Selwyn Raab

Selwyn Raab is an American journalist and author known for his extensive coverage of organized crime and the American Mafia, particularly through his work at The New York Times where he spent 25 years as an investigative reporter. His most significant work is the book "Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires," published in 2005, which provides a comprehensive history of New York's major crime families. The book draws on his decades of reporting and has become a definitive text on the subject of organized crime in America. During his career, Raab covered major criminal justice stories including corruption in New York City's police department and criminal courts. His investigative work led to reforms in the criminal justice system and helped expose wrongful convictions. Beyond his journalism, Raab has appeared as an expert commentator in numerous documentaries about organized crime and has written several other books on crime-related topics. His work consistently demonstrates deep research and access to law enforcement sources, crime family members, and legal documents that were previously unavailable to the public.

Readers praise Raab's deep research and insider access in covering organized crime, particularly in "Five Families." Many note his ability to explain complex criminal networks and relationships clearly. What readers liked: - Detailed historical accounts backed by extensive documentation - Clear writing style that makes complex topics accessible - Balanced perspective showing both law enforcement and criminal viewpoints - Thorough coverage of lesser-known mafia events and figures What readers disliked: - Dense information can be overwhelming for casual readers - Some find the chronological jumps confusing - Occasional repetition of facts and events - Limited coverage of more recent mafia activities post-2000 Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 from 2,300+ reviews Goodreads: 4.3/5 from 6,800+ ratings One reader noted: "Reads like a textbook but in the best possible way - comprehensive and authoritative." Another said: "The amount of research is staggering but sometimes gets in the way of the narrative flow."

Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires (2005) A comprehensive history of New York's five dominant Mafia families - the Gambinos, Genoveses, Luccheses, Bonannos, and Colombos - from their origins through the early 21st century.

Justice in the Back Room (1967) An investigation into the 1963 Wylie-Hoffert murder case, which led to significant reforms in police interrogation procedures and helped establish Miranda rights.

Mob Lawyer (1994) A biography of defense attorney Frank Ragano, chronicling his career representing major organized crime figures including Santo Trafficante Jr., Carlos Marcello, and Jimmy Hoffa.

Nicholas Pileggi writes about organized crime from direct interviews with mobsters and law enforcement, focusing on the inner workings of American crime families. His books "Wiseguy" and "Casino" became the basis for Martin Scorsese films.

James B. Jacobs examines organized crime's influence on labor unions and legitimate businesses through academic research and legal analysis. He documents the relationship between New York crime families and industries like construction and waste management.

Peter Lance investigates connections between organized crime, terrorism, and law enforcement through deep-dive reporting and FBI source documents. His work centers on FBI investigations and intelligence operations spanning multiple decades.

Anthony M. DeStefano covers organized crime as a reporter focusing on court cases and prosecutions of major mob figures. His books detail specific prosecutions and law enforcement operations targeting New York crime families.

George Anastasia reports on Philadelphia and New Jersey organized crime through court coverage and mob insider interviews. His work chronicles the activities and prosecutions of crime families in the Philadelphia region from the 1980s through 2000s.