Book Description

Now in its 7th printing - inludes more gangsters!
Newly footnoted and expanded bibliography!
New FBI documents!
More detailed information about the alleged plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler!

While doing research for this book, Prof. Robert Rockaway interviewed old-time Jewish mobsters and their families. He never knew what his subjects would say or do, so he came prepared for any eventuality. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

great book and a fun reading
this book is a great academic book mixed with fun storytelling.

Jewish criminals objectively presented by a Jew
The book is a reasonably objective record of the fact that even though the word "mafia" is Italian, not all gangsters were (or are) Italian (and thus Catholic)... many were Jews or WASPs for that matter. US Gangsterism was (and is) a USA product, partly because of the ethnic heterogeneity produced by immigration and to a great extent by prohibition. There is of course gangsterism in other countries but backgrounds differ.
The author catalogued the major Jewish gangsters, their family history, their social setting and their "activities". Being Jewish myself I was glad to discover: a) unlike Italian gangsters the Jewish ones tended to keep their families out of their "business", and b) Jewish economic emancipation after WW II practically eliminated Jews from the "business". An enlightening read though rather dry in the firss half of the book.

Big Tsuris
A seldom-covered aspect of true crime history and Jewish history, "But He was Good to His Mother" is a fine read for anyone interested in either. It delves into the histories of several gangsters, their misdeeds, relationships to the Jewish community and anecdotes that shed some light on what these crimelords were really like. Plenty of photos are included.

Rockaway does a fairly good job of striking a balance in tackling a delicate subject. He points out the occasional admirable deeds of the gangsters (protecting American Jews from anti-semites, for example) while making it quite clear that these were very bad men. He fesses up that these killers and lawbreakers were admired by some in the community, but by no means all.

Occasionally, books about influential Jews get a little hokey when they gush over how the values of the Jewish community produced so many great people. (As though, without centuries of respect for learning by the Jews, Einstein might never have come up with relativity; whatever.) As a Jew myself, I think it feels more honest and refreshing to see it acknowledged that these same values and shared history produced some no-goodniks along the way, too. And ones who broke the stereotypes about Jews at that.

If anything, I'd have liked more information, more stories about the gangsters in the book. Especially nice would have been more on their role in the general public's perception and pop culture. The book doesn't tell you that the purple gang was infamous enough to be mentioned in Elvis Presley's JailHouse Rock, no opinion on who did a better job of playing Dutch Schultz (Tim Roth in "Hoodlum" or James Remar in "The Cotton Club"?), no word on whether Mickey Cohen was really as daft as James Ellroy portrays him, no mention of "Bugsy" or "The Godfather, part 2".

Still, I liked the book. I wouldn't label it an offer you can't refuse, but it's an offer it wouldn't kill you to accept.

Better Than Ever
I love authors who revise their work instead of just recycling it. The first edition of But He Was Good to His Mother was good but marred by one embarrassing error: it repeated as fact the fictional murder of Moe Dalitz from the late William Roemer's novel War of the Godfathers. Rockaway was not the first author to make this mistake--Roemer and his publisher should have made it clearer their book was fiction--but the Dalitz murder is rightfully deleted from this edition and there is expanded, factual, and accurate information throughout on Jewish gangsters, including such legendary figures as Meyer Lansky (whom Rockaway interviewed), Bugsy Siegel, Lepke and Gurrah, Kid Cann, Dutch Schultz, Waxey Gordon, Longy Zwillman, Big Jack Zelig, Boo Boo Hoff (who introduced the tommy gun to Philadelphia's Prohibition underworld), Mickey Cohen, the Purple Gang and others. The rise and fall of the Jewish gangsters, their relationships to the Jewish community (roles in "upward mobility" and even as sometime defenders of their people); to the Italian mob; and to 20th Century urban America are explored wonderfully and insightfully. Rounding out the book are ample source notes and an excellent bibliography. This book is a labor of love by an author who likes to get his facts straight.

Fantastic!
This is absolutely the best book on Jewish gangsters that I have read. I just received the copy of this newly published version of But-He Was Good To His Mother and I found it to be fast paced, very enjoyable as well as factual and well researched. I found the authors interviews with old-time Jewish mobsters especially fascinating. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Who is this guy?
An apparently well researched and written book on the background and history of the Hell's Angels, as well as many of the other major 1% clubs. The book is ten years out of date as of this writing, and is mostly about things in Canada, but is still interesting. I have some problems with the stuff between the lines, so to speak. What is the author's agenda in writing a work like this? Why does he have such a vendetta against his subject? The book is loaded with dates, names and events, but lists no sources other than an occasional "police photo" caption. The author has apparently gleaned his facts from thin air or from informant interviews and occasional public files or both. Perhaps "Yves" is an ex-member with an axe to grind. Who Knows? An interesting read, but take it with a grain of salt (or a bag...)

A good book if you know nothing of the outlaw biker life.
Yves Lavigne did one hell of a job in researching this book. He accuratley describes events and details in the lives of the Angels from the beginning into the eighties. He tells of the terror reigned by the Angels, but is very light to touch on the subject of the fundraisers and benefits that the Angels host. The book tells of many events in the underworld, giving names and dates and horrifying pictures of crime scenes. It shows exactly what the Angels can do, when provoked. All around, a good book to learn about the "other side". Well written and full of information.

3 can keep A Secret ... an outstanding read!!
I thought the book was an outstanding read and in fact have read the book several times. I have no idea why some reviewers want to critique Mr. Lavigne's writing style or "vulgar" word selection so harshly. He is, after all, writing about the Hells Angels. I feel these folks are missing the main point of the book which is to give the reader and insightful look into the bike gang, their rituals, codes etc. To this end, Mr. Lavigne does an outstanding job! I found the book to be a very comprehensive portrait of the most famous of biker gangs. If these readers were so offended by some of Mr. Lavignes language, choice of words whatever then they need not be worried with researching the Hells Angels! Simply put, the book is by far the best and most insightful look into the inner workings of the Hells Angels that I have ever read - and I have read most all of the books on the Hells Angels out there. I strongly recommend it.

One more thing...
I need to add one more thing to my review above. There are a number of glaring errors in the book that call into question how much first person research Mr. Lavigne did and how much was based on hearsay from bikers, law enforcement, or other sources. The first error may be considered minor - a map purporting to show the locations of various HAMC clubs places San Bernardino in Ventura county instead of San Bernardino County. Others include claiming that the P.O.B.O.B's where founded in San Bernardino (they were founded in Bloomington - hence the acronym, "Pissed Off Bastards Of Bloomington", a suburb of Fontana, California.) There are others, but all together they make you wonder how much of this is reasearch by the author and how much is taken from other less informed sources.

