Outstanding and gripping story of how the T-Men "Got Capone"
348129
This is a terrific book about Elmer Irey, a man who shunned the spotlight but who was instrumental in bringing down the biggest organized crime bosses of the twentieth century. Forget J. Edgar Hoover and Eliot Ness-- It's about time Irey's story was finally told. This is a fun, fascinating, and well-researched book that makes you feel like you're back in time.
4150938
If it hadn't been for Eichmann's son Klaus' indiscete comments to a girlfriend who unbeknownst to him happened to be half Jewish, the Israelis may never have captured the chief technician of the Holocaust. Since the Eichmann family had been living quietly undisturbed in Argentina for 15 years, son Klaus must have been confident that his father would never be detected. Once the Israelis got onto Eichmann they held on tenaciously tracking first his exact whereabouts, his assumed name, his certain identity, and formulating an audacious plan to snatch Eichmann on his way home from work, literally smuggling him out of Argentina to Israel. There he famously stood trial in a bullet proof booth for his crimes against humanity.

What a story! The author of the new forward to the book discloses that PM David Ben Gurion instructed Mossad chief Harel to write the book in order to  commemorate Israel's stunning achievement in bringing Eichmann to justice by the people whom he tried to eradicate from existence. Written in 1965, the story was not first published for another ten years in 1975. Although Harel writes in a dry fashion, his voice is the correct one to expose the almost unbearably tense operation to capture Eichmann. If Harel had been a more  thrilling author, I am not sure I could have withstood the suspense of reading the story. The tone also fits the idea of the book which is that  the reader is sitting front row center for a personal view of the  absolute facts of  Mossad's plot. The story reads like "Dragnet" on steroids. Isser Harel stars as an Israeli Joe Friday.

The revised book improves the initial publication by giving all of the  facts including the true names of the Mossad agents twenty years after the original publication. The preliminary maps and cast of characters also aid the reader in keeping track of those involved, especially the Israeli names, which I could have gotten lost in many times. A great read and a testament to Israel's determination to avenge its people.
54299
There are few books where an author pours their heart and soul into their work.  These types of books can be noticed by accurate details, a gripping story, engaging heroes, despicable villains, and excellent pacing.  The Ronin Genesis has this and more.

 I had trouble putting this page turner of a novel down.  Unlike most of the usual NYT best selling thrillers, Ronin Genesis lovingly shows it's work from the accurate details on the multitude of firearms to the descriptions of unconventional warfare operations.  The players in this story aren't the usual two-dimensional ex-Navy SEALs who don't use firearms.  Instead, he feels real so the reader constantly roots for Ben Williams and his fellow Ronin contractors to defeat the sicarios of the Salinas cartel.  Once again, I cannotrecommend this book enough.
324607
The amazing true story of Jay J. Armes, the private ibnvestigator who, ironically, lost his
hands in an explosion when he was a kid.  He made up for the loss like gangbusters with a
high-tech, extremely physical lifestyle, right up there in Chuck Norris territory.  I first read
this book back in the day after seeing Armes portraying an assassin targeting Steve McGarret
on Hawaii Five-Oh.  One thing I recall from my first reading was how Armes creatively advertised
an agency competing with a dozen others in El Paso on radio, offering to find burglars and other
crooks which overtaxed police treated in a perfuntory fashion.  Anyone who has been a victim
realizes that catching the perpetrator is worth any cost, something police can't do.

The book is filled with accounts of Armes' activities, including the rescue of Marlon Brando's
kidnapped son from Baja California.

Nolan inserts bridge notes between most chapters discussing Armes' daily schedule which
starts with 400 pushups straight out of bed, an hour of physical training, and an hour on his
in-home shooting range.  He also discusses gadgets, such as the cosmetic human arms that
Armes can slip on so he can blend with others when on surveillance and the built-in gun
in one arm.  There's a description of Armes' square block homesite, complete with private
zoo, the story of his involvement with the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and even ElPaso's
violent past.

The Armes philosophy is simple: solve the case fast so you can get on with the next job
and earn more money.

According to Wikipedia, Armes appears these days to have switched his market to domestic
government and foreign cases.

Great book, very inspiring.  If you come across it, pick it up.
1095091
Awesome story to read.

This book gives a real close inside look at the police work environment in New York, probably reflective of the rest of the Untied States or the world, in earlier years, but not so early in decades that one cannot relate today.

Corrupt police officers, mafia, well intentioned police officers, and victims, are all depicted in this book, with a relatively happy ending. A page turning, must read!

