Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia

"Brilliantly constructed and grimly fascinating. . . . The result is a terrific and important book. . . . It's important because it is a morality play on the subject of loyalty. To whom are you loyal, and from who should you be able to expect loyalty?" — New York Times Book Review

Sammy the Bull Gravano is the highest-ranking member of the Mafia in America ever to defect. In telling Gravano's story, Peter Maas brings us as never before into the innermost sanctums of the Cosa Nostra as if we were there ourselves—a secret underworld of power, lust, greed, betrayal, and deception, with the specter of violent death always waiting in the wings.

"A riveting job of detailing real Mafia life. . . . It's a quick, exciting reading and Maas deserves full marks for generally keeping the sharks of the mob from looking like dolphins. There's no chrome in the jalopy of Gravano's life." - Detroit Free Press

"An absorbing, intimate, alluring tale of power, greed, and Mob intrigue." - People

"Breathtaking...Supremely stylish." - New York magazine

"Brilliantly constructed and grimly fascinating. . . . The result is a terrific and important book. . . . It's important because it is a morality play on the subject of loyalty. To whom are you loyal, and from who should you be able to expect loyalty?" - New York Times Book Review

"A page turner that Maas writes in Gravano's voice. It's one readers will hear in their heads for a long while." - Booklist

"Underboss is fascinating for its anthropologically detailed portrait of a subculture some of us can't get enough of." - Time