And the Legacy of a Mob Life - A Mafia Killer

The deep love of this family come through in these pages, and should remind us all that we are not any one thing, but different things to different people. You understand each emotion Albert goes through, how he got to each one, and feel his pride, confusion, conflicting, and pain. He did a wonderful job of making you see his dad through his eyes. He doesn't try to change who his father was, or downplay it, he simply shows his dad's other side. I'm glad Albert came through healthy and able to hold onto the good memories.

I enjoyed reading this book about a young man who grew up in the upper echelons of a crime family. Demeo seemed pretty candid about his experiences and knowledge of his father's business dealings...but I couldn't help wondering if he wasn't being completely honest about what he or his mother or sisters' knew. Still, it was really, really interesting to hear about his close friendships and his honesty about how his youth eventually took a toll on him mentally. Thank you for sharing your story Mr. Demeo.

The co-author, Mary Jane Ross, seems incapable of putting down a sentence without
throwing in a clunky adverb (as in: he moved STEALTHILY down the hallway...) Come on. Spare us the adverbs and adjectives. Yes, he moved with caution. But we already knew that from being aware of the situation.
Co-author practically ruins what is one fascinating memoir with in-your-face over-writing.

I imagine whoever edited this tome should share in the blame.

RE: Albert DeMeo. The story needed telling. Man lived through a lot & we wish him the best.

Perspective given by one of the few people who could give it correctly. One of the finest books I have ever read. No lying informants or money hungry columnist just facts from the person who lived with and loved the man who is so often demonized by the media. Great book!

The co-author, Mary Jane Ross, seems incapable of putting down a sentence without
throwing in a clunky adverb (as in: he moved STEALTHILY down the hallway...) Come on. Spare us the adverbs and adjectives. Yes, he moved with caution. But we already knew that from being aware of the situation.
Co-author practically ruins what is one fascinating memoir with in-your-face over-writing.

I imagine whoever edited this tome should share in the blame.

RE: Albert DeMeo. The story needed telling. Man lived through a lot & we wish him the best.

Perspective given by one of the few people who could give it correctly. One of the finest books I have ever read. No lying informants or money hungry columnist just facts from the person who lived with and loved the man who is so often demonized by the media. Great book!

It was an interesting fast read. A little insight into mafia family life. Reads a little like a 40's Hollywood cops and robbers movie. In my head the voice was Jimmy Cagney. Weird. It was a good read .

i am a mafiosoafficionado i often read la cosa nostra litterature. this book helped me to understand ROY DEMEO as a the man a whole lot better.everyone has tradegys in their life the mob was his rivitting book.

This is a good insiders account of the notorious DeMeo faction of the NY Mob. Its a good book and hard to put down. It provides a nice counterpoint to "Murder Machine" and "Iceman" However, I'm not sure what the author's problem is exactly. He had a good childhood and had everything going for him as an adult, why the nervous breakdown, failed marriage, alcohol problems etc? So your father was a hired killer. So are lots of fathers... Well, maybe not...but I still don't see why the author was so miserable.

Albert tried to overcome childhood abuse, an alcoholic mother a hit man father and did his best to overcome his trauma, chronic anxiety and bouts of depression. Many family & friends Gave up on him. I didn’t I spent 20 years with hm because I loved him deeply and we build a lovely life together. Alberts ultimate needs VALIDATION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ❤️ LOVE. Like the rest of us.

This book was assigned for my italian-american history class, and even though it was at the end of the semester, it was definitely the best-read book of the semester!

When one reads a book, they sometimes wonder whether a book about someone's life isn't dramatized or messed around with to make it more exciting. That is precisely what i thought; why would the son of the largest auto theft ring in New York, give a detailed account of his father's inside jobs? Wouldn't that just incriminate himself, knowing so much? Yet this isn't a book you would expect to read about a "mafia" family. Albert Demeo rips out and exposes most of the scars of his past, and many of the events in his life due to his father's involvement in crime. While he does mention a lot of the so-called "hits" that he heard about growing up, the story also brings the reader to another side that is rarely exposed in such violent memories of the past. Albert mainly discusses the father-son relationship he held with his father, and how it molded his life to this day.

One part of the novel that made me envious of it's writer was that he mentioned when he was six years old he recieved five thousand dollars for christmas! How many young children can say that this kind of money was waiting for them under the tree. But it wasn't necessarily this high life that Albert really focused on. Albert and his father Roy were very inseperable in the earlier years of his life. He even accompanied his father on various outings, and met many of the "clients" who either are dead today or in jail. Al grows up to idolize his father, and practically becomes obsessed with his safety, waiting up even at a young age "just to see the headlights in the driveway and know he was safe." His idolization of this man becomes hardly tainted when he realizes what his father does for a living, and it drives him to paranoia for his father's life. This paranoid lifestyle goes on to affect him far beyond his father's death, and affects almost every aspect of his life.

