Product Description

In 1978, the US government waged a war against organised crime. One man was left behind the lines. From 1976 until 1981, Special Agent Pistone lived undercover with the Mafia. Only able to visit his young family once every few months, Pistone - under the alias Donnie Brasco - ate, drank, partied, worked and sometimes killed with the wiseguys. He got so close that his Mafia partner, Lefty Ruggiero, asked him to officiate as best man at his wedding. Pistone's eventual testimony, in such spectacular prosecutions as 'the Pizza Connection' and 'the Mafia Commission' resulted in more than 200 indictments and 100 convictions of members of organised crime.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14091 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

New York Times Book Review
'Courageous and extraordinary'

Review
'So entertaining you have to remind yourself it's deadly serious' (Boston Globe )

'Compelling and gripping . . . Raw, hard-hitting non-fiction at its best . . . A revealing investigative work' (Toronto Star )

'A penetrating look into the inner circle of the Mafia . . . There's no shortage of real-life drama' (Detroit News )

'Courageous and extraordinary' (New York Times Book Review )

Boston Globe
'So entertaining you have to remind yourself it's deadly serious'

Customer Reviews

I'm a girl and yet shock horror I still liked it!
This ia a really good read for most of the time. It is fascinating true life story of agent Joe Pistone who infiltrated the mafia and helped bring about over 100 convictions, he was so good he was within a whisker of being made a 'made' guy, an actual mafia member. Some reviewers seem confused by this book (see below) and seem to think it's fiction stating that Donnie Brasco wouldn't have survived 2 seconds...ummm...he was undercover for 6 years, it's true story you idiot! Anyway apparently 'one for the lads' but will be enjoyed by anyone who likes reading about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. My few minor quibbles are that after a while the endless scores and neverending list of badguys names becomes confusing and a bit boring but overall the story itself is so strong that it carries it off.

Fascinating Journey
This honest, real and at times touching account of an FBI agent's under-cover life in the most powerful New York mafia family is truly fascinating. Joseph D Pistone leads the reader through his six year investigation as Donnie Brascoe, jewel thief, starting with his first encounters of small time crooks in Manhattan social clubs, manipulating his already street-wise personality to convince his peers of his good fella status all the way through to being lined up as a made man, a "Wise Guy" buy some of the most powerful mafia bosses in history.
If you have seen the movie and think you know the story, think again. Having only used snippets of information and portraying the main characters with some heavy poetic license, Donnie Brascoe the film doesn't even get close to the gritty realism you'll encounter in this book. Pistones' life was permanently changed as a result of his time as an agent and only his quick thinking, sharp wit and tough mentality kept him alive.
An amazing fly on the wall account that the Mafia themselves have, if not approved of, then certainly enjoyed reading. As real and satisfying as Meatballs, sausage and peppers........ Read It!

Probably the best Mafia book out there.
If you like your true crime or more specifically Mafia books you're more than likely to enjoy this. Amazingly, Joe Pistone under the alias of Donnie Brasco infiltrated the Bonanno Family in New York posing as a jewel thief for 6 years. Pistone is a hero for the work he has done, his case alone sent away many mobsters to prison and his testimony in later cases such as the Commission case helped in sending some of the top echelon members of the New York Mafia. Some even suffered a fate worse than prison. Sonny 'Black' Napolitano, a Capo, was whacked based on the relationship he had with Donnie because he treated him as a made guy.

From start to finish the book is gripping, much better than the film which is rather innaccurate. But hey, that's Hollywood. From the Colombo's to the Bonanno's to the Wiseguy bosses in Florida and Milwakuee, Pistone gives his account of his undercover life. Not to be missed.