Customer Reviews

Angels of Death: Inside the Bikers' Global Crime Empire

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'They had not planned on beheading her.'

With that opening line Julian Sher and William Marsden set the tone for their new book exploring the sinister criminal syndicate that is the Hell's Angels.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Hell's Angels (HA) let me bring you up to speed. A motorcycle club that was founded by the legendary biker Sonny Barger in California the HA appeared to be just another place for people to show off their Harleys and go for long road trips. But it was more than just that. It expanded rapidly; spreading not only across state lines but national borders. With each new chapter set up a familiar pattern arose. Extortion, murder, prostitution, drug trafficking, robbery, gang wars, and much more sinister things sprang up wherever the HA appeared. The HA is more than just a motorcycle club. It is an organized crime syndicate which has no qualms about committing crimes. Yet - due in large part to Sonny Barger's slick PR campaign - many still think of the club as a couple of nice guys with lots of tattoos who like to ride bikes.

This book (and it's predecessor) deftly crush any such illusions. The authors have changed their tact from their last book 'The Road To Hell' (which examined the growth of the HA within Canada) by focusing on the origins and the worldwide reach of the HA. Their prose hasn't differed though. They still keep their catchy opening lines (see above) and crime andecotes which make their books read more like crime novels than exposes. They also continue to balance this sensationalism out with cold hard facts. A balancing act that makes the books by Sher and Marsden not only exciting to read but also extremely informative.

Covering the HA's activities in Australia, Britain, USA, Europe, and Canada, 'Angel's of Death' is a great book for not only organized crime buffs like myself but anyone who wants some great non fiction to read. If you loved 'Road to Hell' you'll love this book. And vice versa. Both are definitely worth your time.

The authors do a fabulous job of writing an intriguing story that makes you want to turn the pages. The worldwide account of what the Hells Angels are up to is laced with the story of cops in Arizona who went undercover on them. The detractors will say the Angels are a bunch of nice guys getting railroaded. Anyone defending them is defending a gang that says its OK to murder defenseless women and cut babies throats in the name of their 'club'. The authors tell it like it is and don't care what side of the fence the reader falls on. Excellent!

I would have liked more and better pictures of some of these guys. The book gave me a lot more information than the media ever does. I think, what they wrote, was probably not too far off the truth. I don't like reading too much fiction about such serious subjects. It's incredible just how much information can be gathered about such a secret organization. They are dangerous people and now they are famous for being, I don't suppose they like everything.