Review: Top Hoodlum: Frank Costello, Prime Minister of the Mafia

Top Hoodlum: Frank Costello, Prime Minister of the Mafia by Anthony M. DeStefano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I appreciate the old-time mobsters who prioritized laying low, going legit, and trying to blend into society. So obviously Frank Costello was pretty high on the list (as is Carlo Gambino, so I'm itching for a good biography of him). 

The book itself was actually better than I imagined it would be. The research conducted by the author was extensive, even though there were still some seemingly elementary mistakes (including calling Vito Genovese a Sicilian, when his being Neopolitan was what kept him from being part of the commission initially). 

However, as with any of these old-timers, there is unfortunately not that much about his youth, and the kids he ran with, how he initially met Luciano, Lansky, Adonis, etc. 

Still, probably the best book about him. And a great book for those who see him as quite underrated (he hardly ever appears in movies or in any cultural references, as opposed to Capone or Luciano, etc.)

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Review: Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires by Selwyn Raab
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is pretty much the definitive book about the history of the mafia, so it will hit the spot for any mafia fix you may have, at least as regards the New York families. I do wish it had more about other families in the country, and I wish there were a follow-up edition discussing what has been happening in recent years.

I read some complaints that this was pretty much a summary of law enforcement tactics against organized crime. On the other hand, by definition the Cosa Nostra has been secretive, so the only reliable source is usually what the police can uncover. So I'd much rather have this than rumors and speculation by others. Even with Joe Valachi, we saw how an insider can get many of the facts wrong about things that don't concern him directly. Or the Bonanno soldier who didn't know that Costa Nostra meant Our thing (he thought it meant Friends).

After reading this my respect for Al Capone and John Gotti has plummeted, while that for Chin Gigante and Joseph Massino has increased. It has remained the same for Lucky Luciano and Carlo Gambino.

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Review: The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano

The Last Testament of Lucky Luciano by Martin A. Gosch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm amazed at how much of what Luciano did would have gotten him kicked out of the mafia today. Maybe it's a statement on how bureaucratic anything can get after some time. Between having a Jewish consigliere (and encouraging having non-italians as part of the outfit in general), to not only ratting out, but delivering Lepke to the police (and technically setting up Vito Genovese as well, although he had some the same thing to Luciano), to choosing to retire (which Frank Costello did as well).

Obviously all of this is from Luciano's point of view, also filtered through Gosch's retelling, so the facts should be taken with a grain of salt. But regardless, it doesn't disappoint.

I thought this would become boring once he was arrested (and his rise had basically stopped), but the book kept me interested throughout. This is highly recommended for anyone interested in the Italian mob in general (all you Sopranos and Goodfellas fans out there). I find it strange that it's so difficult to find this book these days.

5 stars because it is one of a kind (don't even try mentioning "underboss")

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