Marvin A. Sweeney

Emily Sweeney is an American journalist and crime reporter based in Massachusetts, currently working as a columnist for The Boston Globe. She grew up in Dorchester and attended Boston Latin School before graduating from Northeastern University with a degree in journalism. Sweeney has been a staff writer at The Boston Globe since 2003, covering local news and contributing a weekly column titled 'Blotter Tales' in the Metro section. She also produces a newsletter called 'Cold Case Files' and has developed expertise in local history, particularly concerning crime and technology.

Her extensive knowledge has led to appearances on various television and radio programs, including Court TV and the Science Channel, and she has been featured as an expert in documentaries and series about Boston's organized crime. Sweeney is also the author of several books that delve into the city's criminal underworld, such as 'Boston Organized Crime,' 'Gangland Boston,' and a biography of John "Dropkick" Murphy, the namesake of the band Dropkick Murphys. She also creates multimedia content for The Boston Globe, including interactive features and social media reporting.

Emily Sweeney has established herself as a dedicated journalist, contributing to The Boston Globe since 2003. Her work primarily focuses on local news and crime reporting. She pens a regular Sunday column, 'Blotter Tales,' which appears in the Metro section, and also curates a newsletter known as 'Cold Case Files.' Sweeney's journalistic endeavors extend to multimedia content creation for the Globe. Notably, she developed an interactive feature exploring the legacy of the Green Book in New England and has utilized social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for her reporting, sometimes gaining attention for her distinct local accent and viral content.

A significant portion of Emily Sweeney's work as an author centers on the history of organized crime and notable figures in the Boston area. Her books, including 'Boston Organized Crime' and 'Gangland Boston,' offer curated collections of crime photographs and historical accounts of mobsters. 'Gangland Boston' specifically includes a section on Whitey Bulger, a crime boss from the neighborhood where Sweeney grew up. Her 2023 biography, 'Dropkick Murphy: A Legendary Life,' details the life of John "Dropkick" Murphy, a figure whose name was adopted by the band Dropkick Murphys. Her bibliography also lists 'Four on the Floor: The Story of Bobby Luisi and Boston’s Last Mob War' (2026).

Sweeney's recognized expertise in crime and local history has resulted in frequent appearances on television and radio. She has been a guest on programs such as Court TV, the Travel Channel, and Science Channel, as well as Bloomberg Radio and NESN. Her insights into Boston's criminal landscape were featured in the documentary series 'Bloody Boston' and the Netflix series 'How To Become a Mob Boss,' where she appeared as a guest expert in three episodes. This widespread media engagement highlights her role as a prominent voice on the subject of crime in the region.