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The Matriarch

By: Adrian Tame
Narrated by: Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Kelly Butler
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Publisher's Summary

The matriarch of Australia’s most violent and notorious criminal family, and allegedly the inspiration for the award-winning film Animal Kingdom, tells her side of the story.

Kathy Pettingill is a name that’s both respected and feared, not only by Australia’s criminal underworld, but by many in the Victorian police force. As the matriarch at the head of the most notorious and violent family of habitual offenders in Australian criminal history, her life has revolved around murder, drugs, prison, prostitution, and bent coppers - and the intrigue and horror that surround such crimes.

Her eldest son, Dennis Allen, was a mass murderer and a $70,000-a-week drug dealer who dismembered a Hell’s Angel with a chainsaw. Two younger sons were acquitted of the Walsh Street murders, the cold-blooded assassination of two police officers that changed the face of crime in Melbourne forever. One of the two, Victor, was gunned down himself in the street 14 years later, becoming the third son Kathy has buried.

In this revised and updated authorized edition of Adrian Tame’s best-selling The Matriarch, Kathy Pettingill reveals the chilling truth behind many of the myths and legends that surround her family, including her experiences in the blood-spattered charnel house at the centre of Dennis Allen’s empire of drugs and violence.

But this is no plea for pity. Forthright and deeply disturbing, like its subject, The Matriarch pulls no punches.

Updated and revised for a new generation, this true crime classic is as terrifying and powerful as when it was first published.

©1996, 2019 Adrian Tame and Kathy Pettingill (P)2019 Simon & Schuster Australia. All rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Matriarch

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Great listen

This has been the best audio book I have listened to so far. The subject is appalling but could not stop listening to this crazy family. KP is very sharp and quite hilarious at times. The best part however are the narrators. They made the audio book what it is. Great listen and highly recommend.

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What A Read!*****

Such A Full On Story, I am Amazed By The Honesty & Quite Frank Tales Of The Underworld In Melbourne @ Those Times! Glad I Never Meet Them That Is For Sure! Must Read For All*****

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Melbournians will be especially interested.

Highly recommended for anyone who remembers the crimes in Melbourne for which this family is infamous. The various voices used throughout, to depict the different persons, have an excellent realism.

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Great book

Great book very interesting couldn’t stop listening to it . The story kept me intrigued all the way through.

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Humm

Yes the the book was good, the narrater as well, happy to have read story and hope no proceeds went to this wicked woman, not a fan of her or her spawn. We all have choices. Knowing she is living a life of an upstanding citizen grates me a little, but at least she is giving back to the community, better now than latter I guess.

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Interesting and alarming times in Victoria!

I enjoyed this audio. Especially Narrator Kelly Butler.
Lewis Fitz-gerald was very easy to listen also. HR

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granny evil

loved this book. it took me there. also the end. i recommend it highly.


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The matriarch

loved it. didn't want it to finish. when I got to the end I dragged it out.

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Good book

Well worth the credit such a good read enjoyed every minute. She's a tough woman

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Tales of Melbourne Criminal Family

A curious string of tales about 70's/80's crime family. At times ridiculous. Getting away with it was turned into an art form. The code of honour among thieves broken and the knitting un- ravelled. Maternal strength comes to the fore with a startling resolve. Fascinating!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.