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A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc.
The riveting true story of the rise and fall of Murder, Inc. and the executioner-turned-informant whose mysterious death became a turning point in Mob history.
In the fall of 1941, a momentous trial was underway that threatened to end the careers and lives of New York’s most brutal mob kingpins. The lead witness, Abe Reles, had been a trusted executioner for Murder, Inc., the enforcement arm of a coast-to-coast mob network known as the Commission. But the man responsible for coolly silencing hundreds of informants was about to become the most talkative snitch of all. In exchange for police protection, Reles was prepared to rat out his murderous friends, from Albert Anastasia to Bugsy Siegel—but before he could testify, his shattered body was discovered on a rooftop outside his heavily-guarded hotel room. Was it a botched escape, or punishment for betraying the loyalty of the country’s most powerful mobsters?
Michael Cannell's A Brotherhood Betrayed traces the history of Murder, Inc. through Reles’ rise from street punk to murder chieftain to stool pigeon, ending with his fateful death on a Coney Island rooftop. It resurrects a time when crime became organized crime: a world of money and power, depravity and corruption, street corner ambushes and elaborately choreographed hits by wise-cracking foot soldiers with names like Buggsy Goldstein and Tick Tock Tannenbaum.
For a brief moment before World War II erupted, America fixated on the delicate balance of trust and betrayal on the Brooklyn streets. This is the story of the one man who tipped the balance.
In the fall of 1941, a momentous trial was underway that threatened to end the careers and lives of New York’s most brutal mob kingpins. The lead witness, Abe Reles, had been a trusted executioner for Murder, Inc., the enforcement arm of a coast-to-coast mob network known as the Commission. But the man responsible for coolly silencing hundreds of informants was about to become the most talkative snitch of all. In exchange for police protection, Reles was prepared to rat out his murderous friends, from Albert Anastasia to Bugsy Siegel—but before he could testify, his shattered body was discovered on a rooftop outside his heavily-guarded hotel room. Was it a botched escape, or punishment for betraying the loyalty of the country’s most powerful mobsters?
Michael Cannell's A Brotherhood Betrayed traces the history of Murder, Inc. through Reles’ rise from street punk to murder chieftain to stool pigeon, ending with his fateful death on a Coney Island rooftop. It resurrects a time when crime became organized crime: a world of money and power, depravity and corruption, street corner ambushes and elaborately choreographed hits by wise-cracking foot soldiers with names like Buggsy Goldstein and Tick Tock Tannenbaum.
For a brief moment before World War II erupted, America fixated on the delicate balance of trust and betrayal on the Brooklyn streets. This is the story of the one man who tipped the balance.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
141 people are currently reading
3354 people want to read
About the author
Michael Cannell
9 books144 followersMichael Cannell is the author of five non-fiction books:
Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation
A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc.
Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling
The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit
I.M Pei: Mandarin of Modernism.
Michael edited the House & Home section of The New York Times for seven years. He has contributed to The New Yorker, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. He is a graduate of Princeton and the Columbia University Schoo of Journalism.
Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation
A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc.
Incendiary: The Psychiatrist, the Mad Bomber and the Invention of Criminal Profiling
The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit
I.M Pei: Mandarin of Modernism.
Michael edited the House & Home section of The New York Times for seven years. He has contributed to The New Yorker, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated and many other publications. He is a graduate of Princeton and the Columbia University Schoo of Journalism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
September 5, 2025
3.8 "not a deep dive (pun intended) but a very well executed one (pun intended again)" stars !!!
Thank you to Netgalley, the author/journalist and Minotaur Books for an ecopy. This was released October 2020. I am providing an honest review.
Abe Reles was the stool pigeon that betrayed and brought down Murder Inc in Brooklyn and across the USA. This was the executing (not executive) branch of the newly united Italian and Jewish mobs. This is the story that takes place from the 1920s to the 1940s. A fascinating and inquisitive look at the machinations of organized crime, the police and various legal and political men of the time. Lots and lots of testosterone here !
A very nicely laid out overview of the times and personages told with a light journalistic flair that kept this reader most interested. Speculations and theories abound and are presented. A very good primer for those who are interested in the mob but whose knowledge is rather fuzzy....
A cast of characters (both major and minor) and some photographs would have made the reading experience easier for this reader.
A very good presentation but with excellence in the reading experience. This is a very high three star that will be rounded up and sit on my four star shelf. Hey buddy watch your back !
Thank you to Netgalley, the author/journalist and Minotaur Books for an ecopy. This was released October 2020. I am providing an honest review.
Abe Reles was the stool pigeon that betrayed and brought down Murder Inc in Brooklyn and across the USA. This was the executing (not executive) branch of the newly united Italian and Jewish mobs. This is the story that takes place from the 1920s to the 1940s. A fascinating and inquisitive look at the machinations of organized crime, the police and various legal and political men of the time. Lots and lots of testosterone here !
A very nicely laid out overview of the times and personages told with a light journalistic flair that kept this reader most interested. Speculations and theories abound and are presented. A very good primer for those who are interested in the mob but whose knowledge is rather fuzzy....
A cast of characters (both major and minor) and some photographs would have made the reading experience easier for this reader.
A very good presentation but with excellence in the reading experience. This is a very high three star that will be rounded up and sit on my four star shelf. Hey buddy watch your back !
dreaded-dnf
October 22, 2020DNF at 40%. This is usually the type of mob story that I adore, but for whatever reason, it's not keeping my interest at this time. Perhaps I'll try again in a few months.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity.
