A review by xxstefaniereadsxx
Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr
informative
medium-paced
4.0
James "Whitey" Bulger was the leader of the Winter Hill Gang in Massachusetts. He became linked up with a former childhood friend, turned FBI agent, John Connolly. Officially, he was an informant for the FBI, but swore up and down he was not. He was simply in business with one specific man who happened to be in the FBI. His brother was also a high ranking politician. He was sent to prison in 1956 for armed robbery and hijacking, and told an associate that he participated in the MK ULTRA experiments, being dosed with LSD something like fifty times. He was transferred from Atlanta to Alcatraz and then to Leavenworth before being released. He eventually went on the run when the FBI came after him. His former associates, especially Kevin Weeks, gave a lot of testimony on his activities. He was on the run for sixteen years, spending twelve of those years on the FBI Most Wanted List. Once he was captured, he was tried for RICO charges, murder, drugs, and a host of other things. He was sentenced in 2013 and served his time until he was beaten to death by other inmates in 2018.
This book was pretty good. I was fortunate enough to visit the Alcatraz East museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee a couple of times as it is only about an hour and a half from me. In the museum, there are a few artifacts that were recovered during his final apprehension, including some ugly tennis shoes. It was pretty interesting to see, and if you are ever in this area and are interested in crime or the mafia, they have some really neat items belonging to a host of well known criminals. They also have a rotating exhibit that changes every so often. Kevin Weeks also has a book out that details his involvement in the Winter Hill gang and his relationship with Bulger that was a pretty interesting read. (Where The Bodies Are Buried) I learned a few things I had not previously known, mostly about John Connolly, so this was worth the five dollars I paid for it. I also recently watched the film Black Mass with Johnny Depp, and it was pretty good as well.
This book was pretty good. I was fortunate enough to visit the Alcatraz East museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee a couple of times as it is only about an hour and a half from me. In the museum, there are a few artifacts that were recovered during his final apprehension, including some ugly tennis shoes. It was pretty interesting to see, and if you are ever in this area and are interested in crime or the mafia, they have some really neat items belonging to a host of well known criminals. They also have a rotating exhibit that changes every so often. Kevin Weeks also has a book out that details his involvement in the Winter Hill gang and his relationship with Bulger that was a pretty interesting read. (Where The Bodies Are Buried) I learned a few things I had not previously known, mostly about John Connolly, so this was worth the five dollars I paid for it. I also recently watched the film Black Mass with Johnny Depp, and it was pretty good as well.