And a Devil's Deal by Dick Lehr (2012-05-22) - Whitey Bulger

You can tell the book was wrote by reporters, it reads more like a newspaper article. I wouldnt recommend it if this is your first foray into boston gangs since one has to know alot of other info not let on in the book. It was ok.

This book was a good read but it was very disturbing. I live in the Boston area and I have family that knows some of the players involved. I think that fact made it even more chilling to me as I wasn't aware of some of the details surrounding different events. I am glad I read it, but I don't need to revisit it anytime soon.

While the research on this book was exemplary, the way the authors chose to lay it all out was disappointing. Stories jumped around and skidded through the years without allowing the reader a chance to understand the big picture or the timeline in which events took place.

This book is falsely advertised, which is my biggest beef with this. The descriptors make the purchaser think you are getting just a retelling of the story in a great narrative form when in reality it is a historical, newspaper article-y, 400 page account of the story. I even tried listening to it, with no luck. It could not keep my interest. It's very apparent that the authors are newspaper writers. So if you're looking for a lovely narrative go elsewhere, but if you like historical books with a bunch of dates and places and names this is a book for you.

I always finish books no matter if I like them or not, so that I am completely fair when reviewing them. I just could not get through this book, it was nothing of what I expected. It jumps around a lot, mainly backwards to the same things. Not impressed.

As a former member of the notorious rival Winter Hill Gang turned author, I can tell you that Black Mass was probably the most accurate Whitey account. He didn't let many people inside his inner circle of insulation. Whitey was more of loner who was rarely seen any place other than Southie. If he did come to see you, it certainly wasn't good. He enjoyed carrying out work at night during inclement weather because he figured the law would be someplace warm and cozy aka in his back-pocket. Also, why chance some other agency taking a peek into his criminal activity? Whitey couldn't control every branch of law enforcement which caused chaos within the ranks of the state and local police...With the Italians bumping each other off and the law focused on each other, Whitey created advantageous distractions. Truly Machiavellian

Just finished reading it.
When I started, it was quite interesting, but as I moved along, I thought to myself: How could the Boston FBI allow this to happen?
I read about Robert Fitzpatrick`s attempt to close down the Bulger file, and Bulger`s attempt to threaten him, an FBI agent.

The murder of Roger Wheeler in Oklahoma should have should have the final straw, but no.
The FBI in Oklahoma tried to charge Bulger and his associates for the murder, and who comes to Bulgers rescue: Boston FBI agent John Connolly.
Brian Halloran shows up at the FBI field office in Boston offering information on the Roger Wheeler homicide, and who conducts the interview: John Connolly, and then he inform Bulger that Brian tried to talk Feds and Brian ends up getting gunned along with Mike Donahue (an innocent family man who offered Brian a ride home) in broad daylight, by Bulger himself.
The Boston FBI stonewalled the murder investigation and instead of going after Bulger, they harassed Donahues widow, for months afterward.

It destroys the myth that Bulger kept drugs out of Boston, he brought drugs into Boston. All those kids who overdosed or jumped from the roof tops in late 70`s and in the 80`s, that was Bulgers doing, and what does he do when other hoodlums shows up in Boston, he kills them or inform on them to the FBI and what does the FBI do? They block all attempts by other law enforcements to prosecuted the Bulger gang.

This is a story of murder, corruption and destruction of lives, likes of which you have never seen or read about before.

For lovers of true crime, Black Mass is a must read about one of the most prominent underworld figures in the past 30 years. The book takes us from Whitey Bulger's youth to his capture and imprisonment. What made the story most compelling to me was the role the FBI played in his criminal empire. Without their help, as he was an informant, he likely would have been removed from the streets several years earlier. And even more fascinating was his ability to manipulate and work the agents he worked with. All in all, and excellent read and Lehr does a great job of bringing us into the world of Southie crime and the FBI.

I don't understand Whitey Bulger is receiving so much attention. Granted a cold blooded killer and drug dealer, but no further. Thanks to being a rat and having the FBI protecting him, it allowed him to operate and take over the Boston rackets with no worry of being arrested. With that kind of protection, any punk could have succeeded. Being State Senator Billy Bulger's brother didn't hurt either. Obviously, with ratting out and taking down the other Mob, his only competition, and with the FBI protecting him, of course he was going to end up on top. Who or what else was there? Chances are, if he was operating as a true mob boss without being an FBI informant, he would have been eliminated by or aligned with the other Mob long ago. He was simply lucky to be operating in Boston. He would have been small potatoes in NYC or Chicago and swallowed up or eliminated by the much bigger mobs. This is all my opinion, but considering the circumstances in which Bulger operated, how could he be considered a true mob boss when his success is predicated on being an informant, having the FBI protecting him, and having no fear of being arrested no matter what he did.

This book could have been shortened to 50 pages. It was so redundant. The authors attempted (rather weakly) to create all this hype. I can summarize the book in a few sentences-- Mobsters and FBI agents conspire to commit crimes and cover up those crimes using the power of the FBI office. They get cocky, they get busted. Wow, end of story. And oh- paratroopers dont "storm the beaches" they "parachute" usually behind enemy lines to create shock and awe and disrupt the enemies supply lines. And what is a white shoe person anyway? If your'e going to write a crime novel, write a Donnie Brasco type novel, where the guy is really hanging with nads out there.

Absolutely great read,
especially for those of us, like myself,
who had lived in Boston and its surrounding areas
during the time of this story.
The manner in which the Bulger brothers, William and James,
dominated a city (Boston) and a state (Massachusetts)
as they did is a classic story
and one that has not yet been told in any depth.
James "Whitey" Bulger was arguably the most powerful criminal gangster
(along with his partner Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi)
and his brother, William "Billy" Bulger was arguably the most powerful politician.

This book only skims the surface and gives us some of the facts and the players,
but leaves you wanting so mush more.
As alarming as the activities of Whitey and The Rifleman are,
the depth of the betrayal of the public trust,
resulting in incalculable harm to so many people, by the FBI,
the very agency that is supposed to protect the public
from men like Whitey and his associates, is even more so.
It is the relationship between Whitey Bulger and the FBI
that is the primary theme of the book.
If the facts in this book are accurate,
and there is good reason to believe that they are,
then the FBI facilitated and protected illegal gambling, loansharking,
extortion, drug dealing and murder.

As I write this review, Whitey Bulger has finally been found
by law enforcement agencies and may have his day in court.
I am surprised.
I assumed that he would never be found because
the federal law enforcement agencies would prefer it that way
for obvious reasons.
This story is not over yet and there is a lot more to know.
It may ultimately depend on Whitey himself to fill in the blanks.
I hope that he does.

I also recommend the book "The Brothers Bulger" which is an excellent
companion to this one.

I read this when it came out in 2000, along with All Souls by Michael Patrick McDonald. I'd read other true crime books, and I knew of many criminals who "turned state's evidence" to avoid jail time. But this was the first time I ever heard of the top crime boss being an informer himself. It was also the first time I read about an FBI agent who let information flow the other way!

James "Whitey" Bulger would have been just another Irish American hoodlum from South Boston. But some time in the late 1960's, he came across a man he'd known from childhood, now an FBI agent. he agent's name was John Connolly, and he was enamored with the "gangster" legends of Boston and Chicago. He allowed Bulger to sign on as an informant, which would provide anti-Mafia evidence for Connolly and protection for Bulger. Informer status does not mean the informant can commit murder, but Connolly let that side. Over the years, Connolly began to supply Bulger with confidential information, allowing him to intimidate local businesses, kill off witneses, and eventually flee the coutnry to avoid prosecution. Bulger hasn't been seen since.

Black Mass is well-written and unbiased, without any style or taking sides. That may produce a long read, but the author doesn't induce the reader to make judgements. The end result is you feel that Boston's history is one of ruin and despair.

