Product Description

The true story of a group of four boys brought up in New York's notorious Mafia-run "Hell's Kitchen" during the 1960s. After nearly causing a man's death, they were sent to a reformatory where guards routinely brutalized them, leaving them with nothing but an undying loyalty to one another.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21215 in Books
• Published on: 1996-04-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

From the Publisher
When friendship runs deeper than blood

From the Back Cover
An unforgettable true story of friendship, loyalty and revenge
Lorenzo, Michael, John and Tommy shared everything - the laughter and the bruises of an impoverished childhood on New York's violent West Side. Until one of their pranks misfired and they were sent to a reformatory school.
Twelve months of systematic mental, physical and sexual abuse left the boys transformed for ever.
Eleven years later, one of them had become a journalist, one a lawyer - and the other two killers for the mob. In a chance encounter they came face to face with one of their torturers and shot him dead in front of several witnesses. The trial that followed brought the four friends together again in one last, audacious stand - and a courtroom climax as gripping as any John Grisham novel.
'A compulsive true story' The Times

'Undeniably powerful, an enormously affecting and intensely human story' The Washington Post

'Compelling' USA Today

'Fabulous, unbelievably good' Entertainment Weekly

'A brilliant, troubling, important book' Jonathan Kellerman

About the Author
Lorenzo Carcaterra was born in New York where he still lives. He was a reporter on the New York Daily News before he wrote A Safe Place. His second book, Sleepers, became a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic.

Customer Reviews

Excellent
As I'm dyslexic I'm a slow reader so hopefully this review will be of use to anyone in a similar position.

One of, if not the best book I have ever read!!! From start to finish this story is captivating.

I started the book wanting to know the harsh realities of the institutions of the day, but got so rapped up in Lorenzo Carcaterra's account of a child's life in sixties Hell's Kitchen; I really didn't want the story to move on from there.

The author's ability to bring situations and characters to life adds depth to this powerful story of survival and friendship. If Sleepers was a novel, I would commend the writer for the brilliant story line, but to think it is in fact a true story!

The film is excellent! The book is better!!!

FANTASTIC READ
I AM IN NO WAY A FAST READER BUT THIS BOOK (HONESTLY) TOOK ME 2 DAYS TO GET THROUGH FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. IT IS A COMPELLING STORY AND AT SOME PARTS OF THE BOOK YOU WISH IT WASN'T TRUE! THIS BOOK WOULD BE SUITED TO ANYONE.

oh my god! amazing.
i saw the movie first. i am only 14, around the age of the characters, and the movie amazed me. i came across the book while doing a school project and instantly bought it. the book is a trillion times better than the movie. i loved it. but beware. it is sad. as one of the reviews above says, it WILL leave you with a hole in your heart. you will feel for the characters and gain emotions for them. The first section of the book, the streets of hells kitchen, was incredible. i was jealouse of the friendship and loyalty, i wanted to be a part of it. it was wonderful. the second section is sad. it was written incredibly but it is heart breaking. the third section, though it is heartbreaking like the second section, it is satisfying. if you really feel for these characters like i do, i advise you not to read the epilogue--it will hurt. BUY THIS BOOK. you wont regret it. i've read it 4 times and cant get enough.