THE SINS WE INHERIT

In Emanuele’s thriller, the estranged grandson of a Mafia boss is lured back into a life of crime after his grandfather’s death.

The story opens in Milwaukee during the wake of Costantino “Cost” Caduto’s grandfather, Tiger, who had maintained a dominant presence in the construction business and in organized crime. His grandson has distanced himself from this milieu to raise his daughter, Maddy, after a fractured marriage. Tiger’s funeral brings Cost back into the center of Milwaukee’s criminal world, and Cost’s eulogy (“Tiger didn’t just live in this city. He helped shape it”) leads some to believe he might be ready to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, igniting old rivalries. Frank Vistoso, who thinks he’s Tiger’s rightful heir, bristles at Cost’s presence, and biker-gang leader Marek Novak sets his sights on the Caduto family. Cost tries to protect Maddy and Maria Celestina, a lost love from his past, with whom he’s reconnecting. As the narrative unfolds, often via family gatherings, Cost’s confrontations with Frank and his circle escalate. Cost realizes that despite his attempts to stay out of the “family business,” allies such as Donny Caduto and Lorenzo Leale are looking to him for leadership. Attorney James Flut, who was loyal to Tiger, is now assessing how the crime enterprise can survive. Cost struggles to choose between embracing his legacy or rewriting the story of his bloodline. Emanuele’s novel, set in a crime-ridden world, combines harsh elements with poetic language and explores how subtle interactions can expose feelings of loyalty and fear. Cost displays strong character development as he reckons with past wounds and his desperate wish to create a better life for his daughter. The story increases in danger and emotional impact via the well-developed characters of Frank, who displays fake confidence, and Maddy, who keeps her feelings hidden. The narrative’s deliberate pacing sets a rhythm that matches the heavy burden Cost bears in his situation.

A compelling yarn filled with drama, crime, and contemplations of identity.