Sorry not a "mafia book".

BMF- Black Mafia Family - it was about the Flenory brothers. They ran a big drug ring and used a car service and rap music as their fronts. It was a very interesting book though.

This is a good book from Anastasia as well.

Reading Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family right now.

I'm almost finished with this book. Maybe I created the hype in my head but I'm not sure if it's living up to expectations? The implication was Frank Sheeran was very high up in mafia circles from online reading and the book's advertising. In fact it sounds like Russell Bufalino kept him out of the loop on mafia matters on multiple occasions, never telling him where he was driving him to and insisting he was only in Philadelphia for the bread and sausages. I haven't gotten to the Crazy Joe Gallo hit yet, so things might change. But for now it definitely feels off from my expectations.

Oh, I almost forgot. Once again not what I expected, the book actually has good information on Angelo Bruno that we've never really seen before. Out of the supposed 5 murders he ordered in 30 years, the only thing that's common knowledge would be the hit on Joey Mcgreal. But Frank Sheeran brings to light another hit. It's worth it if you want info on Bruno, because he's not portrayed as the mafia saint or martyr many make him out to be. In fact he seems just as angry as the rest of them.

I just ordered this hopefully its here tomorrow, it would be funny as hell to hear an audiobook if they have one of "someone mimicking john stanfa on the wiretaps

While Im here...are there any suggestions for a good book on California, LA and West Coast in general LCN? Beyond Jimmy the Weasel's book (which is the staple fare on the topic)?

I dont want to give Kenji any money (I dont think his take is worth a buck anymore). And beside's Fiato's book (which is on the list), Im struggling to find anything. Basically anything West Coast-centric I'd be interested in.

Beside's that, I've got on the list...
Scott Burstein's Motor City Mafia on Detroit

Leonard Katz' Uncle Frank the Frank Costello biography

George A's Blood & Honour (Waited far too long for this one, said to be the definitive account of Scarfo era Philly)

Dick Kreck's Smaldone: The Untold Story of an American Crime Family on Denver's Smaldone brothers. Kinda small time-ish (as far as LCN goes) but definitely interesting. Also on Denver and the Rockies in genreral;

Betty Alt's and Sandra Well's Mountain Mafia, on guys like Joe Roma and, again the brothers Smaldone.

Gus Russo's Supermob on Chicago

Blackhand Strawman on KC

As you could probably tell, basically anything relating to Families outside of NY I'm fascinated by. Any suggestins would be much appreciated.

Homers77;

Sixth Family is a great book, but it tends to overemphasise the Rizzuto Family's stature to a degree. And remember that it came out just before the string of murders took place up there, so it's a little dated now. Mafia Inc. is another great one on Canadian LCN and Italian OC.

Honestly though, its hard to go past Selwyn Raab's Five Families for info on the Chin, Genovese and the NYC mob in general. It only covers up to about 2005 though, so it to is a little dated now considering all that has happened since then. Still a great read but. I seriously hope he does and update soon. Even if it's just another few chapters, Id probably buy the whole damn book again just for them.

Lastly, I know a few guys here didn't like it as much as I did, but Idiots Guide to the Mafia by Jerry Capeci is IMO the best starting point for all this stuff. It not only covers NY, but goes around the US and up to Canada, detailing every LCN family that had ever operated in the country and giving a concise history on them.

i figured you were talking about bmf, i hear they are thinking of making a movie about the book, i got to check the book out

I just got done reading a book on Joe Massino and he was the most powerful mobster in the world in the book lol and Casso & Sammy the Bull were also the most powerful guys during the time lol.

On topic, just wrapped up the Andrew DiDonato book; bit of an easy, slow read, but interesting insight into Nicky Corozzos crew. He got called out on a fib or two by gangland news, so grain of salt more than usual (also, he supposedly told Danny Cutaia and Bill Cutulo to fuck themselves as an associate...doubt it, even if he was Cutulo Jr's pal)

Ultimately a worthy read just to fill in a few more blanks.

Andrew DiDonato, Mikey Yanotti, Sal Bracchi, and Al Lattanzi off the top of my head. Also, Lenny DiMaria was his co-captain it seems (probably since Corozzo was in FL often)

I'll thumb back through it and update the post for ya once I get the other names.

Interesting. Does the book name Corozzo´s crew members? Could you list some of them here please?

Andrew DiDonato
Albert Lattanzi (Murdered in 1984)
Sal Bracchi
Vincent Dragonetti (Nickys son-in-law; his arrest is what tipped off Nickys daughter to call him so he had time to flee)
Tony Placido (murdered 1996)
Mike Yannotti (guy who shot Sliwa in cab; in prison)
Richie ? (mentioned multiple times; not found in glossary either)
Anthony Gerbino

Of course there were people he prob didn't mention to maybe protect or whatever, plus lower-level thugs and such.

On topic- I am interested in "Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness" ...how is it? Only $6.50 on Amazon, might grab either way.

Andrew DiDonato
Albert Lattanzi (Murdered in 1984)
Sal Bracchi
Vincent Dragonetti (Nickys son-in-law; his arrest is what tipped off Nickys daughter to call him so he had time to flee)
Tony Placido (murdered 1996)
Mike Yannotti (guy who shot Sliwa in cab; in prison)
Richie ? (mentioned multiple times; not found in glossary either)
Anthony Gerbino

Of course there were people he prob didn't mention to maybe protect or whatever, plus lower-level thugs and such.

On topic- I am interested in "Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster, and Government Witness" ...how is it? Only $6.50 on Amazon, might grab either way.

Reading 'Operation Family Secrets' right now, I'm about halfway through. I like the insight it gives in the Outfit and some of its more famous murders (the Spilotro murders etc).

But I hate the constant whining of Frank jr. Boohoohoo my daddy didn't love me, boohoo my daddy beat me up so much I started doing coke blablabla. Maybe, just maybe you shouldn't allow your dad to beat you up when you're a grown man. Maybe you should start hitting back at one point. He spends half the book convincing the reader he's just this great guy who happened to have a horrible father and only became a rat to help his dad. Bullshit. He sold coke, he worked in his father's crew for years, he made a lot of money in a lot of criminal ways, fine, but don't try to find some stupid excuse for it. You are what you are, you are responsible for your own actions.

Maybe the problem is that I read The Last Gangster by George Anastasia before this, one of the best books I've ever read on the Mob. What I like about it? It gives a great insight in the day to day affairs of a small mob family, and Previte doesn't make up excuses for anything. He is what he is, a crooked bastard, but at least he's not apologizing for it.

no the worst part about frank jr. is a yr or so after his father and crew get life he still telling the feds were his dads money is then the feds raid his mothers house find fake wall and a million behind it so he took away from his own mother thats sick.