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Father of Mine
It’s 1973, and the mob is everywhere.The mob rules the cities. It also controls small towns like Wheeling, West Virginia, where it runs rampant, unchecked, and unlimited.
Johnny Mesagne exited the life, sort of, six years earlier. His estranged son, J.J. Jenkins, becomes intrigued by the work his father once did. J.J. eventually falls for the mistress of the boss, a man whose local authority is absolute.
Johnny’s ambivalence regarding J.J.’s choices thaws as his son slips deeper and deeper into Paul Verbania’s crew. J.J.’s dalliance with Leslie Fitzpatrick eventually complicates everyone’s interests, and safety.
Early on, the story reveals the final outcome for one of the men. The remainder of the book shows how it all came to be, eventually disclosing which one of them pays for their collective decisions with his life.
Inspired by true events, Father of Mine crafts a compelling and suspenseful tale by using actual activities of the organized crime ring in Wheeling, and by exploring the tensions that arise when a father who didn’t think he cared about his son’s chosen path realizes that he does. But the epiphany comes too late to keep his son from violating one of the most sacred rules of the never mess with the boss’s wife, or his girlfriend.
Mike Florio is one of the leading writers, reporters, and commentators covering the NFL. His website, ProFootballTalk.com, has served as the primary online clearinghouse for all NFL news and analysis for more than two decades.
His interest in the sport emerged at a young age, when his father worked as a bookie for the Wheeling mob, taking bets on every professional football game that was played.
Johnny Mesagne exited the life, sort of, six years earlier. His estranged son, J.J. Jenkins, becomes intrigued by the work his father once did. J.J. eventually falls for the mistress of the boss, a man whose local authority is absolute.
Johnny’s ambivalence regarding J.J.’s choices thaws as his son slips deeper and deeper into Paul Verbania’s crew. J.J.’s dalliance with Leslie Fitzpatrick eventually complicates everyone’s interests, and safety.
Early on, the story reveals the final outcome for one of the men. The remainder of the book shows how it all came to be, eventually disclosing which one of them pays for their collective decisions with his life.
Inspired by true events, Father of Mine crafts a compelling and suspenseful tale by using actual activities of the organized crime ring in Wheeling, and by exploring the tensions that arise when a father who didn’t think he cared about his son’s chosen path realizes that he does. But the epiphany comes too late to keep his son from violating one of the most sacred rules of the never mess with the boss’s wife, or his girlfriend.
Mike Florio is one of the leading writers, reporters, and commentators covering the NFL. His website, ProFootballTalk.com, has served as the primary online clearinghouse for all NFL news and analysis for more than two decades.
His interest in the sport emerged at a young age, when his father worked as a bookie for the Wheeling mob, taking bets on every professional football game that was played.
- GenresFiction
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2023
208 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Mike Florio
9 books17 followersMike Florio (born June 8, 1965) is an American sportswriter, radio host, and television commentator. He writes for Profootballtalk.com, which he created and owns.
Florio is also a contributor to NBC's Sunday night NFL studio show Football Night in America and appears in the Sunday Night Football postgame show to break down the NFL's top stories of the day with Bob Costas. Additionally, he appears with Peter King during halftime of NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football to discuss timely NFL topics.[2]
Florio is also a contributor to NBC's Sunday night NFL studio show Football Night in America and appears in the Sunday Night Football postgame show to break down the NFL's top stories of the day with Bob Costas. Additionally, he appears with Peter King during halftime of NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football to discuss timely NFL topics.[2]
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 26, 2023
Excellent book from a local author/friend of mine. I did not grow up in Wheeling but there were rumors of mafia connections in southern WV as welll as in Wheeling. Brought back a lot of memories Mike! Thanks for the good read. I enjoyed it!
July 25, 2023
Awesome book that really gets exciting down the stretch. Love the style it’s written in and felt like i was really taken back to West Virginia in the early 1970’s. Definitely need to make this into a movie.
