Raze (Rey) Tanic’s dad is a gangster. An infamous mafia boss and leader of the ‘family business’, Dejan Tanic is currently serving time in prison at the New South Wales (Aust) Deep Cut Correctional Centre, a few hours out of Sydney. He may be locked up, but his reach and influence extends past the walls and razor wire.

Raze’s big brother Solo is also entrenched in the business, but the older Raze gets, the more he realises that this is not what he wants for his own life. He just has to get up the courage to tell his dad. The response is nothing like he expected, but he soon understands why. His father was distracted with plans of his own.

Dejan Tanic on the loose kicks off a turf war between him and another ruthless criminal, Jonjo Sullivan. They both want Sydney and all the lucrative underworld opportunities it holds for themselves, and it seems at any price. Raze begins to take an even harder look at his life and his family’s wealth, as innocent lives are lost in this turf war. He too, is soon on the run, with only his best friends Candy and Ids looking out for him.

Deep down, Raze can feel the Tanic menace rise when he is threatened or angry, but he pushes it back down again, determined not to sink to his father’s methods. Still, fear of the Tanic name does come in handy now and then.

The more he learns about his dad and his plans for taking control of Sydney again, the more Raze knows he has to do something. He is tired of things happening to him, and wants it all to just stop. It’s time he took control of his own life, and Candy and Ids are keen to help.

An inside look at a fictional Australian gangster’s family, from the point of view of 14 year old Rey (Raze), the youngest son. The older he gets, the less he wants to be a part of it all, but that decision is taken away from him when he is unwillingly caught up in a turf war.

Told in 1st person by Raze, and third person chapters scattered through the novel, this coming of age novel was gripping. I rallied for Raze as he battled his inner turmoil to avoid his family’s penchant for violence. He’d grown up with body guards, private drivers, his father’s life of crime, and all the benefits, but at what cost?

Finally taking control of his own destiny, Raze and his friends hatch a plan to sort things once and for all. What is The Tell? You’ll have to read it to find out. Short chapters, likeable characters, gunfire, bombs and action – A great read!

Author – Martin Chatterton

Age – 12+

(Action, Guns, Power, Wealth, Crime, Murder, Escape, Prison Break, Gangster, Family, Loss, Attack, Mafia, Technology, Sydney. Australia, Graffiti Art, Growing up, Revenge, Horse Racing, Randwick)