Greenfellas by Rob Lapreste was a wonderful read. New Jersey crime boss has a "come ...
347781
Greenfellas by Rob Lapreste was a wonderful read. New Jersey crime boss has a "come to Jesus" moment when his first grandchild is born. What kind of world is she inheriting? It's a great romp through his twisted codes of morality, loyalty, ambition and hope for the future. There are a few bodies that litter this trail of awareness and several conspiracies as Sal Caetano tries to insure a better future for his baby granddaughter.
4872050
I have read many different crime/mystery authors.  Many are very formulaic and predictable.  J.L.Abramo's characters are well-drawn and engaging.  The tragic main story and its sub-plots kept building, and were expertly intertwined.  I didn't want the book to end.  I hope to read another novel from Mr. Abramo involving these characters. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to reading his other detective novels!
3110373
By Ewart Rouse
When local plumber/bookie Silvio Fortunato ends up with the fishes off the dock in the seashore community of Long Harbor, his mob-boss employer arrives from out of town to find out who was responsible and to exact street justice.
Readers of The Long Harbor Testament are privy early in the novel to the incident that led to Silvios untimely  or, in the case of his debtors, very timely  demise.
The big question at the heart of Tom Minders well-crafted novel is whether the vengeance- seeking Mario will succeed in his mission before his adversary, Detective Mark Porfino, can find enough evidence to arrest his suspect and effect justice  the legal way.
In his build up to that climax, Minder introduces his readers to more subplots and characters than in a Russian novel. Each clearly drawn character is a piece of the puzzle that mobster and detective are trying separately to put together.
The intertwined lives of the key players are illustrated in a scene in which Minder brings them all together at Lucys Eat and Go Diner, a neighborhood institution, on a Monday night for the house special  bean soup.
Seated at different booths, each looks over at the others with a range of emotions. There is Mario, wondering which of the diners may have been the one responsible for disrupting the lucrative sports-betting operation that Silvio ran on his behalf, while the others view Marios presence very ominously.
In deftly shifting points-of-view in that scene, Minder helps his readers keep track of whos who and their little secrets, including the parishioner Father Jim is sleeping with, the men who have the hots for Silvios newly widowed Jessie, and the diners who are prepared to provide the prime-suspect with an alibi to cover his whereabouts the night Silvio ended up as food for the fishes.
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The Long Island Testament  the title is based on biblical quotes through the novel  is an entertaining, fast read by a first-time author who clearly has mastered the art of story-telling.
Ewart Rouse is the author of The Sticky Wicket Trilogy.
1814153
Sat down to read this book.  Had trouble putting it down.  A book that was well thought out and just down right awesome to read.  Opened up with main character during part of childhood.  Then evolved  to go through some of the Mob years..Hate to say that now I am going to have to find the first book and then wait for the third b come out.  Book read like I was almost there with the people.  Great job Mike way to make the past come to life.
199280
This is the best mafia book I've read, and its about an entire crew of stone cold serial murderers. They were prolific. People were dropping like flies in Brooklyn. They killed for hire, for business, for fun. They really should make this one into a movie, it would make millions !! Jerry Capeci and Gene Mustain did a bang up job, you won't be able to put it down. Seriously
3105959
I really enjoyed this novel. It's really different from the books I typically read by similar authors like Baldacci, Grisham, Patterson, etc. because Glinski puts a twist on who you're rooting for in the story. He writes the main characters of Sonny and Anton, two old school, Philly mobsters, as human beings (fathers, friends, husband) so that you see them as more than simply the criminals that they are. Their friendship is loyal, their bond unbreakable. There are a lot of interesting twists and turns in a story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I believe this is Glinski's first novel - so I'm looking forward to the second one for sure!!
89996
I am a huge Mafia buff.  This is book was great!
3890870
I won a copy of the e-book version in a giveaway and here is my honest review:

This is a solid crime novel that had several twists I didn't see coming.  The story moves along at a good pace which is nice because some authors tend to drag out a story too much where you begin to lose interest.  It is the perfect vacation read and I would recommend it to anyone that is a fan of author Michael Connelly. I'm going to pretend that Detective Matt Jones and Harry Bosch have crossed paths due to the fact they are both LAPD detectives. In all seriousness though, I think if you like Michael Connelly's writing style you will want to add Robert Ellis as a new author to check out.

