Blood and the Badge

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

By: Michael Cannell

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell unearths the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia.

No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps, and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once.

Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place.

©2024 Michael Cannell (P)2025 Tantor Media

Crazy

What a horrible deep dive into the disgusting element of mob crime and the worst part of those who serve. I’m so glad they went to jail for life, but should have been executed.

Real facts

The reader did a really good job.
Very believable and a continual listen.
Hard book to put down.

How great these guys were after all that time and successful

I really liked this book. I guess I have a hard time understanding how they didn’t get caught before. I mean they were great cops but there was a gazillion red flag anyway great book learn stuff. I didn’t know about the families in New York.

Interesting

I love true crime and I l especially love when it's about the Mafia. This was another one I enjoyed. Learned a few things I did not know. The only issue I had was the narrator. Just too monotone. But other than that I enjoyed it.

Mind Boggling!

WHEW!!! WOW even.... sure were a lot of bad characters in this one. I'm not sure how much is truth and what is fiction. Pretty good though if you're into these types of books.