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Il Dottore: The Double Life of a Mafia Doctor
The gripping story of the man who was the doctor to all of the top NY mafioso in the 70s and 80s, who got caught in the middle of a federal investigation.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published October 25, 2004
19 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Ron Felber
14 books59 followersRON FELBER is the author of The Unwelcomed, to be released May 2024, the Jack Madson crime thriller trilogy, which includes Dark Angel|26169864], The Kafka Society|18173988], and A Man of Indeterminate Value|16291539]. Like his thriller protagonist Jack Madson, Felber worked as a federal marshal, transporting federal criminals, and fought Golden Gloves and hold a blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. The recipient of the UPI Award for fiction and the Albright Award for science fiction, he began his writing career with articles based on his experiences for True Detective magazine.
Felber was educated at Georgetown University, Loyola University of Chicago, and Drew University, where he earned his Doctorate. He currently teaches creative writing at Drew University's Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Felber also the author of five non-fiction books including Mojave Incident and Il Dottore The Double Life of a Mafia Doctor, which was the basis for the FOX television drama The Mob Doctor. He lives in New Jersey with his dog Hemingway.
Felber was educated at Georgetown University, Loyola University of Chicago, and Drew University, where he earned his Doctorate. He currently teaches creative writing at Drew University's Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. Felber also the author of five non-fiction books including Mojave Incident and Il Dottore The Double Life of a Mafia Doctor, which was the basis for the FOX television drama The Mob Doctor. He lives in New Jersey with his dog Hemingway.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 19, 2016
See No Evil is the story of how a “nerdy Jewish kid” grows into Elliot Litner, one of New York’s foremost cardiac surgeons in the 1970s and 1980s, who also happens to lead a second life as Il Dottore, a gambling and sex addict embroiled deeply in the world of organised crime, acting as the house physician to La Cosa Nostra.
This is a remarkable book, made all the more astounding by the fact that it is a true biography. Felber is an excellent writer, and infuses the text with just the right quantities of suspense, tension, disbelief, and occasional laugh-out-loud humour. The passage in which Litner performs a rectal examination on godfather Carlo Gambino is a stand-out moment which deftly combines all of the above!
I haven’t read much in the past about the New York mafia, and so was grateful for the background given in the book. Essentially, as well as being a biography of Litner, it is also an insider biography of La Cosa Nostra. My naivety on such subjects led to me being truly astounded by the breadth and depth of the mafia’s reach, and the role that Rudy Giuliani played in curbing organised crime in New York. I don’t think I would ever have been motivated to read about this subject if it hadn’t been for the curious medical angle of this biography, but will certainly read more widely on the topic in future.
I found it somewhat curious that the biographer chose to give the protagonist a pseudonym – Elliot Litner is not his real name – when the description of the various posts he has held and publications he has written would surely make his unmasking very straightforward indeed. That said, I didn’t bother to look it up (perhaps that’s the point).
I love a bit of moral ambiguity in a book, and – as one might expect – this delivers in spades, and with some medical ethical twists to boot. Indeed, the quite brilliant ending of the book arrives when Litner is faced with a clear dichotomous choice between his Hippocratic Oath and his loyalty to La Cosa Nostra. Perhaps I was swept along by the narrative, but I found the ending entirely unpredictable, and the building tension as the denouement approaches was some of the tightest, suspenseful writing I’ve read in a very long time. To say that I couldn’t put the book down is a cliché, but in the case of the final section of this book, it also happens to be true.
Clearly, the veracity of the events described is difficult to ascertain, and I’m certain that a large pinch of creative licence has been used with respect to the well-written dialogue. But for a story as fantastical as this, I can forgive a little bit of fictionalisation and dramatisation around the edges. Parts are so obvious cinematic that it seems unbelievable that no-one has written a movie based on this book.
I’d thoroughly recommend See No Evil. It isn’t the sort of book I’d typically choose to read, but that only made the somewhat unexpected enjoyment all the sweeter.
This is a remarkable book, made all the more astounding by the fact that it is a true biography. Felber is an excellent writer, and infuses the text with just the right quantities of suspense, tension, disbelief, and occasional laugh-out-loud humour. The passage in which Litner performs a rectal examination on godfather Carlo Gambino is a stand-out moment which deftly combines all of the above!
I haven’t read much in the past about the New York mafia, and so was grateful for the background given in the book. Essentially, as well as being a biography of Litner, it is also an insider biography of La Cosa Nostra. My naivety on such subjects led to me being truly astounded by the breadth and depth of the mafia’s reach, and the role that Rudy Giuliani played in curbing organised crime in New York. I don’t think I would ever have been motivated to read about this subject if it hadn’t been for the curious medical angle of this biography, but will certainly read more widely on the topic in future.
I found it somewhat curious that the biographer chose to give the protagonist a pseudonym – Elliot Litner is not his real name – when the description of the various posts he has held and publications he has written would surely make his unmasking very straightforward indeed. That said, I didn’t bother to look it up (perhaps that’s the point).
I love a bit of moral ambiguity in a book, and – as one might expect – this delivers in spades, and with some medical ethical twists to boot. Indeed, the quite brilliant ending of the book arrives when Litner is faced with a clear dichotomous choice between his Hippocratic Oath and his loyalty to La Cosa Nostra. Perhaps I was swept along by the narrative, but I found the ending entirely unpredictable, and the building tension as the denouement approaches was some of the tightest, suspenseful writing I’ve read in a very long time. To say that I couldn’t put the book down is a cliché, but in the case of the final section of this book, it also happens to be true.
Clearly, the veracity of the events described is difficult to ascertain, and I’m certain that a large pinch of creative licence has been used with respect to the well-written dialogue. But for a story as fantastical as this, I can forgive a little bit of fictionalisation and dramatisation around the edges. Parts are so obvious cinematic that it seems unbelievable that no-one has written a movie based on this book.
I’d thoroughly recommend See No Evil. It isn’t the sort of book I’d typically choose to read, but that only made the somewhat unexpected enjoyment all the sweeter.
August 18, 2019
Great storytelling, on point accents and bravado. I enjoyed learning about the seedy life of Il Dottore and how he navigated through the moral quandaries throughout his career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2018
I don’t like to leave negative reviews. I know it’s hard to write books!
However, I really had difficulty to finish this book. Very cliche glorified Mafia tale, at times with rough language to make things cool, at least awkward sentences. Maybe it’s someone’s cup of tea but it’s not mine.
It’s a very promising plot, such a pity the execution is not great.
However, I really had difficulty to finish this book. Very cliche glorified Mafia tale, at times with rough language to make things cool, at least awkward sentences. Maybe it’s someone’s cup of tea but it’s not mine.
It’s a very promising plot, such a pity the execution is not great.
January 11, 2018
Good historic read
Enjoyed this book very much
Recommend it highly
Enjoyed this book very much
Recommend it highly
June 8, 2020
I don't usually read books like this. I usually really dislike tv programmes and films like this. But I thought I would give it a punt and I was not disappointed. This is about a doctor (who's name has been changed) and his dealings with the Mafia in America. He becomes their personal doctor and does things that questions his morals and priorities. Risking his career and family, but unable to get out of the situation he had found himself in. This is based on a true story, which makes it all the more engsging. I found at times that it was a bit long-winded and some bits could have probably been emitted from the story and it wouldn't have affected the overall narrative. But overall a good read.
June 10, 2022
Very interesting story that actually weaves together the lives of the major players (the doctor, Rudy Guiliani as the US Attorney, and John Gotti) as well as tells the history of the Mafia with some unique inside insight.
The story is interesting, but the writing style leaves something to be desired, as it can sometimes feel disjointed and some chapters repeat information already explained, as if each chapter was written independent of the others and each feels the need to explain the same things (not every chapter--just some).
Still a worthwhile read for the information, just temper expectations of the writing and appreciate the story and knowledge.
The story is interesting, but the writing style leaves something to be desired, as it can sometimes feel disjointed and some chapters repeat information already explained, as if each chapter was written independent of the others and each feels the need to explain the same things (not every chapter--just some).
Still a worthwhile read for the information, just temper expectations of the writing and appreciate the story and knowledge.
September 6, 2019
"September 6, 2019 –
70.0% "Nothing more kills the light in a room than a shade of truth."
September 6, 2019 –
70.0% "Season 1/Episode 12"
September 5, 2019 –
50.0%
September 4, 2019 – Shelved
September 4, 2019 – Started Reading"
- Great work... If I need to be honest, just great... I like the way the end was twisting the beginning was whole other thing... typical David Baldacci, Stephen King... style... twisted...
I like and find it very entertaining when I am around stories like this one... and the tv show was great.
