Ira Berkowitz
Encyclopedia
Ira Berkowitz is an American writer of crime fiction
. His Jackson Steeg Mystery Series novels are set in Hell’s Kitchen
.
Berkowitz’s debut novel
Family Matters, published in 2006, won the Washington Irving Award for Literary Merit, and was a USAToday Top Ten Summer Read selection.
He followed up with his second Washington Irving Award for his novel, Old Flame published in 2008.
The third novel in the Jackson Steeg series, Sinners' Ball published in December 2009., won the Shamus Award for Best Original Paperback Crime Fiction Novel of 2009.
or law
. But advertising
beckoned. When he retired, he began to write. His first attempt at a novel
garnered fifty rejections. A few were encouraging. So, he kept at it.
Berkowitz’s novels explore the themes of family
, loyalty
, and asymmetrical justice
– an all too familiar condition where the cards are stacked against the weak.
His novels are set in Hell’s Kitchen, a gentrifying
neighborhood with a bloody, sordid past. It is as much a major character in the series as Jackson Steeg, an alcoholic
ex-NYPD Homicide Detective. Although he mourns the changes in the neighborhood he loves, Steeg knows a simple truth: No matter how much sheen and glitz is slathered on Hell’s Kitchen, crime
will always thrive in its cracks and crevasses.
Berkowitz lives with his wife in Westchester County, New York
.
Shamus Award. Best Original Paperback Crime Fiction Novel of 2009 - Ball
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
. His Jackson Steeg Mystery Series novels are set in Hell’s Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
.
Berkowitz’s debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
Family Matters, published in 2006, won the Washington Irving Award for Literary Merit, and was a USAToday Top Ten Summer Read selection.
He followed up with his second Washington Irving Award for his novel, Old Flame published in 2008.
The third novel in the Jackson Steeg series, Sinners' Ball published in December 2009., won the Shamus Award for Best Original Paperback Crime Fiction Novel of 2009.
Biography
Ira Berkowitz’s path to writing fiction took thirty years to complete. Growing up in Brooklyn, Berkowitz dreamed of a career in medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
or law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. But advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
beckoned. When he retired, he began to write. His first attempt at a novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
garnered fifty rejections. A few were encouraging. So, he kept at it.
Berkowitz’s novels explore the themes of family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
, loyalty
Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause There are many aspects to...
, and asymmetrical justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
– an all too familiar condition where the cards are stacked against the weak.
His novels are set in Hell’s Kitchen, a gentrifying
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
neighborhood with a bloody, sordid past. It is as much a major character in the series as Jackson Steeg, an alcoholic
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
ex-NYPD Homicide Detective. Although he mourns the changes in the neighborhood he loves, Steeg knows a simple truth: No matter how much sheen and glitz is slathered on Hell’s Kitchen, crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
will always thrive in its cracks and crevasses.
Berkowitz lives with his wife in Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Novels
- 2006 Family Matters
- 2008 Old Flame
- 2009 Sinners’ Ball
Major characters
- Jackson Steeg Ex-NYPD Homicide Detective.Graduate of Most Precious Blood parochial school.,
- Dave Steeg Jackson’s brother. Controls the Hell’s Kitchen Rackets,
- Anthony Steeg Dave’s son. Attended Dartmouth,
- Luce Guidry Steeg’s former partner. The only person who uses his first name,
- Dominic Steeg Retired NYPD Homicide Detective. Father of Jackson and Dave.,
- DeeDee Santos Steeg’s favorite kid,
- Justin Hapner DeeDee’s boyfriend,
- Ginny Doyle Steeg’s ex-wife,
- Allie Lebow Steeg’s new flame. Advertising copywriter,
- Nick D’Amico Mobster. Owns Feeney’s, Steeg’s favorite hangout,
- Zev Barak Russian mobster. Known as The Golem,
- Kenny Apple Mobster. Refuses to kill on the Sabbath,
- Hell’s Kitchen Steeg’s neighborhood,
Honors and awards
Washington Irving Award For Literary Merit – Family Matters,Old Flame,Shamus Award. Best Original Paperback Crime Fiction Novel of 2009 - Ball