• The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia

  • Corn Sugar and Blood
  • By: Rick Porrello
  • Narrated by: Keith Spillett
  • Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (195 ratings)

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The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia  By  cover art

The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia

By: Rick Porrello
Narrated by: Keith Spillett
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Editorial reviews

With the vague childhood memory that his grandfather was murdered, author Rick Porrello delves deep into his family’s history and the world of organized crime. Porrello’s The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia is a fascinating and thorough look at one of the most notorious crime families in America. At the height of their power, led by the likes of Angelo "Big Ange" Lonardo, the Cleveland Mafia was third in power after New York City and Chicago. Performed here with an intense energy by Keith Spillett, this audiobook provides a fascinating glimpse at the once-mighty Cleveland branch of the Sicilian-American Mafia.

Publisher's summary

FBI Witness Rick Porrello writes about the important connection with mega-mobsters Charles Lucky Luciano and Meyer Lansky, the Cleveland mob's move to Las Vegas, and the first top-level national meeting of the Sicilian-American Mafia.

©1995 Rick Porrello (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

a book worth a listen

Raised on the west coast with no family from Ohio I had no knowledge of the Cleveland mafia. Well written history of the Cleveland crime scene. Interesting story of all the families and the push for control.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Needs a movie

There’s more to the story, i need a part two to this piece of history

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

Growing up in the 70’s and personally knowing people in this book it was so interesting. I remember all the news and camera people constantly coming around my friends. (Kids of the main guys) It was so crazy. I remember hanging out at lil Ang’s now lockkeepers restaurant while the men would have meetings and we would be up stairs hanging out. Crazy times.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding narrative

Great story about the rise and fall of the Cleveland mob! Author is outstanding! Highly recommended for listening!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

ok

it's okay I will be there in about 10 minutes ago but it might be there in about 10 to get a chance

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • EC
  • 02-14-21

Disappointing narration

One would expect that the narrator would learn the correct pronunciation of Italian names, but it didn’t happen in this case. It’s disappointing and a bit frustrating unfortunately.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good, detailed account of the Mafia in Cleveland

Appreciated the history and development of the mafia activities and characters in Cleveland. I like non-fiction and the book satisfied domecof my curiosity. I am a 3rd generation Cleveland native.

I had an interest in the story as my grandfather was a detective on the Cleveland police force in th red c30' to the 52. My mother and her brother were given police protection because of the work their father did.

Loved how the book tied the Cleveland mafia to other cities, the unions, and various enterprises. Interestingly, I worked for a member if the Milkwaukee Balestrari family in the early 70's at their restaurants when I was just 21. I had heard they were tied to the mafia. but never saw any of that activity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

100% prohibition era book

Very good book for prohobition era fans. The auther tells the story of the local mob in the 20s and 30s. Only the finale chapter is about the 70s and 80s. The book is interesting and to the point.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A 5 star mob book

As far as the mafia genre goes, this was excellent. I have read/listened to hundreds of mafia books. This was the first time it was specifically on the Cleveland mob. So that was a nice change as most mob books are just recycled information from other mob books. While I knew some of the facts as they had been very briefly referred to in other books I have read of listened to, the far majority of this book was new information for me. Keith Spillett did an excellent job.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating!

I had no idea that the mob was so prevalent in Cleveland. What a great read!

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3 people found this helpful