A gripping family drama entangled in Milwaukee’s unforgiving underworld

Preorders for The Sins We Inherit will begin in June—stay tuned!

Blending elements of Breaking Bad and A Bronx Tale

Haunted by his family’s legacy and personal loss, Cost is pulled back into Milwaukee’s criminal underworld—fighting not just for survival, but for his daughter.

The Sins We Inherit is a contemporary drama about Costantino “Cost,” a man shaped by his childhood in Milwaukee’s criminal underworld. After overcoming personal trauma and building a successful career, a bitter divorce and devastating losses pull him back into the life he tried to escape. When his notorious grandfather dies, Cost, driven by a need for control, re-enters the Milwaukee rackets while struggling to rebuild his life and reconnect with his daughter.

About the book

The protagonist

Costantino “Cost” is a commanding presence—lean, sharp-featured, and intense, with eyes that seem to see everything. His dark hair, usually neat but sometimes tousled, mirrors the push and pull of his controlled yet unpredictable nature. He avoids the spotlight, but his quiet magnetism makes him impossible to ignore.

A natural leader, Cost reads people and situations with unnerving precision, earning respect effortlessly. His charm is built on genuine empathy and unwavering loyalty, yet his pride and stubbornness often set him at odds with those he cares about. Fiercely protective, he struggles against the weight of his past, driven by an unrelenting need for control—over his family, his career, and himself.

Haunted by a childhood shaped by Milwaukee’s criminal underworld, Cost fights to break free from the sins he was born into. But as he’s pulled back into the life he swore to leave behind, his fractured relationship with his daughter becomes his greatest battle—forcing him to choose between the empire he’s reclaiming and the redemption he desperately craves.

If you enjoy

Crime Dramas: Fans of Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, or A Bronx Tale will be drawn to the gritty, authentic struggles of Costantino “Cost” as he navigates the blurred lines between his personal life and Milwaukee's criminal underworld
Complex Antiheroes: If you’re captivated by flawed protagonists seeking redemption and making morally ambiguous choices, Cost’s journey—marked by both his downfalls and desperate attempts to rise again—will resonate deeply.
Family and Personal Struggles: The Sins We Inherit intertwines raw family dynamics, personal tragedy, and the pull of the criminal world. Readers who connect with stories of fractured families, complicated relationships, and emotional reckonings will find Cost’s fight to rebuild his life both painful and powerful.
Urban and Contemporary Fiction: Set in Milwaukee—a city with a rich cultural history and a hidden criminal underbelly—this novel speaks to those who love modern-day stories rooted in real places and unflinching realities.
Psychological Tension: The Sins We Inherit delves into the mind of a man torn between control and chaos. If you’re drawn to stories where internal battles are as fierce as the external ones, Cost’s descent—and fight for redemption—will captivate you.

The Story Behind the Story

From Broken to Becoming: The Story Behind The Sins We Inherit

This is the part of the story you won’t find in the pages—a raw look at how heartbreak, healing, and writing this novel changed everything.

This video is a personal reflection on the journey that led me to write The Sins We Inherit—a story born from heartbreak, healing, and transformation. What began as journaling through pain became a powerful exploration of redemption, family, and the legacy we carry. I hope this resonates with anyone who's ever had to rebuild.

If this resonated with you, I hope you’ll explore the book—and join me on the journey

Inside the book

A Glimpse into The Sins We Inherit

Power. Family. Redemption. This quick video reveals what lies at the core of The Sins We Inherit—and why this story will stay with you long after the last page.

In just under a minute, this video introduces the heart of The Sins We Inherit—a story shaped by legacy, loss, and the deep pull of redemption. Set against the backdrop of Milwaukee’s criminal underworld, the novel follows Cost Caduto, a man torn between who he was raised to be and who he’s fighting to become. In this short overview, author Carlo J. Emanuele shares what inspired the novel, how personal heartbreak and healing helped shape the story, and why this journey matters—not just on the page, but in real life. Whether you’re drawn to crime drama, complex family dynamics, or deeply human characters, this is where it begins.

Inside the book

From Athlete to Executive to Author: My Journey

Follow my journey from collegiate basketball player to corporate executive, and now, to author of The Sins We Inherit. A story of resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose

This short video takes you through my journey from collegiate basketball player to corporate executive, and now, to author of The Sins We Inherit. It's a glimpse into how each chapter of my life has shaped my story and my path forward.

Inside the book

New Milwaukee Author Carlo Emanuele’s Debut Novel, ‘The Sins We Inherit’

After working in business his entire career, Carlo Emanuele is taking a creative leap. The new Milwaukee author is putting out his debut novel this year, The Sins We Inherit, a contemporary crime drama with Milwaukee, and family, at the heart. Emanuele’s debut novel is fiction, but the themes, characters, and story are deeply personal.

‘The Story’s Just Beginning’

It started as a way to survive heartbreak. Now the story is reaching others.

“Emanuele’s novel is an homage to the working-class South Side of Milwaukee and the complicated ties that bind family, trauma, and legacy."

🎥 Watch the teaser. More coverage, conversations, and behind-the-scenes moments are coming soon.

Inside the book

A Crime Legacy

A fathers fight for redemption

Contemporary drama about Costantino "Cost", a man forged in Milwaukee's underworld. Fictional crime drama follows "Cost" as he struggles to rebuild his life - and reconnect with his daughter.

Inside the book

‘If You Know Carlito and Doug, You’re About to Meet Cost’

From Carlito’s Way to The Town… Now Comes The Sins We Inherit

A legacy of crime. A fight for redemption. Meet Cost—the next unforgettable antihero. In just 15 seconds, see how he stacks up against Carlito Brigante and Doug MacRay in this high-impact visual showdown. The streets made him. Now he's rewriting the rules.

Inside the book

'The Men Behind the Fiction'

Every word in The Sins We Inherit carries echoes of real people, real places, and real pain. This is where the fiction began.

Cost and his crew didn’t come from imagination—they came from memory. From growing up on Milwaukee’s south side, surrounded by men who wore pride and pain like second skin. The ones who taught me about strength, silence, loyalty, and sometimes, loss. This glimpse behind the curtain is my way of honoring them—and showing readers that while the novel may be fiction, its foundation is deeply personal

Inside the book

'Lorenzo Leale'

Lorenzo Leale is Costantino “Cost” Jr.'s childhood friend, a short, thin man with a sharp mind and a knack for staying calm under pressure. Unlike the more forceful figures in Costantino “Cost's” life, Lorenzo is calculating, smart, and excels at navigating difficult situations with a level head. He’s the one Costantino “Cost” turns to for advice.

Inside the book

'Marek "Stones" Novak'

Marek is aggressive, hot-tempered, and brutal, with little tolerance for weakness. He doesn’t play politics; he just takes what he wants. While he doesn’t possess Costantino “Cost”’s strategic mind, he’s dangerous and unpredictable, capable of violence at the drop of a hat. His loyalty is based on fear and respect, and those around him know crossing him could be fatal.

Inside the book

‘A Mother Knows’

Irene Caduto: Cost’s Mother

Irene has long auburn hair and striking green eyes. She is intuitive, caring, and compassionate, always quick to sense the needs of those around her. Fiercely loyal to her family, she is protective of Costantino “Cost” and deeply devoted to her husband, Guido. Her nurturing nature is tempered by an inner strength, and she will go to great lengths to defend her loved ones.

Inside the book

'For My Daughters and Parents: A Dedication from the Heart'

This dedication is for my daughters, Aliza and Sienna—the truest parts of me. Your laughter heals me, your love drives me, and this story is for you. Every word, every choice, every fight is a step toward being the man you can be proud to call Dad. This book carries darkness, but it also carries the unshakable love of a father who will always fight for you.

For my parents, Joe and Luann—who saw me at my lowest and helped me rebuild. Your unwavering love, support, and faith gave me the strength to write this book. Every word is a reflection of your belief in me. I owe more to you than words can hold, but these are for you, with all my heart.

Inside the book

Inside The Sins We Inherit

"Number one"

A mother knows

Same church. Same wall. Years ago.

He had been fourteen then, standing just where he was now, his back against the same cold stone. Tiger beside him.

His grandfather was dressed in black, the sharp lines of his overcoat crisp against the gray Milwaukee afternoon. The air was lighter—no mist, no drizzle—but colder.

Cost had felt it in his fingers, his knuckles red as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets, trying to keep them warm.

Tiger was unbothered. A cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth, the cherry flaring orange with each drag, a brief ember of life against the muted street.

The city was quieter that day. Or maybe it just felt that way. Grief had a way of muffling the world.

The church doors creaked open behind them. A kid stepped out. One of his cousins—Tommy, maybe. Mikey. It didn’t matter.

The boy hesitated before speaking, shifting on his feet like he wasn’t sure if he had permission to interrupt.

“Uh… The priest says they’re ready to start, Grandpa.”

Tiger barely looked up. He took another drag, slow, unhurried, the kind of pause that let everyone know he was in control of the moment.

Then, exhaling smoke into the crisp air, he tapped the ash off the tip.

He shifted his gaze to Cost. “Number One, you go tell the priest he can start when I finish my cigarette.”

The boy in the doorway hesitated. Blinked. Maybe waiting for Tiger to laugh, to say he was joking.

