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The Devil to Pay: A Mobster’s Road to Perdition
Goodfellas meets the Irish mob in The Devil to Pay, the incredible true story of one man‘s unconventional upbringing in the criminal gangs of Boston and his eventual road to redemption.
Growing up in South Boston, Sean Scott Hicks was running jobs for the Irish mob before his voice changed. Mistreated by his drug-addled mother, Hicks found sanctuary with his adoptive family of felonious uncles—known to law enforcement officials as the Winter Hill Gang. These crooks knew where all the bodies were buried—because they’d done the burying—but they also looked out for young Sean. Even the notorious gangster known worldwide as Whitey Bulger was simply “Uncle Jim” to him.
After such an upbringing, a life of crime was a given. In this unprecedented memoir, Hicks talks about everything from his experience running illegal goods up and down the coast of Massachusetts to his theory about what really happened the night three hundred million dollars’ worth of art went missing from Boston’s Isabella Gardner Museum. Terms like money laundering and assault insufficiently describe his daily tasks, a brash existence that alternated with stints behind bars. This knuckles-close look at mobster life chronicles the greed and avarice, tenderness and brutality, and the reckoning all gangsters must eventually face.
Hicks tells a story of blood and vengeance but also—surprisingly—of hope. The Devil to A Mobster’s Road to Perdition is an extraordinary memoir that illuminates the reality of what it’s really like in the dark, dangerous, and insidious places of the world, and what it takes to bring a person there and back again.
Growing up in South Boston, Sean Scott Hicks was running jobs for the Irish mob before his voice changed. Mistreated by his drug-addled mother, Hicks found sanctuary with his adoptive family of felonious uncles—known to law enforcement officials as the Winter Hill Gang. These crooks knew where all the bodies were buried—because they’d done the burying—but they also looked out for young Sean. Even the notorious gangster known worldwide as Whitey Bulger was simply “Uncle Jim” to him.
After such an upbringing, a life of crime was a given. In this unprecedented memoir, Hicks talks about everything from his experience running illegal goods up and down the coast of Massachusetts to his theory about what really happened the night three hundred million dollars’ worth of art went missing from Boston’s Isabella Gardner Museum. Terms like money laundering and assault insufficiently describe his daily tasks, a brash existence that alternated with stints behind bars. This knuckles-close look at mobster life chronicles the greed and avarice, tenderness and brutality, and the reckoning all gangsters must eventually face.
Hicks tells a story of blood and vengeance but also—surprisingly—of hope. The Devil to A Mobster’s Road to Perdition is an extraordinary memoir that illuminates the reality of what it’s really like in the dark, dangerous, and insidious places of the world, and what it takes to bring a person there and back again.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 31, 2024
Spoiler alert! This man is a pathological liar and the whole book is a made up story.
Read
February 2, 2024This clown isn't from Southie, never stabbed Paul pierce and all total did about 5 years between jail and prison. You people should be ashamed of yourself for not vetting his story....all fake
June 13, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
“The Devil to Pay: A Mobster’s Road to Redemption” by Sean Scott Hicks is a gritty and unflinching memoir that delves deep into the underbelly of organized crime in Boston. Hicks’ narrative is a raw and tumultuous journey through a life steeped in criminality, yet it is also a poignant tale of survival and transformation.
The book opens with a vivid portrayal of South Boston’s streets, where loyalty and betrayal are as common as the changing tides. Hicks, born into a world where the Irish Mob’s shadow looms large, finds himself running errands for notorious gangsters before he’s old enough to drive. His adoptive family, the Winter Hill Gang, and their infamous leader, “Uncle Jim” — better known to the world as Whitey Bulger — become his mentors in a life of crime.
Hicks doesn’t shy away from detailing the brutal realities of mob life, from the adrenaline-fueled heists to the cold-blooded violence that often follows. His prose is sharp and direct, much like the punches thrown in back-alley brawls. Yet, amidst the chaos, there are moments of unexpected tenderness, revealing the complex human emotions that drive these men of infamy.
The memoir is an introspective look at the choices that led Hicks down this dark path. The narrative is interspersed with philosophical musings that reflect the author’s struggle with the moral implications of his actions. It’s this inner conflict that gives the book its heart and elevates it beyond a mere crime story.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of “The Devil to Pay” is Hicks’ candid discussion of his involvement in the infamous Isabella Gardner Museum heist, offering a theory that tantalizes readers with the possibility of solving one of the art world’s greatest mysteries.
In the end, Hicks’ story is one of redemption. It’s about finding hope in the most hopeless of places and the courage to step away from a life that seemed predestined. His journey to legitimacy, marked by a partner, a dog, and a modest business, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
“The Devil to Pay” is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the allure of the mobster lifestyle and the redemptive power of change.
However, due to what reporters and people who served time with him said, and the grammatical issues within the book, the best I can rate this is 3 stars.
“The Devil to Pay: A Mobster’s Road to Redemption” by Sean Scott Hicks is a gritty and unflinching memoir that delves deep into the underbelly of organized crime in Boston. Hicks’ narrative is a raw and tumultuous journey through a life steeped in criminality, yet it is also a poignant tale of survival and transformation.
