Last year I wrote an article about books you may enjoy if you’re a fan of The Godfather. Well since this month’s featured book is The Family, I decided to revamp this article with even more choices.
Not all the books on this list fall into the realm of fiction, but if you enjoy reading about mobsters and organised crime then you’ll love these nonetheless. Let us know of any other organised crime books you enjoy in the comments.
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Casino by Nicholas Pileggi
Although this is non-fiction, it serves as the true life backstory to the 1995 academy nominated film of the same name. The book focuses on the rise and fall of Frank ‘Lefty’ Rosenthal and Anthony ‘the Ant’ Spilotro who were appointed to run the Casino trade in Las Vegas for mob bosses in the east-coast. The arrangement worked for a long time, and the duo were responsible for suitcases full of cash being sent back to the bosses every month. However, both Frank and Tony eventually fall out and things turn sour. Casino exposes one of the biggest scandals in mob history.
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The Sicilian by Mario Puzo
The Sicilian takes place within The Godfather timeline. It is set during the time when Michael Corleone is exiled to Sicily. When Michael is summoned back to America by The Godfather, he must bring back to him the young man known as Salvatore Giuliano – if he can find him. The Sicillian tells a heroic tale that will satisfy those already invested in The Godfather stories.
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The Wolf by Lorenzo Carcaterra
The Wolf tells a vicious story of a crime organisation going to war with a group of terrorists. Vincent Marelli the crime boss makes a mistake; this mistake then leads to his wife and daughters being murdered by terrorists. Now, all Vincent can think about is revenge. That’s all I know about the novel so far, but from that description alone it’s on my list.
As a bonus, you can also check out the book Gangster by the same author.
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Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil’s Deal by Dick Lehr & Gerard O’Neill
Black Mass tells the greatest story of corruption ever told in the United States. James Bulger and John Connolly grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later the friends were united; Connolly was assigned to the FBI’s Boston office and Whitey had become head of the Irish Mob. Black Mass exposes the deathly deal that was made between the two men. This book was also adapted to the big screen in 2015 with leading roles from Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch.
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Easy Money by Jens Lapidus
I’ve never read anything based in Sweden before, which is exactly why this one caught my eye. Easy Money is a dark and brutal account of the Stockholm underworld, and it’s been highly praised by the people of the country. JW is a man trying to make a living by driving taxis when he’s offered a higher paying job. JW accepts the offer and enters the criminal underground of Stockholm. JW links up with two other character perspectives in the story and each of them are thrown through a world-wind of blackmail, conspiracy and turmoil. The author Jens Lapidus is a criminal defence lawyer so you can be that this is some of the most accurate story-telling you’ll find about the Swedish criminal underworld.
