Mario Puzo’s classic crime novel “The Godfather” introduces us to the Corleone family, who are involved in the powerful world of organized crime. The novel revolves around family loyalty, betrayal, and the violence underlying the glamour of Mafia life.
It takes you into the machinations of power, where loyalty is sacred but not beyond being compromised. Puzo’s storytelling creates real, complex characters, especially compelling in the person of young Michael Corleone—struggling as he inherits his family’s legacy of crime.
“American Tabloid” by James Ellroy covers the intersecting worlds of politics, organized crime, and law enforcement. Set in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the story shows us corruption at the highest levels of America.
Ellroy makes powerful use of real historical figures like J. Edgar Hoover and the Kennedys.
The novel throws readers deep into betrayals and conspiracies surrounding the Mob’s involvement with significant national events, spotlighting the blurred line between criminals and power brokers.
In “Live by Night,” Dennis Lehane paints a rich and vibrant picture of Prohibition-era gangsters. Joe Coughlin, the book’s protagonist, rises from small-time theft to become a major criminal figure.
Ambition drives the narrative as Joe stands between powerful mobsters in Tampa’s rum-running underworld.
Lehane vividly captures the atmosphere of organized crime—the harsh risks, the gritty violence, and the moral complexities faced by criminals amid shifting loyalties and power struggles during the Roaring Twenties.
“The Power of the Dog” follows Art Keller, a DEA agent pursuing a dangerous fight against drug cartels. Winslow shows us the brutal and corrupt world of drug traffickers and law enforcement, pulling no punches with his gritty realism.
Set over several decades, the story reveals an epic struggle between good and evil, showing how blurred the line between the two sides can become. It’s a dark, tense portrait of organized crime and its far-reaching consequences.
In “The Winter of Frankie Machine,” Winslow gives us Frank Machianno, a retired Mafia hitman whose quiet retirement running a bait shop is violently interrupted. Known to associates as Frankie Machine, he’s drawn back into his old life when someone tries to kill him.
Machianno revisits his past, retraces mafia relationships, and attempts to figure out who wants him dead. Winslow builds tension through flashbacks, reveals hidden Mafia connections, and crafts a memorable portrait of an aging criminal forced back into action.
“The Cartel,” Winslow’s powerful follow-up to “The Power of the Dog,” continues DEA agent Art Keller’s relentless battle against Mexican drug lords.
Readers witness brutal cartel warfare, corruption at every level, and the unflinching violence that permeates criminal organizations. Winslow cleverly weaves true events into fiction, showing how deeply organized crime can shape politics and society.
It’s an engaging but unsettling exploration of the modern cartel world and its connections to international politics and crime.
George V. Higgins’s “The Friends of Eddie Coyle” introduces readers to Eddie Coyle, a small-scale gunrunner in Boston. Higgins captures dialogue that feels honest and true among criminals and informants.
Eddie is stuck between facing jail time and staying loyal to fellow criminals. The novel strongly highlights themes of trust and betrayal—the cornerstone of organized crime relationships—and has vivid scenes depicting the gritty underbelly of the criminal world.
In “The Sicilian,” Mario Puzo returns readers to the Mafia landscape of Italy. Set after World War II, the story centers around Salvatore Giuliano, a local hero and folk outlaw who defies the law and Italian authorities.
Puzo combines elements of historical fiction and organized crime, showing how Mafia families work within their community.
Powerful crime bosses, violence, oppression, and rebellion create the backdrop of this captivating novel, drawing readers deeply into the dangerous essence of Sicilian life.
In “Omerta,” Puzo explores the strict Sicilian Mafia code of silence. The story follows Don Raymonde Aprile, an aging mob boss seeking a legitimate legacy while navigating mafia rivalries and betrayals in New York.
As Aprile steps away from his criminal past, violence and power struggles emerge among potential successors. Puzo’s storytelling provides a sharp portrayal of family honor, loyalty, and revenge within the world of organized crime, making it a rich addition to his Mafia novels.
James Ellroy’s “L.A. Confidential” depicts a dark crime narrative set in 1950s Los Angeles. Corruption, greed, and Mafia influence run rampant through the city, involving the police force itself.
Detectives Bud White and Ed Exley investigate brutal crimes connected to organized criminals and Hollywood celebrities.
Ellroy richly illustrates crime, corruption, and moral ambiguity, building a powerful atmosphere of suspense as characters grapple with the reality of organized-crime connections to politics and law enforcement.
In “Billy Bathgate,” Doctorow takes readers back to the Great Depression-era underworld, telling the story through teenager Billy’s eyes. Billy gets swept up in the legendary mob world ruled by Dutch Schultz.
Doctorow immerses readers in illicit activities like bootlegging, gambling, and murder as Billy goes from an outsider to part of Schultz’s inner circle.
The novel mixes historical events and figures, revealing dangerous yet fascinating insights into organized crime and the complicated lives of the criminals involved.
“Gomorrah” by Roberto Saviano stands apart as an explosive account of organized crime activities in Naples. Though structured more as reportage, Saviano vividly describes the operations and violence of the Camorra crime syndicate.
He extensively details criminal networks, how they work, their global reach, and their terrifying impact on communities.
The line between fiction and reality blurs as Saviano exposes the devastating grip of organized crime, shocking readers with a truthful yet gripping portrayal of modern criminal enterprise.
Mario Puzo’s “The Last Don” revolves around the Clericuzio crime family’s effort to distance themselves from mafia life. Don Domenico Clericuzio dreams of a legitimate future for his family, but family politics, ambition, and betrayal hinder his plans.
The novel explores tensions between the old Mafia traditions and modern ambitions. Its story combines crime, Hollywood glamour, and complex family relationships, depicting how difficult it is to escape the world of organized crime once you’re entrenched.
Jake Arnott’s “The Long Firm” immerses readers in the criminal underworld of 1960s London. Harry Starks, a charismatic gangster involved in extortion, violence, and other illicit activities, is central to the novel.
Told through different viewpoints, Arnott presents a multifaceted portrayal of organized crime. He vividly captures gangsters’ connections to prominent figures in politics, entertainment, and law enforcement.
Dark humor blends with gritty realism, creating a vibrant portrait of Britain’s notorious criminal scene and the personalities who inhabit it.