5 comments about The Last Godfather: The Rise and Fall of Joey Massino (Berkley True Crime).

1. A briskly written and brief yet very informative history of Joe Massino, former boss of the New York Massino organized crime family. The author does a great job in his description of the operations of the crime family during Massino's leadership and his early career of crime. At the finish Massino decides to sing to the Feds himself to avoid a possible death penalty. I guess he thought that because some many of his former mates in crime ratted on him and spilled the beans, he may as well join them as omerta meant nothing in the finish.
   
   Essentially the mob exists to make as much money as it can as quickly as possible and to keep the money steadily flowing in. The author superbly captures the culture of the Mafia organization and its members and describes clearly the rackets, payoffs, murders etc. This book is great for those true crime buffs that have a clear understanding of the American mafia as the author assumes the reader has a solid understanding of the subject. This a narrowly focused book about the history of Massino and his leadership of his New York mafia family. For a novice l would suggest read Thomas Reppeto's book; American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power or "The Mob, 200 years of Organized Crime in New York' by Virgil Petersen to dig further into this history.
   
   The information the author reveals about the activities of this mafia family is incredible and he obviously has excellent sources and has done his research very effectively, overall an informed, well written and brisk account, a good addition to the many books on organized crime.



2. Excellent reading for mob book people. Great insight to the aftermath of Donnie Brasco and what happens as the Bannano family actually gets a lot stronger before being taken down...



3. Short, novella-length account of Joey Massino; written in a hurry; not much documentation; rehash of available sources; follows up on Pistone's book; a light read on a lazy day.



4. if this is a topic that is of intrest of you i recommend this book.
   easy to read and gives you a small insight in the world that the Cosa nostra lives in.
   
   Even as a Dutchman the written text is easy to follow not to many difficult English words.



5. This guy made it through the Bananas War, Galante's takeover, Donnie Brasco, The Pizza connection, and the Commission case. Only to become boss and get knocked by the cops. Joe Massino was one of the smartest I've ever read about. But once all that power was obtained, it clouded his judgement.

5 comments about Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld, Expanded Edition.

1. Since this book was originally published in 1986 it has been the standard reference work on organized crime in Japan. This new, greatly expanded edition only adds to its status. Organized crime in any country tends to share certain similarities. Their activities concentrate on gambling, prostitution, drugs, extortion, and smuggling. Also, they are usually very right-wing and nationalistic. The Yakuza are no exception, but there are some differences, "...it is as if the Ku Klux Klan and the Mafia formed an enduring, politically potent alliance." The symbiotic relationship between Japan's political system, Big Business, and the Yakuza is a disturbing indication of the depth and prevalence of corruption and bribery in the world's second-largest economy. The authors (both American journalists) trace the roots of the Yakuza to its medieval beginnings, but most of the book concentrates on the period since the American Occupation, when the present form of Yakuza organization solidified (and also exposes the involvement of the CIA with the Yakuza's post-war growth). It documents the rise of the Yakuza into a multi-billion dollar enterprise with worldwide investments in real estate, art, big business and more. The original book ended before the bursting of the "Bubble Economy", and this new version picks up the story and shows how the Yakuza have adapted since then to the new economic climate. The authors also cover extensively the internationalization of the Yakuza, particularly their various attempts to move into America. A must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Japan and Japanese politics.



2. 
   "Yakuza: Japan's Criminal Underworld" is a book that is almost criminally enthralling.
   
   In the United States the world of organized crime tends to be viewed as entirely exclusive to Anglo-European or Eastern European groups. Whether it be the Cosa Nostra or the Armenian mob little is generally known about the criminal organizations of the East. Particularly Japan's Yakuza.
   
   How many of you knew that the pervasiveness of methanphetamines throughout the world is thanks to the Yakuza? Also, how many of you knew that the Yakuza is so widely integrated into Japanese society that they have often held press conferences announcing the end of gang conflicts or that they even have their own offices? How many of you knew that the Yakuza was allowed to survive and thrive after WWII thanks to the American occupation of Japan? Did you also know that the CIA employed some Yakuza as spies against the left wing in Japan after the war? ...and that these same people that they employed and let gain power...were the same people they put in prison for Class A war crimes?
   
   These are just a few of the interesting and altogether jaw-dropping facts you'll learn by reading this book, a very thoroughly researched study on the fairly little known but globally expansive criminal organizations of Japan. If there aren't at least a dozen parts in this book that don't shock and amaze you I would be very surprised. I could go on and on about all of the interesting facts on the Yakuza covered in this book (from its vaguely noble beginnings to its rather uncertain future) but I think if you are interested in knowing about them you should read this book firsthand. You will NOT be disappointed.
   
   A fantastic book.



3. Not as gory or glamorous as I expected, this book does paint a very vivid and true to life picture of the yakuza. Recommended if you have an interest in the underworld.



4. Great book. To those who say its communist, I ask several questions:
   
   -Its from good ol' UC Berkeley. What did you expect?
   -Have you ever been to the bay area? What did you expect?
   
   This book is just a part of the great San Francisco Bay Area culture. People should learn to appreciate that this is simply how we think here in the Bay.
   
   Otherwise a fascinating look at the Yakuza.



5. Although I have not read this book yet, I am looking forward to it and the shipping came on time.

5 comments about John Holmes, a Life Measured in Inches.

1. Well, I finished reading "Inches" yesterday and want to say that this is a VERY good, in depth,well researched biography of John Holmes that takes the reader from Holmes's child hood in Pataskala Ohio to his death from AIDS in California 43 years later .
   
   The amount of detail in the stories told by various people who knew him over the course of his life was very extensive with a lot more additional information on Holmes in front of the camera and also his private life, than any of the video documentaries on his life that I have seen over the past few years.
   
   My own main thrust of interest about Holmes since I was a young 18 year old in Southern California when the WONDERLAND killings happened in 1981, has been this crime and also the double life that Holmes had led in the years previous to this. I have read just about everything pertaining to the WONDERLAND murders, and seen every documentary made, but there were many things in "Inches" that have never been included in previous projects on his life....MANY things.
   
   One of the things that really does stand out in the book in my own opinion are the stories that Sean Amerson told. This guy really loved John a lot growing up and I think that while everyone missed him when he passed,Sean may have been the one who missed him most of all.
   
   Great book Jennifer and Jill! If this could have been any better, I don't know how.



2. John Holmes, the face of 1970s hardcore movies, is the subject of this incredible in depth biography which examines not only the man's career but his personal life before, during, and after his life was tragically cut short due to HIV.
   Compiling new and old interviews with his family, friends, co-stars, and directors, John Holmes - A Life Measured in Inches is the crucial work for anyone interested in either Holmes or the American sex industry in the 1970s.
   Authors Jill Nelson and Jennifer Sugar never over-editorialize their subject and instead allow all of their interviewees to speak freely. What's more is that the book neither serves as a complimentary piece or a condemnation of Holmes, his career, or his personal life but rather tries to make all sides of every issue heard allowing the reader to interpret Holmes life on their own.
   Written almost as a back and forth dialogue between the various interview subjects and the authors own comments, the book is a compelling read which draws its audience in.
   What's more is the authors have included a full filmography and partial looporgaphy as well as over 50 detailed reviews of features Holmes appeared in. Additionally, there are two photo sets.
   Anyone with even the slightest interest in 70s hardcore or Holmes, the man must check this out.



3. First its a good read and i do recommend you buy it.The lessons are many including what drugs and bad friends can do to you.There were many likable qualities to him as a person but you also learn the details of how his involvement in wonderland led to the beating deaths of two women.One other one managed to survive.The guys killed lived by the sword and had it coming-sure,but him leaving the door open both at the gangster Nash place and at the wonderland place showed a careless and ruthless side to Holmes that all the "He was a great guy" does not change.He got his underage girlfriend into prostitution and stole from his friends to feed his drug habit.All of his money went down the drain and perhaps that can get through to some peaple and help them choose a better course.one of the guys killed at wonderland ave was suspected of many murders by the LAPD so his death was no loss to society but to understand that one was completely innocent shows the real tragic consequences of holmes choices.The chapters on holmes films were a bit too long-some are not even available and lets face it the short film loops could have been explained in one page but overall i must say they have put togeather the definitive work on the tradgedy that is the person of John Holmes



4. After having watched Boogie Nights and Wonderland I really wanted to read a biography about John Holmes and was disappointed that there wasn't one available. Then low and behold one appears on Amazon.com! I immediately picked it up and was extremely impressed.
   
   It is written as an oral history so the authors weaved John's life story around long quotes from the people who actually knew John. I prefer that over those biographers who just make up all kinds of stuff about their subject and never say where they got the information from.
   
   This book gives you John's complete story starting with his childhood and ending with his death of AIDS. It presents John in a fair light never descending into tabloid territory with its coverage of his many negative deeds but also not shying away from talking about them. After reading this bio I got the impression that John was a deeply flawed man but also had a very big heart. It gave me a much better idea of who John was than either movie.
   
   The book also includes lots of rare photos of John along with some of the essential classics. It also has a very in-depth movie review section in case you feel like checking out some of his work after you read the book.
   
   This book is perfect for any Holmes fan as it includes lots of new stories and is also the perfect (and only) place to start if you are just getting into the Holmes scene and want to find out the true story of The King.



