The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century [Mass Market Paperback]

Howie Carr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2006

The paperback debut of the bestselling book that tells the no-holds-barred story of Massachusettsrsquo; infamous Bulger Brothers, Whitey and Billy, unveiling an unprecedented criminal alliance.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pritchard sounds so much like actor David Strathairn of Good Night and Good Luck in this compelling audio version of Boston journalist Carr's book about William and Whitey Bulger, that listeners might imagine the late Edward R. Murrow telling this fantastic story. Pritchard, a heralded veteran of more than 430 audiobooks, minimizes any moments of possible melodrama, subtly catching instead the superb irony of two brothers who rose to the heights of their chosen careers. Billy was a political powerhouse and kingmaker who was president of the Massachusetts senate and head of the University of Massachusetts. Whitey (born James) was a psychotic gangster who used such tools as flagrant murder and FBI corruption on his climb to the role of chief of Boston's flourishing Irish mobs and who has now disappeared. Anyone who doesn't know the details of the Bulgers' amazing dual saga will find them all spelled out in Pritchard's clean, understated delivery, which makes the whole thing even more incredible.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Review

"Not since Chicago and Al Capone, has an American city had a relationship with a gangster like Boston had with Bulger...Howie is lucky his body is still above ground"

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446618888
• ISBN-13: 978-0446618885
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 1 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (155 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Criminals
  • #2 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Political
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > True Crime

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A primer on the subject..., February 25, 2006

By 

Pepin Torres "El Tranka" (Waltham, MA (USA)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century (Hardcover)

Many hours can be spent scouring all sorts of documents in order to gain the same amount of information Howie Carr presents in his book. Howie has gathered and distilled all his knowledge on the subject into this handy tome. Anyone moving to Massachusetts and in need to catch up on the seedy past of this Commonwealth need not go too far. And if that someone is still willing to move to Massachusetts even after reading this book, then he or she will be ready to strike up a conversation with any of the locals and fit right in. Regular listeners of the Howie Carr Show will delight in the amount of detail Howie goes into. Over the years, Howie has told many a crime tale but the book goes way beyond what he can cram into 15-minute segments. A fine read, but also an abridged encyclopaedia of crime in its own right.

59 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars courageous, February 28, 2006

By 

sheila smith (stoughton, ma United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century (Hardcover)

Howie Carr has written a tell all book about the chronic corruption taking place in Massachusetts. I have to agree with one of the previous reviewers with regards to the FBI. They don't want to capture Whitey. He can probably put the whole FBI in prison. The only hero in this book is Keating who had the guts to stand up to Billy Bulger. I stay awake at night, thinking about the State cop who committed suicide after Billy Bulger ruined his life for doing his job. After reading this book and all the others about corruption,I hope Whitey, Billy ,Kevin Weeks,and Johnny Martorano rot in hell for eternity. A great read

49 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dirty Water of Boston's Politics and Gangs, February 26, 2006

By 

R. Nelson "shrinkman02" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century (Hardcover)

Carr gives a whirlwind view of Boston gangsters and politics and
shows how the likes of H. Paul Rico and John "Zip" Connolly
helped Whitey Bulger, and the "everything is a deal, no deal
too small" political climate served Billy well. From murdering girlfriends who knew too much to hobnobbing with the likes of
Kennedy and Kerry at that annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast,
the Brothers Bulger got away with murder and corruption. A few
amusing anecdotes, like how Gerry Anguilo, upon being informed
that a fellow gangster was dead, shouted, "He can't be dead!
He owes me $30,000!!" Can't make up stuff like that.

Fans of Carr's column and radio show should be delighted.
He has more photos and information at his various websites.