I went into A Family Betrayal with high expectations, and Emma Tallon did not disappoint. She delivers a gripping crime thriller that pulls readers right into the intricate dynamics of the Capello crime family.
Title: A Family Betrayal
Author(s): Emma Tallon
Series: The Capello Family #1
Published by Bookouture on June 30, 2025
Pages: 322
Genre(s): Crime Fiction
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Netgalley
Format: eBook
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating:
Series Rating:
Betrayal cuts deep when it comes from within the family…
Maria Capello was raised by her gangster father with just one family is everything. Now he’s dead, Maria works as a lawyer by day and a mob boss by risking everything if her secret life is ever revealed. But that’s just what you do for family, isn’t it…
She trusts her smart, suave, dependable brother, Alex, with her life, but she can’t say the same about her other brother Antonio. As the black sheep of the family, Antonio is here for a good time, not a long time and Maria hopes that he will never force her to make a choice between him and the family.
So when the head of another firm visits with news about Antonio causing problems in the grimy underworld of London’s Soho, Maria is furious. Of course she wants to protect her baby brother, but he just made an enemy of one of the deadliest families in London. If she doesn’t act now, all hell will break loose. She can’t afford to look weak in front of the firm.
But Maria and Alex have no idea that Antonio has already betrayed the family in the worst possible way. He’s broken every rule they’ve ever lived by. Maria finds herself with a decision to make – look out for the firm or protect Antonio and risk everything her father built going up in flames. Can the Capellos survive, or will bad blood kill them off for good?
Fans of Martina Cole, Jacqui Rose and Kimberley Chambers will absolutely love this first book in a thrilling new series from bestselling gangland author Emma Tallon.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
A Family Betrayal is the first book in Emma Tallon’s Capello Family series, and it sets the stage for a gripping saga. With this strong opener, the series is off to a fantastic start. If you decide to pick it up—and I highly recommend that you do—prepare yourself for a fast-paced tale filled with twists, tension, and complex characters you’ll either root for or despise.
Meet the Capello siblings—Maria, Alex, and Antonio—who inherit not only their father’s empire but also the enemies and secrets that come with it. In this world, trust is fragile, and betrayal cuts the deepest when it comes from blood. Who turned against the family, and why, is the question that burns throughout the story—and the only way to uncover the truth is to step inside their dangerous world.
The drama escalates when Cat—an outsider with no ties to the criminal underworld—steps into the Capellos’ lives with her young daughter. Her presence disrupts the fragile balance, and not everyone is willing to accept her. Yet, against the odds, she refuses to be broken. Her struggle tugs at the heart, drawing readers to root for her survival and quiet triumph amidst the chaos.
Dark, suspenseful, and emotionally charged, A Family Betrayal will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. More than just a crime thriller, it’s a tale of power, loyalty, and survival in a world where family can be your greatest strength—or your deadliest enemy.
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About Emma Tallon
Emma Tallon is a British author of gripping, gritty, organised crime thrillers. With a number of bestsellers published by Bookouture since early 2017, Emma continues to write full time and has many ideas in the pipeline for future novels.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
This one sounds really good.
A nice darker mood one for fall reading. 🙂
Criminal underworlds aren’t my favorite thing in a book, so this is probably not for me. But I’m glad it turned out to be one you enjoyed so much.
It has been awhile since I’ve dived into this genre, but it looks very good!
Yes! it is really good.