Blood and the Badge by Michael Cannell was one of the most engaging and interesting true crime stories I’ve ever read!
A very intriguing and captivating informative read that had me hooked and spellbound from beginning to end.
Blood and the Badge is a mesmerizing true crime narrative which is an attention grabber from the opening paragraph.
The research done for this book was extensive and makes for a really interesting read.

“The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation”

Blood and Badge tells the full story that is behind two New York cops that acted as double agents for the Mafia. The author wrote this well and it was an informative read that had me captivated from the beginning. This was a true crime book that I enjoyed especially since some of this stuff I did not know. It sheds light on this long buried scandal and police corruption. Overall, this was a very interesting and informative read that I highly enjoyed. Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Minotaur Books for this read in exchange of my honest review of Blood and the Badge by Michael Cannell.

Ever since living in Scranton for a few years I’ve had an interest in mafia true crime stories. While “Scandal That Shocked the Nation” in the subtitle might be a bit overblown (I don’t remember even being aware of these events as they wound to a close in the early 2000’s), this book does record scandalous corruption in the NYPD.

Along with the story of the two cops who cooperated with the Mob, there is a lot of background story involving Mob activities (especially surrounding Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso) from the 1970’s on as well as the FBI using RICO laws to take down major organized crime figures. At times, the “Mafia Cops” recede very much into the background. This didn’t bother me, but it did make the first 2/3 of the book feel somewhat unfocused.

The last third of the book gains focus as it zeroes in on the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of the scumbag “Mafia Cops.” We get a good look at the foolish inter-departmental rivalries and politics that hinder law enforcement and the infuriating nonsense that sleazy lawyers use to try to get clearly guilty criminals off the hook.

Overall, if you are interested in true crime in general or the mafia and police corruption in particular this is well worth your time.

For readers who are very versed in the New York mafia scene of the time, the level of detail in this book is probably good, but I would have appreciated more grounding and scene-setting, especially given the number of people appearing in this book. It's an interesting story but it felt like it lacked a core since we learn so little about the motivations of the two police officers.

I received an ARC of this via NetGalley.

3.5⭐️

Even though there have been many books written about this, I had never heard about it until I saw it on Netgalley. Back in the 1970s through the mid-1990s, two homicide cops in NYC worked for the mob.

Lou Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa killed for the mob and passed information to them. Eppolito's father was in the mob, but Lou wanted to be a cop. When he didn't get the recognition he that he deserved from being a cop, he let it be known he was for hire. Soon, Caracappa joined him.

The book is well researched, but it bogged down to me. It took me a week to get through the first half of the book, but after that, I couldn't put it down. I ended up staying up past midnight to finish it.

Tentative Publication Date:
January 14, 2025

Thanks to Netgalley, Saint Martin Press, and Michael Cannell for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#Netgalley #SaintMartinPress #MichaelCannell #BloodandtheBadge #Nonfiction #AlphabetChallenge (B) #DecadesChallenge (2020's) #Bookspinbingo

It has long been observed that people hate government but love their own representatives. A similar principle may hold for the police: we appreciate and respect individual officers who give us directions, keep the peace, and protect victims, but, especially after the orgiastic cop-hatred ginned up in the summer in 2020, complain in unspecific terms about “the police” (although this trend appears to be reversing as the imprudence of “defunding” dawns on select heretofore wise elites).

The careers of Louie Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, former New York Police Department detectives, are red meat for those who would paint law enforcement as inherently hopeless. Blood and Badge relentlessly portrays just how much damage two wayward public servants can inflict. The lesson offered by author Michael Cannell is not that the police are corrupt — it is that Eppolito and Caracappa weren’t the police. They may have sported badges, rode in cruisers, and drawn city salaries, but they were unequivocally criminals.

We can cautiously conclude that a case like Eppolito and Caracappa’s won’t happen again. Eppolito was born into an organized crime family. Caracappa was not, but before he joined the NYPD, he had been indicted on a felony larceny charge after trying to steal construction materials. Both were hired anyway. Now, an application to a police academy that includes a felony arrest will result in an automatic disqualification in most departments. The desperate onboarding of unqualified officers continues to be a major problem to this day, as seen in the January 2023 murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis.

Once improvidently admitted into the ranks of New York’s Finest, it was practically impossible to get rid of them. It almost happened with Eppolito, who should have been swiftly canned after he was discovered to have handled confidential documents on a mafia family that were later found at the New Jersey residence of a member of that very family with Eppolito’s fingerprints on them. But after an internal affairs trial, he was acquitted and reinstated with back pay.

The list of Eppolito and Caracappa’s misdeeds on the payroll of the Lucchese crime family beggar belief. They committed and covered up murders. They revealed the identities of informants, compromising numerous investigations. Eppolito redirected a murder investigation away from the mob-connected assailant by framing an innocent man for murder, sending the hapless bystander to prison for over two decades. They facilitated the murder of a second innocent man by providing their wise guy contacts the information for the person with the same name as the mob’s intended target. It goes on and on.

The mark of a great crime writer, I think, is in his treatment of the legal proceedings following the big arrests. Trials and other court hearings are complicated, reducing complicated things to lay readers is hard, it is a noble pursuit to acquaint the citizenry with the mechanics of our judicial system — and besides, to what purpose has the reader slogged through all of this blood and gore if only to end in a muddle?

Cannell is virtuosic here. Not only was the trial stage the crucial denouement of Eppolito and Caracappa’s sordid careers, but theirs was a RICO trial, which are famously involved — the judge’s written instructions to the jury on the law went on for all of 134 pages!

The legal pitfall threatening the prosecution arose out of the five-year statute of limitations. Since both defendants had retired from the NYPD and moved to Las Vegas over 10 years before they were indicted, and since the crux of the case against them is that they abused their authority as detectives, the prosecution needed a more-recent hook that continued the conspiracy after their retirement. And this hook was pretty dubious, indeed: it consisted of Eppolito’s son selling a bit of methamphetamine in Las Vegas to an acquaintance of Eppolito’s accountant — arguably far removed from the mob business back east.

(The Eppolito and Caracappa trial is a fine exemplar of how hopelessly outdated the five-year statute of limitations on most federal crimes has become. Statutes of limitations are in place because it is unfair to ask people to defend old allegations when, as time goes by, evidence is lost or destroyed. With the advent of digital documents and recordings, this concern is not as urgent as it once was.)

Competent defense attorneys would have spotted this problem as soon as the indictment was unsealed. They would have settled down with a dozen cups of coffee and Microsoft Word and penned the mother of all motions to dismiss the indictment. The last thing the defense ought to have wanted was to go to trial. Even if the convictions were later reversed — a remote possibility — no lawyer would have wanted a public airing of the outrageous conduct in which these guys engaged, and a trial could (and in this case absolutely did) bolster the once-weak connection between the New York conduct and the Las Vegas conduct, diminishing the force of the strongest legal argument against the prosecution's case. But a trial there was; the defendants were convicted on all counts.

And this was the moment for the brilliant stroke of the trial judge, the late Jack Weinstein of the Eastern District of New York. Judge Weinstein, who all along was skeptical of the prosecution’s meth hook, imposed life sentences to both defendants, but held the sentences in abeyance so that the defendants, through their new attorneys, could argue that they received ineffective assistance from their trial attorneys. Next, Judge Weinstein reversed the convictions, knowing that the prosecution would appeal his decision and, it’s not unlikely, knowing that the court of appeals would reinstate the convictions, practically insulating them from further review. And this is precisely what happened. Eppolito and Cracappa both died in federal prison. If Judge Weinstein had reversed the convictions before imposing their sentences — had he acquitted them — the prosecution would have had no recourse, because acquittals are not appealable and the Double Jeopardy Clause would have barred another trial.

Blood and Badge is a riveting portrayal of justice gone wrong — and, though much later, justice winning the day.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher in exchange for a fair review. Blood and the Badge is not for the faint of heart. The gruesome details revealed makes a person wonder how anyone is capable of such horrific deeds, and afterward enjoy a meal. The book centers around two NYPD detectives, Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, who were also on the Mafia's payroll. They used their positions as police officers to deliver unsuspecting people to various hit men and to relay information to their mobster contacts about ongoing investigations--and they almost got away with it. Author Michael Cannell gives us a fascinating look at the New York underworld when it was ruled by the five Mafia families, as well as one of the biggest scandals that the NYPD ever faced. There were so many characters covered in this book, however, it was hard to keep them all straight--my only real complaint. If you like reading true crime books with a mobster-bent, than by all means pick this one up. It will make you cringe, but at the same time, you won't be able to put it down.

BLOOD AND THE BADGE is the story of two corrupt NYC detectives who worked with the Italian mafia for decades, sharing confidential government information, killing for money, and covering up murders.

The author takes us deep into the intricacies of the mafia and all the various relationships. We have lots of names (first, last, and nicknames) to keep track of. A large portion feels more like a mafia story than one about the specific detectives, though it does all tie together.

The timeline occasionally jumps around without clarification, which threw me off a time or two, but overall it’s easy enough to follow.

The final third takes us through the arrests and trials, when these two detectives, by then retired, finally had to face consequences.

This story made me so angry. The corruption was a well known “secret” among the detectives’ peers, yet nothing was done. Claims of there being no evidence to prosecute them over the long decades are just ridiculous. There was no evidence because no one looked. Had these two men not been detectives, a full-scale investigation would have been launched early on. Instead, these two lived well, made a ton of money, exerted power and dominance, and flaunted their corruption. This story is a stunning example of the infamous “blue wall of silence.”

*I received a free eARC from Minotaur Books, provided via NetGalley.*

Blood and the Badge delves into the gripping tale of two corrupt New York police officers who served as double agents for the Mafia. The narrative is both disturbing and jaw-dropping, as Cannell expertly paces the events like a suspenseful thriller. This book offers a comprehensive look at the scandal that rocked the nation, shedding light on the dark underbelly of law enforcement and organized crime.

Book Thoughts: This is my first book I have read by author Michael Cannell who has authored four true crime novels. I was impressed from start to finish. The story appeared to be complicated with many people and their criminal activities but author Cannell did an excellent job of keeping timelines organized and keeping me engaged. It was a well researched and detailed book. It sickened me the way these two former NYPD Detectives eluded justice for so long. If you enjoy true crime, this book is for you!

Woah. Who knew this happened? Not me. This true story had me holding my breath and taking notes to keep all of the "bad guys" straight. I found myself holding my breath from page to page from the intensity of the descriptions of violence and sadness and desperation. The writing is top notch and kept me up way too late reading to see when the detectives were going to get caught, Pick this one up. It's crazy-good. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

I was familiar with some of the mobster names, but I was not familiar with the corrupt cops, Eppolito and Caracappa. It was an interesting story. You don’t want to laugh at a story about people getting beaten or killed, but it is hard not to chuckle at the descriptions of some of the “villains” — their nicknames, their appearance, their mannerisms, their dialogue.

It would be interesting to read the Court of Appeals ruling upholding the RICO conviction. I am sure the author did not want to drown the story in legalese, but the drug deal to help finance Eppolito’s movie is a pretty weak/tenuous connection to the conspiracy with the mob that ended more than five years earlier, outside the RICO statute of limitations. I am glad the corrupt cops had to face justice for their actions, but it probably should have been in state court based on the murders they helped facilitate.

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - November 26, 2024
Publication Date - January 14, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @michael_cannell, @stmartinspress, @minotaur_books and @netgalley!

Maybe it's because I'm Canadian but I didn't know about this case of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa until now. Blood and the Badge is not a quick read but it's so fascinating and worth it. It felt like we got a lot of different stories in one story, which could be confusing to keep track of at times but near the end of the book, the information is summarized through the trial. Blood and the Badge really shows how deep the corruption went in the New York Police Department (NYPD) and how much happened in plain sight. It was hard to read about all the individual mistakes and injustices that allowed so many tragic events to happen. However, I enjoyed being taken through the journey of untangling the web of deceit and seeing how everything unraveled.

If you like non-fiction, police procedural books about true crimes, you should give Blood and the Badge a try!

Get excited to read Blood and the Badge, available January 14! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin/Minotaur for allowing me to review this arc.

2 very well respected police detectives lead a double life for one of them is from a mob family and both detectives start working both sides feeding the mobsters vital information from police investigations.

Excellent, well detailed and researched. I felt like I was reading an episode of the Sopranos. Highly recommend.

Blood and the Badge is a true story of corruption in the New York City police department in the 1980s when two NYPD Detectives--Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, served as mob informants for organized crime for years. The storytelling is excellent, almost like a work of fiction. Except the story is real. Eppolito and Caracappa were dirty, and they left a trail of grief and anguish for their many innocent victims as a result of their crimes.

