Hundreds of audiobooks under $8.
$5.99 with 65 percent savings
Print List Price: $17.00

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Stephen G Eoannou
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Rook Kindle Edition

by Stephen G. Eoannou (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 47 ratings
Rook is based on the true story of Al Nussbaum. To his unsuspecting wife, Lolly, Al is a loving, chess playing, family man. To J. Edgar Hoover, he is the most cunning fugitive alive. Al is the mastermind behind a string of east coast robberies that has stumped law enforcement. After his partner, one-eyed Bobby Wilcoxson, kills a bank guard and wounds a New York City patrolman, Al is identified as one of the robbers and lands on top of the FBI’s most wanted list. He is forced to flee his hometown of Buffalo, New York as the FBI closes in and Lolly learns of her husband’s secret life. One million wanted posters are printed and The Reader’s Digest offers a ten-thousand-dollar reward for Al’s capture. While Al assumes another identity and attempts to elude the police, Lolly is left alone to care for their infant daughter and adjust to her new life as ‘The Bank Robber’s Wife’. Friends, family, and federal agents all pressure Lolly to betray Al. While Lolly struggles at home financially, with unrelenting FBI agents, and her conscious, Al and Bobby continue to rob banks, even as Bobby grows more mentally unstable and dangerous. Al has only two goals: avoid capture and steal enough money to start a new life with his family. Returning to gather his wife and baby is suicidal, but as Al said, he’d only stick his neck in the Buffalo noose for Lolly.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    251 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    June 28, 2022
  4. File size
    738 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Amazon Book Sale.
Hundreds of audiobooks under $8. Shop now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If Elmore Leonard wrote the Queen's Gambit, he'd have written Rook. Set aside some time when you start Eoannou's true tale of Tommy guns, small-time hoods, and high-stakes chess because you won't want to put it down until checkmate.

-Daren Wang, Author of The Hidden Light of Northern Fires.



A terrific Technicolor Noir that lives and breathes in the period. If I hadn't been told, I would've thought I was reading a lost paperback classic from sixty years ago. Clever, literate, and fun, Rook is right down my dark alley.

-Ace Atkins, New York Times Bestselling author of The Revelators and The Heathens


Stephen Eoannou has performed a remarkable feat with his novel Rook. First, he has detailed the little-known story of an ingenious bank robber, Al Nussbaum, who FBI director J. Edgar Hoover once called "the most cunning fugitive in the country." Second, Eoannou has dramatized how Nussbaum's obsession with bank robbery as an art form trapped him and his family in a downward spiral of shame and frustrated hope. Brilliant.

-Charles Kelly, author of Gunshots in Another Room: The Forgotten Life of Dan J. Marlowe.

From the Inside Flap

Rook is based on the true story of Al Nussbaum. To his unsuspecting wife, Lolly, Al is a loving, chess playing, family man. To J. Edgar Hoover, he is the most cunning fugitive alive. Al is the mastermind behind a string of east coast robberies that has stumped law enforcement. After his partner, one-eyed Bobby Wilcoxson, kills a bank guard and wounds a New York City patrolman, Al is identified as one of the robbers and lands on top of the FBI's most wanted list. He is forced to flee his hometown of Buffalo, New York as the FBI closes in and Lolly learns of her husband's secret life. One million wanted posters are printed and The Reader's Digest offers a ten-thousand-dollar reward for Al's capture. While Al assumes another identity and attempts to elude the police, Lolly is left alone to care for their infant daughter and adjust to her new life as 'The Bank Robber's Wife'. Friends, family, and federal agents all pressure Lolly to betray Al. While Lolly struggles at home financially, with unrelenting FBI agents, and her conscious, Al and Bobby continue to rob banks, even as Bobby grows more mentally unstable and dangerous. Al has only two goals: avoid capture and steal enough money to start a new life with his family. Returning to gather his wife and baby is suicidal, but as Al said, he'd only stick his neck in the Buffalo noose for Lolly.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09X5QW8MT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Unsolicited Press (June 28, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 28, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 738 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 251 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Stephen G Eoannou

Stephen G Eoannou

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Stephen G. Eoannou grew up in Buffalo, New York reading Hardy Boy Books and watching old Humphrey Bogart movies on The Late Show. His love of history and writing led him to SUNY Buffalo (BA), Miami University (MA), and The Queens University of Charlotte (MFA). He is the author of the short story collection Muscle Cars and the historical novels After Pearl, Yesteryear, and Rook. Yesteryear was awarded the 2021 International Eyelands Award for Best Historical Novel, The Firebird Book Award for Biographical Fiction, and Shelf Unbound’s Notable Indy Books of 2023. After Pearl is the first in The Nicholas Bishop Mystery Series. Eoannou lives in Buffalo, New York with his two children and one-eyed dog. When not writing, Eoannou can be found restoring his 1865 Second Empire Victorian home and hunting for antiques to furnish it. He stills stays up late watching Bogart flicks.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's suspense engaging, with one describing it as a magnificent tale. The characterization receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the engrossing and dynamic character portrayals.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

7 customers mention "Suspense"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the suspense of the book, describing it as a fascinating tale with a swift narrative.

"...Nussbaum is a legend in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. It's a very interesting story, and I can tell a lot of research went into this story, to share..." Read more

"...Eoannou does a nice job of weaving historical facts with fictional inventions to create a swift narrative, while also being respectful of his..." Read more

"After I began reading Rook, the brilliantly imagined true story of bank robber Al Nussbaum, I couldn’t put the book down until I had reached the..." Read more

"I thought this was excellent and a non stop page turner. Excellent descriptions of the people and places of Buffalo. Can’t wait for the next novel" Read more

3 customers mention "Characterization"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the characterizations in the book, with one review noting they are engrossing and dynamic, while another mentions the excellent descriptions of the people.

