Whitey Bulger

America's Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice

By: Kevin Cullen, Shelley Murphy

Narrated by: James Colby

Raised in a South Boston housing project, James "Whitey" Bulger became the most wanted fugitive of his generation. In this riveting story, rich with family ties and intrigue, award-winning Boston Globe reporters Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy follow Whitey’s extraordinary criminal career - from teenage thievery to bank robberies to the building of his underworld empire and a string of brutal murders.

It was after a nine-year stint in Alcatraz and other prisons that Whitey reunited with his brother William "Billy" Bulger, who was soon to become one of Massachusetts’s most powerful politicians. He also became reacquainted with John Connolly, who had grown up around the corner from the Bulgers and was now - with Billy’s help - a rising star at the FBI. Once Whitey emerged triumphant from the bloody Boston gang wars, Connolly recruited him as an informant against the Mafia. Their clandestine relationship made Whitey untouchable; the FBI overlooked gambling, drugs, and even homicide to protect their source. Among the close-knit Irish community in South Boston, nothing was more important than honor and loyalty, and nothing was worse than being a rat. Whitey is charged with the deaths of 19 people killed over turf, for business, and even for being informants; yet to this day he denies he ever gave up his friends or landed anyone in jail.

©2013 Globe Newspaper Company, Inc. (P)2013 Recorded Books

the truth is better than fiction

you often hear the truth is better than fiction in this case by far. I couldn't listen fast enough

Fabulous Read

Growing up in the time and in the area of the Winter Hill Gang, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Had always heard of Whitey but had nooo idea that he was really this bad. Having grown up there, I was able to follow the story from place to place, and the descriptions were right on the mark. There were many characters, and eventually I gave up trying to remember who was who. But this didn’t affect the story one bit.
It is still hard to believe that there really was a real Whitey!

Couldn’t put it down

This was a terrific read and listen! Highly, highly recommend to anyone interested in the Bulger saga, organized crime or how Boston once operated.

Phenomenal

I've read or listened to about 13 books on Bulger and his run in Boston crime. This one ranks up there as one of my favorites..if you've read or listened to Black Mass by Lehr & Oneil this one is just as good, if not better in the sense that This focuses on all on Bulgers life not just the relationship with the FBI. Lehr & Oneil also have Whitey which like this book is a amazing indepth look into Bulgers whole life.

This author uses words like fear in terms of the Irish mob and their actions…

What kind of pathetic slob would be fearful when you have an FBI protecting you while you commit scumbag crimes??? Lol????????

This whole book reads as a 2021 Democratic fantasy the way the federal government protected these moronic criminal slugs.

Not Quite the Master Criminal of Lore

It took me half a year to listen my way through Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy's "Whitey Bulger: America's Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him To Justice" (2012). I was just plain out-and-out bored by the exhaustive detail - but intrigued enough to keep listening. James Colby's narration was perfect Boston and Irish, so that wasn't the problem. The problem: well, once you set aside the horrific crimes, Whitey was just a parochial, unimaginative businessman. Early on, he found a way to make money and kept doing basically the same thing over and over - extortion - until he was forced to stop.

Business is a way of creating a lasting empire. Walter Isaacson wrote the acclaimed, authorized biography "Steve Jobs" in 2011 in detail as minute as Cullen and Murphy did, but Bulger is no Jobs. Jobs literally changed the way people think with Apple. Bill Gates Microsoft is important, but Gates' crowning achievement is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with its fight against endemics like malaria and Ebola. Whitey made his own run at the world order by funding arms shipments to the Irish Republican Army, but funding a war? Immortality without morality is an empty construct.

Whitey's kingdom was geographically limited to 'Southie' (South Boston) and the FBI. Whitey probably had more control over good portions of the FBI from 1987 - 1993 than its director, William Sessions, did. Whitey was an informant who operated his criminal enterprise with impunity while the FBI focused on taking down the Mafia. Actually, impunity isn't the right word. Immunity? Assistance? Encouragement?

Whitey's connections were impeccable - his brother, Bill Bulger, was the Massachusetts Senate President. Brother Jack was highly placed in the state court system. When Whitey was eventually indicted, the entire family stuck together. Loyalty had it's cost: Bill lost his job, and Jack his hard earned government pension. Whitey remained a fugitive while his brothers lost what they'd spent their lives working for.

Whitey and his long-time companion, Catherine Greig were finally captured, after a decade 'on the lam', in a rent controlled apartment in Santa Monica in 2011. They lived the lives of quiet retirees, careful with their money, and kind to their neighbors. The contrast was stark, and the complete change from blatant extortionist to pensioner on a limited income is why they hid in plain sight for so long.

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Boston Wise Guy

What did you love best about Whitey Bulger?

While I do not wish to glamorize what Bulger did in his crime-centered existence, I must say that he was a cool cat. Loyal to his parents, brother and immediate "families." Whitey did have his principles - Sunday was a thug-free day. He adhered to the mobster code that bystanders and children were never to be hurt.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Whitey Bulger?

For me, when Whitey, gun in hand, looked through a front-facing window of a rival's house, drew down on the man, but smiled and walked away instead. He passed up on an easy kill because there was a child in the room with his nemesis.

Have you listened to any of James Colby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not. What a gem I have missed.I greatly admire James Colby's credibility in his reading. It's as if either Bulger is telling the story, his FBI "handlers" or other gangsters. Colby was a perfect fit for this book. My next step is to search Audible for books read by Mr. Colby.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Irish wiseguy ... I have no clue. Wiseguy offs other wiseguys (who need killing)?

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Engrossed and hooked from the first chapter.

Excellent Read

Would you listen to Whitey Bulger again? Why?

Very good book and interesting subject matter. Read with just the right tone, and excellent skill. Like a "who done it" mystery, but real life.

What other book might you compare Whitey Bulger to and why?

I've read Rifleman about Stevie Flemmie and that was good background to this book. Being from Massachusetts I'm fascinated by this subject.

Have you listened to any of James Colby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NA

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wish I could, but too long.

Any additional comments?

Good read/listen. I recommend it highly.

Enjoyable

fascinating story but somewhat tragic when you think about the innocent people who suffered because of the cover up by the fbi but that's the man Bulger was. Some great information that I didn't know about.

Intricate detail.

The extensive, exhaustive research and excellence in journalism. Fascinating, how one could be a cold blooded killer yet sentimental and taking care of former cell mates.