The book opens with a vivid portrayal of South Boston’s streets, where loyalty and betrayal are as common as the changing tides. Hicks, born into a world where the Irish Mob’s shadow looms large, finds himself running errands for notorious gangsters before he’s old enough to drive. His adoptive family, the Winter Hill Gang, and their infamous leader, “Uncle Jim” — better known to the world as Whitey Bulger — become his mentors in a life of crime.
Hicks doesn’t shy away from detailing the brutal realities of mob life, from the adrenaline-fueled heists to the cold-blooded violence that often follows. His prose is sharp and direct, much like the punches thrown in back-alley brawls. Yet, amidst the chaos, there are moments of unexpected tenderness, revealing the complex human emotions that drive these men of infamy.
The memoir is an introspective look at the choices that led Hicks down this dark path. The narrative is interspersed with philosophical musings that reflect the author’s struggle with the moral implications of his actions. It’s this inner conflict that gives the book its heart and elevates it beyond a mere crime story.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of “The Devil to Pay” is Hicks’ candid discussion of his involvement in the infamous Isabella Gardner Museum heist, offering a theory that tantalizes readers with the possibility of solving one of the art world’s greatest mysteries.
In the end, Hicks’ story is one of redemption. It’s about finding hope in the most hopeless of places and the courage to step away from a life that seemed predestined. His journey to legitimacy, marked by a partner, a dog, and a modest business, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
“The Devil to Pay” is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the allure of the mobster lifestyle and the redemptive power of change.
However, due to what reporters and people who served time with him said, and the grammatical issues within the book, the best I can rate this is 3 stars.
June 14, 2024
This book was incredible.
Sean has lived an amazing life, and has done lots of different things.
He, at a young age, became involved with the Winter Hill Gang.
As time went on, he did and made his own plans for various heists, and other crimes.
Walked free on some, went to prison on others.
While in prison, he taught himself how to read, as his Mom was an addict and moved around. Sean did not have a stable childhood. That, in turn affected his schooling.
On the last time he was in prison, he had a thought that turned his life around,
He is also trying to make amends and reconnect with his children.
Also started a band.
This man is amazing!
Only thing this book is missing, in my opinion, is photos.
Sean has lived an amazing life, and has done lots of different things.
He, at a young age, became involved with the Winter Hill Gang.
As time went on, he did and made his own plans for various heists, and other crimes.
Walked free on some, went to prison on others.
While in prison, he taught himself how to read, as his Mom was an addict and moved around. Sean did not have a stable childhood. That, in turn affected his schooling.
On the last time he was in prison, he had a thought that turned his life around,
He is also trying to make amends and reconnect with his children.
Also started a band.
This man is amazing!
Only thing this book is missing, in my opinion, is photos.
June 19, 2024
I won this on Goodreads so I was fortunate enough to not spend money on this book. This is the autobiography of …some guy, a career criminal associated with Boston gangster, Whitey Bulger, who for whatever reason convinced a publisher that his tale was worth telling. I don’t get it. Like other first person true crime books this is just a collection of stories about the people he’s hurt, robbed, traumatized, his life behind bars and eventually cleaning up to get a book deal. Easy read but waste of precious time.
June 24, 2024
As brutally honest as an associate, perpetrator and conspirator of crime can be.
An honest account from a person who wondered and crossed that invisible line between right and wrong, from birth until now, who along the way was directly linked and influenced by one of this century's most wanted fugitives. Obviously bright enough to see light through darkness with no apologies. An enjoyable non-fiction account of survival and redemption.
An honest account from a person who wondered and crossed that invisible line between right and wrong, from birth until now, who along the way was directly linked and influenced by one of this century's most wanted fugitives. Obviously bright enough to see light through darkness with no apologies. An enjoyable non-fiction account of survival and redemption.
March 2, 2025
I usually enjoy Memoirs as well as True Crime, but this one just came off as braggadocios. It felt fake, like he was proud of all the horrific things he did and the people (like Whitey Bulger) he had ties to. Just didn’t feel authentic at all. I thought I knew most of the big mob names from the Boston area, but I never heard his name until this book. I’m glad he got sober, but I don’t think he has shown any real remorse by the way this was written
April 8, 2025
Book 21 of 2025.
3.5 stars.
When I read a book like this you gotta take it with a grain of salt. I’ve read some things about the author that he wasn’t who he says he was…
That being said, not knowing what’s true and what’s not, this was a decent read.
He was connected to Whitey Bulger, so I’m sure he’s seen his share of some serious shit!
Any “mob” related book are usually a fun read IMO, so if you are a true crime/mob fan, check it out.
3.5 stars.
When I read a book like this you gotta take it with a grain of salt. I’ve read some things about the author that he wasn’t who he says he was…
That being said, not knowing what’s true and what’s not, this was a decent read.
He was connected to Whitey Bulger, so I’m sure he’s seen his share of some serious shit!
Any “mob” related book are usually a fun read IMO, so if you are a true crime/mob fan, check it out.
November 1, 2024
Wow, he really hated his mother . He definitely has an issue with women.
November 5, 2024
Sean Scott hicks is a phony, this book is all stolen and made up. The movie the town is more real then this book.