July 5, 2020
This is a well-written mob story about Murder, Inc. that I enjoyed recently. It tells the tale of the group that was formed to handle the punishments or hits for the mob after the families became equal under the Commission. This was brought about by Lucky Luciano when he killed the last of the Mustache Petes, who insisted on doing things the old way, with one boss having to be in charge over everyone. This cleared the way for Jews to now be part of it too, among other changes.
The families could just get in touch with Murder, Inc. when they had a problem with one of their members getting out of line or bringing too much heat. They could also be called if a member was suspected of talking to the authorities. They were chosen because they were already known as ruthless killers who had become pretty efficient at it. That only increased after it became their major interest. This book would be of interest to most who like true crime/ mob books, especially those from past generations, like in J. Edgar Hoover’s time. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author, Michael Cannell, and publisher in return for my honest review.
The families could just get in touch with Murder, Inc. when they had a problem with one of their members getting out of line or bringing too much heat. They could also be called if a member was suspected of talking to the authorities. They were chosen because they were already known as ruthless killers who had become pretty efficient at it. That only increased after it became their major interest. This book would be of interest to most who like true crime/ mob books, especially those from past generations, like in J. Edgar Hoover’s time. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author, Michael Cannell, and publisher in return for my honest review.
November 20, 2020
“A Brotherhood Betrayed” documents the history of “Murder, Inc.” probably the worst ring of killers in American history. The tale begins at the end on November 12, 1941, in Brooklyn; Abe Reles, the assassin-in-chief, plummeted from a hotel room to his death on a roof below. What follows is a look at how the participants came to this point in time, how the “mob” came to wield so much power and wreak so much havoc on the world. It is compelling and frightening. The dark true-life opera unfolds as readers are taken back in time to when it all started, to the humble beginnings in small time neighborhoods and how people evolved into villains, potentates, and snitches.
“A Brotherhood Betrayed” reads like fiction, but it is only too real, and vivid descriptions pull readers into the scenes. This is not a dry history of crime; this is an exposé on people who just happen to be criminals, who are deadly adversaries to both friend and foe. I received a review copy of “A Brotherhood Betrayed” from Michael Cannell, St Martin’ Press, and Minotaur Books. It is frightening and compelling. It also contains detailed sources, references, and notes, and including a YouTube link to Estes Kefauver’s appearance on “What’s My Line.”
“A Brotherhood Betrayed” reads like fiction, but it is only too real, and vivid descriptions pull readers into the scenes. This is not a dry history of crime; this is an exposé on people who just happen to be criminals, who are deadly adversaries to both friend and foe. I received a review copy of “A Brotherhood Betrayed” from Michael Cannell, St Martin’ Press, and Minotaur Books. It is frightening and compelling. It also contains detailed sources, references, and notes, and including a YouTube link to Estes Kefauver’s appearance on “What’s My Line.”
October 5, 2020
I had heard of Murder, Inc. before but, other than a rudimentary knowledge of being connected with the Mafia, I had never bothered to investigate further Author Michael Cannell gave me what I needed, and more.
The book goes into great detail starting when Abe Reles was just another punk on the street to his eventual rise as the shot caller of Murder, Inc., and all the way to his time in court and his eventual demise. While the description talks about the court case, the majority of the book details what had happened before. One can only be amazed at the coldhearted outlook Reles had concerning another life and how easily he was able to move from one murder to the next.
Mr. Cannell takes great care to make sure the reader doesn’t get confused with the multiple characters, gently reminding us who everyone was on a regular basis. The book comes close to the inventiveness of a novel at times, as real life can sometimes be much more than we could ever imagine. Readers are treated to intimate looks at people on both sides of the law. At the end of the book, the author shares an extensive list of sources for the material.
I recommend this book to readers of history and true crime. It is well-written and entertains the reader from start to finish. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
The book goes into great detail starting when Abe Reles was just another punk on the street to his eventual rise as the shot caller of Murder, Inc., and all the way to his time in court and his eventual demise. While the description talks about the court case, the majority of the book details what had happened before. One can only be amazed at the coldhearted outlook Reles had concerning another life and how easily he was able to move from one murder to the next.
Mr. Cannell takes great care to make sure the reader doesn’t get confused with the multiple characters, gently reminding us who everyone was on a regular basis. The book comes close to the inventiveness of a novel at times, as real life can sometimes be much more than we could ever imagine. Readers are treated to intimate looks at people on both sides of the law. At the end of the book, the author shares an extensive list of sources for the material.
I recommend this book to readers of history and true crime. It is well-written and entertains the reader from start to finish. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
June 3, 2020
Thank you so much to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Brotherhood Betrayed follows the rise and fall of Abe Reles, one of the main members of the notorious Murder Inc. This book follows his life and how he would eventually turn on those he worked for and become an informant with law enforcement, only to be found dead before he could testify in court.
Let me begin this review by saying that this is not my usual genre for reading. I am almost completely strictly Young Adult Fantasy, but this story caught my attention. I am so happy that it did. This book read like an adventure rather than a drawn out biography. It touched on multiple people Reles was involved with, allowing for a break from just the facts and lets the drama build up until the point when Reles begins working with law enforcement. It makes you feel immersed in the world of those mobsters and gives you alot to think about when it comes to how those people found themselves in that lifestyle. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes the time period with the mobsters or is interested in the networking of the mafias. It was a great read and a surprising break from my norm.
A Brotherhood Betrayed follows the rise and fall of Abe Reles, one of the main members of the notorious Murder Inc. This book follows his life and how he would eventually turn on those he worked for and become an informant with law enforcement, only to be found dead before he could testify in court.
Let me begin this review by saying that this is not my usual genre for reading. I am almost completely strictly Young Adult Fantasy, but this story caught my attention. I am so happy that it did. This book read like an adventure rather than a drawn out biography. It touched on multiple people Reles was involved with, allowing for a break from just the facts and lets the drama build up until the point when Reles begins working with law enforcement. It makes you feel immersed in the world of those mobsters and gives you alot to think about when it comes to how those people found themselves in that lifestyle. I would happily recommend this book to anyone who likes the time period with the mobsters or is interested in the networking of the mafias. It was a great read and a surprising break from my norm.
June 14, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve read many mafioso books since my mafia history my class at IUB. I find it fascinating that a large group could run the government, town and community based on their money and scare tactics. Especially when there is that much power and the law can get someone to turn on that said power.
This book does a great job fleshing out what it took to have the guts to testify and become an informant. Unlucky for our guy, he doesn’t make it to testify in court but his info does live on to tell the tale of what would otherwise be a secret to this day.
Great, quick read. I picked it up at night when I couldn’t sleep in between my other books. Reads more like an adventure than a biography. Would recommend.
I’ve read many mafioso books since my mafia history my class at IUB. I find it fascinating that a large group could run the government, town and community based on their money and scare tactics. Especially when there is that much power and the law can get someone to turn on that said power.
This book does a great job fleshing out what it took to have the guts to testify and become an informant. Unlucky for our guy, he doesn’t make it to testify in court but his info does live on to tell the tale of what would otherwise be a secret to this day.
Great, quick read. I picked it up at night when I couldn’t sleep in between my other books. Reads more like an adventure than a biography. Would recommend.
August 8, 2020
This book is an engaging history of the development of the Commission, by Lucky Luciano, which comprised the five main Mafia families and the role that Abe Reles played in the organization of Murder, Inc. which took care of problems for the Commission and his role in bringing down some of the major players by becoming a snitch for the District Attorney. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the events that took place involving the battle between the Commission and the Law.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook page
May 11, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley, Michael Cannell and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you are a fan of Goodfellas, Boardwalk Empire, or just a lover of American history.. especially the darker side, this one is for you! The story itself, is fascinating and fast paced the character research is well developed ,I had to remind myself several times that this is a true story. All too many times movies sensationalize lives of gangsters, the author does an amazing job of showing the very real, gritty lives these people lived.
Excellent read!
If you are a fan of Goodfellas, Boardwalk Empire, or just a lover of American history.. especially the darker side, this one is for you! The story itself, is fascinating and fast paced the character research is well developed ,I had to remind myself several times that this is a true story. All too many times movies sensationalize lives of gangsters, the author does an amazing job of showing the very real, gritty lives these people lived.
Excellent read!
August 31, 2020
November 12, 1941-Coney Island, New York
A body is found, having plummeted six stories from his room at the Half Moon Hotel. His voice is silenced, the damage had been done, but the Made Men could finally sleep……For Now.
The treacherous world of the Mafia was gobsmacked with the defection of hitman Abe “Kid Twist” Reles in 1940. Reles was the cog in the murder machine dubbed Murder, Incorporated. Murder, Inc was composed of a hodgepodge of Jewish and Italian men who murdered at the whim of their underworld bosses. Reles was born and raised in Brownsville, the son of hardworking immigrants. Reles was ashamed of his parents and their toiling for a living. He resolved to find an easier route to the valuable dollar.
Reles worked as muscle for the Shapiro brothers, enforcing their protection rackets. Reles would find himself behind bars repeatedly for his thuggish acts, yet the Shapiros bailed him out until Reles was no longer considered useful. A two year stint gave Reles time to plot revenge against the Shapiros, his release spawned a bloody war that left Reles on top. A partnership with ruthless labor racketeer Louis “Lepke” Buchalter further cemented the bona fides of Reles. Reles would soon set up shop at the Midnight Rose Candy Store. He would be joined by men like Phil “Pittsburgh Phil” Strauss, Emmanuel “Mendy” Weiss, Frank “Dasher” Abbandano and Harry “Happy” Maione. A phone call to the headquarters from Lepke, Albert Anastasia meant orders to kill. The target was usually an impediment to the earning power of the Mob. But as time elapsed, the killers began to turn on each other.
The body count mounted. Witnesses were scarce, as the intimidation employed by Murder, Inc could quell any busybodies. However, reform emerged in politics, corruption needing to be stamped out. Men like Thomas Dewey and William O’ Dwyer viewed the gangsters as masters of menace needing to be removed from society. The testimony of Reles began to demolish Murder, Inc resulting in convictions, imprisonment and capital punishment. Yet, as Reles got further into his testimony, he was getting closer to the mob hierarchy. This would not stand, and on November 12, his voice was silenced for good.
“A Brotherhood Betrayed” is a mesmerizing true crime narrative which is an attention grabber from the opening paragraph. The demise of Abe Reles and his posse of trigger happy men has been examined previously, but never as in depth. The crew that stabbed, strangled, shot with impunity for a decade is not merely a footnote in the story of the New York Mafia. They are center stage in this law and order tale, where the battle ends, but no clear winner has emerged. A powerful history book to add to an endless library of Organized Crime.
A body is found, having plummeted six stories from his room at the Half Moon Hotel. His voice is silenced, the damage had been done, but the Made Men could finally sleep……For Now.
The treacherous world of the Mafia was gobsmacked with the defection of hitman Abe “Kid Twist” Reles in 1940. Reles was the cog in the murder machine dubbed Murder, Incorporated. Murder, Inc was composed of a hodgepodge of Jewish and Italian men who murdered at the whim of their underworld bosses. Reles was born and raised in Brownsville, the son of hardworking immigrants. Reles was ashamed of his parents and their toiling for a living. He resolved to find an easier route to the valuable dollar.
Reles worked as muscle for the Shapiro brothers, enforcing their protection rackets. Reles would find himself behind bars repeatedly for his thuggish acts, yet the Shapiros bailed him out until Reles was no longer considered useful. A two year stint gave Reles time to plot revenge against the Shapiros, his release spawned a bloody war that left Reles on top. A partnership with ruthless labor racketeer Louis “Lepke” Buchalter further cemented the bona fides of Reles. Reles would soon set up shop at the Midnight Rose Candy Store. He would be joined by men like Phil “Pittsburgh Phil” Strauss, Emmanuel “Mendy” Weiss, Frank “Dasher” Abbandano and Harry “Happy” Maione. A phone call to the headquarters from Lepke, Albert Anastasia meant orders to kill. The target was usually an impediment to the earning power of the Mob. But as time elapsed, the killers began to turn on each other.
The body count mounted. Witnesses were scarce, as the intimidation employed by Murder, Inc could quell any busybodies. However, reform emerged in politics, corruption needing to be stamped out. Men like Thomas Dewey and William O’ Dwyer viewed the gangsters as masters of menace needing to be removed from society. The testimony of Reles began to demolish Murder, Inc resulting in convictions, imprisonment and capital punishment. Yet, as Reles got further into his testimony, he was getting closer to the mob hierarchy. This would not stand, and on November 12, his voice was silenced for good.
“A Brotherhood Betrayed” is a mesmerizing true crime narrative which is an attention grabber from the opening paragraph. The demise of Abe Reles and his posse of trigger happy men has been examined previously, but never as in depth. The crew that stabbed, strangled, shot with impunity for a decade is not merely a footnote in the story of the New York Mafia. They are center stage in this law and order tale, where the battle ends, but no clear winner has emerged. A powerful history book to add to an endless library of Organized Crime.
October 24, 2020
The definitive work on this subject is "Murder Inc." by Sid Feder and Burton Turkus. It was First published in 1951 and is still available. Turkus was the actual Assistant D.A. who successfully prosecuted seven of the members of Murder Inc. All seven went to the electric chair, including Lepke Buchallter, who was the first high up (and so far...only) organized crime figure to get the death penalty. Abe Reles, the main subject of "A Brother Hood Betrayed" was the informer who made the prosecutions possible.
Both books will be enjoyed by people like me who love to read about Organized Crime, especially in the New York City area. Michael Cannell brings some interesting points on some of the participants that Turkus did not, and the reverse is often the case as well. Cannell also goes into followups of the main participants that occurred after 1951.
Lately when I read books about people that really existed I google them and look at the available photos, and there are more photos online than I have ever seen in books. Fascinating to see what they really looked like. And sometimes shocking.
Both books will be enjoyed by people like me who love to read about Organized Crime, especially in the New York City area. Michael Cannell brings some interesting points on some of the participants that Turkus did not, and the reverse is often the case as well. Cannell also goes into followups of the main participants that occurred after 1951.
Lately when I read books about people that really existed I google them and look at the available photos, and there are more photos online than I have ever seen in books. Fascinating to see what they really looked like. And sometimes shocking.
May 15, 2020
Thank you to #NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book prior to publication in exchange for my honest review. A Brotherhood Betrayed is a well researched, well written true story about the history of Murder, Inc., a name that journalist Harry Feeney of the World-Telegram gave to organized crime during the 1930s and 1940s. Started by Louis Lepke Buchalter in 1933, the group of executioners would basically kill anyone for money, and they killed lots of people. Ultimately one of the executioners, Abe Reles (known as Kid Twist) turned on Buchalter and agreed to tell everything he knew about Murder, Inc. and the people who were part of it. For two months, Reles provided information on more than three dozen unsolved murders across the country. He remembered all the details and knew where each body was buried and who had buried them. He provided details on murders that the police did not even know about. He was testifying as a witness in exchange for police protection but the very morning that the Buchalter's trial was set to begin, his body was found on the hotel rooftop despite the guards posted outside his hotel room. The official explanation of his death was that he fell while trying to escape but there were indications that the evidence did not support that. Without Reles testimony, most of the cases had to be dismissed or allowed to expire because without him there was no corroboration. One case that did continue, however, was the case against Buchalter who was convicted and sentenced to execution by death. There is so much more to this story, so many details and facts that Cannell includes. This book reads like a novel and you have to keep reminding yourself that it is a true story. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.
October 23, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC of this telling of intimate details of the rise and fall of the Murder, Inc. crowd from Netgalley, Michael Cannell, and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this history piece of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of the work.
Michael Cannell takes us into the inner reaches of the New York mob connections during the 1940s. And he does take us there, with colorful prose and unexpected nuggets of information. Makes me really glad that I don't live in those times, although politicians are getting there, in line to take their place in our society today. A book I am glad I read. It puts some of the seemingly unacceptable acts taking place in the here and now into perspective.
pub date Oct 6, 2020
St. Martin's Press - Minotaur books
Reviewed on October 23, 2020, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Michael Cannell takes us into the inner reaches of the New York mob connections during the 1940s. And he does take us there, with colorful prose and unexpected nuggets of information. Makes me really glad that I don't live in those times, although politicians are getting there, in line to take their place in our society today. A book I am glad I read. It puts some of the seemingly unacceptable acts taking place in the here and now into perspective.
pub date Oct 6, 2020
St. Martin's Press - Minotaur books
Reviewed on October 23, 2020, at Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
May 21, 2020
Michael Cannell put a lot of research into this book and all the underworld bosses. There are quite a few names, but it doesn't get confusing the way it's laid out.
