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Dead in 5 Heartbeats: A Novel
Ralph "Sonny" Barger first gained the attention of the book world with his bestselling memoir Hell's Angel. Now he uses what he’s learned from a life insidea subculture few will ever know to create his no-holds-barred first novel, giving readers a taste of thecamaraderie, the pain, and the thrills of what it’s like to live life on two wheels.
Everett John "Patch" Kinkade just wants to be left alone. The former president of the Infidelz, the most powerful motorcycle club in California, Patch has grown weary of the responsibilities and burdens that come with the mantle of leadership. He leaves California for Arizona, determined to start a new life and to put a few hundred miles between him and the tragedy that tore his family apart.
But it isn't long before a new crisis pulls Patch back to his old stomping grounds. Tension between the Infidelz and a rival club, the 2Wheelers, erupts one night in a lethal free-for-all, littering a casino with the corpses of club members and ordinary citizens alike. The newspapers call it a war, and Patch knows he must return to help the club, either by making peace or by charging into battle.Now it's not just his life at stake, but the lives of the rest of the Infidelz as well, and Patch would fight the Grim Reaper himself to protect his brothers. Prepared to destroy any man who crosses his path, even if it means confronting the demons from his past, Patch gases up his Harley, sharpens his blade, and heads out on the highway for what could be his final ride.
Everett John "Patch" Kinkade just wants to be left alone. The former president of the Infidelz, the most powerful motorcycle club in California, Patch has grown weary of the responsibilities and burdens that come with the mantle of leadership. He leaves California for Arizona, determined to start a new life and to put a few hundred miles between him and the tragedy that tore his family apart.
But it isn't long before a new crisis pulls Patch back to his old stomping grounds. Tension between the Infidelz and a rival club, the 2Wheelers, erupts one night in a lethal free-for-all, littering a casino with the corpses of club members and ordinary citizens alike. The newspapers call it a war, and Patch knows he must return to help the club, either by making peace or by charging into battle.Now it's not just his life at stake, but the lives of the rest of the Infidelz as well, and Patch would fight the Grim Reaper himself to protect his brothers. Prepared to destroy any man who crosses his path, even if it means confronting the demons from his past, Patch gases up his Harley, sharpens his blade, and heads out on the highway for what could be his final ride.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
25 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Ralph Barger
12 books47 followersRalph Hubert "Sonny" Barger (born October 8, 1938) is a founding member (1957) of the Oakland, California, U.S. chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. He is also the author of five books - Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club (2000), Dead in 5 Heartbeats (2004), Freedom: Credos from the Road (2005), 6 Chambers, 1 Bullet (2006), and Let's Ride: Sonny Barger's Guide to Motorcycling (2010) - and editor of the book Ridin' High, Livin' Free: Hell-Raising Motorcycle Stories (2003).
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_B...
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_B...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 15, 2017
DNF at 70%. This started out fairly strong and I wanted to like it. Bikers are an interest of mine, and a crime novel written by the former president of the Hells' Angels? Oh yeah, sign me up.
Unfortunately Barger is a biker not an author. His prose is stilted and wooden, and nobody bothered to explain to him the difference between first and third person. Honestly this book would have been way better in the first person.
Positives: Barger doesn't try to make his bikers into heroes or justify their motivations as "good". No, they are bad people doing bad things for selfish reasons - to help their club, to get rich, etc. While there is plenty of courage on display, there's precious little heroism.
Di5H is pretty damn violent - but unlike a lot of violent novels, the bloodshed feels real. The bar brawls feel like bar brawls; ugly, blood affairs full of desperate improvisation and raw savagery. The bikers beat each other with chains, carve each other up with knives, poke each other with screwdrivers...they act like bikers, in other words. Also, the dynamics behind how and why fights break out is much more authentic than what's in most typical fiction. That's probably due to how Barger lived the lifestyle before writing about it.
The book started out as a gritty piece of neo-noir and I really wanted it to be better, but by the 70% mark the plot had just plain fallen apart. I couldn't tell what was happening anymore, and I found myself not caring too much either. Ah well. Can't in good conscience recommend this one.
2.5 stars.
Unfortunately Barger is a biker not an author. His prose is stilted and wooden, and nobody bothered to explain to him the difference between first and third person. Honestly this book would have been way better in the first person.
Positives: Barger doesn't try to make his bikers into heroes or justify their motivations as "good". No, they are bad people doing bad things for selfish reasons - to help their club, to get rich, etc. While there is plenty of courage on display, there's precious little heroism.
Di5H is pretty damn violent - but unlike a lot of violent novels, the bloodshed feels real. The bar brawls feel like bar brawls; ugly, blood affairs full of desperate improvisation and raw savagery. The bikers beat each other with chains, carve each other up with knives, poke each other with screwdrivers...they act like bikers, in other words. Also, the dynamics behind how and why fights break out is much more authentic than what's in most typical fiction. That's probably due to how Barger lived the lifestyle before writing about it.
The book started out as a gritty piece of neo-noir and I really wanted it to be better, but by the 70% mark the plot had just plain fallen apart. I couldn't tell what was happening anymore, and I found myself not caring too much either. Ah well. Can't in good conscience recommend this one.
2.5 stars.
March 12, 2017
Five stars for Five heartbeats. Excellent read, fast as well, couldn't put it down. I'm a bit partial due to the fact that my band Glass Heroes had several songs on the soundtrack of the movie and were one of the performers that played our songs for Sonny and HA at bikeweek a few years ago. The ending was brutal and justice was served street style. Totally enjoyed it and was a refreshing read. I dug the Chapters names even. Well done.
December 27, 2019
Found this incredibly hard to get through due to the dull narrative and my indifference to the characters and their motives. None of the characters, even the main one, stood out as memorable, so much so that here I am not a day from having finished it and I can't tell you the main character's first name. It could have been a great story, but Barger and those that helped him write this book didn't present it with much excitement.
June 13, 2019
I loved this read. It’s well written. It painted a movie in my mind as if I was there in person. It was very hard to put down every time I had to do so. I highly recommend everyone, every walk of life to read this and anything Sonny has a part in.
August 15, 2022
Good Biker Read
Really enjoyed this book.
I'm sure there is more truth in it than fiction.
It will be a shame that there is only one book, I'm sure "Patch" would have made for a great series.
Good job/ RIP Sonny
Really enjoyed this book.
I'm sure there is more truth in it than fiction.
It will be a shame that there is only one book, I'm sure "Patch" would have made for a great series.
Good job/ RIP Sonny
November 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. It was one of the better outlaw motorcycle books I've read. Definitely a big thumbs up.
January 15, 2024
Great read. Just got the second book to the series in and started. RIP legend Sonny Barger.
June 29, 2009
This book is by no means great literature, but it's a fun read if you're interested in motorcycle clubs at all. I have no associations with 1% motorcycle clubs, but I've read a couple of books, including Sonny Barger's autobiography, and this book takes me about as close to that world as I want to go. The main character is pretty heroic, but has enough flaws and doubts to be interesting.
It was interesting to see little bits and pieces of Sonny Barger's autobiography show up in this book. I don't think it's in any way autobiographical, but he definitely writes from what he knows.
I look forward to reading the next "Patch Kinkade" book.
It was interesting to see little bits and pieces of Sonny Barger's autobiography show up in this book. I don't think it's in any way autobiographical, but he definitely writes from what he knows.
I look forward to reading the next "Patch Kinkade" book.
May 24, 2014
Having lived the lifestyle & been involved with biker clubs, this novel was spot on. Dialogue & characters felt credible & well developed. This was a fast easy read that I wish had been made into a series. Perhaps it was as this book could easily have been the script behind the hit TV series Sons of Anarchy, being written before the genesis of SoA. I'm looking forward to reading more of Barger ' s books & if I can, seeing the movie based on this book.
June 26, 2009
I have no idea how much of this Barger actually wrote, or whether it was based on his ideas and used his name to capitalize on his infamous history. Anyway, the story is fast paced and not too bad. It wasn't the best such book I've read but it kept my attention.
June 7, 2014
- Angelo studiò il design ondulato della Harley.
"Wow, baby, bella carrozzeria." Fischiò facendo scivolare la mano sull'involucro in alluminio cromato che alloggiava il serbatorio. "E' quasi formosa come il culo di Pamela Anderson." -
"Wow, baby, bella carrozzeria." Fischiò facendo scivolare la mano sull'involucro in alluminio cromato che alloggiava il serbatorio. "E' quasi formosa come il culo di Pamela Anderson." -
October 15, 2012
ok for a first attempt at a novel but it's The Boss Sonny Barger so it gets mad love
December 8, 2013
This is a quick and exciting read.
April 1, 2014
Fans of Sons of Anarchy might like this pulpy bit of biker noir penned by Hell's Angel Sonny Barger and the brothers Zimmerman. Others maybe not so much.
August 15, 2014
If you like motorcycle gangs, this book is for you. Written by none other than the famous leader of the Oakland Hells Angels.
July 11, 2015
Entertaining.
February 25, 2016
True Life Hard Boiled Fiction
The story of Patch Kinkade and the Infidelz MC is fast paced well told and true to the life of 1% outlaws life and livelihood.
The story of Patch Kinkade and the Infidelz MC is fast paced well told and true to the life of 1% outlaws life and livelihood.
June 29, 2014
Surprisingly, this is a rather fun read. Everything falls into place.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews