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Charles R. Kittle
Biography
Charles graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His career included positions at Ford Motor Company, Union Carbide Corp., an engineering consulting service and a brief stint as a partner in a new engineering company. He concluded his professional career as engineering manager at Crane & Company, a fine paper manufacturer in Dalton Massachusetts.
After retiring Charles rediscovered a long dormant interest in writing and now writes diligently during the winter months. He has written fifteen novels; two published; “Northern Perceptions”, (PublishAmerica), and “Bitter Diamonds”, (An Authors Dream), and one short story, “The Man in the Business Suit”. A third work, “Discovery”, is to be published in September ’12, (Keith Publishing). And since then “Escape”, a historical novel of the waning days of prohibition has been published by Whiskey Creek Press. Charles is a member of two writers groups and was a winner of the Berkshire Clock Tower Mystery writing contest.
Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite
It is nearing the end of those long ago years of Prohibition and Drake Lauren and his bodyguard Danny Groggins are fleeing New York City in Drake's elegant Packard. The car tailing them send out blasts of Tommy gun bullets but Danny's risky but controlled driving keeps them safe and so Drake and Danny find themselves in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Drake rents an elegant home, the Eaton mansion, on Crofut Street in town and send Danny back to New York City to transfer money to where they live now and to pack up a few things that they might need. Danny notices that Drake has changed since they left New York City, and that he is not as combative. Drake mingles with local society and he wants to meet with big-time New York City gangsters like Big Bill Dwyer, Vito Genovese and Dutch Schultz. Danny is more than doubtful over Drake's plan to invite crime bosses up to the Berkshire countryside to tell them that he wants out of the big-time bootlegging business. And Danny worries about Drake's old girlfriend, Millie Lakeside, who stays behind in New York City. He is less than enthusiastic about Drake's new interest in the local woman, aspiring actress Nina McNally, and her friend, news reporter Ruth Wilson. Will Danny's worries become reality?
"Escape" by Charles Kittle is a well-written and engrossing story of rum-running gangsters and their world during the last years of Prohibition. Drake Lauren, Danny Groggins and all the major and minor characters are believable. Each chapter has a different narrator which I found to be a good literary device that helped draw me into the story. Going against the mob is a highly dangerous thing to do and "Escape" demonstrates that with excellent detail and believability.