Murder Inc. was created to take care of the snitches, insubordination or anyone who went against the grain. Sometimes it involved someone they grew up with and were best friends with. Sometimes it went all the way up the chain to judges and DA's.
This was a very interesting book and had a lot of interesting information in it.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Murder Inc. was created to take care of the snitches, insubordination or anyone who went against the grain. Sometimes it involved someone they grew up with and were best friends with. Sometimes it went all the way up the chain to judges and DA's.
This was a very interesting book and had a lot of interesting information in it.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 1, 2021
A very detailed take on the rise and fall of Murder Inc and the man behind it. It is fascinating for those of us that are true crime and history buffs, but it got a bit too detailed in some parts- so many names and crimes that it began to be confusing. Could have definitely been edited out a bit more to focus more on Reles instead of so many side characters. Still, it was an enjoyable look into the mafia days of NYC in the 1930s-1940s. Would recommend to those that are into American history, crime books and mafia stories.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the gifted copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the gifted copy.
August 24, 2020
There was so much information and such detailed accounts of events that this book was slightly confusing. I tended to get a bit weighed down by the content. The events were well researched, but I got a bit bored in the middle.
November 16, 2020
New York may never represent the best in America, but it has long been the most colorful.
Michael Cannell, a former editor at the New York Times, has now written a second love letter, packed with colorful details, to the New York that was. His appreciation of journalistic hacks in prior writings is now augmented by that of gangsters, specifically the Murder Inc. mobsters from Prohibition through WWII. Midway through the book I realized what a great read it is for these newly dark days of the nation.
The language is rich and evocative. The nicknames given to each other by Jewish and Italian crime-doyens, such as Buggsy Goldstein, Cokey Flo (an addict moll), Abbadabba, Puggy Feinstein (described by Cannell as “a sad-sack minor bookie”), and, our anti-hero, Kid Twist. Alliteration takes front page with Pittsburgh Phil, Lucky Luciano, and Tick Tock Tannenbaum. (Now we have proof of Donald Trump’s New York pedigree, in his creative gift of monikers for opponents.) Equally clever are the sobriquets and epigrams given by stringers on the trial and murder scene beat, including The Kiss of Death (for the bombshell broad whose four boyfriends all get snuffed) and “The canary could sing, but he could not fly” for the book’s main criminal protagonist, Abe Reles, whose five story fall is the book’s central mystery. The gallows humor extends to the Sing Sing electric chair termed “Old Sparky.” Overall, one realizes how large a place gangland took in the American imagination and vocabulary.
I’m not a frequent reader of Crime Inc. lore, and was grateful that Cannell avoided Pulp Fiction luridness, that glorifies the gore, in his terse descriptions of countless crime scenes. Among them was the succinct “A fifth, decisive shot splashed the back of his head against the tile floor.” [p.274] Indeed, his writing may be subtly inspired by the tough guy brogue, with a Give ‘em only the facts, ma’am style. Cannell often deploys the mot , such as his courtroom description in which the setting “had reduced the Brooklyn big shots to sallow failures.” [p.185]
Cannell has an eye for the telling detail but can be repetitive, as when he returns to how one mobster’s head permanently lists to the side (due to a bullet’s ripping several neck muscles) on p.228, or how Twist Kid’s death-impact from five stories up leaves his suit pants ripped at the crotch on p.231. Nice details, but no need to repeat them.
Almost as a motif, he returns to “killer eyes.” One of the few unsullied heros of the period, a prosecutor named Burton Turkus, makes the observation, which Cannell amplifies as “a coldness of soul expressed in their countenance.” [p.220]
For a book swimming in crime and sin, there is little jail time given to the immaterial. While tough guys frequently break down blubbering at the prospect of execution, outside of that there is nary a thought for eternal life. Thankfully, the religious hypocrisy is held to a minimum, the Catholic rituals by and over killers more striking, the Jewish ones less so.
Instead the book, perhaps unavoidably, meanders now and then into authorial omniscience, intuiting the dead characters’ thoughts and motives:
“He was tense with good reason: his appearance before the committee might be his last chance to restore his name, to exorcise Rele’s ghost.” [p.262]
The emotional/emotive insights, even if or when from source materials, can border on psycho-babble:
“Kitty’s body might be failing, but her mind was forever keen. In her calming presence his public show of fighting spirits subsided, replaced by the more contemplative and melancholic nature that was his truer state of mind.” [p.219]
Given how colorfully sordid New York is depicted, we hunger for good guys. The book’s best candidate is perhaps William O’Dwyer (whose wife, Kitty, is mentioned above), a sympathetic and gregarious Irishman who rises from District Attorney to Mayor, before getting sidelined as Ambassador to Mexico. His character is fleshed out more than most, including his relation to his first wife, Kitty, who suffers from Parkinson’s, but even his life ends tragically.
Maintaining a film noirish atmosphere for an entire book can challenge even the most prodigious fabulist. I found the contemporary description “Pixar villain” on the narrative’s first page jarring. As I did, on the book last page, when a list of gangster flicks includes two I’m unfamiliar with, Boardwalk Empire and The Irishmen. (Call me culturally deprived.)
Cannell’s book-noire is massively researched, with no burial stone unturned. A history book at heart, it is one where history sometimes rhymes, even if the sequence is reversed: one learns of the famous penitentiary retreat that “Welfare Island was later renamed Roosevelt Island.” Yet it is a pity that all the characters, and people who knew them, are long dead. Perhaps some interviews lending insights to the vast cast of characters could have helped. (It can be hard to keep track with who’s who in gangland.)