January 24, 2024
Come for the mob story, stay because you read Florio on PFT. First book I’ve read in a while where I kept verbally remarking “how dumb is “x.” I guess it got me to react
September 18, 2023
What a great read! I didn’t know anything about this and received this book as a gift from one of my sons (thanks Marcus) and I’m so glad I did! He obviously knows I have a fascination with organized crime but more importantly he knows that his father would do anything for him and his siblings… just like the main character of this story.
It’s not linear, it’s told from a myriad of perspectives but what I do know is that eventually you can’t put it down… I had to a few times but wow what a ride!
It’s not linear, it’s told from a myriad of perspectives but what I do know is that eventually you can’t put it down… I had to a few times but wow what a ride!
July 21, 2025
Great story that keeps you guessing
I like the format of the story from the different characters points off view and how the relationships come together. Recommended for anyone who enjoys mob dramas. The dialogue also is on point with how people talked in the region during the 70s.
I like the format of the story from the different characters points off view and how the relationships come together. Recommended for anyone who enjoys mob dramas. The dialogue also is on point with how people talked in the region during the 70s.
June 14, 2023
thrilling good read
After listening to Mike for years on his show, I was happy to give this a try and am glad I did, it moves a long at a good pace, fantastic characters and a well driven story, rank this up there with any author,
After listening to Mike for years on his show, I was happy to give this a try and am glad I did, it moves a long at a good pace, fantastic characters and a well driven story, rank this up there with any author,
November 10, 2023
Great read and is a page turner! I was born and raised in WV and a friend from my hometown mentioned the book to me. I’m so glad she did. I enjoyed it, thought it was suspenseful, realistic and I was excited to read it each evening. I just passed the book on to another friend!
November 5, 2024
Good mob tale
I like Mike Florio on PFT and wanted to see how his fiction writing was. I’d say this story was pretty entertaining overall.
It was interesting that it was set in the 70’s.
I like Mike Florio on PFT and wanted to see how his fiction writing was. I’d say this story was pretty entertaining overall.
It was interesting that it was set in the 70’s.
January 9, 2025
absolutely great
I could not put this book down. It is so well written and absorbing. I found myself verbally commenting to actions of various characters. Mike Florio makes you feel like you’re living the tale. I highly recommend this book.
I could not put this book down. It is so well written and absorbing. I found myself verbally commenting to actions of various characters. Mike Florio makes you feel like you’re living the tale. I highly recommend this book.
April 5, 2025
Fast paced,interesting story!
Fast paced,interesting story! Read the whole book on a rainy, chilly, Saturday. Very plausible story with interesting characters. Looking forward to more books by Mr. Florio.
Fast paced,interesting story! Read the whole book on a rainy, chilly, Saturday. Very plausible story with interesting characters. Looking forward to more books by Mr. Florio.
January 8, 2026
It seems like it took forever for me to finish this book and it almost did. Some readers might like the very short chapters and the different points of view, but for me it felt very choppy and made it hard for me to get into the story. At best I felt it was just an okay read.
June 4, 2023
A Ford Pinto and AMC Gremlin? I love the 70's!
October 7, 2023
Loved it, loved it, loved it!!!!!!
October 23, 2023
This was a page turner with a lot of twists. Part thriller, part mystery. Once I started reading it I wanted to keep going. My takeaway from the book, wouldn’t it better to get a steady job?
January 4, 2024
Great novel based in my home state of WV by a WV author. It kept me guessing to the last page. I highly recommend it.
September 26, 2024
Page turner, easy to read yet hard to put down.
January 12, 2025
I couldn’t put this down
I never read fictional books and hardly finish any book for that matter. I couldn’t put this book down. Truly a diamond in the rough! Thanks, Mike!
I never read fictional books and hardly finish any book for that matter. I couldn’t put this book down. Truly a diamond in the rough! Thanks, Mike!
February 5, 2025
was unsure about this book at first because how it goes back and forth between characters, but by the end i was hooked! good read about the mafia!
December 10, 2025
Fantastic story
Father of mine is a wonderful read.
It is a fantastic reading experience.
I don’t like to read but I was hooked on this book.
Father of mine is a wonderful read.
It is a fantastic reading experience.
I don’t like to read but I was hooked on this book.
March 3, 2025
Good book. 3.5 stars. the story arc from the father is very well done but other elements didn’t impress me
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews