Made & Unmade
A Detroit Mobster's Story
by J. G. Cope
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Pub Date 13 Sep 2024 | Archive Date 5 Feb 2025
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Description
One fateful moment changes the course of a life.
The moment seems trivial at first but it seals Joe Rose's destiny. Fresh out of high school, Joe finds himself at a pool hall where he intervenes to help a stranger, Vince DeLuca, fend off some thugs. The encounter seems like a simple act of bravado, but it sets Joe on a path he could never have imagined. Over a casual pizza dinner, Vince offers Joe a job with his uncle's construction company, a seemingly harmless opportunity that entangles Joe in the dark underworld of the Detroit Mafia.
As Joe becomes increasingly involved in "the life," his knack for using violence to achieve what he sees as necessary ends only pulls him deeper into a world where morality is a luxury. That chance meeting with Vince isn't just a twist of fate—it’s the doorway to a life Joe never truly escapes.
Decades later, Joe reflects on his life. The freedom he once thought he'd gained by entering the witness protection program turns out to be an illusion. Despite being physically free, Joe finds himself in a different kind of prison.
When Joe finally decides to take justice into his own hands, he does so with bitter realization.
This is a gripping tale of a man trapped by his own choices, where the pursuit of freedom comes at the highest cost, and the ultimate question becomes: was Joe ever truly free, or was he always destined to be a prisoner of his own making?
Advance Praise
Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
In Made & Unmade: A Detroit Mobster's Story by J.G. Cope, Joe Rose had no legitimate reason to become a hitman for the mafia.
Growing up in a typical middle-class Detroit suburb, Joe's outlook had always been that using violence was never the right course of action, but it could occasionally be taken into consideration. Joe received a job offer from Vince DeLuca at a construction company.
He noticed that the office was unusually busy with non construction-related activities and had heard rumors that the boss, Tony Mano, was a mafia member. Vince quickly included Joe in his endeavors and extended an invitation for Joe to meet Tony. Joe made a bad decision when he chose to do terrible things that converted his life into an omission sin. He lived his entire life in a prison he had created for himself.
Made & Unmade by J.G. Cope is a page-turner that had me hooked from the first page. The intricate plot was jam-packed with suspense, danger, and action, and the intrigue kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was fast-paced, and the descriptions of the events were vivid. The characters were all well-developed and authentic, and I felt like I was part of the story. Joe was a complex character. He was inherently a good person, but he did terrible things. Joe believed that the scales must balance and that on Judgment Day, what was not paid here must be paid for there. The story was well-written, compact, and to the point. I did not see the major twist coming at the end, but it was a fitting conclusion.
Featured Reviews
Kathryn M, Reviewer
I really enjoyed this as a concept and was executed well, it had a great story and uses the Mobster element in a way that worked overall and was glad I got to read this. The characters had that element that I wanted in this type of book and am excited for more from J. G. Cope.
Riley W, Reviewer
The moment seems trivial at first but it seals Joe Rose's destiny. Fresh out of high school, Joe finds himself at a pool hall where he intervenes to help a stranger, Vince DeLuca, fend off some thugs. The encounter seems like a simple act of bravado, but it sets Joe on a path he could never have imagined. Over a casual pizza dinner, Vince offers Joe a job with his uncle's construction company, a seemingly harmless opportunity that entangles Joe in the dark underworld of the Detroit Mafia.
As Joe becomes increasingly involved in "the life," his knack for using violence to achieve what he sees as necessary ends only pulls him deeper into a world where morality is a luxury. That chance meeting with Vince isn't just a twist of fate—it’s the doorway to a life Joe never truly escapes.
Decades later, Joe reflects on his life. The freedom he once thought he'd gained by entering the witness protection program turns out to be an illusion. Despite being physically free, Joe finds himself in a different kind of prison.
When Joe finally decides to take justice into his own hands, he does so with bitter realization.
This is a gripping tale of a man trapped by his own choices, where the pursuit of freedom comes at the highest cost, and the ultimate question was Joe ever truly free, or was he always destined to be a prisoner of his own making?
Loved it. Will recommend to others.
