On the Run

By the son and daughter of Henry Hill - immortalised in the book "Wiseguy", and the Martin Scorsese film "Goodfellas" - "On The Run" is the harrowing account of a childhood spent coping with an explosive father, whilst dodging Mafia payback. Henry Hill's business partner, Jimmy Burke has whacked every person who could possibly implicate him in the infamous Lufthansa robbery at JFK airport. On his way to prison, lifelong ganster Henry is given two options: sleep with the fishes, or enter the FBI's Witness Protection Program. Gregg and Gina are dragged along for the ride. Like nomads, they're forced to wander from state to state, constantly inventing new names and finding new friends, only to abandon them at a moment's notice. Living under constant fear of being found and killed. But Henry, the rock Gregg and Gina so desperately need, is a heavy cocaine user and knows only the criminal life. He is soon up to his old tricks, and consistently putting their identities in jeopardy. And so, it continues until the kids, now almost grown, can no longer ignore that the Mob might be less of a threat to them than remaining under the roof of their increasingly unbalanced father.

This book really opened my eyes. Even though there are plenty of movies about the mafia world, there was still a part of that hoped it didn't exist. I cannot believe that there are people willing to treat young children to this.