Bless Me, Father

by Mark Kriegel

Reminiscent of the work of Pete Dexter, this stunning novel of crime, vengeance, and redemption, set on New York City's meanest streets, revolves around one desperate man who will do anything to regain his honor--and another who will do anything to save his soul. Frank Battaglia is a swaggering soldier of the Mafia, greedy for the power generations of thugs have taken as their right and compelled by an inner demon to rip away the shame that surrounds him like a shroud. As a young fighter, Frank fell apart in the ring at Madison Square Garden, a humiliation witnessed by the most powerful gangster in the city. In Frank's eyes, only one person can salvage his his son Nicky. Life, however, is not as Frank envisions it. The Village, once the unquestioned fiefdom of the Mob, has gone sour on him, turned into a haven for yuppies. And Nicky, devastated by the suicide of his older brother, wants only to play basketball, lose his virginity, and listen to sweet soul music, his brother's legacy to him. His father's plan to make him a champion in the boxing ring and on the streets repels and horrifies him. But when the gangland-style murder of the city's last great Mafia don puts Frank on the front pages of the tabloids, Nicky discovers a terrible truth about his father--and the truth about what it means to be a tough guy in the nightmare universe of New York's underground. Resounding with the authentic voices of New York City and pounding to the beat of the streets, "Bless Me, Father" is a gritty, chilling portrait of what life is really like in the Mafia, where men are sacrificed, destroyed, and, sometimes, made whole in the name of honor.

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1996

Reviews

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, it leaves a smile on your face whilst reading it - the ups and down of the newly ordained priest being steered by the classical Irish priest who pulls no punches. I don't think you need to be catholic to get enjoyment out of this. The characters are very likable and I have met priests like Fr Duddleswell, so must have Neil Boyd because he takes them off to a tee. This book was provided free in return for a unbiased and honest review.