The Black Bag of Dr. Wiltse, Murder on the Prairie (2021)

***** (5 stars) Cameron McConnell: Very timely historical novel about settling of early Iowa in the years preceding and during the Civil War. Dr Wiltze and his family travel from Canada to seek a place in the developing midwest of the United States. He joins family already there and develops a medical practice and establishes a home. The anecdotes of family relations, medical practice and law and order are interesting and well told. The strain on the community when the Civil War begins echos some of our recent strife. Well researched and absorbing. Highly recommended.

***** (5 stars) Tracy Moore: A Black Bag Filled with History, December 29, 2021: This book takes readers on a complex trip through history. The story is organized by the numerous medical challenges presented due to war, illness, misjudgment/mistreatment and murder. This book proves: not only was there a Wild West but an equally Wild Mid-West.

***** (5 stars) Steve, A most fascinating read about life in the wilderness of the U.S. 1850-1890, January 26, 2022: The story starts in 1854 when Dr. Wiltse and wife Phebe arrived in lower Iowa from French-speaking Canada. His relative already lived there in a cabin in the dense woods near a small town. Everyone had to be strong, brave and hard working so their families didn’t starve.

The historical involvement of the Civil War (1861–1865) and when Lincoln was assassinated at age 56 (1909–1865) really connected these people’s story to reality.

Dr. Alex Wilste was a “Doctor” but with only minimal and basic training, no actual medical school, which was true of all the doctors then. They worked with the few crude instruments they had until after the Civil War. Doctors who served in the war were given more surgical tools which they could take back to their small-town offices.

The author takes us to many tragedies the farmers suffered from animals and falls and equipment. We also saw cholera kill many. Women had babies; some lived a full life while others died in childbirth or of some disease.

Doctors from many miles around gathered regularly to discuss things. One doctor was never invited, and was left out. There was some “bad blood” between him and others, which came to a shocking ending in that small town—one doctor attacking the other. Dr. Wilste had an unexplainable interest in murders, and in the area surrounding his office, there were many.

When the doctors finished treating the humans at a farmstead, the farmer always had an animal or two that needed fixing, so the doctor became a veterinarian for the afternoon.

You will fall in love with these people and want to know more about their life. I sure did, and find myself telling friends about the plight of Dr. Wilste.

***** (5 stars) Nadia Giordana, Fascinating mix of medicine and crime on the early American prairies, February 8, 2022: This crime mystery novel captures its audience’s attention first with the delicious historical detail from this time period in early America’s burgeoning settlements. I was struck by the medicine practiced in those days and almost became lost (delightfully so) in the daily lives of early Iowans until startled out of my immersion by first one murder, then another as the story goes on. Who knew there was such a criminal element lurking on our prairies?

***** (5 stars) Charlotte Ressler, History of Physicians in NE Iowa in 1800s, February 27, 2022, 99% liked the book. the most interesting part that i found was all the information in there regarding the Civil War during that time because of the surprising number of lives that were lost on both sides. Also very much enjoyed reading of the early years of the Physicians that came down from Canada and the expertise that they had at that time. Also, that they served as Vetinarians during that period of time.

***** (5 stars) History woven into the storyline, March 6, 2022: The author has again intricately woven history into an intriguing story line in this prequel to Gangster in Our Midst. The use of language typical in the early settlers of the Midwest gives the novel an interesting flavor.

Gangster in Our Midst, Bookkeeper, Lieutenant, and Sometimes Hitman for Al Capone (2017)

**** (4 stars) Diana Kathryn Plopa, Not What I Was Expecting… But Better! January 14, 2022: I won a copy of this book at a book festival, and I am providing an honest review.

Even though the title of this book implies that it is a story about a gangster… and part of it certainly is… I think that the real story is about the small town to which he comes and goes. Snapshots of life. That’s as close as I can come to accurately describing what it felt like to read this book.

The story spans the lifetime of several characters. As each chapter unfolds, we are immediately welcomed into their experiences of small-town life. Just as the people change over time, so does the town. There is a curious maturity that we are privileged to watch unfold. But more than that, we are invited to take a walk down Main Street and be a part of it all. It’s an emotional journey that is completely unexpected… and wonderful. Over the course of the story, we are invited to examine the connections that bind a place to its people, and the people to their home.

