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Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family
"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 true story of an undercover FBI agent's years-long investigation of the Gambinos, which resulted in a string of arrests that crippled the organized crime family.
But long before Joaquin "Jack" Garcia found himself wearing a wire with so...more
But long before Joaquin "Jack" Garcia found himself wearing a wire with so...more
ebook, 416 pages
Published
September 29th 2009
by Touchstone
(first published January 1st 2008)
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This book is like sitting down with someone from the neighborhood over a beer. Garcia speaks casually, as if he's spewing his tales from the top of his head. It's a sort of a "day in the life of an undercover agent" who happens to be working more undercover cases at once than any agent in history. You get his colorful perceptions of all the dubious characters involved in the criminal enterprises he's slated to take down - from corrupt cops & politicians to drug pushers & mobsters. The ma...more
An agent with 25 years’ experience in the Bureau shares some of his greatest busts, from his days as a Cuban émigré to being the FNG (fucking new guy) no one wanted around to becoming only the second FBI plant to be recommended as a made man in the Gambino family – though the operation was shut down and arrests made before that could happen.
It’s a very enjoyable and informative memoir. Garcia doesn’t waste a lot of time with irrelevant early childhood, like too many autobiographies. Instead he...more
It’s a very enjoyable and informative memoir. Garcia doesn’t waste a lot of time with irrelevant early childhood, like too many autobiographies. Instead he...more
Jack Garcia was a Cuban immigrant that spent twenty-six years as an undercover agent for the FBI. At six foot four and weighing over 300 pounds not only was he an imposing figure, but also one that would be highly recognizable.
His story borders on the unbelievable in that he was able to infiltrate the Gambino criminal organization, and become so trustworthy that he almost became a "made man", which would have given him unprecedented access to Mafia information.
While he was infiltrating the Mafia...more
His story borders on the unbelievable in that he was able to infiltrate the Gambino criminal organization, and become so trustworthy that he almost became a "made man", which would have given him unprecedented access to Mafia information.
While he was infiltrating the Mafia...more
The book, Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family, is highly entertaining.
The book is the story told by Joaquin Garcia, an FBI agent, for 25 years. For almost his entire 25 years as a law enforcement officer, he acts in an undercover role.
Garcia is much like the personality of the book I read recently by Jay Dobyns, No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels , who was an undercover DEA agent for most of his career as well. The...more
The book is the story told by Joaquin Garcia, an FBI agent, for 25 years. For almost his entire 25 years as a law enforcement officer, he acts in an undercover role.
Garcia is much like the personality of the book I read recently by Jay Dobyns, No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels , who was an undercover DEA agent for most of his career as well. The...more
A retired FBI undercover agent tells the story of how he nearly became a made man with the Gambino family, along with a few side trips into other investigations. Lots of good procedural stuff here, and a compelling portrait of Greg DePalma, an old-school Mafioso who still believes in going to trial and denying the existence of La Cosa Nostra.
What's impressive is how he was able to juggle identities -- sometimes several at once -- over a period of months or years, apparently without ever raising...more
What's impressive is how he was able to juggle identities -- sometimes several at once -- over a period of months or years, apparently without ever raising...more
Making Jack Falcone is the true story of how Joaquin Garcia infiltrated the Gambino crime family. I like to read about other cultures and lifestyles that I'm not familiar with. Mr. Garcia certainly took me to another world.
At times, he contradicted himself. For example, he said they (the Gambio members he interacted with) had no idea who he was. Later, he says he was worried they suspected him. Also, he said the mob doesn't kill FBI agents, because it would bring the FBI down on them. Later, whe...more
At times, he contradicted himself. For example, he said they (the Gambio members he interacted with) had no idea who he was. Later, he says he was worried they suspected him. Also, he said the mob doesn't kill FBI agents, because it would bring the FBI down on them. Later, whe...more
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
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 and daughter and realized w...more
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 and daughter and realized w...more
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 the mob, but Garcia works...more
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 the mob, but Garcia works...more
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
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 compared to my usu...more
Because of this book's lack of literary style, I gave it four stars out of five. Based on the story line, that might not have been fair since this book is as much of a white-knuckler as it is an criminal-world exposé. As Jack Garcia proves here, you have to have nerves of steel, veins full of ice water, the patience of a saint, and a willingness to be VERY uncomfortable to infiltrate "the life" as effectively and frequently as he did. Poets might not enjoy this book. True-crime aficionados surel...more
My dads good friend wrote this book. :) well written and keeps your attention the whole time. When reading this book, it really makes you realize how these agents put themselves in danger to make this world a better place. Also, being from South Jersey i recognized so many places these cases transpired. A plus was seeing my dads name mentioned, along with some other agents i know. If you like anything Mob related and true... its a must read!
this book caught my eye and had me intrested in reading more everytime. it really pulls you into the seceret violent underworld of the mafia through the eyes of an FBI agent. organized crime is a way of life and the path to big time easy but risky money and the author paints a clear image on every page. this was a good read and i reconmend it to anyone intrested in the on going battle between crime and justice
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.
yeah, it's true crime...
yeah, it's an oral history of an undercover FBI navigating his way into the Mafia...
yeah, it's just chock full'o'annecodotes...
and yeah, I really liked it, Do We Understand Each Other?!
hahaha
Great biography, filled with the stories of how a Cuban-born boy comes to America, gets the Justice-bug, joins the FBI and ends up undercover and almost a made man in the Gambino Family...really how can you go wrong?
Book is good because is chronicles the newer (less stereotypical)) ge...more
yeah, it's an oral history of an undercover FBI navigating his way into the Mafia...
yeah, it's just chock full'o'annecodotes...
and yeah, I really liked it, Do We Understand Each Other?!
hahaha
Great biography, filled with the stories of how a Cuban-born boy comes to America, gets the Justice-bug, joins the FBI and ends up undercover and almost a made man in the Gambino Family...really how can you go wrong?
Book is good because is chronicles the newer (less stereotypical)) ge...more
Making Jack Falcone is the untold true story of the highly decorated FBI agent who went deep undercover to bring down one of La Cosa Nostra's most notorious crime families.
Listen to Making Jack Falcone on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Listen to Making Jack Falcone on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Mar 27, 2012
Jarrad Bock
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
autobiography,
crime
A great story about an unlikely undercover agent. "Jack" tells a well written story about his trouble with beauracracy as he tried to do his job. His loathing and disappointment shows through his writing while his ability to get so close to his target was unprecedented. A highly worthwhile read
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.
Dieses Buch erzählt die wahre Geschichte des kubanisch-stämmigen FBI-Agenten Joaquin Garcia, der unter dem Namen Jack Falcone in den New Yorker Gambino-Clan eingeschleust wurde. Von der Erzählart her ähnelt das Buch mehr einem Krimi als einem Sachbuch. Allerdings habe ich das Buch nicht selbst gelesen, sondern die ungekürzte Hörbuchfassung gehört. Ursprünglich habe dem Hörbuch wegen seines Unterhaltungswerts vier Sterne gegeben, nachdem ich jetzt aber das wesentlich besser geschriebene Buch "Ehr...more
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10501555
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10501555
Jack Falcone is Jack Garcia. Interesting story told as Jack is accepted into the Mafia family and his role in the FBI. Language is rough.
A decent exploration into the world of an undercover FBI agent, who among other investigations cracked the Gambino mob family. Interesting, but not great.
Interesting but by now very familiar story of undercover FBI agent infiltrating the mafia.
I read this book after reading donnie brasco. Was an ok read but no where near as good a DB.
Story is way better than the storyteller
kann man machen, muss man nicht.
I thought it was an interesting book but was hoping for more details.
Interesting view into structure of mafia and the FBI undercover agents. Not very well written, but subject matter kept me interested.
Boring
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