5. I just finished reading this biography from beginning to end and I could not put it down. First and foremost, the cast list and biography section found at the beginning of the book is critical reading. It explains all of the characters who contributed to the story and how they came to know John Holmes. A brilliant stroke. William Margold's Foreward beautifully sets the table for what is to follow. What follows is an amazing ride through Holmes' 43 years of life experience.
   
   As a fringe boomer, it is easy to identify with the era in which the book takes place, from the 1940s to the late 1980s. Before learning about this book, I hadn't thought about John Holmes in years, yet, I found this biography to be an engaging and ripping story of a country boy turned adult film star. Without giving too much away, A Life Measured in Inches is a potpourri of sex, relationships, deception, addiction, murder and "Atonement", as the title of chapter 9 suggests.
   
   The book contains amazing detail and is told by many people who knew John Holmes personally as the authors take you on an incredible sojourn through his wild and scandalous life. Putting it mildly, Holmes did everything in extremes. With a highly addictive personality, how could you not?
   
   Holmes was nicknamed THE KING relatively early in his career. It must have been difficult living up to those expectations, but he did so with a vengeance. One bit that struck me as quite funny was when John was asked by a friend if he was bisexual and he replied, "Yeah, I'm bisexual. You buy me, I'm sexual."
   
   I found the film and loop reviews to be entertaining, colorful and articulate. It is apparent that the authors logged in a lot of hours in order to produce such an incredible collection. The book also includes an impressive filmography and three dynamic picture sections with more film photos scattered throughout the reviews. The nude pictures of Holmes are a welcome surprise and show consistency with the honesty of the text. One thing is certain... John Holmes A Life Measured in Inches is no fluff piece. Recommended.

5 comments about The Dreams of Ada.

1. This book is a great read, one of injustice and leaves the reader puzzled and sad, and wondering why in God's great world is this man (the DA) is still in office. It must be an embarrassment to the citizens of Ada, OK. I am in prayer for these men and their families.



2. No American can afford to not read either The Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer or The Innocent Man by John Grisham. Coming from a family of cops I have always known that innocent people are convicted of serious crimes all the time but the cases outlined in these two books are detestable. You absolutely must read these books. Now.



3. I bought this book after reading The Innocent Man by John Grisham. I personally could not get into this book like I did the other one. But other reviews tell me it is an excellent book.



4. I live in Pontotoc County. Now that everything has settled down, it's back to normal. This is a scary place to live. This book is a very accurate account, things like that happen here all the time again. OSBI, doesn't seem to care. FBI will not return anyones calls. It's a must read people!! I just hope I don't disappear for saying so. You just don't go in front of most of the Judges here for anything. I am glad to not be a criminal but around here you don't have to be. I have been lucky thus far.



5. I read this story from three different authors. It is a sad but true story. Worth your time to read.

1 comments about Catch My Mother's Killer.

1. Paula Mints is a outstanding new Author. I found her book about her mother to be very captivating. I could not put this book down. I especially liked the way Paula described her early years with a family life that most people would never dream she could live through. Her perseverance and strength prove that anything is possible if you can get beyond the embarrassment and shame and see the love and compassion that Paula did indeed learn. Her mother must have been a very special lady. Paula has inherited more than her mothers eyes she also has her caring heart.

No comments about Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family.

4 comments about Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside The Criminal Mind.

1. If you're writing about murder, serial murder, spree murder, profiling, profiling from the crime scene, or the uses of forensic linguistics, you must read this book. There are a hundred novels that can be written about the "phases of the crime" alone.



2. The concept of criminal profiling, once alien to the ordinary American, is today a part of our daily lives thanks to television shows and news programs, and Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside The Criminal Mind compiles articles from fifteen internationally recognized homicide investigators, many of whom have contributed some of the basics to the art of profiling criminals. From dealing with hostage situations and murder to creating psychological profiles and geographic profiles, Profilers provides plenty of inside detail and will appeal not only to fans of true crime and murder mysteries, but those involved in law enforcement at many levels.



3. I was so enthralled in this book I could not stop reading it. There is so much information on so many different cases and scenarios. I am working toward being a forensic psychologist this book was FANTASTICK



4. Criminal psychology and profiling are my areas of biggest interest in the realm of true crime. As I have a library of over 50 books on this and related topics I certainly feel qualified to write reviews on these books.
   This book is devided into two parts. The first is a collection eleven odd articles from various bulletins and law enforcement magazines. Put simply, as the book tiltles them, this is a collection of the well known Original Behavioural Science Articles on Criminal Profiling. They are written by the 'who's who' from the era often referred to as 'The Golden Age of Profilers'. For this reason alone the book is well worth 'the price of admission.'
   Part two covers comtemporary articles on Criminal Profiling. The topices are wide and varied covering such topics as Forensic Linguistics, Geographic Profiling to Assaultive Eye Injury and Enucleation.
   I wondered how interested I would be in Forensic Linguistics but found the chapter facinating.
   I feel most readers with an interest in the topic will find part one just great. In part two, since it covers such a wide range of areas I guess it's possible the odd chapter may not appearl to all.
   The other plus here is the fact the book is broken into distinct articles by the editors so you can 'peice read' or do a 'cover to cover'.
   I see the book as appealing to law inforcemnet personel, people like myself who don't work in law inforcement but have to deal with perpitrators and their victims and finally all those who enjoy the topic.
   If I were forced to give up my entire library and keep just one book this would nearly have to be the one.
   A great book, well done to Campbell and DeNevi, the editors.

