Dinner at Tony Napoli’s

by Edward Izzi

Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Crime

ISBN: 9798399010281

Print Length: 337 pages

An elegiac novel punctuated with hardboiled humor

“Dinner at Tony Napoli’s” is a gripping crime novel that explores the twisted relationship between criminals, their families, and the inescapable past. Antonio ‘Tony Napoli’ Sorrentino, the legendary owner of Tony Napoli’s Ristorante, finally faces the consequences of his long association with the mafia when four bodies are discovered buried in his restaurant’s basement by a demolition crew.

As 87-year-old Napoli finds himself in a jail cell for the first time, he confides in his nephew, Dennis Romanowski, a seasoned detective with the Chicago PD, unburdening his conscience and revealing the decades of criminal activity that took place within the walls of his landmark restaurant.

Edward Izzi, a prodigious storyteller, weaves a complex narrative that revolves around the actions that largely occur off the page. While the book is not lacking in villains and high drama, the truly unexpected events unfold through Tony Napoli’s stories of days gone by. A sense of morbid inevitability permeates the novel, as the titular character grapples with late-stage lung cancer from the very beginning.

Izzi skillfully skips through time, interweaving Romanowski’s youthful impressions of his uncle with his present role as Napoli’s confidant and closest family member. Along the way, he seamlessly integrates a steady stream of mafia lore, painting rich portraits of criminals, cops, and innocent individuals caught in their crosshairs.

The book presents gripping stories, such as Napoli mediating between a mafia boss and a corrupt police captain vying to extort money from the same businesses. However, there are also less gripping moments, resulting in a tapestry of heinous acts committed by principled men. While Detective Romanowski’s narration maintains a clear line between good and evil, the novel reveals the presence of hypocrisy and valor in the most unexpected places.

Although the novel occasionally suffers from a slackening pace and repetition, causing certain narrative lines to lose their propulsive force, it is important to remember that this is a story about memory. As such, it brilliantly captures the fears, joys, and regrets of an old man who has lived a checkered life.

“Dinner at Tony Napoli’s” follows a Chicago detective as he walks a thin line between the law and loyalty to his family, exposing the infectious logic of criminality. Edward Izzi’s novel offers an intricate and thought-provoking exploration of crime, loyalty, and the complexities of memory.