By: Lisa Patrick
Bestselling author Luke Gherardi returns with a bang in ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers,’ a gripping and provocative spinoff to his debut novel, ‘Children of Violence.’ In ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers,’ Gherardi pulls readers deep into the mind of Cole, a hitman whose blend of loyalty, violence, and thirst for vengeance makes him more than just a villain. While steeped in the brutal world of organized crime, Cole’s crusade for justification—or perhaps redemption—entangles him in a web of necessary evils. In this Q&A, Gherardi explores the inspiration behind Cole, the novel’s moral gray zones, and how themes of vengeance, power, and survival resonate with broader truths about society and human nature.
What was it like on a professional and personal level when your book made it onto the bestseller list?
Making the bestseller list was unreal. When I started to take writing seriously I had so many doubts about people ever reading my work, and now they are reading it AND liking it. All those years holed up in front of my laptop, scribbling in notebooks, losing my mind; it’s all paying off.
In ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers’ Cole finally decides to share his story. What inspired you to create a character like Cole, who’s a hitman, yet seeks redemption or justification?
There’s a challenge in writing from the perspective of a ‘bad guy’. The origin, motivations, desires, are all fascinating. Good guys are too boring. I attempt to show that people that are considered ‘bad’, often still have deep loyalties, friendships, and purpose.
The theme of “necessary evils” is central to the book. How do you think this concept resonates with readers in today’s society, and what message were you hoping to convey?
Life isn’t black and white. The law doesn’t work for everyone, and people get away with things all the time that are ethically and morally questionable, but stay within the legal bounds of the law. This book shows people taking matters into their own hands, right or wrong. Most of the time, wrong, with a delusional sense that their actions are for the greater good.
Cole’s journey is one of vengeance as his world crumbles. What do you think this says about human nature, especially in high-stakes environments like organized crime?
As Cole’s world crumbles, there is a vacuum in leadership at the levels in the mafia underworld. The chaos that ensues, although violent, is a natural reaction to fill the void and keep the cycle of crime continuing.
How does ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers’ build on the themes and characters from your previous work, ‘Children of Violence’? Are there any direct connections between the two books?
Cole is a minor character in ‘Children of Violence’. ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ is a spinoff, not a direct sequel to the previous book. You can go right into ‘Blessed are the Peacemakers’ without reading ‘Children of Violence’.
When you finished this book how did you celebrate?
Multiple beers.
‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers’ is now available on Amazon, so you can dive into the action and experience the gripping intensity for yourself!
Published By: Aize Perez
