Blood Covenant [Hardcover]

Michael Franzese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

Mob boss Michael Franzese had it all–money, power, prestige. Then, he did the unthinkable. He quit the mob. In one of the most fascinating books ever written about today's Mafia, Michael reveals the answers to the many mysteries surrounding his incredible life. Find out how and why he did what no one else managed to do–and live. Journey with Michael through a life defined by two blood covenants. The first bound him to the mob. The second set him free.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

MONEY. POWER. PRESTIGE.

Mafia boss Michael Franzese had it all.

From the time he took a blood oath that bound him body and soul to New York's Colombo crime family, Franzese became a force to be reckoned with in organized crime. Named one of the biggest moneymakers in the mob since Al Capone by Vanity Fair, he quickly crept into the upper echelon of Mafia authority in this country. At age 35, he was the youngest mobster listed on Fortune magazine's survey of the fifty most wealthy and powerful Mafia bosses in America. Franzese hit the list at number eighteen, only five spots behind the infamous John Gotti.

The son of a notorious mob kingpin, the smart and sophisticated Franzese scaled the ladder of power quickly and was considered an heir apparent to the family's vast power. Avoiding traditional mob domains, he masterminded brilliant scams on the edge of the legitimate business world. From auto dealerships and union kickbacks to a lucrative gas–tax scheme and a successful venture in movie production, Franzese earned millions in cash every week at his peak.

Then, defying common sense and the covenant that bound him to the Colombo family, Michael did the unthinkable.

HE QUIT THE MOB.
While shooting one of his films, Michael met Camille Garcia, who turned his world upside down with her innocent beauty. He fell in love with her, married her, and then began a new life that didn't include the Mafia. But nobody of Franzese's rank ever just quit the mob and started over. The old saying was that the only way to leave the Mafia was in a coffin. But Michael has somehow managed to avoid the grave after he turned his back on the past.

NOW HE'S A MAN ON A MISSION.
Today, Michael Franzese is a new man using his past experiences as a powerful tool for helping those who may be vulnerable to the same pitfalls he faced. The story he shares is that of a man who seemed to have everything the world could offer then traded it all for a new lease on life.

But what made him leave the lavish lifestyle of the Mafia?

And how has he escaped what should have been sure death after he quit the mob?

Now, in one of the most fascinating books ever written about today's Mafia, Michael Franzese reveals the answers to the many mysteries surrounding his incredible life. Walk the streets with him and find out how and why he has done what no one else managed to do––and live.

Journey with him through a life defined by two blood covenants...
...The first bound him to the mob. The second set him free.

About the Author

Michael Franzese's life is all about change. In 1986, Fortune magazine listed him as the eighteenth most powerful mobster in America. At the height of his power, he raked in millions a week through slick scams and used his wits and charm to keep the likes of John Gotti from moving in on his turf. The son of one of the most–feared mob enforcers in New York City, Michael took his own blood oath to join the Colombo crime family in 1975. But a criminal career that skyrocketed from its outset ended in 1989 when Michael quit the mob. Breaking his ties with the Mafia, he found himself part of a new blood covenant when he became a Christian. Now, Michael is a new man with a new mission in life. He travels around the world relating the experiences of his former life with students, pro athletes, business executives, at–risk youth, and anyone else who needs inspiration for life's challenges.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883688670
• ISBN-13: 978-0883688670
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > True Accounts > Organized Crime

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, December 20, 2005

By 

forevercrane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Covenant (Hardcover)

First off, let me say that a lot of these previous reviewers are missing the point of his story. Blood Covenant is not just about his days as a mobster, but about what how and why he quit the mob in the first place. To explain his reasoning he had to give a detailed look into his background. And he does an excellent job at that. I did some digging and what Franzese says in his book is true according to what was made public. I've seen both Goodfellas and Godfather and Franzese's story puts both those movies to shame because his story is the real deal. If anything, the movies were trying to portray the mafia life; it is not the other way around for those who think that Franzese is a liar.
As for the second part of his book, it does not surprise me that so many people do not understand and accept his explanation of how he came to know Christ and the role God played in his life. By telling you how he came to completely trust in God, Franzese does a good job of creating the message that God forgives EVERYTHING that you do that is not pleasing to him. Because many people do not accept the simple concept of God's grace, so many find this book to be a blow off towards the end. It is the exact opposite. Franzese's book explains God's grace and what it did for him in ways that most pastors and other religious leaders cannot explain. That does not make him a fanatic; it means he is telling the truth...a truth many do not understand and therefore refuse to accept.
Here is my message: if you are looking for an ending that tells how he paid everyone back or how he fell back into the life, then this book is not for you. However, if you are someone who wants to see a true example of God's grace and the way he can use one person to change someone's life while getting the bonus of knowing the insides of the mafia life, I highly recommend this book to you.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced, mobster mega-work!!!, February 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Covenant (Hardcover)

If you are into the "Sopranos" or anything that's related to the Mafia, this book is for you. It's a super-charged tale of a man who was a kingpin in one of the five New York City crime families. This slick schemer was raking in millions a week, and then he decided it was time to do something that defied common sense. Want to know what? Then buy this book! You won't want to put it down!

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Story- I had no idea, April 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood Covenant (Hardcover)

I am just amazed by this story. Michael Franzese was a REAL mobster. And he just walked away from it. I didn't think that was possible! This guy was the real deal, and he has the criminal record to prove it. Tried three times by Rudy Guliani, millions of dollars scammed from the government, and he just walks away-- all because of a girl!!!
The fact that he is still alive today is an amazing testament to his faith. I have learned so much from this book, not only about this life that I knew so little about, but about the ability for one person's life to make such an incredible U-turn. This is a MUST-read!