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

~ (Author) "IT WAS AN AVERAGE-SIZED family by pre-World War II South Boston standards-six children..." (more)
Key Phrases: corrupt midget, former state rep, jai alai, South Boston, Billy Bulger, Winter Hill (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although superior to some other tellings of the incredible story of how two brothers came to dominate Boston's political and criminal underworlds for decades, this account by veteran Boston Herald reporter Carr still falls short of being the definitive version he intended. The stranger-than-fiction rise to power of Billy Bulger, the longtime Massachusetts senate president, kingmaker and consummate deal maker, and his brother Whitey, a psychopathic killer who took over the city's Irish mobs, is compelling, but despite Carr's closeness to the story, he fails to bring his protagonists' inner world to life. For those broadly familiar with the corruption scandal that indelibly tarred the FBI because of the active role some of its agents took in protecting Whitey and enabling his brutalities, the author gives a detailed, hit-by-hit description of his crimes. Most readers from outside the Bay State will be almost as appalled at the wheeling and dealing of his "respectable" brother, who crossed path with presidents and presidential aspirants, and who extended his patronage practices to his subsequent position as president of the University of Massachusetts. (Feb. 23)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover 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.

See all Editorial Reviews

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: 7.4 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,832 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > United States > Political History
  #17 in	Books > History > United States > State & Local > Massachusetts
  #33 in	Books > Nonfiction > True Accounts > Organized Crime

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 50 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 (REAL NAME)

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.

53 of 59 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

18 of 18 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" (Revere, 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.