organized crime

Based on truth, lies, myths, and rumors

Al Capone by Swann Meralli

November 15, 2024 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Al Capone by Swann Meralli and illustrated by Pierre-François Radice is told from Capone’s POV but due to who he was, and the images given, we know he is not a reliable narrator. However, he does tell you “the facts” but his version is colored by his personality and the fact he is telling his mother his side of things. It is an interesting graphic novel that highlights important events that will start with him as a child (which little to nothing is known), continue […]

December 2023 Leftovers

Mandarin Plaid by SJ Rozan

Lady Killer, Volume 1 by Joëlle Jones

Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden

Batman, Vol. 6: Graveyard Shift by Scott Snyder

The Confession by Domenic Stansberry

A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself by William Boyle

Joe Dogs: The Life and Crimes of a Mobster by Joseph Iannuzzi

Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot by Ace Atkins

Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. by Ron Chernow

December 29, 2023 by Jake Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas. We may need to dispense with the cold/snow songs. They’re about as realistic as Santa at this point. Mandarin Plaid **** SJ Rozan continues to improve with each book in this series. This one has layers and moves well to its conclusion. I’m not gonna be totally sold on a white person writing from the perspective of an AAPI one but I think Rozan does a better job with it than she did in the first one. May have to go long with […]

November 2023 Leftovers

Catch and Release by Lawrence Block

We Do This 'til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice by Mariame Kaba

The League: How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched an Empire by John Eisenberg

Ghosts of West Baltimore by David Simmons

Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti by Gene Mustain and Jerry Capeci

Hit Me by Lawrence Block

Donnie Brasco by Joseph D. Pistone

November 30, 2023 by Jake Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving to all who observe! Catch and Release *** Been angling to read more LB lately so I figured I’d knock out this short story collection for my monthly HCC read. Sadly, the results were predictable: a repetition of serial killers, hit men and un-sexy sex. I just can’t sink my teeth into books featuring short stories and this one was no exception. I enjoyed visiting Matt and Mick at Grogan’s again and the last story was fun but beyond that? Who lotta eh and […]

Lord I never drew first But I drew first blood

Jade City by Fonda Lee

January 25, 2021 by esme Leave a Comment

The Kaul family is one of several organized crime families on the island of Kekon. These Green Bone families use jade, which, with the right training, produces superhuman traits, including great strength, speed, clairvoyance, hardened skin, and so forth. Green Bones were instrumental in the guerilla warfare that occurred one generation ago to free Kekon from colonial rule, and this history realistically colors much of the underlying structure to the novel. The Kaul family, on the one hand, spends a lot of time and effort […]

La Famiglia

Mafia Dynasty by John Davis

November 15, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

Since watching The Irishman, I’ve had a yen for Mafia crime stories. I’ve always wanted to know more about the Gambino family since they were the most powerful of the five families during the time the mob ran everything. So I picked this lauded work up. It gave me everything I need in the best way possible: being detailed without being tedious. It covers the families coming over from Italy and Sicily, how what we know to be the “mafia” came into existence and how the […]

Lights on in Hell’s Kitchen

The Westies by TJ English

October 2, 2019 by Jake Leave a Comment

I read The Westies years ago. When The Departed came out, I had a fixation for anything to with the Irish Mob and randomly found this in my local Borders (RIP). I remember it being interesting at the time but I wasn’t into it as I was tales of Whitey Bulger and Boston, who I thought had a more compelling story. So it sat in the recesses of my mind for years. On another organized crime kick, I decided to re-read it. Even though I didn’t retain much of what […]

Jen K on “We were teen girls. Look up the word “blasé” in Merriam-Webster’s and you’d find a picture of us, our eyes burning through your soul from the page.”I read this around when it came out so when Yellowjackets started, I actually thought some of the earlier episodes had similar (if darker) vibes...
faintingviolet on “You never have to do that with me. Show me the messy parts, okay? God knows, I’ve shown you mine.”Out on a Limb might be what I request next. The one I couldn't quite get myself to request was Out of the Woods.
Emmalita on “You never have to do that with me. Show me the messy parts, okay? God knows, I’ve shown you mine.”I read this a few months ago and had similar feelings. I think this was her first book, and I’m interested to see how she...
Emmalita on “You never have to do that with me. Show me the messy parts, okay? God knows, I’ve shown you mine.”I really enjoyed Out On a Limb.
Tracy on “You never have to do that with me. Show me the messy parts, okay? God knows, I’ve shown you mine.”I've been wanting to read this author and recently picked up Out On a Limb, though I haven't read it yet.

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