Her name was rarely spoken, her image just a blurred photograph in a newspaper. But make no mistake: the only woman to ever hold rank in the Cosa Nostra held such power that even the most hardened mobster showed her respect. She was Black Mary, and she was Chicago. Together with her five sons, she ran the West Side with an iron fist, from the 1930s until the 1950s.
Based on actual events, this is the incredible story of a poor immigrant mother who rose from behind the scenes to build a criminal empire. Her secret weapon in conquering the violent male-dominated world of the Mafia was her sons. Together they were unstoppable, until one of them made a mistake that would ultimately lead to the demise of the family empire.
Black Mary’s story has never been told. It is the true American saga of a woman who overcame every obstacle to become one of the most powerful mafia bosses of all time. She was an enigma, working in the shadows, shunning notoriety, and building a criminal empire second to none.