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While most young people are just getting their footing in life, 24-year-old Bryshon "Boogie" Tolliver is already being groomed to be a boss by his father, Barry Tolliver. At first, he's not so sure he wants to take his father's place in the family business. He has dreams of being the most prominent chef in New York. However, things change when Barry is murdered in cold blood and everything he built is left at Boogie's feet. Gone are those chef dreams, replaced with a new resolve to prove himself worthy of upholding his father's legacy.

Boogie takes his rightful place at the table of the Five Families of New York and is quickly taken under the wing of Caesar, the head of the organization. Known as The Godfather's Godfather, Caesar shows Boogie what it takes to be a boss.

The deeper in Boogie gets, the more obsessed he becomes with finding his father's murderer. When all signs point to the person Boogie knows is untouchable, he'll do anything to even the score, even if it costs him his seat at the table.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

58 people are currently reading
151 people want to read

About the author

C.N. Phillips

22 books131 followers
C. N. Phillips is an author from Omaha, NE. She realized her passion at the ripe age of eight and her love for words never went away. She is most known for her ability to weave a heart pounding and gritty story from nothing.

Currently signed to Carl Weber's publishing house, Urban Books, C. N. Phillips is already trailblazing alongside her predecessors. With titles such as The Last Kings, Kingpins Los Angeles, and Me & My Girl she wants the world to know that she's getting started.

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5 stars
166 (61%)
4 stars
62 (22%)
3 stars
41 (15%)
2 stars
2 (<1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Lulu.
1,091 reviews136 followers
June 23, 2023
Quick, easy read with a nice plot. Ends on a cliffhanger. Skip the audio on this one, the narrator takes away from the story.
Profile Image for Page Turner.
1,439 reviews
January 2, 2022
I am rarely disappointed by authors in the Carl Weber, fray, and this book stood up to my expectations. For a minute, I forgot this wasn't actually written by Carl, because I kept waiting for the Duncan's to appear. LOL. Good book. I'm going to have to get the next installment.
Profile Image for Denise Gilliam.
715 reviews21 followers
October 6, 2022
Omg this book was straight fire from page one. These Five Families were no damn joke. The lies and betrayal between them was so damn toxic and poor Boogie was set out to be a Chef. Now he knee deep in the madness. I knew that dirty dog Julius was behind all this madness. Caesar was my dude this whole book. L really liked Bentley too. The mother was a whole type of psycho trick. Please read this book I will tell the whole story it’s definitely worth the read. Great job CN Phillips I really enjoyed this book. Now to the next book…
Profile Image for JoAnn King.
15 reviews
April 17, 2021
I loved this book..Boogie is a young BOSS getting ready to change the game and the direction of the 5 Families. The author CN Phillips has a awesome imagination that pulls u in every time..IM READY FOR PART TWO..I HOPE ROZ and BOOGIE CAN HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR THIS STORY..WELL DONE MS.PHILLIPS WELL DONE..IM HOOKED
Profile Image for ToniReads_1.
594 reviews15 followers
March 24, 2023
A great first installment of this series of the Five Families. Barry Tolliver, King of Brooklyn is murdered and his only son Boogie has to step up next in line. At first, he wanted nothing to do with the business he just wanted to complete school to become a chef. But as time goes on he sacrifices his dream of becoming a chef to take over his father's business. He knows by doing this is the only way he can find out why his father was murdered and by who.
So many twists and turn will have you pointing a finger to this person or that person. What do believe when you open a can of worms and they all get out. Ready for the next installment.
Profile Image for TISHA.
194 reviews7 followers
August 21, 2024
OMG! This book was so good. I listened to the audiobook version and I actually enjoyed it. I wish the author would've been more descriptive about the characters features, because I envisioned them all as a blank slate in the beginning, but then I started to give them my own physical characteristics that I like. The ending was left as a cliffhanger, but there are a total of five installments to this collection. I really don't want to speak about the book, but I am going to jump into the second book soon.
215 reviews3 followers
February 11, 2022
Wow, what a read.

No, not Caesar! This was a really good book. I wanted Shamar to be killed just like his son Shane. Tazz played that drunk part well.
Deception played a big part in this book. I thought Uncle J played his role well by in the end Dina proved to be a sick bitty. Barry's son had a temper and reacted without listening or thinking. Julius, Julius, a user wanting what he was not entitled . Ready for book 2
3 reviews
February 6, 2022
This book is going into the vault with my favorites, it was good from start to finish. I was definitely on the edge of my seat and rooting for certain characters. I’m about to start book 2 right now!!!
Profile Image for Dawn “D-Love”.
129 reviews
April 7, 2022
Listened to audiobook. Well dang I was not expecting that ending. Overall great book that keeps interest from beginning to end. Typical gangsta families fighting over power with greed. Hopefully more stuff can get cleared up regarding Cesar and Boogie in book 2.
Profile Image for Jacqueline.
193 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2021
Damn!!

I need more this is the start of something major!! Thank you for a serious page turner and keep them coming!
Profile Image for Danielle.
352 reviews
August 16, 2021
I was completely engrossed in this storyline. I can’t wait until the next borough comes out. Curious to see the relationship between Boogie and Caesar.
Profile Image for Tiffany Champion.
45 reviews12 followers
August 22, 2021
I wish I could give this book 10 stars. My goodness. I honestly didn't expect that ending.
Profile Image for Toni H .
893 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2021
Excellent story about a man killed and his son searching for redemption. So many twist and turns that really leaves you guessing what is going on and who did.
Profile Image for Myra Coleman.
74 reviews
September 22, 2021
WOW

What a story and what an ending. Definitely a page turner. Can’t wait to start book 2. A must read
117 reviews6 followers
January 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book of the five families. There was a lot of back stabbing and treachery however this was a good story.
Profile Image for Gwen.
390 reviews13 followers
Read
May 5, 2022
I don’t know how I missed this book earlier. It’s a real page turner that I could not put down.
Profile Image for Dione Brown.
546 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2023
Damn! I was shocked to find Out Dina Really was Doing what she was. I can't wait for part 2.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,524 reviews24 followers
September 10, 2023
C.N. Phillips knows how to weave a good story.
I'm hooked on this series. So off to read part 2.
ETA I'm looking forward to Boogie getting proven wrong.
Profile Image for Elle.
604 reviews
October 14, 2023
The narrator wasn't someone I particularly liked. In the voices of the numerous characters, he was overly dramatic.


Thursday → Chapter(s) 1 - 3;
Friday → Chapter(s) 4 - 20
1,173 reviews4 followers
Read
December 27, 2023
I GUESS I WAS EXPECTING MORE GIVEN THE SERIES TITLE IMPLYING A BLACK FIVE FAMILIES OF NEW YORK EXISTS.
20 reviews
November 18, 2024
Exciting

You will be captivated from chapter one until the very last page. I could not put this book down. Read it today.
Profile Image for Neisha.
69 reviews
April 1, 2025
Quick read/listen and it kept me hooked to the very end.
1 review
May 7, 2025
I love books that don’t take too long to start and that leave things to the imagination! Babyyyyy that ending was crazy, very unexpected. Loved it and I recommend it.
Profile Image for Ericka.
797 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2025
Wow, Boogie. This was a drama filled book of whodunits! Look forward to the next book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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