Local author J. Carl Goodman will celebrate the release of his latest novel, Mob Rules, with a book launch and signing event this Saturday, May 31. The event will be held at Cabin Treasures in Townsend from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will include light refreshments for attendees.
Mob Rules marks the fifth installment in Goodman’s mystery series featuring the senior sleuthing trio known as “The Team”—Harvey, Walt, and Tory. Returning home from a harrowing vacation-turned-murder investigation in Maine, the group soon learns that their work is far from over. When a client’s life is once again endangered, The Team joins forces with the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and other law enforcement agencies to ensure her safety—only to find that the danger has followed them home.
A Story Demanding Closure
Goodman said Mob Rules developed as a direct continuation of his previous novel, The Maine Event, though that wasn’t his original intention.
“I didn’t plan on writing a sequel,” Goodman said. “But after re-reading The Maine Event, it was clear there wasn’t real closure. The Team thought they had finished the job—only to realize they weren’t done.”
At the heart of Mob Rules is Janet Marshall, the mother of a murder victim connected to the Evangelista crime family. Her safety becomes the focus of the novel as The Team orchestrates her protection, including a return trip to Maine and a relocation with help from the U.S. Marshals.
“This book allowed me to tie up loose ends,” Goodman explained. “It provided closure with the death of mob leader Carlo Evangelista in prison and resolved tensions between the Evangelista family and The Team. Most importantly, it gave Janet Marshall the peace she deserved.”
Grounded in Research
Goodman said creating a believable and informed narrative requires extensive research. He regularly consults with law enforcement officials, including a retired FBI agent and members of the U.S. Marshals Service and State Police Investigation Units.
“I needed to understand not just how law enforcement would react, but how the mob might respond,” he said. “Once Janet Marshall is in Illinois, The Team realizes the threat isn’t over. They have to stay ahead of any attempts on her life while keeping her identity protected.”
The Evolution of “The Team”
The central characters—Harvey, Walt, and Tory—were first introduced in Goodman’s debut novel, Out of the Fog. In that story, Harvey, a retired and financially successful man, wakes up in a nursing facility after a serious illness to discover that he has been defrauded of nearly everything he owns. While regaining his strength, he meets fellow residents Walt and Tory. Together, they uncover the truth and form a crime-solving partnership, calling themselves “The Team.”
Subsequent books—The Dysfunctional Family, Critical Point, and The Maine Event—follow the trio as they investigate crimes, often targeting seniors. The author’s passion for elder advocacy is evident, with each book offering researched statistics and insights in its foreword to raise awareness.
Although each book can be read as a standalone, Goodman encourages readers to follow the series in order—especially with Mob Rules, which builds directly on the events of The Maine Event.
