True Crime Ink - True Crime Book Review

TRUE CRIME INK
TRUE CRIME BOOK REVIEW

KING OF THE SUNSET STRIP
Hangin' with Mickey Cohen and the Hollywood Mob
by
Steve Stevens and Craig Lockwood
(Published 2006 by Cumberland House Publishing,
Price 24.95, 296 pp, hardcover)

Every once in awhile you get a book that just takes into a world that your
unfortunately (or fortunately) are never really going to experience. This is such a book.
The co-author and main person in the book, Steve Stevens, was a young punk (weren't
we all at that age) actor who did stints on the Annette TV show and various tough
kid movies of the 1950s. Late in 1959 he received a note from a fan stating that he'd
like to meet him some day. The young Stevens, on a date, shows up at that fan's location
and that fan turns out to be Los Angeles gangster Mickey Cohen. Before you know it
Stevens and Cohen become friends. Mr. Stevens is drawn into the life of a gangster,
the parties and the violence, and much like him the reader becomes drawn into that
life as well. Stevens is first exposed to the good things in the gangster's life and
that only succeeds in getting him deeper inside. It's just fascinating, on it's own, to see
this young man being exposed to the surreal life of a Hollywood star in the 1950s.
Some of Hollywood's greatest landmarks (places and people) are included. Now,
add to this the even MORE surreal life of a gangster and it's just a none stop read.

As an under 24 year old life needs only be exciting and everything is perfect. Whether
that means driving fast cars, out partying every night, or whatever, the chances
are if the opportunity arrises, at that age, to put life in the 4th gear your probably
gonna do it. Some put on the brakes some go for it all. The result though is,
basically, your own doing. You can live with it and learn from it or not.
Mr. Stevens put the pedal to the metal here and came out, for what I believe,
the better.

This is Mr. Stevens' own personal L.A. confidential. A great visit back to L.A of the
1950s with all the gangsters, punch-outs, honeys, hey-hey and tinsel town
landmarks you could want. A time long gone but, luckily, not forgotten.
Highly recommended!

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Please note: Books reviewed MUST fall under the true crime genre,
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