Intriguing story of the crime world and how they operate. Gangsters and their crimes really interest me. I really enjoyed reading this book. Highly recommend!

A Brotherhood Betrayed: The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc. by Michael Cannell is a historical true story. It talks about the rise and fall of Murder, Inc. as you can see from the title. It depends on what type of history you enjoy if you will enjoy this book. It is about a man involved in the Mob. This man was an executioner but became an informant. His death, actually mysterious death, became a major part of Mob history.

It took me several attempts to get into A BROTHERHOOD BETRAYED: It starts off throwing all sorts of characters and details at the reader, and with no prior knowledge of Murder, Inc., I got lost quick. The book is subtitled The Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder, Inc., but the story frequently takes turns away from Abe Reles. I think that's OK, and maybe even preferable to those who want a bigger-picture view, but it makes it harder to keep track of everyone.

Ultimately, this one didn't work for me because of the writing style. It's written seemingly without narrative, very much "this happened" "then this happened." I wanted the author to further connect the dots, place things in context, and tell me a story. At the same time, the language itself often was derogatory. (If you're sensitive to fat-shaming, this is not a book for you.)

You're probably wondering why I didn't just DNF if this is how I felt -- the story got a lot more interesting when it moved into the investigation. I was unaware of Thomas E. Dewey's history as special prosecutor, and it was cool to learn more about NYC mayor Fiorello La Guardia as well. Still, I'd only recommend A BROTHERHOOD BETRAYED to those particularly interested in mob enforcers in 1940s NYC.

Anyone who has followed the mob stories has heard of this case, maybe not everything about it but at least most if not all of the characters. The book begins with the history and or background of murder Inc. The men that form this incorporation and the murders that they are at least known to have committed. Yet the police or the District attorney’s office could not get any evidence against any of the individuals. Abe Reles would travel across the country back and forth to carry out the hits that needed to be done. Bugsey and others would do them as well but the authorities focused on Abe when they arrested him and then had him holed up in a hotel out in Cooney Island. This the part of the story that most people know, is that the day or night before he was to testify against Anastasia for a killing of a dock worker Reles would be found on the rough of the building making it seem like he was trying to escape. Of course, the cops who were guarding him were accused and later demoted and no one has ever known the real reason. Yet the author mentioned something he found that has never been brought up in any of the versions that I have heard. His wife or former wife after he was arrested came to visit him that night and was the last person to see him alive. This is the same woman who killed three men who raped her when they were younger. Still, no one knew the whereabouts of his money, or even she could have gotten the 100,000 dollars that Frank Costello was offering at the time, for no one had seen her afterward. Just a guess, I could see him doing the jump if he knew she would get the money for his life was over for the men he had already sent to prison and the electric chair. A good book if you are into old gangster crimes and history.

Looking for a book to keep you on the edge of your seat?! How about a book that reads so quickly you almost forget this is based on a TRUE story!! I enjoyed this mob true crime book and if you love true crime this one is definitely for you!!

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and NetGalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Brotherhood Betrayed is an excellent true crime saga of the height of organized crime. Fascinating read!

A Brotherhood Betrayed is the true crime story of the 1920s and 1930s New York mafia scene. The author was able to pen a compelling timeline courtesy of the testimony from Abe Reles, an informant who helped bring down the organization that he helped build. Intrigue! Suspense! A downright fascinating read. This book is perfect for true crime buffs.

I find the history of the mob to be very intriguing and I love true crime. This book gives a lot of information about the mafia in New York in the 1920s and 30s. Michael Cannell brought this story to life with the history of Abe Reles who was an informant that helped bring down the organization he helped build.

Fascinating read!

This book super intrigued me when I first seen it advertised but has slowly lost appeal for me. Maybe the mafia is just being over sold right now in the media. I'm not sure. I hope to one day finish this book, and find the intrigue this book first sparked in me. But right now just doesn't seem to be the time for me.

Sadly this book is not keeping my interest. Hopefully I will pick it back up sometime in the future and try again.

This is the true story of the rise and fall of Murder, Inc. If you are at all intrigued by this group or the time period, or the Mob, you should read this book. There are details that I have never heard before and I greatly enjoyed reading this book.

Oh I love true crime. Particularly, when it's been well researched. I would definitely recommend to any true crime reader or any reader for that matter.

Good book but a little confusing at time due to all the people. Even more better if you know any of the areas that are written about. Good read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving this book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

This was a very interesting book and the author clearly did a lot of research. I felt that this book was a little dry at times and that some points were overly explained. I think that a serious mafia history buff would thoroughly enjoy this book but it might be too dense for the more casual reader. If you're looking for a book on the mafia you'll enjoy this book! My three star rating is due to the fact that I felt the book could have been more engaging to appeal to a wider crowd.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first real crime book I have read. The inside look into Murder Inc. was a harrowing read. The lengths this organization went through to get to the top is mind-boggling to me. An eye-opening story into the cold-hearted reality, this book tells is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It is well written and detailed in description of a mobs rise and fall. This book revolves around Abe Reyes from his start to his betrayal. Major players in the story and how they are affected. Great read although shocking. Too cruel to be true, but true it is.

Wonderful book about Murder, Inc. I found this book to be well researched and well written in a way that draws the reader in and makes you feel like a fly on the wall. The mystery surrounding the death of Abe Reles and the possible scenarios of what happened were very interesting. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

An interesting and fact filled book I recommend to all true crime readers, can't wait to read more from the author.

I loved this book. It is so interesting getting a view to this normally secretive and elusive life. Writing was great and kept me intrigued. I FLEW through this book because it was so captivating.

A Brotherhood Betrayed is a highly detailed account of Abe Reles's rise in organized crime, his turn as an FBI informant, and then his fall to death.

Michael Cannell's journalism background is evident in his writing, which could be a positive or negative depending on your reading preference. The tone is far more news article than narrative nonfiction. The writing tends toward a dry account.

I had problems with Cannell's choice of descriptors at times. He focuses heavily on people's race and ethnicity, using some derogatory and, I thought, unnecessary terms. I'd expect that if these words were coming from the people involved in Reles's world in describing one another, but they often felt very much like Cannell's own viewpoint.

I tried listening to some of this book on audio, which I can't recommend. I found the narration extremely robotic, and it didn't hold my attention at all.

While I'm interested in organized crime and I read a lot of true crime, this book didn't work well for me. I do think there's a lot of great content for the right reader.

I just reviewed A Brotherhood Betrayed by Michael Cannell. #ABrotherhoodBetrayed #NetGalley

Well written true story about the history of Murder, Inc., This book reads like a novel and you have to keep reminding yourself that it is a true story.