Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America [Mass Market Paperback]

Sam (Author), Chuck Giancana (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1993

The electrifying New York Times bestseller, written by Giancana's brother and godson. For 40 years, Sam Giancana was a powerful mob boss, a man whose ruthless ambition would forever alter the course of history. Now this shocking, inside-the-syndicate tell-all reveals Giancana's first-person testimony regarding his involvement in the deaths of Monroe, and others. Photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Legendary mob boss Sam Giancana's brother and nephew (also Sam) profile their relative in this 12-week PW bestseller in cloth. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Chuck Giancana is the brother of the late Sam Giancana.

Sam Giancana is the nephew of the late crime boss, Sam “Momo” Giancana, and son of Chuck Giancana. He lives on Long Island, New York. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (March 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446364126
• ISBN-13: 978-0446364126
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,513 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Depends what you are looking for, February 4, 2002

By 

Patrick Lanza (Philadelphia, pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America (Mass Market Paperback)

This book can be great or can be terrible depending on what the reader is looking for.

If you are a mafia historian and are a fact finder I do not recommend this book. It is told from the perspective of Sam Giancanas brother Chuck. Everything Chuck knows comes from his brothers mouth, very few things are ever actually witnessed by Chuck. Given Sam Giancanas huge ego, much of what he tells Chuck may very well be inflated stories to make himself look more powerful than he really was. But thsi is just the skeptic in me talking.

If you are looking for a more "mythical" type mafia book for some entertainment value definitely read this. The mere fact that even some of what Chuck tells could be true is enough to satisfy the curious reader. It was enough for me. Maybe the stories aren't true but maybe they are.

Its a great story for the journeying mind. It involves scandal and intrigue at the highest levels especially the Kennedy family involvement in the mafia!

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!!!, March 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America (Mass Market Paperback)

Double Cross was an extremely exciting book to read. I could not put it down. Before reading it, my impression of "Mooney" Giancana was that he was a reckless, John Gotti-like loudmouth who craved the spotlight which eventually ended his reign as the Godfather. I am now convinced that Giancana was much smarter, shrewder, and more vicious than Gotti ever was or could possibly be.

The book traces the beginnings of "Mooney" Giancana from his childhood. As the first male of immigrant Sicillians in the early 1900's, he was a bad kid from the start. His incredibly abusive father would punish him by allegedly tying him to a tree and whip him senselessly. This upbringing gave him a coldness toward other people, especially women, that few ever could match in Mafia history. The book details murders and other unconscionable acts that Giancana and the Chicago Outfit "accomplished".

That being said, I believe that "Double Cross" exaggerates much of Giancana's power, especially within the Chicago Outfit. It is based on the recollections of his younger brother Chuck, who may be a little biased. Many of his stories are based on information given to him during the book's time period by associates of his high powered brother. Although he may be reporting what he was told correctly, mobsters are not exactly the most credible group of people, especially when they know that Chuck's older brother holds their livelihoods in his hands. Many of the other stories are told to him by "Mooney" himself, whose huge ego causes his stories to be taken with a grain of salt.

Another aspect that I found difficult to get past was the lack of respect or even acknowledgment of Tony "Joe Batters" Accardo. Although Giancana was the official boss from 1957-1965, anyone who has any interest in the Chicago Outfit knows that Tony Accardo was the real Godfather, who played a major role from the 20's until 1992. Accardo was always consulted when Giancanna made an important move. Accardo, alledgedly called off some contracts that Giancana wanted, due to their reckless nature. However, Double Cross barely mentions Accardo, and when it does, it condescendingly refers to him not being nearly as powerful as "Mooney" Giancana. If that was so true, then how come Accardo lived until 1992 and never spent a day in prison, while Giancana was gunned down in 1975, most likely on orders from Accardo. Given that the authors of the book are Giancana's brother and godson, perhaps they saw Accardo a little differently.

Overall, Double Cross is a great read, and answers some questions about historic people and moments during Giancana's lifetime. It also shows how the people who suffered from this overbearing hoodlum were not only his gangland victims, but members of his own family, whom he reigned over and controlled like a puppet master.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wake Up America! This Book Is Worth Consideration, June 24, 2006

By 

Charlotte Brian (New York, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America (Mass Market Paperback)

Whilst I agree that this book is sensational and written to cash in on the Giancanna name, I would advise all of the reviewers who dismiss the JFK/MOB link to read up on Jim Garisson's investigation into the assassination and, no less, the Warren Commission Report as well.

Sure, Chuck Giancanna is a two-pit leech (by his own account), and Sam Giancanna probably had an ego the size of an elephant, but learn to weigh up the sources.

The lone-gunman theory that this book arguably sets up makes a hell of a lot of sense. A lot more sense, thank you very much, than one Lee Harvey Oswald being able to shoot so well from such a bad angle. Oh, and do any of the reviewers who pan this book know anything about the magic bullet theory, put forward by a so-called expert as "evidence" that there were only three shots fired at Kennedy?

Sam Giancanna may not have been as powerful as his brother makes out. He probably didn't sleep with MM the weekend before she died, but if you read the book by MM's former maid, Lena Pepertone (excuse the spelling), then you will know the conspiracy theory about MM's death should not be taken lightly either.

Read Jim Garrison's well-researched books on JFK and read the blessed Warran Commission Report, between the lines if you can, and you will find all the corroborating evidence you need to accept much of what is said about SG in this book.