On the morning of April 8, 2006, residents of the hamlet of Shedden, Ontario, woke up to the news that the bloodied bodies of eight bikers from the Bandidos gang had been found dead on a local farm. The massacre made headlines around the world, and the shocking news brought a grim light to an otherwise quiet corner of the province. Six Bandidos would eventually be convicted of the first-degree murder of their biker brothers.

Like other outlaw bikers, Bandidos portray themselves as motorcycle aficionados who are systematically misunderstood and abused by police, as well as feared by the public. We now know the Bandidos were anything but simple motorcycle enthusiasts. However, unlike such biker gangs as the Hells Angels, who run sophisticated criminal empires, the Bandidos were highly disorganized and prone to petty infighting, and even engaged in sabotaging fellow members. This is the story of how the Bandidos self-destructed over one dark night.

As gripping as any crime novel, The Bandido Massacre takes us inside a crumbling brotherhood bent on self-obliteration and betrayal.

PETER EDWARDS, crime reporter for the Toronto Star, is the author of ten books, including the highly praised One Dead Indian: The Premier, the Police and the Ipperwash Crisis. Edwards has been nominated four times for the Arthur Ellis Award and has been interviewed about organized crime forthe Mob Stories and Outlaw Biker series for History Television. A two-hour History Television documentary on The Bandido Massacre is currently in development. Edwards works in Toronto. Visit www.bandidomassacre.com.

Peter Edwards' profile page

• Hamilton Literary Award

“A fascinating glimpse into a ragtag group of misfits . . . This hard-to-put-down, must-read book provides a fascinating glimpse into the biker culture and how one sad-sack gang crashed and burned so spectacularly.” — London Free Press

“A gripping and eye-opening account of the rise and fall of the Bandidos in Canada . . . Peter Edwards’s account is personal, spellbinding, and eye-opening.” — Canoe.ca

“Excellent.” — Toro magazine

“Read it at your peril and you won’t put out the light before going to sleep.” — Owen Sound Sun-Times

“Peter Edwards knows how real bad guys eat, sleep, and breathe, and on the page brings them to life—even the dead ones—better than any other true crime writer.” — Linwood Barclay, internationally bestselling author

“Riveting, compelling, exciting reading. Peter Edwards is not only one of the finest journalists in Canada, but also a terrific storyteller. A must read.” — Antonio Nicaso, organized crime expert and author

“Peter Edwards is one of the best crime writers in Canada and our most reliable reporter on organized crime. He is a strong storyteller who has followed outlaw bikers for the last two decades with a lively and direct style.” — Michel Auger, author of The Biker Who Shot Me: Reflections of a Crime Reporter