The scene is Boston, starting in the 1970s. The FBI has made it a top priority to clamp down on organized crime (in this case, the Mafia, populated by the Italians of North Boston). John Connolly, a very young FBI agent, is called to the Boston office to work in the Organized Crime unit. The idea was that if he could find someone to rat out the Italians, the FBI's job would be made much easier. Connolly begins to cultivate James (Whitey) Bulger, a former acquaintance from Connolly's old neighborhood in South Boston. Bulger was a career criminal, beginning his future occupation as a young boy, and he and one of his associates, Steve Flemmi, had ties to the Italian mob in Boston. Whitey was also part of a gang in Southie. He became an informant for the FBI, and in return, he was given protection by the FBI. His information was very helpful and did help to put away some of the Mafia guys, but in the meantime, he also gave info on anyone in South Boston that he considered might be standing in his own way as he rose up through the ranks of the criminal underworld. The authors, Lehr and O'Neill, used a variety of first-hand sources to not only write this book, but to break the entire story in the Boston Globe. What they examine here is basically the true cost of the information provided by Bulger. While he's giving them good information, he's also being allowed to literally get away with murder. I won't go further into this book, but I picked it up the other night and could hardly put it down once I started. I guarantee you that if you have an interest in organized crime, this is a no-miss story. I would like to say that I was appalled by the sheer abuse of power from members of an institution created to protect the American public, but frankly, it's getting harder and harder to be surprised any more. Very well written and very taut; I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in organized crime, the FBI, in the so-called Irish Mob in the United States or in true crime in general.

Black Mass is an unbelievable account of the illicit relationship between two Irish mobsters from South Boston (Whitey Bulger and Stevie Flemmi) and their FBI handlers (John Connolly and John Morris).

The book begins with background on South Boston and the "us against them" mentality of the residents. As a young boy, John Connolly looked up to and admired Whitey Bulger, a local gangster, and left an indelible impression on Connolly one day when Bulger rescued Connolly from a fight. Years later, when Connolly was assigned to the Boston FBI office, he sought out Bulger to turn him into an informant, hoping to make a name for himself. Bulger's younger brother was president of the state senate and Whitey by this time was head of the Irish mob in Boston, both highly regarded in their own circles.

Though Connolly may have begun the relationship with good intentions, it very quickly turned corrupt, and the information Bulger supplied Connolly was self-serving, and Connolly, never having grown out of his idolization of Bulger, did all he could to keep Whitey's record clean. The Irish and Italian mafias had a tenuous relationship, so for Bulgur, informing on his competition got them out of his way, and as long as he worked with the FBI, he was untouchable. Bulger's partner in crime, Stevie Flemmi, as it turned out, had been an informant for several years before Bulger. Rather than the FBI handling them, Bulger and Flemmi cultivated a bond with Connolly and Morris to ensure that they could do anything without fear of punishment. Reports were made up, lost, or taken; phone calls from other law enforcement agencies were ignored; Bulger and Flemmi's importance was inflated; and they were always one step ahead of a sting. Under the protection of the FBI, Bulger and Flemmi were involved in racketeering, gun running, drugs, and over a dozen murders - and got away with it.

What amazes me is that supposedly Connolly and Morris only benefited by $7000 during the two decades that Bulger and Flemmi were informants. Initially I believe that Connolly just wanted notoriety, but he is also flamboyant and likes living the high life, which it appears he did.

Eventually Morris' conscience bothered him enough to start talking, but it still took several years before Bulger, Flemmi, Connolly and Morris were indicted. Connolly warned Bulger, enabling him to escape. Flemmi, on the other hand, still thought that Morris would tell the court that this was all a mistake, and get Flemmi off as he had done for so many years.

As far as I know, Bulger is still a fugative and on the 10 Most Wanted List. I hope that regulations are now being followed to ensure FBI handlers are accountable for their action or inaction, and that the chain of command is aware of what the agents are doing. This was a well-written and engrossing story.

This book was written by the same New England journalist team that wrote The Underboss and is a supplement to that book.After reading it you'll see why Whitey Bulger is right at the top of the FBI's most wanted list.The more appalling theme of the book however is the complete criminal corruption of a number of FBI agents by the Irish mob.Two FBI agents in particular John Connally and John Morris,who were the FBI heroes in the book The Underboss are the archvillains in Black Mass.The book is highly readable and well researched.Apparently the Irish mob had a criminal "cakewalk" for over 30 years in Boston. The reason:the FBI monomaniacally focused its attention on bringing down the Italian Mafia and used the Irish mob to do it. Unfortunately the Irish Mob was as dangerous as the Italian Mob.
Connally and Morris continually overlooked,promoted,and refused to even acknowledge the criminal activity of the Irish mob under Jim Bulger.According to the book,the information gained on the Italian Mafia by Jim Bulger was not even that significant.The FBI even provided the Irish mob with info that resulted in the murder of a few state witnesses by the Bulger murder crew.The last part of the book has Bulgers' criminal associate Steve Flemmi,turning states evidence to save his hide.The FBI plainly let this investigation "snowball" out of control accompanied with "all the trimmins",entrapment,murder,etc. I was reading in another book about the same subject that there are still victim lawsuits in the works from this mess.

This book and the whole case has done little to fully examine how Bulger and Flemmi were made to work as informants.If you hypothesize that they were selected and trained adhering to security agreements, then the supervising agency could have used the collective might of the govt to come down on these guys and prevent them from NOT working as informants.
Other agencies and contacts in the private sector could have cooperated in blackballing these guys and controlling their activities by giving only selective information to the agency or party to be used against Bulger and Flemmi.Here the other branches of govt involved or contacts in private industry could have helped blackball these guys thinking they were serving national interests.
Example: agency A approaches company B that Bulger applies to for work alleging Bulger under investigation, drug trafficker,etc, thus preventing Bulger from getting work. company B knows only what agency A tells them. And if these guys phones were tapped, any agencies monitoring knew their every move as discussed on phone.
This book and the case in general treats Bulger and Flemmi as very willing participants but until Flemmi and Bulger can speak freely we don't know if this is true. We also don't know if a third party committed much of the violence in this case and blamed it on Flemmi and Bulger.
If you also hypothesize that no one acquires any position of power or wealth in this country without the approval of the govt, then those so in power become potential tools to use against detractors or fall guys.How free could these guys have been if the IRS, FBI,Justice Dept,Customs,CIA,NSA,DIS,DEA,US Marshalls,Secret Service,etc were mobilized against them?
Or the possibility that organized crime had this control over them?

The Mclean-Mclaughlin Wars began in the 1960s, but how was the conflict resolved and more importantly how did it began? Was it the result of economic concerns between the forces who were set on the boomin space industry in Massachusetts and the forces loyal to the Boston Navy Yard? In the early 1960s around the time of the sinking of the USS Thresher off Portsmouth,NH, the Defense Investigative Service is said to have been formed. Was the sinking of the Thresher related indirectly to competing interests between the Boston and Portmouth Navy Yards at the same time the Boston Navy Yard was competing with NASA in Massachusetts? A group of workmen transferred from the Boston Navy Yard to the Portsmouth Navy yard not long before it sunk ,according to local newspapers. These events seemed to happen in roughly the same time period, the early 1960s. The Thresher sank in August,1963 and causes from faulty welding to backwards installation of back pressure relief valves were cited in hearings involving military personnel.
And what of the children who survived from the gang wars that tore families apart? Were children of various warring factions abandoned and left into state child care, or were some of these kids grouped together and raised together to foster a new generation of compatible and close knit adults to reconcile the animosities that precipitated the Mclean-Mclaughlin wars to begin with?
And were many of the players in this case approved for varying levels of clearances and agency affiliations? And how do we know that Flemmi,Bulger, Connolly weren't routinely monitored by the govt, such as their financial records,credit cards, bank accounts, or even phone calls and phone records?

What so few commentators point out is that government has a collective psychology which can be exploited, as Hitler found out as well as J Edgar Hoover, and Slobodan Milosevich, a trained psychiatrist. If you consider govt as a collective capable of ultimate self-protection, then anything can become possible if it is threatened by real or perceived antigens. When you consider the degree of secrecy and confidentiality required by the alleged players in this case, one cannot rule out that forces might be out to destroy them using clever and insidious means. One such way is an active discrediting campaign aimed at making the defendants appear as psychologically unstable characters whose testimony in court can be attacked for its credibility based on carefully contrived proofs of instability. If these individuals were in such high risk activities it might be reasonable to suggest that they were heavily monitored because of potential fallout by other individuals who could be used to manipulate the lives of these guys and basically playmind games. If you have a group of people aimed at creating stress in your life, how long could you last before someone could construct a case that made you appear crazy? Especially if your communications are being monitored such that your innermost thoughts, problems and plans could be known? The nature of undercover work and such is to be able to maintain a persona not yours over sometimes a very prolonged period.Deception is perfectly acceptable and manipulating people and events becomes standard. These sorts of strategies are often developed in collusion with psychological and psychiatric professionals to permit an individual to do this sort of thing naturally. What we are taught in school,church,temple as wrong becomes perfectly acceptable. In the movie "The Skulls' is a scene where an inductee becomes a threat and is thrown into a mental hospital and drugged up to protect the powerful elite who control the organization. Perhaps this is not so far-fetched.The threat the inductee posed was knowledge of the truth. This is a society which punishes honest mistakes,rewards cover-ups and discourages contrition. Someone or a group of people know what really happened here and are not talking. Is it fear? Guilt? Shame? Indifference?

Lehr and O'Neill's "Black Mass" keeps the reader engrossed in the true story of the "special relationship" between James "Whitey" Bulger, Steve "the Rifleman" Flemmi and Boston's FBI. Despite the mounting disgust and growing fury towards the Bureau's completely reprehensible handling of these informants, readers are caught up in the tangled web of deceit, corruption, and murder. Based on court documents, interviews, and in-depth articles written by both authors for the Boston Globe, "Black Mass" is a well-written account of this dark era in the FBI's history.

"Black Mass" is an excellent book about a rather scary chapter in Boston's history, which makes for interesting reading. I haven't read "Black Mass" in quite some time, but it certainly helps make me glad that Whitey Bulger is behind bars. Unfortunately, however, many of Whitey Bulger's , Stephen Flemmi's and Kevin Weeks' victims weren't so innocent either, but this book reveals a horrific chapter in Boston's history that really needs to be exposed for what it is, plus, as some other reviewers have pointed out, it has proven that the people who're supposed to protect the general public from those who are bent on doing harm don't always do what they're supposed to do; uphold the law(s) that they pledged to uphold when they took office.

Personally I did not enjoy this book. There was far, far too much emphasis (for my tastes) on the confusions at the FBI whereas the true interest (for me) was Bulger, his crimes, and his psychopathology. I plowed through page after page on FBI officers without much of a sense of who and what Bulger was as a human being. Be warned, this is not really a "true crime" book but more a journalistic book on corruption in the FBI. I found it unconvincing, dry and rather boring. The movie, however, is stunning.

This is a fantastic book. I knew nothing of the true story, so I found every twist and turn very entertaining. It is well written and doesn't get too bogged down in gritty detail. I read about 2-3 books a month and this ranks near the top of ones I've read in 2003.
The story is very interesting, but the strength is in it's characters. Whitey, Flemmi, Connolly, etc. all have their moments. I found myself many times thinking to myself, I cannot believe this. But it's true, scary in fact. It has all the elements of a great movie, and I'm surprised that it hasn't been adapted already. It has Scorsese all over it.
The authors give you a good taste of life in South Boston and of course expose a criminal decade or two that was aided by the FBI. This isn't conspiracy theory stuff, btw. Agents in the FBI protected their star informants, giving them tips, covering up information, that allowed them to stay on the street and supposedly bust others.
Highly recommended.

"Black Mass" is the story of a big time Irish gangster, James "Whitey" Bulger, and how he turned informant for the FBI. Unlike other instances where this has occurred, however, Bulger managed to corrupt his FBI handlers as they aided and abetted his twenty year crime spree. Authors Lehr and O'Neill know this story well, having covered it for many years with the local Boston newspapers. It is a good lesson in what can happen to anyone, especially a law enforcement officer, when little indescretions lead to major breaches in ethics. What the book does not have enough of, unfortunately, are first hand descriptions of the mobsters plying their trade. There is some of it in the book, but most of the stories are second hand. Unlike other notable recent mob stories, like "Wise Guy" and "Underboss," the focus is not on mob life itself. Overall, I found the book to be about a hundred pages or so too long, though still an interesting read for anyone who like real life crime stories.

This is an excellent, well-organized explanation of the whole convoluted, long suppressed story of the Boston FBI's, specifically John Morris's and John Connally's, duping at the hands of Whitey Bulger. For years Connally and Morris served as Whitey's enablers, overlooking or silently sanctioning years of crime, corruption, and violence.
While the book gives Bulger credit for shrewdness and duplicity in outwitting the FBI, it also leaves one in no doubt as to the rancid character of Whitey, no Robin Hood of South Boston here, but a traitorous drug-dealer to the youths of Southie, a vicious hood and a thoroughly violent and repellant criminal. Everything you need to know is here except the answer to the $64 million dollar question, but if Billy doesn't know why should Lehr and O'Neill?

This is an excellent book on the Boston Irish mob figure whitey bulger. Almost everyone else that has something to do with the case has been caught and tried, including FBI agent John Connally. Whitey became an informant for the FBI by Connnally's persausion, but he was overratted and used the FBI to strengthen his position while Steve Flemmi's information was more valuable. They informed on the the Italian mafia, but the Angulio's were taken down more due to wire tap evidence. Whitey and his gang became the benefactors of the fall of the Angulio's and pick up some of their business after their fall. Whitey was also a drug dealer, not protector of South Boston. Will he ever get caught? It remains to be seen, and with his resources he could run a long way for a long time.

This book --which I am in the process of reading-- takes on a classic problem involving police informants. Sometimes, the "snitch" gains the upper hand in his or her relationship with the law enforcement agency involved. This is precisely what happened in the Bulger case. Except it wasn't just a situation with one policeman crossing the line but a group of them. And the misconduct went beyond the ordinary to the point where the tail was quite literally wagging the dog.
So far, my impression of "Black Mass" is very favorable. It appears meticulously researched and is written in an easy to read style. My one complaint is that the biographical details on Bulger are a little sketchy in places. Specifically, the authors only briefly mention what Bulger did before he got out of prison. I would have found it useful to know more about what he was doing while "in the can" and before.
Yet I'd rather have less biographical details from that period than too many (which is a mistake some authors make --overwhelming their readers with a crushing amount of trivia).

Read this book to refresh my memory on the cast of character in this Boston saga. I am from Boston and the story took me back to a wild time in Boston history. Awful but I found myself smiling as I remember the events. Oddly a as Bostonians we should be angry and many people on both sides should be ashamed but actually it is a romanticized time. A real life gangster tale and a great one at that.

If you're going to read only one book on Whitey Bulger's and Stevie Flemmi's strangle hold on the Boston rackets, this is the one. The authors' investigative reporting goes deep, uncovering the gang's criminal activities as well as their unholy pact with the FBI. This book lacks the personal notes found in others written by various gang members, but it more than makes up for it with solid reporting that shows the scope and outrageousness of the gang's operations. My only criticism is that it could use an update covering what's happened to the major players since its publication.

"Black Mass" is the chilling account of how two killers from South Boston were able to manipulate the FBI for a period of decades. James"Whitey" Bulger and Stephen "The Rifleman" Flemmi were legendary wiseguys in Boston during the 1970s. John Connolly a childhood acquaintance of Bulger's who made good and joined the Boston FBI. When Connolly hooked up with the tough guy from his old neighborhood things began to go awry.
Connolly was awed by his friendship with Bulger and used his contact in the underworld as proof of his prowess as an agent. For their part Bulger and Flemmi were able to pass along innocuous mob gossip to the Feds in exchange for protection form local law enforcement. Carefully placed tidbits of information helped the FBI to arrest enemies of the Bulger gang. With each arrest Whitey and Flemmi were able to expand their own power base. Those people who complained to the police were inevitably redirected to the FBI. Once the bureau had its hands on a case, the stonewalling began. This was a cycle that continued from the late 60s up until the mid 90s. During this period the `invaluable informants' provided little of substance to their `handlers'. However the agents were able to cook the reports and win commendations and promotions for themselves. At the same time, over a dozen murders are directly attributed to the pair.
If there is honor among thieves you can't prove it from this book. "Black Mass" is a shocking story of deceit and corruption within Boston law enforcement, politics and organized crime. It is almost impossible to describe the level of hubris on the part of the crooks who were protected by the FBI and those very agents who cosseted the killers in order to advance their own careers. If they are lucky, the crooks end up behind bars, but many meet their fate in the trunk of a car.
No small part of this seems to flow from good old-fashioned insularity, the "Us vs. Them" mentality so prevalent in South Boston. The area was still reeling throughout the 1970s from the forced bussing earlier in the decade. To many Bulger, was a mythic Robin Hood figure. He might be a crook but he was Southie's crook and a damned good one at that. With a cunning that allowed him to outwit the police at every turn, it was a blow for hometown pride that the Italian Mafia was failing while the Irish mob was waxing in power. This was the myth that the Bulger gang worked to promote while at the same time Whitey was murdering and extorting from the citizens of his old neighborhood. His cunning ability to outwit the police boiled down to being an informant for the FBI and his concern for the streets he grew up on is evident by how he promoted the use of drugs to the people in Southie.
This account is a sad story of how the best intentions (Like the FBI informant program) can have the worst results.

A well written, researched, and tragically true tale of police corruption that looked the other way or even worse, probably helped in murders of over 20 people. At all levels of government, local, state, and federal, sworn law enforcement concealed, tipped off, and covered up as Bulger savagely tortured and murdered numerous people, including young girls who wanted to break away from sexual abusers. FBI agents partied with Bulger, scared off witnesses, and falsified the record going so far as let innocent people rot for crimes. Bulger was promoted as a 'hero' who kept drugs and crime out of his neighborhood - ignoring the fact Bulger was terrorizing, extorting, and sexually assaulting almost directly in front of law enforcement. At the end, the reader wonders why extremely few of these enablers came to trial, where the others are now and if the FBI is really looking for Whitey Bulger. Great read, I think it's enhanced by reading the Howie Carr book, The Brothers Bulger: How They Terrorized and Corrupted Boston for a Quarter Century. The Black Mass authors seem to imply some good in law enforcement at the start while Carr takes a much harsher view. As an example, when the Rakes family built up a liquor market from scratch, Bulger and his thugs simultaneously assaulted husband and wife at different locations, threatened them in front of their children and threatened their children in front of them. Bulger forced them to give him the market. The Rakes went to an uncle who was a local cop and there Black Mass and Howie Carr split. Black Mass says the uncle cop went to the FBI and was waved off while Carr implies the uncle immediately informed Whitey. In both tales, the Rakes immediately found out that the law wasn't their friend as Whitey became even more abusive and violent toward them. Carr adds that the uncle was convicted and sent to prison for other corruption just a few months later. Black Mass seems to cover these details much less. It'd be a five but for issues like that.
Good book, great read, highly reccommend it, will make you both sick and angry.

Great book about the Irish mob in Boston and their leader "Whitey" Bugler's mix-up with the FBI. Being Irish and growing up in the same neighbourhood built a stronger bond that what side on the law they were working for. The FBI detective John Connolly and the people around him managed to include the fearsome leader as an informant to get information on the Italian mob, and in return keep him informed and sheltered from the police/authorities. The authors (Boston Globe reporters) managed to uncover this unbelievable and compelling story. The book is well written and keeps up the excitment from start to finish.

This, very much "after-the-fact book," reporting on the criminal tornado called the Bulger brothers crime wave, most reminds me of GW's excursion in a "standoff presidential helicopter" surveying the damage of Katrina. Like Bush Jr, these two "not so intrepid" reporters did all they could to keep their heads down, and their hands clean in the wake of the murderous knee-deep mire that Jimmy and Billy Bulger's crime waves left across the Boston moral landscape.

So they turned this book into a "stand-off reporter's legal brief," a palatable, but clinical back-handed de facto hero story "in waiting." It is seemingly a story specifically designed not to make waves or jar the Boston sensibility too much, but one that would curiously preserve the right to make "Whitey" a bona fide hero later -- if, that is, it turns out that after his capture, he should ever be set free again. Certainly these authors were hedging their bets that he might indeed be set free again someday?

As a result, no one should be surprised that Whitey has endorsed this book; or upset with the fact that these authors interviewed Steve Flemmi's lawyers, the judges, and the spectators on the margins of the courtroom ad nausea, and yet say nothing at all about the dead bodies that are left in Flemmi's and Whitey's wake lining the swamps on the margins of the Boston freeway. These authors thus have proven to be consummate professionals at creating a manuscript that nibbles around the edges but never quite gets to the heart of the Bulger carnage.

Thus, perhaps unwittingly, they have succeed in reducing crime reporting to the fine art of knowing when and where to "pull their punches," when and where to interview already tainted ex-FBI agents; when and where to minimize the vast corrupt system in place from which the Bulger brothers simply picked the already ripen low-hanging fruit. Instead of plumbing the depths of Boston's reservoir of corruption, here they are content with "dotting all of the legal "eyes" and "crossing all of the legal "tees?" That way they can then take a more relaxed clinical approach to interrogating and investigating the court records and interviewing the prisoners locked in cages behind bars, instead of digging into how Boston's own corruption led to the corpses strewn along the marshes lining the Boston freeway. Or, indeed how that fine and cultured city created the likes of Whitey and Billy Bulger in the first place?

Sadly, it is left as an exercise for the reader to conclude that those bodies are in fact not all just souvenirs from the Whitey Bulger category-five crime wave, but are also grim monuments to Boston's culture of crime and corruption. So, I say that these authors have made a fundamental mistake in producing a clinically clean book that ignores how all those dead bodies got there, yet leaves the backdoor open for the Bulger brothers to one day become de facto heroes. No wonder Whitey wanted this version of his story to become the movie script about his life.

But I believe that these authors have assumed erroneously that the dead cannot speak? This is where they have gone wrong. The dead that now line the marshes along the freeways entering Boston, do indeed speak: I can hear them now. (Listen closely and carefully), they say: "In Boston, crime pays, so long as it is tribal and so long as it has the prefix "Whitey" in its name!" And anyone who doubts this can just ask our families. Or, better yet, look at the way the whole Boston moral ecosystem is today? Does anyone remember Charles Stuart?

But in addition to forgetting the families, and forgetting to look objectively at the way Boston morality really is, these authors also forgot one other thing: The crime scene is not just restricted to the marshes bordering the Boston Harbor freeway. The Bulger brothers crime wave IS the new Boston moral ecosystem. The crime scene is all of Boston. It has affected not just the City Government, the FBI, the city police and highway patrolmen, it has also affected everyone and everything else in Boston too, including these authors. Whether they recognize it or not, their own timidity as reporters is an integral reaction to, and thus an integral part of the Bulger crime wave.

This book, soon to be a movie, whose script has already been endorsed by Whitey, is nothing if not a carefully orchestrated social production under the direction of the ethics conducted by Billy and Whitey Bulger. If it were not so, why else would they so carefully tiptoe around every sensitive issue? If it were not so, why else would they not talk about those dead bodies Whitey and Flimmi left lining swamps near the Boston freeways? If it were not so, why would Whitey endorse it? If it were not so, why else would these authors fail to indict the criminal ethos of Boston that both created and allowed the Bulger brothers to thrive, and then run amok?

I lived in Brookline, Ma., on Upton Street while doing a post-doc at MIT, during the academic year of 1991. One day, as I exited the subway station going home for lunch, there was a big commotion in the Strip Mall yards away from the subway stop. When I asked what had happened, I was told that a man had been shot dead trying to rob a bank. Then, as I approached my basement apartment two blocks away, I saw yet another set of police lights flashing with the tale-tell yellow ribbons around one of my neighbors' house. Again, I asked what had happened, but this time no one would answer. However, once inside my apartment, I flipped on the TV and the news was reporting that a Harvard Law Professor had been raped and knifed to death two doors from my apartment? And although I know that these were just two random events, things like that do have a way of leaving a permanent and jaundiced imprint on the mind.

