In the years surrounding World War II, a gritty Italian-American waterfront community in the shadow of New York City known as Narrows Gate is home to brutal wise guys, a gifted crooner hell bent on success and two young friends who have no idea what the future holds -- or how it can rip them apart. Vivid characters driven by demons and desire clash with gut-wrenching force in Jim Fusilli's violent, visceral novel as crime, rank ambition and the promise of the American dream battle for the souls of Bebe Marsala, the talented but compromised crooner; the happy-go-lucky Sal Benno, who is trapped by the mob; and Leo Bell, a newly minted member of the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of the CIA. A powerful epic in the spirit of such groundbreaking works as Mario Puzo's The Godfather and Budd Schulberg's On the Waterfront, Fusilli's saga races to Hollywood, Havana, Las Vegas and the battlefields of Sicily before it explodes in an unexpected and unforgettable conclusion.

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Two men in 1940s New Jersey are caught up in organized crime and international intrigue, in this novel by the Edgar nominee and author of Narrows Gate. After a bloody showdown with the mob, grocer Sal Benno is being left in peace—at least for now. But he carries a gun and looks over his shoulder as he goes about his business. Sal’s lifelong friend, Leo, is also still in the gritty waterfront town of Narrows Gate—for the time being. Unlike Sal, he has a woman in his life and a promising future at CBS across the river, though the Red Scare hangs over the network and threatens his career. Meanwhile, in Sicily, an exiled Mafia boss works to protect his weakened empire from rivals and opportunists, darting around the world as the CIA tries to keep a tail on him. With chaos ruling in the wake of a crackdown on organized crime, the effects are felt from Havana to Hollywood, Las Vegas to Greece—and in the lives of Sal, Leo, and those they love. In this novel that takes readers into back alleys and halls of power, the two must struggle to hold their friendship and their community together, even as they are driven to desperation. Praise for Narrows Gate “Must be ranked among the half-dozen most memorable novels about the Mob.” —Mystery Scene “A uniquely American tale of ambition and failure, of people who underplay their hands and those who overstep their bounds . . . Dazzling.” —David Liss, Edgar Award–winning novelist “Equal parts Ellroy, Puzo and Scorsese.” —George Pelecanos, writer andproducer of The Wire and author of The Night Gardener “As tender as it is tough . . . A compelling, gritty, and brilliant voice.” —Lisa Scottoline, New York Times–bestselling author