“Mafia son: The Scarpa Mob Family, the FBI, and a Story of Betrayal“ is a story based on true events that occurred between 1960 and 1990 in New York. The book is an effect of 5 years research and continuous correspondence between Sandra Harmon and imprisoned Gregory Scarpa Jr. This well written, epic story reveals the truth about mafia’s underground world which in fact was protected by the FBI. “Mafia son” by Sandra Harmon it is a tale of murders, corruption, betrayal and a 30 years long love affair.

Scarpas were a mafia family led by Gregory Scarpa Sr. also known as “The Grim Reaper”. Being addicted to violence and murders, he had no limits. No matter if it was a friend, family or a woman, everybody could become his victim. His son Gregory Scarpa Jr. was a promising young sportsman. However being born in a mafia family, surrounded by violence and crimes, he was destined to follow his beloved father in his dark and dangerous world. What only a father and son knew was that for more than 30 years Greg Scarpa Sr. was an FBI informant, providing them with information regarding mafia’s members and their crimes. His connection to the FBI, especially a federal agent Lin DeVecchio gave him a virtual licence to kill under protection of authorities. Nevertheless when Gregory Scarpa Sr. faced prison in 1980 he asked his son to take blame and go to jail instead of him. He had promised Gregory Scarpa Jr. that he would help him get out of prison shortly, but that never happened.

Whilst in prison Gragory Scarpa Jr hoping for reduction of his sentence, provided the government with important information regarding Oklahoma City bomber and terroristic attacks planned in America. However his warnings that could possibly stop September 11 and save lives of many people were disregarded. Gregory Jr. was sentenced to 40 years of jail to life in one of the most secure prisons in America, ADMAX where he remains until now.

After I read “Mafia son” I had mix feelings. On one hand I felt sorry for Gregory Jr. whose love to his father was eventually used against him but on the other hand I knew that everybody has a choice in live and Gregory’s choice was to follow his father. The story written by Harmon keeps you in suspense from the first paragraph. It raises many questions but mainly with regards to human nature. How can someone be in love with a murderer and be with him for more than 30 years? Or knowing that your father is a criminal why would you want to be like him? Or how it is possible that someone can be a mafia member and at the same time an FBI informant who is ratting out his partners in crime? Those questions are only a few out of many that arose while reading “Mafia son”.

The book is definitely worth recommending and the fact that it is based on true events makes it even more interesting. It is a vivid, accurate and intriguing tale about one of the most brutal mafia families in history. The pictures of Greg Scarpa Sr., his mistress, Gregory Jr., Lin DeVecchio and other mafia members provided in the book also reassure the reader that everything that is described in the book actually happened. “Mafia son” is easy to read, full of facts and details from Scarpas lives. The author shows the reader a ruthlessness of the mafia world which is far from a fairy tale. Once you are in it there are only two ways out – death or prison.