Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Crossing The Bronx” by David Hirshberg, Fig Tree Books, Over the River Public Relations, June 2, 2026.

David Hirshberg, the Author of “Crossing The Bronx” has written a powerful, intriguing, and thought-provoking Historical Fiction Novel. There are some deep and potent layers in this challenging novel. The author reinvents the story of Jacob and Esau, brothers at odds, and also describes the political climate, ambitions, fraudulent funding, political corruption, gang street action in The Bronx in the 1950s. At the center of the novel, is Robert Moses building the Cross Bronx Expressway. It seems that there are two ways to build this, and each one can affect part of the community. In this well written masterpiece, the author vividly describes the area concerned, the politicians involved, and the dark, colorful, complex, complicated and flawed characters. In this story, Jay and his brother Eric are at odds with the direction that the Expressway should be built. Their father, Ike is a Policeman, who makes extra money by working for unscrupulous people. There are betrayals, wiretapping, tapes, lies, the mob’s actions, bribing, threats, and murder. Jay and his girlfriend try to get the people from the community to fight this.

This reads like a true crime story and also as a flawed and dysfunctional family, different cultures that clash, and political corruption. I highly recommend this intense and thrilling Historical Fiction novel. I look forward to reading the author’s other two books.