Damon Runyon’s Boys

The late Michael Scott Cain taught English, literature and popular culture at the college level for more than 40 years. He was an editor for rambles.net, covering jazz, blues and poetry and was the author of seven books of poetry, four novels and several works of nonfiction.

DAMON RUNYON'S BOYSNew York City. 1948. Damon Taylor, lead reporter for Crime Weekly, has returned from the war with a new-found cynicism. Writing is just a way to earn a living. When the leader of a swing dance group is murdered in plain sight at the Savoy Ballroom, Taylor is assigned the story. He may have been trained by the great newspaperman, Damon Runyon, but it's just a story to him.
But as he covers the shooting, Taylor encounters a young cub reporter named Truman Capote, who offers to help. Then the story becomes complicated when one of Taylor's sources, Walter Winchell, learns that the five organized crime families might be involved. After Taylor is beaten up in the rest room at Ebbetts Field during a Dodgers game, it starts to become personal.
Taylor discovers that the murder may be tied to the fashion industry. Mob leader Frank Costello may be involved. The FBI are definitely involved. The dance leader's mistress is stuck in the middle. And Capote keeps digging up new information that Taylor can't ignore.
When someone takes a shot at him, Damon Taylor discovers he may have to grow a conscience just to survive. But can he solve the mystery before he becomes its next victim?