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The Black Hand: The Bloody Rise and Redemption of 'Boxer' Enriquez, a Mexican Mob Killer Audiobook
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(3.09) - 320 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Rene "Boxer" Enriquez grew up on the violent streets of East L.A., where gang fights, robberies, and drive-by shootings were fueled by rage, drugs, and alcohol. When he finally landed in prison—at the age of nineteen—Enriquez found an organization that brought him the respect he always wanted: the near-mythic and widely feared Mexican Mafia, La Eme. What the organization saw in Enriquez was a young man who knew no fear and would kill anyone—justifiably or not—in the blink of an eye. That loyalty and iron will drove him up the ranks as a mob enforcer and ultimately to the upper echelons, where he would help rule for nearly two decades. Enriquez helped La Eme become the powerful and violent organization that it is now, with a base army of approximately 60,000 heavily armed gang members who control the prison system and a large part of California crime. Arguably the most dangerous gang in American history, its reach is growing. And now award-winning investigative journalist Chris Blatchford, with the unprecedented cooperation of Rene Enriquez, reveals the inner workings, secret meetings, and elaborate murder plots that make up the daily routine of the Mafia brothers. It is an intense, never-before-told story of a man who devoted his life to a bloody cause only to find betrayal and disillusionment. After years of research and investigation, Blatchford has delivered a historic narrative of a nefarious organization that will go down as a classic in mob literature.
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"I thought it was a really good book, & hard to put down. Although "BOXER" is now a "RATA" ,(SNITCH), I respect what he feels he must do to try to fix his wrongs..it won't bring those he murdered back, he is now using what he knows for GOOD by assisting the LAW., Truly trying to redeem himself. It is a GOOD READ with good a "RUNDOWN" on The SURENOS & LA EME.......,............GANGSTERISM"
— JAY D (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A courageous and well-written exposé on one of the most ruthless and powerful gangs of all, the Mexican Mafia. Chris Blatchford reaffirms his position as being among Americans greatest investigative reporters.”
— Vincent Bugliosi, New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of Helter Skelter -
“A fascinating, vivid, and unforgettable insider’s look at the bloody, secret, and deadly Mexican Mafia. Chris Blatchford’s compulsively readable wake-up call spares no one and names everyone, including the politicians who aid and abet this dangerous criminal organization, through corruption, maddening naiveté, or political correctness.”
— Joseph Wambaugh, Edgar Award–winning author -
“Blatchford is well-suited to tell this story…he captures the nuances and nihilism of the prison world…The narrative is interspersed with fascinating prison arcana.”
— Los Angeles Times -
A gripping, powerful, chilling inside look at a criminal organization that is changing the organized crime landscape. This is a mob classic.
— Dominick Dunne
The Black Hand Listener Reviews
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Ronnie Vigil, 8/20/2022
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" Hated this book. Why would anybody believe someone who tells on everybody? He just changes overnight and expects everyone to believe he is sorry. He is a weak individual. All those families he destroyed are not going to buy his story. "
— Krista619, 2/13/2014 -
" an intense read "
— Fergus, 2/2/2014 -
" Gangsta! "
— Nathan, 1/30/2014 -
" Good book with a really clear insight on how the "La Eme" is the biggest gang that America has ever seen. "
— Tyler, 1/21/2014 -
" Great story the first real inside story on the Mexican mafia and its influence on L.A. Latino street gangs. "
— Emmanuel, 1/20/2014 -
" This was a really good book. The book explained how much it tock from going to being a gangster to being a better person in life. "
— Francisco, 1/19/2014 -
" real life story's behind bars ..somewhere i ain't going "
— Ernest, 1/16/2014 -
" Two stars and that's being generous. 250 pages of kill, kill, kill. No high points, no crescendo, just senseless killings described. It wasn't until the last 50 pages that I found something redeeming about this story, and just barely. "
— George, 12/28/2013 -
" Great book, however there were too many names included which ended up confusing me. "
— Vanessa, 12/21/2013 -
" A scary look into the Mexican mob "
— Rosey, 12/10/2013 -
" Wow what else is left to say. I finished book in two day. "
— Juanita.girl, 12/2/2013 -
" Great biography and history of the world's most dangerous gang. Inside or outside of prison, you get a sense of just how violent and powerful this mafia really is. A behind the curtain look at prison life as well as gang life in California and the surrounding area. "
— Tyson, 11/29/2013 -
" Brutal, but incredibly interesting. Must read for those interested in organized crime. "
— Ysidro, 11/25/2013 -
" This book is enlightening. Read it. It's non-fiction about the mexican mafia, mostly in California. "
— Michael, 10/8/2013 -
" Amazingly brutal. Make kids read it do they can stop fantasizing about the gang life. "
— David, 10/5/2013 -
" This book was just okay for me. I could take it or leave it. I can only handle reading so much about gang violence and prison life. Although I must say I did learn a great deal about how and why drugs and gangs are so inter-related. "
— Steve, 4/28/2013 -
" this kind of non-fiction is the stuff i eat up! it provides a nice break from my fiction reading. finding out about the mexican mafia and how they pretty much run the prisons in the US was scary reading. well written, engaging and scary, how can you go wrong?!? "
— Brad, 9/1/2012 -
" Interesting look at the Mexican Mafia and what goes on behind many a prison wall - yikes! "
— Melissa, 5/21/2012 -
" So far I love this book. Very real and even scary to realize there are people like this in our world. "
— P.A., 4/29/2012 -
" All you wanted to know about the Mexican Mafia (and maybe some you didn't want to know). "
— Nathan, 10/13/2011 -
" truly amazing to read about the history of violence that surrounds the neighborhoods I've called home. still shocking to hear how murder is checked off like a grocery list. raw truth storytelling. scary. "
— Veronica, 5/21/2011 -
" Wow, couldnt believe what i was reading <br/> <br/>Excellent "
— Lisa, 4/27/2011 -
" This was a really good book. The book explained how much it tock from going to being a gangster to being a better person in life. "
— Francisco, 4/12/2011 -
" all i can say is wow def a page turner from beginning to end "
— Daisy, 3/17/2011 -
" This is a very interesting book, it amazes me how people can live like that. "
— Carlina, 11/27/2010 -
" This book was just okay for me. I could take it or leave it. I can only handle reading so much about gang violence and prison life. Although I must say I did learn a great deal about how and why drugs and gangs are so inter-related. "
— Steve, 9/27/2010 -
" What can I say, I don't want to get clipped. :). Good rat! "
— Raul, 9/15/2010 -
" Good book with a really clear insight on how the "La Eme" is the biggest gang that America has ever seen. "
— Tyler, 2/4/2010 -
" A pretty chilling book about the Mexican Mafia. I came away amazed by how many people can be stabbed 20-30 times in one attack and still survive. Ouch. "
— Chris, 11/18/2009 -
" Hated this book. Why would anybody believe someone who tells on everybody? He just changes overnight and expects everyone to believe he is sorry. He is a weak individual. All those families he destroyed are not going to buy his story. "
— Krista619, 11/3/2009
About Chris Blatchford
Chris Blatchford is an investigative reporter and the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller Three Dog Nightmare. He has won numerous commendations and awards for his reports, including several Emmy Awards and a Peabody for his investigation into Italian Mafia infiltration of MCA/Universal’s music and home video divisions. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
About the Narrators
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.