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The Quiet Don: The Untold Story of Mafia Kingpin Russell Bufalino
To what extent was Rosario “Russell” Bufalino involved in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa in 1975? In the CIA’s recruitment of gangsters to assassinate Fidel Castro? In organizing the historic meeting of crime chieftains in 1957? Even in the production of The Godfather movie?
Secretive—even reclusive—Russell Bufalino quietly built his organized crime empire in the decades between Prohibition and the Carter presidency. His reach extended far beyond the coal country of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and quaint Amish farms near Lancaster. Bufalino had a hand in global, national, and local politics of the largest American cities, many of its major industries, and controlled the powerful Teamsters Union. His influence also reached the highest levels of Pennsylvania government and halls of Congress, and his legacy left a culture of corruption that continues to this day.
A uniquely American saga that spans six decades, The Quiet Don follows Russell Bufalino’s remarkably quiet ascent from Sicilian immigrant to mob soldier to a man described by a United States Senate subcommittee in 1964 as “one of the most ruthless and powerful leaders of the Mafia in the United States.”
Secretive—even reclusive—Russell Bufalino quietly built his organized crime empire in the decades between Prohibition and the Carter presidency. His reach extended far beyond the coal country of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and quaint Amish farms near Lancaster. Bufalino had a hand in global, national, and local politics of the largest American cities, many of its major industries, and controlled the powerful Teamsters Union. His influence also reached the highest levels of Pennsylvania government and halls of Congress, and his legacy left a culture of corruption that continues to this day.
A uniquely American saga that spans six decades, The Quiet Don follows Russell Bufalino’s remarkably quiet ascent from Sicilian immigrant to mob soldier to a man described by a United States Senate subcommittee in 1964 as “one of the most ruthless and powerful leaders of the Mafia in the United States.”
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
227 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
Matt Birkbeck
10 books117 followersMatt Birkbeck (born Brooklyn, N.Y.) is a bestselling author and journalist.
His debut work of fiction, The Wicked, was published in August 2025.
He is best known for his nonfiction books A Beautiful Child, which told the tragic story of "Sharon Marshall" and Franklin Delano Floyd, and the sequel Finding Sharon, which is a memoir about his ten-year effort, along with the FBI and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to find Sharon's true identity.
Both books were adapted by Netflix for the hit 2022 film Girl in the Picture, which Matt served as executive producer.
He is also known for The Life We Chose, about William "Big Billy" D'Elia, the former head of the Bufalino crime family; Deconstructing Sammy, about the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. and efforts to resolve his debts and his legacy; The Quiet Don, about Mafia boss Russell Bufalino; and A Deadly Secret, about New York real estate scion Robert Durst, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathie Durst and two others. A Deadly Secret was adapted in 2017 by Lifetime for the film The Lost Wife of Robert Durst.
He has also authored magazine pieces and features for Boston Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, Reader's Digest, Playboy and others, and was a correspondent for People magazine focusing on crime and human interest stories.
His debut work of fiction, The Wicked, was published in August 2025.
He is best known for his nonfiction books A Beautiful Child, which told the tragic story of "Sharon Marshall" and Franklin Delano Floyd, and the sequel Finding Sharon, which is a memoir about his ten-year effort, along with the FBI and National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to find Sharon's true identity.
Both books were adapted by Netflix for the hit 2022 film Girl in the Picture, which Matt served as executive producer.
He is also known for The Life We Chose, about William "Big Billy" D'Elia, the former head of the Bufalino crime family; Deconstructing Sammy, about the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. and efforts to resolve his debts and his legacy; The Quiet Don, about Mafia boss Russell Bufalino; and A Deadly Secret, about New York real estate scion Robert Durst, who was accused of murdering his wife Kathie Durst and two others. A Deadly Secret was adapted in 2017 by Lifetime for the film The Lost Wife of Robert Durst.
