mob Gino Ranno and his twenty-years-younger girlfriend Lisa. Their encounter with a ruthless Colombian drug dealer named Lucho Gonzales turns into a modern turf war, set in the famed landscape of the Hamptons. Of course, Ranno’s family ties play a crucial role in his survival efforts, and in its essence, “Fish Farm” showcases the depths of loyalty within the Italian culture. Romano attributes the book’s theme largely to the influence of his own heritage. A second generation Italian, his great-grandmother came to America from Sicily in 1891.
         “Growing up New York, being part of the Sicilian heritage and part of the Italian-New York world, seeing the mob world, it becomes [a part of] you,” Romano said. “Growing up I knew people like this, like Gino and Lisa, and Lucho.”
         Romano’s real-life experience of being raised in New York at a time when the mob and Italian culture were peaking, influenced more than just the characters in his book. “Fish Farm” is also inspired by stories from Sicily that were passed down through the generations, Romano said—stories of murder, revenge, and of family ties and loyalties that carried over into the New World during the immigration boom. In the novel, these influences are seen through pragmatic descriptions of people and customs.
   Down-to-earth characters, fluid action, and plenty of recognizable real-life inspirations make “Fish Farm” a worthy read for anyone interested in the crime genre. “Fish Farm” is available on Amazon.com, in paperback ($15.95) and Kindle versions. For more information about the book and author Louis Romano, or to purchase the book, please visit Click here.