The Black Hand (La Mano Nera)

Paolo Gaspare and his wife Francesca leave their homeland in Palermo, Sicily, in the hope of a more prosperous life in the north-east of England. With the news that his wife is pregnant, Paolo endeavours to secure his family's well-being, leaving behind the barbarity that he has become accustomed to, despite an overwhelming beauty of the island. Eighteen years on, their son, Roberto, engages himself in the city life; exploring the many bars around town, he becomes the victim of an unprovoked attack and one that ultimately rekindles the ominous memories that his father Paolo had so desperately sought to put behind him. The Black Hand (La Mano Nera) is a powerful and gripping novel, which delivers atmosphere and tension from the very first page. With a tale of heartbreak and revenge, the notoriety of a criminal and powerful organisation, which has spanned its dominance over two centuries, is called upon to exact its bloody revenge.