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LAKEVILLE — Within his newly released book, native Bostonian and author Thomas M. Cirignano brings his readers into the tough neighborhoods and back alleys of Southie, during a time when street-justice ruled, judgment was final, and penalties severe.
“67 Cents: Creation of a Killer” is a fictional adaptation of the author’s autobiography, “The Constant Outsider: Memoirs of a South Boston Mechanic.” But fair warning: “67 Cents” is not for the faint of heart, with its gritty language and graphic scenes of violence.
The author defends his use of strong adult wording by stating, “This is exactly the way guys of the type depicted in the book spoke.”
In real life, Mr. Cirignano — now a resident of Lakeville — lived and worked in a city that was a far cry from TV’s “Cheers” and the sterile images of fashionable Newbury Street.
At his auto repair shop in the heart of Southie, he had multiple opportunities to become involved with the underworld.
As their trusted mechanic, he was on very good terms with the local gangsters. So much so, that when the Mob heard that Tom was having a problem with one particular thug, an “enforcer” offered to kill the man for him, for a very minimal fee. Of course, Mr. Cirignano said “No thank you.”
But in “67 Cents,” the main character, “Nick,” says “Yes” to each and every one of those offers that were made to the author by both the Italian and Irish mobs over the years. In a Boston where violence and lawlessness ruled, a series of wrong choices leads Nick down an ever intensifying path of no return.
He learns to bend the rules, put aside his childhood values, and break the law in ever increasing ways.
Nick finds that, like a lethal drug, money has a power of addiction all its own, especially easy money.
One skill he acquires is that of brutally fighting back against adversaries, eventually being pushed to the ultimate act of revenge; murder.
Not only does Nick find that he’s good at killing, he actually enjoys it.
“67 Cents: Creation of a Killer” is now available in paperback, on Amazon.com and Kindle, and at Readmore Books in Taunton, Somethin’s Brewin’ in Lakeville, and the Lakeville Library.
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