The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century

I thought I would buy this book after Whitey was killed in prison to understand the biggest name in Boston crime and politics in the past last couple of decades. Not only did it reinforce what a ruthless and heartless family the Bulgers were but I learned many things I did not realize that had happened even though I grew up in Massachusetts. Howie does a great job detailing the paths of both brothers with a lot of detail. A good read and you will be astonished at what you learn. Highly recommended!!!!

I read this book after enjoying the movie, "The Departed." Howie Carr has certainly mastered the art of delivering a fast paced story, one that wraps inuendo around facts, dates, and personalities. He knows his subject matter, the Bulger Brothers, like a butcher knows a steer, and, he carves it up to a fare-the-well.The narrative opens with Billy, the politician brother, testifying before a congressional committee where he doesn't come off well taking the 5th. His brother Whitey, meanwhile, tops the FBI list of America's most wanted criminals spawning a cottage industry of global Whitey spottings over the last decade. Howie Carr clearly doesn't think much of Billy's lifetime of political fixings and seeks to tie him to his psycho criminal brother in the Bostonian version of a politico-fandango, true or otherwise. It's in a way too bad as Billy has risen from the shanty Irish mean streets of "southie" to be president of the state senate followed by a stint as president of UMass. Alas, his life of political corruption, shades of J.M. Curley's era, catches up to him, but not before he receives a handsome pension to ease his retiring years.Whitey, on the other hand, comes across for what he apparently is which is a pretty scary guy. He murders well over 50 people after getting out of Alcatraz in his early 20's. Carr leads the reader thru the various killings and maimings with the added feature of FBI corruption thrown in. Whitey was an FBI informant which made for a bad ending if you were his competitor in crime, and this is where Carr ties Billy to Whitey with the corrupted FBI agent fitting neatly into the mix, all a part of an all-star criminal class out of the southie end of Boston. And what a story it is as it reads like an endlessly repeating drive-by killing spree all juxtaposed with Billy's political operations shades of the Kennedy machine - ipso the Irish mob of Nicholson in the Departed marries the life of Danial Drew, he of Days of Erie fame. Nothing has changed, just the names.I'd recommend a book entitled, "the Bosses" to frame out the Billy side and perhaps Vinnie Teresa's, "My life in the mob" for the Whitey side. In any event it's a page turner which I looked forward to reading again after each time I had to put it down. All the Mass-politico names are there including Barney, Ted and J.F. Kerry. What a bunch!

For years I listened to Howie Carr's radio program on my daily commute in Connecticut, and I heard him rail about the Bulger brothers. Not living in Massachusetts, I was powerless to vote or have any influence over Bill's well deserved downfall, but I rejoiced as I heard Howie call for it. And whenever possible, I read Howie's column online until his newspaper started charging me for the privilege.This book relates the truly incredible story of the rise and dominance of the Bulger brothers in Massachusetts and Boston politics and criminal circles. I remember Theodore White in his famous MAKING OF THE PRESIDENT series commenting how Massachusetts was the most crooked political machinery state in the union. Howie Carr's book drives this point home with a jackhammer. Bravo Howie! But remember, Whitey's still out there. I hope you've got a good bodyguard.

Product was in fine consideration great price but it was a horribly written shame on Howie Carr

If it wasn't for Howie Carr these two would have kept their undeserved reputations.......to a point. HOWIE IS the only one in the public eye that wasn't afraid to tell the real story. He also deserves respect as a lone voice in Boston against all the other corruption that continues to this day. This is the definitive book about the Brothers and their path of destruction whether it was mafia style murder or legalized laundering (Billy Bulger). I'm going Togo out on a limb and guess that Whiteys trial will be a fiasco similar to O.J. Simpson or something similar. As always Howie will be on the case and on the radio...great book Howie!

An extremely interesting book about two terrible individuals, Whitey Bulger was a ruthless killer who thankfully will now DIE in prison, but his brother who has escaped justice is also a reprehensible figure who played the system to his full advantage, and is a great example of institutional corruption. Sadly he has escaped Justice, but at least they got Whitey. Hopefully Howie Carr is writing the latest version which will include the just completed Trial of Whitey Bulger.

Howie Carr's "The Brothers Bulger" is the standout volume on how the South Boston Irish came to dominate Boston politics and organized crime. Unlike the best prior works, "Black Mass" and "The Underboss", Carr delves into the evolution of Boston politics and the circumstances that brought Billy and Whitey Bulger to the top of their respective careers, an important backdrop for non-Boston readers.More importantly, Carr details how corrupt pols and lawmen enabled politician Billy and killer Whitey to kick the competition to the curb.The book ends with sufficient loose ends to entertain the reader with speculation on Billy's and Whitey's fate. I see at least one more Howie Carr bestseller on Boston true crime coming; we will all be waiting.

Far too much emphasis on the state senate & the story jumps wildly between that & the mafia, so hard to keep track of the story as well.