The General

A true crime account of a notorious mob boss's rise and fall in Ireland during the 1980s and 90s—"An incredible ride . . . truly reads like a piece of fiction" (Booklist).

The extraordinary life and crimes of Martin Cahill, aka The General, come to life in this gripping account from the #1 international bestselling author Paul Williams. In a twenty-year career marked by obsessive secrecy and meticulous planning, Martin Cahile rose through the ranks of the Irish underworld until he himself became an international celebrity. From pulling off the largest gold heist in Irish history—and even more incredible, one of the world's largest art heists—Cahill controlled an international network of fences to launder his money and protect his interests. By using assassination, an attempt to blow up a forensics expert who could finger him, and even crucifixion of people suspected of ratting him out, Cahill managed to stay on top of the Irish underworld!

His personal and comical war with the Irish police, including the digging up of the Irish Police Force's golf course, became fodder for many newspaper articles. And he was loved by the common man for his loyalty to the poor neighborhood where he was raised. But Cahill not only refused to respect the police, he also refused to pay tribute to the IRA. And unlike the police, who had to follow the law to bring down Ireland's most wanted, the IRA played by their own rules.

"Irish charm and gangland violence come together in this engrossing biography of Dublin godfather Martin Cahill. . . . Blending lurid, picaresque and off-hand sociological insights, this is a stylish and thoughtful addition to the true-crime canon." —Publishers Weekly