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Top Hoodlum: Frank Costello, Prime Minister of the Mafia
The definitive book on the ultimate mob boss—featuring new FBI revelations, rare family photos, and never-before-published material . . .
The press nicknamed him “The Prime Minister of the Underworld.” The U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Narcotics described him as “one of the most powerful and influential Mafia leaders in the U.S.” But to friends and associates, he was simply “Uncle Frank.” Who was Frank Costello really? That’s the question Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony M. DeStefano sets out to answer—in this definitive portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in the annals of American crime . . .
Using newly released FBI files, eyewitness accounts, and family mementos, Top Hoodlum takes you inside the Mafia that Frank Costello helped build from the ground up, from small-time bootlegging and gambling to a nationwide racketeering empire. The book’s stunning revelations include:
* Costello’s secret interviews with federal investigators—now released for the first time
* His private meetings with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover
* His partnership with Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and how they brutally displaced the old guard of the Mafia
*Surviving an assassination attempt by Genovese Family hitman Vincent “Chin” Gigante
*His crime family’s role in the now legendary suicide of Abe “Kid Twist” Reles, a Murder, Inc. member who was about to rat out the mob
* His personal involvement in the notorious 1947 “mob summit” in Havana, Cuba
* His secret interests, both real and suspected, in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Manhattan night clubs like the Copacabana
* His power over politicians, rapport with reporters, and amazing ability to evade the feds
* His refusal to admit his crimes long after he retired—until his death in 1973
Sometimes shocking, sometimes amusing, and always riveting, these are the stories that have inspired American crime classics like The Godfather , Casino , Goodfellas , and The Sopranos . This is the man who made the Mafia such a powerful force in our nation’s history. This is Top Hoodlum .
The press nicknamed him “The Prime Minister of the Underworld.” The U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Narcotics described him as “one of the most powerful and influential Mafia leaders in the U.S.” But to friends and associates, he was simply “Uncle Frank.” Who was Frank Costello really? That’s the question Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Anthony M. DeStefano sets out to answer—in this definitive portrait of one of the most fascinating figures in the annals of American crime . . .
Using newly released FBI files, eyewitness accounts, and family mementos, Top Hoodlum takes you inside the Mafia that Frank Costello helped build from the ground up, from small-time bootlegging and gambling to a nationwide racketeering empire. The book’s stunning revelations include:
* Costello’s secret interviews with federal investigators—now released for the first time
* His private meetings with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover
* His partnership with Charlie “Lucky” Luciano and how they brutally displaced the old guard of the Mafia
*Surviving an assassination attempt by Genovese Family hitman Vincent “Chin” Gigante
*His crime family’s role in the now legendary suicide of Abe “Kid Twist” Reles, a Murder, Inc. member who was about to rat out the mob
* His personal involvement in the notorious 1947 “mob summit” in Havana, Cuba
* His secret interests, both real and suspected, in Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Manhattan night clubs like the Copacabana
* His power over politicians, rapport with reporters, and amazing ability to evade the feds
* His refusal to admit his crimes long after he retired—until his death in 1973
Sometimes shocking, sometimes amusing, and always riveting, these are the stories that have inspired American crime classics like The Godfather , Casino , Goodfellas , and The Sopranos . This is the man who made the Mafia such a powerful force in our nation’s history. This is Top Hoodlum .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2018
113 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Anthony M. DeStefano
15 books42 followersAnthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for the past twenty years for Newsday in New York City, specializing in criminal justice and legal affairs. He is the author of The Last Godfather, King of the Godfathers, Mob Killer,The War on Human Trafficking, and Gangland New York, among others. He has appeared on Biography Channel programs as an expert on organized crime and he also speaks at academic conferences about crime and human trafficking.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 19, 2018
This is a good book about notorious mob guy Frank Costello, who got a big start in New York back in the days when bootlegging was a way that kept many hustling to make a buck from the Volstead Act that banned booze. He made a fortune from it and worked his way up to other things later on, and also branched out to legitimate business to try to avoid many of the legal problems that dogged other mafia guys. But his involvement with politicos and gambling, and hanging with other mob guys and nightlife got him in hot water eventually. He is supposedly the mob patriarch that the character Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando is based on in the Godfather movies. It is claimed that real mobsters started using lines from the movie after it came out and was popular, another example of real life imitating art. My thanks for the advance digital copy provided by NetGalley, author Anthony M. DeStefano, and the publisher for my unbiased review.
