The Mob and the City: The Hidden History of How the Mafia Captured New York

The stories behind organized crime in New York have inspired countless movies, books, and legends, but how much of it is true? What role did ethnicity play in the success of certain families? How many “made men” really “earned their bones?” Why did some characters rise to prominence and power and others didn’t?

The Mob and the City answers many of these questions, backing up its conclusions with thorough research and meticulous study, and along the way, breaking down numerous misconceptions about the history of the Mafia. From how different ethnic groups rose and fell in power to myths about the Mafia swearing off the drug trade, this book allows the characters to remain larger than life, even as it brings their stories down to earth.

Even as an avid reader of Mafia-infused stories and nonfiction, I was surprised by some of the information Hortis offered. The story of the Mafia’s influence in gay bars from Prohibition onward is a fascinating one by itself, and it’s only one of the dozens of topics covered in The Mob and the City.

Picking up where Goodfellas and The Godfather left off, The Mob and the City is a terrific, informative read.