The Strange Death of Father Candy

Dominick Candiotti #1

by Les Roberts

Vietnam veteran Dominick Candiotti has been long estranged from his family. His late parents were close to the ruling mob clan in Youngstown, his sister was a bad-tempered and dissatisfied nag, and his middle brother was a corruptible police lieutenant. But in 1985, their oldest brother Richard Candiotti---beloved by every Italian Catholic in Youngstown as “Father Candy”---dies, and Dominick returns home for the funeral.

Dominick is greatly disturbed by Richard’s death, which has been ruled a suicide. Dissatisfied with this answer, he sets out to find the truth, revealing secrets and coming face-to-face with brutality and violence.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2011

About the author

Les Roberts is the author of 15 mystery novels featuring Cleveland detective Milan Jacovich, as well as 9 other books of fiction. The past president of both the Private Eye Writers of America and the American Crime Writer's League, he came to mystery writing after a 24-year career in Hollywood. He was the first producer and head writer of the Hollywood Squares and wrote for the Andy Griffith Show, the Jackie Gleason Show, and the Man from U.N.C.L.E., among others. He has been a professional actor, a singer, a jazz musician, and a teacher. In 2003 he received the Sherwood Anderson Literary Award. A native of Chicago, he now lives in Northeast Ohio and is a film and literary critic."

Reviews

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the Les Roberts books featuring Milan Jacovich, so I figured giving his latest book, which doesn't include the Cleveland private detective, a try was a smart move. When I learned most of it takes place in Youngstown, Ohio - maybe a dozen miles from our home and a city where I worked for 14 years collecting and writing about local news - I jumped at the chance. Now that Roberts' books are available on the Kindle (thank you!!), my husband Jack and I had it on our e-readers within seconds. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, although I suspect that because it focuses heavily on the Youngstown "mob" connection that most who live there wish would dry up and blow away forever, it may ruffle a few Mahoning Valley feathers. I've read Roberts' comment that he has no plans to do a sequel, much less a series, but the ending does seem to leave that door open at least a crack. Whether he does or not, I recommend this book highly.

[Maria Ciletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Strange Death of Father Candy, is set in 1985, blue collar Youngstown, Ohio. The author did his homework as every aspect of this books setting rang true. ( i.m from the Youngstown area.) The story was interesting , well written and very suspenseful. Milan Jakovich,and Les Roberts fans will not be dissappointed by this book.

[Stef Grimaldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for anyone from the Yo. It seems as though the author did some homework on the area and it's history with the mob. The two familes stands out the most but there are other little details that just scream Youngstown and can definitely be associated with real history and people. Definitely a good read.

[Daniel Hood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve become really impressed with the written works of Les Robert’s and lately I’ve been super into his books. Cleveland/NE Ohio based author who puts the area in which I live into each one of his books (at least the ones I’ve read so far). I love a good who-dun-it.

[Mike Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like this book. Very well written.

I like tough, smart-aleck main characters and Mr. Roberts didn't disappoint.

[Michelene Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always like the books about C!even and now like this one about Youngstown

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical mob story. I liked the first half, but then it got predictable and far-fetched at the end.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five things, after reading “The Strange Death of Father Candy” by Les Roberts

1. I am not necessarily comfortable, as a reader, with torture, hard sex, language, etc., however these were elemental to the plot and to the development of Nick’s character.

2. Nick Candiotti is a tougher, darker character than Milan Jacovich, whom I have grown fond of.

3. This novel kept me on edge, and I had to know what Nick would uncover about his brother’s death, and what methods he would use to do it.

4. The resolution of this book, set in Youngstown with rival Mafia families central to the storyline, left me disappointed in Nick but not really surprised.

5. Les Roberts has me hooked, but I think I am more interested in reading about the exploits of Milan Jacovich.

[April Helms · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read, brutally paced and doesn't pull any punches. Fans of noir mystery will most likely devour this; I know I needed a bit of a comic chaser afterwards. Roberts introduces the reader to Dominick Candiotti, a Vietnam veteran who grew up in Youngstown. To say he is not close to his family would be an understatement. He is neutral in his memories of his now- deceased parents, but his feelings towards his brother and sister are less ambiguous- he loathes them and not without reason. His brother Alfonso is a dishonest police officer who, like most of the neighborhood, is rather cozy with one of the two Mafia families. His sister Teresa is just bitter and unpleasant. The only other family member Dominick kept in contact with after moving to Chicago to escape the lawlessness of Youngstown was Richard, the well-respected and well-loved minister nicknamed "Father Candy." And Father Candiotti is dead of apparent suicide. Nick starts asking questions about the death- after all, why would a young, handsome and loved priest kill himself? What he gets at first are roadblocks from everyone, who tells him to just go back to Chicago if he can't behave himself. But Nick chips away at the walls and uncovers a lot of skeletons -- and decides to take matters into his own hands. Nick is not a nice, or even very likable character, but his motivations are somewhat understandable if a bit ironic in a way. It made me think of Michael Corleone's efforts of trying to escape his mob family, only to get sucked into it to avenge the attack on his father.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I was caught up with reading all of Les Roberts' Milan Jacovich series, I thought I'd try a 2011 novel he wrote as either a stand alone or possibly the first in a new series. This book takes place in Youngstown, Ohio in the 80s where corruption is a way of life. The main character, Dominick Candiotti, is a Vietnam vet that lives in Chicago but comes home to Youngstown for the funeral of his favorite brother, Father Candy, a priest whose death was ruled a suicide. The town is run by two opposing Mafia families and even his other brother, a cop, does favors. Both his brother, and a sister that he can't stand to be around, want him to stop asking questions about Father Candy's death, but he can't let it go. I had 3 problems with this story. I didn't like or care for any of the characters (or even the places/settings). There was also too much dialogue and not enough action for the first half or so of the story. Dominick Candiotti was a character I just couldn't like, nor could I believe it made any sense in how he acted. I love Les Roberts' Milan Jacovich series and am looking forward to the next new novel in that series.

[Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different and darker from the author of the fine Milan Jacovich P.I. series, Les Roberts. Billed as a "suspense" novel. 1985, Youngstown, Ohio, the center of two small rival "mafia" families who control all, including the cops.

Dominick Candiotti, former Special Forces in Vietnam now a 30-something bachelor in Chicago, returns to his hometown for the funeral of his beloved older brother, "Father Candy", Catholic parish priest, who austensibly committed suicide. Dominick doubts the suicide verdict and spends 274 pages figuring out what's what and extracting revenge/justice.

Dominick is not a likable character...or at least we are not given any reasons to like or admire him. So I wasn't "rooting" for him along the way.

A few false notes toward the conclusion but otherwise well-written tale.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Father Richard Candiotti has inexplicably committed suicide. His brother Dominick returns back home to Youngstown,OH for the funeral, and to ask questions as to why his devout brother would have killed himself. Unfortunately, nobody wants him asking questions. Youngstown is a hotbed of Mafia families, and the Candiotti family is smack in the middle of the 2 powerful families. Dominick left Youngstown for Vietnam, and never returned. In his search for answers, Dominick upsets both families, and is drawn into a a web of escalating violence.

Although this was a fast-moving story, I really didn't get into it. I didn't like the protagonist, and I'm not a fan of mobster stories. The writing is good however.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most interesting story about murder and crime bosses in the city of Youngstown, Ohio. Having grown up and still living within 30 miles of Youngstown, stories of mob warfare and killings and dirty deeds have long been attached to the city. This book quite accurately describes what I have heard as taking place in Y'town since I was a kid, and why so many people still today avoid that part of the state. This is the story of a priest who dies by gunshot, and the brother from Chicago who returns seeking answers only to have another brother die when his car explodes. This is an unsettling story of redemption and revenge that readers of suspense will enjoy.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Candiotti returns to his hometown of Youngstown Ohio to attend the funeral of his beloved brother Richard. A Catholic priest who committed suicide! Unbelievable, especially to Nick. His other brother, top brass in the police doesn't find it suspicious. His sister is just a unlikable crank who can only focus on Nick's abandonment of the family. As he delves into the complicated underworld of the mobs in Youngstown he realizes who was on the take, who's hiding the truth and who's telling the lies. It was a pretty good book until the final chapters which were too over the top even for a work of fiction.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 6 stars if I could--but there's a special reason. Les Roberts writes good enough mysteries--usually set in the Cleveland area. But he set this one in Youngstown which is my home town in 1985. It was so much fun reading all the local references--and he sprinkled plenty throughout this book. He does make it sound like Y-town is one big Mafia fiefdom--well, I suppose it is. Nonetheless it was very entertaining to rehash the places and times when I was young.

[Mark Levine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too much exposition, repetition and unnecessary philosophising and rationalising.Too much out of character for a cold blooded murderer.But well plotted.Following the rule that there are no extraneous characters the culprit is fairly obvious but not easily detected.The cause of the initial crime is a well hidden surprise.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is set in Youngstown, I was taken back to the 70's and 80's when Danny Green was blowing up other mobsters in Cleveland. The twist in the plot was one I didn't see coming. I read a lot of mysteries/thrillers and I usually can figure them out...just not this one. Les' books also are a bit of home here in rural Illinois.

[Diane Westin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book about a once wannabe tough guy who returns to his home town because of the death of his priest brother. There he finds reason to believe that his brother did not die of natural causes. I liked the book but I like the Milan Jakovich books better.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! Horrible people all around. Brutal yet compulsive read. Have to think about this one. I suppose for some people this may have been the real Youngstown.
Planning to see Les Roberts speak about this book among other things next week. Will be interested to hear what he has to say.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

this one was hard for me to rate ... and to read. Well written, good story, but more than a bit too intense for my tastes. I may have to skip this series, which breaks my heart, as I have read everything else Les Roberts has written and loved it. Sorry, Les :-(

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book. The characters were well fleshed out, and I had no idea whodunnit until the end. Nicely done, Mr. Roberts.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being from Youngstown, Ohio, I knew a lot of the places mentioned in the book. That made it interesting, but, the story was flat.

[Joan Leicht · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

[Kathy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book started slow and was a bit repetitive at first but became an interesting story. Living in the same area as it was written, I found hearing the names of towns and places fun.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not great literature, but a good thriller by Les Roberts.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, at least he wasn't a pedophile. But no big suspense or greatly memorial characters here. Okay for passing the time.