Two New Mafia-Related Books Make For Interesting Reading

For a while, I thought Mafia-related books, including histories and biographies, were done, as if publishers had their fill and didn't want to produce more. Maybe the fact this is the 60th anniversary of Bugsy Siegel's demise in Beverly Hills (1947) that's brought renewed interest in The Mob. It could also be the public never gets enough of inside stuff, confessions and how it all worked. Whatever the reason, two new titles hit the bookshelves at Gambler's Book Shop covering this topic. One is Cullotta (The Life of a Chicago Criminal, Las Vegas Mobster and Government Witness) by Dennis Griffin and Frank Cullotta (295 pages, paperbound, $19.95) and the other is The Silent Don (The Criminal Underworld of Santo Trafficante Jr.) by Scott Deitche (279 pages, hard bound, $22).

Cullotta, whose criminal career began in Chicago and progressed to working with the late Tony Spilotro in Las Vegas, has an interesting story to tell. Interesting because it's rare for any government witness to spill the beans (although Henry Hill set the tone in GoodFellas and Joe Valachi did the same for the government a generation or two ago). Author Griffin, a 20-year veteran in law enforcement (there are also key contributions in this book by Dennis Arnoldy, an ex-FBI agent who debriefed Cullotta in safe houses and federal prison), documents, sometimes in vidid, bloody detail, Cullotta's life-his petty crimes to major scores, and how he became what the book calls "a rising star" which brought him into the law enforcement limelight. Indexed and illustrated, the book also contains a foreword by Nick Pileggi, author (later the movie) of Casino and GoodFellas (the book was called Wise Guys).

Some of the biggest names in Las Vegas get a call in this book, including Mayor Oscar Goodman (who defended some of the major Mob guys earlier in his career); Jimmy Fratianno (although the name is incorrectly spelled); Joey Lombardo; Frank (Lefty) Rosenthal and Spilotro.

How the Mob operated in Las Vegas-what went right, then wrong, and what happened--in one of the biggest criminal trials in history make for fast, colorful, detailed reading.

The Silent Don is authored by Deitche, who previously wrote Cigar City Mafia-the Tampa Bay, Fla. history of Mob activities. Also indexed and illustrated, it profiles a man who ran a criminal empire from the Gulf Coast into the Caribbean. It includes an excellent look at how gambling operated in Cuba in the 1950s-who owned what hotel-and believe me, he drops some significant names too, including Wilbur Clark, Meyer Lansky, Charlie "the Blade" Tourine among them.

The book covers plenty of territory and history, including chapters on Apalachin and Anastasia; CIA-Mafia plots; the Kennedy assassination and Costa Rica. This book also contains the wrong spelling of Johnny Rosselli's name (in the book it's incorrect as Roselli); and some sloppy indexing (Dino Cellini's name for example, is listed as being referenced on three separate pages, but it's not, yet he does appear on one not even listed). So, shoot the indexer, but buy the book if Trafficante, the Florida Mob and Cuba have you interested.

Any item reviewed here is available from Gambler's Book Shop (Gambler's Book Club). The store's web site is www.gamblersbook.com . You may order there using MasterCard, VISA or Discover (no CODs please) or by phoning the store any day except Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time at 1-800-522-1777. Orders usually shipped the next working day. The store, now in its 40th year, is located a mile from downtown Las Vegas, a block west of Maryland Parkway, just off Charleston Boulevard at South 11th Street. You may view the store's complete array of books, videos and software via the Web site or request a hard copy of the catalog be mailed free and first class. The store's address is 630 S. 11th St., Las Vegas, NV 89101.