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It's Just the Way It Was: Inside the War on the New England Mob and other stories
In It's Just the Way It Inside the War on the New England Mob and other stories, Joe Broadmeadow and Brendan Doherty take you inside the investigations, covert surveillances, and murky world of informants in the war against Organized Crime.
Make no mistake about it, it was a war targeting the insidious nature of the mob and their detrimental effect on Rhode Island and throughout New England.
Indeed, the book reveals the extensive nature of Organized Crime throughout the United States.
From the opening moments detailing a mob enforcer's near death in a hail of gunfire to the potentially deadly confrontation between then Detective Brendan Doherty and a notorious mob associate, Gerard Ouimette, this book puts you right there in the middle.
Most books on the mob tell a sanitized story of guys who relished their time as mobsters. As Nicholas Pileggi, author of "Wiseguys," put it, "most mob books are the egomaniacal ravings of an illiterate hood masquerading as a benevolent godfather."
This is not that kind of book. This is the story of the good guys.
It's just the way it was.
Make no mistake about it, it was a war targeting the insidious nature of the mob and their detrimental effect on Rhode Island and throughout New England.
Indeed, the book reveals the extensive nature of Organized Crime throughout the United States.
From the opening moments detailing a mob enforcer's near death in a hail of gunfire to the potentially deadly confrontation between then Detective Brendan Doherty and a notorious mob associate, Gerard Ouimette, this book puts you right there in the middle.
Most books on the mob tell a sanitized story of guys who relished their time as mobsters. As Nicholas Pileggi, author of "Wiseguys," put it, "most mob books are the egomaniacal ravings of an illiterate hood masquerading as a benevolent godfather."
This is not that kind of book. This is the story of the good guys.
It's just the way it was.
- GenresHistory
406 pages, paperback
Published October 9, 2019
About the author
Joe Broadmeadow
23 books26 followersJoe Broadmeadow retired with the rank of Captain from the East Providence, Rhode Island Police Department after twenty years. Assigned to various divisions within the department including Commander of Investigative Services, he also worked in the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and on special assignment to the FBI Drug Task Force.
Joe is the author of seven books; three novels based on his experiences as a police officer, Collision Course, Silenced Justice, and A Change of Hate, a Y/A novel, Saving the Last Dragon, and three non-fiction books; Choices: You Make 'em You Own 'em written with Jerry Tillinghast, UnMade: Honor Loyalty Redemption written with Bobby Walason, and It's Just the Way It Was: Inside the War on the New England Mob and other stories written with Brendan Doherty former superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
Joe also writes for two blogs, The Writing of Joe Broadmeadow (http://www.joebroadmeadowblog.com) and The Heretic and the Holy Man (www.thehereticandtheholyman.wordpress...) and as a guest columnist for the Providence Journal and GoLocalProv.com.
When Joe is not writing, he is hiking or fishing (and thinking about writing). Joe completed a 2,185-mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in September 2014. After completing the trail, Joe published a short story, Spirit of the Trail, available on Amazon.com in Kindle format.
Joe lives in Rhode Island with his wife Susan.
Joe is the author of seven books; three novels based on his experiences as a police officer, Collision Course, Silenced Justice, and A Change of Hate, a Y/A novel, Saving the Last Dragon, and three non-fiction books; Choices: You Make 'em You Own 'em written with Jerry Tillinghast, UnMade: Honor Loyalty Redemption written with Bobby Walason, and It's Just the Way It Was: Inside the War on the New England Mob and other stories written with Brendan Doherty former superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.
Joe also writes for two blogs, The Writing of Joe Broadmeadow (http://www.joebroadmeadowblog.com) and The Heretic and the Holy Man (www.thehereticandtheholyman.wordpress...) and as a guest columnist for the Providence Journal and GoLocalProv.com.
When Joe is not writing, he is hiking or fishing (and thinking about writing). Joe completed a 2,185-mile thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in September 2014. After completing the trail, Joe published a short story, Spirit of the Trail, available on Amazon.com in Kindle format.
Joe lives in Rhode Island with his wife Susan.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 14, 2020
Interesting but not much new
March 1, 2021
Soooo Rhode Island! Better editing needed, but the stories are amazing.
May 9, 2026
Growing up in RI during this era I found the book very interesting.
January 21, 2020
This is a MUST read if you were born, raised, went to school here or just visited
Rhode Island. I should even throw in the rest of New England as well as the other
News (York and Jersey). Its a fascinating read involving the RI state police, the
New England mob and the relationship between both organizations. Names(including
some fantastic nicknames) are on just about every page. Also included are several
well known restaurants that will surely peak your interest. Once you start this
book you will not want to stop. Highly recommended.
Rhode Island. I should even throw in the rest of New England as well as the other
News (York and Jersey). Its a fascinating read involving the RI state police, the
New England mob and the relationship between both organizations. Names(including
some fantastic nicknames) are on just about every page. Also included are several
well known restaurants that will surely peak your interest. Once you start this
book you will not want to stop. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2019
A real life look at the Mob through the eyes of a law enforcement officer that had tenacity and guts to take down the untouchables. Recounting Brendan Doherty's one on one experiences with the mobsters who's names are known to anyone who grew up in Southern New England.
Broadmeadow's book breaks down how the criminal element had engrained itself into the fabric of the Northeast, in particular, Providence, Rhode Island. From the street corner to the State House, the La Costa Nostra, had their finger prints on everything.
Doherty is a real life Wyatt Earp.
Broadmeadow's book breaks down how the criminal element had engrained itself into the fabric of the Northeast, in particular, Providence, Rhode Island. From the street corner to the State House, the La Costa Nostra, had their finger prints on everything.
Doherty is a real life Wyatt Earp.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews