sounds interesting, ill have to pick that one up.

Linda Scarpa is coming out with a book about her dad .

You should def pick it up. Done with it now and I must say it was a very positive surprise. Whereas "The Outfit" by Russo is more of an attempt to be the "definitive work" on the subject, this pretty unpretentious little book is focusing on the 1970s through the 1990s, ending with the "family secrets" trial and the outfits current situation in the new millenium.

Larry mazza Greg scarpas right hand was shopping a book you take him his daughter and wife you might get a OK story if they would leave out the embellish ing

always interested in the Chicago outfit, I really don't think anybody has come to grips with how powerful they really were, or how brutal and murderous paul ricca was.

thank you for the mention of the book, will search for it.

Anyone read Howard Blum's Gangland? Is it accurate/reliable or is it just a book with many factual errors?

It´s been awhile since I read it. I can´t remember that book having a lot of factual errors though. There are other Gotti books from that era (early/mid 1990s) that are far more unbearable than Howard Blum´s. (Wolkman´s for example.) This one is pretty well researched and if I remember correctly, you can find a lot of wire transcripts in it.

Nice to see you posting on a regular basis again, Yigido. I remember when I first joined this place, you were the first one to welcome me aboard.

Thanks man. Its posters like you that made me post again, appreciate your input to these forums.

I just bought book about Jack Garcia . How is it ?

excellent read..depalma, what a character

If you want to read about Gotti during that period of time then I suggest "Mob Star" which I think was by Capici. I read it along time ago and enjoyed it,

While not a "Mafia book" I just read "Corruption Officer" by Gary Howard."From jail guard to prisoner". This was written by a black resident of Harlem's housing projects who lands a job with the NYC prison system and is assigned to Rikers Island. A Marine war veteran, he starts out pretty well, but when the gal he had two kids with learns he got a good job, she took him to court and the judge awarded child support so high that his paycheck shrunk to less than $50.00 a week. This caused him to turn to smuggling in cigarettes to start and led to cocaine , whiskey Etc. He talks of the female CO's selling their asses for $$$. Naturally he gets caught and then is sentenced to prison himself. Lots of interesting stories in here and the book got a lot of good reviews even though it is written in ubonics. I think the people on this site would enjoy reading it. Couldn't put it down.

I flipped through a dozen pages, it seemed quite good, like most of Capeci's stuff. Even though I know half the stuff it's supposed to cover I think I might read it sometime. For all his bullshit John was an interesting guy to read about... I even have a theory that he himself never pulled the trigger, he was probably in on a hit and that's it, then he got made and didn't have to be in on hits anymore.

Mal. I agree with your theory that Gotti never pulled the trigger, although he was responsible for many murders.

Got myself some new books on the Chicago Outfit:

Family Secrets - The case that crippled the Chicago Mob by Jeff Cohen. Halfway in to it, mostly based on the testimony of "Nicky Breeze" Calabrese. Either hes on one of his juice rackets adventures or is he killing someone. The 26th Street Crew under "The Hook" was a vicious bunch, thats for sure.

C-1 and the Chicago Mob, by Vincent L. Inserra
Havent read it yet but hope it will be resourceful.

Any opinions on these recent books?

Cosa Nostra News: The Cicale Files, Volume 1: Inside the Last Great Mafia Empire
Life (and death) inside the Mafia... Dominick Cicale was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. From a young age he was closely associated with the Genovese crime family, considered the most powerful Mafia group in America. Fate intervened. In 1999 Cicale forged a tight alliance with Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano, then an up-and-coming member of the Bronx faction of the Bonanno crime family. Under Basciano’s tutelage, Dominick rode the fast track: he was inducted into the American Cosa Nostra and swiftly rose from soldier to capo, amassing great wealth and power. Cicale befriended and associated with numerous high-ranking figures within all of New York's Five Families as he plotted and schemed in a treacherous world where each day could be his last. This installment views startling details surrounding the brutal gangland murder of Gerlando “George from Canada” Sciascia and its resulting impact on relations between the Bonanno family in New York and its Montreal -based “outpost” established by the Mafia Commission in 1931. The cast of characters includes high-ranking Mafiosi such as Joseph Massino (The Last Don), Salvatore “Sal the Iron Worker” Montagna, Vito Rizzuto, Michael "The Nose" Mancuso, "Vinny Gorgeous" (a nickname never used in his presence) and Cicale himself.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PFF18I8/ref=pe_1276050_137976210_em_1p_1_ti

The Mystery of the Lufthansa Airlines Heist:: A Wiseguy Reveals the Untold Story
Where is the $6 million stolen during the infamous Lufthansa Airlines robbery on Dec. 11, 1978? For the first time, a Mafia insider will reveal what happened to the loot. In this short-format book, Dominick Cicale, an ex-Bonanno crime family capo, discloses untold details about the robbery, which was immortalized in the movie "Goodfellas." Cicale also offers candid insights about the heist mastermind Jimmy Burke and mob figures including John Gotti and John Gotti Jr. The 14,000-word book includes excerpts from a never-before-published interview with mob associate Henry Hill, the subject of the book "Wiseguy." Co-authored by Cicale and Robert Sberna, whose book, House of Horrors, was named the 2012 True Crime Book of the Year by Foreword Reviews.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VSMSUA6/ref=pe_1276050_137976210_em_1p_5_ti

Mobsters in Our Midst
The story of the rise and fall of Kansas City’s longest-reigning mob boss and the powerful crime family that he controlled, as told by the FBI agent who helped bring down Nick Civella and his cronies.
This long-awaited sequel to William Ouseley’s “Open City: True Story of the KC Crime Family, 1900-1950″ comes packed with intrigue, never-before-published detail and compelling, archival photographs.
Ouseley spent 25 years in the FBI, more than 20 of those investigating and prosecuting organized crime figures in Kansas City. He has testified as an expert witness in federal court and before a U.S. Senate investigation panel.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SCOPKY2/ref=pe_1276050_137976210_em_1p_6_ti


Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto's Last War
Bestselling crime writers Peter Edwards and Antonio Nicaso reveal the final years of Canada's top mafia boss, Vito Rizzuto, and his bloody war to avenge his family and control the North American drug trade.
Until Vito Rizzuto went to prison in 2006 for his role in a decades-old Brooklyn triple murder, he ruled the Port of Montreal, the northern gateway to the major American drug markets. A master diplomat, he won the respect of rival mafia clans, bikers and street gangs, and criminal business thrived on his turf. His family prospered and his empire grew--until one of North America's true Teflon dons finally lost his veneer. As he watched helplessly from his Colorado prison, the murders of his son and father made international headlines; the killings of his lieutenants and friends filled the pages of Canadian news; and the influence of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian Mafia, spread across Montreal faster than the blood of Rizzuto's crime family. In 2012, Vito Rizzuto emerged from prison, a 66-year-old man who could carefully rebuild his criminal empire or seek bloody revenge and damn the consequences. From the events leading to his imprisonment to his shocking death in December 2013, Business or Blood is the final chapter of Vito's story.
http://www.amazon.com/Business-Blood-Maf...B50J0T5R89MQ1H1

Dirty Money
Autobiography of Joe LaFratta. His father was the head of one the largest Mafia illegal gambling rings on the East Coast and he was groomed to follow in his fathers footsteps. He learned early on the Mafia was on the decline and adapted his criminal tactics to accomplish mind blowing illegal profits in ventures the Mafia never dreamed of. This book gives insight into the new face of Organized Crime, and how it works hand in hand with corporate America, corrupt politicians, and so called "respectable citizens".

Get a look inside the real Boston Mob.
http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Money-Joe-La...B50J0T5R89MQ1H1

iam also on the lookout for that book. finally got the valachi papers (for 2$), so iam satisfied for now


forget about the first 2, read that kansas book. i dont know abut the last 2 of your list, could be good

Louis Ferrante book? How is it ?

You know who could write a great book, that organized crime director from Jersey, Robert Buccino. Ever see that guy on those mob docs or read any interviews on him?

Was wondering about that myself.

You mean Tough Guy or one of his other books?

I have only read Tough Guy and its mostly about his life as a gang leader and eventually Gambino associate. Also a section of when he ends up in jail, I thought that was the most interesting part of the book - how he changed by reading and almost became an intellectual. Wouldnt rate it especially high as a "mafia book": his transformation as a person is the books usp in my opinion.

I didn't realize he had a couple of them. I was talking about unlocked. Just checked Damn he got like 4 or 5.

Hes making a career out of it. Books, tv, whats next.

This one was pretty good I think;

Lou Ferrante ¦ Inside the Gangsters Code - The Camorra Mafia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcC34VuhxaA

I saw him on a documentary that I watched about the camorra. He was in Italy but I forget the title. So I guess he had been busy.

Can anyone recommend a book on The Pizza Connection?

Has anyone read 'Last Days of the Sicilians'?

You mentioned Jack Garcia and Lou Ferrante. Don't be eating when you read their books. You will be laughing and will spit food. I exaggeratea bit, but not by much.

GARCIA'S was a great read,, octopus was great

The pizza connection book great read probaly find it at the library. Lot lawyer stuff.

Finally read Alite's book: Gotti's Rules. Here's my review:

I liked this book because it has new facts and stories about the NY mob. I didn't like it because it was hard to follow and there were gaps in the story.

It's always interesting to read mob books that aren't about a boss or major figure. The associates are more involved in the business or nuts and bolts of the mafia. I like learning about the different associates, the power structures, etc... This book had some of those stories, and that's mainly what I liked about it.

But there were problems in the way the story was told. Most mob books like this are told in order from start to finish, but this one left out portions and skipped around. For instance, Alite was Albanian? How did that influence his life? What was his childhood like? This was left out. What exact things led up to Alite and Junior Gotti having a falling out? This was unclear. I often was confused about where I was in the timeline and how we got there.

And finally, the main problem most people will have with this book is Alite is lying or the book is one-sided. I don't care if he was lying. Give a life-long criminal the opportunity to tell his story and there's probably going to be a lot of lying. But this is where the author is supposed to balance it out with opinions from other people, facts, etc... For instance, Alite says that although he was having problems with the Gottis when he moved to Jersey and/or Florida, he wasn't "chased out of Queens." I feel like the author just took his word for it.

Also, throughout the book the author says several times something like "Junior Gotti doesn't admit he did anything wrong, but Alite admits everything he ever did." Ok, point taken. But throughout the book, Alite paints himself as the "cool" criminal, and Junior and his father as moronic criminals. So it is one-sided in that way. Alite admits he did a lot of crimes and towards the end, admits he has anger issues and is seeing a therapist. It would've been interesting to learn more about Alite's problems: Why was he so violent and crazy? What happened? Is this why his childhood was basically left out of the story?

Beeny b I hated that book like you said one sided. Great under related book by George is mobfather the whole family saga of tommy del his ex wife and 2 kids go scoop it you can find. A lot of shit he said on the stand thats not talked about like sindone had the votes for boss over testa and scarfo just not NYC.