The Dragonhead: The True Story of the Godfather of Chinese Crime--His Rise and Fall

by John Sack

Distinguished journalist John Sack spent twelve years fearlessly shadowing and befriending the most powerful crime lord in the Chinese Mafia. Now he tells the true, unfictionalized story of mob legend Johnny Kon"the Dragonhead." The Chinese Mafia has always been a mystery to both law enforcement and the mediapart of an unapproachable and unfathomable conglomeration of secret societies operating worldwide. To this day, though, police and prosecutors...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0609603531
• ISBN13: 9780609603536
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A bad guy's story

This book is about the life of a Chinese gangster leader Johnny Kon and his associates. John Jack spent 12 years talking with Kon and his criminals before he wrote this book. The operation of Johnny Kon's drug business is located in Hong Kong, my hometown. I like this book because it depicts the real life of a gangster leader and shows how he gets away from the authorities and how he runs his "business." The book unfolds like an action movie. For instance, in one scene Kon is attempting to smuggle a large amount of heroin around his waist at the airport. When he is about to be body-searched, he drops his expensive Minolta. The camera smashes on the ground, distracting all the security guards. They apologized as Kon walks away with the drugs. It is pure drama. I enjoy this book, however, I hope that readers who read this book do not have an impression that Hong Kong is highest crime cities in the world.

A MUST READ MASTER PIECE

In this fast pacing, action packed book, Mr.Sack by no means to justify or glorify the notorious crimes by those vicious, ruthless gansters, but rather, in every vivid, explicit detsils accounts their criminal actitities. The auther's masterful crafting of language artfully turns words into colorful, 3 dimensional pictures, take you on a thrilling global tour, andyet, non-fictitious. Mr.Sack not only speaks the language of a different culture but also HAS INDISCRIMINATING CONSCIENCE.Do notmiss it.

A Fascinating Look at a Really Bad Guy!

I'm amazed that John Sack spent 12 years with Johnny Kon and his gang of criminals and still lived to tell the tale. The story of how Johnny became the "dragonhead" is a classic "American dream" saga, but with a very dark side--he left a trail of bodies, drugs and ruined lives on his way to fame and fortune. Of course, Johnny claims to have a personal reason that justifies all the crime and death he inflicted on American society, but I'm not buying it for a minute (what is his excuse? you'll have to read the book). Still, for anyone interested in true crime or Asian culture, this is a must-read.