A Gangster's Life - by Peter Edwards (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Bestselling author Peter Edwards exposes Canada's evolving criminal underworld in this unflinching account of Shane Dankoski, a gang member who rescued himself from certain death by turning his back on criminal life.

In this gripping tale of a modern-day outlaw, Shane Dankoski meticulously recounts his time as a high-ranking member of the United Nations gang of British Columbia in the early 2000s. Under constant threat from other gangs, including the Wolfpack and Hells Angels, Shane spent a decade evading the law and building his drug empire, making regular trips to Mexico.

After losing numerous friends and becoming addicted to the very drugs he helped put on the street, including fentanyl, he realized that the unbreakable allegiance of "Gangster Code" was only a myth, when even his closest friends could betray--or even kill him. After stints in and out of custody, including sharing an isolated cellblock with serial killer Robert (Willie) Pickton, Shane pulled himself out of a debilitating drug addiction that threatened to end his life.

Edwards deftly weaves a tale of betrayal, grief and astounding resilience, in this gut-wrenching portrait from the inside of Canada's criminal underworld. A Gangster's Life brings alive the structure and international scope of modern gang life, and of ultimately finding a way out of it with this story of a man who didn't believe he deserved another chance, but got one.

Review Quotes

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR A GANGSTER'S LIFE

"Shane, what you did--getting out, staying alive, and facing your demons head-on--takes a level of strength and courage few have. Keep pushing forward. Respect."
Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, fromer underboss of the Gambino crime family

PRAISE FOR THE WORK OF PETER EDWARDS:

"Peter Edwards knows how real bad guys eat, sleep, and breathe, and on the page brings them to life...better than any other true crime writer." Linwood Barclay

"Peter Edwards is one of the best crime writers in Canada."
Michel Auger, author of The Biker Who Shot Me: Recollections of a Crime Reporter

"The amazingly self-revelatory, and often darkly humorous, self-portrait of a Canadian underground legend; by turns perverse, hilarious, terrible, sad and intensely human--I was sorry when Unrepentant ended. This book rings true."
Mick Lowe, award-winning author of Conspiracy of Brothers

"Filling in the backstory behind many crimes in Canada over the past two decades, [The Wolfpack is] a fascinating look at how criminal organizations work now." Toronto Star

"Both [Peter Edwards and his co-author Luis Nájera] are brave men who expose the villainy of some of the deadliest people on Earth." Winnipeg Free Press

About the Author

PETER EDWARDS is the organized-crime beat reporter for the Toronto Star and the bestselling author of seventeen non-fiction books and one young adult novel. His works have been published in four languages. Edwards is a member of Top Left Entertainment, a production development company, and an executive producer for the Citytv series Bad Blood, created by New Metric Media and aired on Netflix. His book One Dead Indian: The Premier, the Police and the Ipperwash Crisis was made into the Gemini Award-winning movie One Dead Indian by Sienna Films that aired on CTV. Edwards was awarded an eagle feather from the Union of Ontario Indians and a gold medal from the Centre for Human Rights. His book Delusion (published in Europe as The Infiltrator) is on the CIA's recommended reading list for staff and agents.