Vinny Gorgeous

The Ugly Rise and Fall of a New York Mobster

By: Anthony M. DeStefano

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

A vain man of good looks, small means, and no family links to the mob, Vincent "Vinny Gorgeous" Basciano steadily worked his way up to acting boss of the Bonanno crime family, becoming its leader when official boss Joseph Massino went to the clink in 2003. But at a time when the Mob was crawling with secret operatives and informants caving to government pressure to flip, Basciano obeyed the code of La Cosa Nostra. "I got faith in one guy," he told a group of mobsters during a secretly taped meeting. That man was Joseph Massino, head of the Bonanno borgata.

But for all his loyalty, Basciano was still a hot-headed, cold-blooded killer, which led to his arrest. Then, in a remarkable betrayal that shook the Five Families to their foundation, Massino secretly cooperated with the FBI - the first official boss ever to roll over. As a result, Basciano faced the death penalty, but a federal jury, disturbed by the prosecution's use of criminal informants, reached a surprising verdict. Veteran crime author Anthony M. DeStefano tells the riveting story of the last true believer in the Mob's cult of brotherhood and how he was betrayed by the only man he ever trusted.

©2013 Anthony M. DeStefano (P)2013 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This is a dark, informed, and effective bio, and DeStefano is a master at cutting through the secrecy of the Mafia hierarchy." ( Publishers Weekly)

Straight up and to the point writing style.

What did you love best about Vinny Gorgeous?

Straight detailed information unburdened by the writer's own attitudes or gossip.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The characters were all repelling to me. But the culture is fascinating and anyone curious about social intercourse would find the book fascinating. Great writing, free flowing detailed information, fast paced.

Have you listened to any of R. C. Bray’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first. I liked the narration.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the big case was blown because of police corruption.

Any additional comments?

This writer is very talented in journalism. I like straight facts on the table. He has a very clean way of relaying information that I find very refreshing. He doesn't foray into manipulating the reader.

Details

Loves it, but it left me wanting a more detailed story on Mobster Vinny Gorgeous.

Very Interesting Look Into The Life of a Mobster

What did you love best about Vinny Gorgeous?

Although I had a challenging time keeping up with all the characters in this book, it was a very interesting look into the life of a mobster. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Great book

It is as you would expect for this genre. not the best I have heard, but still very interesting. Unlike most books in this genre, this one has one of the best narrators in the business as an added bonus.

Awesome True Mob Crime

Would you consider the audio edition of Vinny Gorgeous to be better than the print version?

Haven't read print version, but definitely enjoyed the audio version a lot. Very well written.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Vinny Gorgeous?

The Donnie Brasco relationship.

Which character – as performed by R. C. Bray – was your favorite?

No characters, great narration though.