Award-winning best sellers that ignite worlds.
Mayhem in the Mountains -
Coming June 9th! Preorder now!
1924 in the Catskills sizzled with chaos. The region’s turbulent history during that era could easily have erased any trace of the Borscht Belt’s grand hotels. Prohibition fueled bootleggers and whiskey stills—Dutch Schultz ran an underground distillery in nearby Ulster County. Meanwhile, the Ku Klux Klan stormed north after WWI, targeting new immigrants they viewed as threats to the American way of life. Amid the turmoil, the Isaacson family stood their ground, fiercely defending their land, livelihoods, and each other.
"Jane Loeb Rubin transports us to the Catskill Mountains in 1924 in her riveting and action-packed new novel, MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS. As the story opens, Prohibition fuels crime and the Ku Klux Klan has drifted north, threatening those they consider outsiders. Against this turbulent backdrop, Rubin follows three characters struggling with family bonds and sweeping change. Whether you’re a fan of Rubin’s earlier novels or new to her stories, you’ll race through MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS, cheering for her characters to overcome all obstacles."
Marlie Parker Wasserman, author of INFERNO ON FIFTH AND FIRST DAUGHTER
"Rubin masterfully transports the reader back to the 1920s in New York’s Hudson Valley. Though the setting exudes tranquility, the story pulses with tension – bootleggers defying prohibition, gangsters running whiskey, the KKK’s sinister presence with its chilling undercurrent of antisemitism. This fourth book in Rubin’s Gilded City series stands alone, though devoted fans of her previous novels will enjoy meeting her well-developed characters again, characters who linger after the final page is turned"
Linda Rosen, best-selling author of THE EMERALD NECKLACE.
"Readers are in for a treat with Rubin’s fresh historical fiction. Exploring a little-known sliver of 1920s history, MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS has it all: strong female characters (especially the firebrand heroine), complex family dynamics, really bad, bad guys (the KKK) and a hopeful, satisfying finish. This tale of an industrious Jewish family in the Catskills is sure to delight."
Samantha Greene Woodruff, bestselling author of THE TRADE OFF
and THE LOBOTOMIST’S WIFE
Settle in before you start MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS —this coming-of-age adventure will keep you reading straight through to the end. The novel vividly evokes 1920s America through the eyes of 18-year-old Ella Levine, a determined young woman who finds unexpected belonging among her extended Jewish family in the Catskills after years of neglect. But danger lurks as Ella crosses paths with notorious gangster Dutch Schultz and, with her family, faces the antisemitism of the rising Ku Klux Klan. Rich and unforgettable, MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS is a story of resilience, identity, and family that kept me turning pages late into the night. -
Mally Becker, 2025 IPPY “best mystery” gold medal winner & Agatha Award-nominated author of THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR MYSTERIES
EARLY PRAISE FOR
Mayhem in the Mountain
Mayhem in the Mountains by Jane Loeb Rubin opens with eighteen-year-old Ella
deciding to leave Brooklyn behind and head to the Catskills with her younger brother,
Robbie, in search of relatives. It is set in the 1920s, a time that shapes so much of
what they experience along the way. What starts as an escape from her father’s home
quickly turns into something bigger. Upon arriving at Uncle Nate and Aunt Jenny’s, the
siblings begin to adjust to a different way of life and learn about their extended family.
Throughout the summer, Ella forms new connections, including Albert, while also
helping out by caring for her cousins. At the same time, events beyond their control
begin to unfold, and the community grows concerned about criminal activity and
rising social tensions. Will the situation settle down or keep building? Will Ella finally
discover where she truly belongs?
I found myself quickly drawn into Ella’s story in Mayhem in the Mountains by Jane
Loeb Rubin. Her journey seemed very real, and I had a lot of empathy for her home
life and for why it would make her want to flee. I was hoping she would find love, and I
was not disappointed with how it turned out. Their connection, while sort of
unconventional, added warmth to a more serious plot. Also, I felt comforted to know
that she was able to form bonds with family members who truly seemed to care about
her and her brother. Miriam was my favorite of her relatives. She was strong,
stubborn, and very endearing. The writing is easy to follow, and the pacing is perfect.
There’s a good balance between quieter moments, like when Ella watches the sky
change, and the more intense ones. Fans of historical fiction with strong family ties
and a touch of romance will really enjoy this book. Such a great story."
Jennifer Senick for READERS' FAVORITE