Very absorbing account by the Boston Herald columnist of the inter-twined lives of one of Boston's most notorious politicians and his brother, one of Boston's most notorious criminals. By now, a long familiar story in New England; this account was written before "Whitey" Bulger was eventually captured, but before his brother's downfall and disgrace, though that's a limited term in New England Democratic politics. ( )

Compelling history of two prominent brothers spanning the many years of their influence and corruption within Massachusetts government and beyond. Having lived in MA during their "reign" of power I was still amazed with the stories of alliances and influence over many political elections including the Presidential
Elections. Fascinating, chilling story especially for those of us who lived amongst these people during that time.

Http://bookwormreviewblog.blogspot.com ( )

now this is strange — just back from LA — Santa Monica visiting Lynn + — most wanted criminal Whitey B. captured living Blks away from her — 15 years in a rent controlled apart. — tip from Iceland.
doesn't make Boston Politics look good — so many killings + misuse of power — Saw Bill B. — he is short! At U. Mass Pres Offic in Beacon Hill — Alumni gathering —

For years their familiar story was of two siblings who took different paths out of South Boston: William "Billy" Bulger, former president of the Massachusetts State Senate; and his brother James "Whitey" Bulger, a vicious criminal who became the FBI's second most-wanted man after Osama Bin Laden. While Billy cavorted with the state's blue bloods to become a powerful political force, Whitey blazed a murderous trail to the top rung of organized crime. Now, in this compelling narrative, Carr uncovers a sinister world of FBI turncoats, alliances between various branches of organized crime, St. Patrick's Day shenanigans, political infighting, and the complex relationship between two brothers who were at one time kings.

I liked this because I grew up around the Bulger kids and I still like Billy Bulger as an ex-politician . . . The stories of alleged corruption were enlightening ( )

Howie Carr is simply not a very good writer. He is sometimes tolerable in his no more than 200 word columns in the Herald, in which he limits himself to words of no more than two syllables, of course, but taking his bombast to book-length makes his shortcomings painfully obvious. He loathes Billy Bulger, perhaps with good reason, but there's not even a pretense of objectivity here. He's also guilty of doing things like pretending he knows what people he's never interviewed are thinking, as on Billy's thoughts re: a Brooks Brothers suit. He also can't resist a few snide comments toward rival columnist Mike Barnicle that add nothing to the story he's presenting.

And yet, he has chosen a winning topic here, at least to anyone with a passing interest in Massachusetts politics over the last quarter century. Assuming the facts of the matter are in order, which I do by and large, reading this book is like taking a header into a full septic tank. Disgusting and depressing in equal degrees, the slimy president of the state senate seemingly protects his brother the vicious criminal. Add to that the fact that two FBI agents went way out of their way to also protect Whitey (John "Zip" Connolly being the main one) the story becomes even more sordid. To say nothing of how politicians on the national scene from both parties (Dukakis, Bush I Gov. Weld) kowtowed to him at his St. Patrick's Day breakfasts the story gets even more depressing.

The only caveat: Carr never actually is able to produce a smoking gun tying Billy to Whitey. Of course that fact that Whitey went on the lam means we may never be able to do this. And it is fortunate that Whitey is gone and Billy's power is broken. And the ending seems a bit rushed, Carr should have done a bit more on their mutual downfall. ( )