He has also authored magazine pieces and features for Boston Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, Reader's Digest, Playboy and others, and was a correspondent for People magazine focusing on crime and human interest stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 19, 2014
Although I found the author's writing style and the book's format awkward and confusing at times, I was fascinated by the subject matter. As a relative newcomer to the Wyoming Valley I have been amazed at the pervasive nature that cronyism and nepotism still play in this region. The book provides a historical perspective that gives insight to how more recent current events have taken their cue from past/accepted practices. I read Mario Puzo's The Godfather years ago....as I read The Quiet Don I couldn't help but think ...my goodness, this stuff actually happened here!
June 4, 2014
For the first 150-190 pages, I was thoroughly engrossed. I was duly fascinated and shocked by what I read, often seeing names I recognized from my youth in northeastern Pennsylvania. But then, my interest faded. While I *did* manage to finish the book, it became a chore rather than an engaging read. Granted, the author had his work cut out for him with how many names and events were involved in this multi-decade tale, but I think he could have better kept my attention by (1) shunning his newspaper-reporter style of long, convoluted sentence structure more often than not and (2) finding a way to assist readers -- who are not nearly as familiar with all the names, dates, and details as the author -- in keeping the timeline and cast of characters straight.
January 1, 2019
Matt Birkbeck tells the unvarnished story of a reclusive mob kingpin who wielded incredible power and controlled a vast network right from his humble home in small-town Northeast Pennsylvania in "The Quiet Don."
This book chronicles the building of a criminal empire -- the consolidation of power and establishing connections among those in society's highest echelons to exercise that power and influence for inequitable gain by a select few. All too often those gains resulted in tragedy and loss of life. And one man, Kingston's own Russell Bufalino, controlled it all.
Birkbeck examines how Bufalino got started in organized crime and built his far-reaching empire; his level of involvement and role in perhaps catalyzing several milepost national historical events, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Kennedy assassination plot and the disappearance of reputed labor boss Jimmy Hoffa; and Birkbeck traces the lineage of a crime family to illustrate how corruption still reigns in this unique blue-collar corner of the country still today. His exploration into the gaming licensure of Dunmore's Louis DeNaples shows the vast tentacles of corruption still spread from the very top levels of state government to diverse corners of the business, professional and under worlds.
This book's subject matter is compelling, yet the narrative could use some editing and a stronger voice to help tie everything together. The writer often jumps from events of the distant past to more recent political and legal proceedings, leaving the reader confounded amid a complicated maelstrom of mob bosses, labor leaders, hit men, patsies and competing families bent on vengeance with felonious intent. While the content can be riveting in some parts, especially pertaining to the Hoffa abduction and Kennedy assassination, other narratives find themselves mysteriously abandoned as the author jumps to another saga altogether. It's high-powered vignettes without a cohesive sequence or purpose.
Ultimately Birkbeck does show the once and perhaps pervading power of this unique mob boss and his favored underlings. Yet many questions remain upon concluding the book. Perhaps that's the very nature of this tangled and obscure topic. As Birkbeck himself cites in the book's epilogue, many sleepers from the Bufalino family may still walk among us, wielding power from their very silent or unassuming corners of tight-knit Northeast Pennsylvania communities -- just as Bufalino himself had for decades.
Anyone with curiosity about the mafia or true crime, including fans of "The Godfather," will devour this brief but heavy read into a man who in many ways legitimized the underworld. Set a week aside to appreciate this one.
This book chronicles the building of a criminal empire -- the consolidation of power and establishing connections among those in society's highest echelons to exercise that power and influence for inequitable gain by a select few. All too often those gains resulted in tragedy and loss of life. And one man, Kingston's own Russell Bufalino, controlled it all.
Birkbeck examines how Bufalino got started in organized crime and built his far-reaching empire; his level of involvement and role in perhaps catalyzing several milepost national historical events, such as the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Kennedy assassination plot and the disappearance of reputed labor boss Jimmy Hoffa; and Birkbeck traces the lineage of a crime family to illustrate how corruption still reigns in this unique blue-collar corner of the country still today. His exploration into the gaming licensure of Dunmore's Louis DeNaples shows the vast tentacles of corruption still spread from the very top levels of state government to diverse corners of the business, professional and under worlds.
This book's subject matter is compelling, yet the narrative could use some editing and a stronger voice to help tie everything together. The writer often jumps from events of the distant past to more recent political and legal proceedings, leaving the reader confounded amid a complicated maelstrom of mob bosses, labor leaders, hit men, patsies and competing families bent on vengeance with felonious intent. While the content can be riveting in some parts, especially pertaining to the Hoffa abduction and Kennedy assassination, other narratives find themselves mysteriously abandoned as the author jumps to another saga altogether. It's high-powered vignettes without a cohesive sequence or purpose.
Ultimately Birkbeck does show the once and perhaps pervading power of this unique mob boss and his favored underlings. Yet many questions remain upon concluding the book. Perhaps that's the very nature of this tangled and obscure topic. As Birkbeck himself cites in the book's epilogue, many sleepers from the Bufalino family may still walk among us, wielding power from their very silent or unassuming corners of tight-knit Northeast Pennsylvania communities -- just as Bufalino himself had for decades.
Anyone with curiosity about the mafia or true crime, including fans of "The Godfather," will devour this brief but heavy read into a man who in many ways legitimized the underworld. Set a week aside to appreciate this one.
February 13, 2014
Full disclosure: I am from Northeastern Pa (NEPA), so many of the people, places, and events noted in this book are familiar to me.
What great story material: virtually unknown Mafia Don from NEPA who may have had a hand in the Kennedy assassination, the Hoffa disappearance, and was possibly was the model for Marlon Brando's Don Corleone.
Despite all this, "The Quiet Don" is awful in every way. The writing is horrible. The organization is shoddy. And Birkbeck makes a few obvious mistakes that cause his journalistic credibility (and his editor's), into question. Two obvious examples:
p113: ....from the airport in *Evoca, Pennsylvania, near Scranton.
**should be Avoca, Pennsylvania
p262: *Lackawanna County Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella.....
***the judges are from Luzerne County
The writing is brutal. A typical passage:
p202: "Buffalino had, as he had for much of his life, avoided any major entanglements with law enforcement though he had one blip in 1974 when he was charged with fifteen other men with conspiring to extort two vending company officials in Binghamton, New York."
Finally, there is no story. No examination of how Russell Bufalino became a Mafia Don---he is always brought up with a wink, in that infuriating mafioso tone of an insider eg "that guy told me about our friend."
For anyone who wants a true picture of Russell Bufalino I would recommend "I heard you paint houses" (which Birkbeck quotes from liberally and extensively, usually just paraphrasing whole episodes), for anyone who seeks a plausible depiction of how an Italian immigrant can rise to become a Mafia Don I would recommend The Godfather II.
I hope someone gives the story of Buffalino and NEPA corruption the time, rigor, and analysis it deserves. This book does not.
What great story material: virtually unknown Mafia Don from NEPA who may have had a hand in the Kennedy assassination, the Hoffa disappearance, and was possibly was the model for Marlon Brando's Don Corleone.
Despite all this, "The Quiet Don" is awful in every way. The writing is horrible. The organization is shoddy. And Birkbeck makes a few obvious mistakes that cause his journalistic credibility (and his editor's), into question. Two obvious examples:
p113: ....from the airport in *Evoca, Pennsylvania, near Scranton.
**should be Avoca, Pennsylvania
p262: *Lackawanna County Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella.....
***the judges are from Luzerne County
The writing is brutal. A typical passage:
p202: "Buffalino had, as he had for much of his life, avoided any major entanglements with law enforcement though he had one blip in 1974 when he was charged with fifteen other men with conspiring to extort two vending company officials in Binghamton, New York."
Finally, there is no story. No examination of how Russell Bufalino became a Mafia Don---he is always brought up with a wink, in that infuriating mafioso tone of an insider eg "that guy told me about our friend."
For anyone who wants a true picture of Russell Bufalino I would recommend "I heard you paint houses" (which Birkbeck quotes from liberally and extensively, usually just paraphrasing whole episodes), for anyone who seeks a plausible depiction of how an Italian immigrant can rise to become a Mafia Don I would recommend The Godfather II.
I hope someone gives the story of Buffalino and NEPA corruption the time, rigor, and analysis it deserves. This book does not.
July 4, 2020
Good book with so much information about Russell Bufalino and the many people who swirled in his orbit. You can tell that the author has a vested interest in Bufalino and the stew of corruption that was (is?) Pennsylvania politics & the underworld. He covers people & subjects that only a true insider could grasp. The book is written in a slightly odd style - many times I thought I was experiencing deja vu because subjects were described at certain points and then covered again in a deeper fashion later in the book. It's not a bad thing, given how the web of characters & events played out in the decades that Bufalino operated.
September 7, 2021
Was this book about Russell Bufalino or was it about Louis DeNaples? I really couldn’t tell. I found the whole back story of DeNaples took away from the story of Bufalino, instead of adding to it. Not to mention it happened years after Bufalino died. Almost everything else written about Russell Bufalino was already covered in Charles Brandt’s book, I Hear You Paint Houses. It’s like the author took Charles Brandt’s book, added DeNaples story and called it a day, which means the author really had nothing to write about.
I learned nothing new about Bufalino.
I learned nothing new about Bufalino.
May 20, 2021
Great insight into one of the lesser known mobsters of that era. Definitely a companion piece to I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt. Read both consecutively if you've already watched or want to watch The Irishman
December 31, 2019
Less a biography of Bufalino and more a condensed story of Bufalino's legacy, as it is known. Birkbeck pulls from already published sources to complete his work and there are no first-person interviews with involved figures. Much of the book focuses on the modern legacy of Bufalino--how his criminal enterprises are still playing out today, as far as is known from public record. Birkbeck does not seem to know where he wants this book to go. The biographical elements of the book are minimal (Birkbeck admits at the end of the book that personal details on Bufalino are scant), and much of the criminal history that Bufalino was involved in up to his death was covered in much greater detail in Charles Brandt's "I Heard You Paint Houses." There is nothing new in "The Quiet Don" to bring to the murder/disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, and in fact Birkbeck inserts about Hoffar here and there, almost as an afterthought. The majority of "The Quiet Don" focuses on how Bufalino's criminal legacy influenced modern politics and criminal organization in Pennsylvania after Bufalino's death. Specifically, Birkbeck focuses on the corrupt Pennsylvania State government, from the Governor Rendell and the state supreme court, to the push for casinos in Pennsylvania and how licenses for slots/casinos were awarded in the early 2000s because of corrupt agencies and politicians.
"The Quiet Don" is a quick read (thankfully), and if you want a good scan of mob history, this would perhaps be a good choice. However, after reading "I Heard You Paint Houses" I was much let down with "The Quiet Don".
"The Quiet Don" is a quick read (thankfully), and if you want a good scan of mob history, this would perhaps be a good choice. However, after reading "I Heard You Paint Houses" I was much let down with "The Quiet Don".
September 29, 2024
As a fan of true-life mafia books, coming across a previously unknown yet powerful mob boss's biography got me excited. Russell Bufalino was also one of the most powerful mob bosses of his time going mostly unnoticed by the national media---although he was a bit of a minor celebrity in the northeast PA area. Many of the well known NY family dons even turned to Bufalino to get things done. Including making Jimmy Hoffa vanish. A few scenes from the Netflix movie, "The Irishman" could have been lifted from the pages of this book as the telling of Bufalino's story covers the purported circumstance of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance which the book makes the case was orchestrated by Bufalino. There's also a confession from a Bufalino associate who claimed to have murdered Hoffa on Bufalino's orders.
Much of the book spends time covering events that led up to Bufalino's downfall and to covered it in detail a lot of the book focuses on Bufalino's associates. Specifically examining the PA Gamming Board's corrupt licensing process in which an alleged friend of Bufalino received extraordinarily preferential treatment as directed by the highest levels of well known PA politicians of the time.
The Bufalino stuff was GREAT. I wanted more of it and less of the PA Gamming Board corruption investigations. It was a quick read at just under 300 pages. I'd give it a 3.5 if 1/2 stars were allowed but since they're not, I give it a 4.
Much of the book spends time covering events that led up to Bufalino's downfall and to covered it in detail a lot of the book focuses on Bufalino's associates. Specifically examining the PA Gamming Board's corrupt licensing process in which an alleged friend of Bufalino received extraordinarily preferential treatment as directed by the highest levels of well known PA politicians of the time.
The Bufalino stuff was GREAT. I wanted more of it and less of the PA Gamming Board corruption investigations. It was a quick read at just under 300 pages. I'd give it a 3.5 if 1/2 stars were allowed but since they're not, I give it a 4.
July 16, 2024
Gran parte del misticismo de las figuras de la mafia italiana tiene que ver con su flamboyante posturabybsu extrovertida personalidad. Capone, Luciano, Genovese, Maranzano, Masseria, Gambino, Bonanno y otros eran ruidosos y presumían su poder y su estatus de intocables. Bufalino era mucho más discreto. Por mucho una figura que manejaba los hilos en Pennsilvania y Jersey pero que tenía poder armado con las cinco familias de NY. Incluso, Bufalino fue la gran inspiración para Vito Corleone -hay quien dice que Brando mas bien imitaba a Buffalino. Dato curioso que no sabía: el actor que hace a Johnny Fontaine -el personaje de la película de Coppola- era el ahijado de Buffalino y no estaba pensado que fuera él. Pero Bufalino le hizo a Coppola una petición especial. O, seguro, una oferta que no pudo rechazar. Una de las personalidades más interesantes de la mafia.
El libro brinca de ida y vuelta a tiempos desde la familia Bufalino llegando a EU a principios del S. XX hasta los juicios contra Louis DeNaples y Big Willy Delia, heredero de la familia Bufalino. La mejor frase de Bufalino: “No es una conspiración cuando solo uno queda vivo”. Buen libro para quienes disfrutamos el tema.
El libro brinca de ida y vuelta a tiempos desde la familia Bufalino llegando a EU a principios del S. XX hasta los juicios contra Louis DeNaples y Big Willy Delia, heredero de la familia Bufalino. La mejor frase de Bufalino: “No es una conspiración cuando solo uno queda vivo”. Buen libro para quienes disfrutamos el tema.
March 19, 2022
I live in the Bufalino territory, so my interest was piqued. I’ve heard stories for decades about Russell Bufalino and how he exerted so much power behind the scenes.
The book title is a misnomer: while Bufalino is discussed, as much attention (if not more) is paid to Louis DeNaples. I was looking for a book about Russell Bufalino; however, this book went in so many directions it didn’t provide a cohesive story.
The author would have been better off to term the book as regarding the connection between the Mafia and NE PA politicians. It’s such a fertile ground for examination: Kids for Cash (which was in LUZERNE County, not Lackawanna County), the gaming scandals, even just an examination of corruption in Luzerne County would have provided reams of information.
One star off for a disjointed narrative, one star off for lack of proofreading.
I have a feeling Charles Brandt’s upcoming book about the Mob will shed better light regarding Russell Bufalino.
The book title is a misnomer: while Bufalino is discussed, as much attention (if not more) is paid to Louis DeNaples. I was looking for a book about Russell Bufalino; however, this book went in so many directions it didn’t provide a cohesive story.
The author would have been better off to term the book as regarding the connection between the Mafia and NE PA politicians. It’s such a fertile ground for examination: Kids for Cash (which was in LUZERNE County, not Lackawanna County), the gaming scandals, even just an examination of corruption in Luzerne County would have provided reams of information.
One star off for a disjointed narrative, one star off for lack of proofreading.
I have a feeling Charles Brandt’s upcoming book about the Mob will shed better light regarding Russell Bufalino.
January 19, 2021
Read it in a day, it was very engrossing.. Many names are recognizable.
It was interesting to learn facts about the area I live in. many of my ancestors toiled long hours for little wages in the corrupt mining (dangerous conditions also ) and garment industries.
Many sections seemed to be out of date order or kept jumping back and forth in time. Many were repeated 3 or more times. Maybe, the title should have better described that it was really an account of the mafia in northern eastern PA and not just of Buffalinos life.
It also helped me to better understand the events that transpired in the I Paint Houses Netflix movie.
It was interesting to learn facts about the area I live in. many of my ancestors toiled long hours for little wages in the corrupt mining (dangerous conditions also ) and garment industries.
