As the last don of the Philadelphia mob, Ralph Natale, the first-ever mob boss to turn state’s evidence, provides an insider’s perspective on the Mafia.
Natale’s reign atop the Philadelphia and New Jersey underworlds brought the region’s Mafia back to prominence in the 1990s. Smart, savvy, and articulate, Natale came up in the mob and saw firsthand as it hatched its plan to control Atlantic City’s casino unions. Later on, after spending 16 years in prison, he reclaimed the family as his own after a bloody mob war that left bodies scattered across South Philly. He forged connections around the country and achieved a status within the mob never seen before or since, until he was betrayed by his men and decided to testify against them in a stunning turn of events.
Using dozens of hours of interviews with Natale along with research and interviews with FBI agents, this book delivers revelatory insights into seminal events in American mob history, including:
The truth about Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance The murder of Jewish mob icon Bugsy Siegel The identity of the man who created modern-day Las Vegas
With the full cooperation of Natale, New York Daily News reporter Larry McShane and producer Dan Pearson uncover the deadly reign of the last great mob boss of Philadelphia, a tale that covers a half century of mob lore – and gore.
Natale uses a .38 Special and doesn’t miss! I have read plenty of mob books. Most are just ok. This one however is Fantastic! If you want the real story of the Philly mob this is the book for you. Natale gives you everything and he holds nothing back. From the Bruno Days to the dawn of the Casinos. Natale also shares stories from his 16 years behind bars at places like the Gangster haven Lewisburg. This book is very comparable to “Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano’s Story” which is also an excellent mob book. There is a lot in…
Songs of innocence and experience Philly Mob style A very straightforward account of the extraordinary inner workings of a mobster en route to controlling a major city. This is absolutely unique and well worth the read. I would have enjoyed more elaboration on Accardo, Lombardo, Gravano, Castellano and Hoffa by quite few nuggets of gold can be found here.
Great mob read Excellent book. Philly Mob is a soap opera and this guy was there for all of it, or at least in the can. Well written, intertwining Ralph’s obviously biased view with facts and history. If u like Mob books, this is a must read. Not many stories left like it.