Pablo Fandango — James Kelly

On Christmas Eve 1981, the brutal slaying of a 'Ndrangheta enforcer in a Hamilton parking lot sends shockwaves through a tough working-class community and separates two childhood friends. Marty settles in Calgary for a time -- his family slowly disintegrating under the strain -- while what's left of Matt's family tries to come to grips with their loss and make a new start in nearby St. Catharines.Five years later, Matt and Marty cross paths again in Toronto and pick up their friendship where they left off . Now tough, brash, and quick on their feet, the two of them are soon living off their wits and up to their necks in small-time scams, the occasional well-planned heist, and anything that can make them a quick buck. But when Marty comes up with a scam that will land them more money than either of them have ever seen, they know it will mean upping their game. It will also mean enlisting the help of heavy Hamilton mafia connections they'd previously avoided.Set in the fall of 1990 -- and drawing loose inspiration from real life events -- Pablo Fandango is the first in a series of Marty Ronan novels.