70.0% "Nothing more kills the light in a room than a shade of truth."
September 6, 2019 –
70.0% "Season 1/Episode 12"
September 5, 2019 –
50.0%
September 4, 2019 – Shelved
September 4, 2019 – Started Reading"
- Great work... If I need to be honest, just great... I like the way the end was twisting the beginning was whole other thing... typical David Baldacci, Stephen King... style... twisted...
I like and find it very entertaining when I am around stories like this one... and the tv show was great.
November 6, 2017
A really interesting look into the real life story of a Mafia Doctor. Would highly recommend!
May 31, 2021
Intriguing page turner. Would definitely recommend to a bibliophile who wants to know more than what they happened to catch on HBO.
March 27, 2017
Hmmm...very interesting
I try not to judge people. However, it was extremely hard not to be disgusted and repulsed by actions taken by many people in this book; and I'm talking about people on both sides of the law. With that said, I found this story to be fascinating. Growing up on the east coast in the 60's and 70's, tales off the mafia were always being told but I never knew how they all intertwined. Ron Felber has done a wonderful job of weaving the threads together.
I try not to judge people. However, it was extremely hard not to be disgusted and repulsed by actions taken by many people in this book; and I'm talking about people on both sides of the law. With that said, I found this story to be fascinating. Growing up on the east coast in the 60's and 70's, tales off the mafia were always being told but I never knew how they all intertwined. Ron Felber has done a wonderful job of weaving the threads together.
September 23, 2008
I initially thought that this book would be awful.
I was pleasantly surprised. It had some entertaining passages such as the hero fingering Carlo Gambino's rectum. In fact, he got too close to three godfather's genitals. It all seemed far-fetched.
However, the author did a lovely job creating the memoir into a suspenseful novel towards the end when the mob was pressuring the doctor to kill a guy; and Rudy Giuliani was threatening him to save the guy. I especially liked the part where Giuliani still screwed him in the end.
Overall, entertaining; but it adds nothing to the genre
I was pleasantly surprised. It had some entertaining passages such as the hero fingering Carlo Gambino's rectum. In fact, he got too close to three godfather's genitals. It all seemed far-fetched.
However, the author did a lovely job creating the memoir into a suspenseful novel towards the end when the mob was pressuring the doctor to kill a guy; and Rudy Giuliani was threatening him to save the guy. I especially liked the part where Giuliani still screwed him in the end.
Overall, entertaining; but it adds nothing to the genre
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2010
This book was incredible. What a story! The life of a respected doctor and how he lives a reckless double life. One life with the most notorious mobsters in New York and the other with his Jewish wife and children. It's amazing this guy lived to write this book. What shocked me most, is how involved the mob is in every aspect of business, government, politics. They have their hand in everything. Very scary stuff. It was interesting to hear how instrumental Rudy Giuliani was in bringing down some of the most famous Mafia leaders.
May 13, 2013
As far as "mafia true crime" books go, this one is pretty good.
My only concern is that this book could have easily been 1/3 shorter-- at 260 pages it seems like a real chore and the padding is obvious.
I also have my doubts at the veracity of the described events. (It seems unnecessarily sensationalized.)
My only concern is that this book could have easily been 1/3 shorter-- at 260 pages it seems like a real chore and the padding is obvious.
I also have my doubts at the veracity of the described events. (It seems unnecessarily sensationalized.)
May 19, 2013
I read this book because the TV series called the Mob Doctor was based on this. Was disappointed from the very start as this was a very loose adaptation. The mob dr from the show is a female but in the book is a male. Didn't recognize any of the characters. Enjoyed the show but not the book.
January 19, 2017
The life and times of Dr. Eliot Litner, a Jewish boy from the Bronx who became a trusted doctor for the NY Mafia families, known as "Il Dottore" (the original title of the book). This is the real story behind the TV show. An entertaining and quick read.
December 3, 2012
Not really very interesting or well written. I actually had to skim through pages just to "finish" it.
January 4, 2014
Couldn't finish it. Not worth my time. Interesting concept but just can't finish it.
May 25, 2015
is super interesting! not only insider views and a false picture if how the family worked back then.
Most important part is that the end was surprising (for me) ! :)
Most important part is that the end was surprising (for me) ! :)
June 3, 2015
Subject is interesting. The writing seems forced and searching for the right metaphor at times.
November 21, 2015
Interesting book about double life of a doctor for the Mafia
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews