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In Powder Blue
Vincent never had a chance.
He lost his mother in the South Tower.
He lost his father to a bottle.
The rest, he gave away slowly—to heroin, silence, and survival.
Vincent LoCicero never planned to become a criminal. But when you grow up in post-9/11 Long Island, raised by a grieving alcoholic and groomed by your uncle—a bitter ex-Marine with a hand in every local hustle—you learn grief doesn’t kill you quick. It hollows you out from the inside.
At sixteen, Vincent is dealing heroin.
At twenty, he’s committing robbery at a lawyer’s office and walks out with a USB drive filled with secrets powerful men would kill to keep buried.
He doesn’t know what’s on it—just that his uncle wants it gone, and the men chasing it don’t ask questions before they shoot.
Years later, clean but still haunted, Vincent tries to disappear with Lucy—a woman who knows what it means to live with ghosts. But by the time he realizes the USB holds an encrypted Bitcoin wallet tied to powerful, dangerous people… it’s already too late. Bodies start turning up. Unfamiliar cars follow him. And when the FBI finally tackles him to the pavement, he the past doesn’t let you go. It collects.
In Powder Blue is a literary crime novel about addiction, grief, legacy, and the illusion of escape. Set in the emotional wreckage of post-9/11 Long Island, it blends the atmospheric weight of Mystic River with the tragic pull of Breaking Bad and the psychological depth of The Sopranos. It’s not just about crime—it’s about the boys left behind by fathers, systems, and silence.
This book deals with opioid addiction, emotional violence, the rot under suburban respectability—and the rare, human moments that still break through. It’s raw, cinematic, and unflinching.
I grew up in Levittown. I lost friends. I buried parts of myself to survive. I wrote this book over five years, not as therapy, but as truth. I'm a father of four now. A husband. A builder of homes instead of excuses. But this book is the last thing I had to get out before I could really move on.
He lost his mother in the South Tower.
He lost his father to a bottle.
The rest, he gave away slowly—to heroin, silence, and survival.
Vincent LoCicero never planned to become a criminal. But when you grow up in post-9/11 Long Island, raised by a grieving alcoholic and groomed by your uncle—a bitter ex-Marine with a hand in every local hustle—you learn grief doesn’t kill you quick. It hollows you out from the inside.
At sixteen, Vincent is dealing heroin.
At twenty, he’s committing robbery at a lawyer’s office and walks out with a USB drive filled with secrets powerful men would kill to keep buried.
He doesn’t know what’s on it—just that his uncle wants it gone, and the men chasing it don’t ask questions before they shoot.
Years later, clean but still haunted, Vincent tries to disappear with Lucy—a woman who knows what it means to live with ghosts. But by the time he realizes the USB holds an encrypted Bitcoin wallet tied to powerful, dangerous people… it’s already too late. Bodies start turning up. Unfamiliar cars follow him. And when the FBI finally tackles him to the pavement, he the past doesn’t let you go. It collects.
In Powder Blue is a literary crime novel about addiction, grief, legacy, and the illusion of escape. Set in the emotional wreckage of post-9/11 Long Island, it blends the atmospheric weight of Mystic River with the tragic pull of Breaking Bad and the psychological depth of The Sopranos. It’s not just about crime—it’s about the boys left behind by fathers, systems, and silence.
This book deals with opioid addiction, emotional violence, the rot under suburban respectability—and the rare, human moments that still break through. It’s raw, cinematic, and unflinching.
I grew up in Levittown. I lost friends. I buried parts of myself to survive. I wrote this book over five years, not as therapy, but as truth. I'm a father of four now. A husband. A builder of homes instead of excuses. But this book is the last thing I had to get out before I could really move on.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
201 people are currently reading
1792 people want to read
About the author
Nikolas Pleiadi
2 books18 followersNikolas Pleiadi is a Long Island-born author whose work explores grief, addiction, legacy, and the weight of silence. His debut novel, In Powder Blue, is a gritty, emotionally charged literary crime story set in post-9/11 Levittown — a place where loyalty runs deep, and ghosts never stay buried.
Blending the psychological depth of Mystic River with the raw tension of The Sopranos, Pleiadi writes fiction that feels personal, cinematic, and uncomfortably real. He believes in flawed characters, haunted places, and stories that hit like a fist to the chest.
When he's not writing, he's probably driving too fast down the Wantagh Parkway, lifting heavy things, or building something that hurts a little to talk about.
Visit him at: www.nikolaspleiadi.com
Blending the psychological depth of Mystic River with the raw tension of The Sopranos, Pleiadi writes fiction that feels personal, cinematic, and uncomfortably real. He believes in flawed characters, haunted places, and stories that hit like a fist to the chest.
When he's not writing, he's probably driving too fast down the Wantagh Parkway, lifting heavy things, or building something that hurts a little to talk about.
Visit him at: www.nikolaspleiadi.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
May 13, 2025
What makes this novel truly exceptional is its emotional depth.The writing is so detailed, cinematic, and layered with symbolism. These details built a world that feels heartbreakingly real. The ending can be happy or somber or even both at the same time depending how you look at it. The ambiguity behind it when you hear the repetitive phrase of Maria saying “See Vin, it’s okay here” sent chills down my spine. Did Vincent really make it out? Or was peace just another illusion? Leaving that question lingering in the air makes this story unforgettable. You can tell Nikolas Pleiadi put his all into writing this.
If you’re looking for a crime drama with heart and soul, In Powder Blue is a must-read. Five stars, without hesitation.
If you’re looking for a crime drama with heart and soul, In Powder Blue is a must-read. Five stars, without hesitation.
July 25, 2025
10/10. The music linked to the story is the coolest concept that I’ve seen. I love an underdog story, especially involving addiction, trauma, etc. Had all the makings of classic literature with heartbreak and redemption
May 28, 2025
I got to read In Powder Blue early as an ARC reader and I’m still trying to catch my breath, honestly. The whole book pulled me in.the characters, the setting, the way it handled grief and addiction and family but it was the ending that really got ne.
It’s not just sad or shocking..its earned. It feels like you’ve lived a whole life by the time you get there. I won’t spoil anything, but I sat there with the book closed in my lap for like ten minutes after. Just… sitting with it.
I’ve read a lot of books, but this one felt personal. Even if you didn’t grow up on Long Island or lose someone on 9/11, there’s something universal here .about pain, love, silence, legacy. It reminded me of The Sopranos, but it also reminded me of people I love. People I’ve lost.
If you’re looking for something that stays with you.not just a good story, but something that matters , read this.
It’s not just sad or shocking..its earned. It feels like you’ve lived a whole life by the time you get there. I won’t spoil anything, but I sat there with the book closed in my lap for like ten minutes after. Just… sitting with it.
I’ve read a lot of books, but this one felt personal. Even if you didn’t grow up on Long Island or lose someone on 9/11, there’s something universal here .about pain, love, silence, legacy. It reminded me of The Sopranos, but it also reminded me of people I love. People I’ve lost.
If you’re looking for something that stays with you.not just a good story, but something that matters , read this.
July 23, 2025
Very relatable
I grew up in an Sicilian family on Long Island with some very similar relatives and neighbors.
Some of thks story brought back happy,
scary, crazy memories.
Excellent job!
I grew up in an Sicilian family on Long Island with some very similar relatives and neighbors.
Some of thks story brought back happy,
scary, crazy memories.
Excellent job!
May 28, 2025
I got to read In Powder Blue early as an ARC reader and I’m still trying to catch my breath, honestly. The whole book pulled me in.the characters, the setting, the way it handled grief and addiction and family but it was the ending that really got ne.
It’s not just sad or shocking..its earned. It feels like you’ve lived a whole life by the time you get there. I won’t spoil anything, but I sat there with the book closed in my lap for like ten minutes after. Just… sitting with it.
I’ve read a lot of books, but this one felt personal. Even if you didn’t grow up on Long Island or lose someone on 9/11, there’s something universal here .about pain, love, silence, legacy. It reminded me of The Sopranos, but it also reminded me of people I love. People I’ve lost.
If you’re looking for something that stays with you.not just a good story, but something that matters , read this.
It’s not just sad or shocking..its earned. It feels like you’ve lived a whole life by the time you get there. I won’t spoil anything, but I sat there with the book closed in my lap for like ten minutes after. Just… sitting with it.
I’ve read a lot of books, but this one felt personal. Even if you didn’t grow up on Long Island or lose someone on 9/11, there’s something universal here .about pain, love, silence, legacy. It reminded me of The Sopranos, but it also reminded me of people I love. People I’ve lost.
If you’re looking for something that stays with you.not just a good story, but something that matters , read this.
June 20, 2025
This powerful and honest book follows the journey of someone who battles and ultimately overcomes drug addiction. It’s a raw, emotional story of struggle, relapse, and resilience. The author’s vulnerability makes their transformation feel real and inspiring. A must-read for anyone seeking hope, understanding, or a reminder that recovery is possible.
May 21, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of In Powder Blue, and I can honestly say it’s one of the most emotionally layered and unforgettable books I’ve read in a long time. On the surface, it’s a crime novel.. but that doesn’t begin to cover what this story actually is. It’s a coming-of-age epic set in post-9/11 Long Island. It’s about addiction, survival, grief, and masculinity, but also about family, and how the people who shape you can save you or destroy you (sometimes both.)
The main character, Vincent LoCicero, is the kind of narrator who gets under your skin. He’s raw, self-aware, wounded, and often funny as hell..especially in the early scenes with his friends or while navigating his chaotic world with that dry, burned-out humor that only trauma survivors seem to master. And yet, there are passages in this book that absolutely crushed me. The scenes with his father, especially when they don’t talk, when they can’t talk felt so real that I had to put the book down.
Then there’s Uncle Joe, one of the most compelling and disturbing characters I’ve read in recent fiction. He’s magnetic, bitter, terrifying, and familiar in a way that’s hard to admit. You can feel his damage spilling onto Vincent’s life. And Anthony, his cold, quiet shadow. The way he moves behind everything, the power he has without raising his voice..it’s chilling. Every time he shows up, you tense up, because you know something big is about to happen. Their dynamic, especially when you realize who’s pulling the strings, is masterful.
And somehow, amidst all that darkness, there’s beauty. There are sentences in this book that feel like poetry. The powder blue Mercedes that becomes more than just a car. It becomes memory, hope, grief, legacy. The symbolism in this novel doesn’t hit you over the head. iOt sinks in, slow and permanent, like scars.
If you’re looking for a book that’s just action, this might not be for you. But if you want something that feels like real life that’s messy, funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful then read this. If you’ve ever loved someone you couldn’t save, or grew up around silence instead of softness, this will hit you deep.
In Powder Blue is the kind of book you underline. The kind you remember. And trust me: by the time the last scene fades out, you’ll want to sit in the dark for a minute, just letting it settle.
The main character, Vincent LoCicero, is the kind of narrator who gets under your skin. He’s raw, self-aware, wounded, and often funny as hell..especially in the early scenes with his friends or while navigating his chaotic world with that dry, burned-out humor that only trauma survivors seem to master. And yet, there are passages in this book that absolutely crushed me. The scenes with his father, especially when they don’t talk, when they can’t talk felt so real that I had to put the book down.
Then there’s Uncle Joe, one of the most compelling and disturbing characters I’ve read in recent fiction. He’s magnetic, bitter, terrifying, and familiar in a way that’s hard to admit. You can feel his damage spilling onto Vincent’s life. And Anthony, his cold, quiet shadow. The way he moves behind everything, the power he has without raising his voice..it’s chilling. Every time he shows up, you tense up, because you know something big is about to happen. Their dynamic, especially when you realize who’s pulling the strings, is masterful.
And somehow, amidst all that darkness, there’s beauty. There are sentences in this book that feel like poetry. The powder blue Mercedes that becomes more than just a car. It becomes memory, hope, grief, legacy. The symbolism in this novel doesn’t hit you over the head. iOt sinks in, slow and permanent, like scars.
If you’re looking for a book that’s just action, this might not be for you. But if you want something that feels like real life that’s messy, funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful then read this. If you’ve ever loved someone you couldn’t save, or grew up around silence instead of softness, this will hit you deep.
In Powder Blue is the kind of book you underline. The kind you remember. And trust me: by the time the last scene fades out, you’ll want to sit in the dark for a minute, just letting it settle.
September 2, 2025
Honestly, In Powder Blue hit me harder than I expected. If you’re into The Sopranos, Goodfellas, or The Godfather, you’re going to feel right at homebut this book digs into the people behind the crime in a way those classics only hint at. The characters feel fully alive, messy, and heartbreaking. You see their loyalty, their screw-ups, their small moments of tenderness, and all the stuff that eats at them inside.What really got me was how much depth there is. It’s not just action and schemes it’s the quiet stuff too: the fear, the guilt, the “what did I just do” moments. It reminded me of Dennis Lehane or even the way Elmore Leonard can make a brief conversation say more than most pages of exposition. And the writing? It’s cinematic without feeling like it’s trying too hardlik e you’re watching this world unfold right in front of you.
There’s also this insane attention to detail. Little Easter eggs, recurring motifs, tiny patterns it’s like the book is alive, rewarding you if you pay attention. And after you finish it, you can’t stop thinking about the people in it—their choices, their regrets, the moments of humanity in a world designed to crush them.
If you love crime stories but want one that’s smart, real, and hits emotionally as much as it hits with tension and suspense, In Powder Blue is the one. It’s violent, yeah but it’s also tender and painfully human. This is the kind of book you carry with you for a wh
There’s also this insane attention to detail. Little Easter eggs, recurring motifs, tiny patterns it’s like the book is alive, rewarding you if you pay attention. And after you finish it, you can’t stop thinking about the people in it—their choices, their regrets, the moments of humanity in a world designed to crush them.
If you love crime stories but want one that’s smart, real, and hits emotionally as much as it hits with tension and suspense, In Powder Blue is the one. It’s violent, yeah but it’s also tender and painfully human. This is the kind of book you carry with you for a wh
June 20, 2025
This compelling book tells the story of a person’s fight to overcome drug addiction. It’s a heartfelt and unflinching look at the challenges of recovery, marked by setbacks and strength. The honesty throughout makes the journey feel deeply personal and inspiring. A powerful read for anyone looking for hope or insight into addiction and healing.
August 6, 2025
one of the most authentic portraits of this time and era. Levittown was due for something like this. Bravo.
August 8, 2025
The story keeps you hooked till the last page and then boom!
Soulful, realistic and what not. Written beautifully, every scene feels so real. The characters are top notch, each one is relatable in a way or too. A solid 5 STAR book.
Soulful, realistic and what not. Written beautifully, every scene feels so real. The characters are top notch, each one is relatable in a way or too. A solid 5 STAR book.
August 2, 2025
truly one of my favorite books of all time. ive read it 3 times and im still finding things that make me go "oooo thats what that meant"
December 27, 2025
I finished In Powder Blue and the first thing that hit me was the voice. The narration has that same confessional pull Henry Hill has in Goodfellas. Not in a flashy way and not in a try hard way. More like someone sitting across from you at a table telling you the truth because they are tired of carrying it alone. It feels lived in. Casual. Dangerous. Like you are being let into a story you were never supposed to hear.
What makes it work is that the voice never glamorizes what is happening. The narrator sounds self aware in the way the best crime narrators are. He knows how seductive the life is while also knowing exactly how it destroys people. That balance is hard to pull off and it is what separates this from a standard crime novel.
The book also reminded me of literary classics that deal with memory and guilt rather than plot alone. There are echoes of Dennis Lehane in the emotional weight and the way violence leaves residue long after it happens. It has that Don DeLillo sense of American trauma where personal loss and national tragedy blur together. And at times it carries the same quiet ache you find in Raymond Carver where what is left unsaid hurts more than what is spelled out.
What really stayed with me is how the book treats family. Loyalty is not noble here. It is complicated and suffocating and often lethal. The people who love you the most are sometimes the ones who set the trap without realizing it. That idea runs through the entire story and gives it a depth you do not usually see in this genre.
In Powder Blue is not a nostalgia trip and it is not a redemption fantasy. It reads like a reckoning. The kind of book that understands why people romanticize the past while refusing to let you escape the consequences of it. When I closed it I felt like I had just been told a secret that was never meant to be clean or comforting and that is exactly why it works.
What makes it work is that the voice never glamorizes what is happening. The narrator sounds self aware in the way the best crime narrators are. He knows how seductive the life is while also knowing exactly how it destroys people. That balance is hard to pull off and it is what separates this from a standard crime novel.
The book also reminded me of literary classics that deal with memory and guilt rather than plot alone. There are echoes of Dennis Lehane in the emotional weight and the way violence leaves residue long after it happens. It has that Don DeLillo sense of American trauma where personal loss and national tragedy blur together. And at times it carries the same quiet ache you find in Raymond Carver where what is left unsaid hurts more than what is spelled out.
What really stayed with me is how the book treats family. Loyalty is not noble here. It is complicated and suffocating and often lethal. The people who love you the most are sometimes the ones who set the trap without realizing it. That idea runs through the entire story and gives it a depth you do not usually see in this genre.
In Powder Blue is not a nostalgia trip and it is not a redemption fantasy. It reads like a reckoning. The kind of book that understands why people romanticize the past while refusing to let you escape the consequences of it. When I closed it I felt like I had just been told a secret that was never meant to be clean or comforting and that is exactly why it works.
