The Butcher: Anatomy of a Mafia Psychopath

I began reading Philip Carlo's the butcher ANATOMY OF A MAFIA PSYCHOPATH at 4 p.m. and remained riveted to this compelling true crime text until its conclusion at12:15 p.m.. Once again, Carlo has brought the literary skills of the narrative to an intensely researched work of non-fiction. It is apparent in this work that several factors have converged in Carlo's writing of the butcher to set it apart from his masterful body of work in this genre: the painstaking detail of Carlo's research into DEA files, the author's seamless merger in revealing the tandem dance of a courageous law enforcement agent with the hunted psychopathic perpetrator, Carlo's visceral knowledge of the underbelly culture of Gravesend Brooklyn's Mafia stronghold in the later part of the 20th century, and this author's 25-year-long study on the mind of the serial killer. No one could have told the tale of Tommy "Karate" Pitera so succinctly as Philip Carlo has done, and no other author could have unveiled the extraordinary perspective of the valiant DEA agent Jim Hunter (who ended the gruesome reign of this designated Mafia killer)with such clarity. Carlo engages the reader in a voyeuristic journey into the psychology of a brutal and studied killer as seen through the eyes of his associates, his victims, and his nemesis. This author is one with the rhythms of this crime culture and the choreography of the chase to overtake it. With the fluidity of film, Carlo weaves in and out of the mind of Pitera and the anatomies of his macabre crimes, La Cosa Nostra society, and the machinations of the DEA Task Force dedicated to Pitera's capture. In the butcher we are privy to the makings, the scourge, and the disassembling of a true menace to society. I am an Italian/American, a high school English teacher, and one who was born and raised in Gravesend Brooklyn at the same time as Philip Carlo and Tommy "Karate" Pitera. The streets of Gravesend have spawned gangsters, senators, scientists, artists, and a righteous working class. Only the truth as told by those who have lived it will rid Brooklyn of the monsters that have preyed upon her. Philip Carlo gets to that truth. I must post a second five star review On Philip Carlo's The Butcher on behalf of my nephew (a Columbia under-grad student) and his mom( a lifelong resident the setting of this book,Gravesend).Both of these readers borrowed this book from my shelf and were captive by author Philip Carlo's writing and his riveting account of the crimes and capture of Tommy Pitera, Both of these readers are avid fans of the true crime genre and have read Mr. Carlo's work among that of many others in this genre. Both readers were immensely impressed by the degree of expansive research and documented support from DEA files, including official photos, which were an essential reference for this book. And we all agreed as residents of Gravesend Brooklyn that this author truly dug deeply into the mind and origins of this psychopathic killer by using official records and the unbiased accounts of family, associates, accomplices, and victims. As for using interviews with Pitera, at this stage of Pitera's incarceration, his version of the truth would be merely the rantings of a diabolical killer adept at disguise and camouflage.Philip Carlo exposed the Tommy Pitera and the core of his sickness which remained hidden from family, neighbors, and community for 40-50 years. Contrary to an especially negative review of this book posted on this cite. Mr. Carlo's writing uses metaphors more compelling than common cliché, allusion to classic authors for content not for citation on a specific text, and fluent usage of colloquial expressions spoken in the vernacular of the setting of this narrative, expressions used commonly and repetitively as literary device in the speech and writing of this particular culture. Perhaps an inexperienced reader of this genre, could be turned off by a slip in editing but, it's only a poor reader who could fail to recognize irony and the use of literary device. The writer of one particular negative review seems to be this caliber of poor reader, or a reader with a specific agenda. It is sad to read an account of a reading experience written by a person who speaks of books as a character in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and advises us to throw a book in the trash. Someone whose opinion on the written word is so weighted by emotional and intellectual issues can hardly be regarded as a reliable source of critique. Please, readers, read on from this excellent forum provided for us so generously by Amazon and damage no books; particularly, not Philip Carlo's The Butcher which exposes the damage that sick people can do.

I have read a number of reviews here and I have to agree with the complaints about the writing. Yep, he actually uses the words "urban cities" and pretty much completely misuses the word "fortuitous." And a number of parts are clearly repetitious in a way that makes you feel that you opened the book and started ready in the wrong place. And then there is the imagery: a dragon becomes a great white shark that eats other sharks, but not until after it has lost a tentacle. No ... really. Just way too much of that sort of thing going on when he is not doing what he does best: describing the actions of the characters.Of course a good editor could have pretty much fixed all of these rather annoying faults, hell any editor could and should have. And this leads me to suspect that his editor cut out so much and had to fight very hard to do so on the original draft, that he or she threw in the towel at some time long before the editing was complete. But that still doesn't explain "urban cities." But then again, what does?

They were happy with book

There aren’t enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. At times very grotesque but now having read multiples of mafia books what I find most interesting is their different accounts of who killed who in some of the “biographies”. For instance, and this isn’t much of a spoiler but Roy Demeo is killed by his own crew. Same in Carlo’s other book about Anthony “gaspipe” Casso. Then ready Carlos book on Richard Kilkinsky “The Iceman” and it’s Richard who kills him on his own, not even a contracted hit. Regardless I highly recommend all three of Phillip Carlos books on the mob.

I love a good mob book and The Butcher is a good read. After about a hundred pages of background info about made-man Tommy Pitera and his DEA nemesis Jim Hunt, author Philip Carlo gets to the slicing and dicing.Pitera's high pitched voice made him a target of neighborhood bullies during his teen years. So, he took up martial arts to build self-confidence. He lived among wiseguys in Gravesend, Brooklyn and aspired to become a "man of respect." As he became a proficient martial artist he gained confidence and new found respect. After a sojourn to Japan to get in touch with his inner-samurai-self, he made his way into "the life" and was soon dubbed Tommy "Karate." He was revered by some and feared by other wiseguys.By all accounts, Pitera grew up in a decent family with caring parents. He was a kid, we learn, that caused no trouble, but who was deeply troubled and suffering silently.Did being taunted with no mercy turn Patera into a murder-machine?; which happens to be the title of one of my favorite mob books about another butchering hit man by the name of Roy DeMeo. There is much attention paid these days to the toxic consequences of being a target of bullies. Yet, there are many that get bullied and don't turn into serial killers.So, was it the bullying that sowed the seeds of the destructive force that was the Butcher Tommy Pitera? Or, is he simply an evil, sadistic control freak with no conscience, who lived by night and had a pasty complexion and a taste for blood? In fact, Carlo refers to him repeatedly as a vampire.We learn that La Cosa Nosferatu respects women. That is except for one neighborhood babe named Phyllis that angered him. Apparently the Butcher's main squeeze had a drug problem and he blamed Phyllis for being a bad influence on his girl. The outcome? No spoiler here. Suffice it to say, just as a heads-up, that this book is not for the squeamishCheck it out if you are into this genre of books. Give "The Butcher" a shot, if not a lethal injection.

Great book. Good story, arrived very fast. Thanks

Good read writer tells the details very well.

Si le récit est captivant, il n'est pas sans défaut.Le premier : les zones d'ombres. J'admire le travail d'enquête effectué, malheureusement sans confession de Pitera, sans véritable analyse psychologique, cet ouvrage survole principalement ce qu'il a fait, ou tout du moins, ce pourquoi il a été accusé.D'autre part, je n'apprécie qu'assez peu le style de l'auteur. Il est accessible, ce qui est une bonne chose, mais il est surtout sujet aux répétitions. Comme si personne ne l'avait relu. Je n'ai également pas apprécié le parti pris de l'auteur. Oui, la plupart des personnages sont mauvais, mais je ne suis pas intéressé par le jugement de Carlo.Dans l'ensemble, ce livre reste une lecture agréable et parfois, littéralement incroyable.

Having read a few books of the same author, you start seeing the writing pattern and how things will evolve. The story itself is well written and documents the making of this villain in an interesting way.

The story was verycompelling and gruesome It was sad to think another human being could do that to people It was an excellent book which kept me interested till the end well worth the money