Rating: 
Summary: Some unanswered questions......
Review: Has anyone considered that one or more of the guys involved in this case might be NSA or DoD employees? Has anyone noticed that Bulger disappeared at about the same age as one might retire.. was Bulger an employee of ?? Did Bulger have a son that was used by federal and/or state officials as leverage in controlling his actions? Does one FBI office fall under the control of a larger office, which in turn has a similar arrangement to the Bulger-Flemmi case? And how could the Justice Dept and other agencies not know about Bulger's operation for nearly 3 decades? Is it a situation where such arrangements are common knowledge but are disavowed if publicly acknowledged? Has organized crime infiltrated the highest levels of government ?
Rating: 
Summary: Great topic, but left me a little flat
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Not the only agency astray!
Review: Does the federal government have a vested interest in crime? Escort services,massage parlors,etc. have an SIC code which is tracked and easily accessible to government officials. Having an SIC code legtimizes prostitution with the full knowledge of the government. And in bankruptcy court you can discharge credit card and other bank debt but you cannot wipe out gambling debts.So we see the legitimization of gambling and prostitution.This partnership between the government and criminal activity is scary to say the least. Informants for the govt are heavily manipulated,with their home phones continuously tapped. These informants operate by befriending people and encouraging that trust which is essential in human relationships.The tactics used and discussed about in this book should frighten anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Bulger,Flemmi & Mass. politics
Review: First of all, Bulger and Flemmi reported to organized crime based out of New York, as the New England Mafia was supposed to. George Cashman(i believe) was listed in the news as beign a potential supporter of Agent Connolly. Cashman heads up Teamsters local 25 in Charlestown, which has recently come up in a federal investigation of using questionable tactics against Hollywood producers and directors. Whitey's brother Billy was one of the most powerful men in Massachusetts, being in the Senate.
Rating: 
Summary: Black Mass is a sad story of FBI Law Enforcement Tactics
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A reader from Boston
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Good intro w/ intrigue
Review: This work is quite interesting but one thing i am concerned about is that there has not been hard proof that Whitey Bulger and Steve Flemmi actually performed any murders or organized them. Much of the case against Bulger and Flemmi seem to stem from testimony by persons trying to get out of serious culpability for what transpired.Kevin Weeks for example, who was groomed by Bulger and now is looking at serious prison time is cooperating with federal authorities in laying all the blame at Bulger and Flemmi's feet.We don't know right now who is actually responsible for what and it may be premature to pass judgement on Connolly,Bulger and Flemmi until all the facts,if ever,are in.
Rating:
Summary: License to kill....
Review: This book is a good intro but leaves out any detail about the agents involved or the prosecutors.It does not address early concerns in the case,such as how the FBI is alleged to be involved with such things as pornography as well.It also treats this case as an anomaly, but as Congressman James Trafficante of Ohio noted on the news show "Nightline", FBI agents have been alleged to have a similar arrangement there in Ohio. It seems as if the real 'Mafia' is actually a conglomeration of gangsters and govt employees from many branches of govt ,and not just the FBI.Once into this network, you have the protection of being the police while the underground connections for cleverly concealing your activities.
Rating: 
Summary: Lacks unbiased reporting
Review: I read it cover to cover and back through again to find out why it was that I didn't like it. It's simple. The authors rely so heavily on the word of Flemmi, a mob "rat," who felt abandoned by his FBI handlers after he was indicted, that I have a hard time lending any credence to what he says. For that matter, the authors hold such deep contempt for John Connolly that their reporting of "true" incidents seems terribly biased. I don't doubt that after all the court cases have made it through the system, they will right yet another book. I doubt they'll provide any further insight into this Boston scandal then they do in this book.
Rating:
Summary: WELL WORTH A READ
Review: Believe it or not, John Connolly's admiration of Whitey has been no surprise to South Boston - it was so open and brazen that everyone knew - why it took so long for him to be indicted is beyond me. The FBI, through John Connolly, allowed gangsters to murder, extort and run drugs through my community. An absolute disgrace. The authors did a fine job of making some order and sense out of this mess, and even though we know most of the story, there were many new details that made it well worth the read.
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