Organized crime Books

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Book SynopsisAll 20-year-old Daisy Haites has ever wanted is a normal life, but as the heiress to London''s most notorious criminal empire, it''s just not on the cards for her.Raised by her older brother Julian since their parents were murdered, Daisy has never been able to escape the watchful gaze of her gang-lord brother. But Julian''s line of work means that Daisy''s life is... complicated.And things don''t become any easier when she falls hard for the beautiful and emotionally unavailable Christian Hemmes, who also happens to be one of the few men in London who doesn''t answer to Julian.Christian''s life is no walk in the park either, since he''s in love with his best friend''s girlfriend, Magnolia Parks.He''s happy enough to use Daisy to throw off the scent of his true affections - until she starts to infiltrate those too.As their romance blossoms into something neither were anticipating, Daisy, Christian, and Julian

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Book SynopsisGangs of London meets Kimberley Chambers in this gripping thriller of betrayal and survival in a world where one mistake could cost you everything. YOU THINK YOU'RE FREE, BUT THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU LEAVE . . . Twenty years ago, Jon Kavanagh worked for a crime syndicate. Then one night he made a mistake.He left a witness at a crime scene. Alive. Now, he is haunted by the memories of that young girl. Her face a constant reminder of the life he chose to leave behind. Time has passed and now he wants answers: What ever happened to her?Anna Hill is an aspiring singer, but the bars and clubs she works in are far from exciting. When she is given the opportunity to work in Portugal, she takes it. This is her chance to finally kick-start her career. But the job offer comes at a price; one that will endanger the lives of those she knows, and those she doesn't. Becoming involved with the Syndicate is risky, and Anna will need her instincts to work out who to trust - and who not to . . .'One of my reads of the year' DAVID JACKSON'A gripping story that builds to a stunning conclusion. Kavanagh is a complex and original creation; a man haunted by his past and living on borrowed time' HOWARD LINSKEY'Truly sinuous suspense that when you think you've got it worked out, has a resolution that snaps back and bites' KATE BRADLEYTrade ReviewBrilliant characterisation and such a tense, winding plot. I loved the way Graham wove the story together * Lisa Hall *A damaged but engaging central character, sharp dialogue, twisty plot and great pay-off - The Syndicate has all the ingredients of an excellent thriller * Simon Brett *The Syndicate is a gripping story that builds to a stunning conclusion. GJ Minett's Kavanagh is a complex and original creation; a man haunted by his past and living on borrowed time * Howard Linksey *Captivating, cleverly written, unputdownable. I devoured The Syndicate in one night. Minett and crime at its finest * Rebecca Thornton *I absolutely loved it. I raced through this book. A beautifully written, character-focused novel that reminded me of George Pelecanos at his best. Definitely one of my reads of the year so far * David Jackson *Pacey, heart-stopping and poignant * Julie Corbin *'This is GJ Minett's best yet. Absorbing, nuanced and emotive. A superior thriller with a real sucker punch of a twist.' * Chris Whitaker *With Kavanagh, Minett has created the ultimate hero - dark, dangerous but with a depth of heart. If I was in trouble, I'd want Kavanagh in my corner. The Syndicate is a truly sinuous suspense that when you think you've got it worked out, has a resolution that snaps back and bites. More please * Kate Bradley *That rare type of novel that manages to be subtle, compassionate and with a real moral heart, but at the same time packed with enough twists and turns to the point you can't put it down. And Kavanagh is exactly my kind of hero - laconic, no-nonsense, but also credible and relatable - the sort of reluctant leading man that I can't get enough of. A really entertaining read, but made exceptional my the emotional punch it carries * Rod Reynolds *In The Syndicate, G.J Minett has brought us a compelling, intricately-plotted novel peopled with fascinating characters, particularly the brilliantly drawn Jon Kavanagh, in whose outcome I was completely invested throughout. The writing is superb, the story intriguing and what an ending. Wow! * Gill Thompson *A master of language and character, GJ Minett's The Syndicate is dark and treacherous with a real sting in its tail. * Sam Blake *What a thumping good book! And an absolute gem of a hallmark GJ Minett mystery thriller. Full of twists and turns and surprises, this particular story built to an emotive ending that I found enormously satisfying. A great story from a master storyteller. More please * C J Carver *A powerful psychological thriller, The Syndicate explores the physical and emotional scars that mould the character of a killer * Carolyn Kirby *This is an exciting, twisty novel from an author at the top of his game and in Jon Kavanagh he's created an intriguing lead character. The Syndicate is an excellent, page-turning read - one you won't want to put down * David Young *

