Rick Porrello

This is a detailed and straightforward account of the origins and growth of organized crime in Cleveland, particularly during prohibition and the years immediately following repeal. The author is a descendant of some of the principle players. The anecdotal style captures the feeling of living in the ethnic neighborhoods of the times, but there are some jarring jumps from episode to episode that might have benefited from the organizational advice of a good professional editor. A good read for people who like “true crime” accounts, but it lacks the sourcing and annotation apparatus required for a historical study.… (more)