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Underbelly #12
Underbelly: The Gangland War
Book
420 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 2007
89 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 11, 2018
A fascinating read. I've always wondered how people who get involved in this think and this book highlights just how 'crazy' the underworld is/was. For something that played out in the public, this book shows how 'fame' readily lead to ones downfall and how just quickly people were willing to cross camps. This book will not be for everyone, but will be interesting for anyone who has an interesting in understanding the craziness that took part in Melbourne over a number of years.
The only negative I would have about this book is that it a little repetitive (the same individuals are reintroduced and described).
The only negative I would have about this book is that it a little repetitive (the same individuals are reintroduced and described).
April 2, 2019
It's not high literature by any means, but it's quite entertaining, if low-life gangsters and drug-dealers are your thing.
March 29, 2020
The most comprehensive shot by shot summary of Melbourne's gangland wars. Brought together from the numerous Underbelly titles, this volume comprehensively covers each of the figures involved. From the start when Gangitano killed Workmen right through to the end with the arrests of Mokbel and Williams. Each chapter deals with a different roleplayer and their demise. The main players, Gangitano, Williams, Mark and Jason Moran, Lewis Moran, Gatto, Venerables, Mokbel, Kinniburgh and more.
if this is your first time learning about the years-long war or just a recap, all of the information is contained in this book.
if this is your first time learning about the years-long war or just a recap, all of the information is contained in this book.
October 1, 2017
If you had asked me last if a book about 32 gangland murders could possibly be boring I would have said no, never in a million years, but I would have been wrong. This book achieves what I assumed to be impossible. It lacks continuity, jumping all over the time frame without logic and it is so repetitive. The author repeats passages, not just once but each time he starts on about a parallel murder and then, word for word. It is as if he used cut and paste. I was very disappointed with this book.
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August 6, 2011i was drawn to this because of how much i enjoyed the first 'Underbelly' TV series, and while it didn't really offer anything new it did expand on certain characters and go more in depth as to the relationships formed and betrayed between different players. a good companion piece to the TV series, even if it does get a bit repetitive at times
September 7, 2025
True Crime is always stranger than fiction - and when the Gangland Wars have been going on for - literally years - crims are rehashed - bumped off - locked away and let out - rinse and repeat. Dog eat Dog to the end where each crime boss has to have the last thrust at stardom and be the top boss. Corruption and intrigue, murder and manipulation.
April 17, 2019
Very poorly written. The booked jumped all over the place. Definitely not chronological , same characters turned up again and again
August 7, 2019
Found it difficult to read .... a tad “dry” in parts. Maybe my read was spoilt by the Tv series.
January 31, 2020
Repetitive and rambling. Not what I was expecting for such high-profile gang wars
May 20, 2020
Interesting stories but became very repetitive.
September 28, 2020
Great insight to the Gangland war. Hot tip - if you have secure parking use it!
November 8, 2022
Sprawling, often repetitive account of local history.
Access of authors to subjects creates level of intimacy yet may of the stories have been well recorded in newspapers.
Access of authors to subjects creates level of intimacy yet may of the stories have been well recorded in newspapers.
February 19, 2023
Such an Australian Vibe. And then made into TV. Loved all the books and the series.
October 8, 2024
Reads like a newspaper article.. But then that is what is to be expected
June 26, 2025
Good stories but certain facts were repeated several times.
Books could be half the length
Books could be half the length
July 7, 2025
The book is not always better. Do yourself a favour though and watch the miniseries!
Want to read
January 27, 2019Synopsis: about the criminal gang wars which took place for more than a decade in Melbourne. Related to the TV series.
October 31, 2013
As a lawyer working in Melbourne in criminal defence work, long after the gangland war was over, it's tempting to get sucked into the older stories and the glitz and glamour. However most of us are sensible enough to enjoy the gossip, listen to our peers involved for tips and tricks and keep our distance.
I've always enjoyed John Silvester's pieces in the Age and find him an engaging writer. That said, I think he's a crap journalist - too obviously panders to the police and the big crime families. His work, while interesting and engaging to read, should be front page opinion columns presented as undisputed fact. He also tends to forget the importance of the presumption of innocence and the risks of hypothesising about current cases in his quest for the latest big splash.
I cannot forgive these traits in a supposed journalist. However I can forgive them in a true crime writer. This book is interesting, reasonably well researched (in that there is ample evidence of the authors discussing things with a wide variety of people involved, from all sides of the legal arena) and the presentation of themed chapters is a good way to present the violent history of this particular time in Melbourne. The easy, conversational style of writing which irritates me in the press is engaging here, and easy to read.
