In the Godfather Garden: The Long Life and Times of Richie "The Boot" Boiardo

Rivergate Regionals

by Richard Linnett

In the Godfather Garden is the true story of the life of Richie "the Boot" Boiardo, one of the most powerful and feared men in the New Jersey underworld and the gangster who inspired the creation of HBO's The Sopranos. Richard Linnet provides an inside look this once-powerful Mafia crew led by the Boot, based on recollections of a grandson of the Boot himself and complemented by never-before-published family photos.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography

256 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book where the locale and names are familiar to me. In this case the locale is mostly northern New Jersey and primarily Newark (I live 2 miles from Newark)and the restaurants and bars named are often familiar and in some cases I have worked in them as a musician. The people mentioned are often familiar and in some cases known to me. In short - How could I NOT like this?

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Godfather Garden offers a rare view into the New Jersey mob. Unlike many crime books on the market, this book offers good writing and editing. Rutgers University published the book, so there are standards for evidence. The evidence relies on primary sources such as FBI reports and oral histories with one of Boiardo's grandchildren.

The information appear reliable. There is frustratingly little information about the gang wars in the 1920s and 1930s beyond what is available in FBI glossings. Lennett provides readers with the sensational murders and a little bit of incidental information. The juicy parts come up beginning with the Top Hoodlum reports of the 1950s and 1960s. It appears that the FBI had a lot of informants reporting to them on Boiardo's activities. Lennett does unmask one informant and makes a strong argument. The FBI rarely, if ever, intentionally reveals the identity of an informant, so Lennett appears to have done considerable research for that chapter.

I am especially appreciative of the how Lennett described the decline of the Boiardo crew. He did not stop his narrative with Boiardo's death in the 1980s, he followed how his mob slowly withered and died with the changes in law, demographics, and ethnic succession in organized crime. His observations are very poignant and well-written. I am sure he attempted to do as well describing the rise of the crew, but he was not as successful in my opinion.

The main weakness of the book is difficulty in following events chronologically. Readers may have to go back several pages to find a date; and that date may not correspond to the event the reader wants to learn more about. A little less problematic is that Lennett does not spend much time analyzing the trustworthiness of his sources. He does argue against the fabled body incinerator on Boiardo's estate. However, he rarely debates his sources. Nowhere does he cite FBI reports on whether the FBI believed there was a furnace on the property. He trusts Boiardo's grandson, and the fact no law enforcement agency bothered with a forensic analysis of the property. He also avoids any discussion on whether Boiardo murdered Zwillman, as popularly believed.

Overall, this is an important study on a famous gangster. The book offers rare glimpses into Boiardo, Zwillman, and Catena; none of whom are well documented in the literature. The book also relies on government information, more than any other type of sources. Overall, this is a well-written and recommended book on the subject.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weak title for a book about Richie "the Boot" Boiardo, a notorious New Jersey organized crime figure for many years (since Prohibition), who died in the 1980s. The writing is not compelling, but Boiardo was---a must read for anyone from New Jersey or interested in the corruption-organized crime link in North Jersey outside New York.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only pet peeve about this book is on the last page...Toms River is spelled with an apostrophe and that is not correct.

[Austen Rad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content was better than the writing, didn’t enjoy the structure, but enjoyed a foray into the real life cosa nostra.

[Ken Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not the best literary quality, I found the life and times of Richie "The Boot" Boiardo fascinating particularly because he lived in Livingston, NJ for a while and because my great-grandfather-in-law was mentioned in several chapters about Prohibition. That said, it's also pretty amazing how much influence and power the mafia had in so many aspects of this country for quite a while.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I grew up in Livingston, and taught the grandchildren of Richie the Boot, this was a must read for me. It confirmed some of the stories I had heard, and buried some of the lies. Well worth the read!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the life of mobster Richie (the boot) Boirdo. I found it very interesting since growing up in Essex and Union County in NJ the places are very familiar to me and I remember certain names while I was growing up that were in the newspapers at the time.

[Roseann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book about Richie Boiardo and other mobsters.

[Erichyde · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull. They didn't have enough details on him.

[Rho · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information about the "Godfather". RIP.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting local history, but it was written like a high school term paper, and some of the chapters seemed to have been used elsewhere, as a lot of information is repeated.