Customer Reviews

Double Cross: The Explosive, Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I picked up this book in order to learn more about another perspective on the JFK assassination. The book provided that. But it was also interesting, if only as a presentation of some important history told from a very unique perspective. As to style, I was pleasantly surprised. It reads almost like a novel in some cases. But that probably goes to the validity of things as well. In assessing that aspect, I am reminded of the line from the movie, "Next of Kin",

"Joey likes to brag. I wanna hear him brag."

There is a lot of that here. As others have pointed out, the book probably exaggerates Giancana's influence over the world at large and some key events, such as the assassinations of the Kennedys and Monroe. But, having said that, it is overall a good and enjoyable read.

Addendum 02-Apr-04:

Toward the end of this book, the claim is made, in rather dramatic fashion, that Sam Giancana slept with Marilyn Monroe on the last weekend of her life at the Cal-Neva lodge in Lake Tahoe. Somehow, this just didn't "ring true" to me. I have done a bit more research and learned that Marilyn was with Joe Dimaggio that weekend, whom she planned to remarry within the month. I seriously doubt she bedded Giancana while enjoying the weekend getaway with her betrothed. This also goes to the overall veracity of the entertaining account.

Great description of Chicago in 1890 up thru the 19th century. Goes into great description concerning Marilyn Monroe & John F. Kennedy's death, which reading other material conerning John F. Kennedy's death makes alot of sense. This story only shows what one man's beliefs are as a up and coming mobster.

I first read this book about ten years ago. I found it to be quite interesting, particularly the part which deals with the rise of organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s-30s. I didn't like the way the book was written, however, and I heavily discounted much of the latter part of the book because I couldn't believe that America's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) would work hand-in-hand with organized crime, and because I, like most Americans, still held the Kennedys in high esteem. If I had read the "Authors' Note" in the front of the book, I probably wouldn't have been quite so critical as to how the book was written; and if I had known how corrupt Joseph P. Kennedy and his sons were I likely wouldn't have discounted much of what I did earlier. In any event, after reading two or three more recently published and thoroughly documented biographies of the Kennedys, I decided to go back and re-read and re-evaluate this book.

Based on this second reading, I have concluded that this book is one of three things: an accurate historical biography of Sam Giancana and his criminal empire as told from the perspective of his well informed younger brother, a historical novel, or a public service message and wake up call for all Americans. Perhaps it is a combination of all three. My inclination is to believe that most of the information contained in the book is true, but I still find the latter part of the book, that which deals with the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert, to be somewhat hard to believe.

Organized crime has a long standing reputation for taking care of its friends and an equally well earned reputation for taking care of its enemies; so it's not hard to believe that Sam Giancana orchestrated these murders, as well as that of Marilyn Monroe. But, I still find it hard to believe that two future presidents and high ranking officials in the CIA knew about or were parties to these happenings. Or maybe I just don't want to believe it.

In any case, since I can't figure it out, my suggestion is to read this book along with two others and then make up your own mind. Those books are: "Joseph P. Kennedy: The Mogul, the Mob, the Statesman, and the Making of an American Myth" by Ted Schwarz and "The Dark Side of Camelot" by Seymour M. Hersh.

(By the way, ex-sailors will particularly enjoy this book since the crude language used by the mobsters will likely bring back a host of salty memories.)

Reading this interesting book, I found out that politics back in the 60's was corrupt as can be... The double cross by one of the most powerful families in our lifetime...But what dirt people do, comes back twice as hard. I believe in the accuracy of the history in this book, Why? Well look at all the declassified documents about in and around that time, that is just recently coming out. Plus most of the stuff in the book is accurate, just ask Fidel Castro....Mooney was a very powerful man, his one mistake was trusting a Kennedy...This book got stars, politicians and just bout anybody was on the take...Godd reading...

One of the few books that I can read over and over. If the informtion in this book is true and credible, this book answers almost all of the outstanding issues regarding: JFK's assassination, Marilyn Monroe's death, Castro/CIA, Phyllis Maguire,Jimmy Hoffa and Why convicted Bosses have so many prison privileges. The only unanswered question is: Who really killed Sam Giancana

To tell you the truth, I heard about this book for a few years before I found it in a Goodwill bookstore. Something you wouldn't normally find in a Christian store. Nevertheless, I was excited to see it for under $5, so I picked it up.

I was kinda interested in the book because I heard there were some links between the Mob/Outfit and the CIA and Kennedy's assassination. I was really intrigued. So, I read it.

The first bit is setting the stage for the main course of the book. Background and history of Sam and Chuck's upbringings, interactions, beatings, etc. Quite shocking to say the least. Now, the excessive violence of Sam is not something to be read by the squeamish. The language, and vulgarity is profuse in the book. In the context of the book, it is necessary though. To get the true nature of the man that was intimately involved in the climax of the mob's influence in America, and what we find out is around the world, too.

Nevertheless, we see Sam Giancana from the viewpoint of Chuck Giancana, Sam's little brother. Sam becomes Chuck's surrogate father because Sam is so violent, and insists he will take care of Chuck. So unsettling to realize how dysfunctional some families can actually be.

The multiple gory details of what Chuck saw is really unsettling. It is hard to imagine this happening between 50-60 years ago in America! Sex, drugs, music, adultery, spying, murder, intimidation, stealing, drug running, lottery rigging, loan sharking... the list goes on. Everything you've heard about that the Mob/Outfit does, he documents. Oh yeah, Marilyn Monroe is also in the book, related to the Mob/Outfit. Read it and find out!

The link to the CIA and John and Jack Kennedy is amazing. Truly a masterpiece written. I do believe that with the information coming out now about Kennedy's death - deathbed confessions of the real killer - will only strengthen this book's credibility. Not that it needs it, but will maybe perk up some onlookers to actually read it.

Enjoyed the book and strongly encourage those of you to pick it up.

I suggest that you read this as soon as you can. It is a very quick read that is ultra informative. It dabbles with the Outfit of Chicago, the unions of Chicago and Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Cuba, the Kennedy's, Santo Trifficante, bootlegging, the thrown elections, WWII, drugs, guns, bombs, killings, Al Capone and Joe Espisito. A great look into American crime culture. Better yet, it's written by Sam Giancian's brother. Oh by the way, it's about Sam Giancanna. Enjoy this excellent read@