by Vincent DeFilippo
October 12 - November 21, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
CHINESE GANGS CLASH WITH THE OLD-SCHOOL ITALIAN "FAMILIES." It's 1990 in New York City. The AIDS pandemic is raging, murder is at an all-time high, an arsonist burns 87 people to death in a Bronx social club, and garbage and graffiti overwhelm the city. Though a sense of lawlessness pervade the city, being a gangster just isn’t the same anymore. In fact, it may be the twilight of the Italian mob: Under pressure from the feds and their loss of new recruits, the real menace facing them is the other ethnic gangs that are encroaching on their territory—in particular the Chinese.
BOOK ONE: RISE OF THE EAST
What if the only way to protect the one you love is to destroy everything you've ever known?
New York City, 1990-a city teetering on the brink of chaos. The AIDS pandemic is ravaging communities, crime is at an all-time high, and the streets pulse with the tension of gang warfare. The once-dominant Italian mafia, now in its twilight, faces a new threat: the rise of ruthless ethnic gangs determined to carve up their territory.
Enzo DeCarlo, heir to a fading mob empire, is caught between two worlds. His father, the old-school Don Vincenzo, clings to the traditions of the past while the DeCarlo family crumbles under pressure from the feds and encroaching Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean gangs. Enzo's loyalty to his family has always been unwavering-until he meets the captivating Jen Mo Li, a woman with secrets as dangerous as her beauty.
Jen, the daughter of a powerful Chinese crime family, is no stranger to the brutal world of organized crime. Overlooked and undervalued by her own family, she fights to prove herself in a male-dominated world, growing colder and more ruthless with each passing day. But when her brother is murdered, and the blame falls on Enzo, Jen's desire for revenge spirals into something far more deadly-especially as her heart betrays her by falling for the enemy.
With tensions between their families at a boiling point and betrayal lurking at every turn, Enzo and Jen's forbidden love becomes a ticking time bomb. When Jen takes control of the notorious Black Dragon gang, the violence escalates to all-out war in Chinatown, with blood flowing in the streets and power shifting hands. But Jen's bold moves come at a terrible cost, and when a tragic mistake links her to a human trafficking operation, she finds herself hunted by both the law and her enemies.
As their worlds spiral out of control, Enzo and Jen are forced to make impossible choices. Can Enzo defy his father and the mafia's brutal code to save Jen and their child? And can Jen survive long enough to claim her throne in the criminal underworld-or will the betrayals she's suffered drive her to a darker fate?
In this explosive tale of love, betrayal, and survival, nothing is certain, and no one is safe. Dive into the pulse-pounding world of gangland New York, where power, loyalty, and love collide. Will Enzo and Jen escape the deadly shadows of their families-or be consumed by them?
The streets are unforgiving. Are you ready to find out who survives?
MY THOUGHTS:
Mr. deFilippo has crafted a novel filled with mystery, suspense, and a dynamic cast of characters that enhance the book's excitement and intrigue.
I particularly admire the protagonist, Jen, who works alongside her father in their family business. As a woman of Chinese descent, she faces prejudice and is often deemed unworthy. After her brother is killed by a gang, she joins the Black Dragon gang to prove herself and establish her reputation.
Jen falls for Enzo, whose father is the head of the most powerful Italian family in New York City. Unbeknownst to Enzo, Jen's family history complicates their relationship, and he must sneak around to see her due to their cultural differences.
The book is fast-paced and filled with fight scenes, some of which are quite gory, and it features multiple subplots. All of the characters interact well, keeping me hooked from the beginning, and the ending is unpredictable. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
BOOK 2: FALL OF AN EMPIRE
How far would you go to destroy the ones who wronged you? |
Nicky DeCarlo, son of Enzo, is determined to break free from the fading mob legacy and start fresh. But when Julia, under Jen’s manipulation, seduces him and lures him into a dangerous heist, Nicky’s dreams of escape turn into a nightmare. Unbeknownst to him, Julia is not just an enemy—she’s his sister.
As the Chinese mob tightens its grip on New York, the Italians plan one last high-stakes score, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown. Betrayal, forbidden love, and shocking family secrets collide in a deadly game where no one is safe, and loyalty could prove fatal.
Will Nicky uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or will Jen’s plan for vengeance destroy everything he holds dear?
Dive into this pulse-pounding sequel that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Get your copy today and find out who survives the mayhem
Book Details:
Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Crime, Action
Published by: ViennaRose Publishing
Series: Mayhem on Mulberry
Buy Book 1:
Amazon | Kindle Unlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub
Buy Book 2:
Amazon | Kindle Unlimited | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub
Author Bio:
Dr. Vincent DeFilippo, an international financier and former CEO of a private equity fund in Hong Kong, where he aided numerous executives and businesses in raising billions of dollars in capital.
Currently residing in New York, he is a Professor at Monroe College, where he mentors and teaches young people to achieve their goals. Driven by his passion for writing and storytelling, he captivates readers with his fiction works and provides practical business and financial advice through his non-fiction books.
Catch Up With Vincent deFilippo:
VincentdeFilippo.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram - @vincedefilippoauthor
LinkedIn - Vince Defilippo
X - @DefilippoAuthor
Facebook - @vincedefilippoauthor
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