Crudity aside, a good documentary
Yves Lavigne's unrelenting vulgarity takes away from what is otherwise an informative and well researched first-person account of the growth of the Hell's Angels growth from 50's rebels to 60's cause celebre to modern day mafia. Their ability to enforce omerta (the code of silence)among their members, at least in this account, makes them more effective, and more dangerous, than La Cosa Nostra. How much of this admittedly entertaining tale is truth and how much is fantasy? Only Mr. Lavigne and the Hell's Angels know with any certainty. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

More than a Jewel Thief
I read this book as it received a lot of publicity on initial release. I didn't find it to be a fast, compelling story of a dangerous jewel thief. Rather, I found it to be a tale of a common thief with a substantial amount of time spent on normal legal proceedings and life as a fugitive. While his life was much more normal than you may expect by reading the title, I still found it to be a very compelling read.

Mason starts the book as a teenager who has some minor run-ins with the law while living in Cleveland Ohio. He stumbles in to a life as a jewel thief while marrying, raising kids, and living a fairly normal life as an apartment manager.

The book really revs up with a move to South Florida in the 70s. Florida was exploding with drugs, crime, and wealthy northeners living in ocean front condos with expensive jewels. Mason describes some of his successful heists but the more interesting story is his relationship with the police. Also, there is a comical sideline of him buying a small ocean front home to rent where the renters continually turn out to be drug runners using his house as a delivery point.

The last part of the book has little to do with jewel thefts and more to do with family and escaping the law. Overall, I found this to be a worthwhile story to read. But "a master jewel thief" is really only about 40% of the story. That may be enough for most readers as it was for me.

A great read
I remember the headlines. I also remember the press and police were convinced that these jewel heists could only have been pulled off by a mission-impossible type team. Thanks to the Statute of Limitations, William Mason himself gives up the real story-more incredible than fiction- and one of the best reads I've had in years! Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief is a first rate memoir of America's most prolific Jewel thief. The story begins with Mason's first bungled teenage gas station job and ends on the roof of a posh 16 story Florida beachfront condo. On the way Mason takes the reader through huge scores, narrow escapes, the courtroom antics of ace lawyers and a major hometown sex scandal with the flair of a seasoned story teller. To his credit, Mason fights the natural urge to embellish his "accomplishments" and often attributes his success to luck or simply complacency of the wealthy. The time Mason has taken to reflect on his former life shows. His descriptions of his thought process during the planning and execution of theses heists are truly fascinating. His most profound introspection however, is found in his recognition of the emotional harm caused to his family and victims.

great book !!!!!!!!!!
i don't read books that much usually newsweek...time... a variety of different magazines because it's hard for books to keep my interest..just one main story...usually i need to be reading 3 at a time and rarely finish one of them....well this book did it for me.....what a surprise...an easy read and so much fun...very exciting...i read the whole thing...rare for me...only 3 other books that i can remember kept my interest like this one ...one of c. sagon's fiction books....j. grisham the firm and the first harry potter book..hope they make a movie out of this one........

Master Jewel Thief, Average Book
The first hundred pages of this book were enthralling, but after that is was more of an ego driven story about how much smarter he was than anyone else. The first hundred pages covered his develpoment as a thief, "scores", and how he combined this with his family and day job. I couldn't put it down. But soon after that the book turned to life behind bars, Mason duelling with the police, and a great deal on how he and his friends were much more itelligent than the DA's and police. Who he painted as angry, revenge fueled bullies. Certainly, this book is his side of the story and needs to be told, but the latter half of the book doesn't complete the energy he showed in the first half. I went from enticed to bored in about ten pages.

Several levels deeper into a fascinating personality
Unlike conventional accounts of talented criminals, this book takes us farther into the mind of a fascinating man, examining his development and motivations and giving us exciting, often moving gimpses into what life is like during those times when he is not out stealing fabulous jewels. We hear about people being "on the lam" for long periods of time, but rarely get to know what it really means to be hiding in plain sight. To me, that was almost as interesting as the actual robberies, and those were incredible. My highest recommendation to all readers. ... Read more

Reviews (45)

Without a doubt the best book on the subject.
Jack the Ripper has been a fascination of mine for five or so years, and I've read lots of books about him and the murders, but "The Complete History" is surely the best. It's very accurate -- Sugden derives his information directly from the case files and press reports, instead of borrowing from previous books which can be misleading. In fact, he even goes out of the way to point out and correct errors from previous books.

And not only is the book very accurate, it is entertaining. A lot of Ripper books seem to be kind of dry, but not this one. I could see everything that was going on. Sugden made me feel for the victims, especially Annie Chapman and Liz Stride, and he did a good job portraying the terrible conditions and poverty of the East End.

Best of all in my opinion, the book does not advance Sugden's pet theory. He does talk about a few suspects, and remarks that one is more likely than the others, but he does say that there is no evidence against the man. It's a nice change from other Ripper books who go through comical contortions to pin the case on one particular individual.

It's a terrific book -- I've read it several times. If you must only read one book on Jack the Ripper, pick this one!

The Sacred Tome of Ripperology
Having read several books on Jack the Ripper, I can enthusiastically declare Sugden's volume the best of the lot, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this book is not about "Jack the Ripper" per se, but rather it is about the series of murders in Whitechapel and the ensuing investigation. It is the author's stated goal to present the facts as clearly as can be gleaned from extant police files and press reports of the time (albeit, in the latter case, cautiously and only when information is not available in official form). As other reviewers point out, Sugden is not trying to convince us that his own pet suspect is the Ripper. Whereas most Ripper books begin with a conclusion and are written with the arbitary purpose of convincing us that the author has identified the Ripper, this book actually saves the conclusion to the end. Even that conclusion, however, is not definitive. The author does, in the end, tell us why a certain suspect seems to fit the facts better than other named suspects, but he clearly states that there is no definitive proof as to whether or not that suspect was Jack, and he by no means accuses the man of the crimes. In the same vein, Sugden does not attack other writers in the field. That being said, he does point out flaws and outright mistakes in others' thinking. Even this, it must be said, is done in a noble fashion. Sugden is very determined to dispel a number of myths that have wrongly influenced Ripperology for many years, and his contribution toward this end is the most important contribution he makes. He goes to great lengths to not only point out false "facts" (such as the supposed pregnancy of Mary Kelly, for example, an idea that even Donald Rumbelow accepted when he wrote his Casebook) but to explain where these myths came from and why they were accepted by other writers.

Another wonderful thing about this book is Sugden's treatment of the victims. I must admit that I have always viewed the victims with some detachment--this is surely a personal shortcoming on my part, but it is one that many people may share, especially given that the victims were prostitutes in Victorian London over a century ago. In the pages of this book, though, these poor women actually become real and "human." I feel as if I knew them now, to at least a small degree, and, besides feeling pity and compassion for them, I have discovered that I actually liked a couple of them (especially Annie Camp). These women were not just poor "prostitutes." Other writers have done a good job of explaining the wretched conditions in Whitechapel, but no one else has made that world and its occupants really come alive and real to me before. Sugden deserves much praise for putting so much effort into researching, learning, and telling the true story of these women as comprehensively as possible.

In this book, you will find the most complete, objective story that can be told of the Whitechapel murders. "Facts" you have assumed were true will be brought to light and revealed to be myths. New information, particularly in regard to the victims, will be presented. You will not be shown Jack the Ripper, however. What do the facts tell us about Jack the Ripper? That is the question Sugden poses. He has some ideas, which he shares, but any "answers" to this mystery are ultimately left with the reader.

This book should be required reading for any person even remotely interested in Jack the Ripper. Sugden has written the sacred tome of Ripperology, in my opinion.

The Bible of the Ripper Case
The crime investigation work in this book is impeccable, and the in-depth research of relevent facts is really something future Ripper writers should aim for. Very easy to read and digest this information on the case, which is written in an entertaining and highly enlightening manner. Speculations and phoney facts are ignored or exposed, and here we have the true facts, clearly presented, and the myths dispelled.

David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"

Tired of speculations?
I recommend this book for anyone interested in the case of "Jack the Ripper," since this book is amazingly to the point, and only facts (which is so rare). No things like "if that happened then that could have happened also..." blahblah, like way too many books are about on this subject.
Even though this book is fairly big - as in with many names and so on - I'd recommend it as a great starting point for someone who knows little or nothing at all about the case.
After covering possible victims (each in great detail), other than the 4-5 most likely, with great detail, it goes into the covering what effect the murders had on London at the time. Then goes into some of the most known suspects and shows what is known about them and how each might or might not have been "Jack," with only known facts. The only thing that he goes outside from the facts is when he gets a profiler to say what he believes "Jack" might have been like. It is an interesting read.
I also want to add that he corrects alot of small, yet relevant, details that were taken for granted but, as he proves, some "Ripperologists" got wrong.

Amazing:Definative
This book was absolutely amazing and gave every aspect possible about the murders. To read it well, in my opinion, you must have a light feel for the case, but otherwise this book corners every possibilty and every theory out there. It features mkany of the theories not covered in other books, such as the royal conspiracy and Dr. Ostrog. I enjoyed it in every aspect, a great addition to any Ripperologists library. ... Read more

Book Description

Henri Charrière, called Papillon, for the butterfly tattoo on his chest, was convicted in Paris in 1931 for a murder he did not commit. When he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the penal colony of French Guiana, one thought obsessed him: escape. After planning and executing a series of treacherous yet failed attempts over many years, Papillon was eventually sent to the notorious prison, Devil's Island, a place from which no one had ever escaped -- that was, until Papillon. His escape, described in breathless detail, was one of the most incredible tests of human cunning, will, and endurance.

In 1968, more than twenty years after his final escape, Charrière had his astonishing autobiography, Papillon, published in France to instant acclaim -- a worldwide bestseller describing the gripping, shocking odyssey of the author's imprisonment and escape over a greuling decade.

Reviews (66)

GREAT READ EVEN IF IT'S PURE FICTION
I don't care if it's true or not, it's still a great story. This book is a real page turner. Though rumors persist that Charriere made PAPILLON up, there are enough nuggets of truth to make you think otherwise. I had a little trouble with Papi's consistent nobility throughout. Charriere leads you to believe he was a gentleman throughout. Kind of hard to believe. Also, he's a little sketchy on his conviction for murder. That leads me to believe he probably commited the crime for which he was convicted. I would agree that the French system of justice was pretty harsh back in the 1930's, but I'm sure Charriere exaggerated "a little" here and there.

But don't get me wrong. This was an amazing read. There is much more to the story than the movie. Truly great book.

It is too good to miss!
Hi, I owned the copy of this book for several years and I had read it 3 times. He will forever be an example and a teacher to me. To meet this great man would be a wonderful gift. Though he is no angel and life has brought out the ugliest of all of him, he remains a powerful influence. If he can be so strong in such situations (i.e. watching his best friend devoured by unforgiving sharks,withstanding solitary for two years in the most creative ways, the list goes on...for 13 years!) then I can survive anything this existence throws my way. I've met my Jesus through this book. I hope to read it again one day so as to have a greater appreciation of it, perhaps after i've been through some of my own horrors. I'll definitely see the movie. I've already passed the book on to a lucky person, despite that I'd love to keep it. Looking for adventure, romance, lust, utter suspense, even amusement (he's got a great sense of humour through it all)? HEAR IT!!!!!!!!

"I don't belong here - I'm only visiting"
When Henri Charriere finds himself sent to a French prison colony for a crime he did not commit, he makes up his mind to go on a "cavale," literally to beat it and escape the custody of his captors. Like the butterfly (or in French "Papillon") which Charriere has tattooed to his chest, he will live his life in freedom or not at all. When a doctor questions him about his repeated escape attempts, Papillon's reply is matter-of-fact: "I don't belong here - I'm only visiting."

"Papillon" takes a while to get started, and Charriere's elusive and terse tone keeps one from feeling too close to the narrator. He tells you he didn't kill the man the police claim he did, but credits himself for not being a stool pigeon by telling them who did. So he's not exactly Dreyfus here, though he pretends otherwise at times. He mentions a wife and child in the outset almost as afterthoughts, then scarcely refers to them again. No false modesty for this guy - he runs the roost in every clink he is assigned, dispensing wisdom to prisoner and warden alike. No physical challenge is too much for him to overcome, no fellow "mec" too much for him to handle.

Let's put it this way: If Charriere is selling bridges, I ain't buying. But if this is more fiction than fact, "Papillon" still makes for one amazing novel. With minimal pretense at craft, Charriere crafts a white-knuckle, plain-spoken suspense tale that finds our hero in every imaginable predicament - and some not at all imaginable - as he makes attempt after attempt to escape the hell on earth that is French Guiana, the three Iles du Salut (literally "Isles of Salvation"), and ultimately Devil's Island. Taking you from the lush, mosquito-choked jungles of the Caribbean coastline to a solitary confinement where Papillon stays sane by imagining himself in childhood haunts, this is about as picturesque a ride as you can have sitting in your comfy chair.

A sense of life abounds in this book. Charriere holds court on such things as the proper way to sleep in a hammock, how one secretes money on one's "person," how the sharks knew when a corpse was about to be dumped in the sea, the strange tales prisoners tell, how one fishes for mullet on Devil's Island, etc. How much of this is on the level is tough to tell, but it fills the mind with a sense of a world lived in, and in one of the world's most obscure corners at that.

Whatever else, one statement Charriere makes is no doubt true: He is a spellbinding storyteller. He has a sense of the tragic and the funny and never lets the storyline sag. He also throws in nice little asides that keep the reader engaged. At one point, when he is thrown in solitary, Charriere takes a break from relating his squalor to offer this merry assurance: "The movie could not stop there; it must go on. It will go on, mecs! Just give me time to get back my strength and you'll have some new episodes, never fear!"

What makes "Papillon" especially readable and gripping is how Charriere comes into contact with the best and worst in people, sometimes the same people. The most seemingly depraved people can turn out to be not all bad; finding your hermit-like host keeps dead bodies in a pit outside his home is not necessarily proof he is out to do the same to you. He also has an intriguing religious sensibility, which yo-yos between antagonistic disbelief to a sense of profound grace. "Where there's life, there's hope" is an oft-repeated maxim in the book, and they are not hollow words for Papillon, whatever his state. Despair is unknown to him, and he's heartening to read for that alone.

I'd love to know how much of this tale is true. Apparently, there is a French-language book that analyzes the story of "Papillon" from a historical context, and the History Channel in the United States did a documentary you can order online. The little I've seen indicates some holes in the number of escape attempts Charriere made. But he was a prisoner, and then he was free; he wrote a book that, if just 10% true, would be enough to fill out four or five adventuresome lives; and his legacy is one people still passionately relate to more than 30 years after his death. I can't give this book five stars only because of this trust factor, but rest assured "Papillon" is worth your time, and you will be happy you read it.

One of the Best Books I have ever Read
Papillon is a work of unparalleled brilliance. Charriere's description of his incarceration in the French penal colony in French Guyana is both riveting and haunting. For a man as uneducated as he claims, Charriere reveals himself as one of the 20th century's greatest writers, succeeding in use of suspense, allegory and poetic style.

Charriere builds a cohesive story, from the beginning in a rigged French court, through the trip to Cayenne, various cavales, and finally to a complete rebirth of spirit. Seen through eyes of compassion, anger, love and the wisdom of hindsight, Charriere gives a complete story that is not just an incredible adventure story, but a whole moral tale about life, strength, hope and faith.

A fabulous read.
A book full of adventure, intrigue, sorrow, heartache, revenge, joy, and many other expressive words that I can't think of at the moment. I found the ending and the fate of Papillon's fellow escape partner to be especially shocking. A five star classic. ... Read more

Book Description

Acclaim for Carolly Erickson

"Carolly Erickson is one of the most accomplished and successful historical biographers writing in English."
–The Times Literary Supplement

The First Elizabeth

"Even more readable and absorbing than the justly praised works of Tuchman and Fraser. A vivid and eminently readable portrait of history’s favorite Tudor."
–The New York Times Book Review

"A masterpiece of narrative, a story so absorbing it is as hard to put down as a fine novel."
–Los Angeles Times Book Review

Alexandra

"Gifted . . . breathless . . . heartbreaking . . . Erickson excels."
–Chicago Tribune

Josephine

"An intimate, richly detailed, and candid portrait . . . [Erickson’s] scholarly insights combine superbly with a mastery of period manners more often found in the best historical fiction."
–Kirkus Reviews

Mistress Anne

"Carolly Erickson is a most admirable biographer, and this book is highly enjoyable as well as being reliable and acute; indeed, it is popular historical biography at its best."
—The Times (London) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Fiend of the worst kind!!!!
Gripping read even if disturbing and shocking in parts. How is it possible that one individual escaped the detection of police for such a long length of time???!!! Unbelievable! I recommend this book to read but be prepared to feel moments of disbelief, shock and anger. Anyone that can kill children, pregnant women and entire families has to be the worst type of fiend out there.
Tommy Lyn Sells, the serial killer, killed with no remorse and at times for the most trivial reasons. e.g. Being angry at someone. His reign of terror lasted many years and in various states of the USA, only everyone was oblivious to this fact, including the law.
I can honestly say it is a good thing that he has been caught.....or you might not be around today reading this about him!
WELL WORTH THE READ!!!!

S C A R Y
I haven't been that scared reading a book, since "Helter Skelter". Enough said.

A Cross-Country Spree in Itself!
I pride myself with devouring at least one book per day, and this book is no exception.

Diane Fanning's writing style and research of Tommy Lynn Sells is superb; the reader, as he goes through the manic pace of this book, gets the feel of being on a Starkweatherish spree of his own at the turn of each page. The end also gives you the feel of the predictable and catalysmic aftermath after Sells is captured and tried.

The only downside to this book (some may disagree) would be the speculations of Sells' involvement in several unsolved cases in states he had reportedly visited and made confirmed murders. A case in point is the murder of Joel Kirkpatrick (whose mother is currently serving time for his murder) and the unsolved murder of a Philadelphia runaway whose strangled body was found in a Tropicana railcar in Florida. It is in this respect that Fanning treats her subject like modern day Henry Lee Lucas, although such speculations are not entirely fruitless concerning Sells lack of motive for his crimes.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in current crime cases, and how criminal trials for such individuals bring them to justice.

The Author must have had a strong stomach
I have read many true crime books, but I must say this is one really unnerved me. Tommy Lynn Sells disgusting road to murder was shocking (to say the least). One of the strange things is how the killer himself came close to death a few times and managed to cheat it! How sad for his victims and the rest of the world for that? If you like true crime and have a strong stomach....this is for you. There was only one error that was a bit confusing...in one story the victim was called two different names. I don't know if that was a typo or I missed something. Other than that, the book was good.

really scared and shocked the (...) out of me
Hi, I read this book a couple of days ago. I had to stop reading for a while, cause it really got to me. The crimes Tommy Lynn Sells committed where so cruel, you cannot believe a human being can be so cruel.He killed a lot of children, a baby which only lived for 2 seconds ,dads,mothers,sisters. I had a hard time remembering who was who, so many crimes he committed.
The book is well written, i did like the style, a lot of details of Sells youth,but i really did not get the reason why he killed so brutally. sometimes there is no reason.He seemed to be a hard guy to interview .I think Diane Fanningg did a great jo and I am looking forward to her next book, Into the Water

If you are gonna read this, be prepared to be shocked.
(...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

What makes this account of the Mafia life and times of Sammy Gravano so seductive is Peter Maas's skillful editing of interview material. From his opening line--"Yeah, you could say I came from a pretty tough neighborhood"--to his final poignant comment on having gotten all his tattoos removed except a head of Christ that resists being eliminated--"I guess God still wants me"--Gravano is nothing if not a compelling storyteller. He talks about his years in a youth gang, his robberies and shylocking, his murders, his lack of remorse (about which he is "not happy"), the ceremony of becoming a "made guy," his mentors, his "crew," his preference for gangsters over racketeers, his fascination with the Godfather films, his many business ventures, and his final years of disillusionment as the Cosa Nostra code he had passionately admired was breaking down, so that he chose to testify against his last boss, John Gotti. ... Read more

Reviews (106)

best book on cosa nostra i've ever read
When I first decided to get this book and read it, I had my doubts.. because of my contempt for anyone who becomes a rat, but once I started reading it I really couldn't put it down. I LOVE this book. I have read it many times, and I'm still not sick of it. The beauty of this book is it is all told in Gravano's own words, quoted. Hearing Sammy tell the story word for word is just great. This book isn't just about the Gotti era, and that's good.. theres enough books that focus only on that... this is Sammy's life story. No matter how much you dislike rats, it's hard to dislike Sammy after reading this. It seems really honest, he doesn't try to seem like a good guy, he says how he really feels about things (usually after whacking someone out, 'it's cosa nostra, what can you do' haha).. and you gotta respect that. After reading this, you don't feel as sorry for Gotti. Sammy stayed loyal to this close to him, he refused to testify against anyone in his old crew. Interestinly enough (this isn't in the book, it's recent news) the government recently indicted someone from Sammy's old crew on charges of conspiring to murder Sammy.. What does Sammy do? He testifies on the defenses behalf, saying that Toddo would never try to kill him! Truely a man's man! Still, though, you gotta keep in mind how many people the guy brought down other than Gotti... I think it's a shame he testified against Vicent "The Chin" Gigante, boss of the Genovese family. The Chin was a much more interesting boss than Gotti.. the difference is he didn't have the same pathetic affection for the media that Gotti had. Anywy, I don't think Sammy was the one who brought Gotti down.. Gotti's ego brought Gotti down, Sammy may have just helped speed up the process. Read this book, it's better than wiseguy 5++ stars.

If you loved "GoodFellas"...
Many reviewers have compared this work to Nicholas Pileggi's fine book "Wiseguy" (which was the basis for the movie "GoodFellas"). And rightfully so. "Wiseguy" concerned real life crime figure Henry Hill and how he eventually turned government informant against the mob. "Underboss" likewise tells the tale of a mobster turned informant, except this time the stool pigeon, Sammy Gravano, is a capo (and later a consigliere) in the Gambino crime family, and the mafioso he fingers is none other than John Gotti himself.

As you might expect, "Underboss" is a fascinating read. (Author Peter Maas previously wrote the books "Serpico" and "The Valachi Papers", among others, so he knows how to tell a good crime story). Gravano does not portray himself as a saint. He candidly reveals in horrifying (though not gory) detail crimes he committed in the mob, including some nineteen murders and literally hundreds of burglaries, armed robberies, and kickback/extortion plots. All the major New York crime bosses of the time (Carlo Gambino, Joe Columbo, Paul Castellano, Vincent Gigante, and of course Gotti) figure in the proceedings, as Gavano had dealings with them and others, as well.

Unlike some true crime books where you end up skipping chapters to get to the "good stuff", this book was gripping every step of the way. So much so that I ended reading it cover to cover, all 301 pages, in less than a week. If you're looking for a good insider's book on the Mafia, this is it.

A LOOK INTO THE DARK WOLD OF ORGANIZED CRIME
I enjoyed reading the book not just for the entertainment value, but also for the things it taught me about life in the mob. Some of the things I learned are the organization structure, codes of conduct, methods of intimidation, sources of mob income, and the absolute ruthlessness of the lifestyle.

I like reading these kinds of books not because I think this life these people like Sammy Gravano lead was somehow cool or glamorous. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It's a dangerous, deceptive, wicked lifestyle. I enjoy reading mob books like this because I get a look into a different world I am rarely if ever exposed to. And of course this book, being a true story and interview of a former high-level mob underboss made it a very interesting read.

Maybe the last chapter of La Cosa Nostra, & it's a great one
This really is an amazing insider account of arguably the most famous Italian Mafia family in American history, and the book more than lives up to its billing. The most dramatic thought that I came away with after reading "Underboss" is that Sammy the Bull didn't bring down Gotti and the Gambinos - Gotti did that. Sammy just put the final nail in the coffin.

Gotti's arrogant, publicity seeking ways were ultimately what brought down the Gambino family. Had Gotti been a little more humble and knew the art of "laying low" after several acquittals, he very well may never have been convicted, or at least he would have been out of jail and in power much longer. AND, had he not stabbed Gravano in the back, as Sammy heard on the tapes in a courtroom, Sammy may never have testified against Gotti in the first place.

But, the truth is, Sammy is no model citizen, as he readily attests to in the book. He kills his brother-in-law and performs a number of other murders for seemingly minor Mafia indiscretions. To his credit, though, he doesn't pretend portray himself as a victim, either. Since he's currently doing a 20-year stretch for running an E ring, that's poetic justice in the eyes of the many he betrayed to avoid prison for his underworld doings. Sammy's lived quite a life, and this book let's the curious in on the action. It's probably one of the best Mafia books I've ever read. Highly recommended.

Great Account
This is for sure one of the best book on the subject ever written. Peter Maas comes really close and describes the life of a mobster in great captivating detail. There is a tendency to put Gravano up to be a bit of a star with morals and ethics above and beyond what the rest of the gangsters have. Perhaps he is, but it still took him an enormous amount of killing and torturing to decide on a better way to use his talent. In any case the book is a fantastic read. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"A STORY THAT NO OTHER AUTHOR COULD HAVE PUT

TOGETHER . . . Roemer [is] America's most decorated FBI agent."

--Chicago Tribune

For forty years Tony Accardo was America's most dangerous criminal.He cut his teeth on the Chicago mob wars of Capone and Elliot Ness. He got his nickname "Joe Batters" for killing two men with a baseball bat. As the bodies piled up, Capone's youngest capo murdered and schemed his way to the top.

William Roemer was the first FBI agent to face Tony "The Big Tuna" Accardo. Now, Roemer tells the story that only he could tell: the deals, the hits, the double-crosses, and the power plays that reached from the Windy City to Hollywood and to New York. Drawing on secret wiretaps and inside information, ACCARDO chronicles bloodshed and mayhem for more than six decades--as Roemer duels against the most powerful don of them all. . . .

"Roemer brings the reality of organized crime home to us."

--Boston Herald

"A big, sprawled out account that serves as anecdotal history of organized crime."

--Kirkus Reviews

... Read more

Reviews (21)

Almost there, but not quite.
When I saw there was a book about Accardo I rushed right out and got it. Accardo was a man I had great interest in, yet knew little about. I must give Roemer credit once again for another well researched mafia book. But sorry, on this one he falls a little short of the mark. Despite the fact he repeats alot of what he's said in his other books it's still an enlightening book about a very intelligent, very powerful and very cunning mobster. But because Tony Accardo was so damn good at keeping out of the lime light (the FBI's that is) in the end we don't know much about him at all. It is a shame and I don't blame Roemer for it, but rather give credit to Accardo for being one of the few mobsters we will never know much about. e.g. Gambino, Frankie La Porte, Funzi Tieri. But still it's a good read, as are Roemers other books and if you need a break from all the New York stories read about the Chicago Outfit. Which I belive will last longer under pressure from the law than any other Family in the US. GOOD STUFF

Tony Accardo was the real "Godfather"
I grew up in the Chicago area, and I would hear Tony Accardo's name in the news from time to time, so when I found this book I was interested in knowing about the man that I heard about. Roemer a former FBI agent in Chicago , dealt with Accardo and the whole Outfit in Chicago. Roemer has given us a novel that gives us some insight in the the life of Accardo from being a bodyguard for Al Capone to his rise of the boss of the Outfit. It is a good read, but Accardo was a mobster who never spent a night in jail, and avoided the limelight, so how much is really known about him? Accardo wasn't a fool that is why he stayed at the top for so long and watched the others who came after him such as Sam Giancanna, be more flamboyant and go down the tubes. The book shows him to be a fair person, but it also shows us how he could resort to violence and order killings when he thought they were necessary. I feel if you are a fan of organized crime books, this is a must for you to read, and it will be a welcome change of pace than reading another book about some New York family

this guy was the godfather
Tony Accardo was the most successful mob boss of all time.At the top for 48 years!To put that in perspective Al Capone was boss for 5 years(1925-30)and John Gotti from 1985 to his death in 2002,but more than half of that he was in jail.Accardo did it all,from young apprentice of Capone favorite "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn to shooter in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre(according to Accardo's and Murray Humphrey's secretly recorded conversations in the 1950's and 60's)to Las Vegas kingpin to running the infamous Teamster's union(bet Accardo could tell you what happened to Jimmy Hoffa).This guy was responsible for literally hundreds of deaths,many of them very brutal,but reigned almost completely free from police interference save a few nuisance i.r.s. cases and congressional hearings.As others write,Roemer has a rather scattershot way of writing(it's even worse if you've read his other books as he likes to repeat his stories)but almost all info(except his Notre Dame mentions and his extreme love of God)is mob related and ain't that what you're here for?Some people find that there wasn't enough Accardo personal info but so what.What's there to wonder about?Did Accardo love his wife and kids?Did he kick his dog?Who cares.The guy was the mobster of mobsters and his criminal life is well documented and that's all that matters to me.I guess there is one story in the book that gives you a look into Tony Accardo' soul.His close friend of 40 years(the guy wasn't a mobster,he was the Accardo house caretaker)gave testimony in front of a grand jury and disappeared off the face of the earth days later.How's that for knowing Tony personally?

A few errors
I think the main problem I had with this book was the numerous factual errors in it. I could forgive his overstating Accardo's importance to Chicago organized crime (Its a well known fact among most real crime historians that Accardo spent most of his time as the Waiters front boss) because all biographers tend to do that. But when he states things like Joe Profaci and Joe Columbo being bosses on the commission and showing up at a 1961 wedding when Columbo was an eventual herir to Profaci's family can't be forgiven. Things like that make you wonder if the author knew anything at all.

The Information is There, I Guess . . .
As a Chicagoland native and budding fan of "Outfit" stories, I was anxious to learn all I could about "Joe Batters". This book does deliver information I didn't already have, but don't let the page count fool you. Roemer pads this book with all kinds of extraneous stuff, and wanders in his narrative. He has no idea how to organize information, and this book seems to be no more than a rough draft. Roemer claims to be impartial, but opinion drips from every sentence. He can never let the evidence speak for itself. He always has to comment on it. If you're expecting nothing more than one man's war stories of his time in the FBI, then this book will not disappoint, but this is not the omnibus of Accardo information that I was hoping for. ... Read more

Book Description

America's top crime writer solves the infamous case that has baffled experts for more than a century.

Abridged, five CDs, 6 hours ... Read more

Reviews (482)

Good content, bad presentation
I was really excited to read this book, but I have to say, I was pretty disappointed by it. I guess if the goal was convince me that Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper, then the goal was accomplished. The problem I had with the book is that the presentation was very hard to follow. The book was constantly jumping back and forth between Walters Sickerts history, the different murders and the present in a way that I found confusing. A timeline of when the murders occured (including the ones she speculates are done by Sickert, but are not thought of as "Jack the Ripper" murders) would have been helpful to try to see patterns. Another missing piece for me is why Jack the Ripper suddenly stopped. Patricia Cornwell speculates that he probably didn't stop committing murders, but why did he stop writing the letters? He obviously loved the attention it brought, so why stop after that had been his modus operandi for so long? The last criticism I had of the book is the ending. The book ended abruptly with the death of his 2nd (of 3) wife. Why end there? I couldn't believe when I turned the page and that was the end! There was no wrap up or conclusions of any kind.

For anyone who has always wondered who Jack the Ripper was, you must read this book. It's extremely detailed and as I said, convincing. Her insights into the psychopathic mind are fascinating. She also makes a strong case that Walter Sickert was a violent psychopath. However, you may find as I did that the book could have been much better had the presentation been clearer.

More bodies on the pyre
If anything, this book is perhaps proof that the Jack the Ripper obsession will never die, if only because it's unlikely it will ever be solved, at least 'conclusively'.

The book is arrogantly sub-titled 'Case Closed', and of course, it's anything but a closed case that Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper, or that James Maybrick was the Ripper, or Lewis Carroll was the Ripper, or the royals were involved, etc.

I'm not sure what to make of the whole business anymore. There are now close to 20 suspects in the Ripper case, and indeed in the 1990s alone quite a few new suspects appeared on the scene thanks to research and fanaticism on the part of various writers. Now Cornwall has thrown herself into it, and it's somewhat troubling.

Of course, at the end of the day, there's no smoking gun. There hasn't been a smoking gun, and given that the murders took place in 1888, and evidence and various records are long gone, it's highly unlikely there will be a smoking gun. The whole business already inspired someone to forge a 'Ripper' diary and try to pass it off. This has since been debunked numerous times, with the author himself swearing that it's a forgery, yet people still believe it. Every year someone discovers someone who was in London in 1888, hated women, etc, etc.

Folks who are interested in the Ripper may peruse this book, but it's clear from the 'evidence' and the layout that this is anything but 'Case Closed', if anything, it says something about Cornwall, who writes about her own doubt to this theory. And admittedly, while there are some nice coincidences, and Sickert indeed may have been a bit off his rocker, and indeed may have penned Ripper letters (of which there were many fakes), it's no more convincing than several other theories of the past ten years.

Notice the '71% off' price tag of this book, which shows you something in comparison to other books on the subject. There are much better books about the whole case, and you'll likely learn more from those if you care. It would be nice to put the whole Ripper case to rest, finally. The energy and resources some folks have put into 'solving' this business is becoming more alarming. Recommended if you must, but it's hardly a 'final chapter'.

Absolute tosh: says more about Cornwell than Sickert
I can't think of another character assassination that is as unfounded as this, based as it is on pure conjecture and highly selective and inconclusive 'evidence'.

And just think of the irony of a writer who has based her entire written output on lingering over the sordid details of murder and mutilation claiming that Sickert was a violent psychopath because of the subject-matter of his paintings. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

This book reveals more about the neuroses and obsessions of Cornwell's own sick mind than it does about Sickert. Rather than 'case closed' on Sickert, it is 'case closed' on Cornwell.

Cornwell's reputation as a writer of FICTION remains intact.

Rambling and Premature, and That's Being Generous
I am a fan of Cornwell. I find her to be an intelligent woman, an interesting interview, and a talented author...and she's a fellow Davidson alumnus, a definite plus for this fellow Wildcat. I purchased the unabridged audio of this book eager to listen to what surely must be a well-reasoned, well-grounded theory backed up by at least some evidence. I was horribly disappointed.

Even if Cornwell is correct, this is the farthest thing from a closed case I have ever encountered. Some of the logical leaps and contortions in this book are downright laughable and should justifiably draw outrage from Sickert's admirers or surviving relatives. As other reviewers have noted, it is POSSIBLE (as far as anyone knows) that Sickert might have been a creep, that he might have written a ripper letter, even that he may have been the famous killer, but anyone wanting to bring a case against Sickert would find almost nothing useful in this tome.

The conviction with which Cornwell delivers many of her conclusions (the narrator is suitably melodramatic and judgmental in tone), no matter how tortuous, absurd, strained, or self-serving they may be, makes this book one whopper of a bitter horse pill to swallow for any reader/listener who has somehow managed not to either: a) toss the book into the wall in frustration, or b) fall asleep while attempting to follow the last convoluted line of argument to it's "inescapable" conclusion.

I WANTED Cornwell to come up with an exciting new theory I could buy in to, but at best this book is premature in it's title and conclusion (unless evidence is no longer a prerequisite for closing a case), and at worst this book may be both intellectually dishonest and shockingly irresponsible.
Sadly, this is a must-miss that will leave the reader with more lingering doubts about Cornwell than Sickert.

Case closed? Not quite but....
She's presented us with a very strong theory of who Jack the Ripper was.
The only things she has conclusively proved are: 1: that Walter Richard Sickert wrote some of the Ripper letters (including one that came with a kidney). 2: That more of the ripper letters were written by the same person than previously thought (the use of paint rather than ink, watermarks and language point to one writer). 3: That Walter Richard Sickert was not a very nice guy and had a facination with the violent deaths of women. 4: That Walter Richard Sickert prefered the kind of women in the original five Ripper murders.

I doubt the evidence that Ms. Cornwell provides would pass the reasonable doubt requirement with a jury. Then again, I doubt that enough evidence even still exists to convict anyone of these crimes.

Sickert is definately someone ripperologists should give a closer look.

Her evidence (or lack of) aside, Portrait of a Killer offers a rare view into the underbelly of Victorian England and a fairly entertaining read. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A GOOD COP WITH A BAD GHOST WRITER
A GOOD DETAIL OF ONE LAWMANS WORK AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME. BOOK IN THE READERS VIEWPOINT IS THAT IT IS TOO HEAVILY LACED WITH KUDO'S FOR HIS PAST ASSOCIATES. FOUND LITTLE INFORMATION THAT WAS GOTTI RELATED. FEALT THE AUTHOR COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IF THE BOOK WAS PRESENTED AS AN HONEST BIOGRAPHY OF A CRIME FIGHETER WHO BEGAN TO COME INTO GOTTI IN THE LATER YEARS OF HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER. I DON'T LIKE TO BE NEGATIVE ABOUT THE BOOK AS I HAVE THE UTMOST REPECT FOR THE MAN HAVING STUDIED SOME OF HIS PAST CLIPPINGS. I SURE WISH THE AUTHOR COULD DO A BOOK FOR US ON THE CORUPTION BETWEEN THE GAMBINO FAMILY AND THE NYPD. ... Read more

Book Description

COP: “Buddy, I think this is a whorehouse.”

BUDDY CIANCI: “Now I know why they made you a detective.”

Welcome to Providence, Rhode Island, where corruption is entertainment and Mayor Buddy Cianci presided over the longest-running lounge act in American politics. In The Prince of Providence, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Mike Stanton tells a classic story of wiseguys, feds, and politicians on a carousel of crime and redemption.

Buddy Cianci was part urban visionary, part Tony Soprano—a flawed political genius in the mold of Huey Long and James Michael Curley. His lust for power cost him his marriage, his family, and close friendships. Yet he also revitalized the city of Providence, where ethnic factions jostle with old-moneyed New Englanders and black-clad artists from the Rhode Island School of Design rub shoulders with scam artists from City Hall.

For nearly a quarter of a century, Cianci dominated this uneasy melting pot. During his first administration, twenty-two political insiders were convicted of corruption. In 1984, Cianci resigned after pleading guilty to felony assault, for torturing a man he suspected of sleeping with his estranged wife. In 1990, in a remarkable comeback, Cianci was elected mayor once again; he went on to win national acclaim for transforming a dying industrial city into a trendy arts and tourism mecca.

But in 2001, a federal corruption probe dubbed Operation Plunder Dome threatened to bring the curtain down on Cianci once and for all.

Mike Stanton takes readers on a remarkable journey through the underside of city life, into the bizarre world of the mayor and his supporting cast, including:

• “Buckles” Melise, the city official in charge of vermin control, who bought Providence twice as much rat poison as the city of Cleveland, which was at the time four times as large, and wound up increasing Providence’s rat population. During a garbage strike, Buckles sledgehammered one city employee and stuck his thumb in another’s eye. Cianci would later describe this as “great public policy.”

• Anthony “the Saint” St. Laurent, a major Rhode Island bookmaker and loan shark, who tried to avoid prison by citing his medical need for forty bowel irrigations a day, thus earning himself the nickname “Public Enema Number One.”

• Dennis Aiken, a celebrated FBI agent and public corruption expert, who asked to be sent to “the Louisiana of the North,” where he enlisted an undercover businessman to expose the corrupt secrets of Cianci’s City Hall.

The Prince of Providence is a colorful and engrossing account of one of the most tragicomic figures in modern American life—and the city he transformed. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Buddy Cianci... what a character. A good Book.
The book is accurate and well researched. Buddy loved Providence. Buddy was a loveable scoundrel. The author doesn't take sides with the issue, but tells the story of corruption, graft, payoffs, bribery, and the like. That's the way things work in Providence. There is almost no other way of doing business in Rhode Island, and it's been that way for as long as anybody can remember. Many believe that Abe Lincoln himself would have been dragged down the same way if he had lived in Providence long enough.
The book doesn't give too much credit for the many things Mayor Cianci did for the City, and its residents. Buddy just got caught up in it all, and this book tells why, and how. An absolute must read for anybody who has anything to do with the political spectrum, or Rhode Island.

