Little Vic and the Great Mafia War

by Larry McShane

The shocking true story of Victor “Little Vic” Orena, the rising mob boss who fought to control the Colombo crime family—and triggered the bloodiest Mafia war of our times . . .

June 20, 1991. A five-man hit team waited in a car outside the Long Island home of Victor Orena, the acting crime boss of the Colombo crime family. Orena recognized the vehicle—and managed to escape with his life. But it was just the beginning. Over the next year, more shots would be fired in what would become the last major mob war in New York’s crime-soaked history—and one of the bloodiest. The war ended with Orena’s 1992 arrest and conviction for racketeering. But the full story of “Little Vic’s” astonishing rise and fall has never been told. Until now . . .
 
With shocking new revelations from Orena’s son Andrew, this eye-opening account takes readers inside the criminal underworld of New York’s infamous “Five Families” from the point of view of one of its rising stars. The grandson of Sicilian immigrants, Victor Orena ingratiated himself with the local Mafiosi during his teens, ultimately aligning himself with the Colombos. Ascending the ranks, he eventually became acting boss of the family when its don Carmine “The Snake” Persico was sentenced to prison. But as Persico struggled to maintain control from behind bars, Orena decided to seize that power for himself—launching a ruthless mob war the city would never forget.
 
It's all the Mafia hits, the FBI stings, the bullets and the backstabbings. Featuring a rogues gallery of legendary mobsters—from the Gallo brothers to the Gambinos and John Gotti—this riveting account sheds new light on one of the most fascinating chapters in American crime.
 

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Born in Inwood, top of Manhattan, raised across the river in New Jersey. Seton Hall University graduate (and basketball season ticketholder), joined The Associated Press in March 1980. Moved to the Daily News in November 2007. Covered nine Olympics, 9/11, assorted trials (mob and otherwise), interviewed 42 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (including three of the Four Tops, two of the Ramones). Two-time winner of the AP's New York Staffer of the Year, winner of the NY Press Club's 2005 Feature Story of the Year, honored by the Society of the Silurians and the Associated Press Managing Editors. Fan of the NY Giants, NY Yankees, NY Knicks, NJ Devils. Springsteen fanatic, live music fan, favorites include Southside Johnny & the Jukes, Elvis Costello, Marah, Gaslight Anthem, Graham Parker, the Clash, Nils Lofgren, Mudcrutch. Motown, Gamble and Huff, Little Steven and Little Anthony and the Imperials.

Reviews

[Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No one wins in a war, the only one that will is the government”

This a true statement and a quote in this book that unfortunately came true. This book is about Mob boss Victor “Little Vic” Orena who at the time was the crime boss of the notorious Colombo family. This book talks of his rise and fall within the crime family. The war that came due to other people within the family not to happy with him being boss. Thus begins a civil war that leaves no one a winner, but the government.

This book was fast paced and something written from a Hollywood movie script. I read this book and said this is too real it has to be fake somewhere. I did like how the author was able to articulate this story so well from the crime in the streets to the courtroom cases there was no stone unturned.
Although, I consider myself a mob guru I’ve heard all the stories but reading this book is the first I’ve heard of Little Vic and him being the boss of a family. Which is shocking this story should be a movie. I would say what helped me along with this book is I love the mob and their stories I was able to reference the names. For someone that isn’t familiar with the mob scene keeping up with the names would be a challenge.

This book was action packed , hard to put down and all fact based. A book doesn’t get any better than that. Definitely give this book a read it’s worth it.

Thank you to Larry McShane, NetGalley, and
Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive narrative of the machinations of the mob and the story of Victor “Little Vic” Orena, a prominent mob boss of the Colombo crime family. The book details the ruthlessness and depravity of mob thugs who turn on themselves to gain control of the “ family” by any means necessary, including testifying against each other as the once close-knit mob community implodes from self-inflicted wounds. This is quite an interesting and intriguing read, detailing numerous mob hits, prosecutions, and a possible rogue FBI agent. A must read for mob aficionados. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Larry McShane's "Little Vic and the Great Mafia War" isn't your typical, slickly romanticized gangster saga. It's a raw, knuckle-bruised tango through the chaotic heart of New York's underworld, a symphony of pinstripes and pistol shots conducted with a refreshingly unvarnished hand. McShane doesn't just tell you about the war; he drags you into the smoke-filled backrooms and rain-slicked streets, where the scent of cheap whiskey mingles with the metallic tang of fear.