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Book SynopsisLondon's most notorious gangsters, in their own words . . .The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller.The Kray twins were Britain's most notorious gangsters. Ruling London's underworld for more than a decade, as gang lords they were among the most powerful and feared men in the city. Photographed by David Bailey and even interviewed for television, they became celebrities in their own right and are infamous to this day.Ronnie and Reg's reign of terror ended on 8 March 1969 when they were sentenced to life with the recommendation that they serve at least thirty years. Ronnie ended his days in Broadmoor – his raging insanity only controlled by massive doses of drugs. Reg served almost three decades in some of Britain's toughest jails before being released on compassionate grounds in August 2000. He died of cancer eight months later.Compiled from a series of interviews with Fred Dinenage from behind prison walls, Our Story is the classic account that explodes the myths surrounding the Kray twins. In it, the twins set the record straight. In their own words they tell the full story of their brutal career of crime and their years behind bars.With an introduction from Fred Dinenage, this compelling, disturbing and highly readable book is the definitive story of two legendary criminals.

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Book Synopsis____________________THE EXPLOSIVE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''A bombshell.'' Daily Mail''Damning, terrifying and enraging.'' The Spectator____________________House of Trump, House of Putin offers the first comprehensive investigation into the decades-long relationship among Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Russian Mafia that ultimately helped win Trump the White House. It is a chilling story that begins in the 1970s, when Trump made his first splash in the booming, money-drenched world of New York real estate, and ends with Trump's inauguration as president of the United States. That moment was the culmination of Vladimir Putin's long mission to undermine Western democracy, a mission that he and his hand-selected group of oligarchs and associates had ensnared Trump in over more than two decades of shady business associations. As Unger traces Donald TruTrade ReviewA bombshell. * Daily Mail *Damning in its accumulation of detail, terrifying in its depiction of the pure evil of those Trump chose to do business with, and enraging in that — if Unger is right — Trump acted with impunity for decades to get filthy rich laundering the mob’s blood money. * The Spectator *There is a volcano's worth of smoke in House of Trump, House of Putin. * USA Today *The story Unger weaves with his original reporting is fresh, illuminating and more alarming than the intelligence channel described in the Steele dossier. * The Washington Post *Unger's contention is that a web of Trumpian connections to Russia explain the darkness at the heart of the Trump presidency. The crisp account of the rise of the Russian mafia and its expansion into the US is chilling. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Daily Telegraph Football Book of the Year Ultras are often compared to punks, Hell's Angels, hooligans or the South American Barras Bravas. But in truth, they are a thoroughly Italian phenomenon... From the author of The Dark Heart of Italy, Blood on the Altar and A Place of Refuge. Italy's ultras are the most organised and violent fans in European football. Many groups have evolved into criminal gangs, involved in ticket-touting, drug-dealing and murder. A cross between the Hell's Angels and hooligans, they're often the foot-soldiers of the Mafia and have been instrumental in the rise of the far-right. But the purist ultras say that they are are insurgents fighting against a police state and modern football. Only amongst the ultras, they say, can you find belonging, community and a sacred concept of sport. They champion not just their teams, they say, but their forgotten suburbs and the dispossessed. Through the prism of the ultras, Jones crafts a compelling investigation into Italian society and its favourite sport. He writes about not just the ultras of some of Italy's biggest clubs – Juventus, Torino, Lazio, Roma and Genoa – but also about its lesser-known ones from Cosenza and Catania. He examines the sinister side of football fandom, with its violence and political extremism, but also admires the passion, wit, solidarity and style of a fascinating and contradictory subculture.Trade ReviewColourful first-hand accounts... Jones is too smart a writer... Ultra does speak direly to wider issues' * Financial Times *[An] intense book... A positive story to tell as well' * Times Literary Supplement *A serious, detailed and entertaining exploration of a fascinating subject... While Jones's analysis of the rise of the ultras is interesting, it is the anecdotes that truly hook the reader' * Catholic Herald *An excellent book * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisFinancial crime seems horribly complicated but there are only so many ways you can con someone out of what's theirs. In fact, there are four. A