Ratings10
Average rating3.6
Genovese, Gambino, Bonnano, Colombo and Lucchese. For decades these Five Families ruled New York and built the American Mafia (or Cosa Nostra) into an underworld empire. Today, the Mafia is an endangered species, battered and beleaguered by aggressive investigators, incompetent leadership, betrayals and generational changes that produced violent and unreliable leaders and recruits. A twenty year assault against the five families in particular blossomed into the most successful law enforcement campaign of the last century.
Five Families is the vivid story of the rise and fall of New York's premier dons from Lucky Luciano to Paul Castellano to John Gotti and more. The book also brings the reader right up to the possible resurgence of the Mafia as the FBI and local law enforcement agencies turn their attention to homeland security and away from organized crime.
Reviews with the most likes.
Comprehensive and thorough history of the Mafia. Not too sure about the “resurgence”, though. I don't think he makes the case.
I don’t want rate it. (I have no idea how to remove stars, ooops) It’s well written and research. It’s very much a non fiction without trying to charm the reader so not something to read for fun.
If you’ve seen the Godfather you will recognize a lot of the events.
PS. So weird to read a positive portrait of Rudy Giuliani.
This was pretty good. It lagged in parts while others are almost gripping.