In Part II of this Peter-led series dissecting the memoirs of Boston's fin-de-siecle Irish gangsters, we move on to the upper tier of memoirists. Discussing the memoirs of actually Irish-born Patrick Nee and actual martial artist Ed McKenzie, we find some ex-goons that actually have some self-awareness, insights and some interesting stories.

It's an episode with armored car robberies, bumbling IRA gunrunning, and an unexpected source of personal growth: roundhouse kicks from a gay kung fu self-defense squad.

Boston sometimes has its surprises.

(Pictured above: McKenzie in front of the demolished Old Colony housing project)