Big Shots : The Chilling Inside Story of Carl Williams and the Gangland Wars

by Adam Shand

Telling the story of Carl and Roberta Williams' rise to criminal prominence, this book is based on the author's detailed notebooks from time spent inside Australia's most vicious gangland war. It's a deeply disturbing journey into the heart of Melbourne's dysfunctional 'organised crime' scene.

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction

406 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slightly differing perspective on the Melbourne gangland war of the 1990s and early 2000s from John Silvester's "Underbelly".

[Logga Dogga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read, I'm a simple man, and it was easy to follow. I could not stop until I was finished . Good job buddy

[Tra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so this is all first-hand reporting, not long passages of research or comment from outsider experts.

And so it is a great read, and unexpectedly funny in many parts! Only obvious omission as I read this in 2020 was the no mention for Nicola Gobbo.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is surprisingly good, very well researched, and is fun to read if your a big fan of the TV shows first two seasons.

[Lee Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great insight into the life of Melbourne's underbelly. Loved the way Shand inserts himself into the story and demonstrates his investigative journalism prowess. Lacks the extra layer of the Nicola Gobbo saga because it was written before the scandal came to light. The book also feels disjointed at times, jumping from one anecdote to the next.

[Vikki Petraitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the mundane vs the violence of te big players in te gangland wars. You feel for Adam Shand, the journalist trying to understand the dynamics, and at the same time getting caught up in the middle.

[Glenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enthralling read into the life and crimes of the Melbourne underworld, forget about Underbelly this is the real deal