5 comments about Cullotta: The Life of a Chicago Cri Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness.

1. An absolute great read! Mr. Griffin gets right to the point with his painstaking research in this book. Anyone would have to be afraid of a guy who would whack you if you looked at him wrong. A can't miss buy!!



2. Another well-written, factual and informative book by Dennis Griffin.
   
   This book details the life and crimes of Frank Cullotta before he became an informant and briefly covers his life after the witness protection program. It covers in depth the friendship between Tony Spilotro and Cullotta from their early days as juveniles on the streets of Chicago to the glitter of Vegas.
   
   The chapter on Bertha's was particularly engaging, where the robbery is first covered by the FBI/Metro's version of events and in the preceding section; Cullotta gives his account of the robbery before and after arrest.
   
   Cullotta makes the distinction between his role as informant to that of `rat' Sal Romano, as entirely different situations. His was a matter of self-preservation, while Romano's was to purposely set out and trap unsuspecting mobsters. It is Frank's belief that they would have got away with the robbery at Bertha's, were it not for Romano.
   
   While I don't condone crime, I couldn't help but feel relieved when Cullotta makes it out alive after becoming a government witness and now leads a relatively normal existence in an undisclosed location.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime, particularly in Las Vegas.



3. Denny Griffin is one of those author's whose works you want to follow. Keep writing, Denny! Rita Schiano, author of Painting the Invisible Man



4. I feel a bit dissapointed in Mr. Griffins book. Not the subject matter or the story but the way he paints Cullotta as a family man and a down on his luck bad guy gone good. Frank Cullotta is a common criminal who got off lite and was in a major motion picture that he was paid for being in. I am a bit confused as to why a retired lawman would be such a hero worshiper to a punk like Cullotta. This could have been a better book and I must disagree with the five star reviewers many of whom's opinion I respect and generally agree with. I guess this time we will just have to agree to disagree.



5. Very good book, very detailed and informative. One of the must have books for the true Mafia fan.....

5 comments about Fiend: The Shocking True Story Of Americas Youngest Serial Killer.

1. In 1910 a kid like Jesse Pomeroy left New England and came to Florida, where he started the same level of violence. The kid had just been released from a reform school in New England, then brutally murdered a young girl here. Florida hanged him. The boy was 14 years old.
   
   The newspapers in the North went nuts, of course. But the kid was history 3 months after he murdered the girl.
   
   FIEND is a pretty good read. It's not as good as some of Schechter's other books, but it's still interesting and well-written.



2. Definitely a must have for fans of the writer and his works. This is an easy to pick up, easily read book that features one of the most shocking stories involving children that I have ever read. This book is a good one, and it truly is what it says, a shocking true story. Youth gone awry for sure.



3. I've read all true crime books of Harold Schechter, so of course I had to read this one too. It was strong as a ever, still it was in my opinion not Schechter's best one. The prison part was rather short, the court case part was way too long. The book was worth every penny though.



4. Schechter does a great job of presenting the facts about the life and crimes of Jesse Pomeroy. He makes it clear that sociopathic adolescents aren't a modern phenomenon, however much we might want to blame violent movies and video games for producing them. His style is excellent for this sort of material, as he is neither sensationalistic nor shy about including some fairly graphic factual details. Occasionally he seems to wander into facts about contemporary events that bear little or no relation to the main story, but as they are interesting facts, this isn't a problem.



5. I'm kind of stumped as to why so many people rated this book so highly. I found it repetetive and dull, especially toward the middle. There were several chapters that spoke of nothing but the debate about whether to give Pomeroy the death penalty or life in jail, with wordy letters written by various opponents and/or supporters. I thought it could have been wrapped up in a couple of chapters, maybe, but it went on and on and finally I skipped a few chapters to get to the end. Another thing I disagreed with was the description of Pomeroy as a serial killer. He only killed 2 people, I hardly call that serial killing. Not that he wasn't a deviant of the worst kind, I just think the description was meant more for sales of the book that an accurate analysis of what the little freak was.

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

1. 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
   [..]



2. 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!



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. 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.



5. 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!