On this day in 2012 we lost one of the greatest authors in the World when it came to books on the Mafia. John H. Davis published 7 books from 1969 – 1998, including Mafia Dynasty and The Kennedy’s. He also appeared any many mob-related documentaries in the 90’s sharing his knowledge. He died at his home from complications of Alzheimers, aged 82.

On this day, January 29, in 2012, the world of organised crime literature lost one of its most distinguished voices when author and historian John H. Davis passed away at his home from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 82 years old. Though not a mobster himself, Davis possessed a rare ability to translate the murky, violent world of the American Mafia into compelling, meticulously researched narratives that captivated both casual readers and serious students of criminal history alike.

Davis was born in 1929 and went on to build an impressive body of work spanning nearly three decades. Between 1969 and 1998, he published seven books, covering subjects that ranged from the corridors of political power to the blood-soaked streets controlled by organised crime. His most celebrated works included "Mafia Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the Gambino Crime Family," a gripping account of one of New York's most powerful of the Five Families, tracing the organisation from its roots through the reigns of Carlo Gambino and the notorious John Gotti. The book remains one of the definitive texts on the Gambino family and is still widely referenced by researchers and enthusiasts today.

Perhaps equally significant was his work on the Kennedy family, in which Davis — himself a cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis — explored the complex and controversial intersections between the Kennedy dynasty and the American underworld. His research delved into the murky relationships between figures like Santo Trafficante Jr. and Sam Giancana and the broader Kennedy political machine, touching on theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy that continue to provoke debate to this day. Davis approached these explosive subjects with both a scholar's rigour and a storyteller's instinct, making him a trusted authority on the subject.

Throughout the 1990s, Davis became a familiar face on television, appearing in numerous mob-related documentaries where he shared his extensive knowledge with wider audiences. His calm, measured delivery and deep understanding of organised crime history made him a sought-after commentator during a period when public fascination with the Mafia was at its peak, fuelled in no small part by films and television series of the era.

John H. Davis leaves behind a body of work that continues to educate and inform those seeking to understand the true nature of organised crime in America. His books remain essential reading for anyone serious about mob history, and his contribution to the genre is unlikely to be surpassed.