The Good Rat by Jimmy Breslin

Category: 50 Books

13. The Good Rat by Jimmy Breslin

Ah, back to the sweet nonfiction. This is a true crime book, also it’s about the mafia. What’s not to like? In this book Mr. Breslin tells the story of Burt Kaplan and how he ratted out two killer cops who worked for the mob.

I liked the book and I also liked the way it was written. I will say that it was a bit hard to follow in some parts. The chronology was confusing. Maybe it’s just me though. Apparently Mr. Breslin was a newspaper reporter back in the day and he (from what i can tell) had the mafia beat. (heh). I’m not sure how that works really, a reporter who writes about mob guys? in the paper? and he doesn’t get “whacked”? I… who knows. Anyway, that’s how he knows all his stuff I guess, cos he used to hang where the gangsters would hang. He acts like he’s the scribe for the mob. hee.

I liked how it was written (despite the confusing timeline) because the author sometimes refers to himself in a stream-of-conciousness kind of way is the best I can describe it. A bit like Capote in In Cold Blood not that i’m actually comparing the two. Um, so yeah, good book.

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