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Where the Bodies Were Buried: Whitey Bulger and the World That Made Him
The New York Times bestselling author of The Westies and Paddy Whacked offers a front-row seat at the trial of Whitey Bulger, and an intimate view of the world of organized crime—and law enforcement—that made him the defining Irish American gangster.
For sixteen years, Whitey Bulger eluded the long reach of the law. For decades one of the most dangerous men in America, Bulger—the brother of influential Massachusetts senator Billy Bulger—was often romanticized as a Robin Hood-like thief and protector. While he was functioning as the de facto mob boss of New England, Bulger was also serving as a Top Echelon informant for the FBI, covertly feeding local prosecutors information about other mob figures—while using their cover to cleverly eliminate his rivals, reinforce his own power, and protect himself from prosecution. Then, in 2011, he was arrested in southern California and returned to Boston, where he was tried and convicted of racketeering and murder.
Our greatest chronicler of the Irish mob in America, T. J. English covered the trial at close range—by day in the courtroom, but also, on nights and weekends, interviewing Bulger’s associates as well as lawyers, former federal agents, and even members of the jury in the backyards and barrooms of Whitey’s world. In Where the Bodies Were Buried, he offers a startlingly revisionist account of Bulger’s story—and of the decades-long culture of collusion between the Feds and the Irish and Italian mob factions that have ruled New England since the 1970s, when a fateful deal left the FBI fatally compromised. English offers an authoritative look at Bulger’s own understanding of his relationship with the FBI and his alleged immunity deal, and illuminates how gangsterism, politics, and law enforcement have continued to be intertwined in Boston.
As complex, harrowing, and human as a Scorsese film, Where the Bodies Were Buried is the last word on a reign of terror that many feared would never end.
For sixteen years, Whitey Bulger eluded the long reach of the law. For decades one of the most dangerous men in America, Bulger—the brother of influential Massachusetts senator Billy Bulger—was often romanticized as a Robin Hood-like thief and protector. While he was functioning as the de facto mob boss of New England, Bulger was also serving as a Top Echelon informant for the FBI, covertly feeding local prosecutors information about other mob figures—while using their cover to cleverly eliminate his rivals, reinforce his own power, and protect himself from prosecution. Then, in 2011, he was arrested in southern California and returned to Boston, where he was tried and convicted of racketeering and murder.
Our greatest chronicler of the Irish mob in America, T. J. English covered the trial at close range—by day in the courtroom, but also, on nights and weekends, interviewing Bulger’s associates as well as lawyers, former federal agents, and even members of the jury in the backyards and barrooms of Whitey’s world. In Where the Bodies Were Buried, he offers a startlingly revisionist account of Bulger’s story—and of the decades-long culture of collusion between the Feds and the Irish and Italian mob factions that have ruled New England since the 1970s, when a fateful deal left the FBI fatally compromised. English offers an authoritative look at Bulger’s own understanding of his relationship with the FBI and his alleged immunity deal, and illuminates how gangsterism, politics, and law enforcement have continued to be intertwined in Boston.
As complex, harrowing, and human as a Scorsese film, Where the Bodies Were Buried is the last word on a reign of terror that many feared would never end.
464 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
158 people are currently reading
1774 people want to read
About the author
T.J. English
13 books454 followersT.J. English's latest book is THE LAST KILO. English is an author and journalist with an emphasis on organized crime, the criminal underworld, and the criminal justice system. Many of his books have been New York Times bestsellers, including HAVANA NOCTURNE, THE SAVAGE CITY, PADDY WHACKED, and WHERE THE BODIES WERE BURIED. Four of his books have been nominated for an Edgar Award in the category of Best Fact Crime (BORN TO KILL, HAVANA NOCTURNE, THE SAVAGE CITY, WHERE THE BODIES WERE BURIED). In 2023, his book DANGEROUS RHYTHMS was given a special award by PEN Oakland. A collection of his journalism was published under the title WHITEY'S PAYBACK, an anthology that includes articles originally printed in Playboy, Newsweek, Esquire, The New York Times, and other national publications. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
May 16, 2021
I thought this was an excellent book. I was captivated from the beginning to the very end. The book's main focus is the 2013 trial 'The People of the United States v. James. J. Bulger'. The book flows from the opening, witness testimonies, court procedure, and the closing statements. I felt T.J. English did an outstanding job of telling the story by intertwining social history, biographical information, and allowing the reader to glimpse into the Boston criminal underworld.
