The Black Hand (book)

The Black Hand: The Epic Story of the American Mafia's Secret History is a non-fiction book written by Stephan Talty and published in 2017. It chronicles the origins and early history of the Mafia in the United States, particularly focusing on the "Black Hand" extortion letters and crimes perpetrated by Italian-American gangsters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The book traces the Black Hand's evolution from its roots in Southern Italy to its proliferation in American cities like New Orleans, Chicago, and New York. It details the methods employed by Black Hand criminals, which included threatening letters demanding money, often signed with a handprint in black ink. These letters targeted Italian immigrants, shopkeepers, and wealthy individuals.

Talty's work highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating the Black Hand, including language barriers, cultural differences, and the reluctance of victims to cooperate with the police due to fear of reprisal. The book also explores the rise of figures like Joe Petrosino, a New York City police detective who dedicated his life to fighting the Black Hand.

The Black Hand attempts to provide a comprehensive account of this period in American Mafia history, drawing on historical records, police archives, and personal accounts to illuminate the shadowy world of early organized crime. It examines the social and economic factors that contributed to the Black Hand's emergence and its lasting impact on American society.