But even before this eventful day of two violent but random crimes, the only two I have witnessed in my life, so near my upper middle-class neighborhood, I had sensed and had already concluded that something was wrong with the Boston DNA. Everyone had a scowl on their faces. Everyone was mad about something, and whatever it was, I was not in on it? There appeared to be an evil vapor in the air. It undoubtedly must have been a part of the mystique of the Bulger ghost that still haunts the ethos of Boston today. And as beautiful and as cultured as Boston is, there is no city in America that scares me more. It is more tense, more racist, more unscaled, and yet, on a per capita basis, as violently criminal as any city in the US. I think twice every time I have to go there.

It thus struck me as odd that even before they were implicitly threatened by those acting on Whitey Bulger's behalf, these authors had already adopted a "prevent defense" for writing this book, one designed more to respect the "criminal ways of Boston" than to get at the unalloyed underlying truth about the nature of crime in that very much troubled city. And who, in the last three decades have been most responsible for shaping those criminal ways? None more so than the infamous Bulger brothers.

There is an evil spell hanging in the air in Boston, and here these authors, wittingly or not, rather than exposing it, have deferred to it. By deferring to the "ways of Boston immorality and crime," and giving the Bulger brothers too much undeserved respect, and too much moral running room -- by giving us here a sanitized version of the Bulger crimes -- they have tipped the scales and their hats in the direction of the existing Boston criminal ecosystem. They too have proven through and through that they are true Bostonians; that they too have been affected by, if not totally socially-adjusted by, Whitey and Billy Bulger's criminal ways of life; they too have drank the macho Southie tribalistic Kool Aid that says that Irish tribalism is more important than morality.

Had I not read and reviewed several other books about both the "high" and "low" criminal careers of the Bulger brothers, books that now allow me to properly assess the devastation of their respective crime waves, I too might have been inclined to give this book a pass and say of it, and of these authors, the same as what other reviewers have said: "a job well done."

However, after having read and reviewed several other books about this Boston criminal tornado, and after my own negative experiences in Boston, it is easy to see that these authors ducked, and took the easy way out. They merely tasted the slurry with the cream on top, not the bitterness beneath, wrought by the Bulger criminal tornado. They are thus wrong in their conclusions: The Bulgier brothers did not just change the FBI and Boston law enforcement departments forever, they also changed the moral ecosystem of Boston forever too.

The movie based on this book will make a lot of money, because I am going to go see it myself. But if it too genuflects and bends in the direction of the two "maestros of Boston crime," as this book does, the moral ethics of James "Whitey" and William Bolger will be the winner of the Academy Awards. This book and that movie, will just help establish Whitey as another morally-damaged, undeserving criminal white folk hero, like Jessie James or Bonnie and Clyde, or General Custer. Let us be clear about one thing: Whitey Bulger is, and always will be, just another two-bit serial killing rat, a Southie thug and nothing more. Two stars

This book was the first book to be written on the Bulger/FBI scandal. For those who don't know; James "Whitey" Bulger ran Bostons Irish mafia for almost 20 years. He also was a Top Echelon Informant for the FBI. As such, they let him get away with all types of crimes, including murder. Making matters worse, his younger brother Billy was the Senate president of the Mass. state Senate. Another brother, Jackie, was a juvenile court judge. This family took corruption to new heights. Eventually they fell. Whitey is now one of the top 10 fugitives. This book by two Boston Globe reporters, details the Bulger brothers, their history, Boston politics, and how they all came together. This is a good book. The only problems are because it was written in 1998-1999, some things have changed ( For example, Bulgers partner in crime, Steven Flemi, has pleaded guilty to several murders, and is doing life without parole ). Also, there wasn't enough written about the Top Echelon Informant program and all the problems with it. I'd recomend getting 2 other books along with this to get a complete picture. 1 is Dangerous Alliances by Ralph Ranelli; the other is The Brothers Bulger by Howie Carr. All 3 books should give you a complete view of this scandal.

On page 53 of Susan Kelly's "The Boston Stranglers" (1995), Dr. Ames Robey,forensic psychiatrsit is quoted as saying that George Nassar, an extremely violent man and whom many suspected as the real Boston Strangler, was a suspect in 17-30 murders involving the gangland violence known as the Mclean-Mclaughlin wars, as depicted in Willie Fopiano's "The Godson". This number of murders coincides with the number of murders of which Flemmi and Bulger are alleged to have been involved but this has not been rigorously followed up while Flemmi stands charged with 17 murders and Whitey the balance. Why hasn't this been followed up?

This is a gripping story of just how corrupt a law enforcement agency can become - in this case, the Boston office of the FBI. For over a decade they provided protective cover for a couple of the worst, most prolific criminals in Boston history. All this in name of protecting "valuable informants." I've not read a better tale of criminal activity, political influence, and white collar corruption set in one of the most interesting of all American cities, Boston. If these subjects interest you, you won't find a better tale.

Other reviewers really captured my sentiments. This is a heavily researched book with great local color and stories without the over-written narrative that often plagues such books. The authors do a splendid job of building a story of Boston and its characters from nothing and then drawing out broader implications. What a shame these events happened to such a great city through both criminals AND public servants.

Anyone wanting to know the history of the American Irish mobster must get this book. It is also a classic example of consequences by trusting the crooks, and how easily investigation agencies fall in trap to get any information about the organized crime.

John Connolly, an FBI agent, trusts the mobster James Bugler (a.k.a Whitey Bulger), who after spending time in Alcatraz became an FBI informant along with Stephen Flemmi. Both of them brilliantly used that position to eliminate competition from other mob groups and thus managed to get their own control on organized crime in Boston.

In this book Connolly is often portrayed as the victim, who fall into the trap in order to rise within the FBI. However, in reality, FBI thinks that Connolly alerted Bulger and Flemmi of investigations carried out by FBI and Boston Police Dept., and gave false reports to FBI, which helped the Bulger and Flemmi cover their crimes. In 1998, the FBI also accused Connolly with charges of bribery. Connolly and Flemmi are still serving time in prison, whereas the Bulger is still maintaining his position in the FBI Top 10 Fugitive list. The sympathy with Connolly can be understood, but presenting him as a victim is not justified either.

Having said that, Dick Lehr, and Gerard O'Neill have done an excellent job in providing the accurate details of the events. Their experience as journalists helps a lot in keeping the readers glued to the book. The way events unfold, and facts revealed, are interesting enough to keep your pages turning. This is quite a book, recommended to anyone who is interested in crime history, and mafia in United States.

If you have ever seen an application to work for the FBI, it is voluminous and very detailed and an enormous amount of info is obtained about the applicant. If Connolly was as shady as is alleged, it is odd nothing came out of the top secret clearance process. If other agencies with perhaps even more clout than the Justice Dept or FBI are involved, it might be possible that Connolly and Morris and Rico are telling the truth when they denied giving authorization.Perhaps Flemmi and Bulger were authorized by a third govt party

Speaking as a recent Boston transplant amd a fan of O.C. stories this book is awesome. Boston, for those who are unfamiliar, really is a "little" big city....For me its hard to imagine that the politics and crime that is closely linked in this book could happen as recently as it did. As a story it is a compeling read.
This book may not be as action filled as other Mafia books, however, as a atory of real life corruption and journalistic detail it can hardly be surpassed.

I found this book to be riveting and compelling! The charm and allure of a gangster and an agent who both seemed to be enamored by the other's power. Whitey and John are cut from the same cloth; both are big men with little souls. They are more concerned about their image than what effect their actions have on their families and friends. Whitey is at least true to his calling- he becomes a big crook in a small city. John is not true to anyone- he becomes a braggart and a liar. Neither is even a friend to the other in the true sense. A modern day tragedy! In reading this book I wondered however, about the hundreds of other agents who were a daily part of John's life. Didn't any of them know or protest about this agent's dealing with a known mobster? The authors allude to agents who had run-ins and difficulties with the "two Johns" but didn't bother to investigate or include the many who must have questioned these two agents and their motives. As a reader who has two family members who are agents in the F.B.I., I found this book to be lacking in objectivity and too focused on the " bad cop". A great book that leaves us either thinking that all agents are crooks or that the " good cop" doesn't make a good story.

Tells well the sickening story of the Boston FBI office some years ago - and I know and am a big fan of the FBI from work with the Bureau. It's hard to believe the story is true, but it really is. It's a crime fiction novel that unfortunately is not a novel. Great detail and well written.

A sad commentary on the FBI's methods of law enforcement. Their behavior is beyond criminal. How many more examples of criminal conspiracy between Bulger and Flemmi and the FBI have yet to come to the surface of this cesspool.
The agents formed their own RICO organization with Bulger and Flemmi and should be prosecuted just like the Mafia. This ugly case should be thoroughly investigated from outside the FBI. The guilty agents who conspired and protected Bulger and Flemmi, the agents and supervisors who should have prevented the acts and the agents and supervisors who should have known about the acts should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
But it gets worse, now the U.S. Justice Department has made deals with the remaining Bulger gang members including Kevin Weeks. All the federal prosecutorial eggs are in one basket to build a case against "Whitey Bulger." What if he is already dead. The Feds have made more "deals with the devil" for nothing.
When the FBI commits all these serious crimes, why does the FBI investigate itself. The lack of true justice continues!
Obviously, THERE IS NO LAW.......ONLY POWER.
Lehr and O'Neill should be complimented for their courage in publishing this book and tying together SOME of the loose ends. Maybe, federal law enforcement should follow their leads.

Lehr and O'Neill have compiled the engrossing account of how the power of kinship and ambition turn a blind eye to crime and its cover-up only to be exposed by equally ambitious and dedicated investigators. Without mincing words the authors, as witnesses themselves, tell the riveting story of virtuous intent lost through Irish charm, notably that of FBI agent John Connolly, compromising the honesty and integrity of an elite FBI unit and sophisticated Federal prosecutors in Boston, who in turn all succumb to the mystique of ruthless mob boss Whitey Bulger. An insidious tale. Long in the newspapers the highlights are an old story to Bostonians implicating the FBI and running to top level politicians, but the authors have tied it all together in a truth-is-stranger-than-fiction fashion. As for capturing your interest, it reads like a novel. I picked it up and could not put it down until the last chapter. From the book: "'In 1861', the judge began, "Lord Action wrote that 'every thing secret degenerates, even the administration of justice.'" To that the judge added: 'This case demonstrates that he was right.'"

Interesting journalistic account of the Bulger Mob and its connections to the government. Good insight into how Bulger used those connections to destroy the Italian Mob in New England. A bit of a turn around for an Irish gang in the 20th Centuary.

J.R. Locke Author of Possible Twenty, a Gangster Tale.

There is a man who was driven out of Massachusetts and totally impoverished when Whitey fled the state. The man is mentioned in some reviews here and seems to have become a target for major harassment. The man,following this case becoming a media spectacle,attempted to contact Dan Burton but Mr. Burton's phone number was promptly disconnected while just prior his aides gave the man the run around. Before trying to contact Mr. Burton, the man attempted to contact Senator Kennedy,Marty Meehan,Scott Harshbarger,John Kerry and many more but was ignored on all accounts.This might seem as Powerful forces ignoring some nutcase, but consider the following:
1) A few years before Bulger fled the man was "briefed" by a government official about an ongoing project at a defense contractor in Massachusetts but not told what the project involved or how he was connected to it nor the duration while being forced to sign an acknowledgement.
2) The man had as key adults in his life growing up links to names or organizations pertinent to some of the government personnel scrutinized in this case.
3) The man has been kept in a state of impoverishment particularly the past 3 years while creditors such as Citibank Discover and many more have been extremely unsympathetic despite being given extensive explanations of the circumstances.
4) The man, until 1995 and after, was always able to care for himself and often worked 2-4 jobs simultaneously to do so.. making the circumstances following Bulger's 1995 flight from justice appear as if the man was being forced to fail in every way and aspect of life, similar to treatment State Trooper Johnson received after stopping Whitey at Logan airport and before Johnson committed suicide.
5) The man is said to have been befriended by associates with links to John Connelly as a young child and which acquaintances suddenly turned hostile and manipulative when this all broke out.
6) The man apparently has convenient telephone problems in sync with the Government Reform hearings or when a major news story appears about developments in the Bulger case.It is quite likely for example, if the Government Reform committee attempted to contact the man in person,by letter, or by phone that such attempts would be intefered with in an aura of convenient coincidence.

In the 1960s, a boy ('X') was shuffled around in multiple states, threatened with his possible murder by a man alleged to be the driver for one of the gangsters listed in this case.In the 1970s the boy was befriended by a caseworker from Jamaica Plain attached to a subcontractor for Massachusetts who arranged a social security number for the boy while bouncing the child around foster homes who repeatedly threatened and intimidated the boy over a period of years in the late 1970s. Whitey signed up in the mid-1970s.

In the 1980s, 'X'now a teen, lived in Middlesex county while another person going by the same name and same town popped up and began having his mail diverted to this new man's address. Over the next 10 years, this man appeared to follow the teen as he became a man, calling his workplaces and leaving his name, moving to the same towns, and even attending the same church wherever this boy went. Once 'X' was nearly arrested for being AWOL, as this man was in the army and had used his address.

In the 1990s 'X' had a local newspaper article detailing his search for his unknown father.Not long after the editors and reporting staff changed and claimed no knowledge of their predecessors. After that, the man lost his job, began getting getting threatening calls and to be followed by men in suitsas well as plainclothes. on at least one occasion one of the plainclothes men was referred to as "Mr. Ring". An older man moved into the apartment complex beside 'X' and across from a unit where a woman claiming to do " acccounting for the government" lived.This man had Tennessee license plates,carried a revolver and claimed to work construction. Weeks later the man was seen driving a phone company truck and moved out immediately afterwards.But not before being seen laying cables from his apartment to the one across the hall.Barry Mawn, formerly of a Tennessee FBI office,was newly assigned Boston SAC. 'X',attending Northeastern University,suddenly began having problems with some instructors who appeared to have an unknown hostility to 'X'.Northeastern is where Agent Morris and R.Robert Popeo had affiliation. In addition to having many.many problems with his phones,'X' began courting malice from a group of 10(10 is the number of alleged secret witnesses against Whitey)who used threats and intimidation and coercion to keep the man constantly in fear and blamed him for "what is going on.." in the Bulger case. Since all of this,the man has been destroyed completely financially and careerwise and questions have been raised if FBI personnel have been monitoring the man and interfering with employment and communications as well as assuring financial destruction(like a state trooper was by Bulger).The man went to the Justice Department to seek help and was blown off by the Justice Management division while taps and traces by local police were ineffective against the hostile calls.

Additionally, the man repeatedly got daily blank phone messages from a phone linked to MBNA offices in Florida, where Paul Rico lived and which corporation Louis Freeh later became a senior Vice President of.

Since ,Trooper Foley, the champion in this case, has retired, the Government Reform hearings are closed, and there seems to be no one who can hold the FBI accountable.

This book puts all the pieces together from every news report on Boston's organized crime problem. It proves that neighborhood ties and fantasy are stronger than the oaths that some of our law enforcement people make. Growing up in Boston, Whitey was an elusive figure that the Irish looked up to as a protector. He was legendary and people were star struck if they saw him. He took advantage of the strong loyalty ties the people of South Boston have to eachother. Nowhere else could he have been more successful. If you know some of the players and have followed the stories over the years you will love this book.

When most think of the mafia or organized crime they think La Cosa Nostra.The Italian mafia families.But there are other mobs working with or trying to take over the traditional role of Cosa Nostra.One being the Irish mobs.And one of the big players from Boston James "Whitey" Bulger, Jr.In this book you will see that not even the "good guys" are always good.And what the meaning of true friendship is.

This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Lehr and o'Neill relate the amazing story of the twisted connection between the Bulger family, the community of Boston and "Southie", and the Boston office of the FBI.
I could not put this book down. After reading a few chapters I was desparate for news on the Bulger case, and the story continues to unfold to this day. Whitey Bulger is still at large and on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list, FBI agent John Connolly was recently sentenced for his crimes, and Billy Bulger was, until this past August, President of the University of Massachusetts system. Connections between Billy and Whitey are still being drawn by government agencies and prosecutors and refuted by Billy and the FBI.
Read this book and you will be swept with a new hobby: keeping yourself aware of new developments in the Bulger case. You don't have to be a Bostonian to appreciate this story. And it's all true!