T.J. English gives a great history lesson on the Boston underworld starting in post-WWII New England, moving into the Boston Gang Wars of the 1960s, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI's goal of taking down the New England Mafia, and eventually into the Bulger Era. The FBI's involvement was deep and the level of corruption may never be known but you get an idea by reading. 'It was Flemmi who first established the key link between various spheres of corruption on both sides of the law, an inheritance he would later share with Bulger." (pg. 112).
In 1971 Whitey Bulger became a confidential informant, was elevated as a Top Echelon Informant (known on paper only as BS-1544 TE), and his identity remained secret until roughly 1995. His handler was Special Agent John Connolly who kept Whitey and Flemmi a secret to both various law enforcement agencies and other criminal elements. It was basically simple: Whitey gave the FBI information and helped take down the La Cosa Nostra in Boston, headed by the underboss Gennaro Angiulo. In return, Whitey murdered his way to the top and secured his position as top dog in the Boston underworld. Special Agent Connolly got promotions within the FBI, the career accolades, and even financial kick-backs from Whitey's illegal operations. Eventually it all comes toppling down, indictments were issued, and arrests were made. SA Connolly was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 and is currently serving a 40-year sentence. The 2013 trial concludes with Whitey being sentenced two consecutive life-sentences.
"And this is where they derived their power: Flemmi and Bulger knew by entering into this pact with the system [as Top Echelon Informants for the FBI], the system was now beholden to them. They could do whatever they wanted, not only financial crimes like loan-sharking, drugs, extortion, and robberies, but murder, any kind of murder they wanted, as long as they made the bodies disappear, so that there would be no investigation." pg. 310
I learned a lot and was intrigued during the first-person witness statements to include Kevin Weeks, John Martorano, Steve Flemmi, and many others. The author mentions books by others I plan to read (books by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill "Black Mass", "Whitey", and "The Underboss" and Kevin Weeks' account "Brutal"). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in organized crime or if you're intrigued by the mob/crooked cop dynamic. This is a great book in my opinion. Thanks!
T.J. English gives a great history lesson on the Boston underworld starting in post-WWII New England, moving into the Boston Gang Wars of the 1960s, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI's goal of taking down the New England Mafia, and eventually into the Bulger Era. The FBI's involvement was deep and the level of corruption may never be known but you get an idea by reading. 'It was Flemmi who first established the key link between various spheres of corruption on both sides of the law, an inheritance he would later share with Bulger." (pg. 112).
In 1971 Whitey Bulger became a confidential informant, was elevated as a Top Echelon Informant (known on paper only as BS-1544 TE), and his identity remained secret until roughly 1995. His handler was Special Agent John Connolly who kept Whitey and Flemmi a secret to both various law enforcement agencies and other criminal elements. It was basically simple: Whitey gave the FBI information and helped take down the La Cosa Nostra in Boston, headed by the underboss Gennaro Angiulo. In return, Whitey murdered his way to the top and secured his position as top dog in the Boston underworld. Special Agent Connolly got promotions within the FBI, the career accolades, and even financial kick-backs from Whitey's illegal operations. Eventually it all comes toppling down, indictments were issued, and arrests were made. SA Connolly was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 and is currently serving a 40-year sentence. The 2013 trial concludes with Whitey being sentenced two consecutive life-sentences.
"And this is where they derived their power: Flemmi and Bulger knew by entering into this pact with the system [as Top Echelon Informants for the FBI], the system was now beholden to them. They could do whatever they wanted, not only financial crimes like loan-sharking, drugs, extortion, and robberies, but murder, any kind of murder they wanted, as long as they made the bodies disappear, so that there would be no investigation." pg. 310
I learned a lot and was intrigued during the first-person witness statements to include Kevin Weeks, John Martorano, Steve Flemmi, and many others. The author mentions books by others I plan to read (books by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill "Black Mass", "Whitey", and "The Underboss" and Kevin Weeks' account "Brutal"). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in organized crime or if you're intrigued by the mob/crooked cop dynamic. This is a great book in my opinion. Thanks!
July 13, 2016
3.5*
This book didn't shed any new light on the case of Whitey Bulger. However, it did go into the trial, in depth. If you're not aware of this case, I wrote a post about it, here: http://charlene.booklikes.com/post/14...
While listening to this book, I realized that I enjoy true crime more when it's presented in a narrative style, instead of this way-starting with the trial and backtracking somewhat. Here, as each witness comes to the stand we learn about them, or their circumstances in regards to testifying. I would have preferred a more straightforward narrative.
Although Where the Bodies Were Buried doesn't present any new information, it was still interesting to learn tidbits that the author delved into during conversations and interviews with a lot of the witnesses involved. Also, this book did shed some insight as to how the confidential informant system was warped and turned into a system that helped criminals rather than catch them.
Lastly, even though I was already familiar with this case from having read other books and articles about it, I am STILL blown away by the level of corruption reached by the government on almost every level. Local, state and federal-all of them have a lot to answer for. As mentioned at the end of this book by one of the jurors, it's very difficult to see the worth in letting serial killers, (because that's what hit men are, let's face it), go almost totally free in exchange for getting Whitey. Steven, "the Rifleman" Flemmi, John, "The Executioner" Martarano, and Kevin Weeks were ALL murderers, but because Flemmi and Whitey were ratting on the Italian mafia, business as usual was allowed to continue. Not to mention the people like Joe Salvati that were sent up for 30 YEARS, when all the while the FBI had PROOF that they were NOT guilty.
Cases like this make me question the validity and integrity of our system. As I said in my previous post about this book, if this were fiction or a movie, it would be panned for being too unrealistic. This book reminds us all that IT HAPPENED. It cannot be allowed to happen again.
This book didn't shed any new light on the case of Whitey Bulger. However, it did go into the trial, in depth. If you're not aware of this case, I wrote a post about it, here: http://charlene.booklikes.com/post/14...
While listening to this book, I realized that I enjoy true crime more when it's presented in a narrative style, instead of this way-starting with the trial and backtracking somewhat. Here, as each witness comes to the stand we learn about them, or their circumstances in regards to testifying. I would have preferred a more straightforward narrative.
Although Where the Bodies Were Buried doesn't present any new information, it was still interesting to learn tidbits that the author delved into during conversations and interviews with a lot of the witnesses involved. Also, this book did shed some insight as to how the confidential informant system was warped and turned into a system that helped criminals rather than catch them.
Lastly, even though I was already familiar with this case from having read other books and articles about it, I am STILL blown away by the level of corruption reached by the government on almost every level. Local, state and federal-all of them have a lot to answer for. As mentioned at the end of this book by one of the jurors, it's very difficult to see the worth in letting serial killers, (because that's what hit men are, let's face it), go almost totally free in exchange for getting Whitey. Steven, "the Rifleman" Flemmi, John, "The Executioner" Martarano, and Kevin Weeks were ALL murderers, but because Flemmi and Whitey were ratting on the Italian mafia, business as usual was allowed to continue. Not to mention the people like Joe Salvati that were sent up for 30 YEARS, when all the while the FBI had PROOF that they were NOT guilty.
Cases like this make me question the validity and integrity of our system. As I said in my previous post about this book, if this were fiction or a movie, it would be panned for being too unrealistic. This book reminds us all that IT HAPPENED. It cannot be allowed to happen again.
September 8, 2015
Where the bodies were buried takes a look at the now very thoroughly covered life of Whitey Bulger and takes a different spin on the standard biography. T. J. English looks holistically at the criminal justice system and the Top Echelon Informant program that emboldened Whitey to commit crimes and be protected by the FBI for them. English looks at the previous generation of TEI who were protected by the FBI to the point of sending four innocent men to jail in order to keep the case against the mafia going in New England. This viewpoint serves as the basis for his book which is based on countless interviews with former gangsters, FBI agents and voluminous sifting through primary source material. The book is told through the eyes of the trail and uses that springboard to go back and cover in great detail the events that happened. You have to have a strong interest in crime in the Boston area to go through this book as the detail is pretty intense. Overall though it is a very good look at the time period and provides an interesting perspective on the TEI program that cannot be discounted. Well worth the time to read and think about to review the policies of law enforcement in todays world.
March 12, 2016
I won this book in a giveaway and I was really excited to read it. Living in Southern California, I didn't know a lot about Whitey Bulger. I first heard of him when he was arrested a few years ago in Santa Monica, which had a lot of news coverage here because it was so close to where I live. I wanted to learn more about Whitey Bulger and this was a great book to start with.
T. J. English looks not only at the crimes Bulger committed, but also at the FBI who worked with him and ignored or enabled his crimes. I liked that English wrote the book about the trial and used the trial to jump back in time and explain the crimes Bulger committed or other crimes that happened in the area during Bulger's heyday. I loved the way the book was written, with the author having casual interviews with some of the key players in the trial and also using court transcripts. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
T. J. English looks not only at the crimes Bulger committed, but also at the FBI who worked with him and ignored or enabled his crimes. I liked that English wrote the book about the trial and used the trial to jump back in time and explain the crimes Bulger committed or other crimes that happened in the area during Bulger's heyday. I loved the way the book was written, with the author having casual interviews with some of the key players in the trial and also using court transcripts. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
December 21, 2015
This book was interesting to me in theory but when I sat down to read it I just found it really boring.
The story is interesting but necessarily something that I'd want to read for enjoyment. I'd rather watch a documentary about it.
The writing was good but too wordy. There's so many words packed into one sentence that I couldn't get into what was reading and that's the struggle I have with a lot of authors. I like straightforward sentences, not for comprehension but I find straightforward sentences make stories and books easier to go through.
I just couldn't get into it. I appreciate having received the book but I couldn't get through it and don't want to force myself to.
I won this book through goodreads first reads.
The story is interesting but necessarily something that I'd want to read for enjoyment. I'd rather watch a documentary about it.
The writing was good but too wordy. There's so many words packed into one sentence that I couldn't get into what was reading and that's the struggle I have with a lot of authors. I like straightforward sentences, not for comprehension but I find straightforward sentences make stories and books easier to go through.
I just couldn't get into it. I appreciate having received the book but I couldn't get through it and don't want to force myself to.
I won this book through goodreads first reads.
December 15, 2015
Where the Bodies Were Buried was so very tedious. There's about 200 pages of a good book in here and the rest is self indulgent ramblings of the author in first person, repetitive exposition on topics we've already been introduced to, and redundant padding added for no greater purpose.
When all is said and done we barely know who Whitey Bulger was or what motivated him. The author should have instead written an essay on FBI corruption in the 60's-80's and the governments duty to atone for that, since his main objective is to expose the depth and morality of that corruption. The topic would have made a great essay, but with this sprawling, rambling and padded narrative all the author's intentions (and our interest) is totally lost.
Do yourself a favour and skip this one.
When all is said and done we barely know who Whitey Bulger was or what motivated him. The author should have instead written an essay on FBI corruption in the 60's-80's and the governments duty to atone for that, since his main objective is to expose the depth and morality of that corruption. The topic would have made a great essay, but with this sprawling, rambling and padded narrative all the author's intentions (and our interest) is totally lost.
Do yourself a favour and skip this one.
February 20, 2023
"The policies that created Whitey Bolger are still in place, the top echelon informant program has been discontinued in name only."
I am a fan of T.J. English and while this book was not my favorite of his I still found it both interesting and entertaining, however, if you're looking for a book about the life and times of Whitey Bolger you're probably better off reading one of the many books written about his life, this one is more a recounting of his trial and the actions and corruption of the justice system that created him.
I am a fan of T.J. English and while this book was not my favorite of his I still found it both interesting and entertaining, however, if you're looking for a book about the life and times of Whitey Bolger you're probably better off reading one of the many books written about his life, this one is more a recounting of his trial and the actions and corruption of the justice system that created him.
March 21, 2024
Probably the best organized organized crime book I've read, I came away with a pretty clear understanding of the people and events involved, maybe I was paying more attention. Pretty scary stuff, which was really tied up nicely in the final pages. It’s hard to know who to trust and this book demonstrates that exquisitely. I hope I am never involved with police or the justice system in any way.
