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Scott M. Burnstein
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Motor City Mafia: A Century of Organized Crime in Detroit (Images of America) Kindle Edition

by Scott M. Burnstein (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
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Learn the story behind one of Detroit's most infamous mobs with rare photographs documenting their rise and fall.


Motor City Mafia: A Century of Organized Crime in Detroit chronicles the storied and hallowed gangland history of the notorious Detroit underworld. Scott M. Burnstein takes the reader inside the belly of the beast, tracking the bloodshed, exploits, and leadership of the southeast Michigan crime syndicate as never before seen in print. Through a stunning array of rare archival photographs and images, Motor City Mafia captures Detroit's most infamous past, from its inception in the early part of the 20th century, through the years when the iconic Purple Gang ruled the city's streets during Prohibition, through the 1930s and the formation of the local Italian mafia, and the Detroit crime family's glory days in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, all the way to the downfall of the area's mob reign in the 1980s and 1990s.

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  1. Print length
    194 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Arcadia Publishing
  5. Publication date
    October 16, 2006
  6. File size
    52267 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Crime writer Scott M. Burnstein was born and raised in Detroit and specializes in the history of organized crime in America. Burnstein has a law degree from the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago and a bachelor's degree from Indiana University in Bloomington.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0093CHZ2W
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arcadia Publishing; 1st edition (October 16, 2006)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 16, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 52267 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 194 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

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Scott M. Burnstein

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
147 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the content interesting and informative. They also appreciate the illustrations and photos. However, some customers feel the book lacks information.

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ContentIllustrations
11 customers mention "Content"8 positive3 negative

Customers find the content interesting and informative. They also mention that it's interesting to see the criminals from various eras of the city.

"This is a very interesting account of the 'underworld' from the early 1900s to the 1980s...." Read more

"Esoteric to the max. Fascinating. Historical look at organized crime in the D. Best kept secret in the underworld lore." Read more

"...There is very little actual information or history about the Detroit Mob...." Read more

"...As a former Detroiter, it was still interesting to see the criminals from various eras of the city and the ease with which they seemed to operate." Read more

7 customers mention "Illustrations"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the illustrations in the book nice and great. They also mention that the book has a lot of nice photos.

"...Otherwise, this is a great book and filled with great pics and info. I imagine the DVD will be great too. But i need more!!!..." Read more

"The photos in this book are absolutely amazing and worth the price of the book...." Read more

"...A great craniological presentation of each era of the various crime families as each one replaced the previous group up to the present" Read more

"...it has a lot of nice photos but not a whole lot in the way of information...." Read more

Bummed: Missing pages 64-97
1 out of 5 stars
Bummed: Missing pages 64-97
Book was interesting but there are double pages and missing pages. Seems the printer messed up when printing these. I didn’t notice until 3 after I could return it. I would just want an exchange because I want the book. So disappointed that I’m missing pages 64-97. Make sure to check your book as soon as you receive it.
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Top reviews from the United States

Brian Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars The History of a crime in Detroit
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a very interesting account of the 'underworld' from the early 1900s to the 1980s. There were a number of nationalities who were 'gangsters' It covers the rise of the Mafia and traces the hand off of top Mafia leadership over the year. This will be especially interesting for people who are familiar with Michigan and Detroit. It's a very informative and readable book. You'll enjoy it.
One person found this helpful
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Michael Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, i need more
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2009
Verified Purchase
this was an absolutely wonderful book. the pictures and information contained was great. so much has been written on the New York and Chicago mobs and so little on the pivotal and still to this day, very real power that is the Motor City Mafia. I thirst for more. I am ordering Mr. Burnstein's DVD on the Detroit Mob as well. Not to tell Scott Burnstein or Paul Kavieff, who have been the only 2 authors writing exclusively about the Detroit Mob, or for that matter anyone else out there what to do, but more is needed on this subject. Alot more. A full length book about the Detroit Mob from the early days of the 20th century, the Adamo, Giannola, Vitale, La Mare days through the reign of Joe Zerelli and the Tocco family, through the 50's, the 60's, the Hoffa story up to the present day. This story needs to be told in full in a full length book. I thirst for more on this subject. Perhaps Mr. Burnstein is interested in writing such an expose. If he or someone else is I'd love to hear about it. Anyone reading this can let me know. Otherwise, this is a great book and filled with great pics and info. I imagine the DVD will be great too. But i need more!!! If full length books have been written on the much inferior Denver and Atlanta mobs, and they have, then please give Detroit it's due. A full length book dedicated to Detroit is very overdue. Still this is a great start
One person found this helpful
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Dean Trombetta
4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Pictures but not a lot of information
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2007
Verified Purchase
The photos in this book are absolutely amazing and worth the price of the book. You will find it amazing that these photos have been preserved for all these years. There is very little actual information or history about the Detroit Mob. It would best be enjoyed in conjunction with a book that contained more of the history of the Detroit Mafia, Purple Gang, and Oakland Sugar House gang.
10 people found this helpful
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Timothy W. Hardin
3.0 out of 5 stars Not much of an actual history book
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2019
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It's basically a picture book. The history it shows is almost just through pictures labled with people's names or locations.
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beesting
5.0 out of 5 stars Detroit has a deep organized crime history
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
I bought this book after watching the Irishman, i was always curious as to what really happened to Jimmy Hoffa, the book although limited in information about the Hoffa murder it does touch on where he was probably killed, a house in Bloomfield Hills which is closer to Machus Red Fox restaurant then the house in Deroit that was depicted in the movie and has been speculated for years even sending the FBI on a fruitless investigation.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A great craniological presentation of each era of the various crime ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
Completes the stages of the crime families of Detroit and how they operated over time. A great craniological presentation of each era of the various crime families as each one replaced the previous group up to the present
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wayne kramer
5.0 out of 5 stars Not for everyone but I like it
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
Esoteric to the max. Fascinating. Historical look at organized crime in the D. Best kept secret in the underworld lore.
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Booknut
4.0 out of 5 stars Great for anyone looking to see photos of criminals in Detroit gangs and mobsters
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
I was hoping for more story to go with the images. Anyone buying should understand that this book is basically a pictorial. Apparently, though, there are a lot of photos which have never been in print previously. As a former Detroiter, it was still interesting to see the criminals from various eras of the city and the ease with which they seemed to operate.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Fantastic graphical book. Especially if you wanna put face to the names. Definitely worth picking up if you’re a Mob fanatic
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