November 18, 2024
Not for everyone but if you want an insider look at the mob then this is a great read.
Read
July 14, 2024Edit 7/14/24: Per this article from the Boston Globe on 6/25/24: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/06/2...
It appears this book is entirely a fabrication. I will leave the rest of my original review (of a library copy) below.
6/6/24
Original review:
I'm not rating this one because I don't know enough about the Boston underworld to determine whether the story told in this book is genuine or not. I mostly read it as part of a brainstorming exercise to get ideas for a story I'm writing, so I wasn't tremendously concerned with the factuality of the book. FWIW, my take is that Hicks quite possibly embroidered and exaggerated his experiences for the sake of telling a good yarn. I did notice that every significant person from the mob that he mentioned by name was dead, so they can't dispute his version. On the other hand, for all I know, he really was as highly connected as he claims and did in fact do all the things he relates. So--no rating.
For readers considering the book, be aware that it is laced with profanity and crudity of every sort. This is not surprising, given the subject and the author, but something to know before picking it up. I skipped or skimmed descriptions of the fights, which were often gory and brutal and not for the weak of stomach. Given the subject matter, it is also not a surprise that the narrative is not uplifting or edifying. Hicks does appear to be attempting to live straight at the time he wrote the book, but the jury is still out on whether the reformation will stick.
My subjective rating on the experience of reading is 3 stars. It's competently written and kept me turning pages, but at the cost of nausea and a few days of emotional upset afterward due to the disturbing events he relates. I have no idea who would benefit from reading this book, so I make no recommendations along those lines.
It appears this book is entirely a fabrication. I will leave the rest of my original review (of a library copy) below.
6/6/24
Original review:
I'm not rating this one because I don't know enough about the Boston underworld to determine whether the story told in this book is genuine or not. I mostly read it as part of a brainstorming exercise to get ideas for a story I'm writing, so I wasn't tremendously concerned with the factuality of the book. FWIW, my take is that Hicks quite possibly embroidered and exaggerated his experiences for the sake of telling a good yarn. I did notice that every significant person from the mob that he mentioned by name was dead, so they can't dispute his version. On the other hand, for all I know, he really was as highly connected as he claims and did in fact do all the things he relates. So--no rating.
For readers considering the book, be aware that it is laced with profanity and crudity of every sort. This is not surprising, given the subject and the author, but something to know before picking it up. I skipped or skimmed descriptions of the fights, which were often gory and brutal and not for the weak of stomach. Given the subject matter, it is also not a surprise that the narrative is not uplifting or edifying. Hicks does appear to be attempting to live straight at the time he wrote the book, but the jury is still out on whether the reformation will stick.
My subjective rating on the experience of reading is 3 stars. It's competently written and kept me turning pages, but at the cost of nausea and a few days of emotional upset afterward due to the disturbing events he relates. I have no idea who would benefit from reading this book, so I make no recommendations along those lines.
April 11, 2024
Did not really like this book. Received it from a friend who got it as an ARC. The author does not seem to be very credible at all and seems to take huge liberties with the truth. As a matter of fact some of the things he claimed he said and did I remember almost word for word from movies that I had watched..His age and timeline also do match up for his alleged associations and crimes. I would not recommend anyone purchase this book as it is my opinion that the author fabricated the story, his associations with organized crime and many, many other details in the book.
November 19, 2025
Being from area and interested in the whole Boston/Whitey Bulger/ Irish mob genre, I saw an ad for this book on X. As I bought it a little while later there was part of me that asked myself- “Funny, I’ve never heard of this guy in all of my reading, watching movies and documentaries, yet his story sounds so compelling!” After reading the book I thought that this was the most unbelievable, action packed and interesting book on the subject that I have ever read so I went on line and looked this incredible author up! I should have listened to my gut! Do yourself a favor and don’t throw you’re money away. This is a guy, who happens to be Irish and has run afoul of the law, who has completely made up the entire story- inserting himself into actual true events with the real people who were there! One of the articles I read said his story is akin to an adult man who loves baseball going to fantasy camp. His story is Irish mob fantasy camp! Not only that, his tales are so outrageous that only a fool would believe all of this fiction. Whatever crimes this phony did commit- this one tops the list!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
Did not really like this book. Received it from a friend who got it as an ARC. The author does not seem to be very credible at all and seems to take huge liberties with the truth. As a matter of fact some of the things he claimed he said and did I remember almost word for word from movies that I had watched..His age and timeline also do match up for his alleged associations and crimes. I would not recommend anyone purchase this book as it is my opinion that the author fabricated the story, his associations with organized crime and many, many other details in the book.
January 21, 2024
I’m a former Boston pro hockey player and legend and founder of the #BSITW podcast and I’ve interviewed this guy and he isn’t a gangster and the book was so full of lies and things he never did and never went to….i was also in jail with him and he was in PC cause he was getting beat up a lot
I’m a well read man and this book reads like a third grade book
He is a clown and this book just went into the fire
I’m a well read man and this book reads like a third grade book
He is a clown and this book just went into the fire
January 21, 2024
This chump is a fraud and his story’s are all fake
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews