Mobsters In Our Midst: The Kansas City Crime Family

Being raised in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of a honest Italian cop, and growing up blocks from the Civellas and Camasonos, this book just reinforces all the stories I heard growing up. But it also makes me sad because they could be good men, too. Every year when I sold girl scout cookies Mr. Nick and Mr. Camasano and Mr. Simone would buy wait for me to come to their houses and then buy a 100 boxes a piece. They always treated me so sweet. But I also realize that if they had known my papa was a cop, that would not have been the case.

I’m an avid reader of Mafia related books. I like to have books about as many families as possible to boost my knowledge. I was really looking forward to this read but it took all of me to stay in and finish the book. I’d say if I really and into the book I could finish it in a week. Sometimes in only a few days if I have the downtime. This book took me 2 weeks or so and only right before bed. I was looking for more out of it and more knowledge of that Mafia faction but it wasn’t there. I’m still glad I read it and added it to my collection.

Our couple’s book club read this book. I jokingly told the person who recommended it that we needed a character list, much like Ken Follet presents in his books, to keep up with all the mobsters. The story, explaining the organization of the crime families and the attempts by law enforcement was interesting. Some readers might get bogged down in all the names.

As a lifelong resident of the Northland in Kansas City, Missouri, this book provided an in depth look into the lives of family's of which I've known the names and the importance of but, not much about their history in our area. It was before I was of the age to be aware. This book was definitely worth the read.

I call this book enlightening because altogether too many people regard Kansas City as just another city in the "fly over states." It is inconceivable to the folks of the coastal states that a Mafia family even existed in Kansas City, let alone one that was well organized and with a significant national footprint.Furthermore, who better to tell this story than a man who went nose to nose with them and was instrumental in bringing about not only their demise, but top Mob people in Chicago and Milwaukee.Author Bill Ouseley had me up way past my bedtime. I could not put the book down.

great read, covers tons of great info about the KC Family post 1950 and provides a lot of details about the conflict with the Spero brothers crew.

Great work about the mafia in KC. Sometimes it was difficult to keep all the names straight, but a great read.

This book told a lot about "THE SKIM" in Vegas...and the role that the KC Guys played...a couple even had actors portray them in the movie "CASINO"...

Delivery was fine. The book itself was terrible. One of the worst writing styles I've ever encountered. Couldn't finish it.