Sicily, 1866. Ten-year-old Giacomo witnesses the brutality of a revolutionary uprising and his family escapes to the vineyards.
At sixteen, Giacomo is given a one-way ticket to America. On his journey he faces threats and illness, and discovers a mysterious key, which he hides in a cherished plastic statue of the Blessed Virgin. Arriving in New York, Giacomo - now James - becomes entangled in gang wars, secrets of a stolen chalice filled with jewels, and a murder he didn't commit.
New York, 1901. James now knows where the jewels are hidden, and who is after them. As the past reaches the present, his life comes full circle.
An historical adventure full of mystery and suspense, Marianna Ramondetta's THE BARBER FROM PALERMO tells the story of a Sicilian immigrant who must walk a fine line between his conscience and survival.