After ten years as a Rhode Island Trooper, Gino Peterson is promoted to the Intelligence Unit, an elite group of state police detectives with one purpose: battling the Mob. Growing up in Providence’s Federal Hill surrounded by wise guys, Gino was once tempted by the lifestyle but his hard-working father was killed in a mysterious car accident. That moment sealed his fate and he dedicated his life fighting to bring them all to justice.

Inspired by the real-life investigation of Patriarca crime family member Frank “Bobo” Marrapese, Anthony Pesare’s debut is a scintillating, thought provoking exploration of the line between cop and criminal. Gino’s introduction to the Unit is anything but smooth. When he realizes that his superiors are skeptical due to his childhood friends, he finds himself walking a tightrope between personal loyalties, professional necessities, and his own emotional needs. He finds himself falling for Sergeant Michelle Urban, who is also one of his superiors. Gino’s contacts begin to help break the case open, but politics put him on the sidelines as his relationship with Michelle deepens—and becomes more complicated. As the state begins to lose their cases and their grip on the investigations, Gino moves back into a pivotal role and secures the vital testimony needed to put the last of the indicted mobsters away. But the victory is hollow, as Gino once again learns that the family’s ties run deep.

A raw, probing thriller that lays bare the inner workings of organized crime and the officers who endeavor to bring them to justice, Pesare delivers a stunning work filled with grit, humor, and heart. Relying on firsthand experience, his vivid portrayal of the mob’s tentacles and the complications they engender is as fascinating as it is absorbing. An intense, provocative journey into the heart of justice, They Always Win: Inspired by a True Story will make you question everything you thought you knew about the law—and those it prosecutes.