We’re thrilled to have here today Tom Rossi from Gus Pelagatti’s new noir suspense, The Wicked Wives. Rossi is a 48-year-old Assistant D.A. living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It is a pleasure to have him with us today at Beyond the Books!
Thank you so for this interview, Tom. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
I was fairly portrayed
Do you feel the author did a good job colorizing your personality? If not, how would you like to have been portrayed differently?
The author did a good job in describing my personality; strong but gentle
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
Tenacity
Worse trait?
My temper
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part if your book was made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
George Clooney
Do you have a love interest in the book?
Yes
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
I didn’t get nervous.
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
Boris “Rabbi” Feldman. He was an ugly rogue.
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
The ending is a dynamic surprise.
What words of wisdom would you give your author if s/he decided to write another book with you in it?
Don’t write any boring pages.
Thank you for this interview, Tom. Will we be seeing more of you in the future?
Yes. Benito’s Gold is the sequel.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gus Pelagatti is a practicing trial lawyer with over 47 years of experience trying civil and criminal cases including homicide. He’s a member of the Million Dollar Advocate Forum, limited to attorneys who have been recognized as achieving a standard of excellence as a trial expert. He has spent years researching the true story of the 1938 insurance scam murders, interviewing judges, lawyers, police and neighbors involved in the trials.
Gus was born and raised within blocks of the main conspirator’s tailor shop and the homes of many of the wives convicted of murdering their husbands.
His latest book is The Wicked Wives.
You can visit Gus’ website at www.guspelagatti.com.
To get your paperback copy of THE WICKED WIVES by Gus Pelagatti: http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Wives-novel-based-story/dp/1936780631/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315865476&sr=1-1
To purchase an e-copy of THE WICKED WIVES for your Kindle for $2.99: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wicked-Wives-novel-ebook/dp/B005784LB4/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1315865476&sr=1-1
To purchase an e-copy of THE WICKED WIVES for your Nook for $3.99: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wicked-wives-gus-pelagatti/1013204282?ean=2940013218611
Follow Gus Pelagatti on Twitter: https://twitter.com/guspelagatti
Like Gus Pelagatti on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guspelagattiauthor
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When I was an eight year old boy I overheard adults in my South Philadelphia neighborhood discussing 17 disenchanted and unfaithful neighborhood wives who murdered their husbands for insurance money, love and lust. This was a fascinating topic for an eight year old boy eavesdropping on adult conversation. The adults were discussing the true story of Philadelphia’s infamous 1938 murder scandals. My fascination led to obsession. I knew that I had to write about these wicked wives someday.
After I became a trial lawyer in 1964, I researched the poison murder cases in the law library and obtained newspaper accounts of the scandals dating back to October, 1938. Thereafter I conducted interviews with judges, lawyers, police, witnesses, sheriff deputies and neighbors who knew the defendants.
One of the chief conspirators was a tailor who seduced, then persuaded at least twelve wives to poison their husbands for insurance. The setting for his seductions was the couch in the rear of his tailor shop, located two blocks from our family home.
A fascinating conspiracy unfolded in these murder cases. The poison gang’s colorful and hilarious characters helped to deep-six a minimum of 20 husbands. The supporting cast includes Giorgio, “The Don Juan of Passyunk Avenue. ” Aside from scheming Lillian, “the society wife”, the wives include Rose, the “Kiss of Death Widow, ” Eva “the nymphomaniac” and the “hopelessly in love, ” Joanna.
After many comical episodes, intriguing detective work and two suspense filled high profile trials, 12 wives plead or are found guilty of murdering their husbands. Two male conspirators were executed in the electric chair.
“The Wicked Wives” gleefully explores the sins of lust and greed, and the disappointments that love often brings. The characters, although they commit murder and adultery, are extremely likable, and often amusing. Writing “The Wicked Wives” was a true labor of love.
Beyond the Books 