Philadelphia, PA – In a literary landscape crowded with true-crime tales, a new memoir is capturing the attention of readers and critics alike. BOOKED: PhillyGodfather, co-written by Stelios Maltepes and his son Mattheo Fanis Maltepes, has soared to the top of Amazon’s Organized Crime new releases, debuting at #1 and generating significant buzz within days of its release.

The memoir traces the extraordinary journey of Stelios Maltepes, the American-born son of Greek immigrants, who transformed from a high school dropout into a figure of legend in the shadowy worlds of sports betting and organized crime. From the streets of Philadelphia to the high-stakes arenas of marijuana trafficking, NBA betting scandals, and dealings with both the Philly and New York Mob as well as the Mexican Cartel, Maltepes’s story reads like a Hollywood screenplay-except every word is true.

But BOOKED is not just another crime saga. At its heart, the book is a deeply personal exploration of love, loyalty, and family. Maltepes’s relationship with a Puerto Rican woman from Philadelphia’s Badlands-who would become his anchor and the mother of his children-provides a powerful counterpoint to the chaos of his criminal undertakings. The memoir details the struggles of raising an interracial family while walking the razor’s edge between fatherhood and the underworld.

“People see the headlines, but they never know the heart behind the hustle,” Stelios Maltepes reflects. “BOOKED isn’t just my story-it’s the American story, told raw and unfiltered.”

Early readers have praised the memoir’s fast-paced, cinematic style and its unflinching honesty. True crime fans, as well as those drawn to stories of redemption and resilience, are finding BOOKED to be a standout addition to the genre. The book’s rapid ascent to the top of Amazon’s charts signals a strong appetite for stories that go beyond the headlines, offering a glimpse into the human side of life in the shadows.

Stelios Maltepes is no stranger to the spotlight; his exploits have been chronicled by ESPN, Netflix, FOX, and The New York Times. Co-author Mattheo Fanis Maltepes, a rising writer and filmmaker, brings a fresh perspective to his father’s saga, ensuring that the story resonates with a new generation of readers.
BOOKED: PhillyGodfather is now available in hardcover at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, PhillyBooked.com, and major book retailers nationwide.

Book Information:
Title: BOOKED: PhillyGodfather
Authors: Stelios Maltepes & Mattheo Fanis Maltepes
Format: Hardcover
Publication Date: April 22, 2025
Publisher: Booked Media Group
ISBN: 979-8305909180