Double Cross: The Explosive Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America

Sam Giancana · Chuck Giancana · Bettina Giancana

Nov 2016 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

One of the most feared Chicago mobsters Sam Giancana clawed his way to the top of the Mafia hierarchy by starting as a hit man for Al Capone. He was known as one of the best vehicle escape artists, a tenacious business man, and a ruthless killer. He partied with major stars such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe and did business with agents ranging from the CIA to the Vatican to the shah of Iran. When politician Joe Kennedy gave Giancana the chance to use mob muscle to get his son John elected, Giancana jumped at the task. But the Kennedy brothers double-crossed him, waging full-out war on organized crime throughout the United States. And Giancana went after them.

Written with suspense and conviction, we learn about how the CIA asked Giancana to assassinate Fidel Castro. The book includes Giancana's testimony about the truth of his involvement in the deaths of Monroe and others, among others. Chuck Giancana, Sam's brother, contributes a unique perspective of the mobs relationship with the Bay of Pigs and many other pivotal events of the 60's and beyond. Double Cross is an eye-opening account of the interworking of the government and the mob and how this relationship has impacted American history.

Ratings and reviews

I would recommend this tome with three caveats: Pros: 1. Very detailed. 2. Titillating. Cons: 1. Hardly believable in its entirety. 2. Too much repetition of many details. 3. Filled with many contradictions. 4. Second hand information from the mouth of the central figure - a psychopath who wanted "it all" - yet would tell the absolute truth to a younger impressionable naive brother who hung on his older brother's every word. Hardly a testament to a reliable true exposé or true story. 5. Where are the references to back up the many so-called facts?

About the author

Historian and journalist Tim Newark is the author of numerous critically acclaimed military history books, including The Barbarians, War in Britain, Where They Fell, Turning the Tide of War, and Camouflage. He was the editor of Military Illustrated for 17 years and the scriptwriter for seven TV military history documentary series, including Hitler’s Bodyguards. Tim Newark lives in Bath, UK. Endorsements:  'An engrossing history that reads like a thriller. The Godfather meets Band of Brothers.' - Andrew Roberts
‘An extraordinary tale …’ – History Today magazine