Where the Bodies Were Buried audiobook

I thought this was an excellent book. I was captivated from the beginning to the very end. The book's main focus is the 2013 trial 'The People of the United States v. James. J. Bulger'. The book flows from the opening, witness testimonies, court procedure, and the closing statements. I felt T.J. English did an outstanding job of telling the story by intertwining social history, biographical information, and allowing the reader to glimpse into the Boston criminal underworld.T.J. English gives a great history lesson on the Boston underworld starting in post-WWII New England, moving into the Boston Gang Wars of the 1960s, J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI's goal of taking down the New England Mafia, and eventually into the Bulger Era. The FBI's involvement was deep and the level of corruption may never be known but you get an idea by reading. 'It was Flemmi who first established the key link between various spheres of corruption on both sides of the law, an inheritance he would later share with Bulger." (pg. 112). In 1971 Whitey Bulger became a confidential informant, was elevated as a Top Echelon Informant (known on paper only as BS-1544 TE), and his identity remained secret until roughly 1995. His handler was Special Agent John Connolly who kept Whitey and Flemmi a secret to both various law enforcement agencies and other criminal elements. It was basically simple: Whitey gave the FBI information and helped take down the La Cosa Nostra in Boston, headed by the underboss Gennaro Angiulo. In return, Whitey murdered his way to the top and secured his position as top dog in the Boston underworld. Special Agent Connolly got promotions within the FBI, the career accolades, and even financial kick-backs from Whitey's illegal operations. Eventually it all comes toppling down, indictments were issued, and arrests were made. SA Connolly was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009 and is currently serving a 40-year sentence. The 2013 trial concludes with Whitey being sentenced two consecutive life-sentences."And this is where they derived their power: Flemmi and Bulger knew by entering into this pact with the system [as Top Echelon Informants for the FBI], the system was now beholden to them. They could do whatever they wanted, not only financial crimes like loan-sharking, drugs, extortion, and robberies, but murder, any kind of murder they wanted, as long as they made the bodies disappear, so that there would be no investigation." pg. 310I learned a lot and was intrigued during the first-person witness statements to include Kevin Weeks, John Martorano, Steve Flemmi, and many others. The author mentions books by others I plan to read (books by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill "Black Mass", "Whitey", and "The Underboss" and Kevin Weeks' account "Brutal"). I would recommend this book to anyone interested in organized crime or if you're intrigued by the mob/crooked cop dynamic. This is a great book in my opinion. Thanks!

"The policies that created Whitey Bolger are still in place, the top echelon informant program has been discontinued in name only."I am fan of T.J. English and while this book was not my favorite of his I still found it both interesting and entertaining, however, if you're looking for a book about the life and times of Whitey Bolger you're probably better off reading one of the many books written about his life, this one is more a recounting of his trial and the actions and corruption of the justice system that created him.

Corruption, Conceit and Criminality I had been waiting for this book from when it was first announced because I have had an interest in the Bulger Case for years, I'm a big fan of T.J. English's books and writing style and after reading many books about Bulger and Boston I was interested in where English would go with the story. I have to say, that this book is probably the best book on the Bulger case, as English focuses primarily on the historic corruption within the F.B.I and government that created the monsters in order to get to the mafia and then did deals with monsters again to burn Bulger at the stake. Highly recommended

This book is mind boggling yet wholly believable. Using the 2013 trial of Boston crime boss James 'Whitey' Bulger as a focal point author T.J. English reviews the decades of law enforcement complicity that enabled Bulger's reign from the '70's to mid '90's. Bookies, loan sharks, hit men and G-men all take the stand but even after the verdict's read it's hard to say which side is really the guilty one.I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

Book to read if you are interested in the Whitey Bulger case. Well written expose. Details the FBI and Attorney Generals office complicity in the botched handling of Bulger as an informant. Bad guys killed but innocent people as well. Eye opening on how some law enforcement feel that they are above reproach. Bulger was a royal piece of crap but the governments handling of him was almost as atrocious.

I grew up just south of Boston, where any reference to "Whitey" didn't need to be followed by a last name. Even those of us who didn't know the details, knew Whitey was a notorious local mobster, loved by some and hated by others. This book unravels the tangled mess of mobsters, connections, and the various law enforcement agencies involved from start to finish in Whitey's criminal life.I found this to be an easy read, as far as writing style and the way the content is presented. But it's not a light or a quick read, nor could it be given the subject matter. The author provides a detailed account of events, with all the intricacies within the many relationships. We're taken into Whitey's life as his crimes become more blatant and brutal. Then we're taken through his trial, where witnesses relive the events.The corruption and complicity regarding the FBI's treatment of Whitey and his associates is, for lack of a better word, astounding. This, I think, is the heart of the story, because without that complicity, Whitey's criminal enterprise would never have gone on as it did.This book shines a spotlight on our government's practice of recruiting high-level criminal informants, of protecting them, and of the shroud of secrecy surrounding it all. For that reason alone, whether you care about Whitey Bulger or not, this book needs to be read and talked about. Until we demand changes, this type of atrocity will happen again and again, and will remain cloaked in government secrecy.

Whether you have read all the books about the Bulger case, or if you have never read any, go ahead and read this one. It will scare you, make you angry, and will most definitely change the way you look at those law enforcement agencies that would have you believe they "always get their man". A true story and an absolutely disgraceful period in the annals of law enforcement.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Who will watch the watchmen? A recounting of the trial of Whitey Bulger, the main focus of the book is how much he was aided and abetted by the FBI. I wonder if Bulger would have been as powerful without the agents who covered for him and gave him information. WTBWB brings to mind J'accuse as a cry against injustice. Highly recommended.

http://www.examiner.com/review/where-...

A frightening look behind the curtain of corruption that is the standard operating procedure of the DOJT.J. English is the greatest true crime writer of our generation. In Where the Bodies Were Buried, he continued to set the bar higher than lesser writers can ever hope to clear. English shines a light into a very dark corner that the FBI and the Department of Justice would rather be didn't .Documenting the extraordinary circus that was the Whitey Bulger trial, he examines and directs the insipid federal protection granted to certain criminals that allowed a murderous gang of psychopaths to hold an entire city hostage for thirty years. The sad reality that English points out is that this tactic is not only still in play nationwide, it's the FBI's only tactic. The sadder reality is that they and the DOJ will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who seeks to expose it . English excelled in exposing the greater truth; that the Department of Justice is an oxymoron. I highly recommend this book, but caution the reader to be prepared to be disappointed and depressed. Not with the book; it's brilliant, but with their own government.

I found this book to be excellent. Outstanding even. Having grown up in Southie through the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s I could relate to just about every aspect, angle and rhythm of the sordid tale. TJ does an exceptional job in bringing the mythological beings into perspective as humans, with all their myriad failures, faults and misplaced loyalties. Gripping, unnerving, brutal and yet easily readable and relatable. Highly recommended.

As someone who ignored the whole history of Bulger and crime in Boston, I found this a really good introduction to the history of Organized crime in Boston. I also liked the virtual tour in the book of murders, burials and hits. The book framed the history in a way I could see it overlaid over the city.

This book broke my heart. So many of the people in it teams in in the DOJ, the FBI, or in political positions. The current political culture in the USA is a direct result of the culture hi-lighted in this book! It grieves my soul to understand that our system is so tragically and internally corrupt and broken!