I read this book with great expectations, but it didn't fully deliver. Despite the fascinating subject matter, and some gripping passages, it reads like a "rush job" and collage of old newspaper stories. Still, fans of the "true crime" genre should find it worth their while. Also take a look at George V Higgins's last novel, "At End of Day", which treats the same topic.

In addition to all the obvious ones in this book serious concerns about tactics and such can be raised. The amount of monitoring intrusion is alarming in that the intrusions are basically carte blanche and without rigorous judicial oversight and conservatism.

Do we want any agency of our government to monitor our most personal conversations or activities? Do you want government agents monitoring you as you cry,pray,masturbate,make love to someone special,etc.? Even if there is a legitimate need, how do we know this information is not gathered simply to publicly humiliate later on? Has the government and its agents proven trustworthy in this case,MK Ultra,Cointelpro, and so forth?

What protections do ordinary law abiding citizens have to offset approved institutional tyranny or by rogue agents thereof? Is it the mandate of government management to compile damaging information as surety against public protest against policy initiatives in the future? What is the line between balanced control and oppression?

"Black Mass" is a work of courage, laced with quiet dignity, meticulously reported and executed with precision and lucidity. mr. o'neill and mr. lehr should be commended. not only have they done a exemplary job of chronicling this particular case -- as well as illuminating its myriad and scattered repercussions -- they have, perhaps more importantly, penetrated a deeper and more insidious by-product of law-enforcement today: the dubious relationship between agents and informants. moreover, they have done what all writers must do: taken a pernicious delusion -- that of the "noble" gangster -- and washed it clean until something called truth shines through. thank you, gentlemen.

This book will amuse the casual true crime reader, but the cognoscenti will laugh it off. Why these two reporters are being heralded for this book when it is merely a slapdash re-write of old Boston Globe articles is beyond me. Yes, the saga of the Bulger Brothers is indeed singular, but the real down and dirty story has yet to emerge, and probably will not until all parties are dead and buried. Someone who actually lived with the personalities and knows the piquant details will spill the real beans on this Boston drama someday - save your money for that book.

Good read! I'd been wanting to read it for some time and was not disappointed...especially since the movie is coming out later this year, starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger. Interesting to see the early-in-life connection between Bulger and John Connolly and how they were able to get folks involved in their web of coverups, lies, deceit, and betrayal.

In the 1970s, Whitey signed on to the Top Echelon program. In the late 1970s a boy who was being overseen by former government officials,"Patsy" was assigned a female social worker by the name of Debbie Richards, a name mentioned in this book. Patsy was bounced around in state child care while William Bulger was in the Senate. In 1982 Patsy was befriended by "Tim",a man claiming to be a former "mental health counselor" undergoing a career change while at technical school. Just prior to meeting "Tim", another man appeared in Woburn,Mass ,where Patsy lived, going by the same name at a different address. "Patsy II" began creating problems for Patsy I, notably going AWOL in the army and much more while sending authorities after Patsy I.In 1992 Patsy was introduced by mutual friend to "John Doe" and a new friendship was formed. In 1995 Whitey fled after a local newspaper article in the Boston area did a story on Patsy' search for his unknown father and family roots.About the same time, "Tim" and "John Doe" began acting strange...

"Tim" began acting inexplicably hostile while "John Doe" began acting hostile and accusatory. Later,John Doe claimed to be taking notes and possibly tape recording staged conversations, in which Patsy was steered into making statements which could be taken out of context as if building a case for later use. Tim began doing the same.Tim hailed from the area where an FBI office existed in Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts. This whole situation appeared as if a boy tied to one of the principals in the Bulger case was systematically assigned monitors to keep tabs on him during the period Bulger and Flemmi operated and when Bulger fled and the situation unravelled, the boy,now a man,became a target of revulsion and blackballing. The boy might have had ties to Bulger's victims,adversaries, government agents, etc.

Even the Dept. of Justice, which Patsy corresponded with concerning the harassment, claimed no knowledge of the correspondence, citing its classified records section.

..that fills in the gaps! Take this case of a young man sucked up in this mess and see if it meshes with this book,which is a good read and very informative...

The man was employed professionally and around the time Whitey split town was suddenly fired. Just before this an attractive woman had befriended him at Northeastern University, linked also to R Robert Popeo and Agent John Morris. When the man was fired the woman started suddenly taking mysterious trips and acting in a manner suggestive of infidelity while alleging marriage intentions. Before each mystery trip the man was treated with special kindness, as if to assuage guilt over the emotional betrayal soon to follow. This man had as a socil worker a woman who went by the name of a female FBI agent mentioned in Lehr's work on this topic. After Whitey fled, his prior employers blackballed him on job references and his car was tampered with a la Eddie Moiano. IRS audits and levies soon followed as well as sudden bank deposit discrepancies at Fleet Bank, which also harbored IRS accounts at the time. In addition the man's phone line indicated third party interception and screening. As part of this process, the man was called on job interviews which appeared to be nothing more than pretense interviews to gather information or desired evidence on the man. For example, the man was called to a software company offering real-time monitoring and messaging capability such as for chats.When he got there no one knew him or why he was there; but a waist level camera pointed down at him seated in the reception area garnered his photo. Prior to the interview, the man had received overlaid spiteful messages during online chats visible only to him- an alleged capability of this software.At other companies videos were made of him or handwriting samples obtained. Following the alleged fiancee, several other women with similar behavior patterns emerged while new male friends appeared on the scene indicating later after a befriending period that they had kept notebooks on the man or had watched him go to the health club,do banking etc. The man had no criminal history and did not know any principles in the Bulger case but was later informed by these suspicious new friends that he was to blame for the Bulger fiasco. Dan Burton was unavilable for comment on the man during the congressional hearings.The man received threatening and harassing calls but local police were unable to help. Why all of this? Prior to all this, the man had been featured in a local newspaper story detailing his search for who his father was and all the obstacles stemming from that.

In the 2-3 years following Whitey's disappearance, a man became subject to harassment of all sorts. In addition to car tampering, phone surveillance and tampering,pretense bogus job interviews (interviews staged to gather information where the subject does not know they are being investigated nor why) and the like,here are some other things which happened:

1) At 3 separate video stores, whenever the man used the drop box to return movies or DVDs,the movies mysteriously disappeared, causing a liability against the account and casting a pallor on the man. The first time it happened the store was owned by a supporter of Governor Paul Cellucci. During this time the man was being followed everywhere by a man who claimed to know what banking transactions he had made, where he ate and exactly what movies were rented. Eventually, when confronted as to whether this man was with the FBI and if he had been under investigation, the man neither confirmed nor denied it.The man had befriended this man as a congenial coworker from the same town,setting the stage for the pretense. At the first video store a clerk working there denied revealing rnetal records. Two years later the man rented from another store, dropped them in the box and this same clerk from the OTHER store was receiving them. Later the man found out the movies disappeared and his account was never credited. The man had no criminal history nor known ties to the Bulger case but a great deal of harassment blaming him for the Bulger case came down.

This was a very interesting book, however I was disappointed that it came without the book jacket. Although I purchased it used, I planned to have it autographed by the author, so it was frustrating to not have it come with the jacket.

This is a great read for the casual reader. The authors are more than qualified to write on the topic, as they have followed the story as it happened in the Boston Globe. The allegations are mostly cited, but it is obvious some creative story telling was used also. This does however, give you great insite as to the connection between Whitey and the South Boston FBI. A page turner for sure!

There have been many books on the subject of James J. "Whitey" Bulger and his relationship with the FBI. However, this is the best. I read this book many years ago when the scandal was first breaking, and my only complaint after reading it once again recently is that it was written too soon.

I enjoyed this book and felt the authors did a good job sifting through all the facts and presenting a comprehensive view of Boston's underworld. I did feel that the story could've been a little shorter, but was satisfied with the book overall.

