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Carmine and the 13th Avenue Boys: Surviving Brooklyn's Colombo Mob
This is the true story of Carmine Imbriale – a gambler, a brawler, a bandit, a bookie, an enforcer. For two decades, Imbriale was a street-level operative in one of the most violent crews in the Colombo Family, and he endeared himself to some of the major figures of organized crime while developing deadly disputes with others.
Now in hiding, Imbriale teams up with true-crime veteran writer Craig McGuire to take you inside the 13th Avenue rackets at the height of their violence. This is the jarring account of his lawless lifestyle culminating in a gang war in South Brooklyn, from which he emerges a survivor.
From his first arrest at 15 for robbing a Coney Island pimp to surviving multiple assassination attempts, Imbriale offers up dozens of too-good-to-be-true tales featuring some of the most notorious gangsters, including Joe Colombo, Christie Tick, Jimmy Ida, Joe Waverly, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, Johnny Rizzo, as well as other lions and lackeys of La Cosa Nostra, and details a beef with none other than Greg “The Grim Reaper” Scarpa Sr.
A young streetwise hustler, Imbriale thought he found loyalty, a brotherhood. Instead, he descended into a world of treachery and deceit, where your best friend is your executioner, and no one gets out alive. But no one expected him to become the domino that helped bring it all down
Now in hiding, Imbriale teams up with true-crime veteran writer Craig McGuire to take you inside the 13th Avenue rackets at the height of their violence. This is the jarring account of his lawless lifestyle culminating in a gang war in South Brooklyn, from which he emerges a survivor.
From his first arrest at 15 for robbing a Coney Island pimp to surviving multiple assassination attempts, Imbriale offers up dozens of too-good-to-be-true tales featuring some of the most notorious gangsters, including Joe Colombo, Christie Tick, Jimmy Ida, Joe Waverly, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano, Johnny Rizzo, as well as other lions and lackeys of La Cosa Nostra, and details a beef with none other than Greg “The Grim Reaper” Scarpa Sr.
A young streetwise hustler, Imbriale thought he found loyalty, a brotherhood. Instead, he descended into a world of treachery and deceit, where your best friend is your executioner, and no one gets out alive. But no one expected him to become the domino that helped bring it all down
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2022
172 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 3, 2022
This is a good book about Carmine Imbriale’s incredible, crazy, mob career in South Brooklyn. It’s filled with people, places and events that many will find notorious. It’s amazing the number of mob guys that he knew and interacted with. He survived an era that most didn’t. They were either killed, or went off to a long prison term. Told in a stubborn, tough guy fashion. But it also shows his generous side to those who were struggling. A super mob book if you can keep all of the players straight.
May 1, 2022
Coming from the Avenue myself, I will say this is an accurate book. The author did a great job researching all of the players and their family too. The book is chock full of true events as well as direct quotes. The descriptions of the area between 13th Avenue and 18th Avenue are great. He was one of the real players for sure. I am glad he shared all of these tales.
The social clubs were spot on too. They all looked like small storefronts but had little bars and pool tables inside. A neighborhood hangout tat was sort of quiet with apartments on the avenue right above them. I was not a Pastels girl more of a Changes type but I do remember those days.
I appreciate all that went into this book. A very detailed background researched well with the families all lined up. What a great effort. I am impressed Thanks for the memories
The social clubs were spot on too. They all looked like small storefronts but had little bars and pool tables inside. A neighborhood hangout tat was sort of quiet with apartments on the avenue right above them. I was not a Pastels girl more of a Changes type but I do remember those days.
I appreciate all that went into this book. A very detailed background researched well with the families all lined up. What a great effort. I am impressed Thanks for the memories
July 10, 2022
Surprisingly honest
I have read a lot of books on organized crime including biographies. This is one book I think is honestly true. A lot of these type of books make excuses for doing things and always want to put the blame on others. For once the facts are laid out for the reader to accept or reject. Many things in this book are mentioned other books and can be compared as to whether it is fact or fiction. The one thing I noticed is the loyalty to his wife and family and never mentioned having girlfriends on the side. This a excellent book and I highly recommend it.
I have read a lot of books on organized crime including biographies. This is one book I think is honestly true. A lot of these type of books make excuses for doing things and always want to put the blame on others. For once the facts are laid out for the reader to accept or reject. Many things in this book are mentioned other books and can be compared as to whether it is fact or fiction. The one thing I noticed is the loyalty to his wife and family and never mentioned having girlfriends on the side. This a excellent book and I highly recommend it.
May 4, 2022
A Superb Mob Book.
This book is very an interesting way to see life in the Brooklyn back in the day. The book is about Carmine Imbriale’s and his life when he chose a mob career in South Brooklyn. Carmine takes you on a journey of Incredible crazy times where most mobsters were either killed or went off to a long prison term. Carmine story is told in a tough guy fashion, But Carmine also shows he has a kind and generous side to those who were struggling. Carmine has the gift of being an excellent storyteller and writer. Thanks to Wildblue Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is very an interesting way to see life in the Brooklyn back in the day. The book is about Carmine Imbriale’s and his life when he chose a mob career in South Brooklyn. Carmine takes you on a journey of Incredible crazy times where most mobsters were either killed or went off to a long prison term. Carmine story is told in a tough guy fashion, But Carmine also shows he has a kind and generous side to those who were struggling. Carmine has the gift of being an excellent storyteller and writer. Thanks to Wildblue Press I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 20, 2024
Great read
If you were born between 1945 and 1960 in or around Brooklyn or (as I) born to Brooklyn parents, you know the places here like yesterday. Even the names bring a certain ring of remembrance. From my grandparents apartment on 70th Street and 6th avenue you could watch the Verrazano bridge go up. The "Guinea Gangplank" we Irish called it. Ok lots of mob stuff but still the setting and the stories made for a trip back in time.
If you were born between 1945 and 1960 in or around Brooklyn or (as I) born to Brooklyn parents, you know the places here like yesterday. Even the names bring a certain ring of remembrance. From my grandparents apartment on 70th Street and 6th avenue you could watch the Verrazano bridge go up. The "Guinea Gangplank" we Irish called it. Ok lots of mob stuff but still the setting and the stories made for a trip back in time.
March 3, 2025
Couldn’t wait to be done with this Carmine. Useful info on the setting of Bensonhurst within that era and some of the neighborhood politics and dynamics but I could not wait to be away from this fuck up. No wonder he was never really taken in by anyone officially for decades.
These mob books are inherently self-serving to whoever the subject is, but I have never sensed such a disconnect from what’s on page versus what was likely the reality.
These mob books are inherently self-serving to whoever the subject is, but I have never sensed such a disconnect from what’s on page versus what was likely the reality.
May 28, 2022
What a time
Well researched and written. This book will take you back to another time and reveal how the mafia worked during its heyday in Brooklyn. Carmine lived a very interesting life and its amazing that he survived to share his story. He certainly had his principles which is maybe the reason he lived to tell the tale.
Well researched and written. This book will take you back to another time and reveal how the mafia worked during its heyday in Brooklyn. Carmine lived a very interesting life and its amazing that he survived to share his story. He certainly had his principles which is maybe the reason he lived to tell the tale.
May 25, 2023
Craig and Carmine took us back to what life was like in Brooklyn. I grew up on the other side of Brooklyn so it was cool to relive how Brooklyn was back in those days.
I love books and movies about the Mafia and this one held no punches!
I love books and movies about the Mafia and this one held no punches!
June 18, 2023
Good book an account by carmine, I really like the different kinds of stories, and the explanations of some of the crimes committed during his past life. He also showed a lot of human apathy towards people. He committed crimes against door to.
March 15, 2024
This took me back to when I worked on 13th and lived in 18th. It was nice to read about all the goings on there which I never realized. I would walk the avenue and not even notice the men. They were just Italian to me and it was an Italian neighborhood. Great Read!!
November 3, 2022
great book
Brooklyn when It was Brooklyn
And when being a New Yorker was an badge of honor..The Good and The Bad
Brooklyn when It was Brooklyn
And when being a New Yorker was an badge of honor..The Good and The Bad
December 26, 2023
Good mob related true crime story.
Interesting to learn about a neighborhood I know fairly well. Puts a totally different light on how things were just a few decades ago.
Interesting to learn about a neighborhood I know fairly well. Puts a totally different light on how things were just a few decades ago.
April 2, 2024
Really great/interesting telling of things that happened. Def recommend to all followers of organized crime in Brooklyn and the other boroughs.
December 27, 2024
glamorizing a thug
It’s an easy read and interesting, but it excuses Carmine’s violence and tries to make him look cool. Mediocre at best
It’s an easy read and interesting, but it excuses Carmine’s violence and tries to make him look cool. Mediocre at best
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews