Mayhem: Unanswered Questions about the Tsarnaev Brothers, the US Government and the Boston Marathon Bombing

by Michele McPhee

"You may think you know this story, but until you read this book, you don't." —T. J. English, New York Times bestselling author

"Readable. Fascinating. Convincing." — Kirkus Reviews

10 years after the Boston Marathon Bombing, this thrilling and meticulously researched account is an eye opener for anyone with lingering questions about one of the most notorious acts of terrorism since 9/11

Investigative journalist Michele R. McPhee reports the details and delivers the facts, piecing together the puzzle so readers are able to come to their own conclusions.

This page-turning narrative goes a long way toward answering questions that still linger about the notorious Boston Marathon bombing, such Where were the bombs made? And what had been Tamerlan Tsarnaev's relationship to the FBI?

Mayhem casts a spotlight on the U.S. Government's relationship with the older Tsarnaev brother as his younger brother, Dzhokhar, will continue his efforts to have his death sentence commuted in October, just days after the Boston Marathon will be run for the first time since 2019.

The federal government may be forced to confirm a longstanding relationship with Tamerlan and its decision to shield him from investigation for the Sept. 11, 2011 ISIS-style triple murder of three friends.

As they infamously did with Whitey Bulger, federal agents appear to have protected Tamerlan because of his value as a paid informant.

Mayhem has been substantially revised and updated in this first paperback edition.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, History, Terrorism, Conspiracy Theories, Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 2020

Reviews

[Joey R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars—I am a big true crime buff including terrorist acts that have a lot of unanswered questions . Therefore, I have read A LOT of articles and watched a lot of videos detailing the events and those responsible for the Boston Marathon Bombing 10 years ago (can you believe it’s been that long?). Somehow I didn’t find out until recently that Michele R. McPhee, a trusted reporter and gifted writer, had written a comprehensive book on the bombing entitled “Mayhem.” And, three days after purchasing and reading this wonderful book, I can tell you that she did an excellent job covering this very complicated case. The book is divided into 4 different sections that delve into the case by subject: 1)the bombing and capture of the suspects, 2)who are the bombers, 3)the events leading up to the bombing and 4) the trial and aftermath. Each subject is covered well, but the sheer amount of people introduced in the book as well as many of the lengthy Russian/Chechen names make it virtually impossible to keep up with who is whom. The book is relatively short but did a good job revealing details I had never heard about the case. There is definitely more to this story primarily dealing with Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s relationship with the US government prior to the bombing. The author was hamstrung in a lot of her research by the Federal government who has classified most of the documents surrounding its relationship with Tamerlan but still makes a good case that he was at least used as a major drug informant and possibly as an asset used to help expose and kill a dangerous terrorist group in Dagestan immediately prior to the bombing in return for a favorable recommendation for US citizenship. The book also touches on the triple murder that Tamerlan was almost certainly involved in Waltham, Massachusetts almost 2 years before the bombing that he was never even questioned about because of this same government relationship. I definitely recommend this book as a comprehensive account of the bombing and the criminals that touches on other areas that many other reporters won’t look into. If it were only 500 pages longer then maybe I could really get to the bottom of the case that still has many lingering questions 10 years later.

[Ankit Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayhem by Michele McPhee is the perfect book if one wants to learn about the dastardly attack that took place in Boston during 2013. The book unfolds the events leading up to the bomb attack, followed by detailed representation of the manhunt that ensued, killing one perpetrator, and successfully capturing and bringing to justice the second one.

The book also analyzes the life history of the Tsarnaev brothers (the perpetrators), including their friends and family. The author posits a theory involving the truths the FBI hid from the people, and makes several claims to back it up. After all, the people have the right to know the truth.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.

[Devon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and compelling info that would have benefitted from the author not reminding us, at every turn, that the Tsarnaev family received public benefits. That bias against folks who receive support only serves to make one question what other biases the author has brought to the table that have tainted the research.

[Katherine Vienneau · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this article a couple of years ago which was centered around an interview with this author so decided to read the full book she wrote to try to get a little more details about the story. unfortunately, for a story which i feel like should be more critical of law enforcement agencies especially with it purporting a connection between terrorism and the fbi, the book for spends much too long extolling to virtues of various surveillance techniques and law enforcement practices for me to fully get on board with what it's trying to say. that's not to mention some frankly bizarre passages against the social safety net, anti-capital punishment advocacy, and other passages which can be read as pretty islamophobic and misogynistic i believe. there's also a wealth of tangents about things that don't even really relate to the narrative the author is trying to tell but instead seem to be pushing her own anti-anarchist agenda such as a part about the weather underground and another completely out of left field section about the suicide of aaron swartz. maybe i just am not really into true crime literature. honestly, while there is stuff to be gleaned here yr much better off reading the linked article above if you're interested in this.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book asks questions of the official account of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 in which 3 people were killed and dozens more injured. The suspects, brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, also killed an MIT police officer, and yet there seems to have been obfuscation from some officials in the investigation. The author argues that the federal government had Tamerlan working as a confidential information and for that reason, he was shielded from investigation for a triple murder on the Sept. 11, 2011 and answers have not been forthcoming about the bombing.

This was an incident that I didn't really know much about, so I found it shocking to read what had happened and about the investigation afterwards. The author did a great job in researching the facts and putting them together in a comprehensive narrative without being sensationalist towards the victims and their life-changing injuries. A thought-provoking read.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Steerforth Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Barbara]

I tried twice, but this was too grisly and violent for me.

[Dominique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not an easy book to read, given the subject matter, but it was really hard to put down. McPhee spares no detail when telling what happened before, after, and during the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings. As she mentioned in the prologue, she spent years doing research for this book & you can tell, given the sheer amount of information she includes throughout (a lot of which has been mostly inaccessible to the public). However, I do wish she presented the information in a clearer manner - her narrative hops around a lot, which causes a lot of confusion & her writing could be a little clearer, as well. Despite that, it’s a very quick and interesting read that provides a lot of insight into what happened and why, how it could have been prevented, and what critical information the government knew (that was either kept secret and/or never divulged to local authorities) before and after the bombings.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but definitely and opinion

First, it is obvious that she did a lot of research for this book. However, it is not well written…it is repetitive in some parts and contradicts itself in others. Mostly, it is easy to tell it is an opinion book with a poor view of the federal government. While an interesting read, it will not convince anyone who doesn’t already have a mind for conspiracy theories.

[Kaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting and very informative read but it seemed a bit non-committal of what it trying to say with its conspiracy allegations. I did like it and learned a lot. I just wish it would have fully went there or not went there at all.

[Mr. Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.

Mr. Book just finished Mayhem: Unanswered Questions About The Tsarnaev Brothers, The US Government And The Boston Marathon Bombing, by Michele R. McPhee.

The author had started investigating the Boston Marathon bombings for ABC News almost immediately after they happened, while also writing cover stories for Boston and Newsweek magazines.

After 9/11, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly reportedly warned that it was “not if, but when” the US was attacked by Islamic extremists and the greatest threat was homegrown terrorists. In 2015 alone, more than 900 Americans were under investigation in the US for their connection to terrorism. The Tsarnaev brothers were an example of homegrown terrorists: coming to the US as children, with one of them becoming a US citizen.

According to the author, “I believe the federal government played a direct role in enabling and inspiring Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s monstrous behavior and and in blocking local authorities’ ability to identify and stop his evolution into a killer. … I also believe the federal government actively impeded a full investigation of the marathon bombings, as well, as other crimes potentially involving Tamerlan and associates of his, and continues to do so today through a variety of means …”

The book got off to a very strong start. The chapters on the bombing, manhunt and capture were excellent and the book appeared to be on its way to at least an A. The rest of the book, however, was straight downhill. The narrative was often confusing to follow, leaving me often wondering why is this material even in here.

The author also failed to prove her assertions regarding the FBI. It can’t be disputed that the FBI did not cooperate with the congressional investigation and there was at least one, if not more, senators who spoke out publicly on that. But, the author never backs up accusations regarding the FBI.

I give this book a C, with only its very strong start preventing it from falling into the D or F category. My recommendation for anyone who wants to read about the bombing would be to read part 1 of its 4 parts. Unfortunately, you can’t go to Amazon and only order the first 6 of 22 chapters.

Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a C equates to 2 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.

Mr. Book originally finished reading this on August 20, 2024.

