I wanted to write a review for this work for my blog, Cobleskill Commentaries; however, I have not been able to write about it comprehensively, so I am going to provide a concise review here.

Oh, how I loved this book!

Blood and the Badge is a true crime masterpiece that speaks to Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two Brooklyn detectives who were both fearless police officers on the harsh streets of 1980s/1990s New York as well as vicious and heartless hired hitmen for the Cosa Nostra during the height of the gangsters' proliferation of the city. The book has a nice balance of police procedural, Brooklyn history during the later 2oth century, and mob murder to keep anyone reading interested from page one to its final chapter. Admittedly, I may be biased because I lived in the Marine Park area of Brooklyn during that time (my mom worked at the Toys R' Us Cannell speaks about so much throughout), and I remember hearing about mob hits left and right, one of which was blocks away from my home (which Cannell speaks about midway through the text); however, looking at this book objectively, it is hard to deny how beautifully constructed this work is. Blood and the Badge is a close to perfect work, up there with the best of the best within this particular genre.

Crooked cops aren't a recent concept in society. The only reason police are now paid public service positions is because of the rampant corruption in the old sheriff/ constable system. And I don't think it would surprise anyone to know that the majority of the crimes committed in this book happened in Brooklyn in the 80s. Before gentrification, Brooklyn was rough around the edges.

We are introduced to Louis Eppolito and his partner Stephen Caracappa. One of the biggest problems in America is that when there is a shortage of acceptably qualified people for a particular job, rather than make the job one that is more venerated or worthwhile, we just start hiring whoever the hell walks in off the street to fill the positions. This is how two men with mafia connections and rap sheets ended up as police officers in the first place.

Eppolito was the son of a relatively well-known mafioso, not some low-level thug. The lack of oversight on him is almost inexcusable - especially considering that there was evidence early on tying him to police files that were found in the possession of a mobster who was arrested. Passing information is bad enough, but these two officers used their positions of power to carry out shocking crimes for cash.

Michael Cannell does an amazing job compiling information. There is a long stretch of the book where the case against these men is being built which had me turning pages at a pretty rapid pace. While that may not seem that interesting to most, it actually built a significant amount of suspense for me.

Will they get away with their crimes? Without an informant, the prosecution has no case. There are so few who even know about the role these crooked cops played that getting someone to snitch is almost impossible. With the statute of limitations already run out, a daring scheme is hatched to try to back these men into a corner.

This compelling exploration of one of the most notorious cases of police corruption in American history should be studied by all true crime enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the intricate ties between law enforcement and organized crime. Incredible read!

BLOOD AND THE BADGE by former New York Times editor Michael Cannell is a compelling true crime expose` highlighting the shocking story of two decorated NYC Police Detectives who led double lives as Mafia informers and henchmen in the underworld of 1980s Brooklyn. Their case of police corruption is the worst betrayal of the public's trust ever known in American history, and only through the diligence and determination of Police Officer Tommy Dades, who pursued the case into his retirement, were they finally brought to justice. Detectives Louis Eppolito and Frank Caracappa perpetrated an outrageous travesty against the very people they took an oath to serve and protect. Leading double lives as mafia henchmen, the pair of decorated detectives not only served as mob informants, alerting mob bosses to impending raids, arriving drug shipments, etc., but also operated as mob henchmen often conducting mob hits. This went on for over ten years despite a few efforts to get indictments against them. It was only through the work of retired officer Tommy Dades that enough evidence was eventually gathered to get a conviction and send the disgraced officers to prison.

The American public can now read the entire sordid, shocking, true story through the hard work and dedication of New York Times editor Michael Cannell with the release of his book, BLOOD AND THE BADGE. Cannell spent endless hours combing through interviews from numerous sources, police records, and court testimonies, starting from the beginning of the corruption and following through until Eppolito and Caracappa's trial and conviction. The result is a true crime novel that's impossible to put down - a story that unfolds with suspense building chapter by chapter, through twists and turns with shockers that'll leave you reeling like only a favorite author's best work of fiction can . . . only this book isn't a work of imagination. It's undeniably one of the worst cases of crime against the innocent I've ever read. Through interviews with mob bosses, Cannell lays open the inner working of the mob as well as cracking the tight-knit inner circle of the NYPD who either ignored the corruption or at least failed to step up to stop it. His research is meticulous in delivering the facts - the dark, sordid tale of two arrogant police officers who placed themselves above the law, using their position and power not to serve but to profit. Two decorated officers whose twisted tale is so horrifying that it's hard to believe that this is not a work of fiction, but indeed a true crime narrative that throws open the doors of the ugly underworld of Brooklyn in the 1980's.

BLOOD AND THE BADGE is a shocking expose` on corruption in law enforcement, but also a testament to justice - to the perseverance of one good officer who refused to back down. Cannell's ability to transport readers into the story through engaging prose allows them to witness Eppolito and Caracappa's transgressions firsthand including what drove them to lie, cheat and kill on command. Readers also engage with police officer, Tommy Dades, as he tirelessly pursues the dirty detectives right into his retirement years, refusing to stop until justice is finally served. I highly recommend BLOOD AND THE BADGE to fans of well-written, true crime narratives that are not only eye-opening, but also highly entertaining.

I do love me a good mobster story and this one features lots of them. It primarily covered two NYPD detectives who spent more than a decade on the payroll of the Lucchese family, doing their dirty work. It took a loooong time for them to get their comeuppance, but it was satisfying to read when it finally came.
Thanks to #netgalley and #minotaurbooks for this #arc of #bloodandthebadge by #michaelcannell in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Minotaur Books for the gratis copy in exchange for this review.

I am a fan of tales of the mafia. I’m certain that I wouldn’t be as big a fan if I lived in the big cities normally associated with mafia activity now or even during the peak time of the most infamous mafioso. I also believe that “the families” still exist and are active. I was intrigued by the subtitle of this book…The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation. This is what drew me to request a copy of this book.

Like all gangster fans, I’ve enjoyed The Sopranos (hated the ending), The Godfather trilogy, Goodfellas, Boardwalk Empire (my favorite) and even a lot of mediocre to poor TV series and movies about mafia families. This book is different. This book describes real crimes committed by not only mafia bad guys but also two supposed “good guys.” Louie Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were New York City police officers who worked their ways up to NYPD detectives. Sometime early in their detective careers they made the decisions to work both sides of the fence for the Lucchese crime family. This did not come totally out of the blue. Eppolito’s father and uncles had been active with the Gambino crime family, but Caracappa had no ties to any crime family. He had the “good fortune” of being Eppolito’s partner before becoming detectives. The partners were very close, and through hurt feelings, meanness, greed, a need to feel superior, missing hearts, or other unexplainable reasons, decided to not only feed valuable information to but also carry out acts of intimidation and actual murders for the Lucchese crime family. To say they acted with total abandon and did horrific damage in and around NYC is a huge understatement.

If the reader is my age (mid-60’s) or older and lives in the NYC area, you may very well recognize the names of crime family members, NYPD officers and other detectives, and NYC district attorneys. I was unfamiliar with almost every person mentioned in this book. Every now and then a “famous” mafia name would drop into the narrative. I enjoyed that for some occasional familiar context. But to tell you the truth, I really didn’t need the name-drops for this book to hold my attention. Never a minute went by that it wasn’t crystal clear that I was reading actual true crime.

I have read no other books by Mr. Cannell. I believe that he has written four other nonfiction books in the same genre (not sure about this). I will be checking them out once this excellent read has time to process. Here are a few basic reading notes. I liked the pace. It never lets up. I never felt that any information was filler or wasteful…even if I got a little lost in some of the legalese (especially concerning RICO). I was frustrated that it took DECADES for Eppolito and Caracappa to be brought to justice, but that certainly wasn’t the author’s fault. The suffering of all the victims’ families was horrifying and palpable!

Mafia enthusiasts ENJOY!

An interesting read on two corrupt NYPD detectives from the 80s that were also affiliated with the mafia. I really found this book interesting and enjoyable coming from a family with a law enforcement background. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the digital copy to review.

I don’t really have words for this one, and how wild that this is not fiction. It read like an episode of The Sopranos, or The Godfather, and yet, this is all true. This is about two corrupt detectives who worked with the mafia for decades. It is crazy how long it took to get these guys, in fact, they even almost got off on a technicality. This was excellent via audio, it was well written, never a dull moment, and I was captivated from start to finish. I’m still thinking about this and smh at how bad it got before it got better, and how these families waited years to get closure.

Thank you to Michael Cannell, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

My grandfather was an NYPD Sergeant in the 80s, so I am always intrigued to read books about the NYPD. This one didn't disappoint.

It was well written and it is clear that there was a lot and I mean a lot of research done in order to write it. It is one that I will definitely recommend.

Good "true crime" story, describing NYC of the 70's, 80's, and 90's. Also, an engaging look at the prosecutions of the corrupt cops.

This book provides a fascinating and in-depth look at the Mob, covering their lifestyle, history, and criminal activities, including the shocking corruption within the NYPD. While initially challenging to keep track of the numerous characters, Connell effectively introduces and reminds readers of key figures throughout the narrative. The decades-long complicity of some NYPD officers with the Mafia is truly appalling. This gripping true crime story will appeal to readers interested in the inner workings of the Mafia, the NYPD, and the dark underbelly of New York City.

This was a really fascinating and truly engaging book. The bravery of Michael Cannell even writing this book is just unfathomable. I love true crime, but this tale (true!) is beyond the scope of what an American citizen could even imagine.

Informative, interesting read ! This book details very thoroughly so much about the Mob culture, the lifestyle, the history, the antics. Not to mention the corruption of a small number of NY cops. - two of whom perpetrated their own crimes against NY citizens directly and indirectly - and others who turned a blind eye for decades.
At first I had a difficult time keeping up with all the names but I relaxed into the book and the names became so familiar to me by the second half I never gave that issue another thought. The author does a good job of reminding the reader through the book who many of the people are ( from how they’d been introduced in earlier chapters).

The two NY cops who were allowed to be ( in essence ) double agents for decades is disgusting. Abhorrent. But truth is stranger than fiction, and this book gets to the nitty gritty ( very gritty, grimy ) details.

If you life Mob stories, true crime, or you’d appreciate knowing the inner workings of a unique and powerful group ( the NYC Mafia and frankly, NY city cops … ) you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. really enjoyed it !

Well damn.

This is one crazy, bloody, selfish-filled ride.
I knew the names sounded familiar to me [when they are first mentioned in the book], and when the author mentioned the book one of the crooked cops wrote after retirement, it all came back to me; I was living in NY when that book came out and all the papers covered it, and it was on the news, and there was generally a big hullabaloo about it [this was near the beginning of Rudy Gulliani starting to do the mob roundup and eliminating as much crime as he could from Manhattan and Times Square] and then *POOF* it was gone and we all moved on. I also vaguely remember the trial being on the news and hoping they were found guilty and then I promptly forgot all about them until this book [I honestly didn't pick this book for all that; I was just curious because I always wondered just how many cops were on the take back then, since the mob was such a huge presence in NY at that time].

This is a very well-written book that has been expertly researched [the author did SO MANY interviews, and all the paper research must have been completely overwhelming at times], and I was enthralled from page one [I miss NY so much] - it is a very deep dive into the Mafia and the mob life and how easy it was for the mob to turn cops [that had an odd bent to begin with], which is sad and very disturbing [and I have to wonder just how many never, ever got caught]. The author just sucks you into that world and you just have to shake your head at the thought process of some of these "wise guys".

A really great read; anyone who lived in NY during this time, or loves The Godfather and/or Goodfellas, or has read other mobcentric books will love this look into two lives gone wrong.

I initially struggled with this [new-to-me] narrator [Jonathan Yen], but thankfully, I quickly settled in and by the end of the book, I was more than happy to put him on my "favorite narrator" list. I recommend this audiobook highly, it really adds to the overall story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Cannell, Jonathan Yen - Narrator, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

BLOOD AND THE BADGE is an eye-opening account of the shocking double lives of two NYC detectives, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who secretly worked as Mafia members. Eppolito, the son of a prominent Mafia figure, and Caracappa had deep connections to organized crime, sharing confidential information, and even carrying out hits for the Mafia.

Meticulously researched and presented in an engaging, accessible way, Cannell shines a light on the corruption and misdeeds that spanned a decade, offering readers a fascinating look into the dark underbelly of law enforcement.


READ THIS IF YOU:
-are drawn to shocking stories where the truth is stranger than fiction
-like a balance of thorough journalism and captivating storytelling
-are fascinated by intricacies of the Italian Mafia

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Maritn's Press for the eARC.

When nonfiction reads more crazy than any fiction you could think of, you know the book is good and memorable. This book was so hard to read for the sheer fact that it actually happened and that people are doing these things - even the people you are supposed to trust to keep you safe. I will recommend this one far and wide to all of my fellow nonfiction lovers.

This was a very chilling read. We look up to police officers as those we can trust, who will keep us safe. Instead, these officers took the law into their own hands, helping a criminal organization evade the law. They even acted as hit men as needed.

I was blown away while reading this. Why would someone who has sworn to uphold the law ignore their oath? While family can be a large motivator, and was in this case, the lack of morality and care for citizens really chilled me.

This was a great read, but at the same time, very difficult. The betrayal here was beyond the pale.

This was a well written book of suspense that kept me reading into the night. I highly recommend reading this book you won't be disappointed.

Blood and the Badge
By Michael Cannell

This is a true crime story about the Mafia and two dirty NY detectives who worked for the mob for several years. These men, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, were the living, breathing bad cops of all our collective nightmares. They warned their Mafia bosses of impending raids, fingered police informants, committed every kind of crime, up to and including murder, themselves.

They were scum of the earth and helped give rise to the "blue wall of silence" idea and ultimately to the "defund the police" movement of more recent times. In an era of home-grown and external terrorism and a seeming belief that "if you are disgruntled, you are justified in committing horrendous acts against people you don't even know", we need our police, who believe they are there to preserve and protect, now more than ever. And we need to trust that the vast majority of the men and women in blue have our backs.

Books like this, while factual, are contributing to the tensions in our country today.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

4.5 stars
Blood and the Badge is the true story about detectives Eppolito and Caracappa, who worked for the NYPD and the mafia at the same time. Honestly, it sounds like an episode of Law and Order or the plot of a movie, but it really happened and they got away with it for decades!

Cannell does a great job researching and getting first hand accounts of Eppolito and Caracappa from the 1980's. And while corrupt cops exist (perhaps too often), these two were really the summit of police corruption-they killed people, subverted raids, and destroyed evidence. It defied belief at the time. Understanding the background of these dectectives helps inform their decisions, but it was shocking all the same. Even more shocking is how long they escaped justice. Their crimes occurred in the 80's and they weren't tried until the early 2000's!

If you are a fan of true crime, this is a can't miss story. If you are thinking of giving true crime a try, I highly recommend Blood and the Badge-its sensational and riveting! If audio is your thing (and I do like it for true crime listens especially), the audio is wonderful as well! Jonathan Yen did a great job of telling the story.