The Cudoni Creed

About the Book

In 1898, a family of Calabrese brothers moved to America in hopes of a better life, free from the vicious entanglements of the Calabrian Mafia known locally as The Ndraghetta. The Cudoni brothers soon discover, however, that they have not run far enough. The Pittsburgh version of the Mafia, the Cosa Nostra, has its sights set on the independence of the Cudoni family. Despite the looming presence of organized crime in their lives, however, the brothers begin to build a new future.

Filippo is a lost soul, torn between the love of two countries and two women. His heart belongs to Angelina, but her father keeps them apart. In despair, he runs home to Italy, where his broken heart is healed by Angelina’s cousin Rosina. But even their engagement can’t stop the proud Calabrian from vowing to protect Angelina. With a promise to marry Rosina after he has made his fortune, Filippo returns to America—where he learns that Angelina has a baby boy she’s named Bruno Filippo. Torn between honour and love, they rekindle their romance.

But his happiness is no protection from the fury of the Cosa Nostra. It’s war between the Cosa Nostra and the Mano Rossa, Filippo’s group. Meanwhile, Filippo learns that Rosina is the target of a vicious and powerful Mafioso suitor and his henchman. Heartbroken and with no news from her fiancé in America, Rosina agrees to marry a man she loathes. Filippo rushes back to stop the wedding, but he may be too late. Can he save Rosina—and her honour—in time?

About the Author

In 1950, native Italian Phil Cuda moved to Australia with his parents. His grandfather’s tales of adventure in the United States in the years between 1899 and World War I motivated his ancestral research project, which inspired his fiction. He is the author of The Cudoni Creed: The Dream.