Many sections seemed to be out of date order or kept jumping back and forth in time. Many were repeated 3 or more times. Maybe, the title should have better described that it was really an account of the mafia in northern eastern PA and not just of Buffalinos life.
It also helped me to better understand the events that transpired in the I Paint Houses Netflix movie.
August 6, 2019
This book was very eye-opening and rather infuriating. Being from Northeastern Pennsylvania, I've always known of the corruption and scandal surrounding certain political figures and businessmen but not the extent of it!
Some of the info was repetitive and seemed out of place, but otherwise a decent book. I don't know that I would have enjoyed it as much if I weren't from NEPA.
Some of the info was repetitive and seemed out of place, but otherwise a decent book. I don't know that I would have enjoyed it as much if I weren't from NEPA.
April 8, 2020
A nice follow-up or companion book to “I Heard You Paint Houses”, which, if you liked it or if you saw The Irishman, dives deeper into the life of Russell Bufalino. The authors style is a bit clunky, repeating himself several times throughout (while it hurt the narrative it helped remind me who’s who). Interesting read. Gov. Rendell was shady. Who knew.
September 13, 2020
The parts that were about Russell Bufalino were very well done, but I would say a solid 40% of the book was talking about events take place 10+ years after his death that only vaguely connected back to him and really soured me on the book. If I wanted to read about the Pennsylvanian Gaming Corruption in the 2000s I would have picked a book about that topic.
October 8, 2020
This book is a companion to “I Heard You Paint Houses”. The book gives more details about Russell Bufalino and his connection to the mafia. He was good at negotiating with dons and keeping peace. He believed that they needed to be low keyed and not attract attention to themselves. I enjoyed the book.
October 4, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. The Bufalino family story is full of intrigue that to this day has effects on government and power in the state of Pennsylvania. My only complaint was the writing style could be confusing at times, as it jumped between events in Bufalino’s life to present day corruption in Pennsylvania.
February 17, 2025
I enjoyed it because I'm from Scranton and found the content of the book fascinating but the actual writing and pacing of the book was not great. It read like a book report of Buffalino. I enjoyed the focus on Louis Denaples because again I'm from Scranton but it didn't really fit in a book that's supposed to be about Russell Bufalino.
October 5, 2025
Very interesting and well written book on Russell Bufalino and associated figures.
A lot of detailed information and some content on the Hoffa mystery. I would have preferred a more chronological organisation but that is a more personal and subjective approach which does not detract from the content and details presented in this great read.
A lot of detailed information and some content on the Hoffa mystery. I would have preferred a more chronological organisation but that is a more personal and subjective approach which does not detract from the content and details presented in this great read.
February 10, 2021
Eh Not so much about the Don as corrupt politicians
The book Wes more about Pennsylvania gaming board corruption than about Russell Bufalino. Not a bad story in and of itself but not what the book claims to be.
The book Wes more about Pennsylvania gaming board corruption than about Russell Bufalino. Not a bad story in and of itself but not what the book claims to be.
July 21, 2018
Eh...not much to get from this one. It's more about his inner circle than it is about him. Which explains the title, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested...
September 24, 2018
Fast read which both entertains and depresses,especially if you live in NEPA
January 22, 2019
Informative book about a sectetive guy
The author did the best he could as his subject was not someone who wanted to be in the limelight!
The author did the best he could as his subject was not someone who wanted to be in the limelight!
June 16, 2019
Interesting but kind of got jumbled near the end
September 9, 2019
Poorly written but very interesting account of the mafioso who appears responsible for the deaths of Hoffa and John Kennedy.
January 21, 2020
Not that great
This book was 80% about Louis DeNaples, and corrupt politicians, not Russell Bufalino. Disappointing, was hoping for more about RB.
This book was 80% about Louis DeNaples, and corrupt politicians, not Russell Bufalino. Disappointing, was hoping for more about RB.
February 1, 2020
Didn't read the whole thing. Just not my kind of book
May 5, 2020
Lots of information I didn't know (and a big part of The Irishman). However, the writing was so poor it was distracting.
July 4, 2020
5 stars but I enjoy books on the mob
Want to read
October 23, 2022Alison G
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews