Sam Giancana: The Rise and Fall of a Chicago Mobster

by Susan McNicoll

Sent to the reformatory at the age of 10, Sicilian-American Sam Giancana lived a gilded life as mobster and mob boss at a pivotal point in history when the mafia decided who ruled America, who lived, and who died. Born in 1908, in The Patch, Chicago, Giancana joined the Forty-Two gang of lawless juvenile punks in 1921 and quickly proved himself as a skilled 'wheel man' (or getaway driver), extortionist, and vicious killer. Called up to the ranks of the Outfit, he reputedly held talks with the CIA about assassinating Fidel Castro, shared a girlfriend with John F. Kennedy, and had friends in high places, including Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Marilyn Monroe and, some say, the Kennedys, although he fell out with them. The story of Sam Giancana will overturn many of your beliefs about America during the Kennedy era. If you want to know Giancana's role in the brother's deaths, and more of the intrigue surrounding that of Marilyn Monroe, this book will fill you in on the murky lives of many shady characters who really ruled the day, both in Chicago and elsewhere.

Genres: Biography, Crime, True Crime, Nonfiction, History

192 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2016

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10

This was a quick easy read that I managed to read in a single car journey. Some of the material is suspect, specifically around the Kennedy's and The Rat Pack, but I took some of it with a pinch of salt and I did find this guys life quite interesting.

Self made and worked his way from the bottom to the top with a mixture of determination and sheer aggression it highlighted everything that you could class as stereotypical for a self made Don but I guess most of this is true or at least educated guesses.

Worth a read if this sort of thing interests you like it does me.

I received a free copy from NetGalley

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was a good biography. There are a few bits that I would like to have had more information on, particularly that of the links with both Kennedys and the alleged murder of Marilyn Monroe but generally the book is a really good overview of one of Chicago's most notorious mobsters It's not a long book so can be used as a starting point for anyone wanting to study him in depth. For me it was just the right length.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little different for a gangster book. The author had even spoke to his still living family members who gave some insight on what it was like before and after he divorced their mother. I thought that added to the story. Some part of the book people know about but the author was able to go a little deeper behind the scenes. Other parts of the book I have read in other books so I am just going to go along that for the most part they are factual. Overall not a bad book, and a look into the Chicago mob. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Patrick Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very easy and quick read. It's not a large book at 180 pages or so but it was enjoyable. Sam Giancana is a self made man who rose up through the ranks of the mafia after leaving home as a teenager. He was good at reading people and eager to do whatever asked. As a get away driver or an assassin he always did a great job and because of this was smiled upon by the boss's.

Sam was also very violent and did not hesitate to let his actions do his talking. He kept his mouth shut through a couple short stints in prison and kept learning. In the end he was one of the most powerful mobsters in the world but eventually got a bit big for his britches and was shut down.

This book is a good overview but I would have liked some more depth on some of the subjects it touched on, like the CIA involvement with the mob, the Kennedy assassination, the interaction between mob bosses in different parts of the country, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe and even more about what he did to rise to the top in Chicago. It seemed the book only hit the highlights, but at 180 pages I really didn't expect much more.

This is an interesting read and sheds some light on what the mafia had it's hands in back in the day.

[Michael Wabin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a "gangster" book. It's a book about mid-20th century sociopolitical history taken thru the view of organized crime. Sam Giancana did much during his life, but unfortunately it was negative. This book tells the reader what the inner workings of organized crime look like, and it's a sobering read that will capture one's attention early in the session.

[Joanne Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading numerous books on the lives of mobster figures, I must say this was was excellent. It was not chock full of repetitive boring facts or fillers. The author covered Giancana’s life quite well. A good read.

[j cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un-suddenly Sam

A nice read on the life of famous out-fit front man Sam G & the rat pack
assasination filled, conspiracy riddled days of the Chicago mob's re-
incarnation post Alphonse Capone.
Big names, losta games, and of course the endings the same...Enjoy

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely explains a lot of our mysteries. I learned more than I wanted to know but it was so interesting I couldn't stop reading. Let's just say that I will never see our government the same way.

[Nick Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Nice to read about a Mafia boss who isn't from New York!!! The info regarding John F Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe was particularly interesting.

[TRISHA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

The story about the Syndicate. The rise and fall of Sam Giancana. The assassination of President Kennedy.. Marilyn Monroe and the Maguire sisters.

[J. d'Merricksson · Rating 4 out of 5]

**This book was reviewed for Netgalley**


McNicoll’s Sam Giancana looks at the tumultuous life and ignominious death of one of Chicago's top Mafia men. Born to Sicilian immigrants, Giancana grew up in the Patch, and it wasn't long til he was running with a street gang. He wanted more though. Giancana wanted to be one of the big players, and Prohibition offered this chance. Establishing himself as a skilled wheelman, Giancana made himself invaluable. Eventually, and not without serious bloodshed, Giancana found himself top dog of Chicago. Giancana would meet his death at the hands of a ‘friend’ turned traitor, who put several bullets into his head after a hit was ordered on the once powerful gangster who had started to become a liability.


When I think of Chicago, and Mafia, my mind immediately conjures the spectre of old Scarface. I find this era fascinating, but my interests have always been on New York- Lucky Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel. Especially Charlie Lucky. McNicoll's book is a great introduction to Giancana and his influences. This book opened my eyes to different facets of history that I'd not really focused on before, like the Mafia ties to the Kennedy dynasty. Photos were scattered throughout, and there was a great bibliography that suggested to me other books to add to my always-growing TBR pile! An entrancing step back to a time of 'civilised’ violence.