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The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese, Mafia Boss
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and author Anthony M. DeStefano presents the definitive book on Vito Genovese, the namesake of a crime family which still considered one of the most viable and dangerous in the U.S. today. From enforcer to godfather, Vito Genovese rose through the ranks of La Cosa Nostra to head of one of the wealthiest and most dangerous crime families in American history.
Vito Genovese ran rackets as a member of Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria's gang in New York City before joining forces with Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel as bootleggers during Prohibition. As a soldier in the Castellammarese War, he helped orchestrate Masseria's death on behalf of Brooklyn crime lord Salvatore Maranzano, consolidating his position and power before ensuring Maranzano, too, was knocked off. For the next three decades, Vito Genovese--shrewd, merciless, and utterly savage--killed countless gangsters in his bid to become the capo di tutti i capi--boss of bosses--in the American Mafia. Genovese would betray some of the mafia's most notorious bosses, including Albert Anastasia and Frank Costello, to eventually seize control of the Luciano crime family, one that still bears his name today.
In The Deadly Don, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony M. DeStefano presents the rise and fall of Vito Genovese in this first comprehensive biography of the legendary mafioso--from his childhood in Naples, Italy, and the beginnings of his bullet-ridden criminal career on lower Manhattan's mean streets, through his self-exile in the mid-1930s back to his homeland where he ran a black market operation under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, and his return to New York where Genovese made a fortune as the head of an illegal narcotics empire. DeStefano reveals the important and terrifying role Genovese played in the creation of the Mafia, detailing his bloody and ruthless lifetime of crime that would put him behind bars for his last fifteen years--and securing his infamous place in the history of organized crime.
Vito Genovese ran rackets as a member of Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria's gang in New York City before joining forces with Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel as bootleggers during Prohibition. As a soldier in the Castellammarese War, he helped orchestrate Masseria's death on behalf of Brooklyn crime lord Salvatore Maranzano, consolidating his position and power before ensuring Maranzano, too, was knocked off. For the next three decades, Vito Genovese--shrewd, merciless, and utterly savage--killed countless gangsters in his bid to become the capo di tutti i capi--boss of bosses--in the American Mafia. Genovese would betray some of the mafia's most notorious bosses, including Albert Anastasia and Frank Costello, to eventually seize control of the Luciano crime family, one that still bears his name today.
In The Deadly Don, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony M. DeStefano presents the rise and fall of Vito Genovese in this first comprehensive biography of the legendary mafioso--from his childhood in Naples, Italy, and the beginnings of his bullet-ridden criminal career on lower Manhattan's mean streets, through his self-exile in the mid-1930s back to his homeland where he ran a black market operation under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, and his return to New York where Genovese made a fortune as the head of an illegal narcotics empire. DeStefano reveals the important and terrifying role Genovese played in the creation of the Mafia, detailing his bloody and ruthless lifetime of crime that would put him behind bars for his last fifteen years--and securing his infamous place in the history of organized crime.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2021
163 people are currently reading
238 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 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 20, 2024
This was exactly specific as the title. It's Genovese biography. And it was as accurate as the author could make it. Many exact dates or very core decisions of the Mafia- secretive/ hard to prove by documentation. But all legal and witness voices were done well.
There are mistakes in the copy. Double words or extra words. It should have been better proof read. Not enough of them to kill the read, but they were there. Not your typical hard cover read- nor were any of these Genovese close to your typical American neighbor, IMHO. Most lived high class goods/ neighborhoods/ lifestyles. Genovese's 1st wife's funeral is worth the read alone. She died at 28 from TB which was rampant in the areas of Little Italy and all around NYC where she did constant charity work. She caught the kind that killed you in a month.
Reading this gave you excellent windows into the times and ploys of organized crime to the mores of the populace etc. for those eras. But it didn't give a wide overview of criminal organization of Italian origin mob structures or hierarchies as did the book by O'Reilly. Not at all. That just published non-fiction (Killing the Mob) did the whole view to other mobs and the FBI/CIA or other politico get alongs to go alongs much better. Also to the history of downfall and what the old style morphed into, as well.
One of the pivotal events was forming the Five Families of NY structure. And I felt this didn't detail enough the very serious Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese long term (as far as any Mafia true competitions go) duo trysts/competions (I really don't know what the English word would be- but their neck to neck "trust" hierarchy and power levels) to both be the "capodi tutti i capi" (boss of bosses) in the America side Mafia at the same time.
Brutal man. The photos were excellent and entirely him and just a few others in his various ages- including in the courts and in the final prison years. Not the family man pictures either. The deterioration of physical and mental is SO clearly visible. He was not a smart IQ man at all- absolutely under 100 IQ. He had another kind of smarts.
About the only time I laughed reading this book was in the descriptions of stripping of American citizenship. And how much punishment, consequence- that was deemed to set upon the stripped individual. Moral shame, vindictive negations to process etc. Now it hardly would make any difference whatsoever. Citizenship rights?
Also another observation. The Mob made mistakes in their violence and it was 99% against the wrong mobster or flunky not identified correctly. Innocent people were killed. But not in any proportion to normal by-standers or people watching tv in their front rooms with bullets going through the walls in street gang bang fights presently. They actually did know how to shoot too.
Babies didn't get shot in the head every week if their buggy was anywhere outside or sitting in a car seat. Same processes of making money- similar hierarchies too. But gang bangers of 2000 plus have a much short lifespan than did majority of these evil conspirators.
There are mistakes in the copy. Double words or extra words. It should have been better proof read. Not enough of them to kill the read, but they were there. Not your typical hard cover read- nor were any of these Genovese close to your typical American neighbor, IMHO. Most lived high class goods/ neighborhoods/ lifestyles. Genovese's 1st wife's funeral is worth the read alone. She died at 28 from TB which was rampant in the areas of Little Italy and all around NYC where she did constant charity work. She caught the kind that killed you in a month.
Reading this gave you excellent windows into the times and ploys of organized crime to the mores of the populace etc. for those eras. But it didn't give a wide overview of criminal organization of Italian origin mob structures or hierarchies as did the book by O'Reilly. Not at all. That just published non-fiction (Killing the Mob) did the whole view to other mobs and the FBI/CIA or other politico get alongs to go alongs much better. Also to the history of downfall and what the old style morphed into, as well.
One of the pivotal events was forming the Five Families of NY structure. And I felt this didn't detail enough the very serious Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese long term (as far as any Mafia true competitions go) duo trysts/competions (I really don't know what the English word would be- but their neck to neck "trust" hierarchy and power levels) to both be the "capodi tutti i capi" (boss of bosses) in the America side Mafia at the same time.
Brutal man. The photos were excellent and entirely him and just a few others in his various ages- including in the courts and in the final prison years. Not the family man pictures either. The deterioration of physical and mental is SO clearly visible. He was not a smart IQ man at all- absolutely under 100 IQ. He had another kind of smarts.
About the only time I laughed reading this book was in the descriptions of stripping of American citizenship. And how much punishment, consequence- that was deemed to set upon the stripped individual. Moral shame, vindictive negations to process etc. Now it hardly would make any difference whatsoever. Citizenship rights?
Also another observation. The Mob made mistakes in their violence and it was 99% against the wrong mobster or flunky not identified correctly. Innocent people were killed. But not in any proportion to normal by-standers or people watching tv in their front rooms with bullets going through the walls in street gang bang fights presently. They actually did know how to shoot too.
Babies didn't get shot in the head every week if their buggy was anywhere outside or sitting in a car seat. Same processes of making money- similar hierarchies too. But gang bangers of 2000 plus have a much short lifespan than did majority of these evil conspirators.
August 1, 2021
This turned out to be really good! In continuing on with my endless obsession of gangsters/mafia/organized crime, I wanted to read about Vito Genovese. I felt like this book focused on some of the more personal aspects of Vito Genovese's life. Not a lot was covered in regards to the crimes of the "family" as a whole. It was intriguing getting to learn more personal things about Vito Genovese. As with all the books I've read about organized crime, this one contained a lot of legal proceedings. Don Vitone usually managed to avoid conviction... usually. He seemed to always be one step ahead. Until he wasn't. I felt like he served as a prime example of why the more traditional bosses frowned upon the dealing of drugs. Overall this is a really good book about a ruthless boss and will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in organized crime.
March 18, 2021
This book adds to my trove of knowledge about different mob men, and is another good mob book by the author. Well written and researched, it gives an in depth look at Vito Genovese from beginning to end. I never knew he was involved with Mussolini during the second world war. Pretty amazing stuff. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author , and the publisher.
April 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and author Anthony M. DeStefano presents the definitive book on Vito Genovese, the namesake of a crime family which still considered one of the most viable and dangerous in the U.S. today. From enforcer to Godfather, Vito Genovese rose through the ranks of La Cosa Nostra to head of one of the wealthiest and most dangerous crime families in American history.
Vito Genovese ran rackets as a member of Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria's gang in New York City before joining forces with Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel as bootleggers during Prohibition. As a soldier in the Castellammarese War, he helped orchestrate Masseria's death on behalf of Brooklyn crime lord Salvatore Maranzano, consolidating his position and power before ensuring Maranzano, too, was knocked off. For the next three decades, Vito Genovese--shrewd, merciless, and utterly savage--killed countless gangsters in his bid to become the capo di tutti di capi--boss of bosses--in the American Mafia. Genovese would betray some of the mafia's most notorious bosses, including Albert Anastasia and Frank Costello, to eventually seize control of the Luciano crime family, one that still bears the Genovese name today.
In The Deadly Don, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony M. DeStefano presents the rise and fall of Vito Genovese in this first comprehensive biography of the legendary mafioso--from his childhood in Naples, Italy, and the beginnings of his bullet-ridden criminal career on lower Manhattan's mean streets, through his self-exile in the mid-1930s back to his homeland where he ran a black market operation under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, and his return to New York where Genovese
made a fortune as the head of an illegal narcotics empire. DeStefano reveals the important and terrifying role Genovese played in the creation of the Mafia, detailing his bloody and ruthless lifetime of crime that would put him behind bars for his last fifteen years--and securing his infamous place in the history of organized crime.
-----
For some reason, I (like many other people) have long had a fascination with the Mafia, and especially with the New York families. I also have an interest in the history of New York City, so when this book came up for review, I knew it was perfect for me. Vito Genovese is certainly a well-known figure in the history of the New York Mafia, and I looked forward to learning more about him.
I found this to be a thorough, well-researched story of Genovese, from his life's advent in Naples, Italy, throughout his years in the highest ranks of organized crime, to the last days of his life in a federal detention center. Although only a little over 350 pages, this book did take me a long time to read because it was so heavy in detail, so it was not one I could really escape into for hours at a time. However, if you have any interest in how Genovese completed his rise to the top, set against a backdrop of a detailed history of the New York Mafia of the 1930s through the 1950s and 1960s, this book is certainly worth a spot on your bookshelf, Kindle or otherwise.
-----
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and author Anthony M. DeStefano presents the definitive book on Vito Genovese, the namesake of a crime family which still considered one of the most viable and dangerous in the U.S. today. From enforcer to Godfather, Vito Genovese rose through the ranks of La Cosa Nostra to head of one of the wealthiest and most dangerous crime families in American history.
Vito Genovese ran rackets as a member of Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria's gang in New York City before joining forces with Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, and Bugsy Siegel as bootleggers during Prohibition. As a soldier in the Castellammarese War, he helped orchestrate Masseria's death on behalf of Brooklyn crime lord Salvatore Maranzano, consolidating his position and power before ensuring Maranzano, too, was knocked off. For the next three decades, Vito Genovese--shrewd, merciless, and utterly savage--killed countless gangsters in his bid to become the capo di tutti di capi--boss of bosses--in the American Mafia. Genovese would betray some of the mafia's most notorious bosses, including Albert Anastasia and Frank Costello, to eventually seize control of the Luciano crime family, one that still bears the Genovese name today.
In The Deadly Don, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony M. DeStefano presents the rise and fall of Vito Genovese in this first comprehensive biography of the legendary mafioso--from his childhood in Naples, Italy, and the beginnings of his bullet-ridden criminal career on lower Manhattan's mean streets, through his self-exile in the mid-1930s back to his homeland where he ran a black market operation under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, and his return to New York where Genovese
made a fortune as the head of an illegal narcotics empire. DeStefano reveals the important and terrifying role Genovese played in the creation of the Mafia, detailing his bloody and ruthless lifetime of crime that would put him behind bars for his last fifteen years--and securing his infamous place in the history of organized crime.
-----
For some reason, I (like many other people) have long had a fascination with the Mafia, and especially with the New York families. I also have an interest in the history of New York City, so when this book came up for review, I knew it was perfect for me. Vito Genovese is certainly a well-known figure in the history of the New York Mafia, and I looked forward to learning more about him.
I found this to be a thorough, well-researched story of Genovese, from his life's advent in Naples, Italy, throughout his years in the highest ranks of organized crime, to the last days of his life in a federal detention center. Although only a little over 350 pages, this book did take me a long time to read because it was so heavy in detail, so it was not one I could really escape into for hours at a time. However, if you have any interest in how Genovese completed his rise to the top, set against a backdrop of a detailed history of the New York Mafia of the 1930s through the 1950s and 1960s, this book is certainly worth a spot on your bookshelf, Kindle or otherwise.
May 27, 2021
I was excited to see a biography of Vito Genovese up for review on NetGalley. I’ve studied gangsters from the 30’s-70’s since I was a teen, writing multiple papers on them for both high school and college assignments, but hadn’t researched Don Vito before. I saw that this was written by Pulitzer Prize Winner Anthony M. DeStefano and I knew I would get an in-depth and well-written biography.
What we get is a lot of facts thrown at us. Mostly in chronological order, he does do some backpedaling though, to add events that were left out and needed to be talked about. This is a very dry book, As I said, we do get a lot of facts thrown at us as we read. Since Mr. DeStefano is a journalist, he takes the journalistic approach of dispensing facts, no story, no buildup. You know the line from the old tv show, “Just the facts, ma’am”. That’s how this biography is written. Now, this isn’t bad, you definitely build a complete picture of just how Don Vito was, from the time he came to the USA, how he grew in the Mafia, his life in exile, his return, even his time in prison. He is one of the few men of the Mafia who was actually able to grow old. We know how rare that was during that period. It was more common to be struck down in you prime than it was to age.
I definitely enjoyed learning about Don Vito Genovese, from the time of his arrival, to the time of his death. I do thank the author for all of his hard work to find out everything he could on this elusive Don.
**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
What we get is a lot of facts thrown at us. Mostly in chronological order, he does do some backpedaling though, to add events that were left out and needed to be talked about. This is a very dry book, As I said, we do get a lot of facts thrown at us as we read. Since Mr. DeStefano is a journalist, he takes the journalistic approach of dispensing facts, no story, no buildup. You know the line from the old tv show, “Just the facts, ma’am”. That’s how this biography is written. Now, this isn’t bad, you definitely build a complete picture of just how Don Vito was, from the time he came to the USA, how he grew in the Mafia, his life in exile, his return, even his time in prison. He is one of the few men of the Mafia who was actually able to grow old. We know how rare that was during that period. It was more common to be struck down in you prime than it was to age.
I definitely enjoyed learning about Don Vito Genovese, from the time of his arrival, to the time of his death. I do thank the author for all of his hard work to find out everything he could on this elusive Don.
**I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
March 7, 2021
The legitimate biography of Vito Genovese, the bigger than life mobster who was everything but legitimate during his colorful life of crimes and numerous misdemeanors...
