5 comments about The Mafia Encyclopedia.

1. Not that user friendly either. No charts, no stats, and no bibliography and thus very risky as a reference source.



2. ...page 405 states that "The forces of Harry Riccobene...did kill Salvatore Testa, the 28-year-old son of the slain Chicken Man Testa, regarded as a real comer in the mob."(He was in fact hit with a shotgun blast but he survived). Page 406 says "Scarfo had too suspicious a nature and he soon turned to ordering the deaths of loyal followers, starting with Salvatore Testa, his most competent hit man..." Testa did not survive this one, but who knew you could die twice? I don't know if there's any other mistakes in this book but that one is brutal.



3. Excellent Source of mafia information. This item is exactly what the title says: A mafia encylopedia. A great read for all Mafioso fans. Nice and thick with lots of photos.



4. I bought the first edition of this book when it first came out, and found it to be both knowledgeable and unbiased. There is no romanticizing of the mob, simply straightforward descriptions of the major players and events. Highly recommended.



5. Interesting read for the first Mafia encyclopedia. Very well-illustrated & detailed research.

3 comments about Jack the Ripper: The Definitive History.

1. This book has helped me allot in regards to a project I am working on. When one recognizes the significance between Jack the Ripper and the media, and it's part in ascending him from serial killer to Victorian icon, it is impossible to ignore this book. I highly recommend it.



2. I had to read this took for a Collage Class and have never enjoyed reading a "textbook" more.
   
   Paul Begg is a very entertaining author and gave alot of details concerning the Jack the Ripper Murders.
   
   At first he tells about the area of London called Whitechappel where it happened and then he talks about the Ripper Murders themselves.
   
   Not only does he give much detail about the Ripper Murders he talks about the Police investigation about it, as well as goes into detail about some of the people that historians and investigaters have claimed were Jack the Ripper.
   
   All in all a very comprehensive acount of the Jack the Ripper Murder case.



3. The book really is more about the context than the case itself, but Begg present solid research and writes very well. In terms of presenting the conditions of 1888 Whitechapel, it is probably the best book out there. For a history strictly of the JtR case, Sugden would be the way to go. However, Begg's new book, "Jack the Ripper: The Facts" (only available at amazon.co.uk now), which contains much of the research done in the past ten years, would be definitely worth getting from there. Still, this book is worth it for the Ripperologist.

1 comments about Dime Novel Desperadoes: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers.

1. "Almost as famous as the James Brothers, Ed and Lon Maxwell terrorized the upper Mid-West in the 1870's and 1880's. The perfect book for the outlaw at heart."

1 comments about Matar a Pablo Escobar (Killing Pablo) (Bolsillo).

1. Mark Bowden did an excellent job writting this book, he took care of many details described in the book with all his research and investigation good work Mark .

5 comments about To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia.

1. This is a great book. Danny Greene's story is almost like a fairy tale. It would make a great movie and it redefines the one man irish gang that TJ English speaks about in "Paddy Whacked". This book is filled with excitement. Only problem with this read is that you must know a thing or two about this story before reading it. Porello doesn't bore you by going into detail and re-explain the breakdown of Cosa Nostra and Union corruption. The book is very short and you must have a sense of what is happening before reading it or you will be lost. I strongly recommend that you read "Paddy Whacked" first and then move on to this. great book!



2. In this book of 250 pages there's more chapters than information on Danny Greene. There's 50 plus chapters and if this book had a chapter length of regular size there'd be only one chapter on Danny Greene, The reason I bought the book. My advise to readers is spend their money elsewere like on: T.J. English's Paddy Wacked. Irish Mob done right.



3. This is a fine book. I grew up in Cleveland and remember the death of Danny Greene. There were a lot of bombings and attempted bombings in the middle 70's. Little did I know that Danny Greene's death was the linchpin to the Mafia nationwide. Rick Porrello's book is a well-researched and well-writen account of how a union local president's death loosened the keystone of the Mafia arch. This would be a great film!



4. The book "To kill an Irishman" is about the mafia and how their pursuit to kill a man named Danny Green. This book documents how the mafia came to hate this man and how exactly they killed him. This book is recommended to adults 14 years and older due to violence.
   
   It all starts out with a man named "Angelo (Big Ange) Lonardo". He was the head of the Cleveland mafia (also known as the La Cosa Nostra). The Cleveland mafia tries to find Danny Green for many years, because his involvement in a Cosa Nostra members'. Through the Cosa Nostras journey they come across many obstacles that they have to overcome in order to avenge their good friend's murder. This is another wonderful work of Rick Porello who documents every event associated with the killing of Danny Green. Porello fills the book full of action and violence to keep you into the book. If you're looking for a book filled with twists and turns and also interested in La Cosa Nostra than this is the book for you.



5. Rick Porello has succeeded in giving a very clear account of the rise of a mob figure, and the ultimate demise of both him and his adversaries, ultimately weaking La Cosa Nostra nationwide. It does not surprise me that this book might lead to a movie, since it perfectly lays out a compelling true story script.

5 comments about Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments.

1. I've read most of Mr Dunne's books and he continues to hold my interest. I have the utmost of respect for this gentleman...his unbiased yet "in your face" take on the upper crust's trials and tribulations are bar none...right on the money, so to speak.
   I hope Mr Dunne keeps on doing what he does best...and that is TELLING THE TRUTH!~



2. Yes, he is gossipy but in many ways that raises him above others. Any one who likes true crime will love his work. I think that he has experienced such things he speaks with the a personal insight that only the person who has experienced the pain knows ho to convey that in written form



3. Briefly interesting, but after awhile it begins to read like a syrupy tabloid. Also, as the narrative went through the murder account and trial of Dominick Dunne's daughter, I couldn't help but think, why didn't the author do more to keep his daughter away from this convicted criminal? Maybe I missed something, but he was in the know that his daughter was involved with a convicted abuser: why didn't he do everything in his power to bring his daughter back away from this creep?
   Anyhow, as for the rest of the book, I really couldn't care less about individuals like Claus von Bülow, so the text tended to drag.



4. Excellent book written by a man who has traveled in the social circles of the guilty as well as the innocent. His status as the father of a murder victim entitles him to an insight that would be almost too much to bear. However, Dunne is objective in his reporting, generous with his knowledge as an "insider," and brave beyond reason in revealing facts about famous legal cases most of us know only through the newspapers. Dunne has put together an amazing collection of essays that will open one's eyes to the power that money can have to manipulate the American justice system. I recommend it.



5. The man cannot string two words together without name dropping. It is disgusting and so is he.

5 comments about Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row.

1. Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unlikely sources and in this case from a death row inmate! A great lesson in humility, a wonderful reminder that all life has value, and an opportunity to be reminded that each person can find a way to make a difference.



2. Its quite an amazing book. Just at a literary level, it is good but not spectacular. But when you combine the content and the actual context, it moves you; it fills you with hope, a sense of beauty in our existence and experiences as human beings, a sense of peace and serenity. My hats off to Jarvis! I am amazed at what he has accomplished and I am inspired to continue to try to be a better human being myself.



3. I first spotted this book when I had half an hour up my sleeve on the way to a visit at Bunbury Prison. It moved me big time.
   
   
   In my working capacity over the years as a teacher and facilitator within the Western Australian Prison system I have often used chapters of this book as a pivotal point in my classes.
   
   
   I am sure Jarvis would be pleased to know that this book has moved the lives of many - including that of many prisoners. To demonstrate how freedom can be found under circumstances of incarceration until death with stories that prisoners can truly relate to is an awesome feat.
   
   
   The story about the 4th of July really provoked much deep and meaningful discussion.
   
   
   'Scars', and 'My Sisters' really got them thinking too.
   
   
   
   
   
   But this book is not only of great benefit to prisoners; it's messages are universal to us all.



4. This book was an easy read, and gave me a good sense of what it was like for Masters to go from angry to peaceful in prison. It's not professionally written, but one wouldn't expect it to be. I think it would be interesting to people who study prison psychology, violence, Buddhism and meditation, and/or personal growth and transformation.



5. This book was deeply moving on many levels, but I was especially struck by how Jarvis Masters was able to find freedom possibly the worst situation one could be in, while many of us, with relatively good lives, never question our own imprisionment. We're all in one sort of prison or another. Jarvis was shown a path to his own freedom, and in the true Boddhisatva tradition, he makes that path clear to the rest of us. Jarvis is an inspiration and one hopes that his message will be read by all.

5 comments about When Corruption Was King: How I Helped the Mob Rule Chicago, Then Brought the Outfit Down.

1. great book, fast read, incredible content, very well written. this mafia lawyer snitch turned corruption fighting superhero is a must read. he presents all his own crimes, scummy dealings and ripoffs with an air of nobility, so take it with a grain of salt. the lawyer can't admit when he's wrong. the good thing is he can admit when the mafia is wrong, and goes about setting them up and recording them in the most outrageous fashion, netting mass convictions and (hopefully) forever altering the political and legal landscape of chicago.



2. Having lived in Chicago for years I relished this book. Reading it was like sitting in a dive bar and listening to the outrageous, hilarious, and probably sociopathic Sout' Side guy next to you tell tales of Windy City corruption so depraved you know they've got to be true.



3. Robert Cooley was a former cop who studied law and became one of the top hustlers in the Criminal Courts Building. After years of fixing cases for the mob dominated First Ward Democratic Organization, Cooley turned informant and helped the United States Attorney for the Northeastern District of Illinois indict and convict a variety of political hoodlums.
   
   
   The negative publicity from the resulting scandal was so great that when the City Council proposed a redistricting map the former First Ward was eliminated and renumbered out of existence. The newly drawn First Ward no longer includes the downtown business district.
   
   Sadly, the book documents how the leading members of the city's legal profession and political establishment have tolerated widespread corruption and facilitated its longevity through bribing members of the local judiciary. Even murder cases could be fixed for a price.
   
   Cooley is not a hero or a saint and at times his claimed contrition seems somewhat false and selfserving. It does seem that he discovered some dregs of conscience about the same time he was about to be dropped by the leaders of the Outfit. Whether or not he was to be frozen out of the action or found dead in the trunk of an abandoned car is for the reader to decide. Cooley is now in the Federal Witness Protection Program.
   
   Local law enforcement and a series of elected Cook County State's Attorneys abandoned any pretense of prosecuting organized crime and political corruption decades ago. No meaningful prosecutions have occurred without the participation of the US Attorney. On many occasions, the power elite have succeeded in placing players in the Federal Prosecutor's office as well.
   
   What is particularly disturbing to many Chicagoans, even after repeated Federal prosecutions over the past quarter of a century, is the knowledge that many crooked political officeholders and judges remain in office having escaped the net. Some of the former Federal prosecutors who worked on the Operation Gambat (short for "gambling attorney" a code name that recognized Cooley's habitual gambling) cases are now in private practice defending the criminal suspects who are the successors to those that they formerly indicted and convicted.



4. This is a poorly wriiten account of one turncoat in the world of Chicago crime. Nothing new here and for the most part it is a boring story that I could not finish.



5. This is a great story of the past.We would like to know what the current situation is in Chicago? Who's in charge? Who is the new Pat Marcy? Will There be a Sequel?

5 comments about The Butterfly Garden: Surviving Childhood on the Run with One of America's Most Wanted.

1. Chip grew up being abused and not knowing his parents were on the run. Chip didn't find out until he was in college about the secrets his parents kept from him. He realized that they were both very dangerous people and he was fortunate to have survived into adulthood.
   
   This book shows the great influence a woman can have on a man and the importance of a good woman in a man's life. Lisa helped Chip sort out his past and loved him for who he was, bringing out the best in him. Growing up, Chip found solace in poetry and art. Not until the end of the book does the reader find out the meaning of the title of the book. I agree with my husband when he says it's a real page turner and full of surprises!



2. I'm so glad I took the time to go through books and come across this one. An amazing true story about Chip St. Clair. This book is a real page turner that's full of surprises. Chip is a remarkable person! I highly recommend this book.



3. I had the pleasure of meeting Chip & Lisa St. Clair a few years ago. We have since developed a lasting friendship that has taken us to countless fund raisers in hopes of raising awareness to the ugliness of child abuse. We continue to work together in an effort to help those who don't have a voice. Chip is my hero!
   
   Mark S. Ford
   President
   Risk Security & Investigations
   419 S. Main Street
   Rochester, Michigan 48307
   248-608-1712



4. This book is an intimate chronicle of a man's journey through abuse as a victim and his metamorphasis into an amazing man who conquers his demons on by one with his partner Lisa by his side. It is a sad story with a satisfying ending. It is a quick and easy read, in that it is well written. Recommended!



5. June 2, 2008. I was supposed to meet Chip St. Clair in the HCI Booth last week at the Book Expo America just to say "Hi." When I got there, he was busy and I didn't want to interrupt. My regret is that I didn't get back to that booth and missed the opportunity to meet him in person.
   
   I started to read The Butterfly Garden on the day after the Expo and couldn't put it down. Every time I did, I was compelled to pick it up and read more. There are other comments about the "meat" of the story, so I won't repeat those. I highly recommend this heartfelt story and can assure readers that once they open the book they won't put it down.
   
