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POSTED: 10 AUGUST 2009

Tommy Dades and Mike Vecchione (with David Fisher), Friends of the Family: The Inside Story of the Mafia Cops Case

(HarperCollins | 320pp paperback | $27.99)

“This is the way the Eddie Lino hit came down …”

Thus begins Friends of the Family: The Inside Story of the Mafia Cops Case by Detective Tommy Dades and Brooklyn Assistant District Attourney Mike Vecchione (with David Fisher), a tough-as-nails account of two of the most corrupt police officers in American history.

Police corruption is a popular theme in fiction, but it is horrifying to find such a detailed account of real life cops — decorated NYPD detectives at that — selling out to the criminal underbelly. And it is not as if all they did was pass on sensitive information. Detectives Louie Eppolito and Steve Caracappa actively worked as hitmen for the Mafia.

Were it not for the hard work of Dades and Vecchione, these two looked set to enjoy a retirement lifestyle funded by their decade of crime. The story of how an unsolvable case was turned around, resulting in the exposure and arrest of these dangerous men, is intriguing. It offers a great counterpoint of crooked cop versus dedicated cop (and DA).

Readers who enjoy television shows such as NYPD Blue and The Sopranos will instantly recognize the hard-bitten language of the writers, which works to immerse you fully into this gritty, grimy world.

But be warned. This is an extremely detailed account, and remembering who is who can be difficult, especially because of the preponderance of Italian surnames. Those looking for a casual thrill had best leave this for hardcore fans of crime fiction and those interested in seeing real, detailed law enforcement at work.