Bufalino: Revelations of a Mafia Family, the Teamsters, and the Final Resting Place of Jimmy Hoffa

by Charles Bufalino

Written by the legendary crime boss Russell Bufalino’s cousin, this gripping insider’s account is an epic tell-all of the Pennsylvania Mafia family's origins, both personal and criminal, from its coal-mining Black Hand days in Pittston, to their national rise and control of the Teamsters Union, while also offering convincing clues as to what became of Jimmy Hoffa.

Russell Bufalino was considered the most powerful Mob boss of his day, if not all time—rivaling the likes of Carlo Gambino, Vito Genovese, and Lucky Luciano in their prime. But until now, no one has ever so personally traced Russell’s career back to the coal fields of Northeastern Pennsylvania, or explored so completely the legacy of the Pittston crime family Russell would inherit. Charles Bufalino, cousin and caretaker of the family’s explosive history, also offers the most authentic and probable solution to the greatest Mob mystery of all What really happened to Jimmy Hoffa? 

Stretching back to the Bufalino roots in Sicily and the emigration of the men of Montedoro to the turn-of-the-19th-century Pennsylvania coal fields, this gripping story lays the groundwork for the inception of an organized crime empire. Once in America, the Bufalinos penetrated both sides of the labor-versus-management conflict to magnify their own power and ultimately influence events on the national stage. By the 1950s, in the wake of Black Hand threats, murder, kidnapping, and bombings, Russell would be named boss—the Don of all Dons. Blood ties and extended family were his to control. Likewise, his enemies, including Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa.

Delving deeply into corroborated family documentation, Charles Bufalino separates fact from fiction and corrects the presumed history of his ruthlessly enterprising ancestors to paint an intimate, epic, and riveting portrait of one of the most storied crime families of the 20th century.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, History

304 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This intriguing true-crime story is part family history, part memoir, and part investigative account of one of the most elusive figures in American organised crime: Russell Bufalino. The author writes not as an historian but as a relative and custodian of family memory, drawing on oral histories and personal archives. That gives the narrative a strong sense of authenticity and immediacy, particularly in its early sections tracing the family’s roots from Sicily to the coal-mining towns of Pennsylvania. The book situates the Bufalino family within a broader socio-economic context, especially the murky overlap between organised crime and labour unions. The depiction of how Mafia influence infiltrated the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is detailed, often to a fault, showing how power operated simultaneously on the street and within legitimate institutions. Much of the book concerns Jimmy Hoffa and his disappearance. Bufalino claims his account offers one of the most credible explanations of Hoffa’s fate. Whether you find this convincing will depend on how much weight you’re willing to give to family testimony and circumstantial reconstruction. Stylistically, the prose is straightforward, occasionally repetitive, and concerned with documenting connections. I found the density of names and relationships challenging, to be honest, and frequently found myself at a loss as to who we were talking about. Overall, Bufalino is a valuable addition to the literature on American organised crime, not because it is definitive, but because it offers a rare, personal vantage point. For anyone interested in Mafia history, labour politics, or the enduring mystery of Hoffa, then this is a worthwhile read, but I think the reader will need to be more invested than I was in the subject matter to fully engage with it.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

🕵️‍♂️ What if one family held the missing pieces to one of America's greatest unsolved mysteries?

I couldn't put Bufalino: Revelations of a Mafia Family, the Teamsters, and the Final Resting Place of Jimmy Hoffa by Charles Bufalino down.

If you're fascinated by true crime, Mafia history, organized crime, or the mystery surrounding Jimmy Hoffa, this book delivers plenty to think about.

📖 What stood out to me:
🔸 A fascinating look into the rise of the Bufalino crime family from Sicily to Pennsylvania's coal country.
🔸 The connections between the Mafia, labor unions, politics, and power felt both eye-opening and unsettling.
🔸 Charles Bufalino writes from a deeply personal perspective, giving the story an intimate feel while sharing generations of family history.
🔸 The section exploring what may have happened to Jimmy Hoffa was easily the biggest page-turner for me. Whether you agree with the conclusions or not, it's impossible not to be intrigued.

I appreciated that this wasn't just another Mob story filled with flashy headlines. Instead, it dives into the history, relationships, and influence that helped shape organized crime for decades. The family connections added another layer that made the story feel more personal than many true crime books I've read.

That said, I also kept in mind that this is told from the author's perspective, so I found it most enjoyable as a compelling account rather than the final word on every historical event.

⭐ If you enjoy Mafia books, true crime investigations, Jimmy Hoffa theories, and American crime history, this is definitely worth adding to your reading list.

✨️ Thank you, Kensington Books and Charles Bufalino, for sharing Bufalino with me!

[Sharon Colarusso Roarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a father whose family lived on Railroad Street (aka Murder Street) and now Columbus Ave,
and an aunt that shows up later in the book, I was excited to read Bufalino: Revelations of a Mafia Family, the Teamsters, and the Final Resting Place of Jimmy Hoffa. My Grandfather came to this country in 1906. Some brothers and sisters were already here, some followed later, as the 'system' of having work and a place to live are described in the book. Settling first in Yatesville, and eventually Railroad Street, Pittston, they lived there when my father was born in 1917, and were still there when my Grandmother passed away in 1940. That connection, knowing the stories, knowing the people, and reading, I was definitely interested in Charles Bufalino's book.

Given all of that, I was disappointed. Not so much with the subject matter, which is a compelling piece of history, but with the telling of the story itself. Some parts were hard to follow with repetitious stories told throughout multiple chapters. Jumping back and forth in time and telling the same story or biography, in differnt points of view, made it difficult to keep people straight since multiple people have the same name. I completely understand how names run throughout a family. In ours, there's probably twelve people with the same name as my father. BUT, and here's the difference, if I were to write about ALL of them, I'd need to offer a lot more clarity than the author does here.

