NOT Osama bin-Laden

The opening segment of this work claimed that James J. "Whitey" Bulger was, after Osama bin-Laden, "America's most notorious criminal."

Hardly.

That attempt at puffing up Whitey's imprint on our country, however, did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. This is the third in a trilogy of works devoted to the life and times of Whitey. This final installment, like the previous "Black Mass", is more an indictment of FBI corruption than a frightening account of a notorious Irish gangster.

In fact, rather than a "criminal mastermind" as described by the authors, Whitey turns out to be simply a local Boston-based hoodlum, with a penchant for hands-on violence, surrounded by a gang that couldn't shoot straight.

The authors' discursions into topical events of the 1960s, 70s and 80s are enjoyable and do not detract from the pace or direction of the story. Whitey's participation in CIA backed LSD experimentation on prisoners is one example of hidden nuggets in this work, otherwise freighted with minutia about Whitey, his family and criminal associates.

John Rubenstein does an outstanding job of reading this work. His delivery carried me over passages bloated with detail and historical data that, after a while, left me overwhelmed and numb.

In sum, a good story about a small time crook, whose grasp eventually exceeded his reach.

Worth the money and time.

7 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Amazing story of a mob boss

What did you love best about Whitey?

Truly a case of truth being stranger than fiction !!

Any additional comments?

Good narration and easy to listen

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

simply "LOVED IT"

I saw the film "Black Mass" and wanted to know about this "Man". I wanted to know what made him the way he is known now. Now I have more insight and understand this was unfortunately his destiny. The stars were aligned for this Monster!!! I admit I was a wee bit prejudiced before reading this book. But the amazing way his story was written helped quell this predicament. I couldn't turn it off. I made excuses to listen as often as I could. I did other people's errands and cleaned my house more often than usual :). It flew by faster than I wanted. Oh my soooo good. I became the story covered within every word and every sound. After I finish writing this review I am off to listening once again. Enjoy!!!!!!!

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Thorough

Thorough history. A little slow in the beginning. Does not go into his murder in the penitentiary.

Excellent in-depth book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book covers a lot of things that are in almost every other book about Whitey. There are parts that go farther then any other book out there. Also, there are times when they assume you know certain things about Whitey already. My advice would be to either listen to this one only, or get a smaller book about Whitey and have some basic knowledge about him already. If you already know a lot about Whitey, like I did, there is not much new. But it does go into a lot of personal things that I have not heard in other books, or that other books don't go into near as much detail.

Hands down, read this.

What did you like best about this story?

Whitey was ruthless, the background details of his life shine some new perspective on the things he did and how he got away with it all for such a long time.

Any additional comments?

If you like true crime, you can not pass this book up.

more complete book than black mass

great book if you are interested in sociopaths and organized crime or Whitey. this book gives great history about how he came to be and all the way to the trial

Entertainingly written story

The story is accurate, detailed and well written. The story moved swiftly and was always entertaining along with being detailed and accurate.