From a management point of view we all know that government has an extraordinarily difficult time with the process of "Control". This book is an excellent documented example startingly displaying FBI Control process problems with agent-informant procedures.Well beyond the Control issue the story is wonderful "Truth is stranger than fiction" stuff and the point where the case finally turns with the efforts of Wyshak and Cardinale is high and exciting drama. Should be required reading for all law enforcement trainees.

There is a man referred to in prior reviews who might be linked to this case. You judge for yourself...
1) Not long before this case became a media event, the man ('ManX' we'll call him) had a lengthy news story printewd about his search for his unknown father. Whitey disappeared and all hell broke loose in this man's life.
2) The man had a brother born by a different name who then changed his name to this ManX's last name.Around this time another man appeared bearing the same name as ManX and who seemd to be living a parallel life intertwined with ManX,as if creating an alter ego for ManX.Over the next 20 years, this alter ego would cross paths with ManX from time to time,with the imposter using ManX as a fallguy.At one point the imposter went AWOL claiming he was ManX from the army.ManX was not in the military.Could any of this have involved friends of Flemmi in the military?
3) ManX was in the custody of the courts when Bulger was officially signed on to Top Echelon.At this point new individuals were introduced to the boy as positive influences. Things went well although these new influences kept a distance and frequently filed reports on their interaction with the boy. When Bulger fled in 1995 these same individuals suddenly turned their backs on ManX and even used false names when contact was attempted.It was later revealed that some of these individuals might be tied to influential parties linked to George Cashman of the Teamsters.ManX knew none of this. All ManX knew was that these people had shown him kindness.
4) ManX became a target for numerous individuals claiming affiliation with the Justice Dept. or FBI without being asked about this. The result was that ManX became all but totally unemployable.It was as if ManX was either being targeted by individuals with the FBI/DOJ, supporters of such employees or individuals with another agenda trying to make out a link with the FBI/DOJ.
5) There was increased evidence of possible documentary sanitation with respect to ManX's upbringing at an accelerated pace when this case bubbled up in the media.ManX wrote an autobiography and this appeared to stir up serious concern.
6) Since the case emerged in 1995,ManX has been almost completely without health insurance,kept in poverty and been maneuvered into bankruptcy,homelessness and much more. It is as if an attempt to destroy the man financially,spiritually and emotionally has been underway ever since Bulger fled, just like what happened to the state trooper at Logan airport who crossed Bulger once.
7) The man had as caretakers of various kinds at least 2-3 people with the same names as FBI personnel in this case.
8) Could ManX be the child of a principal in this case with the plan of turning ManX into an informant to replace Flemmi and Bulger and something went wrong,so incurring the wrath of the DOJ?

Black Mass reads like a novel, but it truer than fiction. The authors have managed to pull together several story lines and characters and tell a seemless story of corruption that has the FBI on its heals.
What impressed me the most was the cast of characters -- Whitey, Connolly, Morris, Flemmi -- are more imposing than the next. These are powerful men that heve been reduced to what they all essentially are -- common criminals.
The book's story will leave you shaking your head in disbelief and even anger at times. Any book that tugs on emotions such as these is worth a read.

This book rips the door off its hinges on the back-room deals struck by the FBI's John Connolly and Whitey Bulger. The great lengths that Connolly went to cover Whitey's track will make your stomach turn. The writers capture that sense, back it up with hard evidence, and invite the reader into that dark place where the line between good and evil merge.
O'Neill and Lehr have beaten everyone to the punch on a story that has never been told and will shock the senses. Black Mass is destined for greatness and is a book that was made for the big screen.

An individual with an ambiguous family history at best was thrown into upheaval when this came to light. Consider this and decide if it is a coincidence:

1)The man, as a boy,had a state social worker bearing the name of a female FBI agent listed in "Black Mass"

2) The man,as a boy, was assigned a social security number under a state-licensed, former federal official

3) The man was befriended by a number of individuals who appeared to be gathering evidence and documenting while playing the role of "friends" and whose activities stepped up and at times became inexplicably hostile immediately following Bulger's disappearance.Anomalies triggered by media coverage of Bulger-related material began to appear with regularity in the man's life. The probing of these 'friends' appeared centered on establishing veracity(asking questions they already new answers to without any obvious explanation for having the information- to see if that individual's responses were truthful, and specific facts, such as if they were out for lunch, what the PRECISE bill was and PRECISE tip was(as if conducting an accounting investigation or using information to complete an expense form)

4) If these "friends" happened to be over that person's home or vice-versa, the friends would leave lights on in strange patterns (signaling someone outside and nearby), or need consistently minimum periods of time prior to the individual's arrival, as if preparing recording equipment or other related activities

5) Strong evidence of a network of individuals separately introduced but commonly linked to the individual and handing off as handlers among them of the individual while relaying info received from the individual among themselves for corresponding adverse activity

6) Many of the "friends" having geographical links to the Boston FBI office and satellite RAs in Mass. and New Hampshire and in close proximity to spheres of influence of William Bulger

7) A whole host of former acquaintances disappearing and re-appearing in the individual's life using names other than they had been introduced with before, as if having access to readily available means to change their identities

8)Indicators of long term roving surveillance and interference with communications of the individual, progressively cutting the individual off from being able to contact others by phone or computer ie making that person 'disappear'

9) The individual having no criminal history or apparent reason to be under massive long term government scrutiny

10) The individual went for medical treatment for one condition and the appointed doctor began treating for mental illness without explanation. The individual stopped seeing the doctor and later it was learned that doctor was a forensic consultant to varied law enforcement agencies and possibly the federal government. Later, a "friend" of the individual began claiming mental health issues while seeing several simultaneous counselors. Following conversations between individual and "friend","friend" would act in such a way as if coached in behavior modification strategies by mental health professionals as well as coached by third parties in setting the agendas for future discussions in evidence/documenting collection.

11) A "friend" introduced 3 years prior to Bulger's disappearance announces 10 years AFTER Bulger's disappearance that he has been keeping notebooks on individual.

One might ask after reading this excellent book whether 2 kids,say brothers, were groomed to follow in the Bulger's footsteps but perhaps something went awry??

I know of 2 brothers from Massachusetts. Both were raised in state care during Bulger's reign. The older brother went into the army and a couple years later the younger was being harassed by activities a man who bore the same name in the same town, as if the younger brother had another identity created and which was made to look bad to hurt him in the identity confusion following. It is speculated the older brother set up the younger brother, both from Woburn,Mass and that the older brother after a name change went into FBI service at his younger brother's constant expense.Wherever the younger brother went the older followed and bad thingsalways happened to the younger as a result. There is a lot that went on but it looks as a duplicate of the Bulger's good guy/bad guy pairing for controlling different levels of influence was going on.

They're from the government and here to help. Yeah, right! This is another horrid story in which the FBI twists the knife they have in the back of local law enforcement. Innocent people and others are terrorized, brutalized, and murdered while the FBI turns a blind eye. Even the local law enforcement who, in this case at least, were trying to put the "bad guys" away were betrayed by the FBI. If you think we live in a civil society you need to read this book.

If you have always been curious about the Irish Mob in Boston, this is the place to start. This book names all the key players (FBI, Mob, other), their roles during the Whitey Bulger days and the outcome of their heinous actions. This book was well researched and should not be missed by anyone interested in the Whitey Bulger days in South Boston.

I've had an interest in Boston and the organized crime around Boston for a while. I've actually had a big interest in the mafia in general. This is a great book with a lot of information that is very useful in understanding how corruption in the system allows organized crime to become more powerful and almost unstoppable.

There are much better books on the market which go into greater detail about this piece of s*** Whitey Bulger . I will boycott the impending movie which is being made. He along with his GF should be executed.

If you have read the news accounts over the last few years don't bother purchasing. The book appears to be all of the past Globe newspaper stories dressed up a little. The authors have obviously added detail of the FBI/ mobster relationships from the thousand of pages of court transcripts. However, there is little added that allows the reader to get a feel for the characters and the lives they led.

I have read many books and of all the books I have read I have only left 1 unfinished. This will be my 2nd. I am 200 pages in and will not waste my time finishing it. The last one hundred pages have been the same as the first one hundred, with the authors reiterating what they already stated. The book was boring and drawn out.