The First Family

Starred review from May 25, 2009
Decades before the Five Families emerged and more than half a century before Mario Puzo wrote The Godfather
, Giuseppe Morello and his family controlled all manner of crime in New York City. Bestselling historian Dash (Satan's Circus
; Tulipomania
) presents an enthralling account of this little-known “boss of bosses,” dubbed “the Clutch Hand” because of his deformed arm. Arriving with his family from Corleone, Sicily, in 1892, Morello soon set up a successful operation counterfeiting American and Canadian bills. His empire expanded to include extorting local businesses, insurance scams and kidnappings. The Mafia—a term that Dash underscores was used by outsiders, not members—was in its infancy when Morello came to America, but by the time he was gunned down in 1930, families had cropped up in all five boroughs and in cities across the country. Dash depicts the balance between loyalty and betrayal as an ever-changing dance and nimbly catalogues the endless gruesome murders committed in the name of revenge and honor. Readers may think they know the mob, but Morello's ruthless rule makes even the fictional Tony Soprano look tame. Maps.

Starred review from June 15, 2009
The Mob comes to America, and rivers of blood flow.

The literature surrounding the Mafia is vast, particularly in the glory days of the 1930s and'40s, but very slight for the first days of the American mob. London-based journalist and historian Dash (Satan's Circus: Murder, Vice, Police Corruption, and New York's Trial of the Century, 2007, etc.) fills the gap with this altogether excellent account, which begins, as always, in Corleone, Sicily. Giuseppe Morello—variously known as"The Clutch Hand,""Little Finger" and"One Finger Jack"—earned his chops as a mobster, starting off with penny-ante crimes and swiftly working his way up to the murder of a corrupt cop. Things got hot after that, whereupon Morello made for New York and set up shop doing much the same work, then branching out to take part in whatever mischief was afoot. Dash swiftly reviews the reasons why the Mafia evolved in Sicily, and why it was so exportable, noting that local habits of keeping quiet and resisting state power proved helpful in protecting the newcomers from the authorities—even though the metropolitan police soon organized an"Italian Squad" made up of Italian-American cops such as the little-sung Joe Petrosino, murdered on Morello's orders, and Michael Fiaschetti. Dash's narrative soon involves Secret Service agents, politicos and ward bosses, minor hoods and ordinary citizens, building toward Morello's downfall. Hubris and retribution figure heavily, as do a slew of second-generation mobsters who had designs of their own, independent of the old-timers. Dash writes with flair and care alike, taking pains to keep a complicated story and a vast cast of characters on track while studding the tale with nicely hard-boiled observations, including,"The one trait Joe Masseria fatally lacked was a talent for diplomacy."

Essential for students of organized crime in America. Murder and mayhem buffs will enjoy it too.

(COPYRIGHT (2009) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

July 15, 2009
Before Luciano, before Capone, there was Giuseppe "The Clutch Hand" Morello. Arriving in the States in 1892 from Corleone, Sicily, "The Clutch Hand" is believed to have been the force behind America's first Mafia family. As drawn here from transcripts, news reports, and police files, Morello's life story has it alla harsh childhood, a physical infirmity, the tough life of an immigrantplus the ultimate rise to power. British historian Dash ("Satan's Circus") has taken on the challenging task of piecing together Morello's story. While a lot is unknown about Morello's life, he was also a master at manipulating and leading from behind the scenes. Even after a stint in federal prison, he was still a force to be reckoned with until he was gunned down during the "Castellammare War," a violent period for the U.S. Mafia in the early 1900s. Dash includes a handy cast of characters but does a terrific job of clearly writing about each person so readers won't find much need for the list. VERDICT Recommended for all readers interested in true crime or New York Cityor in a good history book.Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.