The Good Rat

The Good Rat chronicles the true story of Burton Kaplan, a mob associate who became a key witness in a major mafia trial in New York City. Through court testimonies and interviews, veteran journalist Jimmy Breslin reconstructs Kaplan's transformation from criminal to informant. The book provides an inside view of organized crime operations in Brooklyn and Queens during the late 20th century, focusing on corrupt police officers and their connections to the mafia. Breslin draws on his decades of experience covering crime in New York to contextualize the personalities and power structures within both law enforcement and criminal organizations. Decades of street knowledge and countless hours in courtrooms allow Breslin to paint precise portraits of the characters involved, from small-time crooks to high-ranking mafia figures. His reporting captures the day-to-day reality of organized crime, stripped of Hollywood glamour. The Good Rat examines loyalty, betrayal, and the complex moral calculations that drive people to cross the line between law enforcement and criminality. Through Kaplan's story, Breslin presents a raw account of how justice and corruption intertwine in urban America.

Readers describe The Good Rat as a gritty, insider account of New York mob life through the story of Burton Kaplan, a key witness against corrupt NYPD detectives. Readers appreciated: - Breslin's first-hand knowledge of the mob scene - The authenticity of courtroom details - The humor mixed with true crime reporting - Character descriptions that bring real figures to life Common criticisms: - Disorganized, jumpy narrative structure - Too many tangential stories and side characters - Confusing timeline that's hard to follow - Lack of clear focus on the main story Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (100+ ratings) "The courtroom scenes read like you're actually there," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review counters that "the endless digressions make it hard to stay engaged with the central narrative."

Five Families by Selwyn Raab This history of the New York Mafia combines crime reporting, courtroom drama, and insider accounts from law enforcement and mobsters.

Donnie Brasco by Joseph D. Pistone An FBI agent's first-hand account details his infiltration of the Bonanno crime family during a six-year undercover operation in New York City.

Underboss by Peter Maas Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's testimony and confessions reveal the inner workings of the Gambino crime family and John Gotti's rise to power.

Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi Henry Hill's life story presents a street-level view of New York's criminal underworld from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Monster by Sanyika Shakur A former Los Angeles gang member's account depicts street life, prison time, and criminal operations from an insider's perspective.

📚 Jimmy Breslin spent over 40 years covering the Mafia for New York newspapers before writing this book, giving him unparalleled insight into the criminal underworld he describes. 🏆 Burton Kaplan, the main character featured in the book, was a seemingly ordinary Jewish businessman who secretly served as a middleman between the Italian Mafia and corrupt NYPD officers for decades. 👮 The book's revelations about police corruption led to internal investigations within the NYPD and contributed to reforms in department oversight procedures. ✍️ Breslin wrote the book after personally attending the trial of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated NYPD detectives who moonlighted as hitmen for the Lucchese crime family. 🗞️ The author's unique writing style, mixing hard journalism with colorful storytelling, earned him both a Pulitzer Prize and the George Polk Award for lifetime achievement in journalism during his career.