Reading this you feel like you are in the middle of The Godfather or Goodfellas, except you have to remind yourself "these things really happened." Some of the violence is brutal and disturbing. And for what? Money? Big houses and fancy cars? Women? It is just really hard to fathom how these detectives could turn on the people they are supposed to serve and let innocent people die.

This is a tough nonfiction read. But the story is compelling and will keep you engaged. I give it five stars.

I want to thank the author Michael Cannell, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this nonfiction work. I attest this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Fascinating. Cannell has pieced together the disparate pieces of information that trickled out about these two police officers and their service to the Mafia over the years and he's done it in a way that's compulsively readable. It's an amazing and distressing story. Thanks to Netgalley for the Sr. ArC. Given the parties involved, I suspect there are still more secrets to be revealed but this is a terrific read for true crime fans.

8/10

Reading about the mafia is always fascinating - and this book doesn’t disappoint.

It was the 1980s. Organized crime was at its peak in NYC. They infiltrated all corners of the city.

Two cops got themselves in the wrong side of the law. They ended up helping out the mafia in a whole number of ways, not the least of which was from killing people.

Michael Connell does a bang up job describing the entire story: the people, the players, the incidents and crimes that happened, the search for the dirty cops and eventually their capture (no thanks to their own hubris).

If you like Sopranos and anything Scorcese creates, you’ll like this book.

#netgalley #bloodandthebadge

This is a well executed true story of two NYPD officers who were sworn to protect and serve but did the absolute opposite. The author has done copious amounts of research that is evident in the story. It is laid out chronologically which allows the reader to easily follow along.

True story of the mob from way back as well as a couple of dirty cops working for the city as well as the mob.

I thought the book was well done, I was engrossed in the goings on of the Mafia and the life of the families. I was amazed at how quickly these guys will turn on each other when the going gets tough.

Eppolito and Caracappa got away with crimes much longer than they should have and then it was iffy if they would be punished. The poor families of their victims, some who didn't get closure for years is very tragic.

This was a very well done book, I would give 4.5 stars if I could and well worth the read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and write a review.

Blood and the Badge by Michael Cannell

Truth is stranger than fiction and it also can be bloodier, more gruesome, and more horrendous than fiction. I read so many thrillers and they can sometimes seem to be taking things over the top, embellishing too much, making the villains seem like overblown cartoons. But as I read this non fiction book, I could not get my mind around all the violence for any reason, at all, which included killing the wrong people, killing friends and enemies alike, and the pleasure some of the murderers took in making the murders as painful and as gruesome as possible. And on top of all that we have two decorated detectives that were right there in all that muck of destroying lives of those that were killed and the lives of those who survived and those two were just as bad or worse than the most murderous criminals.

During the 1980s, Brooklyn, it was obvious the Mafia had someone on the side of the "good guys" feeding them every bit of information they needed to avoid getting caught doing all that they were doing. As the past is told and we see many of the same names over the years, we learn connections and how one crime is intertwined with other crimes. Some names and crimes are mentioned and then later on I'll see how they are connected to other crimes and people but I had to be patient to see the connection.

None of this plays out in an easy to tell manner. This is real life and as crimes are committed, bodies are hidden and not found ever or for a very long time. "Friends" and "business partners" in crime off each other at the drop of a hat. At the same time there is supposed to be a code of honor of not committing certain crimes, not going after the family of your enemies and things like that. How can anyone trust anyone else? And this is especially the case as I learn about two detectives who are rolling in the blood with the worst of the worst bad guys.

What these two men did meant more deaths, they were directly involved in people dying, yet they were able to garner honors and money for years. Some suspected them of "misdeeds" but it took years for everything to come together before everything could come out about their involvement in so much carnage. In the end there is the courtroom. If I'd read the courtroom scenes at the beginning of the book, I would have been bored but by the time we get to that part of the book, knowing all I know that had happened in this years before, I was interested enough in the real life players to see a bigger picture. How frustrating that this kind of thing goes on all the time, I have great admiration for the men and women who work to stem corruption when they have so much working against them.

I'm still trying to get my mind around everything I read and it doesn't help that after I finished the book I went online and watched videos of some of the detectives talking about this time, the crimes, and the people involved. How do they do this kind of work, especially when they have crooked coworkers working amongst them, making their jobs even more dangerous. This is not light reading but it certainly informative and eye opening.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.