kerriedroban 
Pete knew that one day he’d be a big part of the Chicago Outlaws. Each decision he made throughout his young adult life was carefully calculated to benefit his eventual place in the Outlaws inner circle. And even as an outsider, he knew that there were better ways to run the club. I always wanted … Read more
Once again I had the pleasure of speaking with Burl Barer on his podcast, True Crime Uncensored. This happened to be my fourth (or maybe fifth?) time chatting with the True Crime Uncensored crew, and it never disappoints. Listen in as we discuss some facts about myself, Big Pete and the very interesting process of … Read more
Thank you to all who ventured out on a Tuesday night to support me and the release of The Last Chicago Boss! I was incredibly honored to be invited to speak at Changing Hands Bookstore. I felt like I’d been invited to the CBGB Club in New York where so many legendary bands got their … Read more
Many teenagers are content playing video games or guitar, but even at that age Big Pete was searching for a thrill. His story began in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he grew up often playing “games” such as Risk & Go while questioning his role in society. As Pete shares in his tell-all interview with … Read more
There’s something so spectacular about a great true crime podcast, which is why a new one seems to pop up almost every day. Just like a great book, each podcast has its own very unique angle and tone that make it memorable. Below is a list of some of my personal favorite true crime podcasts, … Read more
The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club The inner workings of motorcycle clubs often remain shrouded in mystery. In The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club (St. Martin’s Press; On-sale: September 19, 2017), Peter “Big Pete” James reveals how he became the “Godfather” of the … Read more
See my list of best true crime books below! [Excerpts and summaries pulled from respective links.] 1. Sleepers by by Lorenzo Carcaterra The true story of a group of four boys brought up in New York’s notorious Mafia-run Hell’s Kitchen during the 1960s. After nearly causing a man’s death, they were sent to a reformatory … Read more
A Family Secret Last year I discovered something extraordinary, a family secret that blew me away. I started to watch James Solomon’s fascinating documentary called The Witness about the 1964 Kitty Genovese murder case and the so-called “38 residents of Kew Gardens in Queens, NY who were pilloried in the press for their apparent indifference” … Read more
Interviewing “Big Pete” For two years I interviewed The Last Chicago Boss; we spoke every Sunday morning for nearly three hours. Inexplicably, the recording always stopped at 2 hours and 59 minutes. He was dying and I was like his Priest in Confessional, listening intently, offering him prompts, marveling at his plot twists and character … Read more
Little Known Fact True crime would not have been my first genre choice; after all, I began as a poet but even my early writings were rife with violence and, if I’m being honest, somewhat autobiographical. Little known fact, I lived a double life as a child (born to undercover operatives) and later, as an … Read more