November 29, 2025
This book was tough to get through. As someone who has never touched drugs, not even Marijuana, I had a difficult time, thankfully, understanding the choices Vin and Joe made. I don't understand how people get pulled into that life and even when they see that it's killing those they love and probably them, too, they stay in it. I understand heartbreak, sadness, and hopelessness, but not on that level, again, thankfully. However, I believe it's important to read books like this, to experience these kinds of situations vicariously, so that I can be empathetic to people I meet who live like this so that I can try to help them in any way I can, if they allow me to do so, even if it's just listening to them. Again, for me, this was a tough read, but I'm glad the author was able to pull himself out of this life, create a new life, and provide credible fiction for people to understand the devastation and despair addicts face, especially in today's chaotic world.
December 19, 2025
I picked up In Powder Blue expecting a crime story and ended up getting something way heavier in the best way. It’s not flashy or try-hard. It just feels real. The kind of book where you forget you’re reading and start feeling like you’re sitting next to someone telling you something they’ve been holding in for years.
This book is a MASTERPIECE and i dont use that lightly.
What stood out most to me was how quiet and personal it is even when bad things are happening. There’s violence and addiction and crime in it but none of it feels glorified. It all has weight. Every decision carries consequences and you can feel the damage ripple through families instead of being wrapped up in some cool gangster fantasy.
The writing is simple but sharp. No wasted words. A lot of moments hit harder because they’re understated. There were scenes I had to stop on for a second because they felt too close to real life not because they were dramatic but because they were honest.
It’s also one of those books that stays with you after you’re done. You keep thinking about the characters and wondering how much of this stuff actually happens around us without anyone talking about it.
If you like character-driven stories that don’t insult your intelligence and don’t sugarcoat reality this is absolutely worth reading. It feels like a book someone needed to write not just wanted to.
This book is a MASTERPIECE and i dont use that lightly.
What stood out most to me was how quiet and personal it is even when bad things are happening. There’s violence and addiction and crime in it but none of it feels glorified. It all has weight. Every decision carries consequences and you can feel the damage ripple through families instead of being wrapped up in some cool gangster fantasy.
The writing is simple but sharp. No wasted words. A lot of moments hit harder because they’re understated. There were scenes I had to stop on for a second because they felt too close to real life not because they were dramatic but because they were honest.
It’s also one of those books that stays with you after you’re done. You keep thinking about the characters and wondering how much of this stuff actually happens around us without anyone talking about it.
If you like character-driven stories that don’t insult your intelligence and don’t sugarcoat reality this is absolutely worth reading. It feels like a book someone needed to write not just wanted to.
October 24, 2025
Wow! Just wow! I was intrigued by this book only by being from NY. I grew up on Long Island and have passed through many of the same places mentioned. This story was personal, heart breaking, emotional and showed perseverance. I had a love hate relationship with 1-800-UNCLE JOE. The Midget understood the game. Trauma and heartbreak led to a life of love and a new game.
November 5, 2025
In Powder Blue
A gripping, pull at your heart novel. A young boy with the loss of a mother due to the tragic event of 9/11, and a world of narcotics. Many references to Godfather and Sopranos and this novel is just like those shows and movie but in a reality.
A gripping, pull at your heart novel. A young boy with the loss of a mother due to the tragic event of 9/11, and a world of narcotics. Many references to Godfather and Sopranos and this novel is just like those shows and movie but in a reality.
August 25, 2025
this book was both exillerating and emotional. a modern take on an american gangster story.
December 27, 2025
Touching, poignant, and so real - so raw. It kept me turning page after page hoping for the happy ending - a light at the end of an endlessly dark tunnel. Absolutely loved!
January 30, 2026
I knew Mike who Joe is based on and i knew Jimmy and Anthony. Good for you Nicky! you beat the odds! This book belongs with the greats. I cant wait for the movie, because there will be one. its undeniable.
October 25, 2025
The perfect mix of crime and real life scenarios that we can all resonate with. This book was fast paced and grabbed you the minute you started reading.
August 2, 2025
truly one of my favorite books of all time. ive read it 3 times and im still finding things that make me go "oooo thats what that meant"
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October 1, 2025great book and relatable
It was an easy read,fast paced and exciting while also raising awareness of the drug problems in this country. I am a long islander and from queens originally. I !loved the references to all love the island.
It was an easy read,fast paced and exciting while also raising awareness of the drug problems in this country. I am a long islander and from queens originally. I !loved the references to all love the island.
September 19, 2025
great book
I enjoyed this book immensely, especially since it took place on Long Island where I grew up and currently live. Well written, kept me coming back for more.
