PhillyMafiaHistory.com - Before Bruno: The History of the Philadelphia Mafia. 1880-1931 Book 1 (1999)

Morello is the only author on the Philly Mob’s history who has degrees in history and in criminology, which put her writing style and standards at a different level from the other writers. She also has a “Mafia pedigree” that is well known in her birthplace of Norristown, a Philadelphia suburb with its own separate Mafia history. These books are fact-filled and the sources are documented, lest anyone doubt where the information came. There are many obscure references used that mention Philadelphia’s underworld of Sicilians that were enhanced with the interviews the author had with the children and grandchildren of the first bosses of Philadelphia. She also tracked down and spoke to the older members of the Mob, who could not call Angelo Bruno a “Docile Don” or remove Bruno from illegal drugs before and during his years as boss.

There is good information on the history of the Philadelphia Police that blended into how organized crime thrived in the city. Many issues on Italian Americans came into discussion and how the culture of Sicily was far from that on the mainland of Italy. There are so many thought-provoking aspects to these books, that is seems that nothing is left to question. A professor of history edited these books on historical context, not on style, so if you’re wondering why these books are lacking in the “blood and guts” of news reporters and writers that is why—this is a reference of history, true crime. They’re mob books that are reliable.

	Morello is the only author on the Philly Mob’s history who has degrees in history and in criminology, which put her writing style and standards at a different level from the other writers. She also has a “Mafia pedigree” that is well known in her birthplace of Norristown, a Philadelphia suburb with its own separate Mafia history. These books are fact-filled and the sources are documented, lest anyone doubt where the information came. There are many obscure references used that mention Philadelphia’s underworld of Sicilians that were enhanced with the interviews the author had with the children and grandchildren of the first bosses of Philadelphia. She also tracked down and spoke to the older members of the Mob, who could not call Angelo Bruno a “Docile Don” or remove Bruno from illegal drugs before and during his years as boss. There is good information on the history of the Philadelphia Police that blended into how organized crime thrived in the city. Many issues on Italian Americans came into discussion and how the culture of Sicily was far from that on the mainland of Italy. There are so many thought-provoking aspects to these books, that is seems that nothing is left to question. A professor of history edited these books on historical context, not on style, so if you’re wondering why these books are lacking in the “blood and guts” of news reporters and writers that is why—this is a reference of history, true crime. They’re mob books that are reliable.









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