   The story is one that tugs at your heartstrings and it makes one wonder how he came through everything. But his dedication to literature and his escape into poetry is reflected on every page. Chip takes the reader on a journey narrated in a voice that makes the horror beyond imagination that was his childhood, extending into his young adult years, a story written so beautifully that even the squeamish of heart can read and understand what went into making Chip the person he is.
   
   This book is a must read and I have already recommended it to several people and will post it on my website.
   
   MORGAN ST. JAMES
   Silver Sisters Mysteries
   [..]

5 comments about Boss of Bosses: The FBI and Paul Castellano.

1. This was written long before the Sopranos series made its HBO debut, but it could have been a blueprint for their series. The book, like the series, is filled with the appropriate mixture of sex, violence, and the more humdrum aspects of the lives of mafia boss Castellano and his associates.
   
   The writing is so-so, filled with opinions and dramatizations that wouldn't feel quite right in a more scholarly work. But the color keeps the book moving at a reasonable pace, and the recorded dialogue of the mob members is, by turns, horrifying and funny.
   
   Other reviewers have suggested that a little too much sympathy is extended towards the portrayal of Castellano, who is, after all, a cold-blooded murderer and therefore deserving of our scorn.
   
   I disagree, and I really thought that this was the book's greatest strength. The very men who have dedicated their lives to taking murderers like Castellano out of circulation have, through years of familiarity, developed an understanding of Castellano as a human being.
   
   This familiarity lends a terrific layer of moral grayness to the book that is missing from more sensationalistic writings, which either harshly condemn the crooks or laud them for their nasty achievements.
   
   Agents O'Brien and Kurins see Castellano as he is-- a murderer, someone who deserves to be punished, but also a human being who wraps his wrongdoing in justifications, some of which are actually valid points.
   
   We all have the capacity to do wrong, and Castellano is someone who was born into unfortunate circumstances and then proceeded to make a raft of very bad decisions. If he was a truly great man, he would have risen above his roots. If he was weak-willed and incompetent, he would have never gotten to his position of prominence. Instead, he was somewhere in the middle, and this gives him a level of humanity to which we can all relate.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true crime stories-- this book is at the top of that genre, even as it fails to completely transcend it.



2. From the start the 2 FBI agents,both of whom authored this book,seem to be apologetic towards Castellano about having to bug this criminal's house.When I read this I knew there was going to be some really gushy stuff and was I right (for once).The book has alot of info on Castellano's personal life.No body's in suitcases,nothing like that but more on the level of Hannah Arendt's "Banality of Evil".
   His life as the "top dog" of the Mafia pyramid,revolves around confusion over how to properly slice some loins of roast beef.As if this isn't crisis enough,then having to inflate himself while chasing a "golddigging" hispanic maid around his mansion,"Oh No Meester Paul".There is little in this book about Mafia goings on because Meester Paul is a few layers beyond where the bodies (and drug money) are flying.Castellano is enjoying his icing at the top with deep layers of deniability.If you're looking for a "Big Eddie sleeps with the fishes" you're in for a big dissappointment.More like a "Hey this damn#!&$# implant isn't working right".The FBI did a good job of making Castellano seem ridiculous,I can understand why they were so tongue in cheek apologetic.



3. This book covers the story of Paul Castellano, a weak boss of a very strong family. It shows a guy who shouldn't have been a boss, leading a group of killers who wanted to be boss. Also, it is a prime example of the cops abusing their eavesdropping privilages. I know the guy was a mob boss but they got all up in the man's business. I could have done without knowing so much about the live-in mistress. But this guy made a lot of bad moves toward the end of his reign.



4. This book purports to be the story behind the FBI's take down of big-time Gambino crime boss Paul Castellano. The authors, two ex-agents set themselves up as the heroes in this cops-and-robbers tale.
   
   It's too bad that the story ends up being an almost complete fabrication, because there's some truly entertaining "tales" told in this book. Forced to resign from the FBI, O'Brien and Kurins probably made more money from this sham of a book then they did in their crime fighting careers.
   
   Maybe they learned from the criminals they watched for so many years, eh?



5. I would've liked more behind the scenes mob information. The book focused too much from an FBI perspective. Also, I got a little tired of the agents giving the mob boss, Paul Castellano, so much respect and sympathy! At times it was like they felt sorry for the guy because they have to do their job and arrest him. Hello! The guy is a leader of the mob! These people lie, cheat, steal and kill for a living!!!