veteran regulatory economist and market analyst, Dan Davies has years of experience picking the bones out of some of the most famous frauds of the modern age. Now he reveals the big picture that emerges from their labyrinths of deceit. Along the way you'll find out how to fake a gold mine with a wedding ring, a file and a shotgun. You'll see how close Charles Ponzi, the king of pyramid schemes, came to acquiring his own private navy. You'll learn how fraud has shaped the entire development of the modern world economy. And you'll discover whether you have what it takes to be a white-collar criminal mastermind, if that's what you want. (Which you don't. You really, really don't.)Trade ReviewDan Davies tells all these stories with verve and wit ... Much of the book is a romp through the crimes of scoundrels - Ponzi, Madoff, Keating, the Krays ... Yet what takes it from absorbing to excellent is the author's insight. Read Lying for Money and you will look at fraud in a whole new way. Actually, you will look at every market transaction you take part in in a whole new way. -- Daniel Finkelstein * the Times *Entertaining * Financial Times *Highly entertaining, historically fascinating but also intellectually rigorous -- Ann Pettifor * TLS *If you want to learn to fend fraud, read this. And if you want to commit fraud ... don't. But if you absolutely must, first read this -- Nassim Nicholas Taleb author of The Incerto (Fooled by Randomness, The Black Swan, Antifragile, Skin In The Game)An engaging and indispensable guide for novice fraudsters - and for those who want to keep out of their clutches. -- John Kay, author of Other People’s MoneyA vivid, historical account of scams and the con artists behind them. Beyond the individual stories, Davies makes a deep and important point about market societies ... This delightful book is as instructive as it is entertaining. -- Dani Rodrik, author of Economics Rules and The Globalisation ParadoxI haven't had this much fun and learned this much reading a finance book since The Money Game. -- J. Bradford DeLong, author of The End of InfluenceDavies is one of these people who's automatically the smartest person in any conversation that he joins. -- Joe Weisenthal, presenter of Bloomberg’s What'd You Miss?Fascinating, gripping - and true ... This is a terrific read. -- Diane Coyle, author of Sex Drugs and Economics

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Book SynopsisYou can see them, but you don't know them.Ultras are football fans like no others. A hugely visible and controversial part of the global game, their credo and aesthetic replicated in almost every league everywhere on earth, a global movement of extreme fandom and politics is also one of the largest youth movements in the world. Yet they remain unknown: an anti-establishment force that is transforming both football and politics. In this book, James Montague goes underground to uncover the true face of this dissident force for the first time. 1312: Among the Ultras tells the story of how the movement began and how it grew to become the global phenomenon that now dominates the stadiums from the Balkans and Buenos Aires. With unprecedented insider access, the book investigates how ultras have grown into a fiercely political movement, embracing extremes on both the left and right; fighting against the commercialisation of football and society – and against the attempts to control them by the authorities, who both covet and fear their power.Trade ReviewBrilliant and daring * Tobias Jones, Guardian *Utterly gripping. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. * Rory Smith, New York Times *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe Peaky Blinders as we know them, thanks to the hit TV series, are infused with drama and dread. Fashionably dressed, the charismatic but deeply flawed Shelby family blind enemies by slashing them with the disposable safety razor blades stitched in to the peaks of their flat caps, as they fight bloody gangland wars involving Irish terrorists and the authorities led by a devious Home Secretary, Winston Churchill.But who were the real Peaky Blinders? Did they really exist? Well-known social historian, broadcaster and author, Carl Chinn, has spent decades searching them out. Now he reveals the true story of the notorious Peaky Blinders, one of whom was his own great grandfather and, like the Shelbys, his grandfather was an illegal bookmaker in back-street Birmingham. In this gripping social history, Chinn shines a light on the rarely reported struggles of the working class in one of the great cities of the British Empire before the First World War. The story continues after 1918 as some Peaky Blinders transformed into the infamous Birmingham Gang. Led by the real Billy Kimber, they fought a bloody war with the London gangsters Darby Sabini and Alfie Solomon over valuable protection rackets extorting money from bookmakers across the booming postwar racecourses of Britain.Drawing together a remarkably wide-range of original sources, including rarely seen images of real Peaky Blinders and interviews with relatives of the 1920s gangsters, Peaky Blinders: The Real Story adds a new dimension to the true history of Birmingham's underworld and fact behind its fiction.

