Dead in 5 Heartbeats: A Motorcycle Club War Novel by Sonny Barger―Bad Blood and One Final Ride

by Ralph Barger

The no–holds–barred first novel from Sonny Barger, author of the New York Times bestseller Hell's Angel . The mass market edition will be an ideal format for Sonny's legions of fans. ⏡tch⟋inkade thought that things were winding down. The former President of the Infidelz, the most powerful motorcycle club in Northern California, Patch has drifted east, hoping to start a new life in Arizona. He wants to forget his old life, a life where being the President of the Infidelz cost him his family. Now, he is responsible for no one but himself. But everything changes one night in Nevada, as bad blood between members of the Infidelz and a rival club, the 2Wheelers, errupts into a firefight, littering a casino with the corpses of both club members and ordinary citizens. The newspapers call it ⁩ke Wars,⟡nd Patch knows he's needed, either to help make a peace––or win a war. Responding to the call to duty, Patch straps on his knives and wipes the dust off his Harley, ready to cruise down the highway for what could be his final ride.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Ralph Hubert "Sonny" Barger (born October 8, 1938) is a founding member (1957) of the Oakland, California, U.S. chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. He is also the author of five books - Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club (2000), Dead in 5 Heartbeats (2004), Freedom: Credos from the Road (2005), 6 Chambers, 1 Bullet (2006), and Let's Ride: Sonny Barger's Guide to Motorcycling (2010) - and editor of the book Ridin' High, Livin' Free: Hell-Raising Motorcycle Stories (2003).


Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_B...

Reviews

[Eric Plume · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 70%. This started out fairly strong and I wanted to like it. Bikers are an interest of mine, and a crime novel written by the former president of the Hells' Angels? Oh yeah, sign me up.

Unfortunately Barger is a biker not an author. His prose is stilted and wooden, and nobody bothered to explain to him the difference between first and third person. Honestly this book would have been way better in the first person.

Positives: Barger doesn't try to make his bikers into heroes or justify their motivations as "good". No, they are bad people doing bad things for selfish reasons - to help their club, to get rich, etc. While there is plenty of courage on display, there's precious little heroism.

Di5H is pretty damn violent - but unlike a lot of violent novels, the bloodshed feels real. The bar brawls feel like bar brawls; ugly, blood affairs full of desperate improvisation and raw savagery. The bikers beat each other with chains, carve each other up with knives, poke each other with screwdrivers...they act like bikers, in other words. Also, the dynamics behind how and why fights break out is much more authentic than what's in most typical fiction. That's probably due to how Barger lived the lifestyle before writing about it.

The book started out as a gritty piece of neo-noir and I really wanted it to be better, but by the 70% mark the plot had just plain fallen apart. I couldn't tell what was happening anymore, and I found myself not caring too much either. Ah well. Can't in good conscience recommend this one.

2.5 stars.

[Steven Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for Five heartbeats. Excellent read, fast as well, couldn't put it down. I'm a bit partial due to​ the fact that my band Glass Heroes had several songs on the soundtrack of the movie and were one of the performers that played our songs for Sonny and HA at bikeweek a few years ago. The ending was brutal and justice was served street style. Totally enjoyed it and was a refreshing read. I dug the Chapters names even. Well done.

[Pamela Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this incredibly hard to get through due to the dull narrative and my indifference to the characters and their motives. None of the characters, even the main one, stood out as memorable, so much so that here I am not a day from having finished it and I can't tell you the main character's first name. It could have been a great story, but Barger and those that helped him write this book didn't present it with much excitement.

[Michael Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this read. It’s well written. It painted a movie in my mind as if I was there in person. It was very hard to put down every time I had to do so. I highly recommend everyone, every walk of life to read this and anything Sonny has a part in.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Biker Read

Really enjoyed this book.
I'm sure there is more truth in it than fiction.
It will be a shame that there is only one book, I'm sure "Patch" would have made for a great series.
Good job/ RIP Sonny

[Darel Krieger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It was one of the better outlaw motorcycle books I've read. Definitely a big thumbs up.

[Matthew Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Just got the second book to the series in and started. RIP legend Sonny Barger.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is by no means great literature, but it's a fun read if you're interested in motorcycle clubs at all. I have no associations with 1% motorcycle clubs, but I've read a couple of books, including Sonny Barger's autobiography, and this book takes me about as close to that world as I want to go. The main character is pretty heroic, but has enough flaws and doubts to be interesting.

It was interesting to see little bits and pieces of Sonny Barger's autobiography show up in this book. I don't think it's in any way autobiographical, but he definitely writes from what he knows.

I look forward to reading the next "Patch Kinkade" book.

[Gina M Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived the lifestyle & been involved with biker clubs, this novel was spot on. Dialogue & characters felt credible & well developed. This was a fast easy read that I wish had been made into a series. Perhaps it was as this book could easily have been the script behind the hit TV series Sons of Anarchy, being written before the genesis of SoA. I'm looking forward to reading more of Barger ' s books & if I can, seeing the movie based on this book.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how much of this Barger actually wrote, or whether it was based on his ideas and used his name to capitalize on his infamous history. Anyway, the story is fast paced and not too bad. It wasn't the best such book I've read but it kept my attention.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

- Angelo studiò il design ondulato della Harley.
"Wow, baby, bella carrozzeria." Fischiò facendo scivolare la mano sull'involucro in alluminio cromato che alloggiava il serbatorio. "E' quasi formosa come il culo di Pamela Anderson." -

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok for a first attempt at a novel but it's The Boss Sonny Barger so it gets mad love

[Kile Antone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick and exciting read.

[Ralph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of Sons of Anarchy might like this pulpy bit of biker noir penned by Hell's Angel Sonny Barger and the brothers Zimmerman. Others maybe not so much.

[Eric Matheny · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like motorcycle gangs, this book is for you. Written by none other than the famous leader of the Oakland Hells Angels.

[Maxxhew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining.

[M. Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Life Hard Boiled Fiction

The story of Patch Kinkade and the Infidelz MC is fast paced well told and true to the life of 1% outlaws life and livelihood.

[Stephan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly, this is a rather fun read. Everything falls into place.