Philip Carlo, author of "The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath"

Presented by Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists (www.phenixpublicity.com).

Philip Carlo's "The Butcher"(Oct. 20, 2009, William Morrow/HarperCollins, ISBN 9780061744654) is a no-holds-barred portrayal of good and evil, a fly-on-the-wall perspective of the true war on drugs. On one side of this never-ending battle is Tommy Pitera, a capo in the Bonanno crime family, born and raised on the mean streets of Brooklyn. As well as dealing in huge amounts of narcotics, Pitera, good looking and athletic, is a stone-cold killer an accomplished assassin who murders without remorse for not only the Bonanno crime family but other Mafia families as well.

Brooklyn Mafiosi cannot help but notice the stoic, slow-moving Pitera and he is soon inducted into the Bonanno crime family. Methodically, with great efficiency, Pitera starts killing Bonanno enemies and cuts his victims into six pieces, burying them in a Staten Island bird sanctuary. Pitera diabolically created a federally protected private burial ground. Of all the Mafia families, the Bonnano crime family is, by far, the most responsible for bringing heroin from Sicily to the states.

Crack DEA Agent Jim Hunt is put in charge of the task force to bring down Pitera. A legend in the DEA, Hunt brought down many notorious Mafia members including Vito Genovese, Vincente The Chin Gigante and Carmine Galante. Motivated and dedicated, Hunt is the street captain of the task force that pursues Pitera for three years. Through wiretaps and slowly, patiently turning Pitera's own people against him, Hunt discovers Pitera's burial grounds and captures one of the most villainous criminals in the annals of crime history, a Mafia superstar.

Philip Carlo spent three years researching and writing The Butcher with full cooperation from the DEA. He is the bestselling author of The Night Stalker, The Ice Man, and Gaspipe. He has been featured by Larry King Live, ABC Primetime News, The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, The History Channel, A&E, HBO, Court TV and CNN. He resides in New York City. Learn more at www.philipcarlo.com.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Philip Carlo
• true crime
• mafia
• Bonanno
• Pitera
• Jim Hunt

[jerrysbro]

I'd take the "Iceman" book with a grain of salt, because he devotes a whole chapter

to a detailed account of Kuklinski's involvement in the Carmine Galante hit- his movements that day,what he was wearing,weapons used,even the type of sandwich

he was eating in the restaurant- and then, in this "Butcher" book, he gives a completely different account, and informs us in a little footnote that Kuklinski wasn't

involved! Umm.......what the hell? No credibility.

[joesolese]

I've read some of the greatest true crime books on the mafia ever. Mafia Dynasty, The way of The Wiseguy, Accardo, War of the Godfathers, The Valachi Papers, Sammy The bull, Gotti, Even ones about the Decavalcante's aka "Sopranos'"but I have to read this one. Tommy Pitera was ruthless. Gotta Love the Bonnano's

[TugLife365]

i read the ice man and couldnt put the fucker down. im currently reading the butcher, and when i read the footnote about how kuklinksi wasnt involved in the Galante hit i nearly blew a gasket. ruined the whole book for me haha

[bizarreunderworld]

@quanfa88 yea :)

[quanfa88]

@bizarreunderworld Good one:-).

[bizarreunderworld]

@quanfa88 Will do. Did i mention i'm getting this guys initials tattooed on my body? I already have Ice Man's :)

[bizarreunderworld]

@quanfa88 Lol your funny. Why should I be ashamed? I'm proud. I also work for a living, a honest job. Very proud of who I am. I feel sorry for you.

[quanfa88]

@bizarreunderworld then I would be an upstanding citizen. Anyway, I've already wasted enough of my life educating you. Either absorb what you have learned and change your life, or go back to fellating your criminal idols. I'm sure the more they use and abuse you and your family, the more you will respect and defend them.

[quanfa88]

@bizarreunderworld Family involvement in organized crime is something of which to be ashamed, not proud. Do not feel bad; every family has problems. However, boasting of such association is indicative of childishness and immaturity. I suppose I equal scum, because I work for a living at an honest job & assume responsibility for my actions. I suppose if I (like the mob) got my neighborhood's teenagers addicted to heroin, ruinied my community, then sold out my boss when the police arrested me,

[quanfa88]

@bizarreunderworld Sarcasm is not a speech dialect, and can require any intelligence range (low to high). Dialects are regional variations of standard languages. Profane words exist in the dictionary (feel free to check). While I did not think my words were "big," I sincerely apologize if my diction is far above your intelligence or education level. If your claim that you have family involved in the mob is supposed to frighten or intimidate me, you are sorely mistaken.

[bizarreunderworld]

@quanfa88 Sarcasm requires wit of very low intelligence actually. Sarcasm is a dialect of speech. Profanity is merely use of non existent words in the dictionary. Pathetic and ineffective? I wouldn't say so. Certainly it hit home with you. Misguided criticism? Hmm are you sure you even know what your saying? Sounds to me like you called your school teacher up asking for a list from a-z in big words. I don't say how bad they are, I have much respect for the mob. I have family involved. Scum=you. 

[quanfa88]

@bizarreunderworld Sarcasm actually requires considerable wit. Profanity is the lowest form of wit. You attack my sarcasm with an over-used and easily produced line ("take your head out of your a**). How pathetic & ineffective. Your misguided criticism aside, the real problem involves so many people idolizing criminals. They say how horrible these gang members are, while secretly worshiping them. Those that make their living off of such scum are, to a degree, guilty as well.