When I began to read, I thought this would be a book about the inside workings of the titular gangster. Eagerly I read, hoping to get the skinny on him and his outfit. I was hoping to watch his crimes from the inside and watch the how the community endured under his influence. What I got was better. Reading this story, I was able to see inside the gangster himself. I was a witness to his thoughts as a “regular” person who loves his wife, supports his community, and delights in being an “average” person away from his “job”. Ms. Passick skillfully uses individually distinctive dialect styles and vocabulary to help us enjoy a sensation of really getting to know the characters as people, as if we were sitting at the same table, riding in the same car, or standing near the same hunting blind while conversations float in and out of our ears.
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Reading this book gave me the sensation of watching the town pull out a photo book. I listened to it tell the story of the years it remembered, and the secrets it kept about the interesting, and sometimes unconventional people who lived there. As time marched on, the town reflected the distinct experiences of each soul and how living side-by-side impacted each of them in very different ways. The story was brisk and unpredictable, making it a genuinely enjoyable read.

***** (5 stars) Historical fiction is, I feel, the most difficult genre to write. An author has to be “spot on” with historical facts while stitching a plot that both entertains and teaches. Passick has done an excellent job on both counts, breathing life into complicated characters and taking the reader back in time when libation was not only big business, but lucrative enough to die for. Highly recommend this book, even if you’re not a history buff.
— Amazon, unknown

***** (5 stars) “Gangster in our Midst” by Betty Brandt Passick is an historical novel set in Oxbow, Iowa, a small-town Midwest-American city during the Great Depression and Prohibition eras, and weaves together a story of the courageous men, woman and children who lived and worked in the area and their encounters with a shadowy mystery man rumored to have ties to organized crime boss Al Capone, which makes it a fun, entertaining read with characters the author brings to life through local dialogue and history that fits the time and place. You get a real sense of community, loyalty, caring and compassion as the story develops. You feel their pride, their emotions, their morality through the author’s story and her words.
— Mary Jo Wiseman, Author

***** (5 stars) Not only did I enjoy the book, but as a career law enforcement officer, like Marshal Sweeney Delaney, it took me back to that tumultuous era of prohibition and gangsters. Not only did I meet the peoples who resided in the bustling Village of Oxbow, Iowa, but also those whose paths took them (perhaps unwillingly) into the lives of big city Chicago and New York mobsters. A great read. Edward J. “Ed” Steenberg, President, Saint Paul Police Historical Society (35+ years on the Saint Paul Police force)

***** (5 stars) In the midst of recounting the true story of gangster Louis La Cava, bookkeeper to Al Capone, authoress Betty Passick also tells the tale of main character Emma Bierkoff, a woman undergoing treatment for TB at Oakdale Sanatorium in northern Iowa City. The novel spans 60 years and touches on powerful topics such as WWII, the tension between Catholics and Protestants in the early and mid-1900s, and the effects of the Great Depression. Johnson County Historical Society, Coralville, Iowa

***** (5 stars) Passick delves into her small Iowa town’s history to write her compelling historical fiction novel, “Gangster in our Midst.” What happens when a curious mind, such as Betty possesses, decides to dig deeper into the town’s rumored history of having one of Al Capone’s chief gang members living in their small Iowa community? Betty spins a fun story.  John Busbee, The [Iowa] Culture Buzz on KFMG 98.9 FM http://kfmg.org/

***** (5 stars) Such interesting characters inhabit this small town of Oxbow, Iowa where Marshall Sweeney Delaney was the “lawman.” The businesses catered to town and farm folks, as well as the growing Amish community outside of town. Then rumor has it that Louie, a gangster who is part of Al Capone’s “family,” comes to town to visit his wife’s family. The locals’ reactions to having Louie visit vary. What did he do now? Is he in hiding? Are we safe? Lawman Sweeney has to decide what to do, what to see and hear as the Chicago police call him for reports. Through Louie’s visits, we learn firsthand about the 1920-1936 timeline when Capone went to prison for tax evasion, because the law could not find any evidence of his other dealings in bootlegging, etc. etc. We can “see” the cars, people and settings because of the author’s excellent writing. Gangster is our Midst is a historical and entertaining, made more interesting by the fact Oxbow is the author’s family’s real hometown. Connie A., St. Paul, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) Betty Brandt Passick’s A Gangster In Our Midst is a realistic look into a small midwestern town and how the people there dealt with a “mystery man,” Louie La Cava, who somehow made his way into their all of their lives and many of their hearts. Passick accurately describes the town, the times, and the folks who were never completely certain whether La Cava was a “real” gangster or just a quirky, old-time Italian with fancy clothes and even fancier cars. An unlikely marriage to a runaway girl from Oxbow, Iowa, made La Cava a part-time resident of the town—usually when things got too hot in Chicago. A few embraced him as a friend, the town marshal included. Others avoided him; still others held him in disdain. Passick’s extensive research proved that the Italian had close ties to Al Capone and many other gang members. But in a small town two hundred and sixty miles from the Windy City, La Cava’s true nature was mostly speculation. Passick’s well-written and colorful portrayals of Oxbow and its residents—including LaCava—entice the reader into the story and bring this true tale to life. I had my doubts throughout the book—just like many folks in Oxbow—how much of the “mystery man’s” legend was real and how much was “hype.” Passick’s readers will have to decide for themselves! Meg C, St. Paul, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) Your coverage of Louie La Cava and your story of his connections with Al Capone is fascinating reading. Your book portrayed main characters realistically and historically correct. I enjoyed them so much. I remember some of the details from my childhood and smiled as I read them. The book portrayed the world wars, prohibition, and religion correctly. I know a lot about religion and feel you portrayed that well and it was interesting. I absolutely loved the history of Fairbank that was woven in this historical fiction. Verla S., Fredericksburg, Iowa

***** (5 stars) I enjoyed meeting the characters. The families, and even the gangsters. I think you nailed the time period, small town and gangsters. Having lived in Chicago when we were first married, I heard all the stories, and I was very surprised to see that the Gangsters still controlled parts of the city. They were making open book, and posting lottery numbers in the small store across the street. I thought that was just the movies. Ha Ha. I heard many stories of Prohibition growing up. What I heard matched your depictions. I grew up as a protestant, and there was not much love lost between Catholics and Protestants. El Paso was pretty Catholic until I was older. I loved all the history, and I think you did a great job.
Sharon O., Estancia, New Mexico

***** (5 stars) Loved the book. It was an easy read…great details, and I didn’t want to put it down. I got to really know the characters, and the story line brought me to tears a few times. I look forward to future books.
Lori K., Rushford, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) You captured in your descriptive writing the feel of time and place in the story… I was transported back to the time of both my grandfather and father! I could almost see them with their cars, going hunting, and playing card games. Kathy M., St. Paul, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) I finished your wonderful book Gangster in our Midst. Your use of history during the course of the book was greatly appreciated. My interest in Chicago gangsters came from a good friend, who knew a man who’d been Al Capone’s bodyguard. Your stories of the Chicago gang were a vivid example. Thank you. Reuben L., Lake Elmo, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) I thoroughly enjoyed Gangster in Our Midst. Your characters were authentic and their stories taught me a bit about a time my parents and grandparents experienced. The history that was woven through the tale was interesting especially since you did such in depth research and it reflected the experience of real people. Thank you for a wonderful read.
Cameron M., St. Paul, Minnesota

***** (5 stars) A very good and fun book to read. It brings back so many memories I have growing up in Fairbank, Iowa. I now live in Colorado, but will never forget the great town of Fairbank. A perfect town to grow up in. Thanks Betty for writing this book. Lynn M., Colorado

***** (5 stars) The book was a fun read, especially because it was about a familiar setting–I know Oelwein and recently spent the night in the Mealey Hotel.
River Lights Bookstore, Dubuque, IA

***** (5 stars) I found Gangster in Our Midst on Amazon, and I am going to recommend it as a purchase at our local library.  We are always interested in stories about Iowa events – and your book chronicles a very interesting story!
Dianne K., Dyersville, Iowa

© 2019 Betty Brandt Passick. All rights reserved.