Sons of God

by O'Loughlin Heath

Siege? Bomb threat? Terrorist alert? Shooting spree? The Sons of God are who Australia turns to in times of extreme crisis. The SOG's top-secret methods, advanced training and incredible bravery have made them the ultimate urban warriors in the war against high-level crime and terrorism.This book details the birth of the 'Sons of God' and revisits 12 dramatic the Port Arthur Massacre, the bombing of Victorian Police headquarters, a wild gun battle with Neo-Nazis and more. All are told in the voices of the 'Sons' who were in the maelstrom, did their duty and somehow came out alive.Author Heath O'Loughlin is the son of a 'Sons of God' commander. He watched his bomb technician father leave the house on 'calls outs', never knowing where he was going or if he would return. Heath has been given exclusive and privileged access to SOG case files and interviewed 19 'Sons', all of whom are going on the record for the first time, narrating their hell-raising and heretofore secret adventures in high-octane recollections guaranteed to give readers a feel of what it was to be there.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2017

Reviews

[Bekk Rigbye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t even know what the SOG were before I read this book. I guess, in a way I am lucky enough to have never been in a situation that required me to meet them or know they exist.

This is a fantastic, well written piece of writing. Heath clearly details each and every scenario and manages to maintain a steady flow from one chapter to the next. I felt as though I was meeting and getting to know these members of the SOG in real life, I could clearly picture them felt as they went through their jobs.

Amazingly Heath has managed to weave together his narration and the individual voices of the SOG members in a way that didn’t leave me as the reader tangled and confused in the various voices.

[Natalie S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Consider the famous trope, “I would love to tell you, but then, of course I’d have to kill you” made famous by the likes of Top Gun, American Psycho and Sherlock, to name a few. You get the sense that this is also applicable when you read the true crime title, Sons of God – Inside the Secret World of Our Special Operations Group. This is an unprecedented and colourful look at Australia’s very first SWAT team, a squad set up by the Victorian Police in 1977 in order to keep the community safe.

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[John Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best, most authentic true crime / police books I have read. Amazing first-hand accounts told in a witty and engrossing fashion. Highly recommend for any Aussie crime fans. Would love to read more from Heath.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic . Interesting, exciting, emotive and gripping. Thank god for the SOG

[Micheal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Police's Special Operations Group (or Sons of God, for reasons which are made clear in the potted history at the start) are Mean, Tough and Fucking Terrifying. Yep, that's their intention. This is like an oral history of some of their more memorable operations and it's really good, except for the few times that the author gets in way. Like a lot of Aussie true crime works, the writing can often veer into the shonky lane.

[Mary Fox]

This book gave4 an insight to the work of the SOG, dealing with situations that are life and death to protect the public. Well written.