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Family Secrets: The Case That Crippled the Chicago Mob
by
Jeff Coen
Even in Chicago, a city steeped in mob history and legend, the Family Secrets case was a true spectacle when it made it to court in 2007. A top mob boss, a reputed consigliere, and other high-profile members of the Chicago Outfit were accused in a total of eighteen gangland killings, revealing organized crime’s ruthless grip on the city throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 198...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
April 1st 2009
by Chicago Review Press
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Crippled the Chicago Mob? It may have kicked them in the shins but I'm sure "The Outfit", as the Chicago organization is called, is alive and well. They took down a few of the top guys but, hell, it was just a matter of time before they took each other out. I love reading about the mob/mafia/outfit whatever you want to call it, but it never ceases to amaze me how anybody can so matter-of-factly murder another human being. The book does a good job of exposing the evil they do not only t...more
This book is fantastic, especially if you are interested in organized crime. The Chicago Outfit was filled with ruthless killers, thieves and low-life loan-sharks, and they all came with nicknames: James "Jimmy Light" Marcello, Joey "The Clown" Lombardo, Joey "Doves" Aiuppa, Anthony "The Ant" Spilotro (Joe Pesci's character in "CASINO") and Tony "Big Tuna" Accardo just to name a few.
The book covers three decades of mob rule in C...more
The book covers three decades of mob rule in C...more
Kudos to Chicago Tribune reporter Jeff Coen for his excellent coverage of the Family Secrets trial. I found myself horrified by the crimes committed and fascinated by the unraveling of the Chicago Mob by hitman turned FBI informant Nick Calabrese. The extortion, murder and general mayhem Nick and his brother, along with the other capos and crews of the Chicago Outfit astonished me. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Even Hollywood took a bit from the Chicago Mob when making the movie "Ca...more
Similar to Black Mass in that it's by a reporter and reads like it. Coen alternates between courtroom scenes in 2007 and flashbacks as the Chicago Outfit's "Family Secrets" are spilled by some high profile turncoats. Definitely recommend as a counter to the John Gotti-inspired idea of the mob in the 1970s and 80s. Plus it's about Chicago, so that counts for something too.
Although West of Halsted it is hipsters, Latin Kings, nannies and a hundred forms of W.T. there is another side...to Bridgeport, Chicago.
East of Halsted used to be the home of many many Italian and Irish families. Many of them were and are connected to the mob. This is about the case that nearly brought them all down.
Boy has Hollywood got these guys all wrong, dumb dumb dum-dums!!
East of Halsted used to be the home of many many Italian and Irish families. Many of them were and are connected to the mob. This is about the case that nearly brought them all down.
Boy has Hollywood got these guys all wrong, dumb dumb dum-dums!!
Very interesting, seemingly complete account of the "end" of the Chicago Outfit and their exploits prior to being accused and tried. Scary descriptions of the nasty things those people did for many decades in the 2nd half of the 20th century in Chicago and Las Vegas. I enjoyed this book a lot.
Great book written about Operation Family Secrets. The trial netted mob bosses Joey Lombardo and James Marcello. This book details all the murders, bombings and extortions that the Chicago Mob was responsible for.
I enjoyed this book, to an extent. It was interesting, but again, just couldn't hold my attention.
Real Mafia in Chicago. I have friends who knew some of these people and lived there during the trial. The trial was long and slowed down the pace but the facts are eye opening. Read like a action book until the trial- then I had to re-arrange my way of thinking to finish the book. Sopranos...
I am reading it on my Kindle, so I am not really sure what page I am on. If you like books about the Mob, this one is great. I am learning a lot about recent Mob activities in Chicago. Loving it!
I find the Outfit fascinating, but this book is really slowed down by the minutia of the trial.
Chris
marked it as want-to-read
Dave Gochenaur
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Amy
marked it as to-read
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Jeff Coen is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, covering federal trials and investigations from the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in downtown Chicago. He was present in the courtroom throughout the Family Secrets trial, and his pieces on the case were featured in a popular series in the Chicago Tribune."
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