Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America

by Sam Giancana, Chuck Giancana

The electrifying New York Times bestseller, written by Giancana's brother and godson. For 40 years, Sam Giancana was a powerful mob boss, a man whose ruthless ambition would forever alter the course of history. Now this shocking, inside-the-syndicate tell-all reveals Giancana's first-person testimony regarding his involvement in the deaths of Monroe, and others. Photographs.

Genres: True Crime, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Crime, Politics, Audiobook

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 20, 1992

Reviews

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. I knew very little of Sam Giancana and The Outfit in Chicago. This guy was definitely the real deal! It was compelling learning just how much The Outfit had their hand in. Sam Giancana was really good at being able to see all the angles and capitalize on them. He was never not working on some new deal for The Outfit. I did start to feel bad for the rest of his family. They had to deal with a lot of stuff. Their only crime was being related to Sam Giancana. None of the books I've read on organized crime has a happy ending and this one is no different. There's really only a couple of ways for these stories to end. Anyone who has an interest in the history of organized crime should enjoy reading this book.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book from my husband's collection at this his urging. It was what I expected - an organized crime story about Sam Giancana taking place from the 1930's-70's. Who really knows what really happened and who is responsible for what when discussing with organized crime, the government, coverups, murders,gambling, etc.? For me the most interesting part was the role Giancana had in the Kennedy assasination and Marilyn Monroe's death. The story was written by Mooney's brother Chuck and namesake godson so I am sure some of the writing was partial to one side of the story.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I did not know much about Sam Giancana or the Outfit before this. It was a fascinating read. I was drawn to it because it claimed to discuss topics like the JFK assassination. It is written like a novel, even though it is from the perspective of Chuck Giancana, Sam's younger brother, and information that he learned through his brother. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in controversial things, or someone who just wants to get an inside look into organized crime. One thing I will say, you have to take what is said as a grain of salt. A lot of the information is presented through what Sam tells Chuck, so it could be ego talking things up to a younger brother or could be really be true. It is essentially some information that you can determine if you want to belive it or not.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is basically a biography of Sam Giancana, ultimately the head of the Chicago 'outfit', as told through the eyes of his younger brother, Chuck, and as written, mostly, by his namesake godson. Other than offering some insight into the 20th century Italian mob the book is filled with remarkable revelations, all undocumented, concerning mob involvement in the assassinations of Anton Cermak, the Kennedy brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Patrice Lumumba and others. So, too, are revelations concerning the connections between the mob and such notables as Richard Daley, Joe Kennedy, the Rat Pack, various CIA operatives and officers, Lee Harvey Oswald, Richard Nixon and members of the Pritzker family (one of whom is currently running for office in Illinois). Although anecdotal, based as they are on what Sam purportedly told Chuck, most of these affiliations are, however, documented in other sources. All in all, this narrative is rather upsetting, upsetting enough, one hopes, to draw its readers to other, more well documented studies.

[Bookcase Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Double Cross years ago so I can't get into much detail with this review. But I remember two things very clearly: I couldn't put it down and it convinced me that JFK's assassination was a CIA orchestrated hit. It's not because I'm a conspiracy theory nut, but if it isn't how it happened, it means there were a series of seriously unfortunate 'coincidences' surrounding the whole mess. Just read it and see for yourself, it's an awesome read, I highly recommend.

[Steven jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story of the life of mob boss Sam Giancana. Some of the information I knew, but there was much that was new to me including mob involvement with several assassinations, although I found the information surrounding the last assassination a bit difficult to believe. I am also surprised by the depth of details the author was able to recall, and that Sam Giancana told his brother so much; I would have thought he would not have told anyone, and yet perhaps he needed a confidante.

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm typically a sucker for any good gangster/mafia book, and this just wasn't very good. While Sam Giancana's story is fairly interesting as a whole, this book was written by his little brother Chuck and nearly everything in the book is simply stories of what Sam told Chuck about various events. He includes just enough details to make the stories somewhat plausible, but still falls far short of being convincing. The whole book comes across more like bragging and exaggeration about how powerful Giancana really was rather than any sort of accurate biography.

[Jimbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! Goes in depth with the giancana family for years. Whats really good about this book is the struggle they went though. However, it's also interesting to read about the St. Valentines Day massacre from one of the people involved. There are talks of running with Capone. Even insider information on the assassination of JFK and death Marilyn Monroe. I don't want to give too much of the book away though. Read it for yourself if you like the Sopranos or Godfather.

[Nabilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting reads but whether it really happened the way the author says it did, I am not sure but I do know, other documentations had shown that American politicians and related agencies did have deep, symbiotic relationship with the underworld and it did not end after the Kennedys.

I think it is not farfetched to say that the history of American organized crime syndicates is also a history of American capitalism and imperialism.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about an area of American life that I am not familiar with, the mafia, or whatever you want to call organized crime.

Most of the information for the book comes from Sam's discussions with his brother Chuck.

It makes for a very interesting and lively book at times but has some slow reading at other times.

In all, I'm glad that I read it because it presents information that I was not aware of before.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Michael Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the day, I was interested in all things mob-related. I had not heard of Sam Giancana, but came across this book one day and decided to give it a try. While I do not condone the machinations of one such as Sam, it was a very interesting read about about his life and dealings. Once caught within the grasp of the pages, I could not put it down until done.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

35% through and I abandoned it. I kept hoping it would become more interesting, but I just can't get through it. Surprising, as I typically love true crime and anything about the golden days of Gangsters.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a captivating read. The detailed accusations of deception and murder depicted in this book are absolutely unbelievable...but somehow I believe them! History or fiction, I loved it!

[John Lambrechts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chicago dark side. Great job by the Grandson of Sam Giancana.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Doug Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read! The Outfit was the strongest organization for several decades.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

My neighbor brought over this book and said, you have to read this! Even though I read this book over a long period of time, this book was a pager turner from start to finish. Although my day-to-day life isn’t the easiest for picking up and reading, I also felt like I needed time to digest the information. I also tried this on audiobook and o didn’t like it. I felt it went too fast and there are many names to keep straight and so I read this slow and deliberately.

The book is about the most powerful mob boss, out of Chicago, Sam Giancana, who I hadn’t heard of before. I’ve never been much into the mob. But this story weaves through history, politics, money and power and it drew me in. The story is told by Sam’s brother, and explains the assassination of JFK, RFK, the death of Marilyn Monroe, the Bay of Pigs and more. The narrative makes a lot of sense, and explains many “conspiracies” with sensical and logical explanations. After finishing the book, I did a bit of research into the people mentioned responsible for JFKs assassination and it all seems plausible, everyone seems to be who the book claimed they are. The story also shows the long histories of people like JFKs father and Jack Ruby’s involvement with the mob.

This story, to me, gives a lot of plausibility to the “Deep State” which is discussed so much in today’s politics. It also makes mention of the disgusting practice of child sex-trafficking and that money and power can buy you just about anything you want. This book was published in 1991, but I found it gave a lot of food for thought on what is going on today. I could make some direct connections and many indirect connections. The book claims to be true, I don’t know how much of it is true, but the story is certainly believable and worth consideration.

Although I enjoyed the book and found it mind blowing in many ways, I also found it to be really sad. I love my country and the virtues it pursues, if this book is true, it shows truly how corrupt the government and those with money and power have become over the past hundred years, or more.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. What can anyone say? Written by Sam Giancana's brother, who is to dispute Giancana's role in the assassinations of JFK and RFK? Let's be real: we've all heard whispers about the roles that Lee Harvey Oswald played (that of a patsy) and the roles that Jack Ruby played (a lone crusader, out to avenge the murder of our beloved president) but, in reality, Giancana's brother links Oswald to the Mob in more ways than one. He also places two different shooters in the Dallas Book Depository (besides Oswald) and tells us that police officer J.D. Tippett was involved in the assassination, as well, being a cop from Chicago who worked for Giancana associates there. Jack Ruby was also involved with Giancana in Chicago and was set up in Dallas years before the assassination in the nightclub business to familiarize himself with police so that they would know him. In reality, he drew no attention when he was in the basement when Oswald was being moved for arraignment for the shooting of JFK; therefore he was able to approach Oswald to fire the bullet that silenced him and, forevermore, silenced the one man who could possibly link all of the different players in the assassination. (This was the highlight of the book, BTW.)

[Forrest · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to say for certain who wrote the book.  The authorship is attributed to Sam "Mooney" Giancana's younger brother "Chuck" Giancana but it appears that much of this was written by a ghost writer who may have interviewed Chuck.

Could the writing be heavily slanted and even functional?  Perhaps. Sam Giancana is certainly portrayed as the ruthless, violent sociopath, inherited from his violent and abusive father. He is also a serial adulterer with a penchant for extreme violence and a complete lack of conscience or morals,  all-in-all a very evil guy.   However, he is simultaneously portrayed as a loving father figure looking out for the monetary needs of his family. His brother Chuck is supposedly the unwilling participant looking for a way to escape the mob and his dependence on his brother.

Sheds light on the Kennedy assassinations, the CIA, and even makes some very brazen claims about the mob's, particularly Giancana's involvement, as well as his sexual affairs with Marilyn Monroe.

It's an interesting book,  but maybe too spectacular.  The book was obviously written for film, so again like any book,  it's hard to say how much is exaggeration or plain fiction.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to take this book with a grain of salt (That helps if you are reading and cooking at the same time). This book is written by the brother and grandson of former mob boss Sam Giancana. In this book he talks about how Sam admits to his brother Chuck that he was involved in the Kennedy assaniation. Still it's a good book and pretty informative.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the one man on earth with whom Sam "Mooney" Giancana could share his most incriminating and dangerous secrets, his younger brother Chuck, comes the entire Giancana saga.
Very interesting book about one of the Mafias most feared leaders.

[Walt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite its length, it is a quick read. The authors merged the historical account with the historical fiction so that this book lacks the dryness of many gangster accounts.

[Mandy Weinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like fiction - a fast paced, engaging book.

[Sandra SCALLAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read !

every American should read this ! a wake-up call! let us quit duping ourselves and come out of our Hendry hole

[Kate O'Quinn]

makes you wonder

This really makes you wonder about how things are really run in the government. Also makes you wonder how much of it was true.

