Customer Reviews

Enforcer

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Aside from this book and Pileggi's Casino, there isn't much that deals directly with the Chicago mob's foothold in Vegas and the man who kept people in line, Tony 'The Ant' Spilotro. (In Casino, Joe Pesci played a character closely based on Spilotro.)

The problem with this book is that it's misleading from the start. This book is not really about Spilotro all that much. Bill Roemer penned Man Against the Mob and then his ego must have really swelled. Roemer spends a good portion of this book talking about himself. When he's not reminding the reader that he's brave, courageous, strong, a lawyer, a former boxer at Notre Dame, and an all around good person, he name drops about a thousand other law enforcement people involved in taking down mobsters. It makes you wonder about the ridiculous amount of money and resources dedicated to busting the Mafia; meanwhile, a guy like Spilotro managed to stay out of jail for a good portion of the time he was muscling Vegas.

Roemer didn't know Spilotro all that much. He admits this, and yet his book just goes on and on. He only met Spilotro a couple of times, and Roemer reminds us that he's so brave that he wasn't afraid of 'The Ant', a nickname that Roemer is proud he helped coin.

If you're interested in the story behind Casino, book and film, then this will be of interest. It has a few insights into some of the other characters, but there isn't enough about Spilotro, who must have been a bit more complex than Roemer thinks if the guy had the kind of street power he did in Las Vegas.

While Pileggi's Casino is a bit too Lefty Rosenthal-centric, The Enforcer is a bit too much Roemer to handle at times.

PLEASE DONT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!!
Ive read several mafia books and this is by far the worst.
All Roemer talks about is him self theres actually very little about Spilotro???? He mentions and kisses up to every cop and agent he's ever meant??? He thinks J Edgar Hoover was god???
This book is extremely boring? hardly anything about Spilotro.
I dont even know why he bothered, after reading this book I would have given him my money not to write it!!! Complete waste of time!
Did you know that Roemer used to box in college? well you will when you read this book I dont think theres a single page that he doesnt mention it?(joke)
Each chapter starts with a couple paragraphs about Spilotro and then page after page about himself and everybody in the world BUT Spilotro???? THANKYOU

This has got to be one of the worst books on the mob I have ever read -- primarily because of the author's constant moralizing and preaching. At the same time the book is filled with too many asides, obviously because the author didn't know enough about Spilotro -- his subject -- and had to jack the thing up to book length. I wonder if this was rushed into print to cash in on the film Casino.

In Roemers's world everything is black and white. He constantly attempts to impress us with how brave and heroic he is, when in reality he comes across as a bore. Instead of putting himself in the background and telling the story he colors it too much with tiresome, trite observations. Even in the pictures in the middle of the book, he had to include a shot of himself in the boxing ring. Read this, then read Donnie Brasco. Roemer hides behind his badge; Pistone went out and put the bad guys in the can.

I've read Roemer's other book: 'Accardo'. Roemer's biggest problem is that he fails to take himself out of his books, insisting on intermingling his own stories with those of his subjects. With 'Accardo' Roemer had a lot of strong data (he really knew Tony `Joe Batters' Accardo the 50 year Don of Chicago's Outfit), so in that book's case, he could get away with such mixings, mainly because he belonged mingled somewhat within his story (limits which I think Roemer crossed very often).

But in 'The Enforcer' Roemer seemed almost as if he'd obtained most of his information from second hand sources. Here this continuous digression into his own history further dilutes an already weak factual accounting of his subject: Tony 'The Ant' Spillatro.

In short in The Enforcer it was as if Roemer were merely trying to add some girth to an otherwise 'thin' book.

Good object lesson in how Amazon reviews can save you money. I bought my copy on impulse, off the shelf. Fortunately, I only wasted $10. Considering today's book prices, it could have been more. Yes, the book is as ill-conceived and meandering as overwhelming number of reviews indicate. Unfortunately, there's precious little evidence of research anywhere in the text. No need to repeat points already made and so glaringly present in the book. Experience is a little like sitting with a good ol' boy at a boozy party, who can't wait to tell you all about rosy memories and great guys from days in the FBI, and, oh yeah, something about some guy named Spil ott ro, or was it Spil oh tro.

Retired FBI Agent William Roemer (1926-1996) details the activities of mobster Tony Spilotro, alleged to be the Chicago mob's "heat" in Las Vegas during the 1970's. During those years the syndicate in Chicago and other Midwest cities skimmed millions of dollars from several Las Vegas casinos, an activity documented in the book (and movie) CASINO. After the skim was uncovered in the early 1980's, several Mafia bosses and teamster officials ended up in federal prison, while other figures ended up dead. At about that time, Spilotro's burglary crew was busted, turned informant, and in 1986 Spilotro and his brother were were found beaten and buried alive in an Indiana farm field.

Several reviewers have correctly noted that this book rambles, is light on documentation, and that the somewhat self-centered author was far from an "expert" on Spilotro and Las Vegas. Also, there seems to be debate on whether Spilotro was the syndicate's "heat" in Vegas or mostly a free lance gangster. I liked the book, but there are better books (CASINO by Nicholas Pileggi) available.

I purchased this book based on the title (Tony Spiliotro). This was very misleading. This book only mentions the main character (Tony Spilotro) in no more than 50 pages. The rest of the book talks about the author's big ego and FBI croonies. This was the worst $4.79 that I have ever spent. Do yourself a favor, save some money and do not purchase this book. You'll thank me for it.

A WHO'S WHO OF THE CHICAGO OUTFIT.A MUST READ FOR ANY MOB BUFF LIKE ME.NO BOOK IV'E READ HAS GIVEN MORE INFO ON THE WINDY CITY UNDERWORLD THAN THIS ONE.ALTHOUGH ROEMER NEVER REALLY FOLLOWED THE"LITTLEGUY" FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME(LIKE HE DID GIANCANA)THE INFOMATION HE RECEIVED FROM INFORMANTS HE FLIPPED AND ALL HIS BUDDIES,PAST AND PRESENT IN THE FBI ,IS PRICELESS.GOOD WORK BILL.

I thought that this book is great for anyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of the Chicago Mafia, organized crime, and law enforcement in general. When people think of the Mafia, they tend to lean towards New York as "the model". Little do they know that Chicago, commonly referred to as the "Second City", has a serious history, and are forces to be reckoned with. Bill Roemer Jr. tells all in this book, from an FBI agent's point view of course. He weaves a web of important players in the Chicago Outfit, with chilling accounts from characters such as Tony Accardo aka "Joe Batters", the outfit's most respected and feared leader/counselor. The inside scoop on Sam Giancana, Joey Aiuppa, and Joe Ferriola a few of the many Mob Bosses depicted. A must read chilling chapter on "Mad" Sam DeStefano will leave the insides of your stomach churning! You will see how Tony Spilotro(the cover boy)fits into the scheme of things, and after reading this book and watching CASINO, you will see how the two resemble each other almost identically, scary!! Pick this book up.

While I can accept that Roemer is not a good writer (his talent was as an FBI agent) but the "Editor" of this book ought to hang their head. The book could been dramatically improved by a stronger narrative and coherent story line. At a minimum, the run-on sentences, ridiculous grammatical constructions and various sixth-grade mistakes should have been cleansed.

If you want to enjoy rather than endure these characters, get Nicholas Pileggis' Casino. He has a different take on the importance of Spilotro in the Mob hierarchy, but immeasurably better presentation.