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The Matriarch  By  cover art

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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Mind Blowing Lawlessness + Exceptional Narration

Audible says I need to have a minimum fifteen word review, but I think my headline says enough.

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  • marie
  • 12-07-21

Brilliant 👍

Wow what a read, couldn't put it down as for the narrative 👏absolutely spot on 10 /10

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  • Cindy
  • 01-03-21

Very repetitive

I found this book to be Very repetitive. The timeline was all over the shop and just kept repeating and repeating itself but could’ve been ready in under 4 hours

2 people found this helpful

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  • Daniel
  • 08-31-20

A bit Average

The story is more about her son Dennis the junkie / drug dealer. Not in the same league as "The Ice Man" or "Evil has a Name".

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  • Lisa
  • 02-03-20

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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  • Judith
  • 06-03-21

Prepare to be shocked

A fascinating glimpse into a very strange family, who lived by their own rules, had little regard for anyone outside the family, a total disregard for the rules of an orderly society. Although full of lots of details, I am none the wiser as to how “Granny Evil” could justify her behaviour, and condone the appalling behaviour of her sons as well as the police. The book is also an indictment of the complete hypocrisy of society, in turning a blind eye to drug dealing, gang warfare and murder, as long as it only occurs in the slums of a large city.

I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in recent events in Melbourne.

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  • Dicko
  • 09-03-19

Disturbing Insight into a Melbourne Crime Family.

Well presented format. Kath's character is brought to life brilliantly by Kelly Butler. Fantastic research and inside knowledge by the Author. An interesting, difficult, confronting and outrageous story. Well worth the investment in listening time.

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  • AusSilent Bob37
  • 06-05-23

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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  • ChristineA
  • 08-15-22

Not bad

At times the story is chronologically all over the place which makes the story hard to follow. The addition of Kelly Butler as Kathy is refreshing to listen to, helps break up the "he said, she said"

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  • Anonymous User
  • 07-01-22

Awesome book

Keep you interested from start to finish . Would definitely recommend it to listen to . Great for a long drive

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  • Anonymous User
  • 05-23-22

The Matriarch

Very captivating story, adapts well to audio, well read/performed. perfect length. well worth a credit

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  • Fraserdude
  • 03-13-22

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!