A must-read for anyone hoping to understand the politics of the underworld and the nature of the Mafia Commission. Bonanno stopped short of revealing anything truly incriminating about himself or his close associates, but there remains a wealth of information about the American Mafia from pre-Prohibition through Bonanno's reported retirement.

An authoritative look at the formative years of the New York Mafia.

Reppetto follows up "American Mafia: A History of Its Rise to Power" with this survey of post-Apalachin Mob history. Once again, he does a good job summarizing a massive subject. This is a fine introductory level primer on the past half-century of American Mafia history

An essential read for the Mob historian. Nelli approaches the topic with a critical eye.

Patrick Downey does a fine job with the history of the mob in New York through the Prohibition Era.

Author Frank Hayde provides the most complete picture yet of the Kansas City underworld and of the mutualistic relationship between organized politics and organized crime.

Acquaintance with the Brasco story is fundamental to understanding continuing federal prosecutions of Bonanno Crime Family bigshots. Pistone's long-term undercover work, which brought him within reach of induction into the Mafia's inner circle, exposed factional struggles within the Bonanno clan, outlined assassinations of key underworld figures and paved the way for the jailing of Joey Massino.

An extensive and essential reference work on the Gangster Era. The book deals with individual characters and events through biographical essays and chronologies. It also ties elements together through an impressive collection of articles. A must-have for crime historians and a useful and informative guide for the True Crime reader.

The very real and very readable story of Henry Hill's experiences in the Lucchese Crime Family rackets. (Hill's career was further documented in the film "Goodfellas.") Though Hill was never a key figure in the mob, he was acquainted with and later ratted on some significant mobsters. This book remains an important window on the life of street-level racketeers.

An earlier account of the U.S. Navy's collaboration with the mob during World War II.

A Lansky biography that provides perspective on the development of the American Mafia.

An authoritative look at the life and times of Rothstein, a visionary racketeer who deeply influenced the Mafia leaders of the Prohibition Era and beyond.

Well told history of the Mafia in Cleveland.

A good source for information on Capone and the Chicago Outfit.

A well-written history of the Chicago area Mafia from the Prohibition Era on.

Second book of Celeste Morello's wonderful history of the Philly Mob.

Demaris tells the story of Jimmy Fratianno, exposing Fratianno's mob connections in California, Las Vegas and the Midwest.

In need of revision after 14 years, but still an impressive collection of information about the Mafia and other organized criminal groups.