"...The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic. Very impressive story telling. I hope to read more books by this author...." Read more

"...inventions to create a swift narrative, while also being respectful of his characters...." Read more

"...Excellent descriptions of the people and places of Buffalo. Can’t wait for the next novel" Read more

A Riveting Page-Turner With a Big Heart
5 out of 5 stars
A Riveting Page-Turner With a Big Heart
After I began reading Rook, the brilliantly imagined true story of bank robber Al Nussbaum, I couldn’t put the book down until I had reached the last page. Rook is a page-turner, full of action and intrigue, but it’s also an irresistible love story. Nussbaum, an unusually intelligent criminal, adored his naive, heart-sick wife Lolly and their daughter Alison. The author tells much of the story from Lolly’s perspective, with remarkable insight and poignancy. Whether you enjoy reading true crime, thrillers, family dramas, or romance, you will love Rook. Highly recommended!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Amy's Bookshelf Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent tale
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What a magnetic story in Rook by Stephen Eoannou. This is the first book of this authors that I've read, and his debut novel. Eoannou writes this fictionalized story of a real man Al Nussbaum. In his day, Al Nussbaum, was a thorn in J. Edgar Hoover's side. Nussbaum was a mastermind. He planned and enforced east coast bank robberies. Nussbaum is a legend in his hometown of Buffalo, NY. It's a very interesting story, and I can tell a lot of research went into this story, to share it with the world. I live in upstate NY and never heard of Nussbaum, and I find while it's not a True Crime tale, it is intense and compelling, all the way to the end, especially when Nussbaum needs to go in hiding, and retrieve his family, still in Buffalo. This author brings the story to life. It’s definitely un-put-downable! The story brings the reader on a superb journey. This is a magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it down. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. The characterizations are engrossing and dynamic. Very impressive story telling. I hope to read more books by this author. Rook is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
    Helpful
     Report
  • K.E. Semmel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Smart noir based on a historical person
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I came to Eoannou's work by way of his terrific story collection, Muscle Cars. As a western New Yorker, I was immediately drawn into his stories, all set in Buffalo. Like Muscle Cars, Rook (his first novel) takes place largely in Buffalo. What makes it super interesting is that the main character, Al Nussbaum, was a historical figure who became famous for robbing banks (and later as a crime writer). Eoannou does a nice job of weaving historical facts with fictional inventions to create a swift narrative, while also being respectful of his characters. Since Nussbaum was a historical figure, there was doubtless a lot of information to parse through with him. And it's an achievement to see how flesh and blood Nussbaum feels.

    But I am especially captured by Eoannou's depiction of Nussbaum's wife, Lolly, about whom little is historically known. Just imagine what it must've been liked to discover that your husband was one of America's most wanted men. Eoannou does a great job of building her character out of the barest rinds of history. The novel also builds to an exciting climax. Rook is both a realist novel AND a noir-ish riff on old pulp fictions. Cleverly done.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ginger Pinholster
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Riveting Page-Turner With a Big Heart
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    After I began reading Rook, the brilliantly imagined true story of bank robber Al Nussbaum, I couldn’t put the book down until I had reached the last page. Rook is a page-turner, full of action and intrigue, but it’s also an irresistible love story. Nussbaum, an unusually intelligent criminal, adored his naive, heart-sick wife Lolly and their daughter Alison. The author tells much of the story from Lolly’s perspective, with remarkable insight and poignancy. Whether you enjoy reading true crime, thrillers, family dramas, or romance, you will love Rook. Highly recommended!
    Customer image
    Ginger Pinholster
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A Riveting Page-Turner With a Big Heart

    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022
    After I began reading Rook, the brilliantly imagined true story of bank robber Al Nussbaum, I couldn’t put the book down until I had reached the last page. Rook is a page-turner, full of action and intrigue, but it’s also an irresistible love story. Nussbaum, an unusually intelligent criminal, adored his naive, heart-sick wife Lolly and their daughter Alison. The author tells much of the story from Lolly’s perspective, with remarkable insight and poignancy. Whether you enjoy reading true crime, thrillers, family dramas, or romance, you will love Rook. Highly recommended!
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
     Report
  • Yvonne Osborne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fast moving crime fiction with a bank robber you root for.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2023
    In the vein of Elmore Leonard, bank-robbing Al, while a crook, is a likeable, conflicted character. His glass-eyed, unhinged accomplice, Bobby, however, is the guy you'll hate while cheering on Al, the brains behind this duo bank-robbing team. Based on the true story of Al Nussbaum, in the years of J. Edgar Hoover, our Al is the most cunning fugitive alive. When things start to unravel for Al and Bobby, Al only wants to get back to his wife, Lolly, and their new baby, but as Al says, he'd only stick his neck in the Buffalo noose for Lolly
    Helpful
     Report
  • JEFFREY STEINIG
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this was excellent and a non stop page turner. Excellent descriptions of the people and places of Buffalo. Can’t wait for the next novel
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I am not familiar with the history that inspired this story. But it, to me, is of no matter. I couldn’t put the book down. A really great read by an author who can make you feel like you’re right there in the room with the characters.

    Well Done!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating journey!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book. Great suspense and love the historical elements. A must read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Mike Tippy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating from the first page
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed reading this book. It pulled me in from the first page.
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report