Mayor Buddy Cianci: Without a Doubt, One-of-a-Kind
The reviewer, formerly from Providence, actually witnessed first-hand some of the goings-on described in this book and that occurred during the early part of the period defined by the author as Buddy I.

Mike Stanton does a journalistically very thorough job of chronologically revealing the true essence of one of the most fascinating and colorful persons to have ever treaded the modern American political landscape. Whether or not you know Providence or Rhode Island, the tale of Buddy Cianci will keep you turning the pages of Stanton's The Prince of Providence until the very end. While the writing and the flow of information could have been a little tighter in places, the Pulitzer Price-winning investigative reporter from The Providence Journal does a phenomenal job of telling the story of Providence (Ex-) Mayor Buddy Cianci, an immensely dichotomous personality who reflected to a tee the history and character of the city-state he ruled for a quarter century, but who now resides in a federal prison in New Jersey. Stanton's incorporation of the history of Rhode Island and its capital city is both fascinating and crucial to understanding just how this surrealistic juxtaposition of corruption and charismatic vision came to be and why it flourished for so long.

Rhode Island, which was founded in 1636 as an eccentric assembly of maverick outcasts, boasts on one hand a long and proud history of independence, rebellion, and milestones of progress. At the same time it has quietly nurtured a deep-seated tradition of pervasive, brutal and often murderous corruption. After all, where else could governors, mayors, and state Supreme Court justices all end up behind bars in the same decade? Its capital city was once a national player, a proud and wealthy economic powerhouse that had fallen into desperate straits by the time Buddy was first sworn in as mayor in January 1975. Although there is much debate today about the long-range prospects of the much-ballyhooed Providence Renaissance, no one can deny that this man Buddy almost single-handedly willed into existence the modern transformation of his city. The critics and skeptics of the renaissance openly wonder how much further the city would have gone had the 'Providence For Sale' signs not been posted all over City Hall during the long reign of Buddy. Nonetheless, as you read the pages of Stanton's book, you will find yourself utterly astonished at how the man they called Buddy, the man who substantially reshaped his city's fortunes, was brutal, vindictive, and corrupt, all the while being a seductive charmer who was (and remains) beloved by thousands. You will laugh, as this reviewer did, at the endless stories and antics of Buddy and at the quips and one-liners that were the product of a brilliant intellect. Sadly, you will also understand why the citizens of this historically mob-connected city did not until recently resolve to clean it up. One of the ironies that will certainly strike you is how the man called Buddy would publicly fulminate at the mere mention of HBO's The Sopranos - he maintained it was bad for the image of Italian-Americans and, therefore, bad for the image of Providence. Can one really be so blinded by the reflection in the mirror?

On a much broader level, Stanton's The Prince of Providence presents us with one of the most interesting political case studies of character and the human personality. One is left asking why the few who are as brilliantly and uniquely gifted as Buddy was usually end up self destructing by virtue of ruinous flaws of personality and character. This mystery is not answered in Stanton's The Prince of Providence - it is not meant to be a social study - but you will nonetheless find in the book one of the most interesting case studies from which to ponder that question and perhaps arrive at your own conclusion.

A Must Read if You Are from RI
I don't think the overall subject of the book will be surprising to anyone from Providence, or elsewhere in RI for that fact, but some of the stories and details in the book will shock you! I lived 1/2 my life in Providence and the other 1/2 in or near Miami. As bad as the banana republic of Miami has demonstrated it can be (Elian!), it cannot compare to the corruption found in Providence and throughout Rhode Island politics. I could not put the book down for 3 days.

The only reason I knocked off 1 star on my rating is that the writing quality could have been a bit better. The author rambles in some sections and then seems to repeat himself from time-to-time. The same is noted in some other reviews, so I don't think it was my reading. Nevertheless, it is a minor issue and the book is well worth reading and owning, particularly if you ever lived in Rhode Island. Just remember, it isn't fiction like the Godfather - it really happened.

Answers some questions, not all...
Buddy Cianci was Mayor of Providence for my entire childhood - I never knew another Mayor until I left the City of Providence at the age of 23. When Cianci was elected into office - the choices were slim - 'same ole, same ole' or 'what's his name' OR a young, bright, newcomer with actual thoughts in his head. The choice was obvious for many voters in Providence. Mike Stanton's book captures a lot of stories into this book and some are absolutely hysterical, but the book itself is disjointed, repetitive and at times extremely boring. It is also full of comments that speak negatively toward the people of Providence - comments that had I not lived there and returned for many years, would leave me believing that the entire state is a cesspool of idiots. They are not. Providence is a City like any other City - most of the people who vote do so by the eenie meenie method - very few vote with a true understanding or any kind of knowledge of the person they are giving power to - and usually any candidate that is elected ANYWHERE will be scrutinized by what they do good for their city and what they screw up. Most do not last as long as Buddy, in fact, no one has EVER lasted as long as Buddy - so why are some readers surprised by the lengthy stay? because Mike Stanton chose to write about mob, murder and mayhem and get the book out to the public for the quick money instead of writing a fully-developed story on each of the characters and WHY the people of Providence continued to keep him in office. Was the reason Buddy stayed in office for so long because he bought his way through a century? If you read this book, keep in the back of your mind - that government jobs, while there may be many of them, there are not THAT many out there that can be used to satisfy a whole city of voters - and also remember that any government revolves inside an insulated world - the information we get is all narrated by the media who are only informed by in-house people when they feel it necessary to inform the public of what is 'going on' in their world - which is usually biased and explained by someone who is really ticked off. Buddy was handed a filthy, dirty, rat-infested city and turned it into something that cannot be believed unless seen with your own eyes - the City is truly a beautiful place to be in - words I thought I would never say. Is there a darkness behind the City - of course there is - as there is every place in this world. I could go on for days - but I guess what I want people to remember while reading this book is that after all was said and done, after many, many years of digging and scraping Providence politics from top to bottom - the FBI and all the glory that help them - came away with less than a handful of people they could actually put away and put them away with nothing any more unusual than what goes on in every big company run in the US today. Cesspool? For Sale Sign on Everything? Have you checked out your home town today?

Great Read
Since I consider Providence to be my adopted home town, I couldn't wait to read Mike Stantons new book. During my seven years in RI, I watched as Providence moved from a dingy city to one of the stand out places on the East Coast and I believe it really had alot to do with Cianci. Unfortunately, the book details the seedy underbelly of what went on while the transformation of Providence took place. Stanton shows the the good, bad, and sometimes hilarious character that is Buddy Cianci. I even found some of the stories just laugh out loud funny and if you are not reading it you wouldn't believe it. Pick up this book today. ... Read more