Citadel Publishing
June 26, 2018.
Citadel Publishing
June 26, 2018.
July 8, 2018
Destefano thoroughly researched his subject and coupled with a skillful narrative sense came up with an excellent book about a complex character. Like Meyer Lansky, Frank Costello eschewed violence and it is worth noting that nowhere in this book is there any mention of him using "muscle" or of committing any violent act. Congruent with this is the the fact that he was never suspected or accused of any violence (the same is true of Meyer Lansky).
With Costello and Lansky it was more guilt by association. They were associated with people who did operate to one degree or another using violence, but they were often the voice of reason and believed in keeping a cooler head. Both men came out of the world of bootlegging and illegal gambling. They saw it as giving the public what they wanted and making a good living doing that. Costello was adept at making political connections and for that reason lived on the edge of legitimacy, friending celebrities and politicians. He came up at a time when Italians and Jews were not treated kindly in the US and opportunity was limited, making essentially decent people sometimes do indecent things. It's still happening but to different minorities.
Prohibition was one of the stupidest things ever attempted in this country and I may be in the minority in feeling that gambling should not be illegal or limited to a certain select few making the big bucks. That's just my 2 cents.
With Costello and Lansky it was more guilt by association. They were associated with people who did operate to one degree or another using violence, but they were often the voice of reason and believed in keeping a cooler head. Both men came out of the world of bootlegging and illegal gambling. They saw it as giving the public what they wanted and making a good living doing that. Costello was adept at making political connections and for that reason lived on the edge of legitimacy, friending celebrities and politicians. He came up at a time when Italians and Jews were not treated kindly in the US and opportunity was limited, making essentially decent people sometimes do indecent things. It's still happening but to different minorities.
Prohibition was one of the stupidest things ever attempted in this country and I may be in the minority in feeling that gambling should not be illegal or limited to a certain select few making the big bucks. That's just my 2 cents.
November 11, 2023
I truly enjoyed reading this! It fed my addiction to mafia/gangsters/organized crime quite nicely. Frank Costello's life was an interesting one! The author did a fine job with researching for this book. There are so many facts and so much information but the book almost reads like a novel! I didn't find it slow or boring. It easily kept my attention throughout. Frank Costello's story is unique in that it doesn't end in murder or prison. It was unfortunate he wasn't able to lead the life of a legit business man the way he always wanted. I'd definitely say this book is a must read for anyone that has an interest in organized crime.
June 26, 2018
Immerse yourself in the world of New York mafia kingpin, Frank Costello, labeled a Top Hoodlum by FBI director, J. Edgar Hoover.
Prohibition was a marvelous time for organized crime in 1920s New York City. Bringing in liquor from Canada, Frank and all his cronies became millionaires supplying the addictions of both rich and poor. After it ends, Frank puts his money into legitimate businesses and works to negotiate truces between mob families as far away as Chicago.
The names within Top Hoodlum are familiar to anyone who has ever watched a Hollywood mafia production such as the Godfather or Boardwalk Empire. Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky are all here. The famous restaurant assignation scene in the Godfather was real and meticulous detailed here. Readers who like mafia movies will be engrossed by the well-researched Top Hoodlum. 3 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, Citadel, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Prohibition was a marvelous time for organized crime in 1920s New York City. Bringing in liquor from Canada, Frank and all his cronies became millionaires supplying the addictions of both rich and poor. After it ends, Frank puts his money into legitimate businesses and works to negotiate truces between mob families as far away as Chicago.
The names within Top Hoodlum are familiar to anyone who has ever watched a Hollywood mafia production such as the Godfather or Boardwalk Empire. Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky are all here. The famous restaurant assignation scene in the Godfather was real and meticulous detailed here. Readers who like mafia movies will be engrossed by the well-researched Top Hoodlum. 3 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, Citadel, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
July 22, 2018
I'll never get over my fascination with the Mafia. Glad I was approved for this one, full review to come. I received this ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See my full review here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
See my full review here: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...
January 7, 2019
A Well-Researched Chronicle But Too Impersonal To Be An Insightful Biography!
DeStefano did extensive research -- involving examination of FBI documents, family testimony, court records, etc. -- which clearly comes through in his well-written book that chronicles Frank Costello's career and environment as a Top Hoodlum. A chronicle that begins with Costello at a young age building his empire as a bootlegger during prohibition, importing alcohol from Canada, before expanding his operation to include gambling, and subsequently building a web of political influence within NYC's famously corrupt Tammany Hall. As part of this chronicle, DeStefano solidly portrays the environment within NYC politics during the peak of organized crime's influence (of which Costello was a VERY major player), tracking the interplay among Costello, political fixers, law enforcement and reformers, like Fiorello LaGuardia.
I found all of this chronicle to be interesting and deserving of praise for the author. However, I was disappointed in the book because it, for me, was seriously lacking in providing information and insights into Costello's personal life. As such, I found this book helped me to get a better understanding of what Costello's life was like as a Top Mafia Leader and the environment in which he operated, but the book fell short for me in providing a good understanding of what Costello's personal life was like and who he was as a Man.
DeStefano did extensive research -- involving examination of FBI documents, family testimony, court records, etc. -- which clearly comes through in his well-written book that chronicles Frank Costello's career and environment as a Top Hoodlum. A chronicle that begins with Costello at a young age building his empire as a bootlegger during prohibition, importing alcohol from Canada, before expanding his operation to include gambling, and subsequently building a web of political influence within NYC's famously corrupt Tammany Hall. As part of this chronicle, DeStefano solidly portrays the environment within NYC politics during the peak of organized crime's influence (of which Costello was a VERY major player), tracking the interplay among Costello, political fixers, law enforcement and reformers, like Fiorello LaGuardia.
I found all of this chronicle to be interesting and deserving of praise for the author. However, I was disappointed in the book because it, for me, was seriously lacking in providing information and insights into Costello's personal life. As such, I found this book helped me to get a better understanding of what Costello's life was like as a Top Mafia Leader and the environment in which he operated, but the book fell short for me in providing a good understanding of what Costello's personal life was like and who he was as a Man.
June 29, 2018
Good bio of an old-time Mafioso
Frank Costello is so often mentioned in books about the Mafia. He is a core member of the Prohibition, 1930s to 1950s New York organized crime scene. I was happy to read about his life and deeds.
Later in life he wanted to be accepted by the great and the good as a wealthy, contributing member of society. They didn't. He ended up seeing a therapist about his frustrations. Sort of a very early and real life version of the Sopranos.
For all that, he ended up well off, living a life of leisure. "Living" is the key word. The books makes it clear how he managed to stay alive and enjoy his ill-gotten gains, and die of old age. So many of his cohorts died in jail or from bullets.
The book is well researched and flows. It kept my interest throughout. The only thing I wish it had is more about his private life, with his wife, mistress, hobbies, and everyday life. But he died long ago, and it might be impossible to fill that in.
The book is a good read for anyone interested in the Mafia, New York history and true crime.
Frank Costello is so often mentioned in books about the Mafia. He is a core member of the Prohibition, 1930s to 1950s New York organized crime scene. I was happy to read about his life and deeds.
Later in life he wanted to be accepted by the great and the good as a wealthy, contributing member of society. They didn't. He ended up seeing a therapist about his frustrations. Sort of a very early and real life version of the Sopranos.
For all that, he ended up well off, living a life of leisure. "Living" is the key word. The books makes it clear how he managed to stay alive and enjoy his ill-gotten gains, and die of old age. So many of his cohorts died in jail or from bullets.
The book is well researched and flows. It kept my interest throughout. The only thing I wish it had is more about his private life, with his wife, mistress, hobbies, and everyday life. But he died long ago, and it might be impossible to fill that in.
The book is a good read for anyone interested in the Mafia, New York history and true crime.
April 19, 2020
This book is a fascinating story of one Frank Costello. Who began back during the Volstead Act with Luciano, Lansky and some of the others? This was before the five families. Here you get to see hie rise to power especially after Luciano is deported to Italy. He survives an assignation attempt by one Chin Gigante who later would still become a crime boss even after botching this attempt. Costello uses his smarts to overcome people and problems. Problems being people wanting to testify against the family regardless of where they may be staying.
