Some films are so iconic that they become reference points for an entire genre Goodfellasis exactly that.

Boasting propulsive narration, razor-sharp dialogue, and operatic violence,Goodfellasimmediately established itself as a mob classic.

As rival families go to war, his reluctant son Michael is pulled deeper into the underworld.

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Though not polished,The Godfatherpacks an undeniable punch.

It became a cinematic masterpiece for a reason.

Fictional characters jostle alongside real ones, includingJ.

The Godfather Book cover

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Edgar Hoover,Jimmy Hoffa, andRobert F. Kennedy.

Their world is one of dirty deals and double-crosses.

The finished product is a blood-soaked conspiracy thriller enlivened with historical details and populated by morally bankrupt characters.

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That’s our creed."

But with power comes bloodshed, heartbreak, and moral reckoning.

The period detail is rich, the action brutal, and the inner conflict deeply felt.

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The book (which won the Edgar Award) is certainly better thantheBen Affleckmovie adaptation.

6’Savages' (2010)

by Don Winslow

“Your strengths are your weaknesses.

The more you attempt to protect something, the more vulnerable you make it.”

The Friends of Eddie Coyle book cover

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The basis for theOliver Stonemovie starringTaylor KitschandBlake Lively,Savagesrevolves around best friends Ben and Chon.

Like a tiger cub in a cage."

Gangsterspans decades in the life of Angelo Vestieri, a towering figure in New York’s underworld.

Live by Night book cover

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As Dutchs world begins to crumble, Billy must choose between loyalty and self-preservation.

This gritty, emotionally charged thriller centers on Nick O’Hara, an NYPD officer with mob ties through marriage.

In the process, the book exploresthemes of loyalty, revenge, and fractured identity.

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It’s a classic story of a man turned informant, told with emotional depth and noirish flair.

NEXT:10 Novels To Read if You Love ‘No Country for Old Men’

Savages by Don Winslow book cover

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savages

Gangster by Lorenzo Carcaterra book cover

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Billy Bathgate book cover

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Capo by Peter Watson book cover

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Codes of Betrayal book cover

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Goodfellas