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Life Sentence

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Life Sentence

By: Carl Williams
Narrated by: Tim Carroll
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About this listen

Carl Williams' role as unlikely gang boss in the Melbourne Gangland Wars had made him one of the most infamous names in Australian criminal history.

In 2007 he was sentenced to 35 years' jail in a high security unit. In 2008 he was given access to a personal computer where, confined to a tiny cell for most of the day, Williams began a daily correspondence with his friends and family, covering his life in jail, his thoughts and hopes for the future and his views and opinions on everyone from barristers and judges to fellow criminals and deadly rivals. Eighteen months later Williams was bashed to death by a fellow prisoner, a man he mentions in his letters as a warm and trusted friend.

The letters are surprising, revealing, often manipulative, frequently self-serving, sometimes touching, and always a fascinating insight into the mind of one of our most notorious criminals.

©2019 Carl Williams (P)2019 Allen & Unwin Pty Limited Murder True Crime Crime
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Waste of time and money, seriously it’s a bunch of boring repetitive letters. He should have stuck to what he did best!

Don’t waste your money or a credit

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poor story. poorly narrated. couldn't finish. don't bother wasting your time or money on this book

poor story

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I really struggled with this book. Very dry. Chapters of letter reading. Carl's letters were not that riveting! I admit I didn't finish the book. Just found it a difficult slog.

It's a struggle

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You will be disappointed .
The guy reading it made it almost bearable but I still had to skip a bit wanting some excitement but it never came.

how boring

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This is a book of the letters that Carl sent out (and received) to family, friends and women. The narration is probably the best narration I've come across on Audibl app. When it comes to parts where Carl gets animated and excited, the narrtors voice goes with the flow. It's an okay book

Carl Williams letters

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If I hadn’t got this for free I would want my money back.
Even if the story had some type of body the way in which endless letters were narrated made it a laboured listen, l took me a long time to force myself through to the end.

Don’t bother

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Only reads letters Carl sent off to friend while in prison could have been so much better with the story line.

Boring

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Was expecting so much more. Disappointing as his letters are boring and repetitive. Gave no insight into what motivated or influenced Carl to become a pathological killer.

AGREE WITH MANY OF THE OTHER REVIEWS: DON’T BOTHER.

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Don't go into this book expecting anything even close to deep and meaningful.
It's literally just a bunch of letters Carl had written before his death, with a little bit of expositional narrative at the start of each chapter and to quickly explain who certain characters are.
Nothing new to add to his story bar the fact he was a bit of a horndog. Suppose that's probably prison life, I guess.

Tim Carroll does a great job with his storytelling. He gets the narrative down well. Particularly reading as though he's actually having conversations with people. Adding little chuckles and such. Awesome narration, sucky material.

Meh. Just another cash-in

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I didn't realise this book would be letters Carl had written while in jail. I love his story but this made me fall asleep. Narrated well.

Extremely boring

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