September 16, 2015
An intimate view of Whitey Bulger’s trial
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
This book examines the trial of Boston's notorious godfather Whitey Bulger. This is one among many books that came out during the life of the famous Boston outlaw, but this work doesn't add anything new to the stories we already know. The interviews were conducted by the author in a fashion similar to Bob Woodward-Carl Bernstein Watergate investigation. Whitey Bulger knew his trade well and he was good in using the law-enforcement in his favor. While working as an informant for the FBI, he fed them wrong information about his competitors in the Boston under world. He cleverly sized them up to his own advantage, and gaining immunity from prosecution by the law-enforcement. He achieved the kind of power and authority that Italian mafia took generations to achieve and solidify.
The 2014 documentary film "Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger" by Joe Berlinger also focuses on Whitey Bulger's trials. The 2015 film "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger chronicles Bulger's years as an FBI informant, and his manipulation of the agency to eradicate his rivals. The 2006 film "Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese is another film that focused on how FBI agent John Connolly and Massachusetts state trooper William "Billy" Costigan unwittingly helped Whitey Bulger. The Scorsese film is star-studded and highly rewarded by the Academy with numerous awards during 79th Academy Awards ceremonies.
The book is essentially a repetition of much published work and the material is already covered in the two Hollywood movies.
September 23, 2015
Corruption, Conceit and Criminality
I had been waiting for this book from when it was first announced because I have had an interest in the Bulger Case for years, I'm a big fan of T.J. English's books and writing style and after reading many books about Bulger and Boston I was interested in where English would go with the story.
I have to say, that this book is probably the best book on the Bulger case, as English focuses primarily on the historic corruption within the F.B.I and government that created the monsters in order to get to the mafia and then did deals with monsters again to burn Bulger at the stake.
Highly recommended
I had been waiting for this book from when it was first announced because I have had an interest in the Bulger Case for years, I'm a big fan of T.J. English's books and writing style and after reading many books about Bulger and Boston I was interested in where English would go with the story.
I have to say, that this book is probably the best book on the Bulger case, as English focuses primarily on the historic corruption within the F.B.I and government that created the monsters in order to get to the mafia and then did deals with monsters again to burn Bulger at the stake.
Highly recommended
November 6, 2015
This book is mind boggling yet wholly believable. Using the 2013 trial of Boston crime boss James 'Whitey' Bulger as a focal point author T.J. English reviews the decades of law enforcement complicity that enabled Bulger's reign from the '70's to mid '90's. Bookies, loan sharks, hit men and G-men all take the stand but even after the verdict's read it's hard to say which side is really the guilty one.
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
December 9, 2015
This book is more about the corruption of the FBI and the DOJ than it is about James Bulger. I hope the author will dig into and write a book on that subject.
Read
July 11, 2016Distressingly insightful. A balanced view of how it is possible for everyone to be a little right and a lot wrong and for things to go very, very badly for society.
December 5, 2022
Book to read if you are interested in the Whitey Bulger case. Well written expose. Details the FBI and Attorney Generals office complicity in the botched handling of Bulger as an informant. Bad guys killed but innocent people as well. Eye opening on how some law enforcement feel that they are above reproach. Bulger was a royal piece of crap but the governments handling of him was almost as atrocious.
May 15, 2023
A fascinating account of the trial and backstory of Southie's notorious gangster, Whitey Bulger. The trial uncovers the corruption of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover's top-echelon informant program, which allowed Bulger to thrive while ratting out his opposition.
February 12, 2018
The story is buried somewhere in a mound of clutter and fluff.
October 3, 2015
I grew up just south of Boston, where any reference to "Whitey" didn't need to be followed by a last name. Even those of us who didn't know the details, knew Whitey was a notorious local mobster, loved by some and hated by others. This book unravels the tangled mess of mobsters, connections, and the various law enforcement agencies involved from start to finish in Whitey's criminal life.
I found this to be an easy read, as far as writing style and the way the content is presented. But it's not a light or a quick read, nor could it be given the subject matter. The author provides a detailed account of events, with all the intricacies within the many relationships. We're taken into Whitey's life as his crimes become more blatant and brutal. Then we're taken through his trial, where witnesses relive the events.
The corruption and complicity regarding the FBI's treatment of Whitey and his associates is, for lack of a better word, astounding. This, I think, is the heart of the story, because without that complicity, Whitey's criminal enterprise would never have gone on as it did.
This book shines a spotlight on our government's practice of recruiting high-level criminal informants, of protecting them, and of the shroud of secrecy surrounding it all. For that reason alone, whether you care about Whitey Bulger or not, this book needs to be read and talked about. Until we demand changes, this type of atrocity will happen again and again, and will remain cloaked in government secrecy.
I found this to be an easy read, as far as writing style and the way the content is presented. But it's not a light or a quick read, nor could it be given the subject matter. The author provides a detailed account of events, with all the intricacies within the many relationships. We're taken into Whitey's life as his crimes become more blatant and brutal. Then we're taken through his trial, where witnesses relive the events.
The corruption and complicity regarding the FBI's treatment of Whitey and his associates is, for lack of a better word, astounding. This, I think, is the heart of the story, because without that complicity, Whitey's criminal enterprise would never have gone on as it did.
This book shines a spotlight on our government's practice of recruiting high-level criminal informants, of protecting them, and of the shroud of secrecy surrounding it all. For that reason alone, whether you care about Whitey Bulger or not, this book needs to be read and talked about. Until we demand changes, this type of atrocity will happen again and again, and will remain cloaked in government secrecy.
September 19, 2019
Beautifully written. Hard to read. He covers a lot of ground I already had covered in my own reading, but if you are new to New England crime and Whitey Bulger he gives you an excellent history in backtracking while Bulger's trial was occurring for him in live time. There is even a pending case right now getting ready to go to trial against a FBI agent and his own past testimonies--and he's one of the good guys. If you are going to read "Bulger" and "South Boston" nd "crime" this is a must read. I'm seeking out his other books, I enjoyed his writing "that" much.
I just re-read this on Sept. 19th of 2019. It reminded me so much of my Boston years when Whitey Bulger was in the news. He had been sent to various prisons with multiple life sentences and on the day he was transferred to a federal prison in West Virginia on October 30, 2018, he was murdered.
I just re-read this on Sept. 19th of 2019. It reminded me so much of my Boston years when Whitey Bulger was in the news. He had been sent to various prisons with multiple life sentences and on the day he was transferred to a federal prison in West Virginia on October 30, 2018, he was murdered.
February 2, 2018
This book tells the story of the trial of Whitey Bulger, a notorious Irish mobster in South Boston, when he was captured after hiding from the law for 16 years; at this point he is in his eighties. I didn't know much about Bulger but this deals just with the trial and is as much about the FBI and the DOJ being in collusion with the criminals and allowing Bulger to get away with much of what he did. There are a dizzying amount of characters involved. I found the book to be very repetitive with the author driving home the same points and I ended up skimming the back half of the book. I think this book would be best-suited for someone interested in Bulger, organized crime in Boston, and the justifications the government makes to bring certain cases to trial.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
September 2, 2015
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will watch the watchmen? A recounting of the trial of Whitey Bulger, the main focus of the book is how much he was aided and abetted by the FBI. I wonder if Bulger would have been as powerful without the agents who covered for him and gave him information. WTBWB brings to mind J'accuse as a cry against injustice. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2015
Whether you have read all the books about the Bulger case, or if you have never read any, go ahead and read this one. It will scare you, make you angry, and will most definitely change the way you look at those law enforcement agencies that would have you believe they "always get their man". A true story and an absolutely disgraceful period in the annals of law enforcement.
August 16, 2018
Interesting topic. Badly written. Sloppily edited. With frequent use of sexist phrasing to boot.