Anthony DeStefano has written a fiendishly good portrait of an unscrupulous man who steadfastly and ruthlessly built an empire through anything illegal you could possibly name. Name it, he did it. This biography reads like a thriller. Actually it's like reading on a rollercoaster.Nothing is left untouched, nothing is left in the dark and you better make sure that your seatbelt is well fastened It's actually more than the biography of a notorious mobster. It's the biography of a 20th century crime family and the malevolent roots it deeply anchored all around the World. A very satisfying read, full of fascinating details that allowed me to finally understand what the mafia was, stood for and its brutish influence throughout American history. A great book to be enjoyed without moderation👍👍
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful biography prior to the release date
Anthony DeStefano has written a fiendishly good portrait of an unscrupulous man who steadfastly and ruthlessly built an empire through anything illegal you could possibly name. Name it, he did it. This biography reads like a thriller. Actually it's like reading on a rollercoaster.Nothing is left untouched, nothing is left in the dark and you better make sure that your seatbelt is well fastened It's actually more than the biography of a notorious mobster. It's the biography of a 20th century crime family and the malevolent roots it deeply anchored all around the World. A very satisfying read, full of fascinating details that allowed me to finally understand what the mafia was, stood for and its brutish influence throughout American history. A great book to be enjoyed without moderation👍👍
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful biography prior to the release date
February 7, 2022
I was expecting a lot more from this book than what it actually produced. It reads more like a political study of the first and second world wars, rather than a biography of a Mafia boss - and a top boss at that.
Perhaps it’s difficult to write biographical books about people who have been dead many years, but it’s not impossible and despite having finished the book, I still do not know anything new about Don Vito Genovese. Yes, Genovese - one of the five families still carries his name. So, ya know, he was really rather important, he wasn’t on the periphery of organised crime. However, if you’re interested in the political battles of the time the book covers, then you’ll find this book useful. To me, it was a fluffed out piece of writing that held very little actual content on the life and crimes of Vito Genovese. I feel I learned more about Mussolini than Genovese. Hey ho, can’t win them all.
Perhaps it’s difficult to write biographical books about people who have been dead many years, but it’s not impossible and despite having finished the book, I still do not know anything new about Don Vito Genovese. Yes, Genovese - one of the five families still carries his name. So, ya know, he was really rather important, he wasn’t on the periphery of organised crime. However, if you’re interested in the political battles of the time the book covers, then you’ll find this book useful. To me, it was a fluffed out piece of writing that held very little actual content on the life and crimes of Vito Genovese. I feel I learned more about Mussolini than Genovese. Hey ho, can’t win them all.
December 20, 2023
I enjoyed this more than I expected to, given that the history of the Mafia isn’t a particular interest of mine, and I’m more interested in the personalities than their shenanigans. However, this turned out to be a good read, if a little too bogged down in detail on occasion (the court cases and so on). The research has obviously been thorough, but it was a fairly dry read, primarily fact-based (he did this, he did that, this happened, that happened) with little attempt to get inside Genovese’s head and thoughts. Perhaps this wasn’t the intention, or even possible given that there is no first-hand account to turn to. I wonder what a novelist’s imagination would do with the material – that would indeed be fascinating. Nevertheless, for what it is, the book gives a good overview of Genovese’s life and times, and is a good introduction to the history of the Mafia in the US.
February 24, 2024
Throughout the book it is mentioned on multiple occasions how Vito Genovese was the top man in the Mafia during a time period where they were growing in power throughout the world. Sadly, this book does not live up to such a legacy. I would almost call this a textbook as opposed to a biographical piece of work.
The positives I took away were the more intimate parts of his life, which included his first wife passing at a young age and the love/hate relationship with his second wife Anna.
Another unfortunate habit that authors of Mafia members fall into is name dropping and getting off track. Too much time is spent delving into the background of the low level thug known as Cantellops.
All in all, I found Genovese to be a legendary figure in the Mafia. I'm hoping that further authors will come along and build on that foundation that "The Deadly Don" has created.
The positives I took away were the more intimate parts of his life, which included his first wife passing at a young age and the love/hate relationship with his second wife Anna.
Another unfortunate habit that authors of Mafia members fall into is name dropping and getting off track. Too much time is spent delving into the background of the low level thug known as Cantellops.
All in all, I found Genovese to be a legendary figure in the Mafia. I'm hoping that further authors will come along and build on that foundation that "The Deadly Don" has created.
May 7, 2021
An excellent look into the life and times of one of the original Mafioso's, Vito Genovese. The author seems to leave no stone unturned, as he delves deeply into Genovese's story. You will witness his coming up in the Mafia, as well as the tactics and strategies he employed to rise and to stay in power. A incredibly ruthless man!
