Blood and the Badge

The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation

De: Michael Cannell

Narrado por: Jonathan Yen

For the first time in forty years, former New York Times editor Michael Cannell unearths the full story behind two ruthless New York cops who acted as double agents for the Mafia.

No episode in NYPD history surpasses the depravities of Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa, two decorated detectives who covertly acted as mafia informants and paid assassins in the Scorsese world of 1980s Brooklyn. For more than ten years, Eppolito and Caracappa moonlighted as the mob's early warning alert system, leaking names of mobsters secretly cooperating with the government and crippling investigations by sharing details of surveillance, phone taps, and impending arrests. The Lucchese boss called the two detectives his crystal ball: Whatever detectives knew, the mafia soon learned. Most grievously, Eppolito and Caracappa earned bonuses by staging eight mob hits, pulling the trigger themselves at least once.

Incredibly, when evidence of their wrongdoing arose in 1994, FBI officials failed to muster an indictment. The allegations lay dormant for a decade and were only revisited due to relentless follow up by Tommy Dades, a cop determined to break the cold case before his retirement. Eppolito and Caracappa were finally tried and then sentenced to life in prison in 2009, nearly thirty years after their crimes took place.

©2024 Michael Cannell (P)2025 Tantor Media

Interesting

I love true crime and I l especially love when it's about the Mafia. This was another one I enjoyed. Learned a few things I did not know. The only issue I had was the narrator. Just too monotone. But other than that I enjoyed it.

Excellent read/listen

I was skeptical that there was anything new to learn about the Mafia Cops. I’d read Brotherhoods, The Good Rat and the Dades/Vecchione books. But Cannell brings forth a wider look into the case. Previously it’d focused around the Casso/Kaplan/MCops triangle. This book offers looks into all the threads that made up this web. If you’ve read the other books, you might find it mostly redundant. But if you’re looking for a book on this shocking episode in history, this is an excellent read.

Good Story, Spotty Narration

The book was well written and contained information I had not read in other accounts of the Mafia Cops case. My only complaint is that this is the second book I have purchased where the narrator keeps mispronouncing Al D'Arco's name as "Al Darko". Since D'Arco's name is mentioned numerous times I find myself cringing every time he utters the name. The name is pronounced "D-Arco". Other than that this was an enjoyable listen .

Epic, entertaining yarn with compellingly wicked underworld characters.

Cannell is a true master at drawing vivid pictures of the real life gangsters, cops, victims, and other players in this unbelievable story.

I listen to evey book about these 2 moron cops

The Mob Cops by Greg B. Smith was a better audiobook aboutt the same 2 morons . I still enjoyed it though cause of all the crazy things these 2 idiots did for so long & not getting caught . The Good RAT by Jimmy Breslin was excellent as well . Best one in my opinion. Thanks have good day .