by Howard Blum
First published 1993
A special FBI task force wages a high-tech war against New York's most untouchable crime boss. John Gotti has earned his nickname "Teflon Don" by beating every case the government throws at him. Federal agents know he runs the Gambino crime family, but proving it in court seems impossible. The team plants sophisticated listening devices and cultivates dangerous informants from within Gotti's inner circle. Their most valuable asset becomes Sammy "the Bull" Gravano, Gotti's trusted underboss who agrees to testify against his former boss. As the investigation intensifies, agents must navigate the deadly world of organized crime while building an airtight case. The story reveals the painstaking detective work and personal risks that finally brought down one of America's most notorious mobsters. This account shows how modern law enforcement techniques cracked a criminal empire that had operated with impunity for decades.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, enemies-to-allies, high-stakes
Setting: New York
Period: 20th-century
349 pages · Hardcover · Poseidon Pr
Content warnings: violence