I was impressed with the author's research. He even managed to unearth information about Genovese's history and duplicity in Italy during World War II. All in all, a very thorough biography.
If you are interested in the "golden age" of the Mafia, this would be a good book to read!
I was impressed with the author's research. He even managed to unearth information about Genovese's history and duplicity in Italy during World War II. All in all, a very thorough biography.
If you are interested in the "golden age" of the Mafia, this would be a good book to read!
May 30, 2021
During the pandemic my family and I have been watching more biographies and documentaries and my husband's favorites are the older mafia ones. Which has led us to reading more of these biographies.
Author Anthony M. DeStefano does a very good job of trying to explain Don Vito and erasing a few myths that have followed the man around after all these years.One myth that might or might not have been cleared was - did he kill his second wife's husband so he could marry her? The man died and Vito married Anna so you be the judge after reading "The Deadly Don."
Mr. DeStefano, seems to have done quite a bit of researching to give an interesting and factual look at this man's life.
Author Anthony M. DeStefano does a very good job of trying to explain Don Vito and erasing a few myths that have followed the man around after all these years.One myth that might or might not have been cleared was - did he kill his second wife's husband so he could marry her? The man died and Vito married Anna so you be the judge after reading "The Deadly Don."
Mr. DeStefano, seems to have done quite a bit of researching to give an interesting and factual look at this man's life.
March 19, 2025
Vito Genovese was born in Italy in 1897. He immigrated to the United States in 1913, at the age of fifteen. Genovese got involved in street crime in Little Italy pretty much immediately. He would go on to work for Guiseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria, the leader of the crime family he would one day lead. He was cohorts with Lucky Luciano and several other well-known names in organized crime. This book outlined his life and criminal career. The book was really well done, properly researched, and written by an investigative journalist who can keep a reader's attention.
October 28, 2023
This book was very underwhelming and didn’t provide much of a story about Genovese. I don’t usually leave reviews but I’ve read many books on the mafia and this was such a flop compared to others I’ve read. There were also many spelling mistakes and names spelled wrong in the book which really shocked me. I’m not sure if the editor even proof read this book! I have also read Mob Killer by the same author and I felt the same way. Do yourself a favour and leave this one on the shelf.
August 21, 2024
I found this book to be okay not anything that I had not known from other books that I have read. What I wish someone would write about is how he thought that he was so smart but in actuality was not. He botched so many things for the mob I am surprised he was still around even after the Appalchalin meeting that he set up but was busted which led to the fall of the mafia, they would have fallen anyway but he put it on the fast track. This book was mostly about his life.
March 12, 2021
I have always enjoyed stories of mob figures, probably because I am of Sicilian ancestry. This book was very informative without being just a dry recitation of facts. It gives you a good look at one of the most interesting times in crime history. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.
December 15, 2021
i enjoyed this book as a piece of history more than anything else, and i've read many true crime books about the mafia. it's gripping morre or less throughout, and you'll be glad you stuck it through to the finish. loads of fine and bloody detail here, but i have read better such as the iceman about mafia hitman richard kuklinski.
January 13, 2022
Quick impressions: Overall I liked it, but I honestly wish the narrative was better, a bit more engaging. Still, it is well researched, and readers who enjoy this genre will want to read it. At this point, this is a good current resource on the life and times of Vito Genovese.
(Full review on my blog later.)
(Full review on my blog later.)
March 6, 2021
This book drew me because my father grew up in the 30s and told me stories about the key mob players as I was growing up in the 70s-80s. I like how the author put the story It in a very interesting way and didn't glamorize anything.
March 11, 2021
A great true crime read! The story is compelling and offers a unique look into the life and times of a Mafia Don. I found this book hard to put down.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2021
Pulitzer Prize winner Stefano comprehensively covers the history of the Mafia in the United States in his non-fiction novel on the life of Mob Boss, Vito Genovese. The reading is immersive so that one feels submerged in the lives and minds of this powerful band. This is a solid and engrossing read.
June 3, 2021
Excellent book. For those of you fans of organized crime books and the people behind this organization, i highly recommend this book. The Deadly Don goes into great depth to explain this fascinating man and what he meant to the world of La Costra Nostra.
