Larry McShane

Here are some early reviews for the book:

Author Pete Hamill: "This is the tale of a master of performance art on the streets of 20th century New York City. At the same time, it is a chronicle of the fading years of the American Mob. The star is Vincent (Chin) Gigante, who appeared one morning in the early '70s, dressed in bathrobe and slippers, whispering in a liquid slobber. He seemed to be quite nuts. But all the while, shuffling or scratching, he reigned as the head of the Genovese crime family. In cool, exact prose, Mr. McShane tells the story that remains full of astonishment, and a kind of dark wonder."

Daily Beast columnist Michael Daly: "Larry McShane brings us a great book about a great subject by a great writer. McShane has long written literature of the moment as a master writer and reporter with the New York Daily News. He now uses his remarkable talent to write a tale for the ages, the story of the Oddffather, Vincent “Chin” Gigante. In recounting the saga of the Chin, McShane recreates a world that has largely vanished, brining it vibrantly alive with such unique voices as that of the Chin’s brother, a priest like none other Father Louis Gigante. Father G’s memories alone make this book a must read. You can hate the mob and still love this book, which grabs you with the immediacy of a breaking news story and carries you along as if you were living it.

George Anastasia, bestselling author of "Gotti's Rules" and long-time Mafia chronicler: "A story that's long overdue. While John Gotti may have been the face of the American Mafia, Vincent Gigante was its heart and soul. McShane pull no punches. A vivid picture of the last American gangster."

Ex-FBI Agent Joe Pistone (“Donnie Brasco”): “McShane’s book is a great read, with inside details that capture the Chin and the world of the Mafia as I know it – and lived it.”