What do we mean by mafia books?
Before diving in, I want to dig into what “mafia” means. The term itself is derived from the Sicilian word mafiusu that can be roughly translated to “swagger.” I think the root of the romanticism lies right here in the word itself. The Italian mafia (i.e. the original mafia) are always portrayed as sharply dressed, tough men. The stories just seem to write themselves after that. In terms of definition, a mafia is categorized as an organized crime syndicate that partakes in deeds such as racketeering and gambling. The original Italian mafia, whether they be Sicilian or Italian American, are where the concept derives from. However, the definition of mafia has been broadened to the Russian mafia, the Japanese mafia (i.e. yakuza), et cetera. In terms of this list, I’ve widened the scope to include books about a diverse array of organized crime syndicates. This also has the added benefit of including authors of color and female authors. I have included books about the Italian mafia; however, I should note that a huge chunk of these were written by white men.
Young Adult Mafia Books
Young adult (YA) books about the mafia are almost always centered on the children of crime bosses. It’s interesting that many of these YA characters struggle with keeping with the legacies of their families while finding themselves (typical for YA fiction).
Adult Fiction Mafia Books
Adult novels centered on the mafia are a little more intense than YA novels. While YA novels tend to skirt the criminal elements of the mafia, adult novels (for the most part) seem to embrace characters living in the gray.
Nonfiction Mafia Books
Organized crime is a fascinating theme to read about in fiction. However, there’s a reason why the fiction is so riveting: the reality is even more interesting. It’s easy to see the mafia as the linchpin to an engaging plot, but the reality is that organized crime is very real, and there are some well-researched books to teach you about it.
Romance Mafia Books
If you can ignore the obvious glossing over the crime, the mafia does make for an excellent backdrop for romance. I guess there’s nothing like a little danger to generate that all-important romantic spark.