July 16, 2022
Interesting but kind of dry. Mostly wrote about his legal battles. Obviously hampered by lack of access to the subject, so there's no first-hand quotes or stories. But if you are interested in the mafia you'll appreciate this book.
February 10, 2024
I thought this was going to be an amazing look at the head of the largest mafia family in history, but alas, I found it to be lacking background and substance and was more of a vomiting of different facts and happenings. I also felt the timeline was hard to follow. Great topic, mediocre execution.
May 29, 2022
Great overview of some mob activity. Interesting but so many names that I got lost. Audio book
October 14, 2022
A pretty interesting look at the mob boss Genovese who never successfully escaped the embarrassment that resulted from the Appalachin fiasco.
December 4, 2022
It was okay. I was a little disappointed but not sure what I expected.
December 6, 2022
Free audiobook version of this is on youtube. Interesting listen.
March 16, 2023
This is a factually detailed book. However, it moves along at a slower pace than most organized crime books I've read.
August 28, 2024
Decent I suppose. The version I read could have used some better editing.
March 25, 2025
The Mafia is just as American as baseball or apple pie. Names such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and Bugsy Seigel are common names in pop culture, true crime, cinema, and American history. Vito Genovese, however, is not as well-known as the other organized crime personalities, but was a much more powerful figure during the heyday of the mob during the post-World War II years. The Deadly Don: Vito Genovese, Mafia Boss (New York: Citadel Press/Kensington Press, 2021, 282 pgs, $15.95 US, $21.95 CAN) is an excellent biography of one of the Mafia’s most powerful figures of the mid-1900s. Author Anthony M. DeStefano applies his wide knowledge of the Mob with a flair for a dramatic narrative in this engaging and readable volume.
Vito Genovese, a young man from Italy, would come to the United States and harness the power of the Underworld to create an unparalleled organized crime empire. Author Destafano uses great detail to describe Genovese as a crime boss that would stop at nothing to direct the affairs of the Mafia in New York City and along the Eastern Seaboard. Genovese has interests in everything from drugs to gambling and prostitution. The Deadly Don, also implicated and eventually convicted in several murder schemes, would finish his life within the walls of the Federal Prison system. DeStefano does an excellent job in accurately portraying Genovese’s fall from grace and death behind bars.
The Deadly Don has but one weakness. There are numerous typos and misspellings throughout its pages. However, these errors do not detract from the content of the volume. The descriptions of Genovese as a driven youth, aspiring gangster, and mob boss are excellent reading. The associated mobsters, such as Frank Costello and others are also depicted as the tragic but interesting historical figures that have been written about for decades. The Deadly Don is a great read for anyone interested in the underside of America and the efforts of American society to maintain a healthy balance between war and peace.
The Deadly Don
Anthony M. Destefano.
Citadel Books/Kensington Press
kensingtonbooks.com
9780806540948 $15.95 US $9.99 Kindle 282 pgs.
Matt
Vito Genovese, a young man from Italy, would come to the United States and harness the power of the Underworld to create an unparalleled organized crime empire. Author Destafano uses great detail to describe Genovese as a crime boss that would stop at nothing to direct the affairs of the Mafia in New York City and along the Eastern Seaboard. Genovese has interests in everything from drugs to gambling and prostitution. The Deadly Don, also implicated and eventually convicted in several murder schemes, would finish his life within the walls of the Federal Prison system. DeStefano does an excellent job in accurately portraying Genovese’s fall from grace and death behind bars.
The Deadly Don has but one weakness. There are numerous typos and misspellings throughout its pages. However, these errors do not detract from the content of the volume. The descriptions of Genovese as a driven youth, aspiring gangster, and mob boss are excellent reading. The associated mobsters, such as Frank Costello and others are also depicted as the tragic but interesting historical figures that have been written about for decades. The Deadly Don is a great read for anyone interested in the underside of America and the efforts of American society to maintain a healthy balance between war and peace.
The Deadly Don
Anthony M. Destefano.
Citadel Books/Kensington Press
kensingtonbooks.com
9780806540948 $15.95 US $9.99 Kindle 282 pgs.
Matt
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