5 comments about Boot: An L.A.P.D. Officer's Rookie Year.

1. I first read this book when I was in High School I thought it was great, few weeks later I joined the LAPD Harbor's Division Explorer Scouts. One day while working at the station I met Sgt. Feula (a character mentioned on the book) I was very surprised, he did not know his name was mentioned on the book. He took me on several ride-alongs and I learned alot from him few months later I shipped out for the Military, he retired and I never heard of him:.... ///Sergeant Feula if you ever see this messege; thank you for everything, day by day I get closer and closer to become an LAPD officer, I will take what I learned from you and put it to use... Martinez///



2. This book is hands down the best book relating to firsthand police work I've read. Truly does give you a good sense of what it might be like to work in L.A. as a cop.



3. I believe this is a fantastic book for anyone thinking of joining law enforcement - or just trying to get a feel for what its like to become a cop.
   I've also just completed the book "Gangs of Los Angeles", a candid look into the world of LA street gangs. I've done my best to retell their history and explain their culture in a way only an LA street cop with gang expertise could.



4. I read this book years ago when it came out in hard back. It really helped me understand what my son was going through as a police officer. I just bought it again to give to a friend who's son is coming back from Afghanistan and wants to join LAPD, and I read it before passing it along because he says he added a few new tales. It is a fun, and fascinating book to read, and i recommend it for every young person who wants to be a police officer, or any mom who wants to know what their kids are going through thier first year out.



5. This is a very interesting book, written by an LAPD officer, looking back on his first year on the force, as a 'Boot,' which is what they call their rookies.
   
   Dunn's book is by far the most interesting LAPD autobiography that I've read so far. He takes the reader straight inside some of the most dangerous and fascinating streets of Los Angeles.

5 comments about Wild Brews: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition.

1. Wild Brews covers those beer styles of Belgium that depend upon fermentation by wild yeast and bacteria, specifically East Flanders brown, West Flanders red and lambic. Although you may be under the impression, as I was, that a lambic brew could occur only in the Brussels and Payottenland areas and inside cobweb infested barns with leaky roofs, Sparrow contends that wild yeast can occur anywhere. It is the cultivation and control of the right microorganisms that create a quality brew.
   
   The book looks at the history, brewers and brews of the area and includes many photographs, but of particular interest to advanced brewers are the sections on the nature of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, Saccharomyces and other microorganisms that ferment and acidify wild beers. Temperatures and other environmental factors can enhance or inhibit their activity.
   
   An infusion mash is commonly used for Flanders red and Flanders brown and a turbid mash for lambic. The methods are detailed in the book, plus specifics on how to control the fermentation process to balance the yeasts and bacteria by allowing dominant stages and adjusting temperatures. The addition of fruit would amplify the complication. This is not a book for a beginning home brewer.
   
   Brewers will find it nearly impossible to copy a style because of the unpredictability of wild yeasts and bacteria. Two brewers using the same recipe are likely to come up with brews quite different. Wild brews are often blended to change the character of a beer or achieve consistency. Blending is an art that requires trial and error to learn.
   
   Sparrow provides ten recipes, including options to experiment with the brews at different stages. The recipes and information in this book provide a wonderful challenge to create a unique brew while aspiring to the standards set by the Belgium brewers.



2. I've never been in a Belbium brewery, but from what I hear, the health department in any city/state in the US would immediately shut them down. The very title of this book 'WildBrews' explains why. The traditional lambic beers of Belgium are produced using wild yeast. While you can find wild yeast everywhere, the ones you get here in the US produce truly bad beers. Each batch you produce will be different, sometimes totally different, but in my experience always bad.
   
   The yeast that seem to abound in Belgium produce beers with a consistency that has lasted for generations. I don't know if it is true, but I have always suspected that clumps of yeast would gather together rather like cob webs or dust balls around the brewery and fall or be blown into the mix. I was rather surprised at the appearance of the breweries in this book as they seemed clean and sanitary.
   
   Lambics have not been among the most popular beers made in this country. Only a few micro breweries produce lambics, the most popular around here is New Belgium from Ft. Collins, CO.
   
   You can, of course make your own Lambics, the recipies start on page 255 of this book. But you don't do it with the natural yeast floating around the air in your garden. You buy Lambic yeast from a couple of companies.
   
   One scary thought. Beer was invented some 5,000 years ago. Probably some grain got wet, sprouted, dried out, got wet again and some yeast got into the mix. Boy that must have been bad stuff. At that time it was all wild yeast. Personally I'm glad that we've had 5,000 years of yeast development.
   
   This is an enjoyable book, almost a travelogue through Belgium beers.



3. This book was loaded with good historical pieces that I doubt could be found elsewhere. It is not a casual book however, only for those with a deep interest in Belgian brewing. The text tends to wind around a bit, but is well worth following.



4. As the title suggests, this book deals with the history and manufacturing techniques related to sponteneously fermented beers (lambic, gueze). It shows a very different perspective on what is "beer" from that of modern America where Budweiser dominates. Similar to "Farmhouse Ales", this book explores how culture and geography combined in the creation of these beers. It also deals with how modern attitudes are challenging the continuation of some of the methods. It seems odd that after 500 years someone would decide that a production method is "unsanitary".
   
   This raises a great point. If the reader is like me, much of the methodology described in this book will seem like an unclean heresy compared to the dogma that new homebrewers are indoctrinated with. Which, to me, makes it fascinating. For the majority of American homebrewers this book will open a whole new world.
   
   The book does a good job of describing the history, culture, biology, and methods that create "wild brews". Equipment and techniques are thoroughly described. In fact, this book inspired me to give barrel aging a try. It worked! At times the text does seem to wander and bog down (the reason for four stars instead of five). The author also falls into the "malt-extract beers are not as good as all grain" mantra. I see this a an annoying elitist attitude with little basis in fact. As Tess and Mark Szamatulski point out: "Award winning beers have been, and continue to be brewed with malt extract." Let each brewer choose the method that best suits them.
   
   To sum up: The good points of this book far out weigh its negatives. This book provides a fascinating and inspiring look into a world of beer that barely exists for most North Americans. If you are a homebrewer who enjoys experimenting it will provide you with many avenues of exploration and hours of enjoyment.



5. I understood the basic styles of belgian beer before, but not the specific details of the styles, particularly the wild fermented beers.My one and only lambic was brewed in 2000.I drank the last bottle in 2007. A great beer with 7 years maturation.This book has spurred me on to brew more wild brews with greater control of targeted styles.Many thanks for a great book. Still have brew like a monk, farmhouse ales and extreme brewing to read. Just started Brew like a monk.Most informative and well written. Thanks,
   Andy in Western Australia

5 comments about King of the Godfathers: Joseph Massino and the Fall of the Bonanno Crime Family (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. Mr. DeStefano's latest book is the defining work on the Bonanno Crime Family! This book expounds on Mr. DeStefano's meticulous & compelling coverage of the Massino trial, incorporating Joe Massino's early years and rise to power, along with a concise history of the Mafia's major figures.
   His years as a respected journalist, have given Mr. DeStefano the ability to lay out the facts with total objectivity, while writing about what is often the basest of human behavior. Deftly, he also weaves in passages which give us insight into the emotional toll paid by those who are inadvertently affected by such a lifestyle.
   This riveting book gives readers entree into a secret society which continues to fascinate and affirms why Mr. DeStefano is one of the finest reporters on the beat today.
   I look forward to seeing the next organized crime book by this superb writer and mob aficionado!
   
   PS I wonder if a previous reviewer has confused this terrific book with another with a similar name, by a different author?



2. King Of The Gordfathers is an extremely well written book! I found it very deep and informative, so much so that I wondered how Anthony DeStefano got the 'members of the family' to reveal all of the inside stories. This book opens up the silence that was for so many years repressed and only speculated about. Mr. DeStefano also shows the work of the FBI and law enforcement agencies in finally putting pieces together that brought down one of the last of the 'old world' families. A big plus are the crystal clear photo section and an epilogue on 'Where They Are Now' King Of The Godfathers is a very detailed book that one needs to take the time to think about as you read through its chapters. Being of Sicilan heritage, I was very impressed, enlightened and educated, let alone a bit surprised! This book also shows why Mr.DeStefano won a Pulitzer Prize in 1991. You will not be disappointed in reading!