The title of the book, and the picture on the cover of Russell Bufalino, are misleading. Yes, this is a book about Revelations of a Mafia Family. I'll give you that. BUT Russell, the Teamsters, and Hoffa's Final Resting Place? No. There is a story the author tells of what he surmises is Hoffa's 'final resting place', (which I will not give a way here) but, again, nothing 'concrete' (sorry). Still the author's theory is as good a guess as those that have been floating around forever.

It's also disappointing how little of the book was actually dedicated to Russell. I've read some reviews that don't even mention him at all. So if you're looking to learn anything new or this is your first or even second time researching, this isn't the book for you. Instead, a lot of the book focuses on the mining industry in the early part of the 20th century and it's Mafia leaders at that time which included Russell's uncle. Also there are stories of infamous murders in Pittston such as Salvatore Luccino. Not a lot on the garment industry in Pittston in the 1960s and Russell's relationship to it and to Min Matheson.

All in all, I enjoyed strolling through Pittston, its history, and its people. Because of my connection, for me, that was worth the read.

[RollTide.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️love a good tell all
✨Series: Standalone
✨Audiobook Published: April 28, 2026
✨Pages: 304
✨Audiobook Length: 7h 48m

Thank you Kensington Books, Kensington Creator HQ (Julia!!!), Citadel Books and Charles Bufalino for this beautiful gifted physical ARC and for having me on the official The Case Files street team. I grabbed the audiobook myself to immersive read. This is my honest, voluntary review.

Tantor Media published the audiobook which I used to immersive read, and Charles Bufalino delivered a compelling performance as the narrator.

What a great read to get me a cure for my reality tv and true crime hunger. I haven't read anything as interesting as this in a while. Having the author narrate and hear his story from his perspective just hit different.

I have been on a true crime kick and this ramped up the excitement for me. I really enjoyed the way Charles wrote these stories and made it both fast paced yet gave enough information to get you into the world. I didn't feel like you had to have any background to go in to this to enjoy and appreciate it. If you like true crime, you'll love this!


Read if you love:
🕵️‍♀️true crime
🕵️‍♀️nonfiction, history, crime stories
🕵️‍♀️tell all from an insider (family member)
🕵️‍♀️fascinating stories
🕵️‍♀️deeper connections to the story


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[Lisa Cobb Sabatini]

I won a copy of Bufalino: Revelations of a Mafia Family, the Teamsters, and the Final Resting Place of Jimmy Hoffa by Charles Bufalino from Goodreads.

Bufalino: Revelations of a Mafia Family, the Teamsters, and the Final Resting Place of Jimmy Hoffa by Charles Bufalino is an interesting history of the mafia in the United States with a focus on northeastern Pennsylvania. Readers of true crime and, in particular, the mafia will appreciate Bufalino's insights and firsthand knowledge, as well as the photos, crime family trees, and newspaper clippings. For readers familiar with the history of Russel Bufalino, this book read in conjunction with the other books written about the disappearance of the head of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa, will allow for a clearer understanding of the workings of the mob and their connections to the Teamsters. For this reader, the local references are especially fascinating, but all readers will find the details provided by Bufalino to be intriguing.

[Lindsey Barger · Rating 3 out of 5]

A descendant of a well‑known mob family, Charles Bufalino traces his lineage from early labor organizing in Pennsylvania’s coal towns to the shadowy world surrounding Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance. Part memoir and part history, the book offers a detailed look at the Bufalino and Genovese families and their ties to the Teamsters.

I’m giving Bufalino 3 out of 5 stars. The subject matter is fascinating, but the narrative can be difficult to follow—events are repeated across chapters, and many individuals share the same names, making the timeline hard to track. Readers familiar with Northeastern Pennsylvania or the families involved may find it more accessible than I did. Still, it offers an intriguing perspective on the intersection of organized crime and early labor movements.

[Nancy Gisvold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that presents the lives of members of the Bufalino clan; some involved in crime and some not. It is a history of the coal fields in Pennsylvania and of the
sicilian families that came to America to work there. It shows how members of the same family can go in such different directions. How different men in the family became involved in the life of Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters and tries to unravel the mystery of Hoffa's disappearance. To me, it also shows when people try to do something good for others it can go so badly wrong.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some parts of this one, but don’t expect it to reveal anything you didn’t already know or hadn’t already read in someone else’s books. The author cites more authors than family members and admits he was too young to know or be told what was going on while the crime was happening. I was disappointed. I expected a true inside glimpse.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one of probably millions who have pondered what happened to Jimmy Hoffa, this book beckoned to me. It contains a lot of history and family lore about many things to do with crime and Bufalinos among others, and was a good true crime read going back many decades.

[Kearstin Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives so much depth and insight into the family and the mystery of Jimmy Hoffa

I enjoyed the story and learning about the connections that might not have been seen from the outside. Reading about the ties to certain entities kept my interest and true crime just keeps me on my toes

[Janice Krynak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I stopped reading at chapter 6.

[Russell Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok

I expected this book to be better was a little disappointed not much about Russell Buffalo at all but about his family member

[John Keenan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way this book was written should be considered a crime. Writing is all over the place and goes nowhere!! Read 25% and can’t do any more!!!

[AnnMarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed in it expected more on Hoffa but knew a lot of places they spoke of in book.
Knew some of names reading & hearing of them as a kid.
It is historical fiction.

[Davi Kladakis · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but it didn't have any new information.