[Craig Brisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting but no real new information. If you watched JFK this book names the same people in the book that the movie mentions.

[DesSaint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some may say that this book is just one of many conspiracy theories written about JFK and RFK assassinations.
I have read a number of them but the fact that it is co-written by the brother of the man that supposedly gave the order, gives it a bit more credibility.
I know that the Warren Commission findings were just ridiculous.
It is a known fact that JFK narrowly beat Nixon thanks to the teamster vote organized by mob in Illinois.
It is also a fact that the Kennedy fortune came from bootlegging and that Joe Kennedy was not only a criminal but also a Nazi sympathizer, as confirmed during his Ambassadorship to London between 1938 and 1940 and his friendship with Nancy Astor and Oswald Mosley, both staunch antisemites.
John Kennedy, once in office, was supposed to help Sam Giancana, Carlos Marcelo and Santo Trafficante keep carrying out their criminal activities, however, once elected, he double crossed them and placed his brother as Attorney General, who went after all of them and Jimmy Hoffa with an undisguised zeal.
That certainly was a good motive for JFK and RFK getting assassinated.
What made it easier is the fact that JFK made enemies in the upper echelons of the CIA, who collaborated with the mob in the assassinations.
The only reason that these assassinations were never officially solved ( if you don't believe in the lone wolf theory ) is that the American government will never admit that it had collaborated with the mob.
You only need to look at Mexico and realize that collaboration definitely exists there and America is no exception.
This book definitely has plenty of detail ( including the murder of Marlyn Monroe, who had affairs with both brothers ) for a formal investigation to be launched, but I don't think that Joe Biden is the man that's going to do it.

[Tera Slawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was younger I idolized Mobsters, and admired the “family” part of the Mafia. I liked the Hollywood idea of the Mafia, the glamour of it. It took growing up to realize that they were really just thugs and brutal murderers. I still find them interesting, but more in the way I find serial killers interesting. No longer admiring any part of that nonsense.

Sam Giancana is one of the best known mafiosos. And after reading this book, I have come to realize he is also one of the biggest pieces of shit! Murderer, rapist and abuser. This book was actually written by his brother after his murder, so everything written is just what he claims Sam Giancana told him. We get a good history of Sam Giancana’s life growing up and how he came to be one of Al Capone’s best hitmen. His involvement with The Kennedys, Marilyn Monroe and their murders??

I have complicated feelings about the real author of this book ; Chuck Giancana. While I have no doubt his brother affected his life in many negative ways, he also reaped many rewards by being “The Boss’s” brother. It bothered me that he claimed that his hands were clean but he was part of this criminal enterprise from the beginning. He knew about brutal murders and crimes and only told them for a book deal. He claims to be just another one of his brothers' victims. I’m not buying that.

This book could just be a big work of fiction, Sam Giancana is dead and there is not a shred of proof for any of the major claims made. It was interesting in parts, and while learning about the hardships that may have made Sam Giancana the brutal killer he was, I didn’t really have any pity for him. He is disgusting.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this four stars due to the information and subject matter which were both of great interest to me. The writing leaves a bit to be desired and timelines kind of jump around a bit, but I still found it immensely interesting. Chuck Giancana had a complicated love/hate relationship with his brother, Mooney. Plus, Mooney was a mean s.o.b. with an enormous ego. For those reasons, you need to wonder how much of what is told here is true and how much is a) enhanced by brother worship or b) braggadocio from an ego-maniac that wanted to rule the world.

One thing that was suspicious to me was that there is very little mention of Tony Accardo in the book. Tony ran the Syndicate in Chicago (and beyond) for years and, even when Sam was the titular "boss", he couldn't make big moves without getting permission from Accardo. That fact was definitely left out and makes me wonder about some of the other stories in the book.

There were lots of pieces of info regarding the two Kennedy murders that are very intriguing. The book states as fact that the Outfit, in conjunction with the CIA, were responsible for both murders. The facts presented are compelling, but anyone who has real proof has not yet provided it. You decide what you think.

In any event, if you have interest in The Syndicate and the players whose names were well-known back in the day in Chicago, you will enjoy this book. I know I did.

[John Smidlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was good enough. Things I didn’t like about it: felt gossipy, have no idea if what was said is true, looks like the author has written 4 books about his family’s involvement in the mafia which makes me suspicious, there was a lot of detail that wasn’t super necessary for some parts and then interesting events did not get much breakdown.

What I did like: learned a lot about organized crime in Chicago, didn’t know how international those organizations got, was cool to hear about JFK and Bobby Kennedy even if what was said is untrue, you’ll never guess how Marylin Monroe actually died

What I took: the book is about Mooney Giancana from when he was a kid to ruling the biggest crime organization in the US. The leadership style was interesting: he wasn’t greedy, he was decisive, he was hot tempered and cruel, he also had the ability to be friendly. There were a lot of stories of him saying one thing but meaning another, with the recipient knowing exactly what he meant without any communication (and therefore basically making the recipient self implode with fear and doubt). He also didn’t have the capacity for love it seemed, which he profited from greatly.