3. i liked the way this book gave alot of info about the wives of mob figures.I've always wondered what the wives knew about their husband's activities and how they rationalized it. The wives are a convenient way to hide and transfer the assets of mobsters and they should bear some(or alot) of the guilt.The one DA in the book was putting pressure on mobster wives and this was a tactic I was unaware of and have wondered why mobsters' wives were considered,"untouchable".After all who is too often pressuring the mobster to bring in more money?
   Joe Massino or "Joe Wagons"(nicknamed for his sandwich and coffee truck business) is represented in this book as one of the "Last Dons".Because law enforcement techniques are making the "family" less profitable and more dangerous, more and more mobsters are turning "states evidence".This book tells the tale of how law enforcement is breaking the comraderie of mobsters who previously took a "blood oath" to be faithful to the mob.Behind the facade of the "ham sandwuch guru",the story of Massino, is one filled with scams and murder.Apparently there's not much money in ham sandwiches,but it does get a person out into the working world to promote their scams.This book will keep you glued.Lots of gruesome photos which initially shock,but then as you read the history of the poor unfortunate you feel alot less sympathetic.(Just the mob's way of cleaning it's own house)!Well researched and highly readable



4. awesome book, couldn't put it down.



5. If you are like me, you thought the mafia would die out when John Gotti went to jail. That is clearly not the case, as this book perfectly illustrates. Fantastic, entertaining book about one of the bosses of one of the powerful Five Families in New York. The man only recently went to prison in 2003. Book (the softbound edition) covers his entire life of crime all the way through his trial in 2004 along with developments through early 2008. It is an entertaining, educational, informative read, covering not only the boss, but the Bonnano family and NY mafia families in general. If you want to learn what the modern day mob is like and have a good time while doing so, then buy this book.

1 comments about The Best American Crime Reporting 2007 (Best American Crime Reporting).

1. I have read all the books in this series since 2002 and this is one of the best. All of the "true-crime" stories here are extremely well-written, taken from various magazines throughout the year, and provide background information that you will never get from the news headlines.
   The book begins with the story of Sal and Mabel Mangano, the New Orleans nursing home owners who were accused of abandoning their residents to Hurricane Katrina. The article addresses this story from many angles, not the least of which concludes that the Manganos are far from the monsters that they were made out to be in the media. There is another fascinating story of a New York writer who unwittingly shares his apartment with a subject of "America's Most Wanted," and another story of a young female medical intern who disappeared the day before 9/11 and whose fate is still unknown. There are a couple of great whodunits, and a heartbreaking account of the Russian school hostage seige in Beslan.
   Every story in this book is a page-turner, and I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers.

1. DEAD RECKONING: The New Science of Catching Killers provides the reader with an inside look into the exciting world of forensic science as the authors explain the scientific detection of cause, manner and mechanism of death. The authors' presentation, which includes exquisite case histories as well as down-to-earth clarification of scientific details with understandable illustration, formulates a captivating read.
   
   As a homicide and forensic consultant I appreciate the importance of trace evidence and how significant such microscopic evidence can be in conducting a homicide investigation. DEAD RECKONING: The New Science of Catching Killers, emphasizes how crucial physical evidence can be. More importantly, physical evidence represents the "unimpeachable witness." It cannot be clouded by a faulty memory, prejudice, poor eyesight or one of many human frailties. As the authors state; "It is reproducible, preservable and ultimately the most reliable witness any cop or D.A. could ever dream of."
   
   DEAD RECKONING: The New Science of Catching Killers is a must read for anyone who has a passionate enthusiasm for forensic science and its application to the investigative process. The authors provide the reader with real life case examples and information about the intricacies of the medicolegal autopsy, the use of blood stain pattern analysis, the analysis of maggots in estimating time of death, facial reconstruction, hair analysis, forensic odontology and the forensic exhumation.



2. The book meets all of my standards for 5 stars: Interesting subject, spell-binding story, and well-written. Plus Baden includes comments about the dummies who work as cops, attorneys, judges, medicos, and technicians. These people make life difficult for the real stars: competent cops, attorneys, judges, etc. I especially like how Baden walks you through what he does, commenting on the professional arcana of his craft. Any professional who fails to talk about his tools is suspect, in my book. This book will serve you well if youre writing about true crime.



3. If you enjoy forensic science and true crime literature this book will keep you entertained. However, I don't think it is Dr. Baden's best work. The organization of the book was a bit scattered and overall, it can't decide if it is a textbook, an autobiography or a work of non-fiction.
   