Our protagonist, "Little Vic," isn't a charismatic don or a cold-blooded killer. He's a cog in a brutal machine, a reluctant participant in a conflict that bleeds across boroughs and fractures loyalties. McShane's genius lies in his ability to humanize these figures, not by excusing their actions, but by revealing the desperation and often mundane realities that underpin their violence. Vic's anxieties, his moral compromises, and his gnawing fear of being just another body in a back alley are palpable, making him far more compelling than any larger-than-life caricature.

What sets "Little Vic" apart is its refusal to glorify the gangster lifestyle. There's no glamour here, only the grim consequences of choices made in a world where survival is a daily gamble. McShane's prose is as sharp as a switchblade, cutting through the romanticized veneer of mob narratives to expose the brutal, often senseless, reality beneath. He paints a vivid portrait of a city teeming with both opportunity and menace, a place where the American dream is often twisted into a nightmare.

The historical backdrop is meticulously rendered, yet McShane avoids the pitfall of dry exposition. The war itself becomes a character, a chaotic force that reshapes the lives of everyone caught in its wake. The narrative weaves seamlessly between the strategic maneuvering of the bosses and the street-level skirmishes that determine the war's outcome, creating a compelling sense of scale and immediacy.

"Little Vic and the Great Mafia War" is a gritty, unflinching portrayal of a violent era, a reminder that the stories we tell ourselves about power and loyalty are often far removed from the harsh realities of the streets.

McShane's book is a powerful, unforgettable work that lingers long after the final gunshot fades, leaving a lingering sense of unease and a profound appreciation for the human cost of conflict. It's a must-read for anyone seeking a more authentic and challenging take on the gangster genre.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. To be honest, this would be best served a la a YouTube video with pictures of each person they are talking about. It is almost documentary in style. It has very minimal narrative. It is largely the steps from one event to another, listing all of the actions of different mafia members. It is repeats itself without adding much when it does so it's a bit annoying. The biggest annoyance is the sheer number of names with very little cue on when you last heard it or who they are. Hence the YouTube video.

Overall, this was just a sad exploration of corrupt, greedy morality in an organized crime family. At the beginning there was a quote from the court case of one of the mafia members who said something like, 'I've learned that the whole organization is corrupt. Everyone hates everyone, but everyone also hates others. And so everyone is against everyone.' Something like that. I think that's telling.

[Russell Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Larry mchshane books chin and orena both could have been researched better

Some major errors in editing and mixing up so e things but good job exposing the corruption that put Mr orena Sr behind bars for life as as 20 to 30 monsters with much more murder convictions have been released on compassionate release or sentence reductions while they left Mr orena behind bars. Shame on the FBI and the supreme Court of appeals. God bless the orena family and the way they changed there lives after leaving prison.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-done and informative book on the Great Mafia war and the individuals involved. The author does an outstanding job of introducing the characters and providing a background history on their lives. The story is doubly intriguing with the behind-the-scenes events with local police and FBI agents. A great true crime story for the fan!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Yolanda Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book.
I was constantly in a state of confusion. All of the similar sounding Italian names and places just got the better of me & rather than being able to relax into it and enjoy it, I found it to hard going and had to give in way before the end, which is, something I very rarely do.
I can only give it two stars.

[Randal White · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years I have enjoyed reading books about the Mafia and their exploits. Probably have read a couple dozen of them. Unfortunately, this particular book I just cannot recommend. It's written in a hard to follow format, jumping all over the place. I had a very hard time pulling all the information together into a coherent order.

[Davi Kladakis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a short history about a mafia war.

[Terrence Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put the down

Another great read from Larry m Shane. The book is truly captivating and takes you inside the final war that brought down the New York Mafia.

[Kimberly Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about mob boss victor orena, who was mob boss of the Colombo family at the time. I like how the author articulated the story so well. It was action packed, fact based