Plot

The rise and fall of gang lord Joe Sante.

Joe Sante wants to be the big man, and nobody is going stand in his way. In a world full of smoke, molls, shakedowns, muscle, and murder, Joe knows what he wants and how to get it. But can he disregard his poor old immigrant parents who are ashamed of his criminal life? Will he drag his sweet girlfriend into the life of the underworld? And most importantly, can Joe trust his mobster friends?—Martin Lewison <lewison+@pitt.edu>

Joe Sante, crime syndicate chief, looks back on his life, from petty gang involvement at age 11, through drug dealing, prison, murder, and labor racketeering, rapidly rising to the top in a profession where murder is just another business method and women are sexy 'broads' to be used. But the latter hold little interest for Joe; the one woman he wants is virtuous Teresa, who waits, hoping against all odds for Joe to reform. Will he go the way of his predecessors?—Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>