This book takes you behind the scenes of the makeup and people of the heist, how it was done, who was involved, and the importance of it. you also get a look at some of the high-powered Mafia men at the time as well. You also get a look at the court case and how one man was found not guilty and then years later much later when bones were discovered in Queens and they came back to someone from this case. if you like Mafia and true crime you will like this book.

A riveting, deeply detailed look into not only the infamous Lufthansa robbery, but the Mafia as a whole.

Definitive read on the heist of Luthansa. It is also a book about the Mafia and some going on within the orginization. The book is precise, very well written and a fountain of information. I think it is worth noting that the movie "Goodfellas" was based on this book. The information regarding the trail was a welcome addition as well as other things that went on during the time of the heist, gives the reader a very good idea of what went into the heist as well as what was going on behind the scenes. If you enjoyed the movie that this book is based on, or just want to learn more about the heist and other things, please read this book. I truly enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

This book, by mafia expert Anthony DeStefano, is one I have anxiously waited on for a long time. It is the heist that inspired the movie, "Goodfellas" and has been in the news in the last couple of years (possible bodies found that were involved). This book covers everything surrounding the 1978 Lufthansa Airline heist. It also gives good detailed history around the people involved. I had a hard time putting it down as it really sucked me in! If you enjoy a good mafia story, this is a book for you. Well written and well researched, it is a great book to read.

Early on in The Big Heist, it refers to "a crime that he and the rest of America would never forget." Well, I had forgotten. But that's the thing: this book assumes a lot of prior knowledge. It IS extremely comprehensive, and provides a rich history of this crime, the Mafia (particularly New York-based), and the bizarre role of the law enforcement community in the investigation. But I think those with more prior knowledge of the subject than I have might appreciate it a bit more (another star!)

For anyone who doesn't remember the crime itself, suffice it to say that this crime was the basis of the movie Goodfellas and, using recent evidence from the 2015 trial of eighty-year-old Mafia don Vincent Asaro, tells the true story of his long-rumored role in the Lufthansa heist.

The book is divided into three sections. In the firs six chapters, the world of the New York Mafia is explored in depth, including the reach of the Five Families at the height of their power. The second section, chapters 7-12, looks at how this heist happened, and how the mastermind of the crime relied on accomplices who were not too bright, which resulted in a boatload of murders. The final section covers the famous betrayal of Asaro by Valenti at the trial (which resulted in a shocking acquittal).

It's quite an accomplishment, and would be appreciated by true crime fans in general, organized crime story buffs, and anyone who is curious about the extent of the power held by the mob a few short decades ago. Four stars!

This book is probably the final word in the story of the 1978 Lufthansa Heist, along with a good history of some of the things that went on with the mob families from even before then, right up through 2016. All put together by author DeStefano from his years of covering the mob for New York Newsday. He also covered the trial of a suspect in the heist, mob don Vincent Asaro in 2015 for that and many other dirty deeds after being brought up on charges.

This is the crime that the movie Goodfellas was made from. But it goes behind the scenes and tells much more, along with what's happened since. This is for anyone who likes mob related media or has always been curious about the real story behind that heist and not the Hollywood version of it. My thanks to NetGalley, Citadel and the author for providing me with an ARC for review purposes.

I have been fascinated with mobsters and the Lufthansa heist for as long as I can remember, so when I saw there was going to be a need book published with never-before-heard details, I had to have it!

The Big Heist definitely does not disappoint. While it does touch on some of the aspects already known from other books and movies about the time period, the author uses those points to introduce the new information in a way that not only blends together seamlessly, but also adds a new depth to the story as you know it.

Overall, I am sure this story will appeal to those who have an interest in mobsters, and especially the ones that took part in the Lufthansa heist.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

A thoroughly well researched book that goes into more detail about this well publicized event.