Readers should all know of Porello’s last book – To Kill the Irishman, about Cleveland mobster Danny Green, which was made into a movie. He also authored Superthief and The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia.
His newest effort, Bombs, Bullets, and Bribes, subtitled The True Story of Notorious Jewish mobster Alex Shondor Birns, came out of the research for the first book.
“In preparing for writing the book about Green came the realization that Shondor Birns was as large a character as Green,” Porello said. “The difference was Shondor came first; Green was a protégé.”
You will also find Jewish and Italian mob names, with a Irish name or two thrown in the mob mix. Porrello spent ten years researching for the book. All that being said, it’s the story of a young guy who turned hoodlum in order to survive in a town and a time when he was an outsider.
Porello is looking into options for a television series about events and matters in the book.
Porello, like this writer, came late to writing. A colorful man, he recently retired as Chief of Police for the City of Lyndhurst. He wasn’t always a cop though.
Growing up in Cleveland Heights, he always thought about it as a youngster but before he did any of that he became a drummer and traveled with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr., Count Basie and other Jazz legends. He still picks up the sticks on occasion.
The book contains approximately 80 photographs and is available on Amazon, other on-line book-sellers and at local book sellers.
Photo credit of Birns’ bombed car – Cleveland State University
Sullivan is a contributor to an NE Ohio Veterans Newspaper (DD214Chronicle.com).
He resides in Northfield Village.
