unhinged.

I felt like I was being pulled into an old noir film that slowly melted into a fever dream. O’Neill’s writing is rich with mood and texture. The way he builds atmosphere, from fog-drenched alleys to crowded tenement kitchens, is immersive and unflinching. But it’s not just about setting. The dialogue is sharp and believable, especially when tensions rise between dockworkers and mob bosses. At times, the narrative veers into melodrama, especially when introducing the more fantastical elements, but somehow, it works. The raw emotion in the scenes with Jimmy’s mother or his deteriorating friendship with Nathan hits hard. You feel the weight of hopelessness, the creeping dread of losing control. It’s messy, and that’s what makes it feel real.

What surprised me most were the ideas buried beneath the genre trappings. Addiction, exploitation, poverty, faith, these aren’t just backdrops, they’re the bones of the story. There’s something gutsy about blending demonic possession with union strikes and rent hikes. It’s as if O’Neill is saying the real horror isn’t the supernatural, it’s the everyday grind that breaks people down. There were a few moments where the themes came through a little strongly, as if the story had something meaningful to share and leaned into it with intention. A couple of plot threads faded into the background, and a few characters seemed to serve more symbolic roles. Even so, the story gripped. I kept turning the pages, eager to see where it would go next.

I’d recommend Gangsters and Demons to anyone who enjoys stories that punch you in the gut and don’t apologize. If you’re into gritty historical fiction with a twist of horror, think Peaky Blinders meets The Exorcist, you’ll find something to love here. It’s bold, honest, and haunted.

Pages: 255 | ASIN : B0F48TS4R5