The Hammer Conspiracies

New York: Parthenon / 20th Century Books, 1982. First Edition. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 8x5x1. Signed by author. First edition - a paperback original (quite a bit scarcer than the 2nd printing in plain black wrappers). Inscribed without attribution and signed by author on front flyleaf ('Best wishes, Frank Aloi'). Wrappers lightly rubbed, ink name and a few faint spots inside front wrapper. 1982 Trade Paperback. 564 pp. 8 1/4 x 5 1/4. Pictorial front wrapper. Details investigations of mafia activity in Rochester, New York, the subsequent trials, and the debacle that followed. It is a story of perjured detectives, gang wars, organized crime, overthrown convictions, imprisoned law enforcement officers and prosecutors, faulty police work, and corrupt officials. "Vincent 'Jimmy the Hammer' Massaro was hit by the mob. His death generated conspiracy prosecutions against what was alleged to be the top echelon of the organization in Rochester, New York. The testimony of informers, including two of the alleged triggermen, and detectives who surveilled mob meetings where Massaro's fate was plotted produced convictions. But there had been no surveillances. Detectives admitted perjuring themselves. Alleged mobsters were released from prison. A bloody gang war erupted, and Federal Indictments were returned against Detectives and Prosecutors. A saga of fabricated evidence and corruption unprecedented in the war against organized crime.