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 enlarge | Author: Philip Carlo
Publisher: William Morrow
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $15.82
You Save: $10.13 (39%)
New (35) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $15.82
Avg. Customer Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 6060
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 5.7 x 1.7
ISBN: 0061429848
Dewey Decimal Number: 364.1092
EAN: 9780061429842
ASIN: 0061429848
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Chiseling to the Core of the Professional Criminal August 15, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
With the skill of a linguistic sculptor, Philip Carlo reveals a microscopic characterization of all his protagonists in true crime and in fiction. In Gaspipe, Mr. Carlo is chiseling to the core of the professional criminal only as an artist with a deep familiarity and innate understanding of his subject and his material can do. Carlo holds us spellbound and turning the pages of Anthony Casso's life because Carlo has been there-physically, emotionally, and pyschologically- in the place where Anthony Casso has spent his life of crime. Carlo knows the neighborhood, the culture and its people. and he knows how to take us to that place where he and Casso learned their life lessons. Carlo gets Anthony Casso, and he shows us who the Mafia underboss is inside and out. This is one of those marathon reading experiences---you cannot put Gaspipe down until the very last of Philip Carlo's words on him have been read. Anthony Casso is real. Philip Carlo is a master of true crime.
 Good read for those fan's of the mafia, but! August 15, 2008
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
I have been an avid reader of true crime and mafia related books for over 15 years and have a personal library of over 300 books relating to American, Canadian and Italian mafia history and if there is one thing I am certain of is that unless so called facts are substantiated and reinforced or backed by solid research and hard evidence, you cannot believe everything your read! For the better part of 5 decades, mainly since the Senate Committee Hearings on Organized Crime of the 1950s and 60s there have been countless books written about mafia crime families, La Cosa Nostra leaders and members, and the events that surround their lives and the history of the American mafia, but most of the early books written by investigative reporters, journalists and independent authors were based strictly on willing participants within various local and federal law enforcement agencies and on their records, along with court records and media (mostly newspaper) accounts. Basically, it was not until the 1980s that authors of mob related books obtained the ability to research their subjects (groups, individuals and events) through the best means available for roughly more than 25 years, allowing for more accurate and credible accounts and sources. Those accounts and sources would be law enforcement bugs and wiretaps, along with surveillance records and photos and of course, mob informers, a.k.a., the "rats", "stoolies" and "co-operating witnesses" who end up in the witness protection program or in prison doing a short stint for co-operating or serious time otherwise.
What must be remembered even now is that all those organized crime members who co-operate in some manner with law enforcement are criminals! In other words their very nature is to lie, cheat, steal and corrupt and nothing changes when they pen or co-operate on a book. The only so called facts in any book that should be taken seriously and without doubt are those that can be collaborated or backed by direct proof such as those I mentioned previously, mainly law enforcement wiretaps and bugs and surveillance records, and in many cases court records dealing with large scale prosecutions of organized crime figures and groups. When statements or so called facts in a book can be reinforced by such sources than the credibility of the author and those involved multiply greatly.
Do not always depend solely on the past credibility of the author, in fact his sources and their credibility are just as important or even more important in some cases. With that said, let me say that "Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss" is a great read and without a doubt a well written book, but at the same time it's author Phil Carlo has lost an immense amount of credibility since his previous work, "The Iceman: Confessions of Mafia Contract Killer", which is without a doubt one of the worst true crime-mob related books ever written. For anyone who wishes to read not only my opinion of the book, but would like to read true facts as to why "EVERY" mafia related story in the book concerning Richard Kuklinski is completely and utterly untrue they only need to read my Amazon review of the book, which dissects all the mafia related murders Kuklinski and Carlo stated "The Iceman" was involved in and all the lies that are attributed to Mr. Kuklinsi and his alleged actions. The book reads like a classic mafia tale, with a modern and gritty edge that showcases the modern mafia mentality, to obtain money and power at all costs, even at the cost of loyalty and honor. At the same time, as stated by other Amazon reviews, "Gaspipe" carries a number of contradictions within the book. One of the most obvious being that author Phil Carlo stated in his book, "The Iceman" that Kuklinski was alone responsible for the death of Gambino crime family soldier and hitman, Roy DeMeo. Yet in "Gaspipe", subject Tony Casso, the former Lucchese crime family underboss details his participation in the murder of DeMeo and that of his and DeMeo's associates, "The Testa Brothers", Joey and Patty. It was in fact stated by witnesses and law enforcement members during the trial of former DeMeo crew associates and eventual and Lucchese crime family members, "The Gemini Twins", Joey Testa and Anthony Senter that they were the ones who killed DeMeo on orders of Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano and DeMeo's capo, Nino Gaggi and Castellano aide, capo Frank DeCicco, all detailed in court documents and information easily found in F.B.I. files. Something that should have been debated by Carlo in the book or at the very least been mentioned in some manner to draw light on Casso's alleged knowledge of the murder.
