Mafioso: The bloody and compelling history of the Mafia - from its birth in Italy to its invasion of America and present-day global infiltration - told by an Australian undercover insider

by Colin McLaren

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MARK AND EVETTE MORAN NIB LITERARY AWARD 2022
The Mafia remains a subject of fascination around the world, depicted in books, films and TV series. But in his role as an undercover drug squad cop, Colin McLaren (bestselling author of The Smoking Gun ) actually became a mafioso . After McLaren's extraordinary three years undercover in the Mafia, gathering the evidence to shut down a cell of 20 criminals, and following death threats, he travelled to Italy - into the lion's den - on an extraordinary mission in search of the very roots of the Mafia, seeking to understand its treacherous hold on criminal activity and the popular imagination.

This is the story of how the earliest Mafia aided politicians to invade Sicily, and how the mints and banks of Italy were looted and billions stolen. How ocean liners were used to smuggle Mafia into New York City, to establish the infamous Five Families. Aided by corruption, the earliest Godfathers conquered their territories on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching out like a slimy octopus. Since then, behind the distraction of global terrorism they have employed a labyrinth of commercial real estate, drug trafficking and investments to build their modern-day empire, estimated to be worth 400 billion Euros annually.

Mafioso also details the scourge of Mafia in Australia, as McLaren finds himself in the centre of it all, undercover, trying to solve a 1990s rampage of crime.

Genres: True Crime

318 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Colin McLaren was one of Australia's best detectives; he travelled the world on high-end investigations during the 1980s and 1990s. He faced down the underbelly of Australian crime and his work has been the subject of many police genre documentaries and television series. A film of his own life, based on his hugely successful first book Infiltration, the true story of his efforts as an undercover cop, was made in 2011. Colin writes constantly and is a regular advisor to TV and film productions. His book on John F. Kennedy's death, JFK: The Smoking Gun, was an Australian bestseller. He is an Emmy judge and highly respected in the US as well as Australia for his investigative journalism. Southern Justice is his latest work - and his most important to date.

Reviews

[erika joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF: this book was written so poorly. although the information was interesting and i would love to learn more, i just couldn’t push through this style of narration…

[Lee Kofman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a formidably well researched book about the origins of mafia as well as its current state. While I found some bits a bit boring (particularly some of the earlier history of mafia), I never regretted reading it. And later parts horrified and angered me equally. It is a much needed book and it’s also a celebration of the art of research, I mean really thorough and original research. I also love how McLaren combined his own poignant personal story with the historical events of the book, and his psychological analysis of some of the real people he never met but studied in depth.

[Liz Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting the in-depth or repetitive nature of the first few chapters on the origin of the beginnings of the mafia and indeed found it quite repetitive. I skipped several chapters and picked up the 1920’s and prohibition in the USA. As an Australian I was disappointed with the lack of Australian content but realise I need to read Infiltration to get that story.

[Tracy Mackay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hachette Australia for my copy.

Very thoroughly researched book on the Mafia from it's origins in 1860 to present day. If you like all things Mafia and want to know how it all started and the internal workings through to the spread to other countries throughout the world then this book is perfect.
A little heavy going at times as I'm not used to history books but very thorough.

[Danielle Laman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Proper Rating 2.5/5

An anthology of five truly interesting and unique stories squashed into a single book. While it does keep interest, sadly overall falls flats the storys jumps.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to finish. It focused too much on the Garibaldi rebellion of 1860.

[Anna Osment · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough engaging read. Worth a read for any Mafia or true crime enthusiast.