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  • Very Bad People

  • The Inside Story of the Fight Against the World’s Network of Corruption
  • By: Patrick Alley
  • Narrated by: Richard Burnip
  • Length: 14 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (104 ratings)
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Very Bad People cover art

Very Bad People

By: Patrick Alley
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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Summary

Arms trafficking, offshore accounts and luxury property deals. Super-yachts, private jets and super-car collections. Blood diamonds, suspect oil deals, deforestation and murder. This is the world of Global Witness, the award-winning organisation dedicated to rooting out worldwide corruption. And this is co-founder Patrick Alley's revealing inside track on a breath-taking catalogue of modern super-crimes—and the 'shadow network' that enables them.

Very Bad People is about following the money, going undercover in the world's most dangerous places and bringing down the people behind the crimes. Case by case, we see maverick investigators pitched against warlords, grifters and super-villains who bear every resemblance to The Night Manager's Richard Roper. One dictator's son spent 700 million dollars in just four years on his luxury lifestyle.

As they unravel crooked deals of labyrinthine complexity, the team encounter well-known corporations whose operations are no less criminal than the Mafia. This network of lawyers, bankers and real estate agents help park dirty money in London, New York or in offshore accounts, safe from prying eyes.

Patrick Alley's book is a brilliant, authoritative and fearless investigation into the darkest workings of our world—and an inspiration to all of us who want to fight back.

©2022 Patrick Alley (P)2022 Octopus Publishing Group

What listeners say about Very Bad People

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Self congratulatory rubbish

The writer cannot get enough of himself constantly reminding us how amazing himself and the rest of his team were. Goes into amazing detail over trivial stuff while misses the point altogether where it matters. I just had to abandon it roughly mid way

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Listen to this!

Readable because of it's intrigue/adventure/detective story nature but also informative. Gives an insight into the dark world we live in; But also inspired with hope.

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Inspiring

At least someone is getting results against the tide of corruption. Interesting to see how the review of our current government would be?

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Wow

What a great story. An eye opening look in to worldwide corruption. The audio book is perfect, interesting and delivered so well. So impressed I bought the book as well.

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Interesting and disturbing stories, but some questionable economics

Upsetting stories about environmental degradation, corruption and murder of activists. And bravery and resourcefulness of Global Witness workers. A really good listen, well narrated by the reader.

I worry what is written in the epilogue though. It seems that the author sees Capitalism itself as his enemy. And he seems to think that Capitalism implies exploitation of every last ounce of Earth’s resources and that continued economic growth implies complete eventual depletion of Earth’s resources. I believe this shows ignorance of economics. And I note that communist and socialist countries have been some of the worst polluters and most corrupt societies. I hope readers will see that just because the author has moral power on his side, it does not mean he is correct about the role of Capitalism in the degradation of our natural environment and in corruption.

I also worry that GW seems to have strayed into the problems of social media in its work. This suggests to me that they may have lost their way.

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A bit boring

While the topic was interesting - just found it quite boring and lost interest in listening all the time

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For those of us that care……

A truly engaging, thought provoking piece of work that better illustrates the need for change.

First class 👏🏻👏🏻

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Everyone, everywhere should read this book

Huge thanks to Patrick Alley for writing this book. I found it engaging. It made me angry, it made me cry sometimes and I hope Mr Spielberg makes a film of the book. For the first time in my life, I have questioned my belief that I would “leave the world without hurting anyone” personal vision. I wish I could go back 25 years. I’d find these guys and lead an altogether different life. A must read for me.

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Powerful gripping stories!

Interesting and inspiring to hear what fine people in a pub can achieve! Kudos to pubs and courageous people who stick their heads up!

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There are better exposés

perhaps it's because I've read a lot of these style of books recently that I've not found this one to be particularly good or gripping.

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