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Book SynopsisRecognised as ''The first truly definitive English-language study of this myth-laden subject and a pleasure to read'' (Sunday Times) COSA NOSTRA is the compelling story of the Sicilian mafia, the world''s most famous, most secretive and most misunderstood criminal fraternity.The mafia has been given many names since it was founded one hundred and forty years ago: the Sect, the Brotherhood, the Honoured Society, and now Cosa Nostra. Yet as times have changed, the mafia''s subtle and bloody methods have remained the same. Now, for the first time, COSA NOSTRA reconstructs the complete history of the Sicilian mafia from its origins to the present day, from the lemon groves and sulphur mines of Sicily, to the streets of Manhattan.Described by Andrew Marr as ''Monumental and gripping'' COSA NOSTRA is a history rich in atmosphere with the narrative pace of the best detective fiction, and hailed in Italy as the best book ever written about the mafia.Trade ReviewI couldn't put it down. His archival sleuthing is yoked to his powerful, often coruscating storytelling to create a chilling account of the mafia's sinister, horrific reality. * John Guy, The Sunday Times *Riveting * Sunday Telegraph *A readable, highly informative, admirably systematic account of how the Mafia attained its hold. * Times Literary Supplement *Highly readable...compelling. The narrative is entertaining and, at times, as chilling as the darkest crime fiction. At its best, it combines compelling horror with clear, rational analysis of the moral and political failings, which, even today, give the mafia a seat at many top tables in Italian society. * Glasgow Herald *Lucid...grimly readable. * Daily Telegraph *The first truly definitive English-language study of this myth-laden subject, and it is a pleasure to read...his book is notable for shrewd judgements couched in language that is vibrantly memorable. His acquaintance with the island and his immersion in the wider modern Italian culture allows him to convey the noxious atmosphere of corruption with flair. * Sunday Times *Monumental and gripping * Andrew Marr, BBC Start the Week *Combines scholarship with a rip-roaring read * Sunday Herald *Well-written...his findings are supported by careful research and copious documentation. Racy...contains some powerful stories, scenes and surprises. * Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis'Reveals criminal corruption on a scale that the Kray twins would never have dreamt of' John Pearson, Profession of Violence, The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins'Gillard's detailed investigation makes for a stunning and shocking read' Barry Keeffe, The Long Good Friday'Legacy illustrates the sordid links between business, politics and organised crime' Ioan Grillo, El Narco and Gangster WarlordsWhen billions poured into the neglected east London borough hosting the 2012 Olympics, a turf war broke out between crime families for control of a now valuable strip of land. Using violence, guile and corruption, one gangster, the Long Fella, emerged as a true untouchable. A team of local detectives made it their business to take him on until Scotland Yard threw them under the bus and the business of putting on 'the greatest show on earth' won the day. Protecting the Olympic legacy by covering up a scandal of suspicious deaths and corruption seemed more important than protecting Londoners from tTrade ReviewAfter reading this extraordinary book, I realised how much has changed in the criminal underworld of London’s East End since I wrote my own book on the Kray twins nearly fifty years ago. Where there are criminals, there is always corruption, but Michael Gillard reveals criminal corruption on a scale that the Kray twins would never have dreamt of when I knew them. Recreational drugs had barely started, the Krays were simple East End gangsters and the police were relatively easy to cope with then. In contrast, the world that Gillard uncovers is a nightmare of corruption, with vast amounts of crooked money and constant threats against him. To write a book like Legacy requires courage as well as literary skill. Michael Gillard has both -- John Pearson * The Profession of Violence, The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins *A story of violence and corruption in gangland London that reads like The Sopranos….says a lot about Gillard’s immense strength of character and his fearless commitment to evidence-based journalism… it was Gillard’s robust journalism that managed to prove what the police failed to do in 30 years. -- Jonathan Calvert * The Sunday Times *Digging deep into