The Black Hand : The Epic War Between a Brilliant Detective and the Deadliest Secret Society in American History

A--\*Film rights optioned by Paramount Studios, starring Leonardo DiCaprio\* Beginning in the summer of 1903, an insidious crime wave filled New York City, and then the entire country, with fear. The children of Italian immigrants were kidnapped, and dozens of innocent victims were gunned down. Bombs tore apart tenement buildings. Judges, senators, Rockefellers, and society matrons were threatened with gruesome deaths. The perpetrators seemed both omnipresent and invisible. Their only calling card: the symbol of a black hand. The crimes whipped up the slavering tabloid press and heated ethnic tensions to the boiling point. Standing between the American public and the Black Hand's lawlessness was Joseph Petrosino. Dubbed the "Italian Sherlock Holmes, "he was a famously dogged and ingenious detective, and a master of disguise. As the crimes grew ever more bizarre and the Black Hand's activities spread far beyond New York's borders, Petrosino and the all-Italian police squad he assembled raced to capture members of the secret criminal society before the country's anti-immigrant tremors exploded into catastrophe. Petrosino's quest to root out the source of the Black Hand's power would take him all the way to Sicily--but at a terrible cost. Unfolding a story rich with resonance in our own era, The Black Hand is fast-paced narrative history at its very best.;Prologue: "a great and consuming terror" -- "This capital of half a world" -- Hunter of men -- "In mortal dread" -- The mysterious six -- A general rebellion -- Explosion -- Wave -- The General -- "The terror of hurtful people" -- "Once to be born, once to die" -- War without quarter -- The city of living death -- Backlash -- A secret service -- The gentleman -- In Sicily -- Black horses -- Goatville -- A return. The gripping true story of the origins of the mafia in America—and the brilliant Italian-born detective who gave his life to stop it *Soon to be a major motion picture starring Leonardo DiCaprio* Beginning in the summer of 1903, an insidious crime wave filled New York City, and then the entire country, with fear. The children of Italian immigrants were kidnapped, and dozens of innocent victims were gunned down. Bombs tore apart tenement buildings. Judges, senators, Rockefellers, and society matrons were threatened with gruesome deaths. The perpetrators seemed both omnipresent and invisible. Their only calling card: the symbol of a black hand. The crimes whipped up the slavering tabloid press and heated ethnic tensions to the boiling point. Standing between the American public and the Black Hand’s lawlessness was Joseph Petrosino. Dubbed the “Italian Sherlock Holmes,” he was a famously dogged and ingenious detective, and a master of disguise. As the crimes grew ever more bizarre and the Black Hand’s activities spread far beyond New York’s borders, Petrosino and the all-Italian police squad he assembled raced to capture members of the secret criminal society before the country’s anti-immigrant tremors exploded into catastrophe. Petrosino’s quest to root out the source of the Black Hand’s power would take him all the way to Sicily—but at a terrible cost. Unfolding a story rich with resonance in our own era, The Black Hand is fast-paced narrative history at its very best. The gripping true story of the origins of the mafia in America—and the brilliant Italian-born detective who gave his life to stop it *Film rights optioned by Paramount Studios, starring Leonardo DiCaprio* Beginning in the summer of 1903, an insidious crime wave filled New York City, and then the entire country, with fear. The children of Italian immigrants were kidnapped, and dozens of innocent victims were gunned down. Bombs tore apart tenement buildings. Judges, senators, Rockefellers, and society matrons were threatened with gruesome deaths. The perpetrators seemed both omnipresent and invisible. Their only calling card: the symbol of a black hand. The crimes whipped up the slavering tabloid press and heated ethnic tensions to the boiling point. Standing between the American public and the Black Hand's lawlessness was Joseph Petrosino. Dubbed the "Italian Sherlock Holmes," he was a famously dogged and ingenious detective, and a master of disguise. As the crimes grew ever more bizarre and the Black Hand's activities spread far beyond New York's borders, Petrosino and the all-Italian police squad he assembled raced to capture members of the secret criminal society before the country's anti-immigrant tremors exploded into catastrophe. Petrosino's quest to root out the source of the Black Hand's power would take him all the way to Sicily—but at a terrible cost. Unfolding a story rich with resonance in our own era, The Black Hand is fast-paced narrative history at its very best This “g ripping account” of the early 20th century organized crime ring chronicles “a lurid and little-known episode in American history” ( The Washington Post ). Beginning in the summer of 1903, an insidious crime wave stirred New York City, then the entire country, into panic. The children of Italian immigrants were being kidnapped and dozens of innocent victims gunned down. Bombs tore apart tenement buildings. Judges, senators, Rockefellers, and society matrons were threatened with gruesome deaths. The perpetrators’ only calling card was the symbol of a black hand. Standing between the American public and the Society of the Black Hand was Joseph Petrosino. Dubbed “the Italian Sherlock Holmes,” Petrosino was an ingenious detective and master of disguise. As the crimes grew ever more bizarre, Petrosino and his all-Italian police squad raced to capture members of the secret society before the nation’s anti-immigrant tremors exploded into catastrophe. The Black Hand is a “taut, brisk, and very cinematic” true crime history of America at the dawn of the 20th century ( Newsday ). Beginning In The Summer Of 1903 The Children Of Italian Immigrants Were Kidnapped, And Dozens Of Innocent Victims Were Gunned Down. Bombs Tore Apart Tenement Buildings. Judges, Senators, Rockefellers, And Society Matrons Were Threatened With Gruesome Deaths. The Perpetrators' Only Calling Card: The Symbol Of A Black Hand. The Tabloid Press Heated Ethnic Tensions To The Boiling Point. Joseph Petrosino, A Dogged And Ingenious Detective, And The All-italian Police Squad He Assembled, Raced To Capture Members Of The Secret Criminal Society Before The Country's Anti-immigrant Tremors Exploded Into Catastrophe. Prologue: A Great And Consuming Terror -- This Capital Of Half A World -- Hunter Of Men -- In Mortal Dread -- The Mysterious Six -- A General Rebellion -- Explosion -- Wave -- The General -- The Terror Of Hurtful People -- Once To Be Born, Once To Die -- War Without Quarter -- The City Of Living Death -- Backlash -- A Secret Service -- The Gentleman -- In Sicily -- Black Horses -- Goatville -- A Return. Stephan Talty. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.