Murder, violence, and corruption are words synonymous with organized crime. Its long and bloody history influences all our lives whether we know it or not. But what lies behind these shadowy organizations? Where did they come from and how did their influence become so widespread? In this extraordinary book, leading crime investigator Martin Short reveals the shocking truth of how the Mafia and other criminal organizations maintain their strength through public demand, as well as extortion and murder. The Rise of the Mafia traces the roots of modern organized crime. Martin Short has met hundreds of people with firsthand knowledge and has interviewed some of the most powerful mob masters and informers in the business as well as speaking with key police and FBI officers.