Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire

Rating:
Summary: As Good As They Say!
Review: I just finished reading Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire, and I agree with all who talk about how great this book is. I eagerly read it in two days, and could not wait to finish it. The story is interesting, exciting, nailbiting at times, and as ironic as real life. It is well told, which is often hard to find in the recount of an actual event. Most importantly, having grown up in the New York City area, I too know what the real wiseguys look and act like - and this book gets them down accurately. Great thanks to those brave enough to end this monopoly, and thank you to Cowan and Century for telling us how it was done.

Rating:
Summary: LCN Busted!
Review: In case you haven't guessed from the other reviews this is a great book. I read it almost nonstop, and I have a very short attention span. Lots of tense moments, detailed history, and of course the big bust at the end. A real page-turner. Plus the glossary of mob terms in the back has really helped me to understand many expressions used by Curtis Sliwa.

Rating:
Summary: Simply one of the best mob books
Review: It just goes to show that even though Rico took it's toll on the mob heirchy in the 80's certain rackets such as the garbage cartel have only been taken down in the last few years. Most of it happend by luck one day when a police officer happend to be on the scene when the cartel threatens Bendetto's. In steps the role of the undercover cop as one of the Bendetto's cousin's. A guy who isn't all against going into the cartel to save the business. He ends up meeting many powerful gangsters Including Allie Shades Malangone(Genovese) and Joey Francolino(Gambino). The undercover cop hassles with other trash hauling competitors and gains the trust of Francolino and some others. The case ended up resulting in the takedown of the cartel for the most part for all we know. It helped lower the cost of trash hauling in NYC, but still the other companies that came in afterward were no saints like BFI who got hit with the same practices the mob used but they just didn't whack anyone for all we know. Highly recomended reading.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable!
Review: Over the course of the past few years, my love of reading books about the mafia went dormant. When I arrived upon a copy of "Takedown" in a used book store, my interest was revitalized. The story in "Takedown" is unbelievable not because it is untrue, but because it is unbelievable how many times Rick Cowan avoided certain death. Though it is unbelievable at times, it is a true story.

By chance, Rick Cowan was in the right palce at the right time. This young detective made the mafia believe he was a cousin in a garbage hauling family. Through this false pretense, he was able to infiltrate the Gambino Fanily to its highest level. Such a task was thought to be out of reach to the NYPD. The stories Cowan tells of his interactions with the mafia have a level of authenticity to them. You can almost hear the stereotypical accents being spoken as you read. I question whether some of the stories were exaggerated to make the book a more exciting read. Surely any man faced with some of these circumstances would crack or slip.

Cowan even discusses the strain three years uncover put on his family. This is an aspect of the investigation that receives little attention in similar books. I also enjoyed the epilogue in which Cowan discusses whether he felt remorse for "ratting out" the friends he made in three years.

Reading a book about the real life mafia is much more exciting than any movie or TV show available. While there certainly must be some fabrications present in the book, none were so glaring to take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any person with an interest organized crime.

Rating:
Summary: The very BEST book of its kind in years
Review: Takedown: The Fall of the Last Mafia Empire is by far the best Mob-related book I've read in years. For once we have the perspective of a true good-guy insider, not a bunch of turncoat felons or distant relationss to Mafiosi who heard some stories second and third hand. Detective Cowan's undercover journey was very suspenseful, and this book is definitely a page-turner. Here's an Irish-American cop who did it all, became a believable Italian -American business executive and got up close, wearing wires for YEARS as he met with made guys and capos in the Gambino and Genovese families. Definitely recommended, even if you are not a "Mob buff."