I just finished the book and I was not that impressed. Maybe my expectations were too high but I thought it would have been more interesting. There were some VERY interesting parts but the book as a whole was ok, not great. Maybe its because I read it just after I finished Murder Machine which was amazing. Parts of Albert's book felt manufactured so although it was certainly based on truth, I wonder how embellished it was. For example, he talks about the "superchargers" that he had installed in his corvette to escape his enemies if need be. You can't put multiple superchargers on a car. They are not turbos. Then he mentions that when Roy and Freddie were talking about killing Big Paul, he states that Freddie said he would "supercharge his motorcycle so they could hit Paul and make a fast getaway". He also used many double entendres throughout the book like claiming that his fathers freind brought over breakfast one morning and he had some "juice" in the car for Roy. Albert claims to have gone out to the car because he was thirsty and didn't know that juice was interest payment? He did a similar thing with "balloons" when his father handed a customer "50 balloons" in an envelope. To me, stuff like that takes away from the integrity of the story since it feels manufactured.

Anyway, that's just my .02. All in all, the book was ok and I would recommend it. Not all books can blow you away.

I'm not sure if Albert DeMeo had a ghostwriter, but I thought the book was well written, even if it was a bit of a whitewash.

But you can't just single out Albert. None of these kids ever want to admit (or believe) that their fathers were pretty much the scum of the earth.

I think Albert did a good job of indirectly admitting that he finally came to grips with who his father really was. I just thought that some of the little antidotes in the book made it seem less genuine but not poorly written.

The parts about killing Chris Rosenberg, Dominick Reggucci and his fathers murder were absolutely worth every penny by themselves.

It was a good book. albert was pretty truthful when it came to his father he did not defend him as innocent. This is unlike Victoria Gotti who even thouhg she finally admits he father was the don still says he is innocent of all the murders her father was clearly involved in. The only thin that i think albert embellished was his father's supposed remorse, From what i've read about demeo and the things he did i dont think he was capable of real remorse

i honestly believe he was remorseful about killing the vaccum cleaner salesman. everyone else was just buisness. i don't think he wanted to kill rosenburg but knew it had to be done felt bad but then moved on.

I thought Alberts book was EXCELLENT.
It gave a real inside look to Roy.
The comments about "juice" and "balloons" made me laugh as it showed a young boy coming to terms with street/mob slang.
I think Roy was remorseful over Ragucci's death but for the wrong reasons.
I think Roy was scared he would get caught and jailed for such a public murder - I dont think he actually cared to much about the young man himself.
I've always said I cant believe he got away with that - I know it was 1979 but jeez!!!!
The only murder Roy was remorseful over in my opinion is Chris's death.
Chris was his longtime buddy and Roy probably could have protected him from harm if he'd been allowed to.........but the Gambino's werent gonna start a war with a drug gang from Florida for Chris Rosenberg!

Good points gary. I agree with ypu that roy was only remorseful in the sense that if he got caught and went to jail he wouldn't be able to protect/support his family, i dont think he gave two shits about Ragucci. Also regarding rosenberg isn't amazing that two psychopaths like Roy and Chris cared so much for eachother lol

That's a good point, Crusher. Psychopaths are often drawn to each other and are quite capable of love. They're just not capable of empathy.

I read the book and I personally think albert demeo is full of shit!!! I don't doubt that roy was a good dad but him carrying a gun at 12 years old and given all those tasks by roy seem a little far fetched for me.. He also has plenty of facts that were in murder machine not matching up with him.. Such as anthony senter being Roy's number 2 after they clipped Chris. There's more but that will take all night!!!

Good post..I agree on all of it !!

Yes I def thought it was a good book but I just have a hard time believing that such a young kid was able to do the things he said he had to do.. Also the stuff about cops surveillance on him and all that shit.. He was a 17 year old kid at that point and the FBI is following him for years after roy got clipped.. Just seems a little out there but I could be wrong.. As for Victoria gotti please don't get me started!! She's a wretched pig

It was a good read but i personally preffered Murder Machine.

I think it was very good book. He was out front about his father, and did not try to portray his father as an innocent. Anyone know of any good books done by mafia family members? I read the Rita Gigante book, I thought it was below average.

I enjoyed reading the book. Not as fascinating as Murder Machine though but just another viewpoint. I am sure there are exaggerations in there, and who can blame him for supportting his father who he clearly loved.

Albert's book is interesting and was well edited-- which we all know is uncommon in contemporary OC literature. I think he lets his dad off too easy but...

"Murder Machine" is invaluable, of course, though Capeci & Mustaine are somewhat clunky sometimes and for city guys, their handle on Brooklyn geography is rather blurry. There's lots of little details they could have included that would clarify things immensely.

Also, I think their coverage the Eppolito hit, shootout with cop, subsequent trial of Nino and finally Roy whacking state witness Patrick Penny was written too sketchily and is unnecessarily confusing. A more careful, detailed summary of the testimony from Nino and Peter Piacenti's murder (Eppolitos), attempted murder (the cop) trial would have been very useful.

[quote=Camarel]It was a good read but i personally preffered Murder Machine. [/quote

Wish i could get Murder machine on Kindle.

DP

I thought it was well written too. As for the content, I liked it from the aspect that he "knew" what his dad did, but was still removed from the true horrors his dad did. I mean, this kid's dad was a psychopath, but he still loved his son. That has to be a heavy burden on anyone's shoulders.

I completely agree. I've read the book, seen his spot on tv, seen his ebay store and I have a very strong feeling of being bullshitted everytime I get near the guy in any manner whether it be by reading or seeing him on the tv or internet. And I've a pretty good bullshit meter for reasons better left unsaid. It seems some people just take everything this guy says and puts out as fucking gospel though and I can't understand why except for the fact that they're either extremely naive or have a bad case of hero worship with the asshole. But yes, I think the guy is full of shit and has made it his lifes work/intent to capitalize off of dads murderous reputation. I have to congratulate him for ripping the public off but I wouldn't subject myself to his bullshit.

I think Murder Machine is one of the very top mob books

Murder Machine was WAY better then Albert DeMeo's book. If i had to pick just one of them to read it would be Murder Machine hands down.

Not really putting DeMeo's book down but i thought Murder Machine was great. One of my favorite mob books.

Demeo is a class a bullshitter, sure his father butchered dozens but i find it hard to beleive like the story about him putting the table and having the "robber" come in to test him, he tries to act like hes ashamed by his pops but he talks like he was an associate and that people refered to him as such and tried making it sound like he was somewhat complicit in the crews crimes. I find it all bullshit and to be honest I hope the part about Senter pistol whipping him is true.

I think you have to look at "For the Sins..." in a different light when you read in. It's very different from Murder Machine but it's supposed to be. It's more about a sons relationship to his criminal father, a relationship which could be extrapolated to any son with a parent who is a criminal. I thought it was really interesting how Roy as a father differs so much from Roy as a criminal. It's the classic example of how a criminal with a family would keep those two worlds apart in his life, almost like how Tony Soprano tries to do in the show. The best part of that book for me was the stuff after his father had been killed. All the legal troubles he was tied up in, etc and how it affected him as an adult.

I have never read it, what does it say about senter pistol whipping him?:)

It has been a while since I read the book but IIRC Senter was hassling him about his dads shylock book and albert was stalling him so he ran him off the road and pistol whipped hin

Okey but was roy dead then? when the whipping happend?

Roy was dead by this time.
The twins had demanded Al hand over his fathers shylock book and tools for removing vehicle VIN numbers.
With Freddie Dinome in jail, The only person Al could turn to was Nino. Al asked Nino where his father kept a stash of guns.
In response to this, Nino sent the twins to run Al's car off the road where they gave him a beating.
Given that Richie Dinome was murdered in his home not long after and the disappearance of "Dracula" - I would say that Al was lucky to get off with only a beating!

how bad did they beat him? andhow old was Albert?

Bad enough to require Hospital treatment.
Al would have only been 17 or 18 at the time!

Do you think joey and anthony are psycopats/sociopats?.

Joey and Anthony back in the day (70's and 80's) were a pair of mean dudes who wouldn't hesitate to kill.
If your a mobster..........you want these two guys in your crew!