But just when my consuming interest in the book flagged, I was jolted by how well A Brotherhood Betrayed fits our national moment. Think of it. We have Crime Inc. in the Democrat party, intent on power through thievery, willing to kill the nation’s faith in electoral integrity in the process. We have the Biden crime family, led by Godfather Joe, who over 30 years received a 50% cut of his son’s suspicious business activities (per his son’s emails) with foreign adversaries, making them both security risks to the nation.
There’s even a statement which could be applied to today, when “the forces of human belligerence threatened to subsume all those who would impose order on lawlessness.” [p.135] Sounds like forever-Left cities this year, doesn’t it?
Thinking of all the rioting and hatred which blossomed this year from Leftland, followed by an election heist of historic proportions: how topical can a crime yarn get?
[Full disclosure: I roomed with the author at prep school eons ago.]
October 5, 2020
This is an absolutely riveting true crime story about the campaign to destroy organized crime and racketeering in New York City in the 1940s. For me, it’s the best kind of nonfiction, that which is written in a narrative style. The author has done his homework and this book reflects that. His writing draws you in, and never lets go. It reads like a thriller wrapped around a mystery. I can’t recommend this enough. It will blow you away!
June 5, 2020
I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Let's face it...gangsters can be fascinating and a group of gangsters who arranged murders at the request of mob figures are even more intriguing. This book details the elite group of killers known as Murder, Inc. They worked out of a New York candy store known as Midnight Rosie's. Honest! Here they sat waiting for a phone call, a message, or a visit that would send them out on their next assignment. With major players such as Abe 'Kid Twist' Reles, Albert 'The Mad Hatter' Anastasia, and Louis 'Lepke' Buchalter, this ruthless group carried out hundreds of murders across the country during the 1920s and 1930s. Author Michael Cannell did a very good job with researching and telling the story. My only complaint was the vast number of characters involved. It was hard to keep them all straight. Murder, Inc. ended its reign of terror when Reles decided to rat them out around 1940. He turned state's witness and sent at least four co-workers to the electric chair. Reles himself met a mysterious fate by defenestration (look it up) that has yet to be satisfactorily explained. If you ever wondered just how the mob pulled off their grisly deeds, this book will give you an incite into how they operated. This is a must-read for anyone interested in mobsters and the bedlam they caused. Lesson learned? Don't cross the big boys!
May 31, 2020
Review: A Brotherhood Betrayed (The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc.) by Michael Cannell
My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The man referred to in the title is Abe Reles. I chose to read this book, because I am a huge fan of stories, movies, podcasts, and articles, about organized crime and the criminal elements involved in such activities. I actually enjoy almost all true crime TV shows and podcasts, but these about organized crime and criminals from the early 20th century are some of my favorites. In this book, I hoped to read about the famous gangsters I knew about before or had watched for years. These hopes were satisfied in spades but not as I expected. I had never heard of Abe Reles. I was surprised to have not met Abe previously, but I was not disappointed and happy to meet a new “thug.”
A Brotherhood Betrayed is encyclopedic in its coverage of Abe Reles’s life, crimes, connections, and demise. The book contains lots and lots of stories of the organized crime underworld and how Reles was connected to the crimes and more famous bosses. It was fun to read about the sad end for most of these criminals. Why didn’t I know that Lucky Luciano had been deported and then returned?
If you are a fan of organized crime and criminals, I think you will enjoy this book. I certainly did.
Star rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The man referred to in the title is Abe Reles. I chose to read this book, because I am a huge fan of stories, movies, podcasts, and articles, about organized crime and the criminal elements involved in such activities. I actually enjoy almost all true crime TV shows and podcasts, but these about organized crime and criminals from the early 20th century are some of my favorites. In this book, I hoped to read about the famous gangsters I knew about before or had watched for years. These hopes were satisfied in spades but not as I expected. I had never heard of Abe Reles. I was surprised to have not met Abe previously, but I was not disappointed and happy to meet a new “thug.”
A Brotherhood Betrayed is encyclopedic in its coverage of Abe Reles’s life, crimes, connections, and demise. The book contains lots and lots of stories of the organized crime underworld and how Reles was connected to the crimes and more famous bosses. It was fun to read about the sad end for most of these criminals. Why didn’t I know that Lucky Luciano had been deported and then returned?
If you are a fan of organized crime and criminals, I think you will enjoy this book. I certainly did.
Star rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
October 18, 2020
I love True Crime books and this one I enjoyed a lot. Who doesn't like a book that makes you wonder who did it?
Michael Cannell wrote a well researched book on Murder, Inc. Murder, Inc. was the mafias way of getting rid of snitches, people who offended them, or just anyone they wanted to get rid of. It was told what who needed to go by the Commission. The Commission were the Italian and Jewish bosses in the 1920's to the mid 1940's.
Abe Reles, who the book is about, was the leader of Murder, Inc. He decided who joined it's ranks. After the Commission said who they needed gone, Reles would plan how, when and where it would happen. Prosecutors decided to go after Murder, Inc. to clean Brooklyn up. After this, it was a race between the Prosecutors and Murder Inc. to see which one could get to a person first. Prosecutors would protect you if you squealed and Murder Inc. would kill you.
Reles decided to turn on the mob. Before he could testify about the bosses, he was killed. The question is, who killed Reles?
If you enjoy True Crime books, or mobster books, I recommend you read this book. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Cannell for a copy of the book for my honest opinion and thoughts.
Michael Cannell wrote a well researched book on Murder, Inc. Murder, Inc. was the mafias way of getting rid of snitches, people who offended them, or just anyone they wanted to get rid of. It was told what who needed to go by the Commission. The Commission were the Italian and Jewish bosses in the 1920's to the mid 1940's.
Abe Reles, who the book is about, was the leader of Murder, Inc. He decided who joined it's ranks. After the Commission said who they needed gone, Reles would plan how, when and where it would happen. Prosecutors decided to go after Murder, Inc. to clean Brooklyn up. After this, it was a race between the Prosecutors and Murder Inc. to see which one could get to a person first. Prosecutors would protect you if you squealed and Murder Inc. would kill you.
Reles decided to turn on the mob. Before he could testify about the bosses, he was killed. The question is, who killed Reles?
If you enjoy True Crime books, or mobster books, I recommend you read this book. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Cannell for a copy of the book for my honest opinion and thoughts.
June 18, 2020
This was my first mob-related book and I found it fascinating. The story delves into the growth of the mob family in Brownsville, New York - a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Abe Reles, a mob murder man and enforcer, works his way up through the ranks to become the enforcer that everyone turns to, this gives him an unimaginable of power over those below - and above him. When Reles feels the law is coming for him, he quickly starts to sing. Thanks to a memory most people would be jealous of, Reles tells all his takes and sends multiple mob members to Sing Sing where they are executed in the electric chair nicknamed "Old Sparky." Shortly before Reles is set to sing at his biggest trial, he is found dead outside his safe house. There continues to be a lingering question of if he was murdered, killed himself, or died trying to escape.
All in all, this book was definitely worth the time invested to read it. I learned about mobsters I never knew existed and allowed me to learn more about those I knew the names of. I found myself googling the mobsters so I could have a picture in my head of what they looked like so I would have a better understanding of those involved.
All in all, this book was definitely worth the time invested to read it. I learned about mobsters I never knew existed and allowed me to learn more about those I knew the names of. I found myself googling the mobsters so I could have a picture in my head of what they looked like so I would have a better understanding of those involved.
July 6, 2020
I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.
A thoroughly researched book that delves into the early days of organized crime when it was a lose outfit of various ethnic crews who come together as The Commission and "policed" by Murder, Inc. Most people associate organized crime, of The Mafia/Mob, with Italians and the more modern families, this book goes further back starting with the aid Prohibition gave to the small gangs. This book is both informative and entertaining, which is not always accomplished in a nonfiction book. Another enjoyable aspect of this book is that even after the "star" dies, we see how life plays out for the rest of those involved in the hunt for The Commission and Murder, Inc. members. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys diving deep into the history of organized crime or those who are curious about the early days of the mob.
A thoroughly researched book that delves into the early days of organized crime when it was a lose outfit of various ethnic crews who come together as The Commission and "policed" by Murder, Inc. Most people associate organized crime, of The Mafia/Mob, with Italians and the more modern families, this book goes further back starting with the aid Prohibition gave to the small gangs. This book is both informative and entertaining, which is not always accomplished in a nonfiction book. Another enjoyable aspect of this book is that even after the "star" dies, we see how life plays out for the rest of those involved in the hunt for The Commission and Murder, Inc. members. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys diving deep into the history of organized crime or those who are curious about the early days of the mob.
May 3, 2020
Assuming that this book has been thoroughly researched and fact-checked . . . it’s a wealth of historical information about the mafia.
I write mid-century historical fiction heavily steeped in sultry southern Louisiana culture, including figures involved in the New Orleans based crime syndicate . . . I find this book is a valuable resource for connecting the major players to their fellow tradesmen further north.
Abe Reles was a man who knew too much, a mobster who turned informant, a voice that could reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of the society of men known as LaCosa Nostra. A man who could shine a bright light on the many misdeeds of dangerous and lawless men.
It is as you’d expect, like most history lessons, a bit dry and somewhat slow in areas (don’t think that it will flow or race like fiction).
A Brotherhood Betrayed is overall an informative and worthwhile read.
I write mid-century historical fiction heavily steeped in sultry southern Louisiana culture, including figures involved in the New Orleans based crime syndicate . . . I find this book is a valuable resource for connecting the major players to their fellow tradesmen further north.
Abe Reles was a man who knew too much, a mobster who turned informant, a voice that could reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of the society of men known as LaCosa Nostra. A man who could shine a bright light on the many misdeeds of dangerous and lawless men.
It is as you’d expect, like most history lessons, a bit dry and somewhat slow in areas (don’t think that it will flow or race like fiction).
A Brotherhood Betrayed is overall an informative and worthwhile read.
May 28, 2020
The worst part of this book is that it is true. How or what has to happen to people to allow them to do such horrible, miserable and hateful things defies my understanding. Those that make it a profession are even more disturbing. So reading this book, with all the veracity it contained, was painful.
The hypocrisy of these people also reveals their depravity- hurting and killing people, and all the sorrow those acts bring with them- are the job. Yet when they have to consider consequences of their actions. suddenly they need protection.
Frankly I am glad the guy died, but think life in prison, not witness protection would have been more just. All I can say is that I hope he saw the ground coming up.
Well written, enjoyable to read, other than what it was about. The author is good enough to make the bloodshed very, too, real.
The hypocrisy of these people also reveals their depravity- hurting and killing people, and all the sorrow those acts bring with them- are the job. Yet when they have to consider consequences of their actions. suddenly they need protection.
Frankly I am glad the guy died, but think life in prison, not witness protection would have been more just. All I can say is that I hope he saw the ground coming up.
Well written, enjoyable to read, other than what it was about. The author is good enough to make the bloodshed very, too, real.
