Codes of Betrayal

This book by Dorothy Uhnak reminds me of Mario Puzo and Harold Robbins. I've known that since I read her first book many years ago. Dorothy Uhnak is a former police officer and writes books about the Mafia, police investigations and an ethnic New York that I recognize. She also writes about Queens and her book, The Investigation, over twenty years ago, was loosely based on a murder that took place right in my home town. I've read other books of hers too -- namely Law and Order and the Ryer Avenue Story. I've never seen a photo of her, but she must be in her seventies now and I picture her looking something like Geraldine Ferraro.I can never resist her books, and was impelled to buy Codes of Betrayal when I saw it in a book store. The basic story is about an Irish-Italian cop whose grandfather is a Mafia don. Although the story is predictable, I couldn't put the book down. The story just draws me in to a world that has fascinated me all my life. I read the book in a couple of big gulps, enjoying every minute of the ride.

Nick O'Hara is a good New York City cop whose sole vice is gambling. The only flaw in Nick's record is the occupation of his beloved grandfather, Nicholas Ventura, an aging Mafia Don. When Nicholas pleads to see Peter, his great-grandson, on the occasion of the old man's seventy-fifth birthday, Nick reluctantly allows the lad to attend the Little Italy San Gennaro Festival. While in nearby Chinatown, Peter is killed during a shoot-out. The senseless death of his son leads to the destruction of Nick's life. He knows the identity of his son's murderer, but is impotent to act on the information. His wife leaves him and his gambling goes out of control, leading to large losses. Desperate, he tries to steal drug money to pay off his debts, but is caught by the DEA. He is offered a deal. Either spend the next two decades behind bars or sell out his grandfather, the man he ultimately holds responsible for the collapse of his life. No one describes the mean streets and various cultures of New York City quite like Dorothy Uhnak. Her latest novel,CODES OF BETRAYAL, brings to life various ethnic lifestyles and neighborhoods like no one else can, turning them into the stars of the novel. Though the story line is well written, Nick does not generate reader empathy and the denouement of his complex problems avoids answering the more difficult question of ethics and morality. Still, fans of police procedurals will not feel betrayed by this book. Harriet Klausner