John “Sonny” Franzese is not your typical mafioso. He lived to be 103 years old, his death marking the end of the quintessential wiseguy. His reputation on the streets was legendary, a caporegime in the Colombo Family, who could quiet the loudest and boisterous of made men with a withering stare. Law enforcement was determined to bring him down at all costs, suspecting Franzese of involvement in scores of gangland rubouts. This determination also led certain authorities to forgo the rules in convicting Franzese. Franzese would inhabit various correctional facilities during his life, but maintained a stiff upper lip and was the exemplary stand up guy. His service to the Colombo family spanned the better part of eight decades, Franzese weathered internal revolts, large scale round-ups of associates and the defection of two of his own sons. During the last few years of his life, Franzese became more candid and opened up to a journalist or two, but never revealed more than his share.

“Sonny” is a mix of Biography and True Crime, where the subject is a criminal, but doesn’t hide from it. Franzese brags about certain exploits, while not hiding from his regrets, whether it be his imprisonments, separation from Wife and kids. Author S.J. Peddie had his work cut out for him in tackling a subject like Sonny Franzese, but one can’t argue with the finished product, which tells the story of the life and death of one of the last true gangsters. A++

THis was an intersting book about John " Sonny" Franzese and his life in the mob. It was a very interesting book. I knew some of the things that went on in the mob based on other stories, however his take was informative. It's amazing how the mob owned NY for so many years and they always found ways to make more money, no matter what the cost. In the end though crime did not pay for Sonny

This was amazing from start to finish. It's one of those books that you have to try really hard not to read all at once, because there's so much fascinating information on every page that you need to process.

The writing style gripped me from the very beginning, it flows really well and does a good job of explaining things to the reader that may be unclear.

And I also like that Sonny's way of speaking remained in its original form, so it feels like you're there, listening to him talk to you.

The story itself is almost like something out of a movie, it's crazy to think that it all really happened and that Sonny lived such an extraordinary life, but he did!

The book achieved a healthy balance of Sonny's good and bad deeds, I feel like, and it didn't try to glorify anything he did, just stated the facts.

And, Sonny managed to outlive just about everybody, really makes you wonder whose side God was really on.

This is a book that I'd love to have on my shelf to revisit from time to time, so I'll definitely be getting a physical copy. If you're interested in Sonny, the mob, or just like engrossing nonfiction, then I recommend this book 100%, you won't be disappointed.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This brilliant book will give the reader a detailed and insightful understanding of how the Mafia operates. Sonny was a mob boss for most of his life, his family, friends and anyone he came across, all showed their loyalty and respect to him in their own way.
Sonny lived life on his terms, he never revealed how or what he did. Prison didn’t worry Sonny, nor did it stop him from his many dealings, organised crime continued wherever he was!
It’s astonishing to imagine that Sonny, with his wealth, his supposed responsibility for organised crime and murders, outlived most of his associates.
The Author has written an amazing account from the only official interviews given by Sonny, prior to his death.
I would recommend this well researched story to anyone with an interest in the Mafia and this true Legend of the game.


Thanks so much to Kensington Books, NetGalley and the very talented author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. A look behind the curtain! This book was so full of information it reads like a novel! I loved every minute of it! I mostly enjoyed seeing where Sonny got his start.

This was a very interesting book. I was not familiar with this Mafia henchman’s story and it was fascinating.
Well written and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

When I tell you this is a page-turner! S.J. Peddie did a great job entering the lives of not only Sonny Franzese, a very important part of this, but of his associates and friends also all of that government information that was a result of years of wiretaps, informant's information, etc. From all of those connections and information, S.J. Peddie takes us through the life of Sonny. A man that began his life in the Mafia in the 1930s passed away at the age of 103, Sonny saw a lot and lived with a lot, never turning on anyone but living with having others turn on him. Favorite book of 2022 hands-down.

This is the true story of one of our longest-lived mobsters, John "Sonny" Franzese. It is about him and his rise in the Columbo family. However, this book is more than just about his criminal career; I found it to be so much more. Of course, his two marriages were something else, but you have to remember the time period that this book was most devoted to; the 1930s was the start, the 1960s took up a lot of this book, and then the downward spiral of the '90's to 2020.

I admit that this guy and his sons were criminals of the worst kinds, but I did manage to feel compassion for Sonny. Imagine having your beloved son testifying against you and your other son leaving the Mafia and leaving his father in the lurch.

So many informants. So many wearing wires. So much blood and shakedowns.