August 3, 2020
This is largely the engaging criminal career of Abraham "Kid Twist" Reles, the New York mobster hit man for Murder, Inc., the enforcement contractor for The Syndicate. Besides his crimes and that of his associates is their roles in testifying against each other. This includes much about the career of future Governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey, before the "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline. Also covered is the shady District Atty O'Dwyer and mobster Anastasia. It is interesting to read of the vigorous efforts of Hoover pre-WWII, considering his later reluctance to go after organized crime.
June 27, 2020
A glimpse into the mob alliance known as Murder Inc. in the 1930s/1940s NYC. I was drawn in at the start, not knowing anything about the topic, but unfortunately it got to be a bit of a slog in the middle. So many names and (at times hilarious) nicknames; this person murdered that one, these 4 people murdered this other person, etc. At times the book felt repetitive, and somewhat scattered in its narrative.
I'd say this is a 2.5 from me. If the narrative were slightly more focused, and overall a bit tighter, I would've been a much bigger fan. But if you're one for non-fiction and don't mind a denser read, I'd recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'd say this is a 2.5 from me. If the narrative were slightly more focused, and overall a bit tighter, I would've been a much bigger fan. But if you're one for non-fiction and don't mind a denser read, I'd recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2020
Murder, Inc did exactly what its moniker would suggest. When the mafia powers needed to eliminate a problem or settle a score or deliver a message, they called on Murder, Inc. Abe Reles was part of the machine. A hitman with great skill and loyalty. But, then he became an informant, a rat as it were, and helped bring down the organization he helped build. This is a slice of Americana that many would prefer to forget but must remember. Michael Cannell has brought this story alive with novel-like suspense and incredible research. You will love this book. Guaranteed.
DP Lyle, award-winning author, lecturer, and story consultant.
www.dplylemd.com
DP Lyle, award-winning author, lecturer, and story consultant.
www.dplylemd.com
March 8, 2021
This isn't the type of book I would normally read but the photo and synopsis drew me in. Overall it was a good book and taught me a lot about a world that I knew nothing about. The book though had a lot of downtime in it and I found myself skimming parts of the book. It also had a lot of people mentioned and a lot of nicknames in it that made it hard to keep it all straight at times. If this is a world you are interested in though, I highly recommend this book and am glad I read it, as I learned so much. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this book for an honest opinion.
September 25, 2020
I received an Advance Readers’ Edition of A Brotherhood Betrayed by Michael Cannell from the publisher (Minotaur Books). A Brotherhood Betrayed is scheduled for release on October 6, 2020.
A Brotherhood Betrayed is the true story of one man (Abe Reles) who rose to prominence within the mob before turning and giving evidence against them. While in protective custody, Reles is found dead on the hotel roof under his window. Cannell explores how Reles’ actions as a mob man turned evidence might have been connected to his death. Was it a murder or was it suicide?
Cannell clearly spent a great deal of time researching this book. He includes a multitude of scenes involving Reles and others, including several murders, planning of more murders, hiding of murders, and trials for murder. (Yes, there’s a lot of murder in Murder, Inc.)
Cannell is a journalist, and that shows in his both his thorough research and writing. His descriptions often read as if they were written by a journalist sitting in the back of a courtroom. This is both a strength and a weakness in the book. Some of his descriptions become very focused on physical appearance, including race and ethnicity. These descriptions tend toward the negative, including some derogatory terminology. From early in the book, this choice of language threw me, but I believed Cannell was using this language deliberately to set the tone of the time and place he was describing. It became a problem, however, as the choice in language continued throughout the book, often being layered so heavily that I lost track of the scene behind the negative language.
This language was directed at many of the mob members in the book, including Reles. The result is that as a reader, I felt that Cannell did not actually like the person he had focused his book around. Throughout the book, Cannell seemed much more connected to the prosecutors involved in various stages of the story. This distance from his chosen focal point made the story feel a bit disconnected for me. I think this would have been a stronger book if Cannell had chosen to focus his tale around the prosecutors.
Overall, A Brotherhood Betrayed was an interesting deep look at mob lore. While I would have enjoyed the book more with less negative language and a different focal point, I would recommend this to readers interested in mob history.
A Brotherhood Betrayed is the true story of one man (Abe Reles) who rose to prominence within the mob before turning and giving evidence against them. While in protective custody, Reles is found dead on the hotel roof under his window. Cannell explores how Reles’ actions as a mob man turned evidence might have been connected to his death. Was it a murder or was it suicide?
Cannell clearly spent a great deal of time researching this book. He includes a multitude of scenes involving Reles and others, including several murders, planning of more murders, hiding of murders, and trials for murder. (Yes, there’s a lot of murder in Murder, Inc.)
Cannell is a journalist, and that shows in his both his thorough research and writing. His descriptions often read as if they were written by a journalist sitting in the back of a courtroom. This is both a strength and a weakness in the book. Some of his descriptions become very focused on physical appearance, including race and ethnicity. These descriptions tend toward the negative, including some derogatory terminology. From early in the book, this choice of language threw me, but I believed Cannell was using this language deliberately to set the tone of the time and place he was describing. It became a problem, however, as the choice in language continued throughout the book, often being layered so heavily that I lost track of the scene behind the negative language.
This language was directed at many of the mob members in the book, including Reles. The result is that as a reader, I felt that Cannell did not actually like the person he had focused his book around. Throughout the book, Cannell seemed much more connected to the prosecutors involved in various stages of the story. This distance from his chosen focal point made the story feel a bit disconnected for me. I think this would have been a stronger book if Cannell had chosen to focus his tale around the prosecutors.
Overall, A Brotherhood Betrayed was an interesting deep look at mob lore. While I would have enjoyed the book more with less negative language and a different focal point, I would recommend this to readers interested in mob history.
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