What do you think?
Rate this book
Carlo Gambino: Boss of Bosses
The stunning blood-soaked saga of a real-life Godfather—Don Carlo Gambino—the quiet gangster with a whispery voice who struck fear into his enemies as he rose to the top of the Mafia family ladder, told by an insider who lived in that world, knew those families, and met Gambino face-to-face. . .
He was one of the four Mafia leaders who inspired Mario Puzo’s The Godfather—and perhaps, next to Lucky Luciano, the most powerful Mob boss of them all. Born into a mafioso family in Sicily, Carlo Gambino came to America illegally as a stowaway in 1921. Jumping ship in Virginia, he joined his cousins in Brooklyn, and the Sicilian gangs that ruled the streets. By 1931, he was a soldier in Joe “The Boss” Masseria’s war with the Castellammarese clan, a bloody rivalry between Old World crime families that ended with the creation of the Five Families system by Luciano. Over the next three decades, Gambino rose higher in the ranks after a series of brutal Mob hits and executions. In 1957, following the murder of Albert “Lord High Executioner” Anastasia, Gambino took over—becoming the biggest crime boss in America.
This is the life and times of an underworld legend. Packed with shocking details and firsthand insights, Carlo Boss of Bosses is the definitive account of this real-life Godfather, written by someone who grew up in that world and met Gambino personally. Author Frank DiMatteo’s chilling recollections of his encounters with Gambino add a rare human dimension to one of the greatest crime sagas ever told. It is the story of a quietly understated Mob boss who allegedly orchestrated some of the Mafia’s most infamous hits—including the barbershop shooting of Anastasia—but who miraculously served time only for tax evasion. For better or worse, Gambino’s story is the story of America, filled with ambition, fueled by greed, and riddled with bullets.
He was one of the four Mafia leaders who inspired Mario Puzo’s The Godfather—and perhaps, next to Lucky Luciano, the most powerful Mob boss of them all. Born into a mafioso family in Sicily, Carlo Gambino came to America illegally as a stowaway in 1921. Jumping ship in Virginia, he joined his cousins in Brooklyn, and the Sicilian gangs that ruled the streets. By 1931, he was a soldier in Joe “The Boss” Masseria’s war with the Castellammarese clan, a bloody rivalry between Old World crime families that ended with the creation of the Five Families system by Luciano. Over the next three decades, Gambino rose higher in the ranks after a series of brutal Mob hits and executions. In 1957, following the murder of Albert “Lord High Executioner” Anastasia, Gambino took over—becoming the biggest crime boss in America.
This is the life and times of an underworld legend. Packed with shocking details and firsthand insights, Carlo Boss of Bosses is the definitive account of this real-life Godfather, written by someone who grew up in that world and met Gambino personally. Author Frank DiMatteo’s chilling recollections of his encounters with Gambino add a rare human dimension to one of the greatest crime sagas ever told. It is the story of a quietly understated Mob boss who allegedly orchestrated some of the Mafia’s most infamous hits—including the barbershop shooting of Anastasia—but who miraculously served time only for tax evasion. For better or worse, Gambino’s story is the story of America, filled with ambition, fueled by greed, and riddled with bullets.
- GenresHistoryCrimeNonfiction
Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
2 people are currently reading
3070 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Carlo Gambino – Boss of Bosses
This is a fascinating account of one the best known “Godfathers” in Mafia/US history. We follow Gambino’s life from his Sicilian origins in 1902, to his illegal immigration to the US, and his progression up the ladder of the Gambino Family, then his rise among the big 5 Mafia families (The Mafia Commission) – to eventually becoming the big boss. He died in 1976.
The “Boss of Bosses.” He was quiet, understated, almost shy, but capable of initiating extreme violence and his ambition was nuclear. One gets the idea this man knew exactly what he was doing and where he was headed. But, visibility wasn’t his focus.
This book is detailed – the characters, whizz past the reader’s eye at light speed. Great names like Paul ‘Big Paul’ Castellano, Albert ‘Lord High Executioner’ Anastasia, Guiseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, John ”The Dapper Don” Gotti – and lots more.
Well worth a read, written by a man who offers a credible, first hand, street level perspective of this murky world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Postscript: This review is written while living in Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico (24th February 2026) – during the violence and mayhem due to the clash between the CJNG cartel and Mexican Government forces. So, this was a fitting read for the time and place for this reader.
This is a fascinating account of one the best known “Godfathers” in Mafia/US history. We follow Gambino’s life from his Sicilian origins in 1902, to his illegal immigration to the US, and his progression up the ladder of the Gambino Family, then his rise among the big 5 Mafia families (The Mafia Commission) – to eventually becoming the big boss. He died in 1976.
The “Boss of Bosses.” He was quiet, understated, almost shy, but capable of initiating extreme violence and his ambition was nuclear. One gets the idea this man knew exactly what he was doing and where he was headed. But, visibility wasn’t his focus.
This book is detailed – the characters, whizz past the reader’s eye at light speed. Great names like Paul ‘Big Paul’ Castellano, Albert ‘Lord High Executioner’ Anastasia, Guiseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria, John ”The Dapper Don” Gotti – and lots more.
Well worth a read, written by a man who offers a credible, first hand, street level perspective of this murky world.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Postscript: This review is written while living in Guadalajara, Jalisco State, Mexico (24th February 2026) – during the violence and mayhem due to the clash between the CJNG cartel and Mexican Government forces. So, this was a fitting read for the time and place for this reader.
November 14, 2025
Boy, let me tell you, this ebook about Carlo Gambino had me sitting there reading like I was watching some wild movie! But it’s all real, or at least they say it is. This fellow came from Sicily, hiding on a boat just to sneak over here, and next thing you know, he’s running the Mafia like it’s his backyard.
He wasn’t one of those loudmouth gangsters always yelling and shooting all over the place. No, this man talked soft, but when he did talk, folks listened like their life depended on it, because most of the time, it did! I swear, he had more tricks than a card dealer in Vegas!
The ebook talks about how he went from being just a stowaway to the top dog after taking over when that Anastasia fellow got whacked in the barbershop. I’m not saying he did it, but the way they tell it, he sure knew something about it. It’s all blood and business and whispers in dark corners. These fellows made the rules and broke them too!
What I liked most was how the writer said he actually met Gambino, like face to face. That right there gave me chills! Like, dang, this isn’t a fairy tale, this is the real underworld talking! It showed how a quiet man could run a whole empire and barely ever see a jail cell, except for some tax mess. That right there is funny to me! All those crimes, and what gets him is the taxes!
This book is wild from start to finish, full of bullets, backstabs, and money changing hands faster than a poker game in a storm. If you like mob stories, or just want to see how far a quiet fellow can go when he’s cold as ice and smart as a whip, this is the one!
I give it 4 outta 5 catfish!
He wasn’t one of those loudmouth gangsters always yelling and shooting all over the place. No, this man talked soft, but when he did talk, folks listened like their life depended on it, because most of the time, it did! I swear, he had more tricks than a card dealer in Vegas!
The ebook talks about how he went from being just a stowaway to the top dog after taking over when that Anastasia fellow got whacked in the barbershop. I’m not saying he did it, but the way they tell it, he sure knew something about it. It’s all blood and business and whispers in dark corners. These fellows made the rules and broke them too!
What I liked most was how the writer said he actually met Gambino, like face to face. That right there gave me chills! Like, dang, this isn’t a fairy tale, this is the real underworld talking! It showed how a quiet man could run a whole empire and barely ever see a jail cell, except for some tax mess. That right there is funny to me! All those crimes, and what gets him is the taxes!
This book is wild from start to finish, full of bullets, backstabs, and money changing hands faster than a poker game in a storm. If you like mob stories, or just want to see how far a quiet fellow can go when he’s cold as ice and smart as a whip, this is the one!
I give it 4 outta 5 catfish!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This true crime biography has a co-author (Frank DiMatteo) who knew the Mafia kingpin - which adds a lot of credibility I think to this book. In addition Gambino is one of four mafia leaders who inspired The Godfather. The oddest thing you learn is Gambino was small, talked in a quiet “whispery” voice but “struck fear in his enemies.”
Gambino was born in Palermo (a bustling crazy city even in the 21st C which I visited it twice), Sicily. He came to America illegally (wonder how’d that play out today) in 1921, and because he had been “made” into the Mafia in Sicily he joined the American mafia in Brooklyn. Joining Joe “the Boss” Masseria’s gang, Gambino was around for the war with the Castellammarse clan which ended with five crime families. By 1957 Gambino was the biggest crime boss.
The book is filled a lot of murder and mayhem from which Gambino did not shy from. He orchestrated some of the biggest hits in mafia history. Like Capone he only served time for tax evasion in 1937. I got the impression he was shrewd and never forgot an insult.
If you love true crime as much I do, this books for you.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC
#carlogambinobossofbosses
#frankdimatteo
#michaelbenson
#kensingtonpublishing
.
Gambino was born in Palermo (a bustling crazy city even in the 21st C which I visited it twice), Sicily. He came to America illegally (wonder how’d that play out today) in 1921, and because he had been “made” into the Mafia in Sicily he joined the American mafia in Brooklyn. Joining Joe “the Boss” Masseria’s gang, Gambino was around for the war with the Castellammarse clan which ended with five crime families. By 1957 Gambino was the biggest crime boss.
The book is filled a lot of murder and mayhem from which Gambino did not shy from. He orchestrated some of the biggest hits in mafia history. Like Capone he only served time for tax evasion in 1937. I got the impression he was shrewd and never forgot an insult.
If you love true crime as much I do, this books for you.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC
#carlogambinobossofbosses
#frankdimatteo
#michaelbenson
#kensingtonpublishing
.
November 16, 2025
304 pages
4 stars
This is an excellent telling of the life and times of Carlo Gambino. His climb to prominence and his personality were outlined in exquisite detail.
I became familiar with his associates, friends as well as those he did not like. I found him fascinating.
A comprehensive history of the Gambino family and its preceding personalities was interesting. I have had a soft spot for Lucky Luciano and was pleased to see his story in the biography as well as Meyer Lansky, Albert Anastasia and many others.
DiMatteo and Benson went on to tell the story of what occurred after Gambino’s death and through the fall of John Gotti. They went on to list some of the relatives of Carlo and what became of them.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of organized crime, or someone who just loves to read biographies.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing / Citadel for forwarding this good book to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
4 stars
This is an excellent telling of the life and times of Carlo Gambino. His climb to prominence and his personality were outlined in exquisite detail.
I became familiar with his associates, friends as well as those he did not like. I found him fascinating.
A comprehensive history of the Gambino family and its preceding personalities was interesting. I have had a soft spot for Lucky Luciano and was pleased to see his story in the biography as well as Meyer Lansky, Albert Anastasia and many others.
DiMatteo and Benson went on to tell the story of what occurred after Gambino’s death and through the fall of John Gotti. They went on to list some of the relatives of Carlo and what became of them.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of organized crime, or someone who just loves to read biographies.
I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Publishing / Citadel for forwarding this good book to me. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
February 14, 2026
This is a well researched and written book about a notorious crime boss and others in the mafia.
A fascinating read about these real life characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
A fascinating read about these real life characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews