The author writes with a flair for conversation without losing the details of history. The narrative is written chronologically and flows well. Overall an enjoyable read if you are interested in the subject matter and want to learn more about history and societal cultures of the times described in the text.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The author spent a lot of time researching this book, as it is packed full of details about Albert Anastasia's journey from Italian immigrant to a mob boss that every other mob wanted dead. This is perfect for any fan of books about the mafia or true crime.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC of Lord High Executioner.
This is an in-depth and revealing account of the life of Albert Anastasia. Italian born, he jumped ship and came to America quickly getting involved in the world of organized crime. As a hit an he worked for some of the biggest names of the era including Al Capone. Anastasia would eventually become the founder of Murder, Inc. Powerful, ruthless, brutal, yet a man with dedicated followers he would rise to the highest of rankings as boss of what became the Gambino crime family.
It’s all here, the blood, the gore, the criminal activity and the fascinating details of what his life was and how it ended; assassinated in his barbers chair.
Anyone interested in true crime and the lifestyle of some of the most feared men to walk the streets will find this an absorbing read.

Lord High Executioner is the biography of Albert Anastasia, the Italy-born Mafia boss who ran the pay-for-murder racket in the States.

The book covers the early childhood of the Mad Hatter in his hometown in Italy, and how he jumped ship to land in the States. It then goes on to cover how he rose to the echelons of higher power within the Mafia and the five-family system that controlled the organized mob. The book ends by covering his assassination and the end of the Anastasia era.

With so many confuisng names, the narration became difficult to follow at times. The pictures at the end are a delight to watch. Needless to day, there is a lot of blood and other gory details throughout, so if you are a faint hearted fellow, this book is not for you.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

Verdict: One time read.

I was pleased to receive an advanced copy of “The Lord High Executioner” by Frank Dimatteo and Michael Benson (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.


Told in only the way a Mafia “survivor” can, The Lord High Executioner is a dive into the criminal and violent life of Italian immigrant Albert Anastasia. After coming to America, Anastasia quickly found his way in organized crime and murder, becoming the founder of the infamous Murder Inc. and becoming one of the most feared names on the East coast. He ascended the ranks at lightning speed by being a versatile and ruthless hitman for all the big names at the time, including Al Capone. He would eventually become a boss of his own, ruling over what is now the Gambino crime family, before meeting an untimely end in his favorite chair at the barbers.

This isn’t Frank Dimatteo’s first rodeo writing about the Mafia. His expert knowledge is due in large part to him having grown-up with or adjacent to a lot of key players. He currently publishes a ‘zine called Mob Candy and has written many similar works regarding life in organized crime. Michael Benson has written over sixty true crime books, and regularly appears on the ID Channel. Together these two are unrelenting with facts, experience, and a narrative prowess that takes the reader on a whirlwind through the history and lives of some of the most fearsome men and gangs to ever walk the streets.

Dimatteo’s writing style is very conversational and instantly draws you in. The narrative feels like sitting down to a drink at your favorite bar and listening to some haunted old man spin tales as wild as any pulp fiction. It’s unbelievable, and downright outrageous, but you keep reading because it’s just crazy enough to be true. He doesn’t shy away from the gory details and well placed f-bomb (yeah, this book isn’t for the kids), but it’s done in a way that doesn’t take away from the experience. If anything, it gives the reader an unflinching look into the lives and crimes of Albert Anastasia and those around him, no matter how gritty and bloody.

Due to the sheer amount of events and crimes committed by Anastasia, the story does tend to bleed together in parts, but Dimatteo is quick to offer an expertly placed backstory or explanation to help the reader keep up. As much of a novice I am with Mafia crime and family history, I was able to keep up and follow along.

Overall, I recommend this book. It’s refreshing to see a writer so deeply invested and brutally honest about their subject. You will not get a glossing over or idolization from Dimatteo or Benson. You will get a bloody disgusting ride, though. Just make sure it isn’t a long one off of a short pier.

Finished Lord High Executioner: The Legendary Mafia Boss Albert Anastasia by Frank Dimatteo & Michael Benson. Dimatteo is the author of The President Street Boys: Growing Up Mafia. I grew up watching the Untouchables in the early Sixties, starring Robert Stack as Elliot Ness, fearless crime fighter with narration by Walter Winchell. Each week a new episode of the good guys prevailing over the mobsters. Lord High Executioner is an in depth account of Murder Inc. the henchmen responsible for eliminating witnesses, turn-coat mobsters, public officials and often innocent bystanders. Frank Dimatteo’s father was a bodyguard and capo for the mob so this is an inside view of this extremely violent world and in particular it’s most noted hitman and mob boss Albert Anastasia.Of particular interest is the origin of the Five Mafia Families in NY and the Mob Summit in Apalachin, NY in 1957 that brought the Mafia out of the shadows. The book is a bit grisly, but a great example of true crime writing.

“Lord High Executioner: The Legendary Mafia Boss Albert Anastasia”—Frank Dimatteo and Michael Benson [4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️] If you are a fan of true crime and mafia reads, I definitely recommend checking out this book! This story paints the whole picture for us of Umberto “Albert” Anastasia, who was born in Italy, came to the United States, and became a notorious gangster. We learn of his origins and how he started out, to the many years later when he was gunned down in a barber shop in New York City. We find out about all the years in between that were filled with gruesome murders and criminal activity along with the Murder Inc. saga that helped create the modern American mafia. These authors did a great job pulling us into the life story of Anastasia, keeping it intriguing from beginning to end. I definitely recommend reading 👍🏼 *Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review* 📚

Free ARC from Net Galley

Albert Anastasia, if there is an original evil hand or embodiment of evil it was him

Many tried to emulate the fearless Don but few even came close

Here is the rise and inevitable fall of the original gangster

Ive always been drawn To books about the mafia as this was no different. An interesting and riveting book.

*THANK YOU to Kensington Books and Netgalley for graciously providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I have a soft spot for books about mafia biographies and true crime stories , books like Mafia Prince, Dary Matera - John Dillinger and so on ,are on my absolute favorite list...and this book joins them proudly.
I will start with a quote that perfectly sums up the personality of Albert Anastasia
"He was bent from the get-go, and grew into a man unafraid of hell because he’d grown up right in the middle of it."
Ruthless,merciless but still "Albert was also blessed with loyal followers who were willing to die for him, and who for the most part made him a hard target for those who were jealous of his power."
Really full and in depth story about the "Mad Hatter" that is absolute pleasure for all true crime book lovers(not only!).
Although some repetitiveness here and there rubbed me in the wrong way, it didn't took a fraction of the good time reading it and enjoying the gripping story!

This is an excellent mob book that’s just filled with all kinds of good stuff on Albert Anastasia and the Murder, Inc. crew that has been needing done. It’s finally going to be all in one place, the whole story, start to finish. Read how Anastasia got his start, why wanted to be the boss so bad that major rules were broken. I’ve always heard him mentioned in other books but never knew much about him at all. This book changes all that.

You find out who he followed, who he was friends with, and who he really didn’t like. There is also a lot about the killings he committed under the guise of Murder, Inc. or otherwise. And ones contracted and performed by others for large financial gains for the group. If you enjoy true crime or mobster books, you’ll likely enjoy this read. I’ve read some of both Dimatteo’s and Benson’s other true crime works. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Frank Dimatteo & Michael Benson, and Citadel.