The Mob and the City: The Hidden History of How the Mafia Captured New York

Though this book is far from the first to claim that the mob did not deal drugs or that its members didn’t snitch on each other, attorney Hortis does offer a detailed look at the history of La Costra Nostra in New York City during the first half of the 20th century. However, the writing and organization of material is far inferior to Selwyn Raab’s Five Families, which took the story to the near-present. Intriguing anecdotes presented here include identification of perhaps the earliest mob turncoat, “Millionaire Charlie” Matranga, who testified against his New Orleans colleagues in the 1890s. Facts post-dating Apalachin (the infamous 1957 mob summit in upstate New York), where the narrative ends, can be confusing, especially since the book lacks even a short epilogue to catch readers up on major developments in the American Mafia, and its prosecution, in the last 50 years. Agent: Scott Mendel, Mendel Media Group. (May)