Book review by Corey
Gomorrah
Gomorrah is Roberto Saviano’s inside look at the Camorra, the criminal network operating around Naples and far beyond it. What surprised me was how much bigger the story was than just drugs and violence. Saviano gets into construction, fashion, shipping, toxic waste, politics, and the way organized crime can quietly become part of everyday life.
There was a lot more going on beneath the surface than I first realized. Some sections are fascinating and genuinely disturbing, especially when you see how deeply the system reaches into normal businesses and communities. At the same time, the book can feel dense and a little scattered, so there were stretches where I wanted things to move a bit faster.
The Goods
- Very revealing look at organized crime
- Shows how far the Camorra’s influence reaches
- Strong firsthand perspective
- Some sections are genuinely shocking
- Makes the criminal system feel much bigger than expected
The Bads
- Can be dense in places
- The structure feels scattered at times
- A lot of names and details to keep track of
- Some sections slow down quite a bit
- Not always an easy read
My Recommendation
This is a good fit if you like true crime but want something deeper than a straightforward murder story. I liked how Saviano shows the Camorra as an entire economic system rather than just a group of criminals, because that’s what makes the book feel so unsettling. If you’re interested in organized crime, corruption, and the way criminal networks can become woven into ordinary life, Gomorrah has a lot to offer, but you’ll probably need a little patience with the denser sections.
