Booknote: A Brotherhood Betrayed

Michael Cannell, A Brotherhood Betrayed: the Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder Inc. New York: Minotaur Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781250204387.

 

Genre: True crime

Subgenre: biography, mob, history, United States

Format: hardback book

Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

Abe Reles was a top executioner for Murder Inc., the enforcers of the mob's Commission. He was ruthless, efficient, and made sure any snitches were killed. Then he went on to become an informant and collaborate with authorities when arrested. He knew enough to bring down big Mafia figures such as Albert Anastasia and Bugsy Siegel, but then Reles dies in strange conditions. A suicide? An escape attempt gone wrong? Or did the mob kill him? Speculation as to what really happened went on for years. 

The book is divided into two parts. The Rise, with four chapters, and The Fall, with nine chapters. This is an interesting and well written book that not only documents Reles' life, but it also looks at New York City and U.S. history from before World War II and even to the 1960s. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Reles' testimony was the big daily news. Once World War II exploded in the United States, Reles and the mob dropped off the news. That time period right before the war in 1941 had a lot going on in terms of crime and mob news, and the author brings it to life rather well. The narrative is good, and the author weaves the stories of good and bad guys well. We also see that "good" guy can be a loose term in a city and time full of corruption. It is an engaging story, and you enjoy U.S. mob history, you should read this book. Reles may be the star, but this book is also about U.S. crime and society at the time.

I also found interesting how Reles' death had repercussions long after his death. O'Dwyer, the prosecutor who thought Reles would help him bring down the mob, ends up a ruined and broken man. Reles gets mentioned in federal hearings years later. His ghost really got a lot of mileage, so to speak. The book also features an addendum to let us know how things moved on. Additionally, the book is well researched with notes for each chapter included. 

Overall, I really liked the book. It is interesting, well written with good research. It is engaging, and the narrative is well paced. Readers of this genre are likely to enjoy the book as well as U.S. history readers. 

4 out of 5 stars.