Sacred Heart

I picked this book up thinking it was going to be a book similar to the Sicilian by Mario Puzo. I was wrong! This book was so good that i stopped reading the other three books that I was very involved in. This book has culture, violence, suspence, and many instinces were you dont know what to feel. It pulled me in from the start, being a fan of the Gangster genre. I would suggest this book to anyone who loves mobland type stuff or are fans of Puzo or Pilleggi. This book is definitly worth the price.

This historical novel incorporates a too little known horror story of 20th century man's inhumanity to man. From 1926 to 1935 it was deadly to be a Christian, particularly a Catholic Christian and simultaneously live in Mexico. As Theosophists, free-thinkers, anticlericics, Communists, and assorted fascists teamed up, the rights of Christians to practice their faith were quickly terminated. Well-dressed women rushed gleefully to burn religious items. Dead Christians hung from nearly every utility pole in the country. Few remember this and too many histories marginalize the "cristeros" rather than those oppressing the cristeros. And like the crusaders, those on the "cristero" side too saw the anticlerical wars of Mexico as an opportunity to shed blood and gain booty. Montecino's book captures prohibition gangster America, Anticlerical Mexico, those who would die for their faith versus those who would wrongfully kill for temporal power, using their faith as a weapon rather than a shield. Montecino's characters include two sons of a New York gangster, one of whom becomes a priest and the other a professional gangster. The gangster son escapes criminal prosecution by fleeing to Mexico in stolen clerical garb. Little does he know that he is entering a land where sporting a clerical collar is a death sentence. He is captured and hung and escapes the jaws of death when he is hung on a rope weakened by the immediate prior hanging of an overly obese priest. After falling from the gallows, he seizes a weapon of one of the agraristas and kills the anti-cristero soldiers conducting the priestly hangings. Thereafter, he becomes revered to the people as "Padre Pistolero." He is united with his brother, a Jesuit priest. In the trauma of the persecution, his older brother turns to booze and a growing belief that ends justify means. Frank, the priest, turns to violence as "Padre Pistolero," the gangster repents and turns to God. Frank dies, but not without repenting of his sins and confessing to his brother, the fake priest who has now by act of contrition and change of heart become a true priest -- at least in spirit, if not by ordination. . Another perceived miracle by "Padre Pistolero" was the raising of a poor child, Miguelito, from the dead, as Miguelito is pronounced dead by the kidnapped anti-Cristero doctor. As the people are ready to denounce both brothers prior to Fr. Frank's death, Miguelito who was supposedly dead, cries out for "Padre Pistolero." "Padre Pistolero," at that time decides he can never take another life and dies completely to his old life. A surprise twist in the plot is the conclusion "The Cardinal," in which the priest from whom "Padre Pistolero" stole his garb and the church treasury meets the old gangster "Tommy Coyne," n/k/a Padre Pistolero. He meets him in the 60s as Coyne/Pistolero is now a greatly beloved village priest. The peace of God has obviously descended upon t

I absolutely loved this book, could not leave it down. The suspense and exitement of what was on the next page was overwhelming. I loved all the characters because they were all so real but of course most of all I loved Tommy and everything that he went through was all worth it in the end because he not only found God - he found himself. Again, I loved this book and have recommended to many of my friends.

During the prohibition era, gangster Tommy Coyne flees the New York police and a rival gang by wearing the garb of a priest. Tommy decides tokeep alow profile byhiding in the parish of his pious brother, Frank, a priest practicing in Guadalajara, Mexico. However, Tommy soon finds himself back in the frying pan as he is being hung. A miracle occurs and somehow Tommy is free, making him God's chosen to the peasants. The formerly pacifist Frank sees Tommy's miracle as an opportunity to turn militant as he plans to dynamite a train. Tommy also ponders his survival and loathes his sibling's violent plan. Now, he must somehow convince his brother that his plan is ungodly and dangerous before someone gets hurt. SACRED HEART is an exciting novel that compares two brothers who switch philosophies. Franks's portrayal as a peaceful man of the cloth whose frustrations with the system convert him into a rebellious fatalist is briliantly and convincingly drawn. Though the conversion of Tommy from cold blooded killer to a man of peace is not quite as smooth, it still is beautiful to watch. Marcel Montecino scribes a brilliant, fast-paced psychological drama that makes for an intriguing read. Harriet Klausner

During the prohibition era, gangster Tommy Coyne flees the New York police and a rival gang by wearing the garb of a priest. Tommy decides tokeep alow profile byhiding in the parish of his pious brother, Frank, a priest practicing in Guadalajara, Mexico. However, Tommy soon finds himself back in the frying pan as he is being hung. A miracle occurs and somehow Tommy is free, making him God's chosen to the peasants. The formerly pacifist Frank sees Tommy's miracle as an opportunity to turn militant as he plans to dynamite a train. Tommy also ponders his survival and loathes his sibling's violent plan. Now, he must somehow convince his brother that his plan is ungodly and dangerous before someone gets hurt. SACRED HEART is an exciting novel that compares two brothers who switch philosophies. Franks's portrayal as a peaceful man of the cloth whose frustrations with the system convert him into a rebellious fatalist is briliantly and convincingly drawn. Though the conversion of Tommy from cold blooded killer to a man of peace is not quite as smooth, it still is beautiful to watch. Marcel Montecino scribes a brilliant, fast-paced psychological drama that makes for an intriguing read. Harriet Klausner