   The strongest parts of the book were his descriptions of the "gods" of the forensics world: Henry Lee, the blood spatter expert and the entomology guru. He makes these men leap off the pages and you find yourself truly fascinated by their morbid daily activities that contribute so much to forensic science. It was a great primer on these little known, much appreciated scientists.
   
   In some places, there was WAY too much detail, I was bored as I imagined I was reading a student's textbook. The true crime genre is a tricky one - you need enough details to keep the audience interested, but not too many they feel you're lecturing to them. This book doesn't quite get that balance right.
   
   Overall the book was disjointed, and I was puzzled as to why Dr. Baden kept peppering chapters with his own dysfunctional childhood details or droning on about his skill in talking to juries while thwarting defense attorneys. I have read other books by Dr. Baden and have seen his HBO specials and I found him to be smart, engaging and completely competent. In this book, he would have done better to eliminate his own egocentric random details and just describe the pure process of the science and the men who do it.
   
   Finally the pictures in the middle seem placed there gratuitously, referring to certain stories haphazardly. It would have been better organized had all of the pictures been placed in the corresponding chapters. Plus, some more relevant pictures might have been more appropriate.
   
   I think if you are a newcomer to the forensic science genre, there are better books to keep your interest. If you're not, this book has some good parts, but disappoints overall.



4. This book would be great for anyone who is even the slightest bit interested in going into forensics. Dr. Baden shows how lots of different professionals work together to solve crimes. He tells about things like blood school and bug school and what goes on at forensics conventions, that most of the population wouldn't even dream of hearing! He goes into detail on a few key players in forensics: the renowned Henry Lee, and even some of the "bad guys," including the medical examiner who faked hundreds of autopsies and had many wrong people convicted.
   
   It's an inside look into a world that the general public rarely gets a glimpse of, and it was wonderfully done.



5. The pair have a way with words! I could not put this book down, it only took 24 hours to read and I was up set when I was done! I wanted more! The way Dr. Baden tells his stories are wonderful, I look forward to reading more from this pair!

5 comments about Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain.

1. Reading through this book and watching taped interviews of the authors and Tom Grant, it occurs to me that none of them could be familiar with how heroin addicts behave or the amount of heroin a seasoned addict can consume, nor do they understand the classic behavior pattern of a suicidal individual. Cobain's death was a standard scenario seen all over the world, every day. Shame on these 'writers' and Tom Grant the 'investigator' for exploiting and cashing in on the pain and suffering of others.



2. I have always believed Kurt Cobain was murdered. Always have. Always will. But I have come to a conclusion, after doing all this research and finding out all the accusations, even if Courtney could be convicted of Kurt Cobains murder, I honestly don't think he would want it to happen. He loved her, he loved Frances, he wouldn't have wanted her to grow up without a mom. I know this. Kurt was a caring and innocent soul. He will always be loved and missed.



3. Based on this I would have to say that there is enough in question to re-open the case.
   Very interesting reading to say the least.



4. I still have many questions after trying to sort throug everyone's conversations. I tend to think it was murder though. Why would Courtney Love not try and get the information/photo's that was being asked for by the PI? She was the one that had hired him and because she has something to hide! This case will never be investigated again by the SPD. They say once a junkie, always a junkie. The one thing that I can say after reading this book, Courtney Love is a white piece of trash and may her soul burn in hell!



5. I thought this would just be a throw-away book, a sensationalistic attempt to spin another angle on Cobain's 1994 "suicide." But the book seems well-researched and fairly well written. Its basic premise, which it attempts to document largely through interview data--along with some new forensic evidence and documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act--is that Cobain was planning to divorce Courtney Love just before her career really took off. When they married they had signed a pre-nup, which made him next to worthless to her alive and divorced. But AFTER they signed it, he made a meteoric rise to fame and fortune while she remained ambitious but not yet the rich grunge goddess that she was to become. With Kurt dead, she got her money and his. Courtney is portrayed as one of the hardest bitches anyone is likely to come across. Forget the fact that she was a junkie . . . she was one of those young women with a bad childhood, who decided to claw her way to the top without scruples or regrets. To hear the authors tell it, many people in this case are afraid of her and so have never really spoken out. And she did reach a point of some influence and wealth, right after his timely (for her) demise. So she hired a hit man, intimidated some and bought off others, allowing the hoax of his suicide to go forward. The authors hope their volume will reopen the case, to at last find justice and stem the tide of copycat suicides that followed. I ended the book convinced that this was a matter that should be looked into further.

5 comments about An Unfinished Canvas: A True Story of Love, Family, and Murder in Nashville.

1. This was one of the most heart-breaking true crime books I have ever read. My heart goes out to the Levines in the loss of their daughter and to Janet March's children. There is no punishment I can think of that is bad enough for Perry March.
   
   However, one major frustration for me was that this book was written in the present tense. I found it extremely confusing and had to keep going back to previous passages in order to clearly understand the sequence of events.



2. I took my title from a quotation by Det. Pat Postiglione, one of the true heroes of this fascinating story. I found this account of Nashville's most anticiapted (10 years) trial (actually 3 trials) and perhaps "crime of the century" to be thoroughly readable. Although I paid as much attention to the case as anyone in the Nashville area, this fine work put all the pieces together. For that reason alone, I recommend this.
   
   This book includes: custody battles, jurisdictional fights, alleged hit-men, jailhouse snitches, abuse of a corpse, and above all- supreme arrogance on the part of the book's principal subject, Perry March. It also includes midnight bicycle rides, not really a crime but I'll leave that for you to discover. Anyone interested in unsolved/ cold case murders will love this book. I couldn't put it down.



3. "An Unfinished Canvas" is about the murder of Janet March by her husband and the long trail to justice.
   There are several colorful characters involved in the book including the killer's father, Arthur March and Perry March himself.
   
   The highlights in this case were the victim's parents and their will to fight against their daughter's killer. The cold case detectives Pridemore and Postigliano also stand out for their intelligence and unwavering dedication as evidenced by their high rate of cold cases they solved.
   
   The resolution of this murder was hampered by two primary factors: the victim wasn't reported missing for two weeks and for some unexplained reason the original lead detective tipped off March's attorney that the home was going to be searched.
   
   Where the book disappointed me was the repetition of the same information, like the conversation on the plane ride back from California during March's extradition. The history of Nashville in chapter 1 was dry. The book really ground to a halt with the trial sections at the back of the book.
   
   An interesting cold case but the book was not the smoothest or most riveting true crime book that I have read.



4. After moving from Nashville, I continued to keep up with this case through Nancy Grace and 48 Hours Mysteries. Glasgow and Gobbell dramatically portray the story of Janet March who was an intelligent, attractive woman from a great family who was deceived by a narcissistic, evil man. I realize that the "apple did not fall far from the tree"after reading about the role of Perry's father and his involvement in the crime. I would like to say kudos to the writers and the detectives who did not give up on locating and revealing all of the facts regarding this crime and who helped bring Perry March to justice. This is a great read!



5. This is the second book that I have read on the case. I read Jeanne King's book already but I have to say that this book is better than hers because it is more detailed and the authors are native residents of Nashville so their insight into explaining the city's dynamics is quite excellent. I visited Nashville or Music City two weeks ago and I loved it. I would have liked to have spent more time there. The book chronicles the relationship between Perry and his late wife, Janet. There is no doubt that he killed. He had his own father, Arthur, help in the ridding of her remains. The victim's family, Larry and Carolyn Levine, were very well known in the Jewish community of Nashville. They were also very close to their daughter, Janet, an aspiring artist who dearly loved her son, Samson, and daughter, Tzipora. The Levines and the Marches would wage an all out war that the courts and governments of America and Mexico would handle. Larry and Carolyn believed Perry was involved in their daughter's disappearance. They sought custody of their grandchildren but Perry had already taken them to Mexico to live with his new wife, Carmen, new step-siblings, and their grandfather Arthur March who retired there. Perry's time in Mexico would not last forever. For over 10 years, dedicated law enforcement officials sought to bring Perry to justice. Arthur finally confesses to his role and his explanation. He helps the police although ten years too late. One of the reasons that I didn't give the book the five stars is because I think the authors could have spoken more with Perry's brother and sister regarding the mysterious circumstances of their mother's own death. It shadows the story of an overdose of barbituates in Chicago, Illinois. Janet believed her own father-in-law killed his wife Tzipporah. Janet named her own daughter after the mother-in-law that she never met. Perry was about 10 years old when she found dead. I wished that the case of the first Mrs. March would be reopened despite Arthur's death. I also think that they could have had better pictures in there.

