For Nothing

For Nothing (An Upstate New York Mafia Tale #1)
Author: Nicholas Denmon
Kindle edition; 272 pages
Published May 2011

Undercover cop Alex Vaughn goes deeper than ever into the organized crime family of Buffalo, NY. Motivated by justice and revenge, he seeks out the assassin that laid his friend Jack low. Professional killer Rafael Rontego traverses the deadly politics of Buffalo’s mafia underbelly. In a city whose winter can be just as deadly as those wielding power, Rontego tries to stay ahead of the game. Their two worlds collide in this epic thriller that takes the reader on a search for self, justice, and truth.

I have read a lot of crime stories and undercover tales, but I think it's safe to say that this is my first Mafia Crime Thriller book. A long time ago, I would have steered clear of this type of book, although I did watch a couple of The Sopranos episodes before. Upon reading, however, my perception of mafia related genre has changed. I am now actually a fan of this Mafia tale!

The story kicked off with Jack Benton getting shot at by a hired assassin. His friend, Alex Vaughn saw his sprawled body a minute too late. He vowed that he would avenge his friend's death and soon he went on an undercover mission. But he didn't know that he would be facing up and dealing with two of the most ruthless organized family crime syndicates in upstate New York.

I have never read a crime novel beautifully written with its gory details and gritty characters, with every scene craftily described and depicted. The characters, Alex Vaughn and Rafael Rontego were equally interesting and dynamic in their own rights. I actually found myself liking the villain, Rafael and even wanted him to be spared from the crime. I don't know, but there's something about him that made me root for him,  the kind of character that you like to win after all those emotional baggage. In the end, though, I still gave props to Alex Vaughn for having a believable personality.

The twist at the end of the story was something I wasn't expecting at all. The twist blew me away! Truth is, I have been captivated by Nicholas Denmon's writing prowess. He knows how to tickle his readers' imagination from the first chapter up to the last. He kept me reading until the end. Now, he makes me want to read the sequel. Of course, I will read the next book on the series. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie would have been so proud had they had the chance to read this stellar masterpiece.

This one is a well written, well done crime thriller. There were some creepy scenes that made my eyes go wide with anticipation. Every scene was nerve wracking.. Overall, let me just reiterate that I really liked this book and will continue to follow the series.
The author Nicholas Denmon and the main character Alex Vaughn deserve my 5 star rating!

One of my favorite lines from the book:
That was all life really was, anyway. A series of moments that drifted on too fast; so fast that one could scarce enjoy them before they searched for the next.

More info about the author:

Nicholas Denmon studied English at the University of Florida. He started story telling from the moment he could talk and has spent a lifetime perfecting the art.

His life has been varied, giving him no shortage of material. Some of his unique experiences include growing up with an eccentric mother, having six brothers and sisters (of which he is the middle-younger child), a perfectionist father, an evil step-mother, a college life to rival Tucker Max, and working for politicians on the Presidential as well as local stage. He has been, at times, a devout Catholic, a closet atheist, and an honorary member of the Jewish tribe.


Nick's joy of art knows little in the way of limitations, as he loves unique paintings, music, acting, film, and of course writing.

Check him out on Amazon and Goodreads.