"If it weren't for informants, the public would know nothing about the inner workings of La Cosa Nostra."
-Author Nicholas Parisi

Members of the New England Mafia were no longer willing to risk a lifetime behind bars. The once unbreakable code of silence was shattered as they chose to betray their associates. This sudden shift was evident in the large-scale investigation into organized crime, where wiretaps and informants were now providing crucial evidence against the group. It was a rare occurrence in the history of such investigations where authorities could identify those responsible for an organized crime hit.

"The narrative's pacing is exceptional. The vivid descriptions and detailed accounts of events immerse you in this dark underworld, making it easy to visualize the conflicts that took place on the streets."

"Parisi has skillfully explored organized crime in "City of Betrayal," highlighting the fallout from treachery in a society where loyalty was formerly valued. This book is a must-read for those who enjoy well-written real crime stories and an engrossing glimpse at a crucial period of Mafia history. Strongly advised!"

Follow the lives of notorious mobsters Big Nose Sam Cufari, Skyball Scibelli, Wild Guy Billy Grasso, Gaetano Milano, Big Al Bruno, Freddy Geas, Anthony Arillotta, and many more as New England mafia expert and family insider Nick Parisi brings you behind the scenes of some of the most infamous mob hits to plague Springfield Massachusetts.

Prologue

The night was quiet; the streets of Springfield, Massachusetts, were illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. In the South End section, a police detective named Maurice Kearney sat in his patrol car, listening intently to the static-filled police radio. Suddenly, the dispatcher's voice cut through the silence, urgency laced in her words.
"We have a shooting down on Winthrop Street. We need an ambulance fast because the guy is in tough shape."
Homicide detective Thomas Malidi also heard the dispatch.
"Al Bruno just took about eight to the body at the Mount Carmel Italian Club."
Hearing this, homicide detective Thomas Malidi's heart raced as he jumped into his car and sped towards the scene. As they arrived, the duo was met with a chaotic scene. Al Bruno, a prominent figure in the community, was still there on the ground.
He wasn't moving.
The smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air, the only sound being the distant wail of sirens. Without hesitation, another officer rolled Bruno onto his back and began administering chest compressions, desperately trying to revive him. At that moment, Kearney's eyes met with the officer's, and in a silent exchange, it was clear that all efforts were in vain.
"Ah, he's dead. He's gone," the officer shook his head, his words heavy with defeat.
They ripped his shirt off, revealing the holes in his chest. Blood gushed out of him from just about everywhere, painting the ground a deep crimson. He lay motionless, clutching onto his cigar as if it were his last lifeline.
The cigar hung limply from the lifeless hand of the man sprawled on the pavement. He was no ordinary victim of murder. Adolfo Bruno, better known as Big Al, was the boss of Springfield's Italian mafia. Two years ago, he had reveled in the glory of being the most powerful mobster in town. But now, his lifeless body lay in a pool of blood, a stark contrast to the glitz and glamour he once exuded.
The police were baffled by Bruno's death.
When Al Bruno was murdered, investigators immediately assumed that the shooter had everything to gain. They believed it was an inside job and that the gunman was a member of the mob who sought to take over Bruno's profitable rackets and claim his power.
However, their primary suspect did not fit into these assumptions.