On the Run: A Mafia Childhood

I never thought that I could enjoy a book about mob rat Henry Hill, but this one written by his son, Gregg, and his daughter, Gina, kept my interest and gave me a vivid account of two poor kids "on the run."This book is told from two perspectives, where Gregg first gives his version of what happened and his feeling about what they were going through, and then Gina gives her versions. Most of the time the two versions are totally different. Gregg, in his early teens, thoroughly hated his father and his father's deceptive and downright mean machinations, while Gina, a few years younger, was more of a Daddy's Girl, until she eventually smartened up too.At the end of the movie Goodfellas, in which Henry Hill was portrayed by handsome actor Ray Liotta, Hill is in the Witness Protection Program in an unnamed locale, which looked like some out-of-the-way place called something like "Hicksville" - so unlike where Hill committed endless crimes (New York City) and enjoyed being one of the Wiseguys (the book about Hill's life was actually named Wiseguys but was changed to Goodfellas for the movie.)In On the Run we discover that in 1980, after being shuttled from one hotel to another for several months while the Feds got as much information as they could from Hill, the family ended up on the outskirts of Omaha, Neb. where their family surname was changed to Haynes. On the first night in their new home, the senior Hill, instead of playing it low-key, took his family to Godfather's Pizza and proceed to get drunk and unruly.Gregg recalls that night vividly."My father thought it was funny, eating at Godfather's Pizza, and maybe it was funny," Gregg wrote. "But I wasn't in a laughing mood. Worse, he behaved like it was some mobster joint back in New York City.Hill immediately got drunk and started cursing out loud in front of the local yokels."Nobody said anything to him," Gregg wrote. "But people stared and then they glared. I couldn't help but stare back and wonder what they must be thinking: New York hood on the run from the Mob."The rest of the book details how Hill kept on breaking the rules of the government's Witness Protection Program, and as a result, the Feds had to keep re-locating Hill's family to different locations to keep them safe. The Feds also changed the family's last name again: this time to Scott.Despite being under the supervision of the Feds, Hill became a violent drug addict and began dealing drugs to support his habit. According to Gregg Hill, his father constantly cheated on his wife, Karan, and he even got married again to one of his drug buddies while he was still married to Karen.When Karen found out her husband was a bigamist, Hill gave her this incredible excuse; "Don't worry; it means nothing. I married her under the name Scott," Hill told Karen.Hill then told his wife the only reason he married the girl was because she had money. Unfortunately, Hill later discovered the only reason the girl married Hill was because she thought he had money.It turned out they both were wrong.Finally, after Hill, against the government's rules, decided to let writer Nick Pileggi pen his autobiography, the government dropped Hill and his family from the Witness Protection Program. Soon after, Gregg Hill left home to go out on his own. He kept his assumed name Scott, finished college, and then law school. Gregg ultimately became a successful attorney. Soon, Gregg got married and started his own family. Unlike his father, Gregg adored and took special care of his children.After Karen kicked out her husband for good and got a divorce, Gina Scott went back to New York City and attended New York University. Gina also got married and started her own family.Henry Hill continued to be the same reprobate he always had been. He married his then-girlfriend Dawn, who was a degenerate junkie like Hill. They had a son named Justin, but in 1997, Hill and Dawn, now living in California, became totally out of control with their drug use. As a result, the state took away their son. Gina flew to Florida, and although Justin was already in a foster home, Gina was able to obtain custody.As for Henry Hill, he continued on his downward spiral. In the Afterword of the On the Run Greg Scott wrote, "In the 1990's, after he (Henry Hill) squandered whatever money he made off the book and the movie, he was in and out of prison on an assortment of charges and parole violations. Along the way he peddled cookbooks, travel guides, posters - anything for a buck, anything to relive, just for an instant, his days of glittering infamy. It was almost as if he had come to believe his own hype, bought into his own scam, convinced himself that, yeah, it was really like a movie."Henry Hill died of a heart attack in 2012 eight years after On the Run was written.On the Run is a terrific read, but quite disturbing. How a man could do so much harm to his own family is shocking; even sickening. However, we are getting this story from two people closest to Henry Hill: his son and his daughter, so we know it must be the awful truth.Frankly, On the Run could have been entitled Daddy Dearest. According to his son and his daughter, Henry Hill was truly a despicable man.[...]

I always loved the movie, Good Fellas, and thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. The movie seemed very accurate, but this book goes into greater detail from the perspective of Henry and Karen Hill’s two children. Provides much more insight into the life the family had to live while on the run. Although it’s sad in parts, remarkably the kids turned out very well, especially considering all they had to endure. It’s quite a story!

A surprisingly engaging and sad story. This is the story of Henry Hill, the guy from the movie Goodfellas and the book Wiseguy. Instead of the mobster's perspective, this is told from the side of his two children, both pre-teens when they went into witness protection.Early in the Witness Protection program, you get a sad, powerful glimpse into what its like to be a kid wrenched out of your life without any real understanding of what is going on or why. Both kids try to deal with their new lives and their father's increasingly destructive, sometimes violent behavior that forces them to move over and over until the FBI just gives up on him.This book is told mainly by Gina and Gregg, alternating as they tell the tales of how they grew up and you get a different perspective on the charming criminal dad.

I really liked this book. We watched "Goodfellas" one night and the main character was Henry Hill. When I googled him after the movie, I saw that his children had written a book about their childhood and life on the run. Each chapter/story is told in the son's and daughter's words, so it's easy to see how each one handled their life with their dad and mom. It's a quick read and if you want to learn more about the real families of these old Mafia people you will really like it. And the pictures are good. Now I've got to watch the movie again to refresh my memory regarding who Henry Hill was as I didn't know when we watched it. I would highly recommend this book as a quick and good read.

I’ve watched the movie and I really enjoyed reading this book, which gave the view from the kids point. It’s so much more than the movie! The movie portrayed Henry in such a “nice” light which I now know is very untrue, but it was told by Henry so that explains it. I want readers to know if you liked the movie - you’ll love this book!

It's been a while since I've read a whole book.. I usually don't watch TV, either. But last month I watched I watched the series, The Making of the Mob. Then I watched Goodfellas. Looking up the main characters, I read that Henry Hill's kids had written a book. Reading the first chapter online convinced me to buy the book. This book gives a much truer picture of the effect of mob life. The movie and TV show left too much detachment from how bad things really were for these people. Henry Hill was an incredibly self-centered man, a narcissist at best and a psychopath at worst, but you probably have to be in order to live a life of crime, especially such violent crime. It's a great gift for Greg and Gina to tell their story, and Sean Flynn puts it together beautifully.

For the last 20 years or so, I’ve always thought the movie “Good Fellas” was one of my favorites. I mean it’s criminal stuff, but sensationalized by a great cast of actors that make the good fellas seem like a tight group, a family, a place to belong, daring, adventurous. And then you read this book, and you realize what a worthless piece of garbage Henry Hill was, and how badly he treated his family. Scum of the earth. The only consolation is knowing that Gregg and Gina made it to the other side. Scarred and broken to be sure, but they made the best lemonade you could based on the situation they were in. Good read, but I won’t plan to ever celebrate or watch Good Fellas again.

You won’t be able to put it down. Heart stopping. Those poor kids. Very entertaining reading. True stories are always the best.

Like most people, I was introduced to Henry Hill through the movie Goodfellas. When I realised this was a book, I wasted no time and read it. I loved the book, but could not help but feel that the author was not completely honest about what seemed like a much too gentle rogue. I knew he had been holding out on the readers. When I found out that Hill's children had written their own account, I just had to get my hands on that book.Their story is heart-wrenching, but has a ring of truth that cannot be denied. Finally the veil is lifted and the ugly reality of their father being involved in organized crimes and the repercussion it has on his family is revealed. It is the story of two children who constantly see their lives thrown out of balance by the carelessness and callousness of their father. This book is more than the story of mob children it is a sad insight into an abusive household. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not afraid to confront the face of Henry Hill and his legacy.

Tells the story of two very different viewpoints from Henry Hills children on their childhood situation. This book is a great addition to Wiseguys and Goodfellas. You will love it - and won't want to put it down.

The Real Goodfellas story as written by Henry and Karen Hills children:If you loved the film Goodfellas you might want to read the real-not romanticised-story of Henry and Karen Hill.This is a shocking account of the reality of how Hill treated his wife and kids like s*** and drove his son to near murder with his terrible behaviour.Although i still love the film it now leaves a sour taste in my mouth for falling for the slick hollywood fiction.The reality is grim and nasty...makes you want to projectile vomit in fact.A great book if you can handle the truth.

Great read and helps close the loop on the Henry Hill saga. There are a few typos in the book but nothing to ruin the mood of the storyline

I read all the previous reviews of people saying they couldnt put it down - I have always been able to put a book down, but by golly! they were right! I just couldnt stop reading! It has completely changed my opinion and i dont think I will ever be able to watch Goodfellas again! Fantastic, well written book and I would recommend to everyone!