Bunny's Reviews: We Do What We Must Review Spotlight

Welcome to the tour for We Do What We Must, a gritty novel based on true events!

We Do What We Must is a fictionalized tale based on the true story of the Giacona family. Immigrants from Sicily, they make the perilous journey to America to escape the Mafia of the “Old World” country. The trials and pressures of future events will lead them down a path that is both dangerous, and unexpected.

We Do What We Must is a truly fascinating novel that will you grip you from the beginning and keep you page-turning throughout. Richard Robbins begins the story with an Overture that piques your interest and demands that you turn the page. Then, the story shifts to New Orleans in 1908. The scene is being set up for a confrontation. Who is about to be confronted? What dangers lie ahead? Will lives be lost? Will we see the loss of one of these two characters? All questions will be answered, but you’re going to have to be patient.

The author is first going to take you back in time to before that beginning scene plays out. You’re going to be taken back to when Corrado Giacona is a young man still living in Sicily. The day is coming soon when his family from across the sea will call for him. The journey will be long, and he’ll witness first hand just how dangerous it can be. But it will be worth it all for the future life that awaits him.

This fictional novel based on true events is one that will captive you and keep you reading throughout this story. Follow Corrado’s story is truly fascinating. You learn quite abit about him as the main focus of the story. Corrado learns early on that the Mafia has far reaching hands.

Corrado learns life lessons along the way, and he witnesses a friend from home grow into something and someone more. Corrado grows and becomes a “Good Italian.” He follows the laws, he does what he’s supposed to do. He follows the path that is expected of him. Of course, there are some derailments and set backs. He learns from them, and begins to seize the bull by the horns.

When he experiences his first encounter with the Black Hand, it’s absolutely a surprise for him. The way the author orchestrates the encounter is subtle. The author hints at Corrado’s friend’s associations/connections, but allows readers to piece together that particular aspect.

You’re going to appreciate how the author ties the title of the story into the story itself. It does become the question – what are Corrado and his father are willing to do. Will they do what they must to protect those that they love? What lines are they willing to cross? Corrado’s growth in the story can be seen in both the small aspects and then in leaps and bounds.

He witnesses shocking and horrific things, and he does what he must to bring about justice. The author pays attention to the day to day lives, but doesn’t bog the story down delving deeper into the finer details of life. You get just enough to know that life becomes routine, but there is always the undercurrent of danger.

The author even includes newspaper articles to really tie the story to the true story of these characters. I know that you’re going to enjoy this particular aspect. You get a glimpse of the articles themselves and the content that they hold.

We Do What We Must is detailed, engaging, and has just enough twists to keep you wondering what is going to happen next with the characters. You’ll think that the story is going to go one direction, but then it shifts and goes in another way. So similar to life and how things play out. It’s easy to say that the characters sound like they could step off the page since they are based on true individuals.

The author does a fantastic job tying this story together by showing readers the struggles and dangers of life in Sicily. Then showing that while the characters are now in a different country, that the problems are still the same. People always think that if you change locations, that the drama and issues that you’re leaving behind will stay there. This story shows that that is not the case. No matter where you go, you will find similar problems and you have to decide who you are going to confront these demons.

Corrado’s and Pietro’s story is truly fascinating and if the blurb of this book piques your interest even a little, grab this book. Life is full of unexpected twists, and this book showcases that in the grandest of ways.

I’m choosing to rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I don’t read a lot of fiction based on real life, but I’m glad that I checked this book out.

Thank you to the author, Richard Robbins, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book.

We Do What We Must

Publication Date: October 3rd, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction/ Mafia (Based on True Events)

An immigrant Sicilian family triumphs over The Mafia in turn of the century New Orleans, just not in the way they’d planned.

This fictionalized tale recounts the story of the true life Giacona family, who emigrated from Sicily to New Orleans in the 1890s. They came to the US to escape the influence of The Mafia, only to be confronted by the same challenges in the New World.

Pietro and Corrado, father and son, do what they must to defend their family and business from the dreaded Black Hand, as well as powerful organized crime families. They proceed the only way they know how, through bravery, guile, and tough choices. Although committed to living as ‘Honest Italians,’ their choices lead them down a perilous path.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1 – New Orleans, 1908

Every detail had to be perfect, as if their lives depended upon it. On this night, it just might.

Corrado picked up the pieces of the final place setting, one by one, careful not to scratch the delicate surfaces of the fine silver-plated utensils, the ones brought out for just the most special occasions. He made sure to hold each piece with thumb and forefinger, by their necks, just the way he preferred.

“Here you go, Papa.” He handed the last one to his father, who did not look up from his task.

Corrado watched as his father, Pietro, laid each utensil carefully into place, in perfect formal order, straightening each one after the setting was complete. Always set from left to right, neatly centered, on perfectly folded white linen napkins.
He stood by as patiently as he could, until he could wait no more. “Okay, Papa, it looks good to me.”

When his father failed to reply, he called out, more urgently, “Papa, do you hear me, it’s fine.”

Pietro turned his large, melon shaped head, even larger appearing due to his oversized mustache and shock of unkempt salt and pepper hair. “It is not enough to be good, it must be perfect. We all make choices, and some choose to be good, and others to be perfect. It was my choosing to be perfect that created this business, made it thrive, and bought us this fine home. And I will not choose anything but perfection, especially on this day, which may be the most important day of our lives.”

Corrado suppressed a soft smile. The familiarity of his father’s words momentarily distracted him from thoughts of the evening’s negotiations, thoughts he played over and again while he tossed in bed at night. Distracted him from the fear and excitement, from the anticipation and uncertainty. From the magnitude of his plan, and the possibility of its failure.

He brought himself back into the moment, and addressed his father. “Papa, you speak of choices, and of making good choices.” He paused and twirled the edges of his thin, jet black mustache with his fingers. “But Papa, what if there are no good choices?”
Pietro stopped what he was doing and looked directly into Corrado’s eyes. “There are times when there are no good choices. That’s what happened to me in Palermo, and I made the most of it. Sometimes you don’t get to do what you’d like to do, or what you ought to do. Sometimes you do what you must.”

Corrado paused, signaling respect for his father’s words, then replied in his most considered tone. “Yes, Papa, I know, and we're grateful for your courage and achievements. Now can you check on the Stigghiola while I go down to the cellar and bring up a case of wine.”

The corner of Pietro’s eyes crinkled as his face pulled itself into a broad smile. “Yes, son, that is indeed a good choice.”

Corrado turned and headed down the steep stairs, taking them two at a time, to the large dusty cellar where they stored their wares. He turned on the electric light, took a moment to admire the brilliant tungsten bulbs they’d just installed, and strolled down the aisles of dusty crates, some covered with fancy labels all in Italian, some with the simple markings of homemade raisin wine, looking for the perfect case.
It must be expensive looking, he thought, but not so expensive as to arouse suspicions. And high enough in alcohol content to achieve its intended effect.

Finally, he settled on a case of Valpolicella. Perfect. Dark, red, and rich tasting. And the highest alcohol content of all the wines.
He hoisted a full case onto his broad shoulder, closed his eyes to let the dust settle around him, headed up the stairs, and placed the case next to the dining room table.
“Papa, I put the wine in the dining room.” He took a moment to catch his breath. “They’ll be here soon, is everything ready?”

“There’s just one thing left,” Pietro replied from the kitchen, then set down the ladle he’d been using to stir the stew, walked into the living room, and opened the doors of the large wooden armoire across from the fireplace. He looked inside for a moment, leaning over and fumbling with some items, moving them from one side to the other, then reached down and picked up something with his right hand, and turned and headed silently back towards the kitchen.

As he passed, Corrado noticed the long, wooden handle of their Winchester repeating rifle in his father’s right hand. Pietro continued into the kitchen, placed the rifle carefully behind the half-opened door, and turned back towards his son.

“There. Now everything is perfect indeed.”

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About the Author

Amazon Best Selling Author Richard Robbins’ novels explore important moral questions such as the price of fame, the nature of loss and redemption, and the meaning of life, through the lens of family dynamics. He lives with his wife in New Orleans and New York City, near their adult children, and his work is infused with the flavor of those vibrant and unique cities.

Richard was named Louisiana Independent Author of the Year for 2020, and his works have won numerous awards, including Feathered Quill Book Awards and Readers’ Favorite Book Awards.

Richard Robbins