By Forris Day Jr.
“With Eyes From Both Sides” (Living My Life In and Out of the Game) is an autobiography of Thelma Wright. Thelma was married to a Philadelphia drug kingpin named Jackie Wright. They enjoyed a life of prosperity in the late seventies and early eighties but that seemingly came to a crashing end in 1986 when Jackie is murdered. What’s a woman to do? She takes over the business that’s what! Thelma becomes in essence a “Queen-pin” for the next 5 or so years running the drug trade in Philly. Money abounds but she must protect her infant son from what she is doing and soon the burden becomes too much and she leaves “The Game” as it is called.
Follow Thelma’s story from growing up in a stable Catholic family in South Philly to her life of running a drug empire and learn what Thelma is doing today in this riveting book “Eyes From Both Sides”. The book is a quick and fascinating read. You’ll get a peek inside a world of fancy cars, posh living, fine dining and horrific killings that most of us have never experienced or could ever hope to experience. Thelma teaches us that even with wealth there is a terrible price to pay. It is actually written by C. Alease as told to by Thelma. The writing style is first person with a bit of novel-like flair. If you enjoy true stories and crime drama then this one is for you.
This book was brought to my attention by a fellow writer/actor “Bad” Brad Berkwitt who saw Thelma’s story on a TV show called “Gangsters: America’s Most Evil: Philly’s Gangster Queen Thelma Wright”. His curiosity got the best of him and he reached out to her and also got Thelma and myself connected and for that I thank Brad. The book really opened my eyes to a way of life that I don’t really know anything about except from TV. It makes me thankful for the life I have. I am glad to know that just because someone lives the life of a gangster does not mean they can not turn it all around as Thelma has shown us all. If you want to hear Thelma tell her story in person listen to the interview below and check out the book too.
Rating: 7/10 – “All that glitters is not gold”
Purchase “With Eyes From Both Sides”
Learn more about Thelma Wright
See “Bad” Brad Berkwitt’s review of “With Eyes From Both Sides”
Thelma’s interview for “Scared Stiff Reviews” on “Coffee Shop Conversations”