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Darkest Hour: John Alite: Former Mafia Enforcer for John Gotti & The Gambino Crime Family

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A New #1 Bestseller by SC Pike (True Crime) TRUE-LIFE story of notorious Mafia hitman for the Gotti & Gambino crime family in New York City in the 80's & 90's. SC Pike brings John Alite's story to life in such a way, the reader will feel as if they are walking in his very shoes! TWENTY PLUS years and counting... John Gotti, Jr. (a shelved mafia don) has been seemingly obsessed with creating constant public feuds by harassing, fabricating lies on his own websites and social media, and altering court documents in a relentless pursuit to defame John Alite's character in order to stop John Alite from telling the truth to the world. John offers an honest, real first-hand, street level, no-holds-bar of his life, starting from a young boy, and then how he moved into organized crime with the Gotti and Gambino crime families. *~*~* John Alite had too many darkest hours to count, but he's pushed through them all with a spirited perseverance, tenacity of mind, and a strength of purpose. Just like everything else in his life, he's met adversity head on with fierce determination and a resoluteness to come out on top. *~*~* A college baseball scholarship was his way out of the inner city, but his dreams of going pro were crushed by an arm injury. John Alite was forced to return home to the only life he knew, where having to live on the streets of New York meant one thing--learning how to survive. He was driven. He was extreme. He was feared. But most of all, he was loyal. From a young age, he found himself influenced by the wrong crowd. Enticed by the wealth, power, and prestige of the mafia, he immersed himself in a world that was foreign to most. A society where policies were enforced by instilling fear. Those at the top were about obtaining and harnessing absolute power, while covertly using their own warped codes of ethics. Honor and loyalty were merely a misnomer. The cold, bitter truth was, he was expendable, and his sworn allegiance was rewarded with betrayal. On the run and unable to trust anyone, John was finally forced to confront his own demon--himself. Facing the harsh realities of who he was and what he had done wasn't pretty, and he had some serious, life-altering decisions to make. Ones that would come with a price. Through a life of heartache, betrayal, and loss comes a story of grace, healing, and redemption. Book one of S.C. Pike has written John Alite's biography, starting with his childhood, going into his teenage years, and then into adulthood. All the transformations and events within his life have been documented with precision, and are true accounts of how John Alite found himself involved within organized Crime. Mainly with the New York Mafia, (also known as Cosa Nostra), Gang members, and mob affiliates. Drugs and Violence. *~*~* John Alite and S.C. Pike have a common goal, a message to the world, one they wanted to convey within the Darkest Hour Series. They hope to inspire those of all ages, who are struggling in life, to persevere, and to never give up or give in to a life of crime, no matter the circumstances one finds themselves in. There is always Hope, Faith, and God. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mafia true crime.

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2018

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S.C. Pike

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5 stars
40 (20%)
4 stars
45 (22%)
3 stars
54 (27%)
2 stars
30 (15%)
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29 (14%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Pauline (Passionate About Books).
809 reviews15 followers
March 19, 2018
A path that can only lead to destruction...
The "Darkest Hour" is a biographical story of John Alite's earlier years in life... from when he was a child up to his final years of high school. Travel back in time during the shady 70's and 80's in New York... in neighborhoods which were diverse and dangerous... not exactly the ideal places to live in let alone raise children. John Alite's story gives us a glimpse of what it was like growing up in such an environment with ideologies and doctrines which were dangerous and frightening and how it shaped his future... immersing him slowly into violence and the mob world. A true story about pushing boundaries and limits, living in the fast track which will eventually lead John Alite straight to the wrong side of the law. A touching story but also a chilling one... and this is only the early years. I fear what will go down in the follow-up novel of this true series by S.C. Pike. 5 Overwhelming Stars for a life NOT full of roses.
Profile Image for Christopher McDevitt.
Author 5 books7 followers
January 15, 2025
Hands down the worst true crime autobiography/memoir I’ve ever read, and last year I read Vinnie: Bartender to the Mob (not joking).

Let me save you two days: He’s Albanian, his father was abusive but he loved him anyway. All the men in his family were tough and streetwise, and loved to gamble. He never joined a gang but he fought with and alongside them in the streets of New York. Now read that paragraph 4000 times and you’ve just finished Darkest Hour.

Then at the end when nothing of note has really happened they have the gall to tease Darkest Hour 2. So I guess this wasn’t actually your darkest hour, just a few shady formative years.

You should just read Anastasia’s Book: Gotti’s Boys.
Profile Image for Tanya.
88 reviews
July 28, 2018
Childhood &teen years

When I began reading this book, i the I would talk about his job years and killing. Instead, it talks about his youth before going into college. It seems to me he's full of himself in the book in some parts.
Profile Image for Janet Rodriguez.
266 reviews
September 10, 2020
First of all, what was the Darkest Hour? This was a story of a kid growing up in NYC. Boring. Nothing about the Mafia, really, just about this guy growing up. Then it just ends, as if they forgot the rest of the story. Bizarre.
Profile Image for Dave Wilkins .
195 reviews
September 17, 2021
Very disappointing. “John Alite, enforcer for the Gambino crime family” oh and by the way, the whole book is about his childhood and ends at the precise moment it should have began. The book doesn’t even mention John Gotti yet his name is on the cover. 1.2 ⭐️ and that’s generous. Waste of time
3 reviews
May 29, 2022
Boring

I had heard of John Alite from YouTube. This book is basically a book of his childhood. It's a repetitive book which states the same things over and over again. The main theme being how fearless, tough,resilient and unique he is. This is not a book about his life of crime.
11 reviews
February 6, 2019
Too much of the book is spent on Alite’s young years BEFORE the Gambino Family. Boring. Does boxing and baseball lead you to be a rat?!
3 reviews
December 12, 2020
Terrible

Waste of time. Terrible book. Completely misleading. Don’t buy. Never even talks about mob activity or anything other than growing up as a punk.
Profile Image for Dan Schwebel.
15 reviews
July 13, 2021
Not an overly informative book about the mob, in details Alite's early life as an aspiring boxing and his demise into criminality.
7 reviews
April 18, 2022
Awful

This book sucks. Total bait and switch. The guy is a nobody, a wannabe. I do not recommend this book.

Profile Image for Jason.
108 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2021
I’ll admit, I’m aware it might not be 100% true, but what can I say? I like John Alite stories.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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