[Dayna Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy of this book, out April 20, 2020.
You guys 😳 This book is shocking! First of all, the meticulous research on the part of investigator/author, Michelle McPhee uncovered things I'm sure we were NEVER meant to know about the Tsarnaev brothers, specifically the older brother Tamerlan. In what post 9/11 world can someone on TWO terror watch lists travel internationally out of NYC without a passport?🤔 The answer is ours if the FBI wants you working for them... Thus begins a most dangerous game of radicalization, terror plots, egos, and ultimately the carnage of the Boston Marathon terror attacks, months in the making. This book spares no gritty details. It's a tough read. Being a runner, picturing this happening at any of my races, was difficult to think about. The confusion, the shattered glass, scattered body parts, screams, noise, and just absolute chaos would be a nightmare. The author did a fantastic job of honoring the victims of the attack while deconstructing the events leading up to it. It really all fits together like the most macabre puzzle. 😔 If you are a lover of true crime or even just want to know the truth about what happened that fateful day and the US government's disgraceful involvement in it, read this book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a ton from this book, and appreciate the author's diligence in trying to tell this story. That said, I continue to have a healthy skepticism about some of the things the author discusses in this book, while also thinking that the way that some of this information is covered is biased towards law enforcement (specifically BPD) with a gross poverty-shaming lens (not to mention the way the sisters are written off as lost causes for their teenage pregnancies that seem to have resulted from being paired off with adult men in what almost sound like arranged marriages).

This reminds me in a lot of ways of Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, which similarly does a very deep dive on purported government involvement with a source and their protection of said source that goes wildly off the rails, with a lot of circumstantial evidence but lacking hard evidence of the author's case. In both cases, I came away thinking the author was probably on to something without feeling like I really conclusively knew what the hell happened.

[Kate Southey · Rating 5 out of 5]

True crime is one of my favourite genres and when it is a case that has recently been in the headlines it is even more enticing.
This book is incredibly well written and flows with a pace that is more like a novel than a true narrative. It is beautifully researched and infused with McPhee's ability to give a full character to what have been until now simply names in a newspaper.
What is frankly terrifying, is not just the horrific terror attack, but that the brothers were already on the FBI radar and that they may have been left at large in order to build a bigger picture.
I always mark non fiction books on whether or not they make me want to go off and read more widely about the subject and this book had me Googling different things before I'd even finished the book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime.

[˗ˏˋ mckenna ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult to say that I enjoyed reading this because while I did, it also made me so angry to learn the intricacies of this tragic, horrible crime.

I knew the events that took place in Boston on April 15th 2013 fairly well (I was only 13 at the time of the tragedy, but in recent years I've seen the Netflix documentary "American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing" and the theatrical adaptation "Patriot's Day" starring Mark Wahlberg), but Michele McPhee provided so much detail and background into the absolute craziness that was the Boston marathon bombing.

It's utterly atrocious all the things that could have been prevented at many different intervals had the case been handled properly in any way from the beginning. Thought-provoking and astonishing, Mayhem is a must read for true-crime consumers or anyone who wants to hear about how this tragedy really happened. 5 stars.

[Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm somewhat ashamed to admit that I felt a lot of sympathy for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as a teenager, to the point that when they announced his death sentence in 2015 - when I was 14 years old - I was genuinely distraught. This compassion came about largely from a complete ignorance of the scope of his actions, as well as my younger brain soaking up various kinds of misinformation about him from people I really shouldn't have been listening to.

This book did a fantastic job of righting my mentality when it came to this case. Reading about the victims, his total lack of remorse, and how he acted after the fact completely cleared my mind of any doubt or clinging it may have still been doing to the "It was all Tamerlan's fault" narrative I'd been fed as a kid.

This is grueling, and violent, but so incredibly necessary to read, especially if you were anything like I was.

[Denai Piscopo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly well research book and I wouldn't have expected anything less from this Author. The book is a page turner, but not too far in it had me feeling mad. What is the FBI's involvement with this family? And if information had been shared, looked into further come some of these events have been prevented? Something that we will never be able to know. The detail in this book by Michele is phenomenal and really gives a deeper look into things that we already thought we knew. Praise goes out to all the people involved in this event and brining those they could do justice and my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to all those that were affected by it.
A brilliant book, brilliantly written and had me turning every page to get the rest of the story.

[Clazzzer C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. I am not an American citizen and not as clued in at all to the background and politics relating to this book that many of its readers will be but I found it to be a very insightful read which posed many questions, many of which are still unanswered. We were all shocked and devastated to learn of the Boston Bombing. It affected ordinary people like me, my family and my friends. People like those who masterminded and perpetrated that crime and all others like it need to be held accountable and called to justice. Full transparency is required so that such deeds will never go unpunished. Until that transparency exists and full disclosure occurs from the authorities as well as from guilty parties those responsible will ever be held fully accountable.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mayhem is an in-depth look at the Boston Marathon bombings, and the many unanswered questions surrounding the bombers and their possible links to the FBI as informants. The author painstakingly details the events that lead up to the bombing, and explores if one of the bombers had a relationship with the FBI, and how those questions remain even today. Obviously well researched, the book does get bogged down in places as the bomber’s family ties are detailed, but overall it’s a thought provoking book that while in no way diminishes the bombers’ actions, it does raise eyebrows as to the FBI’s possible prior relationship with the bombers and how that may have impacted the investigation.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review..