I mean, "The True Story of Two Cops Who Murdered for the Mafia" Do you need more?
181696
Jorion should be commended for his insightful, first-class treatment of this history making event.  Big Bets... is a fast, fluid read that is devoid of technical terms and is written in an active, conversational and  explanatory voice that the typical layman can readily understand.  In this  book, which reads more like gripping fiction, we are treated to an  excellent character sketch of the key culprit in the Orange county  financial fiasco, Robert L. Citron, his rise to power, the environment he  worked in, the exotic financial tools he carelessly wielded, an  unforgettable cast of financial hucksters and ill-advised power wielding  greedy misfits, and the ultimate downfall of the Orange county financial  safety net and its after-effects.
From this book, we learn that Robert L.  Citron was head of a large portfolio, had no oversight, and an inflated  ego.  His superiors and fellow investment participants (such as the county  school district) knew full well what he was doing, but allowed him to  continue unsupervised because of his past stellar performance- much of  which was due to pure luck and favorable market conditions.  We also learn  that Citron, much like Nicholas Leeson, the orchestrator of the fall of  Barings, was a financial neophyte.  While on the one hand believing that he  was fully invested in bonds, Citron had taken a heavily leveraged position  in very exotic derivative securities, proving to Jorion's point that he  really did not have a clue as to what he was doing.
We also learn that  Citron (nor the people above him and his investment participants), who had  no real background in finance, did not know the difference between market  price and face value, nor did he know the difference between an option on  an asset and the outright ownership of an asset.  Based on one very bad bet  on the movement of interest rates, Citron fully invested Orange County's  finances in derivative securities that he did not understand at all, and  compounded the problem by leveraging his position (basically using a little  money to borrow a lot of money) to the extreme.
After reading this book,  those of us who believe that our investments, from the retirement funds  managed for us by fund advisors and our places of work to our bank accounts  and our kids' education funds, are safe should have our heads examined.  People such as Citron were not financial gurus, that is certain, but as the  more recent derivative led failures at hedge fund Long Term Capital  Management (which included the two Nobel laureates who literally wrote the  book on derivative pricing on its stellar team of rocket scientists) and  Bank of America demonstrate, no one is truly safe.
1021957
Liege Killer (as well as the rest of the saga) is an extremely gripping and well-told story. You will not be able to put the book down before you're through! It features a number of fascinating ideas. It is also,  however, not much of an intellectual challenge, to put it mildly. But then,  even fans of William Gibson or Isaac Asimov watch a Schwarzenegger movie  every now and then, right? This saga is the closest equivalent to a  Hollywood action movie I've ever encountered. I really liked it - don't  miss book 2 and 3 of the Paratwa Saga, "Ash Ock" and "The  Paratwa"!
141308
This gripping narrative exposes Midwest mob influence in Las Vegas during the 1970-80's.  Author Nicholas Pileggi focuses on four major characters.  The most prominent was ex-sports handicapper and bookie Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who became an innovative casino manager.  Lefty ran the casino at the Stardust Hotel, the location from where the Chicago and Kansas City  syndicates skimmed millions in gambling revenues.  We also read about Lefty's friend and mob enforcer Tony Spilotro, front man Allen Glick, and Lefty's glamorous but volatile wife Geri.  The author describes casino operations, financing by teamster pensions, and gambling executives who knew enough to look the other way.  We also see how unchecked greed and ego can destroy casino operators as surely as it does some of their customers.  The book's only weakness was that Pileggi seemed to go easy on a couple of the major characters.
"Casino" became a 1995 movie of the same name.  Pileggi also wrote "Wiseguy," basis for another excellent mob film ("Goodfellas") by Martin Scorsese.  "Casino" doesn't quite match "Wiseguy," but it's a highly readable and informative book.
3812466
A quite different book to add to the plethora of books,documentries and films of America's most well known gangster. There is so much to be said,both factual ,error-filled and outright fictional,that for anyone to sort out all the "wheat from the chaff" will provide writers fodder for many years. If one were to read this book and think they really got the story right;all they have to do is to read the reviews,helpful as well as not-helpful,and by knowledgeable as well as unknowledgable people;you'll come to the conclusion that even Paul Harvey would refrain from saying ,"And now you know the rest of the story".
 Though be it,I still found it a different slant on the Capone story and appears to be a well researched effort to show that Eliot Ness had a lesser part in convicting Capone than portrayed in the Untouchables series and movies,that were very exciting and entertaining and fictional though prbably highly embellished.
The book 's greatest difference is in that a major part of it is to show that it was the Federal Government,with the backing and pressure of the President that was what resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of Capone on Income Tax evasion;though be it on very weak evidence but strong manipulation of the justice system. It shows how Capone was bound to be convicted even before the trial was started and the "loaded " jury  rendered its decision.
 All in all,It is a good read,with lots of details,and massive  accompanied notes that will give enough sources for anyone to spend a lifetime researching. There is also a highly detailed Index. The notes and Index consume 65 finely printed pages.
4973792
An exceptional write that provides a long detailed story filled with plenty of twists and plot changes.  Every character is well-developed for the reader to root for their success or pray for their painful death.  Tucker and the Dog are back and doing what they do best - track, attack and win battles. The story is pretty complicated and if you miss a detail you'll probably learn later it was a pretty important detail for the story.  I'm listening to this story in audio file and the narrator is excellent. Just went I thought the story was going to end abruptly, a hugh twist comes out and there's over and hour of story left. The ending was awesome and full of action.  Well worth the time and effort to read or listen.
966045
This is an outstanding, gripping story of catastrophes instigated by terrorists, and of the FBI, and brave individuals who want to be a part of righting wrongs. At a time the Federal agencies are under scrutiny, this novel reminds all that there are still very noble, dedicated men and women with integrity,  who still faithfully serve these United States of America, to make it safe.

This is a captivating story of events, similar to recent events, resulting from radicals and terrorism.  Michael A. Nathanson has amazing insight into the activities of terrorists and the dangers they create. They are ruthless and have no sense of humanity anbd should never be ignored.

Although "cleanly" written, it was necessary to add some graphic violent scene to make his point. The characters are so well-developed that one feels connected to them or appalled at them. The scenes are vividly created and the reader finds himself/herself feeling presnt in them.

This is presently a "stand alone" yet ends in a way that could easily be turned into a series, which this reader hopes it will.

The Title and Cover are perfectly created and "fitting" for the book's content.
*This was gifted to me with no request for a positive review. This is my honest review.
168274
Many mob stories fall into the trap of romanticizing the mafioso lifestyle. Contract Pending, however, portrays mob life for what it is: dark and brutal. This gritty world is brought to life through absolutely outstanding dialog. The characters are rich with personality without being over-the-top. Whether it's Louie, the concerned father, Frankie, the in-over-his-head son, Jimmie, the local mob boss, or his hired goons Max, Gino, and Biff, each character is brought to life through through incredibly human interactions.

This is a fast-paced, thrilling read. I highly recommend it.
443593
As someone who assisted the FBI in 1999 with Operation Bullpen, I know nearly all of this story first-hand and read the original FBI Operation Bullpen report in early 2000 soon after it was released. This book was exceptionally well written and was definitely a page turner that I didn't want to put down. No matter how much I learn about the Autograph hobby, there's always more to learn and this book did just that for me.
The FBI's Report is a real yawner to be perfectly frank. Kevin Nelson puts the story in a much more enjoyable context. Any autograph collector of any age must read this book or you are simply wasting your hard earned money. There's so much truth in this book that you NEED TO KNOW if you collect autographs. Please do yourself a HUGE FAVOR and read this book. It's not too long, it doesn't over explain things (something I tend to do), but it gets all the important facts on the table from both sides of the story which is the only FAIR WAY to write a non-fiction book!
437121
I am drawn to reading books about the Mafia and the mob as it is fascinating the the lengths that people will go to in the pursuit of power and money. I found this story to be one of the best that I have read in recent times as it revealed the inner thoughts of the Prince and the development of his conscience as his uncle and mentor slipped further into insanity. It was also refreshing to see that eventually the Prince found the right path in life and proved to himself that he could succeed in  business without the mob tactics. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a warts and all account of life inside the mob,very well written in my opinion.
2717147
This is a gripping story about the special op team that was tasked with the mission that killed UBL (Usama Bin Laden - Osama Bin Laden).  It gives a great background of the author's experience on joining the Green Team and getting the special training that allowed him to join the Navy's exclusive special ops team: SEAL Team Six.

The author's goal is not to spill secrets (there is no secret information to be had in this book and he makes it clear from the beginning) but more importantly to get the story straight.  For a story that had been kept Top-Secret for months the team comes to discover that details of the mission begin to hit the airwaves within hours.  Dumbfounded by the amount of misinformation, the author shares the true story.

I saw a "60 Minutes" feature piece about this book and it piqued my curiosity.  I wanted to know the truth.  Love him or hate him for sharing the story in "No Easy Day", you will have to respect this former Navy SEAL for wanting to set the record straight and honor his fellow team mates.

Anyone who thinks this book may have been written as a political stunt or for monetary gains off of the sale of it's proceeds will also be disappointed.  It's clear at some points that the Team members respect the current President because he is their Commander in Chief but they do not particularly like him ... nor do they want him taking credit for a job that they did and leveraging it for re-election.

Eye-opening and graphic ... a true military drama / war story with all the gore you need.  If you don't want to know how Osama was killed (graphically), this might not be your cup of tea.  On the other hand, if you want to know what it's like to be a Navy Special Ops guy and read a great autobiography of a Navy SEAL Team Six member ... it's a great read.
1895866
I picked up a copy of this book at a local bookstore yesterday, and finished the book today. It isn't often that I read a book in one day, but this one had me turning page after page without stopping. I had no involvement in the Beanie Baby craze, but I certainly remember news reports of it at the time. The author did his homework well, and shows considerable skill in telling the story and identifying the players, both inside the Ty corporation and outside. It's not always a happy story, but it's a riveting one, well told. One of the best business tales I've read in a long time.
4419524
Dorsey Salerno has an intensity that draws the reader into the story, page by page by page.  She is a writer's writer.

She has obviously researched the years that Italy and her citizens were in the Nazi grip well.  She has researched and absorbed Jewish attitudes and customs well.  Lovingly she has put the two together into a fascinating story that gives a view of our recent history and people who love deeply and those who love not at all.

Five stars every way you look at this gripping story.