5 comments about The Corpse Had a Familiar Face: Covering Miami, America's Hottest Beat.

1. First book. Mesmerizing. Tough, critical, witty, a read-to-the-end book (forget sleeping for about two days). A tough lady who won the respect of law enforcement and fellow novelist. Humorous, sad, caring,
   historical and factual with no sugar coating. Just the facts, Ma'am! Street smart. If you don't have a member of law enforcement in your family, you need to read this book to garner some idea of their lives.



2. I finished this book in 2 days. I found it different from most true crime books I read, but very interesting.



3. Edna is a great (and very funny) speaker. Her writing is just as good. If you want to learn exactly what a crime reporter does and learn it in a truly very amusing book, this is for you. I read this book before I heard her speak. I expected that the talk would be boring (i.e., couldn't be as good as the book), and was I wrong! She kept all of us laughing for about 45 minutes. If you ever get a chance to hear her speak, don't hesitate! If hearing her appears to be extremely unlikely, you are in luck because you can read her book! Seldom do I laugh out loud while reading a book, but I did while reading this one. If I ever hear the song "I shot the Sheriff" I know I will start laughing out loud again. This is light reading and you won't regret the time you spend!



4. I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK 4 1/2 STARS BECAUSE I WISH IT WOULD HAVE HAD SOME PICTURES. THE STORIES WERE REALLY DIFFERENT AND NOT SURE I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA.



5. Edna Buchanan has written a multi-faceted book about many of the crimes in Miami and the nearby area from her career as a crime reporter for local newspapers.
   
   She wrote about her childhood and the journey that led her to journalism.
   
   The author related how publicity usually aids in solving cases and apprehending the guilty,but not always. The "Pillowcase Rapist" was used as an example where that tactic failed.
   
   Victims are not always located. Like in the case of Christopher Wilder where two of his victims' bodies were never discovered.
   The disappearance of a 17 year old girl was an unsolved mystery. The poignant story of her mother's courageous search in dangerous locales and her timeless determination was another side to that story.
   
   Edna Buchanan documented the carnage of the race riots that resulted after the McDuffie police brutality-murder case.
   
   There are a number of true life,colorful characters in "The Face had a Familiar Face" that make this book entertaining and hard to put down.

5 comments about All I Want To Do Is Kill (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. This is the second book I have ready by Dale Hudson. It was so well-written and so intense that it gave me nightmares. The murder scene was
   so vivid and surreal that I felt like I was right there all the way, watching as Holly Harvey and Sandy Ketchum killed the Colliers. I have never read about any murder before that scared me this much. My only problem was that even though I was frightened by what I read, I couldn't
   stop reading until I was finished. I highly recommend this book for any true crime lovers, but caution you to keep the lights on while you read.



2. Such a heinous crime commited by girls that are really no more than young children. How could their lives have gone so wrong to committ such a heinous crime against elderly grandparents ? I highly recommend this book as a true crime read. It is very graphic and well written. The author takes you on a roller coaster ride. Some parts are very intense, then he gives you a little rest and back to the drama unfolding.



3. This book was very hard for me to read. I had to take breaks because it was very graphic and such a tragic ending that didn't have to be. Such a horrible way for a couple of elderly grandparents to spend their last minutes of life. I highly recommend this book. The author certainly put in some leg work with researching this story. Thanks for a well written true crime read.



4. I had originally read this story in brief in a magazine and decided that I needed more info. I found the book hard to get into at first. So many details and facts not much about the victims or the killers. After the first chapter I could not put it down I read the book in full in three days. I think that the author did very well in describing the details. I felt sorry for everyone involved. I didn't to much agree that Sandy was as innocent as the author made it sound, she played a equal role. But I enjoyed the book over all. Such a tragedy such young girls doing such a horrible thing.



5. While it's certainly shocking what these two girls did to Holly's grandparents, I was shocked that a book this poorly written and edited made it to the shelves. It was so poorly written, in fact--so full of misused words, typos, silly idioms and redundancies that it distracted from the fascinating story. The author really, REALLY needs to be a little more careful and not in such a rush to meet a deadline. Editing truly is important. A lot of editing would have made this a much better book.

5 comments about Rat Bastards: The Life and Times of South Boston's Most Honorable Irish Mobster.

