King of the Godfathers: Joseph Massino and the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family (Pinnacle True Crime) |  | Author: Anthony DeStefano
Publisher: Pinnacle
List Price: $6.99
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Rating:  12 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0786018933
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.1092
EAN: 9780786018932
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
For more than twenty years, Joseph "Big Joey" Massino ran what was called the largest criminal network in the U.S., employing over two hundred and fifty made men and untold numbers of associates. The Bonanno family was responsible for over thirty murders, even killing a dozen of its own members to enforce discipline and settle scores. He would be brought down by Salvatore "Good Looking Sal" Vitale, the underboss who was not only Massino's closest and most trusted friend, but also his brother-in-law. In the end, facing the death penalty and the prospect of leaving his family penniless, Massino started talking to the FBI - the first Mafia Godfather to break the sacred code of omerta, and the end of a centuries-old tradition.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
 A well balanced portayal of life in the mafia... April 27, 2010
Brian Hawkinson (San Jose, CA)
It is rare that you can get a book that is so detailed about the mafia. Oftentimes you are left with speculation and guessing, never really knowing for sure how or why something happened in the world of organized crime. With King of the Godfathers we are treated to a rare and complete glimpse at the head of the Bonanno crime family by the sheer number of made men who turned on their family.
I couldn't help but be fascinated in reading about Massino. We are shown a very detailed account of his life in crime as he moved his way up the ranks from soldier to godfather. We see where his alliances were held and, as often was the case, in how luck was on his side in the side that he chose. For example, the murder of the three captains. They were amassing an arsenal before Massino, but he got the drop on them and was able to eliminate this threat, which could have easily been him going to a meeting and obtaining his "receipt". The irony is that the very thing that saved him and his side was also the very same thing that ultimately turned his family against him and put him in prison for the rest of his life.
You see, that is the nature of the beast. The shady organized crime soldiers, captains, underbosses and bosses will ultimately do what is best for them. They are selfish and if the noose is wrapped too tightly, they will do all they can to get out of it. Thus the reason so many turned against their "family". Turn a highly placed underboss and everyone under him is threatened, so they all must turn against the boss in order to save themselves. Of course not all of the Bonanno family went to prison because most turned coat and then, after Massino was threatened with execution, he turned coat and betrayed the rest of his "family" to take execution off the board.
This highly detailed account from eyewitness accounts is not only great for Massino's life, but also for writing small vignettes of many a made men and associates of not only the Bonanno crime family but of the other crime families as well. With this well rounded and balanced portrayal of a dangerous and insidious man we are also treated to a well balanced account of life in the mafia. A must read for all mafia aficionados.
5 stars.
 Outside looking in December 21, 2009
Maxtone Witherball
King of the Godfathers is about as good as it can be in light of the fact that the author did not interview Joseph Massino or any other gangsters. In other words, for a book that relies on interviews with law enforcement and Massino's wife and daughters, as well as on trial testimony and secondary sources, King of the Godfathers is pretty informative and engaging.
Still, given the author's lack of access to Massino and other Bonanno-family members, I would say that the book is only for those who, having already read such great Mafia books as the Valachi Papers, Donnie Brasco, Wiseguy, Casino, Underboss, Murder Machine, etc., still have a hankering for a Mob tale.
The Mob in the 21st Century July 30, 2008
Daniel R. Street
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you are like me, you thought the mafia would die out when John Gotti went to jail. That is clearly not the case, as this book perfectly illustrates. Fantastic, entertaining book about one of the bosses of one of the powerful Five Families in New York. The man only recently went to prison in 2003. Book (the softbound edition) covers his entire life of crime all the way through his trial in 2004 along with developments through early 2008. It is an entertaining, educational, informative read, covering not only the boss, but the Bonnano family and NY mafia families in general. If you want to learn what the modern day mob is like and have a good time while doing so, then buy this book.
fughetaboutit lol July 21, 2008
Jamesridley (surrey ,bc -canada)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
awesome book, couldn't put it down.
Great Mob Expose June 20, 2008
Douglas E. Libert (parkersburg wv)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
i liked the way this book gave alot of info about the wives of mob figures.I've always wondered what the wives knew about their husband's activities and how they rationalized it. The wives are a convenient way to hide and transfer the assets of mobsters and they should bear some(or alot) of the guilt.The one DA in the book was putting pressure on mobster wives and this was a tactic I was unaware of and have wondered why mobsters' wives were considered,"untouchable".After all who is too often pressuring the mobster to bring in more money?
Joe Massino or "Joe Wagons"(nicknamed for his sandwich and coffee truck business) is represented in this book as one of the "Last Dons".Because law enforcement techniques (but mainly "legalized" gambling) are making the "family" less profitable and more dangerous, more and more mobsters are turning "states evidence".This book tells the tale of how law enforcement is breaking the comraderie of mobsters who previously took a "blood oath" to be faithful to the mob.Behind the facade of the "ham sandwuch guru",the story of Massino, is one filled with scams and murder.Apparently there's not much money in ham sandwiches,but it does get a person out into the working world to promote their scams.This book will keep you glued.Lots of gruesome photos which initially shock,but then as you read the history of the poor unfortunate you feel alot less sympathetic.(Just the mob's way of cleaning it's own house)!Well researched and highly readable
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
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