About the book
Before Burke, Andrew Vachss created Wesley, the ultimate ice-man. A Bomb Built in Hell is Wesley’s story.
While doing time for manslaughter, Wesley meets prison boss Carmine Trentoni, an Old School gangster who no longer believes in the blood-oath he took years ago. Carmine’s triple life sentence hasn't cut him off from all his outside sources—he has waited with the patience of stone for someone capable of absorbing his knowledge . . . and carrying out his sworn vengeance. Wesley emerges from prison as the perfect hit man: calculating, deadly, and ice-cold. He follows Carmine’s instructions: locate “the last of us,” one “Mr. Petraglia,” then assassinate a Chinatown gang boss and a Mafia chief—both had overstepped their bounds. But then Wesley finds his own mission: As he begins to see the root of all he has learned to hate, he and a youth just out of reform school, known only as The Kid, begin to take out political targets. In a final burst of understanding, Wesley decides to leave The Kid behind. But not before he writes his own suicide note . . . in dynamite.
Editions of A Bomb Built in Hell
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780307950857
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307950864
Read an Excerpt
Before Burke, Andrew Vachss created Wesley, the ultimate ice-man. A Bomb Built in Hell is Wesley’s story.
While doing time for manslaughter, Wesley meets prison boss Carmine Trentoni, an Old School gangster who no longer believes in the blood-oath he took years ago. Carmine’s triple life sentence hasn't cut him off from all his outside sources—he has waited with the patience of stone for someone capable of absorbing his knowledge . . . and carrying out his sworn vengeance. Wesley emerges from prison as the perfect hit man: calculating, deadly, and ice-cold. He follows Carmine’s instructions: locate “the last of us,” one “Mr. Petraglia,” then assassinate a Chinatown gang boss and a Mafia chief—both had overstepped their bounds. But then Wesley finds his own mission: As he begins to see the root of all he has learned to hate, he and a youth just out of reform school, known only as The Kid, begin to take out political targets. In a final burst of understanding, Wesley decides to leave The Kid behind. But not before he writes his own suicide note . . . in dynamite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Bomb Built in Hell about?
Before Burke, Andrew Vachss created Wesley, the ultimate ice-man. A Bomb Built in Hell is Wesley’s story.
While doing time for manslaughter, Wesley meets prison boss Carmine Trentoni, an Old School gangster who no longer believes in the blood-oath he took years ago. Carmine’s triple life sentence hasn't cut him off from all his outside sources—he has waited with the patience of stone for someone capable of absorbing his knowledge . . . and carrying out his sworn vengeance. Wesley emerges from prison as the perfect hit man: calculating, deadly, and ice-cold. He follows Carmine’s instructions: locate “the last of us,” one “Mr. Petraglia,” then assassinate a Chinatown gang boss and a Mafia chief—both had overstepped their bounds. But then Wesley finds his own mission: As he begins to see the root of all he has learned to hate, he and a youth just out of reform school, known only as The Kid, begin to take out political targets. In a final burst of understanding, Wesley decides to leave The Kid behind. But not before he writes his own suicide note . . . in dynamite.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in A Bomb Built in Hell?
Fiction > Adventure / action fiction
Where can I read a sample of A Bomb Built in Hell?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780307950857
Who is/are the Author/s of the book A Bomb Built in Hell?
Andrew Vachss
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
A Bomb Built in Hell is available as paperback(ISBN 9780307950857) and ebook(ISBN 9780307950864)
Where can I buy A Bomb Built in Hell online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy A Bomb Built in Hell from below
Where can I buy A Bomb Built in Hell?