the underbelly of London, Legacy illustrates the sordid links between business, politics and organised crime. It's not only Latin America that suffers from gangster capitalism and corruption in the twenty-first century; to understand modern Britain you also have to understand how modern organized crime works -- Ioan Grillo * author of El Narco and Gangster Warlords *Gillard's detailed investigation makes for a stunning and shocking read and adds credence to the old adage that truth can be stranger than fiction -- Barrie Keeffe * The Long Good Friday *a superbly well-researched book... Legacy could never be called a sports book in the accepted sense (it reads more like an outstanding crime thriller). -- Peter Sharkey * Bristol Post *this is a book that’s both eye-opening and hair-raising. -- James Walton * The Daily Telegraph *Gillard’s forensically meticulous book is a labyrinthine account of East End villains and the councillors, bankers, CEOs and police who became ensnared in their web of corruption... * The Herald *Gillard is unflinching as he sorts through the serious organised criminals and police tasked to take them down... You will emerge reeling. -- Kirsty Brimelow * The Times *Gillard is not one to shy away from a challenge, however risky, and his latest book, Legacy: Gangsters, Corruption and the London Olympics, finds him in fearless mode. -- Chris Moss * Big Issue in the North *Table of ContentsPrologue: Going for Gold Part One: Land of Dope and Gory 1. Children of the Docks 2. The Silvertown Strip 3. Billy Liar 4. The Aladdin’s Den Part Two: The Long Fella 5. Snipers 6. Poofed Off 7. Cut 8. Blackjack Part Three: Let the Games Begin 9. Judas Pigs 10. Estocada 11. Document 12. The Dementors Part Four: Legacy 13. Promised Land 14. Hammer Time 15. TOWIE 16. Games Epilogue: Truth Commission Index

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Book SynopsisDeepfake technology can create video evidence of just about anything: Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie in an orgy.Chinese president Xi Jinping declaring nuclear war.Basketball legend Michael Jordan winning the World Cup. The only limit is the imagination. In a time where fake news and disinformation is becoming harder and harder to identify, it is more essential than ever to understand the dark origins of deepfakes. Journalist Michael Grothaus goes down the rabbit hole as he interviews the often morally dubious, yet incredibly skilled creators of this content. It's a journey that opens a window into the communities transforming reality. Challenging, enlightening and terrifying, Trust No One asks the question other people are too scared to: what happens when you can no longer believe your own eyes?'An alarming look at deepfakes' Sunday Times'Michael Grothaus takes a hard look at the growth of deep fakes, examining cases that demonstrate the threats presented by morally dubious creators. From the personal to political, the impact of deep fakes is considered carefully by Grothaus, both on the victims and on society as a whole, creating an essential picture of a growing trend in disinformation' Eliot Higgins, founder of BellingcatTrade ReviewA clear, readable rundown of how deepfakes are changing our world * The Sunday Times *The page-turner of a book stresses that deepfakes are a ticking timebomb and that we, the public, need to educate ourselves before we herald in a zero-trust society where seeing is no longer believing... If you're looking for a greater understanding of the wild world of deepfakes, how they are created, their benefits and harms as well as their stomach-churning implications; Trust No One is a great place to start. * Reaction *Michael Grothaus takes a hard look at the growth of deep fakes, examining cases that demonstrate the threats presented by morally dubious creators. From the personal to political, the impact of deep fakes is considered carefully by Grothaus, both on the victims and on society as a whole, creating an essential picture of a growing trend in disinformation. -- Eliot Higgins, founder of BellincatThought-provoking . . . he interviews some shady characters and raises interesting questions * Mail On Sunday *An alarming look at deepfakes. * The Sunday Times *Our relationship with visual representations of ourselves always runs along this axis of narcissism and dread: at once promising a defeat of death, but by arousing that desire only to disappoint it, crushingly reinforcing its inevitability. Our fascination with deepfakes strikes me as the latest iteration of this emotional rollercoaster, and it's one Grothaus captures very well. -- Peter Pomerantsev * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis21ST ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY IRVINE WELSHHe was Britain's most wanted man. He spent seven years in America's toughest penitentiary. You'll like him.During the mid 1980s Howard Marks had forty three aliases, eighty nine phone lines and owned twenty five companies throughout the world. At the height of his career he was smuggling consignments of up to thirty tons of marijuana, and had contact with organisations as diverse as MI6, the CIA, the IRA and the Mafia. Following a worldwide operation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, he was arrested and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison at the Terre Haute Penitentiary, Indiana. He was released in April 1995 after serving seven years of his sentence. Told with humour, charm and candour, Mr Nice is his own extraordinary story.'The story of a remarkable life, lived by the very brilliant and exceptionally wonderful Mr Nice'Irvine Welsh'Frequently hilarious, occasionally sad, and often surreal'GQ'A man who makes Peter Pan look like a geriatric'Loaded'A folk legend'Daily MailTrade ReviewFrequently hilarious, occasionally sad, and often surreal * GQ *A folk legend... Howard Marks has huge charisma. He sounds like Richard Burton and looks like a Rolling Stone * Daily Mail *A man who makes Peter Pan look like a geriatric with sleeping sickness * Loaded *Racy...with plenty of globe trotting colour * Independent *

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Book Synopsis‘Reads like a mashup of The Godfather and Chinatown, complete with gun battles, a ruthless kingpin and a mountain of cash. Except that it’s all true.’ – TimeIn this thrilling story of real-life events, the bestselling author of Empire of Pain investigates a secret world run by a surprising criminal: a charismatic middle-aged grandmother, who from a tiny noodle shop in New York’s Chinatown, managed a multimillion-dollar business smuggling people.In The Snakehead, Patrick Radden Keefe reveals the inner workings of Cheng Chui Ping aka Sister Ping’s complex empire and recounts the decade-long FBI investigation that eventually brought her down. He follows an often incompetent and sometimes corrupt INS as it pursues desperate immigrants risking everything to come to America, and along the way he paints a stunning portrait of a generation of undocumented immigrants and the intricate underground economy that sustains and exploits them.Grand in scope yet propulsive in narrative force, The Snakehead is both a kaleidoscopic crime story and a brilliant exploration of the ironies of immigration in America.‘A powerful piece of reportage about the violent underworld of New York’s Chinatown’ - The TimesTrade ReviewReads like a mashup of The Godfather and Chinatown, complete with gun battles, a ruthless kingpin and a mountain of cash. Except that it's all true. * Time *Essential reading. . . . A rich, beautifully told story, so suspenseful and with so many unexpected twists that in places it reads like a John le Carré novel. * The Washington Post *A powerful piece of reportage about the violent underworld of New York’s Chinatown * The Times *A masterwork . . . In this single tale about a global criminal, Keefe finds a story of quintessentially American hope. * Christian Science Monitor *Painstakingly reported and vividly told. . . . As immigration reform languishes in Washington . . . everyone involved--from policymakers to activists to the undocumented--would be wise to read The Snakehead. * Newsweek *Published in the UK for the first time, Patrick Radden Keefe’s tireless investigation of human trafficking from China to the US reveals the desperation of the migrants and the woman at the heart of it * The Observer *A formidably well-researched book that is as much a paean to its author's industriousness as it is a chronicle of crime. -- Janet Maslin * New York Times *Bracing, vivid . . . Keefe writes gracefully, perceptively, insightfully . . . Without sacrificing one iota of narrative momentum, he untangles a dauntingly complicated human-trafficking operation so a reader can effortlessly follow along. * The New York Times Book Review *Thoroughly researched and creatively drawn (some scenes are highly dramatic and vivid) by the New Yorker writer, [The Snakehead] is ultimately about the risks these refugees took to play their part in the enduring, grand narrative theme of the American Dream. * The Sydney Morning Herald *Brilliant . . . Keefe’s mastery of this chapter of our ongoing immigration saga is impressive. He muses thoughtfully about its many conundrums and highlights how our ethos of welcoming the persecuted gets soured by bad policy and the pervasive exploitation of the helpless. * Los Angeles Times *Engrossing. . . . Keefe’s narrative delves deeply into Chinatown and the labyrinthine smuggling routes between China and America, but it’s also a glimpse into our conflicted feelings about illegals and the morass of America’s immigration policy. * New York Magazine *A timely, powerful and thoroughly researched book. * The Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisJoin the deadly journey of cocaine, from farmer to kingpin.Meet Maria. Maria doesn’t see herself as a criminal. She’s just a farmhand picking the crops that never lose money: coca.This is Cachote. He prays to the Virgin of the Assassins that his bullets find their target. If he misses, he’ll have to answer to the cartel who pay him to take out their enemies.Pedro works the coca labs. But this laboratory is hidden deep in the jungle, and he turns coca leaves in to coca paste, a step just short of cocaine.And finally, here is Alex. Alex is a drug-lord and decides where the drug goes next: into Europe or the US. And he wields the power of life and death over everyone around him.In Kilo, Toby Muse takes us deeper into the drug trade than ever before, following a kilo of cocaine as it travels from its origins to the street. On the ground in the drug war for over a decade, earning the trust of those involved on all sides, Toby Muse takes us with him through the endless blood-soaked horror and economic logic at every level of the journey of the world’s most alluring and dangerous drug. We come to meet and ultimately understand the tainted personal psychology and motivations of each player in this dark El Dorado. But there are no winners here. Anyone who tries to hold the power of the ‘white goddess’ cocaine is ultimately undone, violently stripped of their humanity, their souls and their lives in this endless, pointless dance of death.Trade ReviewKilo is one of the best books I've read on the cocaine trade... Forget all the TV stuff, this is the real deal * Max Daly, Vice *Poetic but also brilliant journalism. I loved it. One of the best books on drugs ever written * Mark Townsend, Observer *Absolutely hair-raising * Sam Leith *Compelling and unforgettable. With Kilo, cocaine now has its own Dispatches. - The New Yorker * The New Yorker *In Kilo, Toby Muse teleports the reader into the mad, bloody, tragic world of Colombian cocaine trafficking. You can feel the beats at the discos packed with drug lords and beauty queens; smell the sweat of laborers toiling in the coca fields for a pittance; hear the dog of the gun slinger barking in the barrio. In doing so, he pens a love letter to one of the most beautiful and bloodiest countries on earth * Ioan Grillo, author of El Narco and Blood Gun Money *

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Book SynopsisThe classic, bestselling account of the infamous Kray twins, now a major film, starring Tom Hardy.Reggie and Ronnie Kray ruled London's gangland during the 60s with a ruthlessness and viciousness that shocks even now. Building an empire of organised crime that has never been matched, the brothers swindled, extorted and terrorised while enjoying a glittering celebrity status at the heart of the swinging 60s scene, until their downfall and imprisonment for life.Trade Review'The most famous biography of criminal life to have been published in Britain…a cult’ Time Out 'All credit to Mr. Pearson for a brave and disturbing book' Daily Express 'A scrupulous dossier of the Krays’ weird career' Daily Telegraph 'An exciting read' The Times 'Extremely well written and fittingly dead-pan' New Statesman

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Book SynopsisTHE DEFINITIVE ACCOUNT OF THE MOST INFAMOUS STREET GANG IN AMERICAIn the 1980s, El Salvador was involved in a bloody fight for control of the government. To escape the guerrilla assaults and death squads many fled to the US. As a survival instinct, they formed a group called the Mara Salvatrucha Stoners, a relatively harmless social network bound by rock and roll. But later, as they brushed against established local gangs, the group took on a harder edge, selling drugs, stealing cars and killing rivals who threatened their territories. As authorities cracked down, gang members were incarcerated and deported. But in the prison system, the group only grew stronger.Today, MS-13 is one of the most infamous street gangs on Earth, with tens of thousands of members operating in a half-dozen nations and two continents, and linked to thousands of grisly murders each year. Through the story of former gang member Norman and his family, journalist Steven Dudley brings readers inside the deadly group.

