Full text. This must-have crime novel inspired the Brian De Palma's cult movie, with Al Pacino. This is the story about Tony Guarino, a young man who grew up in the mean streets of Chicago, where gangsters were heroes and cops zero-rated. At just eighteen, he killed most famous gang boss and ruthless slayer, Al Spingola. By the way, he was catapulted into fame, but his rise to dominance was just started.