MAYHEM IN THE MOUNTAINS

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.

. . .

“Settle in before you start Mayheim 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, Mayheim 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

“Rubin masterfully immerses readers in the unpredictable, dangerous world of 1920s New York’s Hudson Valley. Though the landscape exudes tranquility, the narrative pulses with tension—bootleggers defy prohibition, ruthless gangsters run whiskey, and the sinister presence of the KKK brings a chilling undercurrent of antisemitism. In this fourth installment of Rubin’s Gilded City series, the story stands on its own, yet devoted fans will delight in watching familiar, skillfully crafted characters evolve over time—characters who linger in your mind long 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