You also get a look at how he uses his political and other government officials. I found this to be a very good book and full of a lot of information. He even goes into things when he was to have been retired. More to this story and book than many others that I have read and one that gives you the sense of a true gangster in all he accomplished and overcame. Especially when others ended up in prison. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
You also get a look at how he uses his political and other government officials. I found this to be a very good book and full of a lot of information. He even goes into things when he was to have been retired. More to this story and book than many others that I have read and one that gives you the sense of a true gangster in all he accomplished and overcame. Especially when others ended up in prison. Very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com
October 2, 2022
I appreciate the old-time mobsters who prioritized laying low, going legit, and trying to blend into society. So obviously Frank Costello was pretty high on the list (as is Carlo Gambino, so I'm itching for a good biography of him).
The book itself was actually better than I imagined it would be. The research conducted by the author was extensive, even though there were still some seemingly elementary mistakes (including calling Vito Genovese a Sicilian, when his being Napolitan was what kept him from being part of the commission initially).
However, as with any of these old-timers, there is unfortunately not that much about his youth, and the kids he ran with, how he initially met Luciano, Lansky, Adonis, etc.
Still, probably the best book about him. And a great book for those who see him as quite underrated (he hardly ever appears in movies or in any cultural references, as opposed to Capone or Luciano, etc.)
The book itself was actually better than I imagined it would be. The research conducted by the author was extensive, even though there were still some seemingly elementary mistakes (including calling Vito Genovese a Sicilian, when his being Napolitan was what kept him from being part of the commission initially).
However, as with any of these old-timers, there is unfortunately not that much about his youth, and the kids he ran with, how he initially met Luciano, Lansky, Adonis, etc.
Still, probably the best book about him. And a great book for those who see him as quite underrated (he hardly ever appears in movies or in any cultural references, as opposed to Capone or Luciano, etc.)
April 25, 2020
It's a good historical book about Frank Costello, It is presented in a chronological way that recounts the life of Frank Costello. But honestly, I am disappointed. I hoped to see more into Costello's mindset and his way of doing business. He is a man to be respected for what he managed to accomplish but more importantly how he accomplished it. Unfortunately, this book recounts only a definitive collection of events that happened. And even though I found a couple of minor mistakes in it, it does a good job of narrating the events. But it does not do much else besides it. At least I can say that it remains objective.
December 29, 2018
This is a biography of a “political” gangster. Costello was not heavily involved in the violence perpetuated by the Mafia but handled many of the fixing. This tells of his rise in the mob and how he ran bootlegging operations during Prohibition and his rise thru the mob mainly at the side of Lucky Luciano. It was quite short for someone who lived such a long life detailing his later battles with the government to stay out of jail.
May 11, 2019
A Great True Crime Story and Life Story of a Mob Boss.
An outstanding book on the storied life and crimes of "Uncle" Frank Costello. Bought the book to give me insight into life of a fictional character in a current book series Christopher's Pawn Romance Series authored by my wife LP Budish.... I got and more of what I was looking for... Well written and documented... It keeps your interest... Highly recommend ....
An outstanding book on the storied life and crimes of "Uncle" Frank Costello. Bought the book to give me insight into life of a fictional character in a current book series Christopher's Pawn Romance Series authored by my wife LP Budish.... I got and more of what I was looking for... Well written and documented... It keeps your interest... Highly recommend ....
May 30, 2019
Outstanding Read
I read so many books about the outfit The syndicate the mafia and this was one of my most cherished reads Frank Costello has always been an amazing character in real life to me. The Godfather in my opinion is based off of Frank Costello's life. I highly recommend reading this word for word and put yourself in Frank's shoes and see how he lived his life. Paul La Fata
I read so many books about the outfit The syndicate the mafia and this was one of my most cherished reads Frank Costello has always been an amazing character in real life to me. The Godfather in my opinion is based off of Frank Costello's life. I highly recommend reading this word for word and put yourself in Frank's shoes and see how he lived his life. Paul La Fata
May 11, 2022
I picked up this book wondering why Frank Costello’s name wasn’t as familiar to me as the golden age of gangsters typically focused on Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel and the like. Costello moved in this same circle but also tried to cross into legitimate businesses as well and never got involved in the gangster shootings. Although he had his share of legal troubles in his later years and did some jail time, he died a free man of a simple heart attack in his old age.
September 26, 2025
Why have I never heard of this gangster? He was huge and so powerful for so long. But he managed to have an air of responsibility and legitimacy, and stay away from the violence. Fabulously researched book covering events from prohibition to the 1980’s from a mafia point of view.
November 5, 2023
Seems like the same story was still being repeated until recently
June 26, 2024
Pretty good short history of the mafia through one of the leading characters.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews