'I couldn't put it down. His archival sleuthing is yoked to his powerful, often coruscating storytelling to create a chilling account of the mafia's sinister, horrific reality.' -- John Guy, The Sunday Times 'Riveting' -- Sunday Telegraph 'A readable, highly informative, admirably systematic account of how the Mafia attained its hold.' -- Times Literary Supplement 'Highly readable...compelling. The narrative is entertaining and, at times, as chilling as the darkest crime fiction. At its best, it combines compelling horror with clear, rational analysis of the moral and political failings, which, even today, give the mafia a seat at many top tables in Italian society.' -- Glasgow Herald 'Lucid...grimly readable.' -- Daily Telegraph 'The first truly definitive English-language study of this myth-laden subject, and it is a pleasure to read...his book is notable for shrewd judgements couched in language that is vibrantly memorable. His acquaintance with the island and his immersion in the wider modern Italian culture allows him to convey the noxious atmosphere of corruption with flair.' -- Sunday Times 'Monumental and gripping' -- Andrew Marr, BBC Start the Week 'Combines scholarship with a rip-roaring read' -- Sunday Herald 'Well-written...his findings are supported by careful research and copious documentation. Racy...contains some powerful stories, scenes and surprises.' -- Irish Times

John Dickie is both an academic cultural historian and an advertising copywriter and researcher for some major international companies. He is Senior Lecturer in Italian at UCL and has written articles and books on many aspects of Italian history. In 2005 he was awarded the title Commendatore dell'Ordine della Stella di Solidarieta' Italiana.