Host Steven Pacheco for the Trace Evidence Podcast

The Mysterious Death of Dorothy Kilgallen



The stuff about Marilyn Monroe (and the Kennedys) begins around 35:51

Just finished Anthony Destefano's bio of Frank Costello, "Top Hoodlum." Destefano wrote a brilliant bio of Joe Massino. His Costello book isn't quite in the same league. He gives great detail on Costello's personal life and how he built his fortune. But there's practically no detail on how he ran the Luciano Family for 20 years--nothing that shows him as a Don, rather than an enterprising criminal businessman. Still, it's head and shoulders above the usual Mob bios.

I still remember him writing re: an attractive Irish American FBI agent something like, "her brunette hair belied her Irish heritage."

Even though most Irish women have brunette hair. You would think with millions of Irish Americans in NY De Stefano would know what they look like.

It's the equivalent of me writing a book and saying "her Roman nose belied her Roman heritage."

I just bought this book! I'm only a few chapters in, its not bad so far.

I just read this book, one read was enough. Short book. If anyone wants it just PM me an addy or po box, the deal is it would be right to pass it on to other members.
Wiretap: Listening in on America's Mafia https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671667971/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_taa_y5NoDbDT5AW93

Just downloaded the Double Cross ( Sam Giancanna) - its on deck once I finish The Chin.

I’m about 70% through The Chin so its wrapping up.

Nothing new in the Gigante book that would make it worth seeking out, right? Covers common ground and is basically like a load of old newspaper articles rehashed and extended into a book, yes?

I enjoyed the Chin.I had never read the relationship between Tommy James and Morris Levy and Levy and Gigante.I had never read about the Capo that shot the 2 police and killing 1.There was quite a bit new stuff for me

Pretty much. The author did a great job, but if you have already read a lot about the Chin it will just be going over and expanding on stuff you already know. A few interesting details here and there though. Get it if it's cheap.




Double Cross is an interesting one. Written by Giancana's relatives so you get a real insight into the man, they don't pull any punches. But it also makes some very bold claims which I would call bullshit on. Still worth checking out though.

Looking forward to it.


Other items I enjoyed about Chin were further details of his Brother the pRIEST and others.

Does he talk of any estimation/record of how much Costello’s fortune really was compared to other business powerhouses at that time?

I thought the COSTELLO book was disappointing. sort of mundane not enough depth on a terrific character.

I just purchased the BLACK HAND SOCIETY OF ROCHESTER. started to go through it today and it seems like a very good read. It names many of the "originals" in the ROCHESTER area from the turn of the 20th century.

There were a couple of Costello books written in the 70's that are supposed to be good. One was written by his lawyer so I imagine there's a great personal account of him but I'm sure it's also sympathetic and perhaps in denial of a lot of his criminal past. Then there was another written by a journalist or something that supposedly lays out all the facts. I believe they're both out of print so you'd be looking at old copies from amazon. I'm pretty sure ensuing Costello books just use recycled info from these two books.

I read online that after Genovese made Costello step down he let him keep his legitimate businesses. Costello’s stream of income must’ve been severely effected.

Any good books that cover more recent activity? Like even the last decade? Even books about associates or connected businesses about events in the past decade?

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has a copy of the book Anthony's Boy: The Prince of Bath Avenue? Have tried to find this available but the printing has been discontinued and no retailers have any stock. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bander, Amazon has them but a used copy in $90 and a new copy is over $400

Wasn't aware of the $90 priced one. That's the cheapest I've seen this although it retailed for $20, might grab that but the conversion to AUD is horrible. Thanks for sharing.

Reading Gotti's Boys by Destefano.There is some stuff I had never read before on the Bergin herion operation.This was a huge deal.Much bigger than I had thought.It It goes into detail on Salvatore Ruggiero and pretty much a play by play on his last plane ride.Right down to the headless torso of the pilot being found off Georgia Coast.it touches on the aftermath such as the Bergin crew trying to find the briefcase that went down with those folks and trying to beat the fbi to Salvatore's house.Poor Angelo,he had known contact with 2 fugitives Massino and his brother and if not for herion indictments would have faced these charges for helping them.He was fucked and he knew it. found interesting that the Bergin Crew went to the Harlem Council concerning informants and telling the leaders of that group who needed to be removed.They didn't want to kill a black man on the orders from a white man but did what the Bergin group said.It was actually Reiter giving those orders.Then the book goes back into stuff I have read about many times so its a decent book some new shit some stuff I already had read

Who would be worth writing about today or paying money to read about outside of Barney Bellomo ??

Today you got dipshits taking pictures with their grandmothers posing with pounds of weed... Is that honor ??

Grandmothers with pounds of weed? What book is that? Sure, I'll read it.

If someone close to Barney flips and decides to write a book that would be huge.

I personally would read the next (if) book by Leonetti now that his uncle is gone..I'm sure he omitted plenty on count of certain members of his family being still around.

"La Toke-A-Nostra"

Hahahahaha

War with Mafia unfolds in book by Tampa philanthropist Anthony Scarpo
The family claims to have run bookmaking and betting operations in Sulphur Springs, protected from the Trafficante family by their own posse.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/hills...-by-tampa-philanthropist-anthony-scarpo/

Currently listening to the Phillip leonetti audiobook for the first time, what a great book! great voice for it. To think Philly had a boss that wasn't actually stationed in philly

Leonetti's book is very good.I think underboss was a good book but I gotta tell you The Enforcer by Roemer was some good reading

Does Leonetti narrate it?

Yes

The only thing I can find on this after trying to download to my kindle is a used copy for $300 bucks and another for 90, WTF is up with this?

Looks like it was taken out of print and distribution after multiple law suits.