Review: "The Godfather's Daughter" by Rita Gigante

Rita Gigante’s childhood was anything but normal. Sure she looked like your everyday Catholic girl from New Jersey. But Rita’s father was Vincent “Chin” Gigante, a notorious crime boss who faked mental illness to avoid prosecution.

Gangster movies and television shows depict a glamorous lifestyle for capos and their families while showing an undercurrent of tension and fear. For Rita, life was filled with fear and uncertainty. She lived alone with her mother and older sisters in a New Jersey suburb while her father ran his underworld empire in New York’s Greenwich Village.

As a young girl, Rita was told lies about her father’s business. When he was sent to prison in 1960 for trafficking heroin, her family told her he was drafted into the army and was sent overseas. The lies were undoubtedly meant to protect her but they also inflicted an incredible amount of damage when she uncovered the truth.

Living in the shadow of a New York crime boss - and one she loved because he was her father - placed a heavy burden on Rita. As with any heroine - real or fictitious - she overcame her challenges. Today, Rita is dedicating her life to helping other people emotionally, spiritually and physically.

The Godfather’s Daughter is a compelling, intimate look at one of America’s most notorious crime families. Told with vivid details and startling honesty, Rita’s story is a fascinating one of deception, lost innocence and redemption.