Thu., May 25, 7 p.m., free, Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-665-0716

Local mafia historian Celeste Morello doesn't have to stretch for sources—the South Philly native hails from a long line of Sicilian mobsters.

This Thursday, Morello will discuss Before Bruno and How He Became Boss, the third and final installment in her examination of local mob culture.

With her latest, Morello paints a stark picture of don Angelo Bruno, who ruled over Philly's underworld from 1959 until his murder in 1980. Truth is at a premium when examining his life, as he was portrayed in a guardedly positive light by the local media.

"My talk deals with my suspicions that Bruno paid off the Inquirer and the Daily News," she says.

But do gangsters still run game today?

In some ways. The recent NHL scandal saw coach Rick Tocchet investigated for his alleged ties to the Bruno/Scarfo sports gambling ring. "The mob is alive and well," says Morello. "They may not be killing anybody, but they're certainly not paying their taxes like everyone else."