Nicholas Pileggi specializes in crime writing and journalism. He is best known for the true-crime books Wiseguy, adapted into the famous film Goodfellas, and Casino.
If you enjoy reading books by Nicholas Pileggi then you might also like the following authors:
Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s gritty portrayals of crime and corruption might appreciate James Ellroy. Ellroy is known for his deeply detailed and intense depictions of mid-20th century crime in America.
His novel L.A. Confidential explores the corruption, intrigue, and dark undercurrents beneath the glamorous facade of 1950s Los Angeles. It follows three different LAPD officers whose paths cross during their investigations into brutal crimes and police corruption.
The plot moves quickly, filled with twists, suspenseful conflicts, and dynamic, complex characters. Anyone interested in crime fiction showing realistic perspectives on power, violence, and corruption could find Ellroy’s writing appealing.
Joseph D. Pistone is a former FBI agent who writes vivid firsthand accounts of undercover operations within the Mafia. In his book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia, Pistone tells the fascinating true story of his infiltration into the Bonanno crime family.
Posing as jewel thief Donnie Brasco, he gradually gained the mob’s trust and lived under constant threat for six years. He provides gripping details about the dangerous interactions and friendships he formed along the way.
If you enjoyed Nicholas Pileggi’s realistic portrayal of organized crime in Wiseguy, Pistone’s gritty, personal account will likely appeal as well.
Mario Puzo is celebrated for his legendary portrayal of mob life and organized crime in America. Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s detailed accounts of Mafia stories and true-crime drama are likely to find a great match in Puzo’s novels.
His bestselling book, The Godfather, tells the story of the fictional Corleone family, their rise to power within New York’s underworld, and the complex codes of loyalty and violence they live by.
Vito Corleone, a powerful Mafia don, navigates dangerous enemies and personal struggles while maintaining his family’s hold over their empire.
The novel expertly blends suspense, ambition, betrayal, and family drama, creating an unforgettable glimpse into the shadowy corridors of power.
Readers who enjoyed Nicholas Pileggi’s gritty crime tales may appreciate the sharp storytelling of Elmore Leonard. Leonard writes punchy dialogue and creates characters that feel vividly real.
His novel Get Shorty offers a sly peek at Hollywood through the eyes of Chili Palmer, a mob-connected loan shark with dreams of becoming a movie producer.
Palmer heads to Los Angeles to chase down a debtor, but quickly finds himself swept into the cutthroat world of filmmaking. Leonard mixes crime, humor, and sharp observations about show business into one fast-moving story.
If stories of tough guys navigating shady deals and tense situations keep you turning pages, Elmore Leonard is a writer worth your time.
George V. Higgins was an American author known for sharp, realistic crime fiction that centers around gritty dialogue and authentic criminal relationships. Readers who appreciate Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguy might also enjoy Higgins’ novel The Friends of Eddie Coyle.
This book portrays the Boston crime scene through Eddie Coyle, a low-level gunrunner stuck between criminals and law enforcement. Higgins crafts natural conversations that reveal the characters’ intentions, loyalties, and betrayals in an understated yet powerful way.
The reader becomes immersed in Eddie’s tangled situation, experiencing firsthand the dangerous risks of street-level crime. Fans of Pileggi’s behind-the-scenes gangster portrayals will find Higgins’ realistic underworld compelling and believable.
Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi might also appreciate Jerry Capeci, a veteran journalist known for his insightful reporting on organized crime.
His book Mob Boss: The Life of Little Al D’Arco, the Man Who Brought Down the Mafia tells the true story of Alphonse Little Al D’Arco, who went from Mafia boss to government informant.
Capeci details D’Arco’s rise within New York’s Lucchese crime family, his dramatic decision to cooperate with the FBI, and how his testimony shocked the criminal underworld.
The book offers readers a fascinating glimpse into the tense loyalty and betrayal dynamics of the mob world.
Books by Philip Carlo dive deep into the lives of notorious criminals, mafia figures, and hitmen. If you enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s vivid, gritty portrayal of criminal underworlds, Carlo’s work will resonate with you.
One standout is The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer. This chilling account introduces Richard Kuklinski, a ruthless hitman who operated quietly for decades.
Carlo had direct access to Kuklinski, giving readers detailed insights into the mind, actions, and double life of this infamous killer.
The narrative explores Kuklinski’s brutal crimes, his secret family life, and the dark link between cold-blooded murder and organized crime, making it impossible to put down.