But Tiger wasn’t joking.

His voice had been even. Calm. Absolute. The same way he had given orders in life. And Cost had felt something then—something strange, electric. A mix of pride and awe.

Tiger did what Tiger wanted.

A mother knows

Irene doesn’t look at him as she speaks, keeps her hands moving—tossing a pinch of salt into the bowl, stirring, giving him just enough room to pretend she isn’t pushing. But she is.

"I know you’re struggling. And I know how much you hate being seen struggling. We can help you, son. We have a little money put back—"

Cost tenses, his spine going rigid before she even finishes.

“I don’t need—” The words come too sharp, too fast. He exhales hard, dragging a hand down his face. Softer this time. “Don’t worry about it, Ma.”

But she doesn’t let it go, not yet.

“Maddy asked me the other day why you won’t take help from family.” The words are measured, but the weight of them presses down, tightens something deep in his chest. “Why you’d rather break your back doing everything alone instead of letting the people who love you make it easier.”

Cost freezes, caught between confrontation and escape.

Maddy said that?

Doesn’t want to lie.

Doesn’t want to admit it either.

His jaw tightens. “I get by just fine.”

Irene shakes her head, clicking her tongue like she does when she knows she’s being fed bullshit. But she studies him for a long moment, and because she is who she is—because she knows him—she lets him off the hook.

“For now,” she murmurs. Then, quieter, “You let me know when ‘just fine’ stops being fine, alright?”

Cost swallows hard. Nods once.

And just like that, the tension shifts—still there, still lingering, but no longer pressing down so hard it threatens to crack something open.

Irene reaches up, her fingers light as they brush his hair back from his forehead. A rare, fleeting gesture. One she used to do when he was a kid, when comfort came easier, when he didn’t flinch at the touch of reassurance.

Cost lets it happen. Just for a second.

Then he steps back, clearing his throat like that might erase the moment.

Irene doesn’t react, doesn’t call attention to it. Just turns back to the stove, giving him the space he needs.

"Go on," she says, stirring the sauce. "Your father could use some company." She doesn’t look at him as she speaks.

Doesn’t need to.

She’s already said everything that matters.

The what if that never faded

Maria Celestina.

The wind pulled at the hem of her coat, tugging strands of her dark hair loose, but she didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just stood there, watching him with something unreadable in her gaze.

Cost felt something shift in his chest, something tight—the pull of time, of unfinished things, of words that had never been spoken and the weight of the ones that had.

For a second, he didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. The wind rushed past them, pulling dead leaves across the wet grass, rattling the branches overhead. And then, finally—

“Hey, Stranger,” she said again, her voice softer this time, almost like she hadn’t meant to say it twice.

Cost swallowed. Jesus. Of all the things he’d expected today—this wasn’t one of them. Maria stood a few feet away, her posture composed, unreadable, but her presence unshakable.

She looked the same. Maybe a little older. Maybe a little sharper around the edges. But time never really touched certain people—not in the ways that mattered.

It hit him all at once.

High school. The way they’d whispered in the back of a parked car, heat fogging the windows, dreaming up a future that neither of them really believed in but wanted to, just for the sake of it.

The firsts. First love, first heartbreak, first time thinking about forever like it was something real.

The fire. The kind that burned hot and fast, but never quite went out. And then there were the stupid plans—things they had sworn they’d do, places they said they’d go. None of it had meant anything. But somehow, standing here, it still did. She had been the ‘what if’ he never answered. The one that never fully faded.

A quiet warning

The what if that never faded

Something shifted at the edge of the crowd. A flicker of movement. A presence that didn’t belong. Cost’s gaze flicked up, drawn without meaning to be.

A figure stood apart from the mourners, just outside the gathering. Marek “Stones” Novak. Leader of the Iron Brotherhood Motorcycle Club.

Not here for Tiger. Not here for the family.

Just watching.
Calculating.

The slow coil of unease twisted through Cost’s ribs, settling somewhere deep. Marek didn’t belong here. And yet, here he was. Cost didn’t think. He just moved. A slow, measured step away from the crowd. Toward Marek.

His footsteps were steady, deliberate, each one carrying the weight of something unspoken. He didn’t break eye contact. If Marek wanted to watch, then let him be watched right back.

But just as Cost was within a few steps, the low, guttural rumble of a Harley cut through the cemetery air. Marek shifted, swinging a leg over his bike in one smooth, practiced motion.

The ignition cranked. The engine roared.
The deep, throaty growl swallowed up the murmured conversations behind them, drowning out the funeral, the priest’s closing words, even the wind. Cost clenched his jaw. This wasn’t about Tiger. It wasn’t about paying respects.

