Die Laughing

by Vincent Graziano

Twenty-one-year-old Frankie Grace, heir apparent to the family funeral business, is sure his life's calling lies not in embalming but in entertaining. But on the eve of Little Italy's annual Feast of San Gennaro in 1971, he finds himself in deep when he's summoned to make arrangements for a member of the mob. Will Frankie become a hit--or the victim of one?
Die Laughing nails the characters, from mafioso Johnny Ballsziti and his henchmen to Sal, the neighborhood restaurateur who doubles as Frankie's manager, to Frankie's drop-dead-gorgeous love interest--who happens to be JB's daughter. Food and wine flow as freely as the punch lines in a zany neighbhorhood that combines an obsession over mourning with a zest for life--and where Frankie Grace always makes sure his customers leave with a smile on their face.

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2009

Reviews

[VinnyB]

"Die Laughing" reads like a Scorsese film. From the first page you can tell its author, Vincent Graziano, has lived the material. Whether it's the inner workings of a funeral home, the excitement of "killing" in a stand-up routine, or the fear of getting on the wrong side of a mobster, he blends comedy and tragedy the way his buddy, Sal, makes a pasta e fagioli. And speaking of food, the back and forth at Sal's restaurant "Lucci's" is a cross between the films "Diner" and "Goodfellas." Throw in a love interest and the tension between father and son in a family business, and you have the perfect literary ragu.

[Kay Ellington]

I loved this book.
Hilarious concept.
Protagonist is a fourth generation undertaker in Little Italy in the seventies who wants to be a stand-up comedian.
Frankie overcomes family pressure, the Mafia, and a wacky cast of friends and family in a great read.

[Barbara Brannon]

So, ya liked the Sopranos and ya watched every episode of Six Feet Under? This is the book for you. Hilarious, fast-paced, and poignant.