Books by William Kennedy often explore gritty stories about crime, politics, and human drama. His novel Legs dives into the life of the infamous gangster Jack Legs Diamond.
Set in the roaring 1920s and 30s, it captures the rise and fall of Diamond’s criminal empire, vividly showing readers a world of bootlegging, violence, and corruption. Kennedy paints Diamond as charismatic yet ruthless, making the flow of events both dramatic and believable.
Readers who enjoyed Nicholas Pileggi’s gripping accounts of real-life mobsters and their complex personalities in Wiseguy and Casino might find William Kennedy’s storytelling similarly captivating.
Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s detailed accounts of organized crime will find Charles Brandt equally fascinating.
Brandt, a former criminal investigator and prosecutor, offers an authentic look at the world of the mob in his acclaimed true-crime book I Heard You Paint Houses.
The book tells the gripping real-life confession of Frank The Irishman Sheeran, a Mafia hitman who claims involvement in one of America’s great unsolved mysteries—the disappearance of union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Through interviews conducted by Brandt himself, Sheeran’s story unfolds with chilling honesty, revealing the insidious intersection of the mafia, politics, and labor unions.
Fans who appreciated Pileggi’s Wiseguy and Casino will appreciate Brandt’s narrative skill and gritty realism.
Dennis Lehane is an author you’ll appreciate if you enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s gritty crime narratives. Lehane’s stories often explore crime, corruption, and complex moral dilemmas.
His novel Mystic River revolves around three childhood friends whose lives intersect tragically after a murder rattles their Boston neighborhood. Lehane builds fascinating characters who struggle to escape the past, with secrets and betrayal lurking behind every corner.
If you like the intense, realistic storytelling found in Pileggi’s Wiseguy or Casino, Lehane’s characters and plots provide a similar depth and gritty atmosphere.
Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s true-to-life portrayals of crime and corruption might find Don Winslow equally captivating. Winslow is known for sharp storytelling and deep dives into the darker sides of law enforcement and criminal enterprises.
His book The Power of the Dog is the first in a powerful trilogy on the Mexican-American drug wars. The novel follows Art Keller, a determined DEA agent whose mission to dismantle a notorious drug cartel takes him through high-level corruption and international intrigue.
Winslow’s gritty, realistic style brings out the complexities of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred line between justice and revenge. This tense narrative offers a vivid picture of ambition, crime, and morality that fans of Goodfellas or Casino will appreciate.
Edward Bunker was an author who drew from real-life experiences to create gritty, realistic crime fiction. His novel No Beast So Fierce follows Max Dembo, a man recently released from prison who tries and fails to go straight.
Offering an unflinching look into the world of crime, Max’s struggle feels authentic and intense. Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s gripping portrayals of criminal life, like Wiseguy, will find Bunker’s work equally vivid and raw.
Bunker gives readers a believable look at the hard choices and harsh realities faced by his characters.
Edward Conlon is a former NYPD detective who turned his real-life police experiences into vivid storytelling. In his memoir Blue Blood, he recounts his journey through the ranks of New York’s police force. He unfolds a raw, honest portrayal of his life on the beat.
From gritty patrol nights in the Bronx to intense detective investigations, Conlon gives readers an authentic view of police work.
Readers who enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s true crime narratives, such as Wiseguy, will appreciate Conlon for his detailed, insider accounts filled with real characters and situations from the streets of New York City.
George Anastasia is an investigative journalist known for his detailed stories about organized crime. His books explore real-life criminals and the world they inhabit, much in the style of Nicholas Pileggi.
In Blood and Honor, Anastasia chronicles the Scarfo family’s violent reign over organized crime in Philadelphia. He provides personal accounts and insider perspectives from mob informants, prosecutors, and even associates of the Scarfo family.
It’s a clear look at mafia dynamics, betrayal, and power struggles. Readers fascinated by Pileggi’s Wiseguy and Casino will appreciate Anastasia’s straightforward storytelling and deep exploration of criminal personalities and motives.
If you enjoy Nicholas Pileggi’s vivid stories about crime and the underworld, Lawrence Block is another author worth exploring. Block has a talent for gritty yet believable crime novels, often centered around characters living on the edge of society.
A great starting point is his novel When the Sacred Ginmill Closes, which follows private detective Matthew Scudder through the streets of 1970s New York City. In this story, Scudder becomes involved in shady barroom deals, deep secrets, and dangerous friendships.
With crisp dialogue, authentic city atmosphere, and morally complex characters, Block weaves a portrait of crime that’s both realistic and entertaining.