30 inside stories of the American Mafia, Sicilian Cosa Nostra, Camorra and ’Ndrangheta Images of life in the Mob pervade our film and TV screens, some glamorous, some horrific – what is the reality? Investigative journalist Roger Wilkes has put together the largest ever collection of insider stories from prominent ex-mafiosi, infiltrators and award-winning writers. It contains tell-all accounts by the likes of: Richard ‘The Iceman’ Kuklinski, the contract killer who claimed to have murdered over 200 people in a career lasting 43 years. Frankie Saggio, who ‘freelanced’ for all five of New York’s Mafia families, narrowly escaping assassination before being busted for a major scam. Joey Black, the Hitman, chillingly professional murderer of 38 victims and regarded by many as the ‘original Soprano’. Albert DeMeo, the son of a gangster, who later became a lawyer. ‘Donnie Brasco’, real name Joseph Pistone, the FBI agent, who worked undercover in the Bonanno and Colombo crime families in New York for six years. Tommaso Buscetta, the Sicilian mafioso, the first pentito, or informant, of real significance to break omertà. The two judges with whom he worked, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, were both later killed by the Mafia. This is the reality of the world of men you wouldn’t want to cross.
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Book Description
30 first-hand accounts of life inside the mafioso and living outside the law.
From the Back Cover
30 true stories of life inside the American Mafia, Sicilian Cosa Nostra, Camorra and ’Ndrangheta This is the largest ever collection of insider accounts of life in the Mob, written by prominent former mafiosi, infiltrators and award-winning writers. It contains first-hand confessional accounts by the likes of: • Richard “The Iceman” Kuklinski, the contract killer who claimed to have murdered over 200 people in a career lasting 43 years. • Frankie Saggio, who ‘freelanced’ for all five of New York’s Mafia families, narrowly escaping assassination before being busted for a major scam. • Joey Black, the Hitman, chillingly professional murderer of 38 victims and regarded by many as the “original Soprano”. • Albert DeMeo, the son of a gangster, who later became a lawyer. • “Donnie Brasco”, real name Joseph Pistone, the FBI agent, who worked undercover in the Bonanno and Colombo crime families in New York for six years. • Tommaso Buscetta, the Sicilian mafioso, the first pentito, or informant, of real significance to break omertà. The two judges with whom he worked, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, were both later killed by the Mafia. The Mammoth Book of the Mafia takes you deep inside the world of men you wouldn’t want to cross. Robinson www.constablerobinson.com £7.99
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book certainly lives up to its name, it's big and covers a lot of ground, mostly America and the time span stretches over several decades from the 1930s up until the close of the 20th century. We learn of the origins of the Five Families of New York. The rise of the Chicago mob, the destruction of Las Vegas and the gradual rise of Mafia families in other American cities. There is also one chapter that takes us to Sicily during World War Two.
The stories are told in first person with a short introduction at the start of the chapter, which sums it up quite nicely. I found it to be a good start for anyone interested in the Mafia. I'm not, but the book was pressed into my hands by a colleague at work and so I read it. As a reference book it's adequate although the subject matter is extensive, so I would guess that to provide all of the relevant information would take several volumes but as a basic Mafia 101 course this is the book to get. The one thing I didn't like about it was the lack of an index, which would lift it from three to four stars or even more. The Kindle version would provide search facilities although it's just as pricey but if you are using this as a reference book then that's the format to buy. Not sure if I'd buy it at the price on Amazon though but if it gets low enough I might snap up the ebook version. But in all sincerity the lack of an index is a fault with the paperback version and one that detracts from its appeal as several characters pop up right throughout, many times just in passing. So if you want a good picture of Lucky Luciano and his partners in crime or victims then the index comes into its own. Similarly there is no bibliography, which is surprising as even references to news items would be a great help for further reading.
The one thing it does do is lift the lid on the Mafia and expose the corruption, double dealing and rampant violence that is played out on news broadcasts and in that regard it does deserve all three of its stars.
The stories are told in first person with a short introduction at the start of the chapter, which sums it up quite nicely. I found it to be a good start for anyone interested in the Mafia. I'm not, but the book was pressed into my hands by a colleague at work and so I read it. As a reference book it's adequate although the subject matter is extensive, so I would guess that to provide all of the relevant information would take several volumes but as a basic Mafia 101 course this is the book to get. The one thing I didn't like about it was the lack of an index, which would lift it from three to four stars or even more. The Kindle version would provide search facilities although it's just as pricey but if you are using this as a reference book then that's the format to buy. Not sure if I'd buy it at the price on Amazon though but if it gets low enough I might snap up the ebook version. But in all sincerity the lack of an index is a fault with the paperback version and one that detracts from its appeal as several characters pop up right throughout, many times just in passing. So if you want a good picture of Lucky Luciano and his partners in crime or victims then the index comes into its own. Similarly there is no bibliography, which is surprising as even references to news items would be a great help for further reading.
The one thing it does do is lift the lid on the Mafia and expose the corruption, double dealing and rampant violence that is played out on news broadcasts and in that regard it does deserve all three of its stars.
By jenni
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have not put this book down since i got it. i am doing research on the mafia aswell just so that i can keep my history research skills up to scratch
By Avid Readerr
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Mafia is a great read. I thought it was a fiction book when I ordered it to read on holiday. It is non fiction and really exciting.
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