The Ceremony: The Mafia Initiation Tapes

by David Fischer, Joseph D. Pistone

A look at the Mafia's initiation ritual presents the official transcripts from the bugging of a house in Massachusetts and detailing the prerequisites for membership, the codes of dress, etiquette, and language. Original.

Genres: True Crime

143 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this slim volume, we have a cursory introduction from Mafia cover agent Pistone about Mafia organization and surveillance. Then, we have transcripts of several inductions done in a row over a single day in the basement of a borrowed home. Interesting and incomplete, all in all, a dozen interesting pages stretched out to a short book.

[Walt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book gets high marks for recording a Mafia initiation ceremony, the book would have been helped substantially by adding more background information about the cast and subsequent events.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly interesting for those very interested in the Mob, but not really a general-interest book. Sort of content-free if what you're looking for is general information and/or entertainment.