Last Don Standing

The Secret Life of Mob Boss Ralph Natale

By: Larry McShane, Dan Pearson

Narrated by: Alexander Cendese

As the last don of the Philadelphia mob, Ralph Natale, the first-ever mob boss to turn state's evidence, provides an insider's perspective on the Mafia.

Natale's reign atop the Philadelphia and New Jersey underworlds brought the region's Mafia back to prominence in the 1990s. Smart, savvy, and articulate, Natale came up in the mob and saw firsthand as it hatched its plan to control Atlantic City's casino unions. Later on, after spending 16 years in prison, he reclaimed the family as his own after a bloody mob war that left bodies scattered across South Philly. He forged connections around the country and achieved a status within the mob never seen before or since, until he was betrayed by his men and decided to testify against them in a stunning turn of events.

Using dozens of hours of interviews with Natale along with research and interviews with FBI agents, this book delivers revelatory insights into seminal events in American mob history, including:

• The truth about Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance
• The murder of Jewish mob icon Bugsy Siegel
• The identity of the man who created modern-day Las Vegas

With the full cooperation of Natale, New York Daily News reporter Larry McShane and producer Dan Pearson uncover the deadly reign of the last great mob boss of Philadelphia, a tale that covers a half century of mob lore - and gore.

©2017 Dan Pearson and Larry McShane (P)2017 Tantor

Ralph Natale being portrayed as Don Corleone.

Having read several other books about the Philly Mob, Ralph Natale was a long time member of the mafia. The authors try their best to portray him having the intellect and morals of the famous fictional character Don Corleone.
They interject his comments and quotes throughout the book to establish him as an all seeing and very wise leader of mafioso. Alas, they all yearn for the days of old when "men were men". When was that?
Bullies, murderers, extortionists, digenerate gamblers, drug dealers, arsonists, loan sharks, always picking on the weak and honest. Treachery everywhere in the name of greed not honor. And what do you do when you are outsmarted by the FBI and Attorney General and brought to justice? Do you do your sentence and keep your mouth shut? Obviously not. You play your last card and become a government witness against everyone you know. You admit you killed many human beings to get a lighter sentence. Many have their "reasons" for doing this. Natale's reason was that his underboss didn't provide his wife with a monthly stipend after Natale was arrested again. He loved his wife and wanted her taken care of. And I do not want to single out Ralph because every one of them does the same thing. In fact, very few mafioso would not turn against the mob if they could get a lighter sentence when faced with very long prison terms. This includes the leaders of several major crime families.
I would also recommend another book about the Philly Mob written by George Anastasia called Blood and Honor if that is your thing.

it's a great book wish he could have kept it going

Great book lots of inside stuff and lots of cool murder for hire stories. to bad he never got revenge on the guy. and it's sad there are so many snitches.

He doesn’t even mention Ruth 😳

He doesn’t even mention Ruth. A few interesting Bruno era tidbits. Not very detailed or informative. Easy listen.

Good view by an old time mob member turned boss

Interesting and detailed look into an old time mob member and boss from somewhere other than New York City where most mob stories come from. Well narrated as well.

Great book I lived up in Philly I could picture

Great read
Loved it
The story was well written and performance was
well done. amazing characters It was amazing
all this was on all around me while grew up
there knowing I could have walked past some
of these people or sat in same restaurants or bars.