This book stood out to me, and i would highly suggest it to any reader, because it doesn't just glamorize this high profile lifestyle of many of the "gangsters" that existed. Albert brings a real-life account to what it was like growing up knowing his dad could be dead the next day, and while this is true in everyone's case, because of his chosen profession the stakes were even higher. The story of his life helps the reader to see how some mafia operations are run, but also helps the reader to see the softer side to a father linked to so many crimes.

Albert DeMeo gives a blunt but gentle account of the life of a mobster's son, and what its really like to live in the spotlight of the FBI.

Al DeMeo has lived two lifetimes before he turned forty, and this book tells his story. He has warm memories of his father, and can somehow seperate his father's crimes from the havoc it caused on his family. It was stunning to read that he carried a gun to elementary school to protect his sister. The auther equivocates about the number of people his father killed -- "Murder Machine" puts the number at 200, but that's somewhat unreliable. The only one Al is certain about is the one I remember reading about growing up -- his father mistakenly identified a door-to-door salesman as a hitman and killed him. This killing of an innocent (or a "civilian" in Soprano's-speak) seems to have broken his father's spirit somewhat, and led to a downward spiral. After his father's death, Al Demeo carries on outwardly strong, but eventually the stress of holding it all inside nearly culminates in suicide. The two most powerful scenes in the book are the desciption of Al's mourning for his father and his near suicide. I believe the book was ghost-written, and much of it has that breezy, second-hand feel, but those two scenes are very intense and the reason I give this book the highest rating.

A companion book to this book is Murder Machine,a story about the Demeo car theft/assassin business.I take it that Mr. Demeo wrote this book as a response to Murder Machine which is a brutal Mafia expose.Since these businesses set the Demeo's up financially,Mr. Demeo's (overwhelming at times),guilt pangs ,in his book are understandable and the book may be an effort as part of a self therapy program.Demeo's story is believable as he presents "Murder Machine" from an entirely different perspective;that of a hitman's immediate family. I notice however that throughout the book DeMeo tries to convince the reader that he is not a "Rat"(government informer) and this somewhat detracts from DeMeo's credibility.Noone reading a book about the Mafia would care if DeMeo is in fact a"rat"or a (goat or horse),but just an honest expose.

Roy possessed romanesque, a quality cultivated by us Italians in the know. The men he allegedly killed were all murderers, so his "sins" aren't as extreme as some degenerate sissy would like to admit. Roy was an innovator, a father and man of honor. Eventually, he recognized his spiritual fate and apparently made contrition to Christ our lord. The mob is like being at war. What they do is during time of war for all intents and purposes and they are possessed by that sense of duty when they perpetrate their acts. What's the difference between that and ordering under executive order bombs dropped on innocent civilians? The latter is clearly worse. That's why I get sick with the hypocrisy of those who condemn Roy. Our culture compartmentalizes the killing of killers as "sadistic" while painting the slaughter of innocent civilians as "patriotic." Whether Roy is truly dead (he's too smart for that) or alive, I pray for his well-being. This book really shows the outstanding qualities of family man he was apart from his labor for the mob. And I have to say I don't think I could hate him. In spite of his sins, his positive qualities somehow outweigh the negative.

This book is written from the perspective of a son of a top mob man. It's a sad story, recounting the author's youth and the way he finds out about his father. Life isn't black and white; there are alot of shades of grey and this book explores that. The author doesn't find his father's life "okay," yet he loves him as a son would. The father is written about as not only a loving father and husband, but as someone who is kind to animals. It really shows how people like this famous mob man can "split off" from their role as a loving father/husband to ruthless killer. A psychological study.

This young man does have an interesting story to tell. In fact my wife read this book first and liked it so well, she suggested I read it. I concur. Albert tells his family's story, but particularly about his father who was a wonderful dad and at the same time a part of the mafia who did such a good job of rackeetering he continually improved his financial situation and moved up within his organization. This scheme of things eventually got out of control and you will learn how his father really led two lives; a loving family man and a proved killer where one "hit" led to his demise.

You've probably gotten a good grasp of the traditional Mafioso scene by now. Anyone who's seen the Godfather or watched an episode of The Sopranos must figure s/he has a good sense of what every mafia-related story is all about.

However, it would be wise to toss away those preconceptions of Italian-American novels when picking up Albert DeMeo's "For the Sins of My Father." This story does not spend hundreds of pages and hours of your time detailing a glamorous life in the mob gone wrong. Instead, the novel is an original, sad, and honest look at Albert's father, Roy, who was a member of the mob who was later killed by his fellow gangsters in 1982. What sets this book apart from traditional Italian Mafioso stories is the fact that it comes from the perspective of a mobster's son who, from a young age, is exposed to this lifestyle without ever truly discovering what it means for his father and the rest of the family until it is too late. By adding the element of a mobster's family, DeMeo gives readers a new way to read into the life of America's most recognizable, and most stereotypical, groups.

Throughout the novel, DeMeo reveals his courage and describes the heartache of being in a family with close ties to the mob, paying special attention to the psychological ramifications. DeMeo's struggles not only to live under his father's Mafioso umbrella but also to live through the pain of the memories after his father's murder make for an emotional, genuine inside look at the real effect the mob has on those families that are tied to it.

Never mind the glamour that the life of a gangster occasionally granted Albert's father, Roy. Never mind the power that Roy held in the form of being a "made man." For Albert, it would've been easy to trade all of that away to live a life without the fear of the mafia constantly in the rear-view mirror. For all of those in our society that glorify the mob, this book reveals the truth behind the decision to join organized crime and just how far reaching the consequences can be.

I personally consider that this book was very interesting. I admire the way the DeMeo family bonded with one another. The relationship that Albert had with his father was very natural and emotional. Roy educated his son about life and about his businesses but never encourage him to be like him. By reading this book, I learned the trust and love that Roy and Albert demonstrated one another. I will encourage anyone to read this book. The details and the events in this book showed all the experiences that Albert has been through.

Marvin Williams

Summary

What I liked about "For the Sins of My Father" was how the author Albert Demeo talks to the reader like he's right beside you. I was literally able to picture every scene as I read through the pages. The literary form is written to an excellence, I was really able to focus on every word. Most books only have one climax or peak, "For the Sins of My Father" has countless peaks to keep me on my toes. The suspense of the story was on a movie level, a level that can be accomplished by visuals; rarely words can be as descriptive.

I learned from Albert Demeo that love and loyalty can be a harsh lifestyle to abide by. The love Al shared for his father was so deep that what ever Roy said Al listened, how ever Roy walked Al walked, most of all what ever Roy was thinking Al was most likely thinking. Al's love and loyalty towards his father put him in a deeper predicament; the closer he got with his father, the deeper Albert was considered to be in the mob unwillingly knowing. This really taught me someone you may love and care about can be linked in something you don't want to be in, even if you know your not affiliated you will still be by association.

Their really wasn't anything about the novel I didn't like. The only thing that Albert Demeo could have went I in detail about was the conversation with the females in the book. Al gave the females a limited amount of input, so you only had an idea about what they felt or how they thought. What did the Gina and Debra really feel or really think about Al and Roy?

I would highly recommend this book to everybody, even the people that really don't like reading. "For the Sins of My Father" has everything a novel needs: realism, factual events, mystery, suspense, and most important of all a moral. This book has really altered my way of thinking a little bit; I really look at people a lot more in depth.

The Godfather, The Sopranos, Godfellas, all classic movies that basically display America's fascination with mob life. What do American's like more than mob stories? True stories! There is no better combination than a true story about mob life.
In Albert DeMeo's book, "For the Sins of My Father," he dives into his dark past of being the son of one of the Gambino families top killing machines, Roy DeMeo. From the days of carrying a gun as a young child to his teen years of running the family business and dealing with prostitutes, he faces everything that the mafia has to offer. Albert never gets to live the life of young boy , instead he spends countless hours covering for his father after he became a made man in the mob.
Although mobsters seem to live a glamorous life, Albert DeMeo describes his father's rise and fall in organized crime. Albert goes into great detail about his father's attempts to escape the law in other countries and how Roy DeMeo eventually dies by the gun.
Albert's life was deeply affected after his father's death, from the times when the FBI harass him to his own mental struggles. What is great about this mob tale is that Albert eventually ends up on top. Although he deals with tough times , he rebuilds a better life in which he is an accomplished author and on living a much healthier lifestyle. But I strongly suggest if you want a peak into the world of Al Capone, John Gotti, or Sammy the Bull read this page turning memoir of the lifestyles of the rich and the powerful.

As a self admitted mafia aficionado I was very interested in this book from the son of one of the most notorious mob hitmen in history,especially since I had already read MURDER MACHINE and was well aware of roy demeo's reputation.Albert seems to be a relatively good guy who was born into something that would be very hard to handle if you were 30,much less a teenager.Good for him for making it,but being a mobster's son apparently carries a born hatred for the police trying to put away a murderer and reporters who write about the horrific things your father did.Yes the guy was his father but if Roy did half the things he was accused of,it seems an impossibility to humanize Roy DeMeo as Al tries to.Read Murder Machine as well to get the other side of Roy.Albert deserves compassion,his father doesn't.

In reality, I dislike reading books. Once I read "For the Sins of My Father", I was glad I read it. Since I never heard someone from a mafia family express their true feelings and life, it had made it interesting, plus due to the fact that it was based on a true life experience. This book was a bout Mafioso's son Albert, who tells his readers how hard it really is living in that environment that he was in. In some parts one can tell how happy he is, because he is very close to Roy who is his father. Giving us many examples we realize that even though he is in a mafia mob, Roy is still a great father to his kids, and a fine husband. The fact of why it was hard living the way they were was because they were always in danger and things had started to fail for Roy. That's why I was very interested in reading it further. While I was reading I always wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Albert also knew how to put his readers in a questionable situation, which made me wonder what did he mean, which made me go on. I recommend this book to read, just because it is based on a true life experience, and that it's always good to know a little about everything.

Very engrossing book. I think Albert did a splendid job on this. I read a lot of Mafia related books and tend to think some stories sound a little far fetched but I find myself to believe everything Albert writes is probably really accurate as opposed to some books. I found myself tearing up a few times while reading this because his emotions really come through in the pages of this book. Just the idea of this poor kid staying awake night after night to see if his father was coming home really hit me. I felt for Albert reading this. I also found it heart-wrenching how people outside "the life" constantly judged him for being Roys kid. I recommend this book if you want to see how the families of "The Family" had lived. I loved the whole story at the beginning with the rabid squirrel. It would make a great scene in a comedy movie. Anyway, I am glad Albert seems to have found peace and hope he has a very enriching future.

Great book. I felt connected to the writer. Bought this book spur of the moment. I have never read a mafia book before. I feel bad for all the other children who went through the same thing. Im glad he sought help and that hes doing well. It must've been very difficult to write about all his experiences. This kid had a tough childhood, he had to grow up really fast, very tramatic experience for him. I really liked this book and so will you.

I bought this book several months ago. Have read it over and over again. Cannot get enough of the most brilliantly written true story I ever read. I keep thinking after reading it so many times that I will not break down throughout the book in uncontrolable sobs. This boy-man story has so touched the deepest part of my heart and soul. Have never been effected before by any book I have ever read. I wanted to put my arms around him and comfort him. I wanted to actually write Albert a long letter. I am 67 years old and as a very young girl lived in Chicago and was in a somewhat similar situation as Albert. I will and have recommended this beautiful book and an accounting of one human's life soaring through a maze of happiness and sorrow that is unmatched. It broke my heart at the ending when this sweet boy fell completely apart, god it is heart wrenching.

Thank God he is doing good or as good as it will ever be for him.

When I picked up this small unassuming book little did I know where it would take my mind, heart, and soul. I fell in love with Albert DeMeo as though he were my own son, I wanted to tell him how proud I am of him and to thank him for telling his life.

Brenda Zenni

This is a book about the notorious criminal Roy De Meo, written by his son Al. In the beginning, we are treated to all the son's warm memories of his father. He touches upon his father's crimes, but tends to gloss over them, as "business". According to the book Murder Machine, De Meo was responsible for over 100 murders, most committed in a rather grisly way. The way Al addresses these is to state "nothing was proven" or "the witness was lying" or "the author lied, since he called my father fat, and he obviously wasn't". This is akin to saying that Bin Laden wasn't really bad; he was good to his children. While i do feel somewhat sorry for the author, it is important to realize that he was very involved in his father's business, and in fact, inherited huge sums of money from it. I would highly advise anyone interested in this story to first read "Murder Machine" by Jerry Capeci.
In the end, I wonder how Al would have felt if one the murders committed by his father was one his own family members. Perhaps he would not have been so quick to gloss over it!

I thought the book was really interesting. Knowing how the mafia works is really exciting because reading about it is almost like being in the situations. What I thought was most interesting was that every operation Albert described felt like you were in it. I really liked how the book was well in detail. The thing I learned and was really useful to me was towards the end of the book when Albert had his panic attack. I found it really useful to me about the disorder he was diagnosed with. The part that really touched me the most was how Albert didn't even know his father was a killer for the mafia. Albert had to find out the hard way when his father was murdered. This book is really interesting and I think anyone should take their time to rent it or buy it.