Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Carl Williams

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 11 ratings · 2 reviews

Barwon Prison's maximum security unit, 19 April 2010: Carl Williams is beaten to death with the stem of an exercise bike by a fellow inmate. And so, the last moments of this convicted contract killer and key figure in the Melbourne underworld echoed the rest of his life: violent, chilling, brutal.

Bestselling author Adam Shand takes us into the world of Carl Williams, deali...more

Paperback, 253 pages

Published October 24th 2012 by Penguin Australia

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-19 of 19)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Nov 01, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian, review-books, true-crime

Having read an earlier book by this author on Carl Williams, I did wonder what extra insights might be offered in this latest offering, entitled simply CARL WILLIAMS. But, for this reader, there was something very interesting about the premise of this book. I've never been able to work out how or why Williams came to such a position of prominence and influence in Melbourne criminal circles. There's something that sort of makes sense about the Morans and other members of long-term criminal famili...more Having read an earlier book by this author on Carl Williams, I did wonder what extra insights might be offered in this latest offering, entitled simply CARL WILLIAMS. But, for this reader, there was something very interesting about the premise of this book. I've never been able to work out how or why Williams came to such a position of prominence and influence in Melbourne criminal circles. There's something that sort of makes sense about the Morans and other members of long-term criminal families or gangs, continuing, so to speak, the family trade. Williams, on the other hand, seemed to come from nowhere and I was hoping that this book could cast some light on how it is that a person like him can go from obscurity to such money, such influence in such a short time. And then disappear in a blaze of notoriety not long after.

I do agree with the position of Justice King and others who have been involved in the pursuit, charging, trial and sentencing of many of the members of the recent Melbourne gang-wars (known colloquially as the Underbelly wars). There's nothing glamorous about any of these people, or the lives they lead, and there's certainly nothing in their behaviour that suggests anything more than a modicum of rat cunning, and a profound sense of self-interest. But, in the main, we're not talking rocket-scientists here. Maybe some of the people that Williams and his ilk surrounded themselves with weren't completely stupid, but these people are not the brightest bulbs in the box. Mostly it seemed they got lucky or were completely and utterly ruthlessly self-interested. Which is what begs the question, how on earth did a lazy sort of a kid from a slightly deprived and petty criminal background, come to be a major player in the gang-wars and the mythology of Melbourne criminals?

CARL WILLIAMS, the book, will give the readers some insights into the life of Carl and his family. Interestingly, it gives some clues as to the background of both Carl and his father George, but it doesn't really give them any excuses. George's childhood, and that of his wife Barbara, were difficult, no doubt about that. As were the lives of a hell of a lot of people who grew up in the same time and the same place. Not everyone of them went onto be petty criminals, not everyone casually opted for the easy way to garner a bit of cash, nor do they all automatically turn a blind-eye to their own son's dodgy behaviour. Of course, it's easy to look to the parents for reasons, but you do have to wonder if, with a little less doting, and a little more direction, somebody with Carl's personality wouldn't have headed in a different direction. It was particularly interesting to see the glimpses of Carl under the influence of his mother, and Carl under the influence of his wife Roberta.

The observations throughout the book are really very informative, and despite some previous contact between the author, and the main subject, the book appears to be reasoned and very fair. There are also no particular conclusions drawn, that's very much left up to the reader. And at the end of the book, it seemed to this reader that there's a rather sobering outcome. Whilst there can be no doubt that the stopping of the ongoing Underbelly war was a good thing, nature does abhor a vacuum. Without the Morans, with a substantially lessened Carlton Crew, and without Williams and his cronies, all of whom were, after all, relatively high profile even before the Underbelly circus hit town, who is running the underworld now? At least with the previous lot, even allowing for many inappropriate relationships between the Police and the criminals, it seems that the Underworld wasn't so undercover. Nowadays, you have to wonder who is wielding the money and the power, who is controlling the drug markets and how far under the radar are they operating?

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 20, 2012 Zuzu Burford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: australian-authors

When they say 'fact is stranger than fiction' surely Carl Williams' life is a great example. Melbourne was a city of vicious criminals that werein league with the most corrupt police force. This is the story of that time with Carl being the central figure. A great read and a definite argument for the decriminalisation of drugs.

1 like · like · see review

Apr 28, 2013 Melanie marked it as to-read

Mar 29, 2013 Cain rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 28, 2013 Kylie marked it as to-read

Apr 26, 2013 Gareth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 07, 2013 Haylee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 22, 2013 Rhys rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 09, 2013 Judith Genet added it

Jan 28, 2013 Sally marked it as to-read

Jan 08, 2013 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Dec 20, 2012 Caleb marked it as to-read

Dec 11, 2012 Matt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dec 11, 2012 Oscar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Dec 28, 2012 John rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nov 16, 2012 Alex Wise rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nov 01, 2012 Megan marked it as to-read

Apr 24, 2013 Nicole marked it as to-read

Oct 22, 2012 Scott Pardon marked it as to-read

australian-authors

1 shelf

true-crime

1 shelf

review-books

1 shelf

australian

1 shelf

Books by Adam Shand

Outlaws: The Truth About Australian Bikers

King of Thieves: The Adventures of Arthur Delaney and the Kangaroo Gang

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Carl Williams

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Carl Williams
avg rating	preview: Carl Williams Goodreads rating: 3.91 (11 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16076371-carl-williams?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349749337l/16076371.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16076371-carl-williams?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Carl Williams by Adam Shand[/url]

Carl Williams

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Popular Shelves

Books by Adam Shand

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Carl Williams

Carl Williams

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (1)

Popular Shelves

Books by Adam Shand

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Carl Williams

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)