Rick is an amazing guy. He was once a Massachusetts Statie (cop) and wound up doing 10.5 years for an armored car robbery. While in prison, he picked up a BA and MFA from the Boston University Prison Program. When he was released, he went to work on the big dig (tunnel in Boston) and wrote Boyos (one of the best crime novels you'll ever read). It tells some of his story and touches on a whitey bulger character.

Rick is a dear friend and tougher than anybody I know. A martial arts expert (he studied in Japan), he was doing 2,000 situps a day while in prison and continues to work out the same way. He currently counsels inmates and continues to write great crime novels (In For A Pound was his 2nd novel).
Check out Boyos first. It has to do with the Irish mob in Boston.