The Love Killings is the second book in the series of books featuring Detective Matt Jones.  It isn't a requirement to read the first book because the author does a nice job in providing all the background info you need to know.  However, I found the main character's back story interesting enough that I might have to go check out the first book.  I definitely will be on the lookout for a third Matt Jones book because I am intrigued in where the story goes from here.
1178219
Very well written - had me engrossed and excited from the first page to the last.
If you have high standards for crime and gangster tales, then this is for you. I really enjoyed it. The story and characters are complex and rich, and each chapter is full of suspense and intrigue.
Definitely a worthwhile and interesting read. You'll be hooked like I was!
2089063
A fascinating read very possible in one sitting. It is a short book but, even so, had it been any longer I still would not have been able to put it down for the night. A brilliant piece of investigation and research. Made me end up wanting more. This book should definitely be expanded. It is written about a period which is endlessly fascinating to many. And it gives a vivid insight into how and why the mafia switched from bootlegging to business and were still able to run and control those businesses from behind bars. Johnny Rao was the character of movies, handsome, debonair, narcissistic and ruthless. The book progresses into the early days of Fiorello La Guardia's mayoralty and the successful efforts he made to improve the penal system on the island, sack the corrupt prison governor and his staff who allowed the mafia to flourish from inside the prison walls. A highly recommended read.
3833143
I'm a huge fan of Goodfellas and I'm in the process of reading the book based on the movie, Wise Guys. In the book and movie, Henry Hill is glorified as a smooth, highly respected mobster. After reading this book by his children, I have a whole new perspective on the live of Henry Hill.
His children, although their two perspectives are VERY different, are the real victims here and they are telling the world who their father really is. I could not put this book down! It really is well written and very REAL! Henry Hill is trying to make money any way he can off his mob stories, but his children and wife are the ones who deserve every penny of what he makes because of what he put them through.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading non-fiction and/or autobiographical accounts. This book is not just about the mob and their activities, as I originally thought when I purchased the book; rather, this is the account of children who are caught in the shuffle their entire lives and how they overcome the family problems they are confronted with everyday.
4481447
A wonderful book! Should be a movie! The characters were wonderful, the story very engaging. Very different from the crime novels I generally read!
2202768
A Mafia leader wants out, but he has a job you don't just quit. Working with Sicilian Police Inspector Salvo Montalbano, Gaetano The Greek arranges a complex capture fantasy. The capture works, giving Montalbano more publicity than he wants and the threat of a feared promotion, but Gaetano also tells him of a cave where the Mafia hide a huge weapons cache. Montalbano investigates and finds both the weapons and an older and more complicated mystery. Two mummified bodies lie in a hidden cavern, accompanied by a water pitcher, a terra-cotta dog, and a rug. The meaning of the intwined lovers fascinates Montalbano and he virtually drops the Mafia investigation to discover what could have happened to the dead couple.
Montalbano is a fascinating and well developed character. He lives by his own moral code, pursues an ambiguous relationship with Livia, and seems to appreciate good food more than he does either women or the law. His investigation combines literary allusion, hard-core detecting, a history lesson, and intriguing mentions of the food Montalbano finds himself enjoying.
In THE TERRA-COTTA DOG, author Andrea Camilleri has a wonderful and moving story. Much of the story kept me laughing, but Camilleri maintains a darker subtext. The Mafia and Italian corruption and violence, both in the Fascist days and in the present, are an ever-present reality and form much of the story's background.
I found the story to be completely compelling and recommend it without reservation.
4075979
Wow, this book was very hard to put down at times. Based on the realistic stories of Sgt. Jim O'Neil's personal recollections of the dangerous streets of one of the busiests city's in the United States, NYC.  It is an easy read with moment's of incredible feats against the odds.  I am in law enforcement myself in the big Apple and I'd like to thank Sgt. Jim O'Neil for sharing his moments in history as well as his dedication to service too the people of NYC.  Great job and I look forward to reading any more books you may be a part of writing.  The book also showed a side of law enforcement that most civillians do no get the opportunity to see or be a part of.  The dedication, commitment, and personal sacrafices of one man who did make a difference when all else seemed gloomy to turn it around into a positive by bringing justice to those who preyed on innocent law abiding citizens. Once, again thank you Jim for your dedication and service.  Stay true Blue.
3049360
Urban Warfare, written by Philadelphia native Eric Vincent, is the first book in his Pyraminder Trilogy. I read the last book in the trilogy a few months ago and enjoyed it, so I was happy to review this one. Detective Tristan Boumann is the hero of the trilogy  he investigates all of the cases throughout the stories. The book reads like an old time Noir film, complete with Mafioso players, a detective, Government agents with a secret, and other characters playing key roles.

Urban Warfare begins on a street in Philly. A known mafia prince, Ricky Dante, has been released from prison and a news chopper catches the murder of another mobster and the video goes viral. This lead to chaos, mafia drama, and a lot of crime and suspense all around. The best thing about this book is all of the rich, detailed, history about Philadelphia and its locale. Urban Warfare pulls the reader in and grabs your attention and doesnt let go. I really enjoyed the way the story played out and attention to detail the author puts into his writing. Government agencies with vendettas and mob members with blood on their hands are all believable in this fictitious story. It reads like a movie playing out in my head. Not once did it get boring nor did the chaos surrounding the drama get to be too much. I really enjoy the authors story-telling, world building, and writing style and cant wait to read the next book within this trilogy.

*A copy of this book was provided for review.
2776887
Gary Turcotte does it again in his Mafioso 2. Every time I read one of his books I feel like I rush through it to get to the next one and this one was no exception. If you love the mob stories like I do, then this is the one for you!! Looking forward to the next one!!!
4626071
Venice Police Commissario Guido Brunetti is a competent man who basically loves his work.  His co-workers and superiors are a mixed bag, but all of them are human.  There are some that are a pain and others work as a team to try to solve the crimes they encounter.
This book briefly talks about the way that Venice has changed over the decades but focuses on trying to identify the body of a man found in the canal and then figure out why and where his was killed in order to find the murderer.
Much of the story takes aim at a meat processing plant.  After reading it, I'm glad I keep kosher.  Otherwise, I might totally stop eating meat.
The story is plausable.  Corruption, guilt, greed, and sex are all part of daily lives in any location.  The people he talks to react as I would expect people, guilty or innocent, to react to questioning by the police.
Donna Leon's stories never miss the mark.