1. I really enjoyed reading John Shea's autobiography Rat Bastards. Rat Bastards is an honest look into the life of a real human being that happened to be in the Irish Mafia. Filled with colorful rich and memorable characters, this is like a shot of testosterone for the weak, a page turner that is at times uncomfortable, at times sentimental but always unapologetically real.Forever My Lady



2. Entertaining insight to the 1970's - 80's Boston irish mob. Authentic story, predictibly leavened by the author's projection of himself as a "superman".



3. Southie was never an easy neighborhood. The D Street projects, where my mother grew up, may be the toughest part of Southie. Shea captures the authentic, troubled neighborhood and adopts its credo -- never rat. While tough and violent, Shea is not the super hero he makes himself out to be. Throughout the book, Shea brags that, like Whitey, he accomplished his goals with violence, often mindless violence. Growing up fatherless, with little guidance and no discipline, he searches in vain for a father figure to guide him. Although Shea describes himself as "honorable" and effuses over Mark Walberg's "friendship" (Walberg bought the rights to the movie) and trumpets Walberg's not forgetting where he came from, Shea spent his gangster years terrorizing that very neighborhood and poisoning it with cocaine. In the end, he is a tragic figure, hoodwinked like so many others by Whitey. A compelling read.



4. Loyalty goes along way when you read the life and times of John Shea. Mr Sheas portrayal of growing in the housing projects depicts the temptation of going for success in a criminal type of way. The emphasis on keeping your word will keep your honor and integrity high was right on, even from a criminal perspective. RB held my interest from cover to cover. Whitey's philosophy of recruiting athletes/boxers into fold demonstrates how we are all vunerable if a big enough carrot is held out. Young John was in the wrong place in the right time for him. The antics of John growing with the gang showed how John became Whitey and in some cases maybe a step up. Obviously taking his lumps and keeping his mouth shut was something that some of gang did not grasp hold of. I appauld John and wish that some of our public officals displayed the integrity of John Shea. Who are the real the crriminals anyway? FBI agents Connolly & Morris and a few politicians maybe be more of wrong doers than Shea.



5. Though I have read mixed reviews on this book, I am not very familiar with the topic and thought it would be worth buying and decide for myself. I can honestly say that I do not understand the negative reviews AT ALL!! What do I see? A guy who spent his childhood struggling in a poverty stricken area, that was filled with kids growing up in fatherless homes, with mothers just trying to make it through the day to day, drugs, etc., and a group of young kids who had no direction and most of whom, if they survived this time, dropped out of school and had grim futures. I, by no means, grew up this way, but before I pass judgement about something I know NOTHING about, and know nothing of the emotional scars that this created and left, as a responsible human being, I must ask myself, "what would I do?" and I can honestly say that I cannot stand here and say that I would not have made the same choices. With that said, though I do not support what he has done, it was all he had to survive, and it seems, learned from the best (Whitey himself, and all the guys that were twice his age) in how to do so. I found the book compelling and touching, and though bragadoucious, I would imagine I would be too. It was written in HIS words and I thought this was VERY smart on his part. Had it read differently, and not in his own language, you as the reader, would loose so much in feeling a part of the story. To learn from guys like Whitey, etc. and have the VERY men that tought you everything about that life go against the most important thing, which is NOT to break the code of silence is the most unbelieveable betrayl I can ever imagine. Further, to stand there alone, while everyone else that you trust is snitching, keeping only their best interest in mind, and taking everyone they can think of down with them to save their own hide (while being, how old? about 20 yrs old?) and keeping true to your word, shows such incredible integrity that I can honestly say I have never seen or experienced in my life! Say what you will, but I am BEYOND impressed that after being the only one who served 12 YEARS without ever thinking to "rat" on anyone to lessen his time, what has he done? written a book, and seems to be doing wonderful things and making the right choices, and most importantly, does not have to hide in the shadows out of shame for being a "rat". The ability to own up for what you have done and take the consequences for it is one of the most honorable things one can do, and the ability to "look at yourself in the mirror" is a tough pill to swallow when you have betrayed everyone to save yourself, and his ability to do so every day should not be taken lightly by anyone. I enjoyed this book very much and I truly hope that now that he is passed this chapter in his life and has paid for it, he experiences only good things for his future. Definitely a great read!!