To Drop a Dime

I grew up in Irvington, NJ and knew most of the people in this book. Everyone was related to someone back then. Even my mom's hairdresser is the wife of one of the men. This book, although upsetting, brings back memories....good, bad and indifferent. I have read this book 4 times at different stages of my life and STILL find it fascinating. Ira Peznick, the man who tells the story (the one who rats them out) did it all for his OWN profit. He was a murderer just the same as those he squealed on yet he gets protection!! Go figure!! The book is True, the people are REAL, the places are CORRECT, the memories still HAUNT. The families still feel SHAME....I KNOW!! The stories have been passed down over the years and the men involved, (if not dead already) still feel remorse. All those from NEWARK, IRVINGTON, BELLEVILLE, THE ORANGES, and NEW JERSEY IN GENERAL SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!

I grew up in Irvington and went to school with the daughter of one of the top men of this family. We had no idea what her family's secret life was until it hit the newspapers in the 70's. We were all shocked. We were in this person's home and in the home of her cousin in Vailsburg and spent countless hours together sleeping over each other's houses. I didn't read this book until I was an adult and the book had been out for a year or so. Certainly, none of the graphic details of this book made it into the Irvington Herald or the Newark Star Ledger. Yes, it's graphic and I find the person a complete coward for spilling his guts in order to go into the witness protection program. He is a cold blooded murderer and should have been given no lenience whatsoever. He made the papers some time ago for supposedly attempting to run for some type of government office where he lived. Not only did I know this family, but the two men with the same first name but different color last names were acquaintances of my father. I never knew this until I was an adult with children of my own. He told me stories that made the hairs on my neck stand up. My sympathies go to my friend who went through terrible scrutiny for something she had nothing to do with. She was an innocent child and teenager. After she divorced, she kept her married name because she did not want to face the embarrassment of carrying a name that had such horrid memories. This book is extremely graphic and shows you exactly the type ruthless, cold blooded people they truly are. Anyone who glorifies organized crime should read this book.

i read the book plus i lived in the neighborhood where the story takes place its all true to life it was a well written book anyone who lived in newark new jersey in the 70s should read it. im sure they will be able to identify with goings on that take place

a very well written book i know because i lived in the neighborhood where everything took place i also happen to know most if not all of the characters involved you had to live it to understand it anyone who lived in newark new jersey in the 60s and 70s should find a copy i assure you that you wont put it down until its finished

An excellent real life story about the New Jersey mob,in the seventies. The real Sopranos!