KAPLAN’S PLOT

JASON DIAMOND

Veteran novelist Jason Diamond has written a book with multiple timelines. A concept that many authors do not do well. In this instance. Kaplan's Plot exceeds the reader's expectations. The writer takes us through multiple decades, starting from pre-World War I, all through modern times, in Chicago, Illinois. This part of the story is interesting and helps the reader get involved in what turns out to be a most captivating historical criminal procedure novel. The reader is brought back to Chicago, the current day, and Elijah, the protagonist, has returned to help his mother, but his business has gone bankrupt. The two don't get along; however, like most families, they pull together to tolerate each other while Elijah takes care of his mom. He goes through some of his mother's keepsakes and finds old correspondence about secrets in a Family cemetery. As we swing back to 1909, the reader is introduced to Eve's father, Yitz, a Jewish immigrant from Europe who has recently arrived in the United States. As was common during that time, he became involved in Jewish organized crime, which set a precedent for Jewish organized crime during the 50s and 60s, predominantly in Miami and Los Angeles. Kaplan's Plot is a historical novel that the reader cannot put down. I highly recommend it and suggest the reader check out Jason Diamond's backlist.