Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family

by Joaquin "Jack" Garcia
Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family
book data
35 ratings, 3.34 average rating, 13 reviews (more data...)
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published
September 15th 2008 by Touchstone

binding
Hardcover, 304 pages

isbn
1416551638    (isbn13: 9781416551638)

description
"Petey Chops wasn't kicking up. And if he didn't start soon, he was going to get whacked." So begins Making Jack Falcone, the extraordinary ...more




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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 59)

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Vince
02/04/09
Vince rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2009
Hey who doesn't love another mob tell all. Still instead of going over his whole FBI career, almost to the point of an overabundance of bragging, the author would have been better off sticking to the Jack Falcone part of his career and inserting much more detail. At the end of the book he announces his work in the post Gotti Gambino family brought down 32 LCN members but many of the ones he names as indicted we never or only briefly meet in the book. My guess is if the book sold well he could do...more
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Ann
11/22/08
Ann rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in November, 2008
I heard Jack Garcia interviewed on the radio and couldn't wait to read his book. It was a fascinating look at how pervasive the criminal culture is in our society. Law enforcement is at a real disadvantage when everyone just kind of accepts the status quo.

Even more upsetting is that Jack, like so many of us, worked for a government beuracracy. But following administrative nonsense for the FBI could put ones life in danger.

I like that, at the end, her thanked his wife an...more
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Adam
12/25/08
Adam rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in November, 2008
Think Donnie Brasco, but in the 2000s.

I read Donnie Brasco and loved it. I've ready 10 or 20 mafia related books (fiction and non-fiction) and this is one my favorites. After a short description of his early days in the FBI and how he got into undercover work, it delves into his infiltration of the mob.

The book has that same stale ghostwritten feel, but the information and not the prose is what is attractive. Not only does it cover the several years he spent as part of...more
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Lisala
11/24/08
Lisala rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in November, 2008
I could not put this book down. If it had been fiction, this wouldn't have been as interesting a read, but being real, it was intriguing. I recommend this book if you enjoy Italian Mafia or crime fighting stories. It was neat to see inside the head of the undercover agent, how he carried himself even in fearful situations. His sense of humor and knack for telling the story is what made this one worthwhile.It's a darn shame that this guy put his life on the line to infiltrate and destroy the Ital...more
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Dave
03/07/09
Dave rated it: 4 of 5 stars

I've long had a fascination for how the underworld operates, and seems to get away with so much. This is a twist, in that it chronicles a primo undercover FBI agent in his many undercover roles, bringing down hordes of bad guys for many a violation. Most notably, and reflected by the name of the book, "Jack Falcone" (undercover name for his Mafia persona) comes up through the ranks of the Mafia, and is almost a made man when the FBI pulls the plug. I read this book rather fast compa...more
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Clint Mccoy
06/04/09
Clint Mccoy rated it: 3 of 5 stars

It was pretty good but as someone else has said... it was a quick read. The narrator seemed very likable so he did keep my interest throughout the novel. I do wish he was made though...would've been a helluva lot more intense. But all in all, if you are interested in true crime and la cosa nostra or anything along those lines you will probably enjoy this.
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Tony
01/06/09
Tony rated it: 3 of 5 stars

bookshelves: non-fiction
Read in December, 2008
Interesting read. It seems a shame that in this day in age we still can't get rid of the mob. This is a must read if you like learning about undercover drug deals, money laundering, counterfeiting, and the Gambinos. A very quick read but fun.
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Carla
07/04/09
Carla is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading
This is a fascinating book ... the "autobiography" of an FBI agent who went undercover to work within the Mafia. Yeah, yeah .... I know there's no such thing as the Mafia ... tell me if you still believe that after you read this book!
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Jim
06/19/09
Jim rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in June, 2009
A decent exploration into the world of an undercover FBI agent, who among other investigations cracked the Gambino mob family. Interesting, but not great.
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Roger Burns
03/16/09
Roger Burns rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in March, 2009
I thought it was an interesting book but was hoping for more details.
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Janet
11/12/08
Janet rated it: 4 of 5 stars

This was scary. True story about a guy who infiltrated the mob and was the reason for a lot of people going to jail. It took place around where we live and many places that we have frequented. Seems like we lived through the trial ourselves. Pretty interesting story-brave guy. Loved the nicknames for many of the characters. Can we eat in Bloomingdales restaurant again?!
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Seth
01/18/09
Seth rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2009
Pretty interesting book, with an insight into the Mafia (crazy stuff) and the FBI (glad to see that beaurocratic BS extends to the ranks of everything in government: hoo rah.).
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Nicolette
11/10/08
Nicolette rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in February, 2009
While the storyline was entertaining, the writing was not very impressive.
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Christina
06/08/09
Christina rated it: 4 of 5 stars


Lucia
05/23/09
fbuser1504076946 rated it: 4 of 5 stars


Ken Vanderoef
05/15/09
Ken Vanderoef rated it: 3 of 5 stars


Adrienne
05/14/09
Adrienne rated it: 3 of 5 stars


Patty
04/24/09
Patty rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in April, 2009

Sarah
04/10/09
Sarah marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Tiffany
03/30/09
Tiffany is currently reading it

bookshelves: currently-reading


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