I enjoyed this book immensely, especially since it took place on Long Island where I grew up and currently live. Well written, kept me coming back for more.
December 14, 2025
I’ve been watching and reading mob stories my whole life. I know the difference between the real thing and something dressed up to look like it. Most books get the surface right and miss the soul. In Powder Blue doesn’t.
This feels closer to Mean Streets and Goodfellas than a book. It reads like a Scorcese movie. Someone needs to get this to him ASAP. It’s not about the score or the shine. It’s about the cost. The quiet damage. The stuff that never makes it into the stories people brag about. I felt like i was hearing Henry Hills Narration in Goodfellas in my head when reading from Vincents POV.
What I respected most is that the book doesn’t try to sell you the life. It shows you what it does to people. Addiction isn’t some side plot it’s the gravity that pulls everything down. Families don’t explode, they erode. People don’t get dramatic endings, they just fade out.
Vincent reads like Not a movie tough guy. A guy doing what he has to do because every other door is closed. The crime is there, but it’s background noise to the real story, which is survival and loss.
The writing is restrained. No wasted speeches. No cartoon villains. When something violent happens, it’s quick and ugly, like it usually is. The book trusts you to feel it without explaining it.
This reminded me of why I liked these stories in the first place — before everything got flashy. Before the lifestyle stuff. Back when it was about loyalty, bad decisions, and the weight you carry long after the night’s over.
If you’re looking for a slick gangster fantasy, keep moving. But if you miss the older, colder kind of crime stories the ones that tell the truth and let you sit with it In Powder Blue is worth your time
I didn’t breeze throuh it. I took my time. And when I was done, it stayed with me.
This feels closer to Mean Streets and Goodfellas than a book. It reads like a Scorcese movie. Someone needs to get this to him ASAP. It’s not about the score or the shine. It’s about the cost. The quiet damage. The stuff that never makes it into the stories people brag about. I felt like i was hearing Henry Hills Narration in Goodfellas in my head when reading from Vincents POV.
What I respected most is that the book doesn’t try to sell you the life. It shows you what it does to people. Addiction isn’t some side plot it’s the gravity that pulls everything down. Families don’t explode, they erode. People don’t get dramatic endings, they just fade out.
Vincent reads like Not a movie tough guy. A guy doing what he has to do because every other door is closed. The crime is there, but it’s background noise to the real story, which is survival and loss.
The writing is restrained. No wasted speeches. No cartoon villains. When something violent happens, it’s quick and ugly, like it usually is. The book trusts you to feel it without explaining it.
This reminded me of why I liked these stories in the first place — before everything got flashy. Before the lifestyle stuff. Back when it was about loyalty, bad decisions, and the weight you carry long after the night’s over.
If you’re looking for a slick gangster fantasy, keep moving. But if you miss the older, colder kind of crime stories the ones that tell the truth and let you sit with it In Powder Blue is worth your time
I didn’t breeze throuh it. I took my time. And when I was done, it stayed with me.
August 28, 2025
Wow! What a ride!
One of the best books I've read! The authors writing puts you right there with Vin. His words describe the emotions: grief, love, fear, anger, redemption beautifully. Describes the extreme discomfort and unbearable hell of addiction like nothing I have heard or read before. I will be reading again to catch the nuances that I'm sure I missed.
One of the best books I've read! The authors writing puts you right there with Vin. His words describe the emotions: grief, love, fear, anger, redemption beautifully. Describes the extreme discomfort and unbearable hell of addiction like nothing I have heard or read before. I will be reading again to catch the nuances that I'm sure I missed.
August 19, 2025
What amazed me was how much heart there is under all the grit. You expect mob stories to be violent and they are but here you also see the kids who grow up inside that world. You see the innocence get stripped away. It reminded me of what David Chase did with Tony Soprano showing the man behind the tough exterior. Except here it feels even closer to the bone. I put the book down and kept thinking about my own family. The way silence shapes you. The way love and pain exist in the same room. It is a rare book that can give you that kind of reflection while still keeping you on the edge of your seat.
August 25, 2025
this book was both exillerating and emotional. a modern take on an american gangster story.
August 12, 2025
This is probably one of the greatest books i ever read, i never read something that could keep me reading like this. the whole thing was crazy man. I think he died when he overdosed and everything after he overdosed in chapter 24 was him in the afterlife or purgatory or something. This book really makes you think.
August 6, 2025
one of the most authentic portraits of this time and era. Levittown was due for something like this. Bravo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews