When The Mob Ran Vegas: Stories of Money, Mayhem and Murders

A quick fun read. 👍

Steve does a great job sharing some detailed secrets and lesser known exploits of bizarre mob behavior- including the seemingly innocent who partnered with them. I especially loved the coverage of Frank Sinatra (what an ego-maniac) and the Stardust story, which had some nice details that I hadn't heard before. Great and entertaining reading!

A few years back, Steve Fischer was selling his Vegas memories on Ebay. I found his auctions by accident but kept going back for more. He wouldn't only sell you things but tell you stories about the items. People started asking him to write a book and lucky for us he listened. Because I was in touch with Mr. Fischer, I was able to get a book through him and have it signed. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one long, very long, night. The stories are insightful, detailed but not to bogged down. This book tells you about the beginning of Vegas. The one of years gone by that shaped the one we visit today. The pictures are nice to have too. I found that I was able to follow the stories as they ran from the 1930's to the 80's. Yes there were times I had to go back and read a name or two again, but that's me and my comprehension of things. It was an exciting time that I would have loved to see, and through his story telling you are able to relive it without having been there. I live in Reno and understand the lure of the casino and it's money. I get asked all the time if the mob is still here in Nevada. Well to tell the truth I don't know. But I can say that they once were here and made their mark. The men who started Vegas were ruthless, mean, played hardball and didn't care who they killed to get to the top. Steve Fischer shows us a time in our history when the men of the mob weren't afraid to put it all out there and let it be known that you didn't mess with them. Some stories are funny, some are gruesome but all are entertaining. I LOANED this book to my mother who is a big fan of Vegas, and I haven't seen it since. I think she passed it around to her friends. I want it back because Mr. Fischer was kind enough to sign it for me and I want to read it again. Get this book, you won't be sorry you did.

Hilarious! Not what you expect from a "mob" book. The audiobook is read by the author. It's like you're sitting at the bar with him and he's just telling you stories about the old days. If mob books interest you, buy this audiobook!

Steve Fischer has created a literary trip back to Vegas in its classic era... and what a strange trip it is! The Mob played by their own rules and the lore of Sin City is seldom more compellingly recalled than in this book of stories by a man who carries the town's history in his bones. Some of the tales are funny as hell while others are downright chilling. A very good book for those who want to know how Vegas used to be.

Though I've never been to Las Vegas, I got this book for myself and also copies for some friends who frequent Las Vegas. I enjoyed the stories - very colorful characters! And, I got hearty "thank you's" from the people I gifted with this book. My sister took hers with her on her latest trip and read it on the flight and enjoyed it tremendously.... she said it gave her a new perspective of the place. A friend at work took it with her on a cruise and read it by the pool. She then mailed her copy to her daughter who lives in Las Vegas. I highly recommend this book for its many quick, interesting stories and also because it makes a great gift.