Just as with "The Iceman", author Phil Carlo has left himself vulnerable to criticism to say the least. Just as facts surrounding the DeMeo murder can be argued, Carlo's has once again shown himself to be less than accurate when it comes to New York mafia history and that of "The Five Families", especially the Gambino crime family. Influential Queens mobster, Joseph N. Gallo was longtime Consigliere to Paul Castellano and continued to hold the title shortly after John Gotti took over the family in early 1986 after the murder of Castellano by the Gotti faction in late (December) 1985, and Gallo was not in his 20's if I remember correctly What Carlo stated. Carlo's facts about the Gambino crime family membership was most likely a typo, 250 members being what should have been stated, not 2,500. It is the author's responsibility to substantiate the facts given by his sources, even his main source, who is also the main subject of the book. Casso states that Gambino crime family capos "Handsome Jack" Giordano and Joseph "Joe Butch" Corrao met with Gambino associate and Casso murder victim Jimmy Hydell after the botched hit on Casso. For years there has been information from informers and law enforcement that stated the Casso hit was at the time sanctioned or ordered by Gambino crime family soldier and Casso business associate, Michael "Mickey Boy" Paradiso, who was in conflict with Casso allegedly over a drug deal gone bad. Jack Giordano and Joe Corrao were highly respected, influential and high ranking Gambino crime family members, who would have never met with a low level associate to deal with matters of such a nature, especially one who is not a member of their crew. That would fall to Hydell's boss and keeper, his uncle, Gambino crime family capo Danny Marino, who was in fact a close associate of Tony Casso and a John Gotti rival at the time within the Castellano faction that eventually planned to hit Gotti with the sanction of the Genovese and Lucchese crime family leaders, which included Casso. All information that Carlo should know, but did not even mention or touch on in any manner and any information surrounding these particular people and events seem mixed up, just like so several others in the book. Mafia protocol, rules and traditions dictate much of a mobsters actions, especially those actions that are suppose to be on the books or ordered by a superior, and Carlo should know this and other matters that pertain to the mafia and it's members, but just as he did with "The Iceman" he fails bitterly with "Gaspipe" when it comes to some basic or general mafia knowledge.
Carlo's knowledge on the New York mafia is tainted at best and at times confusing to readers. The story of Anthony "Gaspipe"Casso reads well and is highly entertaining for any fan of the New York crime families and the American mafia, but too many so called facts and information are either outright incorrect, clouded by surrounding or related circumstances, but never dealt with, such as the DeMeo and Hydell killings. Nothing to serious, but simple mistakes in the book are evident, such as Gambino crime family soldier and former John Gotti associate and aide, Angelo Ruggiero being called "Quack Quack" because he ducked subpoenas frequently, when in fact he was given that nickname by Gotti because he talked too much. Legendary Lucchese crime family Boss' Anthony "Tony Ducks" Corallo went by the nickname "Tony Ducks" because of ducking subpoenas frequently, something very well known, but obviously not to Carlo, the so called mafia expert. I guess Carlo figured the "quack quack" and the "duck" had to fit somehow?
For the second time Mr. Carlo proves that he is a less than credible author where American mafia history and his research methods are concerned. The book itself as I stated reads well and is entertaining. The direct history that concerns the main subject, Anthony Casso covers the former mafia boss, his history, his influence and reputation within the New York mafia very well and at times the book lends some fresh information regarding the New York mafia, mainly those events directly related to Casso. All in all the book is your typical run of the mill "Mafia Story" with some new twists, but where accuracy and the facts are concerned, knowledgeable "Mob Watchers" will shake their heads at times and even give a good laugh other times. Mr. Carlo's does tend to regurgitate the same old facts concerning the New York mafia that end up in most books that deal with "The Five Families", but without a doubt the information that concerns Casso is worth reading. The majority of the story regarding Casso's life and criminal exploits is worth read if your a fan of mafia related works, at the very least the book is entertaining. This book is certainly not on par with the work of Jerry Capeci, Selwyn Raab or Dave Critchley. Mr. Critchley is in fact an author from the U.K. who's expertise centers on ealry American mafia history. He is the author of a great concerning the early New York mafia entitled, "The Origin of Organized Crime in America:The New York City Mafia, 1891-1931", a superbly researched and written book. I know this firsthand because I helped the author research and verify some information and because Critchley carries the type of reputation and credibility which is enhanced by his meticulous research. He is somebody Carlo could learn from or at the very least take some pointers from!
Regardless what is true or false, accurate or inaccurate, "Gaspipe:Confessions of a Mafia Boss" is an interesting and entertaining read for any fan of the American mafia, but for those who are looking for serious research material there is much within the book that must be questioned.
Interesting if a bit biased August 8, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
While overall I enjoyed "Gaspipe" I was nagged but the author's attempts to portray such a merciless killer in a sympathetic light. I've no doubt that Carlo's sympathetic tone stems from his personal ties to Casso (the author's parents were friends of Casso and his wife)but the author's lack of objectivity made me question whether what I was reading was accurate or just Casso's spin on the events in the book.
good story, but with caveat August 6, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
most stuff about the mafia is interesting on its own merits; carlo's tale is no exception, however, just as with his bio of serial killer kuklinski (in which he credits kuklinski with participation on some of the mafia's "greatest hits"--hoffa and galante), realize that for all the time he spent in person with his subjects, that's probably as little time as he spent doing fact checking to verify the accounts conveyed to him. for instance he talks of "twenty-five year old capo" joseph gallo, when in fact joe gallo was gotti's consigliere, and he wasn't a 25-year old. also, carlo endlessly repeats himself. that said, you do get a different, more realistic picture of casso than the one presented by breslin in "the good rat," which is more a portrayal of casso associate burton kaplan, although breslin is a superior writer. carlo is actually more interesting to listen to.
interesting August 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read a lot of mob books and this one kept me captivated till the end.
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