Title: The Family Debt: The True Story of Giacomo “Jack” Bianco
Author: Teresa Bianco
Publisher: 2020 Literary Group
ISBN: 978-1450207683
Pages: 112
Genre: Biography / True Crime
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.
Hollywood Book Reviews
Author Teresa Bianco’s book, The Family Debt: The True Story of Giacomo “Jack” Bianco, is a moving tribute to her father, Giacomo C. “Jack” Bianco, a successful businessman who was mysteriously slain at the age of forty-nine.
Jack Bianco was fatally shot four times in a “robbery shooting” at P&G Liquors, the bar he operated at 1649 Adams Street in Gary, Indiana. His murder case was cold for nearly thirty years, until Teresa decided to check into it again. Recalling his final hours caused her to doubt her father’s purported association with organized gambling circles as reported in the press at the time. The memory of him not being the guy the media had made him out to be combined with her own loss and sadness created an even more frightening maze of agony. It was even more unnerving to learn that a different family member had had a similar experience on the very same spot decades before.
As the story progresses, the criminal background and close ties between the author’s father’s half-brother, Tony, and the Mafia are sure to pique the interest of the sleuth reader. It is revealed that Jack and Tony co-owned the company, with Jack taking charge when Tony became weary of the government’s unrelenting probes into him. Teresa’s inquiry would focus on both Jack and Tony’s operations, as she attempted to establish whether her father’s death was used to settle off an unimaginably huge “family debt” to the mafia.
With each new page, the plot thickens, suspense builds, and the reader’s interest grows. A prevalent motif that is emphasized is the detrimental effect that an unexpected father’s passing had on his daughter. Among the disasters detailed is a terrible accident that almost killed the author’s daughter, raising doubts about the mother’s ability to withstand more anguish. Her climax strategy is unique in that it lets the reader decide for themselves which way the evidence is pointing based on the information in the book.
As a reader, I believe that The Family Debt: The True Story of Giacomo “Jack” Bianco provides the author with a greater sense of closure than just the customary upholding of an honorable heritage. Reading it was like traveling with her down a scary, dark, uncharted trail with no idea where you were headed. Even though it brought me to tears, it surely strengthened my resolve and altered the way I viewed my own challenging past, which is a remarkable objective of any contemporary text.
The Family Debt It is a reminder of the enduring impact of one’s choices and the power of storytelling to heal and understand our past. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, family history, and the immigrant experience in America.