Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business: Shocking Declassified Details from the FBI's Greatest Undercover Operation and a Bloody Timeline of the Fall of the Mafia

by Joe Pistone

When FBI Special Agent Joe Pistone began a “six-month” operation infiltrating New York’s Bonanno crime family in 1975, he had no idea what was about to happen. Posing as jewel thief “Donnie Brasco,” Pistone spent the next six years undercover in the Family, witnessing-and sometimes participating in-the Mafia’s gruesome activities while gathering enough evidence to send over 200 gangsters to jail. Pistone told his story in the 1988 book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia-a New York Times bestseller and later a feature film starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino. But because of pending trials at the time of publication, many details of the alleged crimes were held back. Now, in Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, Pistone for the first time reveals with great detail the horrific deeds of wiseguys Tony Mirra, “Lefty” Ruggiero, Sonny Black, and the rest of the cold-blooded Bonanno crew. Pistone puts the operation into historical perspective, detailing the timeline of Mafia trials that crippled the New York City crime family over the past 25 years. He also recounts his experiences after the operation, his time on the Hollywood set with Pacino and Depp, and other undercover operations through present-day. A tense, thrilling account of the greatest infiltration ever by a federal agent into the most brutal gang of killers in the world, Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business is the final chapter in the story of a real American hero.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Biography, Crime

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2008

Reviews

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Donnie Brasco, Unfinished Business”, by Joe Pistone and Charles Brandt, published by Running Press.

Category – True Crime (Mafia) Publication Date – 2007.

Joe Pistone as Donnie Brasco went undercover for six years to almost single handedly bring down the five Mafia families of New York.

Before reading this book you will probably have to read his first book or see the movie “Donnie Brasco.” If not, you will probably miss a lot that happens in this book.

More importantly though is the story of how Joe Pistone was able to infiltrate a such closed organization for six years, and almost became a made man. It is almost inconceivable how one could live under this stress for this period of time. He also had a wife and three young girls to be concerned about and only got to see them periodically over those six years.

It was through his efforts and testimony that many high ranking members of the Mafia turned and informed on each other. The stories of the murders is almost unbelievable and the fact that they had been getting away with it for years. They also infiltrated almost every aspect of New York business.

A “do not miss” for anyone who wants to know the inside workings of the Mafia and its downfall.

[Chris G Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the first book 'Donnie Brasco:My Undercover Life In The Mafia' a few years ago I thought I'd give this follow up novel a try a short time after.
While there is absolutely no denying the bravery, determination & mental toughness of someone prepared to go through such an ordeal I personally didn't find the book the easiest to read. There was no feeling of not being able to wait until I could pick up it's pages again.
There were several instances of repetition sprinkled thoughout its pages which didn't help.
Saying that for someone with an interest in the subject of the La Cosa Nostra it would certainly be a great read.
Special Agent Joe Pistone spent 6 years living and breathing life as a trusted Mafia associate - being taken out of his role just before he became a 'made man'.
The goings on within the Mafia themselves and of the judicial system in order to bring these powerful and ruthless men into court is undoubtedly complelling reading.
The acid test. Would I read it again?
Well this has been my 2nd read of its pages, the first was long enough ago I remembered very little of the book this time round.
Maybe in a few years I might consider it once again - but there're so many others I've not read!

[David Forsythe]

This book claims that the mafia is virtually destroyed. Primarily due to RICO cases. If that's the case then this book really is an insiders account of a watershed in NYC history.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Pistone and the stories from his time undercover are fascinating. A large chunk of the book is that “timeline” mentioned in the title which contains a lot of details on the court cases that brought down the mafia. It’s A LOT of names and was virtually impossible for me to keep track of all of them. I want to go back and read his first book which is more about his undercover stories (even though a lot of the details were classified back then). Pistone is an impressive guy, able to keep consistent cool in an incredibly high-stakes assignment, highly intelligent and adaptable to the environment around him, and able to tell his tale with humor and wit.

[Matt Boak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid follow up to the original though I have to say - very little extra info from Pistone about his own experiences.

The book smacks of something that was written for extra cash. Since there was little he missed out of the first book, the author has bulked it out with loads of info on the decline of the Mafia that you could read anywhere. He then brags a lot about how much of it is down to him (not sure how much of this I believe).

[william connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I have read a lot of books on the Mafia and this writer tells it like it is. He explains in detail certain aspects of the book and repeats some things so as the reader does not forget who is who and what they did. Fascinating insight into the bad guys and good guys. Would recommend this author ( Joe Pistone )without a shadow of a doubt and I'm only sorry I didn't read it years earlier.
Billy Connolly

[Amy Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know if the editor couldn’t or wouldn’t trim the repetition and force the narrative into a form other than an “and then this happened and then this happened and then this happened” recitation, but the result is tedious. A shame, given the subject matter.

[Kim Freitas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative,but “guess what.” I did enjoy learning about the operation. “Nothing for nothing “ he writes as if he is sitting there having coffee with you while telling the story. Doesn’t really have a clear flow.

[Joe Spoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the other books by Joe Pistone as well as the Deep Cover Podcast. I zipped through the first half of this book. The last part was more about trials, witnesses, etc. No doubt that these things are an important part of the story, but it was a little confusing to me.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of an FBI special agent, Joe Pistone, who worked undercover for 6 years in the Bonanno mafia family.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of it was interesting,but a lot of it was covered in the Donnie Brasco book.

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing for nothing.

[Anna Osment · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book from the man himself.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting read. Not as good as the first book. A bit choppy and jumped around time-line wise. And you can definitely tell his dislike for celebrities and stuff in certain ways (James Caan in particular). A lot of bragging and back-patting. But definitely a good book and addition to the Mafiosi history information.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the original work on account of the strong bias and agenda the author has in play here. It has some interesting revelations none the less, my favorite being, that wiseguys don't work on Mothers's Day :)