Dirty Little War

In Dirty Little War by Dietrich Kalteis, Huckabee “Huck” Waller finds himself in deep trouble in 1920s Louisiana, forcing him to either flee the state or stay behind and face even more trouble from some nasty people. Huck decides to flee and travels to Chicago by hopping trains with little more than the clothes on his back, his fists, and a desire to find fair work for a fair wage.

Unable to find lasting work for a decent wage—and because Huck is good with his fists and has a concrete skull—he participates in “toe the line” bare-knuckle fights to make a living. Soon, Huck garners the attention of local Chicago mobsters and lowlifes, who are eager to take advantage of Huck’s brawling skills. Through them, Huck begins his journey through 1920s Chicago.

After one brutal fight, Huck is left unconscious and robbed, then dumped in an alley. He’s taken to a hospital, where he becomes enamored with a nurse who seems immune to his charms and even refuses to tell him her name. Later, at a dance hall where women dance for tickets, Huck encounters the same nurse, who continues to act as though she has never met him—only increasing his infatuation.

Weary of the repeated hard knocks in bare-knuckle fighting, Huck starts running illegal booze and quickly excels thanks to his creativity, driving skills, and willingness to use violence in the ruthless Chicago underworld. Around the same time, Huck signs up as an enforcer for John D. Hertz in a violent battle against a rival taxi company. Hertz hires Huck to ensure his competition becomes less competitive. In taking Hertz’s job, Huck is forced to choose sides among the numerous mob factions prowling Chicago and beyond—including crossing paths with an up-and-coming gangster named Alphonse Capone.

The novel follows Huck as he tries to court the unyielding nurse while becoming more entangled with the mob. Despite his involvement in the criminal world, Huck maintains a surprising level of integrity, using violence only against those within the mob and steering clear of innocents. He also becomes a surrogate authority figure to a young, streetwise boy who is initially suspicious of Huck’s motives but soon discovers there is more to him than thick-as-leather fists, violence, and fast driving.

Dietrich Kalteis’s Dirty Little War reads like an epic tale of 1920s gangsterism, unfolding at a deliberate pace. It’s not a blindingly fast page-turner but rather a well-crafted story with elements of actual history and real figures from the 1920s. The characters are richly developed, with illustrative backgrounds and depth, adding a sense of historical accuracy that enhances the novel’s appeal.

Dirty Little War is set to be published in March 2025 and is recommended for fans of crime novels with a strong historical flavor, including a mix of real-life characters and fiction.

NetGalley provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review.