A fast-paced examination of organized crime, this account details the exploits of an unforgettable cast of villains, crooks, and mobsters who have made up the criminal and gangland scene in Australia. Tracing the developments in and the shifting dynamics of Australia's criminal underworld from the early 1800s until the Melbourne gangland killings of recent years, this vivid and explosive reading also investigates the role of police, politicians, and lawyers who have helped and hindered the growth of criminal empires. Anyone interested in true crime will appreciate this meticulously researched chronicle.