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.

Crime Stories Like The Godfather

Buy this Book (UK)
Buy this Book (US)

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.

Buy this Book (UK)
Buy this Book (US)

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.

Buy this Book (UK)
Buy this Book (US)

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.

Buy this Book (UK)
Buy this Book (US)

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.

Buy this Book (UK)
Buy this Book (US)

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.

Books Like The Godfather

The Fall of South Bridge

Buy from Amazon UK | Buy from Amazon US

The Fall of South Bridge is about an organized crime family in Upstate New York. They’re based on the ‘ndrangheta (mafia in Calabria, Italy). The book seems to be a great mix of family drama and old fashioned organized crime. There are themes of crooked cops, and young adolescence mixed in there too. The Fall of South Bridge is penned by Jimmy Badavino and is well recommended to anyone who loved The Godfather.

Hot Springs

Buy from Amazon UK | Buy from Amazon US

Hot Springs is set in 1946, the Golden age of organized crime. It takes place in Hot Springs Arkansas, the reigning capital of corruption. When a district attorney vows to bring down the mob, Earl Swagger is recruited to run the show. As casino raids erupt into nerve-shattering combat amid screaming prostitutes and fleeing johns, the body count mounts—along with the suspense.

Hot Springs is written by Stephen Hunter, a Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic.

Wiseguy

Buy from Amazon UK | Buy from Amazon US

Wiseguy was a New York Times Bestseller from author Nicholas Pileggi, and it’s actually the source material that the hit movie Godfellas was based on. Of course, it’s not exactly like Goodfellas, but you get to see where the movie drew its inspiration from. As every reader knows, the book is always better; which is exactly why I want to finally get around to reading this classic. I enjoyed the movie so much without ever reading the book that I now owe it to myself to read the book and get a whole new appreciation for the story.

Gangsterland

Buy from Amazon UK | Buy from Amazon US

I’m actually reading Gangsterland now as it’s our current featured book. But it still deserves to be on this list because its the most modern Mafia novel I can find. Great Mafia based novels aren’t being written as much these days, so it’s nice to see newer authors like Tod Goldberg penning an authentic feeling organized crime thriller. Gangsterland is the story of Sal Cupertine, a Mafia hitman that made the mistake of killing some federal agents. Now he’s living a new life undercover, as he’s on the run from both the law and others who want his head. I’ve yet to finish the book, but I was hooked from the very first chapter. This comes highly recommended to those who want to read something more modern.

Know any others?

This is where I ask you guys to recommend some more organized crime novels similar to The Godfather that you’re aware of. Feel free to talk about them down below in the comments, and let us know if you’ve read any of the books mentioned so far.