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Underbelly #2
Underbelly 2: More True Crime Stories
He got the job. Then he got the bullet.
You've seen the television series and read the stories in the papers. Now return to the books that started documenting Australia's underbelly. With their trademark forensic skills, respected journalists John Silvester and Andrew Rule bring to life stories of gang wars and crooked cops, of crimes in high places and suffering in low, of murder, courtroom drama and political machinations, of drug lords and hitmen in crash-through-or-crash grabs for power and territory.
You've seen the television series and read the stories in the papers. Now return to the books that started documenting Australia's underbelly. With their trademark forensic skills, respected journalists John Silvester and Andrew Rule bring to life stories of gang wars and crooked cops, of crimes in high places and suffering in low, of murder, courtroom drama and political machinations, of drug lords and hitmen in crash-through-or-crash grabs for power and territory.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2014
Silvester and Rule are two Australian journalists familiar with the down-under underworld and their "Underbelly" series of true crime stories chronicles the misdeeds of Australian armed robbers, serial killers, mob bosses and petty scum.
In this edition (the 2nd of 11 - so far,) they explore the gangland careers of Alphone Gangitano and Rocky Laria; the criminal exploits of serial killer Derek Ernest Percy and armed robber Peter Lawler and investigate The Bandidos bikie gang.
They reach back into Australia's criminal past to revisit stories that captured the nations headlines, like the unsolved disappearance of the Beaumont children, Frank Vitkovic and the Queen Street killings, the tragic death of toddler Jaidyn Leskie and the mysterious murder of suburban mother, Jane Thurgood-Dove (Still unsolved.)
Some chapters, like those on the Granville Train disaster, the worst train accident in Australia's history, and another on police shootings, focus not on the criminals, but on the sacrifices made by police officers and how one day or one instant, can change their lives forever.
We're reminded of these sacrifices again in the chapters on Gary Silk and Rod Miller, two officers shot dead in the line of duty (The case is, at the time of this review, being tried in the Melbourne courts.)
Truth really is stranger than fiction and Silvester and Rule relay these tales in a breezy journalistic manner. But they also support their stories with well-documented facts (as well as street gossip, speculation and the odd rumor.)
It's an engaging, often gripping read, set apart from similar books by the authors' abilities to put the stories, even the unsolved ones, into a social context.
Perhaps the most interesting story for me, was that of armed robber Alex MacDonald. I couldn't help but be reminded of Garry Disher's fictional career criminal, Wyatt, whose exploits have appeared in about seven novels. Like Wyatt, MacDonald was a criminal on the run, planning and executing armed robberies and other crimes from state to state. Always on the move and trying to stay a step ahead of the law. MacDonald's career came unstuck when he murdered a man and tried to steal his identity. His plan was so audacious that if you tried to write it as fiction, no one would think it credible.
In this edition (the 2nd of 11 - so far,) they explore the gangland careers of Alphone Gangitano and Rocky Laria; the criminal exploits of serial killer Derek Ernest Percy and armed robber Peter Lawler and investigate The Bandidos bikie gang.
They reach back into Australia's criminal past to revisit stories that captured the nations headlines, like the unsolved disappearance of the Beaumont children, Frank Vitkovic and the Queen Street killings, the tragic death of toddler Jaidyn Leskie and the mysterious murder of suburban mother, Jane Thurgood-Dove (Still unsolved.)
Some chapters, like those on the Granville Train disaster, the worst train accident in Australia's history, and another on police shootings, focus not on the criminals, but on the sacrifices made by police officers and how one day or one instant, can change their lives forever.
We're reminded of these sacrifices again in the chapters on Gary Silk and Rod Miller, two officers shot dead in the line of duty (The case is, at the time of this review, being tried in the Melbourne courts.)
Truth really is stranger than fiction and Silvester and Rule relay these tales in a breezy journalistic manner. But they also support their stories with well-documented facts (as well as street gossip, speculation and the odd rumor.)
It's an engaging, often gripping read, set apart from similar books by the authors' abilities to put the stories, even the unsolved ones, into a social context.
Perhaps the most interesting story for me, was that of armed robber Alex MacDonald. I couldn't help but be reminded of Garry Disher's fictional career criminal, Wyatt, whose exploits have appeared in about seven novels. Like Wyatt, MacDonald was a criminal on the run, planning and executing armed robberies and other crimes from state to state. Always on the move and trying to stay a step ahead of the law. MacDonald's career came unstuck when he murdered a man and tried to steal his identity. His plan was so audacious that if you tried to write it as fiction, no one would think it credible.
June 17, 2012
Unlike the various television shows of the same name (which are all adaptations of the stories in these books), the 'Underbelly' series is an in-depth, no-holds-barred look into the criminal underworld of Victoria by two highly-respected and experienced crime jounalists.
There are over a dozen books in the series and each one deals with a range of criminal matters. In the true investigative style of both authors, the facts of the stories are related without any unnecessary embellishment. While there is some humour in some of the stories of bungling criminals and their even more botched crimes, this is a series which does not glamorise 'gangsters' and their deeds.
This is true crime affecting real people and reported and written about in real terms.
John Silvester is a journalist with over 30 years experience, and is the chief crime reporter for The Age newspaper. He also often appears on radio as "Sly of the Underworld", commenting on crimes and criminals around Victoria.
Andrew Rule is also a journalist with over 30 years experience, and has many other books to his name as both author and editor.
There are over a dozen books in the series and each one deals with a range of criminal matters. In the true investigative style of both authors, the facts of the stories are related without any unnecessary embellishment. While there is some humour in some of the stories of bungling criminals and their even more botched crimes, this is a series which does not glamorise 'gangsters' and their deeds.
This is true crime affecting real people and reported and written about in real terms.
John Silvester is a journalist with over 30 years experience, and is the chief crime reporter for The Age newspaper. He also often appears on radio as "Sly of the Underworld", commenting on crimes and criminals around Victoria.
Andrew Rule is also a journalist with over 30 years experience, and has many other books to his name as both author and editor.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews