Sugar Cube

A Mafia/Benedict Novel

By: Joe Morello

Narrated by: Theo Polo

Sal Benedict has become one of the most powerful mob bosses of all time. He's an understated man who lives frugally with his wife. But he's also highly temperamental, and he's about to confront an issue that'll make him go through the roof.

Someone has kidnapped his son Johnny, a gifted young student at Harvard Medical School. The Irish mob has been taking family members of Italian gangsters for some time, but no one has been dumb enough before to sign their own death warrant like this.

How will Sal get Johnny back, and fend off Thorson Kincaid of the FBI - with whom he's been playing a 'cat and mouse' game - at the same time? The feds want to put Sal behind bars, and they've chosen the worst time possible - for Sal, that is - to do it.

©2024 David P Houghton (P)2025 David P Houghton

well written and highly crafted plot

a book full of curvy turns and a plot that takes you for a ride. Well done

intriguing and unexpected ending

Tensions between the Irish and Italian mobs reach a boiling point when the Irish make the mistake of crossing Sal Benedict. With his family threatened, Sal launches a ruthless campaign to protect what's his, reclaim his kidnapped son, and evade the tightening grip of the FBI—all while fighting to maintain his power at the top.

The author, Joe Morello delivers a chilling mystery packed with violence, deception, and just the right dose of heart. Each character has enough depth to feel real, and while Sal Benedict fits the classic mafia boss mold, there’s something about him that makes you feel torn—part pity, part dislike. The plot kept me guessing, and the ending was both surprising and totally believable.

Theo Polo’s narration was spot-on—his voice work brought each character to life with power and clarity. He kept the pacing tight and the energy high, making it easy to stay locked in.

I found the ending to be surprising yet satisfying. Throughout the book and even at the end, I wanted to know the son.
This audiobook was intriguing and had me hooked from the first chapter to the last.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.