I've always enjoyed John Silvester's pieces in the Age and find him an engaging writer. That said, I think he's a crap journalist - too obviously panders to the police and the big crime families. His work, while interesting and engaging to read, should be front page opinion columns presented as undisputed fact. He also tends to forget the importance of the presumption of innocence and the risks of hypothesising about current cases in his quest for the latest big splash.
I cannot forgive these traits in a supposed journalist. However I can forgive them in a true crime writer. This book is interesting, reasonably well researched (in that there is ample evidence of the authors discussing things with a wide variety of people involved, from all sides of the legal arena) and the presentation of themed chapters is a good way to present the violent history of this particular time in Melbourne. The easy, conversational style of writing which irritates me in the press is engaging here, and easy to read.
August 22, 2021
Silvester's book while somewhat interesting and well informed is let down through the obvious bias exhibited by the author, too long in the pay of the police who provide his information. Many of the aliases used are tired, the identities of the persons having been published years ago necessitating an endless series of silly aliases when the real names could have simply been used. Whilst easy to read, the tales themselves appear somewhat chaotic in their telling with the reader having to wade through the incoherence as written.
An enjoyable read, simple language definitely makes this accessible however the points raise do irk and they wrankly strongly, my advice is look for something a lot more comprehensive and current, so much has been written on the Melbourne gang wars.
An enjoyable read, simple language definitely makes this accessible however the points raise do irk and they wrankly strongly, my advice is look for something a lot more comprehensive and current, so much has been written on the Melbourne gang wars.
May 15, 2012
For a fascinating story, this book was terribly hard to get through. Each gangland story is given its own chapter (which is fine) however this results in serious repetition as larger characters cross stories and are re-introduced every time their name is mentioned. It's obviously a collation of stories over time but it unintentionally makes the reader feel to stupid, like they need to be reminded who each player is. There are some really clunky puns throughout which come across as extremely forced. The informative approach should have been set aside for a more dramatic retelling of the story chronologically, ala George Jonas' "Vengeance" (which became the movie "Munich").
February 19, 2008
A riveting read written in journalistic style - it's by a couple of journos - about the gangland war in Melbourne over a period of 12 years.
It's a series of stand alone chapters each dealing with a specific event or person involved in the Melbourne Underworld.
This book is based on a TV miniseries screening in Australia - the miniseries was based on another book called "Leadbelly" which I am yet to read.
As each chapter was a discrete unit and not linked directly to the chapters preceeding it, it was perfect as a put down/pick up read.
It's a series of stand alone chapters each dealing with a specific event or person involved in the Melbourne Underworld.
This book is based on a TV miniseries screening in Australia - the miniseries was based on another book called "Leadbelly" which I am yet to read.
As each chapter was a discrete unit and not linked directly to the chapters preceeding it, it was perfect as a put down/pick up read.
February 18, 2016
If this book was written a few years later, then Carl Williams would have been on the hit list. It was so great to read about the Gangland wars. After I had been a massive fan of the Underbelly series. I thought this book told the story of too many mob members, but at the same time It was great to know that there were so many more gang members that were involved in the war. And to know where and how popular underworld figures like Alphonse, The Moran's and Condello were killed.
October 20, 2015
I borrowed this book from a young chap at work and approached it with an open mind. After I had finished reading it, I wondered to myself if the author laboured over the words as much as I laboured over trying to read it. The author fails to engage the reader throughout the sorry tale. In the very last few pages, I have no idea what happened but the writing style seems to improve dramatically. However, in this case it is too little, too late!
July 24, 2011
very interesting - gives a lot more info than the tv series. at first I found the structure annoying; having a different chapter on each criminal caused a lot of repetition, however, I soon got used to it.
August 5, 2011
I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. It jumps around a lot and I found it confusing. There were some good sections, but I had to keep making myself read it. Factual and informative, but disappointing.
February 23, 2013
The show knitted everything together better than the book. However the book also covers everything after Williams arrest which is just as interesting. It jumps around a lot seemingly repeating info but also then connecting events up. It's definitely worth a read
June 26, 2014
Its a very good read. And yeah it's real life. Right here in Melbourne. The book gives more information and insight then what the series did. Makes you wonder what people will do for money in the underworld!!
January 7, 2009
This is really repetitive but a good insight into Roberta and the gang!
February 23, 2012
Read this book as a result of watching the Australian TV series. I would recommend that rather than the book.
May 10, 2012
Juicy, gorey, heart-stopping, thrilling, ruthless, brutal and intriguing...can't wait to read more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews