A million-dollar bond fraud. Corrupt officials. Ruthless gangsters. In the depths of the Great Depression, Kansas was rocked by one of the most explosive financial scandals in its history—a true story that now serves as inspiration for West Bottoms, a gripping new work of historical fiction by Kansas native authors Rogers Brazier and Mace Thornton.
West Bottoms transports readers to 1930s Kansas City, where a young woman from Dust Bowl Kansas is swept into a dangerous love affair that leads straight into the chaos of a million-dollar financial conspiracy. Detectives wrestle with their own demons to unravel the truth, gangsters close in, and betrayals pile up. The novel asks one central question: In a world built on deception, does anyone escape unscathed?
For co-authors Brazier and Thornton, telling this story was a labor of love—and an unexpected partnership.
“Writing this book together was like playing jazz—sometimes we were in perfect sync, other times we had to improvise, but in the end, we created something richer than we could have on our own,” said Brazier. “The West Bottoms was Kansas City’s beating heart, filled with industry, crime, and untold stories.”
Thornton, who published his debut novel Jawbone Holler last year, agreed, emphasizing the novel’s historical depth.
“This story has everything—grifters, gangsters, G-men, and a city on the edge,” he said. “It’s inspired by history and reads like a thriller. Rogers and I wanted to take readers deep into the grit and desperation of the 1930s and make them feel like they were right there, navigating the smoky speakeasies and backroom deals.”
With a blend of historical elements and page-turning suspense, West Bottoms offers a compelling read for lovers of historical fiction, Kansas City, crime thrillers, and stories about the resilience of people in desperate times. The novel is currently available on Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.
To request a reading or appearance, or for interviews, review copies, or more information, please contact Thornton at macethornton@gmail.com or Brazier at rbrazier1955@gmail.com.