The Honoured Society
My Journey to the Heart of the Mafia
📘 About This Book
In the early hours of an August morning a gunfight broke out in an Italian restaurant in Duisburg; in less than five minutes over seventy shots were fired into the bodies of six men. Both victims and assassins were members of the 'Ndrangheta crime organization; Calabria's Mafia had extended the savage tentacle of its influence outside Italy for the first time. For the men of the 'Ndrangheta, time is still measured in hour-glasses and honour may only be washed with blood. Petra Reski dispels the Hollywood romance surrounding the Mafia to reveal the huge and menacing force lurking everywhere - from street corner to parliament offices, construction site to corporate headquarters - and involved in everything from petty extortion to the disposal of nuclear waste. Reski's searing portrait of the criminals who have come to control not only Italy but vast swathes of Europe, is a journalistic tour de force.
📖 Summary
The Honoured Society by Petra Reski is a piercing and unflinching true-crime investigation into the depths of the 'Ndrangheta, Calabria's secretive and ruthless Mafia organization. Published in 2012 across 239 pages, the book breaks through the glamorous Hollywood myths that often surround organized crime, replacing them with a stark and terrifying reality. Reski begins with a chilling real-world event: an early morning massacre inside an Italian restaurant in Duisburg, Germany. In less than five minutes, over seventy shots were discharged into six men. This gruesome incident shattered the illusion that the Mafia's violence was safely contained within Italy, marking the moment the organization extended its savage tentacles into the international sphere. Through meticulous reporting, Reski exposes how the 'Ndrangheta operates on archaic yet brutal codes, where time is measured in hour-glasses and honor is washed exclusively in blood. However, the true terror of the book lies in its revelation of how deeply embedded this criminal empire is in modern society. Far from operating purely in the shadows, the 'Ndrangheta is a massive, menacing force lurking everywhere. Reski traces their insidious influence from ordinary street corners to lofty parliament offices, from bustling construction sites to elite corporate headquarters. Their criminal portfolio is staggering in its scope and scale, ranging from petty extortion to the highly lucrative and terrifying disposal of nuclear waste. The author strips away the romanticism to show a sophisticated, global corporate entity that threatens the very fabric of democratic institutions, banking systems, and public safety. Reski's searing portrait serves as both a gripping true-crime narrative and a wake-up call to the international community, demonstrating that the 'Ndrangheta is not a relic of the past, but a modern menace expanding its reach across borders and into the highest echelons of power.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Dispels dangerous Hollywood myths about the Mafia.
Provides a searing and eye-opening true-crime investigative account.
Exposes the terrifying international reach of the 'Ndrangheta.
Highlights the deep infiltration of crime into corporate and political spheres.
⚠️ Cons
The subject matter is intensely dark and disturbing.
The short page count may leave readers wanting more deep-dive analysis into specific cases.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of The Honoured Society? +
The book was written by investigative journalist and author Petra Reski.
When was The Honoured Society published? +
The book was published in 2012.
How many pages long is the book? +
The book spans 239 pages.
What specific crime organization is the focus of the book? +
The book focuses primarily on the 'Ndrangheta, the Mafia organization originating from Calabria, Italy.
What major event opens the narrative? +
The book opens with a deadly gunfight in an Italian restaurant in Duisburg, Germany, where six men were killed.