February 17, 2019
This book is a detailed account of the trial of James “Whitey” Bulger and the violent history of the Winter Hill gang based out of Boston from 1950 to 1990. The book is primarily focused on the trial of Bulger after his capture in California many years after the events of the Winter Hill gang occurred. These events come to light over the course of the lengthy trial. Witness testimony along with the research the author has done on this topic tells a shocking story about Bulger and the Winter Hill gang. What is more disturbing than the actions of the gang is the fact that corruption within the government is a key factor in the reason why Bulger and the Winter Hill gang became so powerful and violent. James Bulger was an FBI informant mainly to provide the federal government with information concerning the Italian American mafia known as “La Cosa Nostra”. In exchange for information about the various crime families in the US the FBI essentially turned a blind eye to the activities of the Winter Hill gang. This corruption was so deep that it even allowed the wrongful conviction of men that were innocent of the crimes they were charged with. What this book is truly about is not really Bulger and his criminal organization, but rather uses this case as an example of how governments cooperate with criminals in order to further their agenda and prosecute other criminal organizations that are of a higher priority to the government. This flawed system is a slippery slope that frequently allows violent criminals to avoid prosecution if it is determined to be beneficial to the governments agenda. The book serves as a warning against such corruption and the consequences that often come from it. The book itself is very well researched and written however it is a little boring and tedious at some parts as it is basically an account of the long and tedious trial of James Bulger. Bulger himself was recently assassinated by inmates in a federal prison at the age of 89, finally paying the ultimate price for a lifetime of crime and violence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2021
A frightening look behind the curtain of corruption that is the standard operating procedure of the DOJ
T.J. English is the greatest true crime writer of our generation. In Where the Bodies Were Buried, he continued to set the bar higher than lesser writers can ever hope to clear. English shines a light into a very dark corner that the FBI and the Department of Justice would rather be didn't .Documenting the extraordinary circus that was the Whitey Bulger trial, he examines and directs the insipid federal protection granted to certain criminals that allowed a murderous gang of psychopaths to hold an entire city hostage for thirty years. The sad reality that English points out is that this tactic is not only still in play nationwide, it's the FBI's only tactic. The sadder reality is that they and the DOJ will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who seeks to expose it . English excelled in exposing the greater truth; that the Department of Justice is an oxymoron. I highly recommend this book, but caution the reader to be prepared to be disappointed and depressed. Not with the book; it's brilliant, but with their own government.
T.J. English is the greatest true crime writer of our generation. In Where the Bodies Were Buried, he continued to set the bar higher than lesser writers can ever hope to clear. English shines a light into a very dark corner that the FBI and the Department of Justice would rather be didn't .Documenting the extraordinary circus that was the Whitey Bulger trial, he examines and directs the insipid federal protection granted to certain criminals that allowed a murderous gang of psychopaths to hold an entire city hostage for thirty years. The sad reality that English points out is that this tactic is not only still in play nationwide, it's the FBI's only tactic. The sadder reality is that they and the DOJ will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who seeks to expose it . English excelled in exposing the greater truth; that the Department of Justice is an oxymoron. I highly recommend this book, but caution the reader to be prepared to be disappointed and depressed. Not with the book; it's brilliant, but with their own government.
August 19, 2017
Wow wow wow.
What a well written story. Pretty much all of the story has been told or known about if your from Boston or the surrounding boroughs. This book was a 5 star because it pulls it all together and goes step by step. The Author does s great job of really going through the trial and all the chess pieces as the trial unfolded.
Having grown up in Boston and being very nervous in and around Southie, and seeing how Boston is today and the joy I have from my girls growing up, loving the Boston and Southie in particular, I'm glad that the crime of the 80's is behind us. That being said, I don't think that Bulger would have been able to get away with much of what he did had the Government not protected him. I do think that everyone involved instead of just Connelly should have been prosecuted. They are just as guilty for turning their backs on what he was allowed to do. I'm also not naive to know these "deals" still go on in our Government.
Back to the book, I listened to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed the narrators voice. Well spoken and well written
What a well written story. Pretty much all of the story has been told or known about if your from Boston or the surrounding boroughs. This book was a 5 star because it pulls it all together and goes step by step. The Author does s great job of really going through the trial and all the chess pieces as the trial unfolded.
Having grown up in Boston and being very nervous in and around Southie, and seeing how Boston is today and the joy I have from my girls growing up, loving the Boston and Southie in particular, I'm glad that the crime of the 80's is behind us. That being said, I don't think that Bulger would have been able to get away with much of what he did had the Government not protected him. I do think that everyone involved instead of just Connelly should have been prosecuted. They are just as guilty for turning their backs on what he was allowed to do. I'm also not naive to know these "deals" still go on in our Government.
Back to the book, I listened to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed the narrators voice. Well spoken and well written
December 26, 2019
I think the author made a mistake by having the book use the chronology of Whitey Bulger's trial as its framework. As a result, the story line often switches back and forth between the present and the (sometimes) distant past, like the 1960s and 70s. To me, this made the book needlessly confusing.
Also, the author seems to repeat facts and statements fairly frequently, and to sometimes indulges in tangents that don't seem to be well-related to the main story. As a result of all this, what seems like it could have been a riveting story has instead been reduced to something merely interesting, with a rather plodding pace to the writing. I knew almost nothing about the whole Whitey Bulger story until reading this book, and to be quite honest, by the end, I felt like I knew too much. So, overall, I would only recommend this book to those fascinated by the Whitey Bulger case in particular, or the Boston mob underworld in general. Others will probably find the level of detail a little too much.
Also, the author seems to repeat facts and statements fairly frequently, and to sometimes indulges in tangents that don't seem to be well-related to the main story. As a result of all this, what seems like it could have been a riveting story has instead been reduced to something merely interesting, with a rather plodding pace to the writing. I knew almost nothing about the whole Whitey Bulger story until reading this book, and to be quite honest, by the end, I felt like I knew too much. So, overall, I would only recommend this book to those fascinated by the Whitey Bulger case in particular, or the Boston mob underworld in general. Others will probably find the level of detail a little too much.
February 22, 2023
Other reviewers had commented that they already knew much of what was said in this book, but I knew almost nothing about the Bulger story so this book worked for me. Some repetition but fortunately not excessive, and the book is arguably as much about the federal and state governments' attempt to infiltrate the Mafia and other organized crime outfits, hoping to bring them down, though at a cost. By hiring certain mobsters (including Bulger) to give information on other mobsters, in the end they had to let the mobsters they employed commit crimes, including murder.
But even worse is the fact that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies deliberately allowed innocent people to be victimized, including being put into prison for crimes they never committed. And when whistleblowers tried to stop this, they ended up being victimized as well. As one person who was jailed wrongly for it put it, the government learned nothing, and such bad practices still go on. Not a pleasant read.
But even worse is the fact that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies deliberately allowed innocent people to be victimized, including being put into prison for crimes they never committed. And when whistleblowers tried to stop this, they ended up being victimized as well. As one person who was jailed wrongly for it put it, the government learned nothing, and such bad practices still go on. Not a pleasant read.
March 5, 2023
I vaguely remember Whitey Bulger's 2011 arrest after being on the lam for 16 years. It was all over the news but it was of little interest to me. So this book was an eye-opening tale of organized corruption, miscarriages of justice, and fatal street politics. And though this level of criminality could easily be sensationalized to the point of tawdry excess, this author stays mindfully close to the courtroom transcripts. I really had no idea of the twisted story of Bulger and the FBI, nor the fact that he robbed a bank in my hometown of Hammond, Indiana. The author provides first-person interviews with Bulger associates and doesn't shy away from holding the nefarious agents of the law responsible for their roles. The deplorable relationship between New England politicians, police, gangsters, and agents peaked at the height of this trial and leaves an unsettling feeling to wash over you. While I enjoyed the book, I did find it a little longer than I would have liked.
September 5, 2023
I've been endlessly fascinated with the Whitely Bulger saga since living in Boston in the 1980s/early 90s. The politics, crime, corruption - all proving that truth is far stranger than fiction. This book focused primarily on Whitey's trial. After being tipped off about his imminent arrest, Whitely fled. After many years on the lam he was caught in Santa Monica living a pretty nondescript life. His trial revealed his life as an FBI informant (though never officially confirmed it was pretty obvious) and the related corruption of the Boston area FBI. Of course the true tragedy is that many innocent people died or went to prison for crimes they never committed. It really boggles the mind that so much went on with no one blowing the whistle. It's almost as if the most powerful politician in Massachusetts and the states leading organized crime figure were brothers!
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