Okay guys, I'm going to give this posting thing a try!
I'm the "guy" who hung out with Mario while he worked. And along the way, he taught me a few things. Of course he did the brilliant part and I did the rest. (That's the humble me...kidding around) Right off the top I can tell you that the truth is that he worked on this book for a bunch of years...because he loved the treachery of the characters and he believed it to be another "Family story." You'll recognize his "voice" through all of it, I'm sure.