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The Matriarch
- The Story of 'Granny Evil' Kathy Pettingill
- Narrated by: Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Kelly Butler
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
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The Matriarch
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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.
What listeners say about The Matriarch
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- firehorse66
- 29-04-2021
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Trev
- 17-10-2021
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-07-2021
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-09-2023
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 06-03-2020
Good book
Well worth the credit such a good read enjoyed every minute. She's a tough woman
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Fraserdude
- 13-03-2022
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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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 23-05-2022
The Matriarch
Very captivating story, adapts well to audio, well read/performed. perfect length. well worth a credit
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- AusSilent Bob37
- 05-06-2023
Sympathy for the Devil?
The title of this book should have been, “Defending the Indefensible”.
Ms. Pentengil spends the majority of the book bemoaning the perceived harassment of herself and 7 of her children by the Victoria Police.
It doesn’t seem to register with her that the fact most were involved in drug dealing, gun dealing, armed robbery, murder and / or grievous assaults may have had something to do with the attention.
“The Matriarch” bore 10 children, 7 of whom have spent varying periods in jail, dome still there, some deceased. Others somewhere in between. Ironically her three children who are law abiding and contributing to society were adopted shortly after birth. Now that speaks volumes!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lisa
- 03-02-2020
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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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 18-04-2021
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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