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly well reearched book. Michele McPhee has thoroughly researched all aspects of the Boston Marathon bombing. I learned a lot about the men involved, their histories, their reasons and their planning. I didn't realize how planned and horrific the bombing was. For example, one bomb was deliberately left behind a row of strollers. I can't imagine how evil one would have to be to set those bombs and walk away.
There are many questions answered by the author. She gets to the bottom of conspiracy theories, especially those involving the government and some questionable decisions they made. The book doesn't answer all the questions, which makes it even more interesting.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley, in return for my honest review.

[Keith Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Michele McPhee makes a compelling, if ultimately circumstantial, case that the FBI must —through their negligence — shoulder some of the blame for the Boston Marathon bombing. It's important to note that other people went to prison for their involvement in the plot and for failing to come forward after the fact. The distinction between their actions, and those of the FBI, in this case, seem largely a matter of splitting hairs. I couldn't help but wonder how many more incidents like this are out there in the headlines. Overall, Mayhem is a compelling book. It raises a host of questions about the use of criminal informants in investigations and pushes the reader to consider what crimes they are willing to let go unpunished for the sake of national security.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the start and didn't loosen its grip until about a third of the way through. It was riveting! I felt like I was on Boylston at the time of the explosion. After that, it is a very well-researched and reported story full of questions for which we may never get any answers. I've always had a high regard for the FBI and I don't tend to like the idea of a conspiracy when it comes to terrorist attacks but I have to say this book has me questioning my beliefs. The FBI certainly seem to have many things to answer for here. I had no idea the case was this complex. A very interesting read!!

[Martin W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A FINE WORK OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. A MUST READ

Top flight work of investigative journalism. Me. McPhee has done her homework quite well and it is patent that there needs to be a thorough review of the investigations into the Boston Marathon Bombing and the relationships between the FBI and other federal intelligence agencies and the people directly and indirectly involved in this horrific act of terror and mass murder. The Attorney General must appoint a special counsel for this job so that a grand jury, separated from the control of the Justice Department by a Chinese Wall, can follow through on the work done for and in this book.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speaking as someone who lives in Cambridge I picked this book up thinking it was a conspiracy theory. It doesn't appear to be given the number of law enforcement sources who went on the record questioning the actions of the FBI. I was not aware of all of the unanswered questions regarding Tamarlen and his immigration status, employment, and other crimes he was involved in. The author does an excellent job of fleshing those questions out and backing them up with named sources. All in all a compelling book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Mayhem by Michelle Mcphee is an interesting, thorough look at the Boston Marathon bombing, although it is a tad bit "conspiracy theorist.". The first-person accounts from people who were there and were injured or bystanders was fascinating.vThis really could be a 5-star book if it wasn't for the conspiracy ideas included throughout the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book discussing whether Tamerlan, one of the brothers in the Boston Marathon bombing, was protected by the government because he was an intelligence agent. Unfortunately, I found it complicated and I found it difficult to concentrate on the book, probably because the present crisis is so involving that it is hard to read about another one.



I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Damn. I am not sure what else to say, so I tried to strong some thoughts together on my blog. You can see my full review there: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this e-ARC from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a thoroughly researched look at the Boston Marathon bombing and more specifically, the FBI’s potential prior knowledge. I found this to be incredibly detailed and fascinating, particularly living in the metro Boston area.

[Caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

page turning read.

i’ve followed this case fairly diligently and even read books from some victims but this was unexpected.

this looks into the lives of the perpetuators and makes a compelling argument that more people were more involved than were held accountable and that perhaps tamerlane was an fbi informant.

[Kayli Schwantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book raised several questions and concerns that I had not heard of in everything that I’ve read about the bombing. There were a few statements made that conflicted with several other books/articles that all seem to be in agreement, but who knows who is right and who is wrong. This book definitely makes me question the FBI, their own motives, and power……

[julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and absolutely gripping, the author hasn't disappointed with this.

Mayhem shows what happens when agencies don't share information, but because most of this is fact the reader is left up to make the decision on where the failures happened.