Marek had come here for one reason.

To be seen. And to send a message.

Tiger’s entire legacy had just been put on notice.

About the author

Carlo J. Emanuele discovered the power of storytelling not through triumph, but through heartbreak.

Writing became his lifeline—a way to make sense of anxiety, loss, and the quiet storms that reshaped his life. What started as journal entries during sleepless nights grew into a voice, a character, and eventually, a world. That world became The Sins We Inherit.

Born and raised on Milwaukee’s south side in a tight-knit Italian American family, Carlo was shaped by the quiet strength of the men around him. Their stories—often unspoken but deeply felt—left a lasting impression. The loyalty, resilience, and complexity of those early influences helped form the emotional core of his debut novel.

But The Sins We Inherit is also personal. It was born out of a journey of self-discovery and emotional reckoning. A relationship, intense and transformative, became a catalyst for his writing. While the story is fictional, the emotions—the longing, the loss, and the hope—are very much real. The novel became his way of processing pain, honoring a connection that shaped him, and ultimately, finding his way forward.

Before he became an author, Carlo was a collegiate basketball player at Carroll University and later built a successful corporate career, working with respected Milwaukee organizations like Direct Supply and Brady Corporation. But behind every professional milestone was a man searching for meaning and connection.

The Sins We Inherit is more than a crime drama—it’s a personal reckoning. A story of generational weight, the fight for redemption, and the cost of staying loyal to the people and places that shape us.

Carlo is a proud father of two daughters, whose strength and love continue to be the heart of his journey. His writing is rooted in truth, family, and the pursuit of healing—and The Sins We Inherit is just the beginning. More stories are coming stories that explore the fragility and fire inside all of us.

“I didn’t set out to write a novel. I set out to survive the nights that wouldn’t let me sleep. Somewhere along the way, a story found me.”
– Carlo J. Emanuele

Follow Carlo's journey and stay connected through social media: Facebook / Discover The Sins We Inherit - A New Underworld Book

Merch - Buy now

The Sins We Inherit - Hoodie

Embrace the journey of redemption with The Sins We Inherit hoodie. Just like Cost, a man shaped by the shadows of Milwaukee's criminal underworld, this hoodie represents the struggle to break free from the past while fighting for control and family. Wear it as a symbol of resilience, personal strength, and the pursuit of a second chance.

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The Sins We Inherit - T-Shirt

From the streets of Milwaukee to the crossroads of family and power, The Sins We Inherit T-shirt is more than just merch—it's a statement. Like Cost, a man haunted by his past but determined to reclaim his future, this shirt represents the battle to rebuild a life and reconnect with what truly matters. Wear it with purpose and pride.

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The Sins We Inherit - Pulse Tank

Strength meets style with The Sins We Inherit women's tank. Inspired by Cost’s struggle between loyalty and freedom, this tank symbolizes resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to rewrite your story. Soft, bold, and effortlessly powerful—wear it as a reminder that your past shapes you, but it doesn’t define you.

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A gripping family drama entangled in Milwaukee’s unforgiving underworld

Newsletter

Blending elements of Breaking Bad and A Bronx Tale

Haunted by his family’s legacy and personal loss, Cost is pulled back into Milwaukee’s criminal underworld—fighting not just for survival, but for his daughter.

About the book

The protagonist

If you enjoy

The Story Behind the Story

From Broken to Becoming: The Story Behind The Sins We Inherit

A Glimpse into The Sins We Inherit

From Athlete to Executive to Author: My Journey

New Milwaukee Author Carlo Emanuele’s Debut Novel, ‘The Sins We Inherit’

‘The Story’s Just Beginning’

A Crime Legacy

‘If You Know Carlito and Doug, You’re About to Meet Cost’

'The Men Behind the Fiction'

'Lorenzo Leale'

'Marek "Stones" Novak'

‘A Mother Knows’

'For My Daughters and Parents: A Dedication from the Heart'

Inside The Sins We Inherit

"Number one"

A mother knows

A mother knows

A mother knows

A mother knows

A mother knows

The what if that never faded

The what if that never faded

The what if that never faded

A quiet warning

The what if that never faded

The what if that never faded

In the spotlight

Shepherd Express

Tour Ozaukee Magazine

Visit Milwaukee

About the author

Carlo J. Emanuele discovered the power of storytelling not through triumph, but through heartbreak.

Merch - Buy now

The Sins We Inherit - Hoodie

The Sins We Inherit - T-Shirt

The Sins We Inherit - Pulse Tank

The Sins We Inherit - Pulse Tank

Follow the Journey – Behind the Scenes & More!

'The Sins We Inherit' Playlist

'The Sins We Inherit' Playlist

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