This was a fascinating read that I found I was unable to put down no matter what bloody coupe was taking place.

*ARC provided by the publisher Citadel Press - Penguin Random House Canada, the author, and NetGalley.

In Sonny, we follow the rise and fall of the leader of the Columbo Crime Family, John "Sonny" Franzese. We learn of his multiple crimes and the reason he was caught after so long. We also read of the charges that were brought on him, and we get some interviews that weren't previously released, so we can get a glimpse into Sonny's mind.

A terrific read! This book will grab you and hold your interest! The story of one of the most well know mafia figures and the endeavors he was involved in, will really make you stop and think. A great true crime book, you should not miss reading!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fascinating look into the life of Sonny Ferzase, the oldest mafia mobster to have lived. The author does a good job of peeling away the layers of this complex individual. Although I certainly don't condone what he did for a living, I do appreciate that he owned who he was. I loved reading about his wife Tina - she really could stay toe to toe with Sonny. I would have loved to have seen some pictures as I ended up looking them up via Google. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publishers for a free e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fascinating story of the longest living mob guy in history, John “Sonny” Franzese, who lived to age 103. Surviving 8 decades in the mafia is in itself an achievement, with all the murders that go on. He married his first wife, Anna when she was just 15 and he was 24. Sonny had a son with his second wife Tina, a Junior named after him that just happened to be born on my exact birthdate, strangely enough. He managed to keep his vow of omerta and never ratted in all his years, while others around him were squealing left and right. A good book for those who like to read about mafia figures. You’ll recognize many of the people in this book that he worked and socialized with. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Kensington Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Interesting, in-depth coverage of the subject.

“Sonny” is the absolutely fascinating (and disturbing) story of the life of Sonny Franzese, a high-ranking member of the Colombo crime family in New York. Franzese died at age of 103, and was interviewed for this book by the author, who is a reporter for New York Newsday. It’s an inside look at one of the most ruthless and powerful men in organized crime and the effect he had on both his criminal “family” and his real family. The author does a good job in narrating, using police records, court transcripts and interviews to tell the story, culminating with an interview with Franzese himself. Definitely a must-read for any true crime or Mafia history buff, it’s a captivating and chilling tale of a decades-long life of crime. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It was a very interesting read. When I started, I thought it was just an average mafia story. It then turned out to be much more than that, a man’s long life, full of happenings, experiences, violence, love, affection, duty, and sin. It was basically about original sin, about the culprit, yet Sonny Franzese, the mobster, wasn’t a completely negative character for me.

We can make an easy judgment sitting in our comfortable armchair, just as it was convenient for a judge to make a judgment from the height of the judge’s pulpit. Sonny's life was predetermined, her environment, her innate qualities, led her to sin. He spent more than thirty years in prison, but he survived all his enemies, and for decades lived the life he had always longed for, playing a role in which he had a good time. And was he really the only one guilty? Wasn't society, the political system, the state, the government, the law enforcement authorities guilty too? In my eyes, they are the real culprits who created the opportunity for the mafia to operate, turned a blind eye to it, and were content to sometimes be able to imprison one or two mafia chiefs by illegal means. Theoretically, the mafia represents evil and the state represents good and truth. Though the line between good and bad is usually very thin, we often don’t even know where it is. A lot of people have been killed by Sonny in his long life, but the book didn’t tell me if there were innocents among them. He usually killed mafia members, instructing others to kill them. The reason for this was mostly the fear of being killed or of being imprisoned for their betrayal. The bad killed the bad, so I didn’t shed tears. Sonny’s business methods were tough and ruthless, but doesn’t the state treat its citizens the same, stronger countries treat weaker ones? Everyone longs for some kind of power, and if he gets it, he will be ruthless and inhuman. It’s more obvious in Sonny’s life, and that’s why we condemn him while we excuse others.

We also met Sonny, who befriended famous people who sought her graces and had a love affair with women that the average person could only dream of.

But we all die, Sonny’s life is worth as much in the present as it is all of us, nothing. He was a prominent figure in the American mafia, but young people today no longer know his name, as do Ava Gardner or Bobby Darin.

In this book, however, we got to know this past world, the life of the Mafia and Sonny. For me, it’s a good book I won’t forget for tomorrow. This is a book like this. I confess, in the end, Sonny became a tragic hero for me, whose death I even cried a little for, despite being a murderer and a sinner. That’s probably the writer’s merit, though I don’t know if that was his intention.