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Book Synopsis'Tense, gripping and atmospheric' - CHRIS WHITAKER'Gripped me from its shocking start' - SARAH YARWOOD-LOVETT'I highly recommend it' - LYNDA LA PLANTE CBE________________TWO MISSING BACKPACKERS. ONE VAST OUTBACK.DS Lucas Walker is on leave in his hometown, Caloodie, taking care of his dying grandmother. When two young German backpackers, Berndt and Rita, vanish from the area, he finds himself unofficially on the case.But why all the interest from the Federal Police when they have probably just ditched the heat and dust of the outback for the coast? Working in the organised crime unit has opened Walker's eyes to the growing drug trade in Australia's remote interior - and he becomes convinced there is more at play.As the number of days since the couple's disappearance climbs, Walker is joined by Rita's older sister. A detective herself with Berlin CID, she has flown to Australia - desperate to find her

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Book SynopsisMeet Brick and Wax, two bright eighteen-year-olds looking for a route out of poverty. When Baltimore was engulfed in riots in 2015 they helped loot pharmacies, stealing over $100 million worth of opiates. The plan: to use their gang connections and programming skills to set up a high tech drug delivery service. The result: the teens became America's youngest drug lords, in the process sparking bloody gang warfare and a nationwide wave of addiction and murder. Now mixing in deadly circles, Brick and Wax soon found their own lives were on the line . . . As gripping and compulsive as a thriller, Pill City takes us into the heat of the action as Brick and Wax outwit the FBI and DEA, gang members like Damage and Lyric live and die by their own brutal code, the cops battle to stop the carnage, and a high-school coach risks a bullet to get addicts into rehab. Even today the teens' identity has not been uncovered, and one is prospering in Silicon Valley. Award-winning criminal justice reporter Kevin Deutsch has interviewed all the key players and interweaves their stories to tell a gritty, hard-hitting story of survival in the Baltimore underworld.Trade ReviewAmerica's urban crisis has never been more alive, more shocking, than in Pill City. Reminiscent of HBO's The Wire, Kevin Deutsch's stunning investigation show how a $100 million fortune in opiates - heroin and pills - was stolen during the 2015 Baltimore riots following the death of Freddie Gray and then spread and sold illegally across the nation,compounding one tragedy with another. With this harrowing account from the encrypted Dark Web and our bloody streets, Kevin Deutsch proves himself among today's most insightful and eloquent observers of criminal life in the United States. -- Thomas Maier, author and producer of Showtime's Masters of SexAn astonishing feat of reportage, Pill City is an almost unbelievable tale and journalist Kevin Deutsch tells it masterfully. His unflinching look at the choices two brilliant young men from Baltimore make in search of their American Dream goes behind the headlines and illuminates the heartbreaking complexity of today's opioid epidemic. A shocking, important book. -- Julia Dahl, author of Invisible City and 2015 Edgar Award finalistPill City is in the best tradition of true-crime writing. It belongs on your shelf next to the books of David Simon and Sebastian Junger. -- Michael LaForgia, Tampa Bay Times, investigative reporter, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for local reporting

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Book SynopsisAN IMPOSSBLE CHOICEJorge Salcedo was trapped. For years, he had climbed the ladder inside the Cali drug cartel, the world''s most powerful crime syndicate, and risen to Head of Security. But he''d kept clean, avoided the dirty work, managed to sleep at night. Until now. He''d finally received the order he''d long dreaded, and it meant one thing: kill or be killed. THE HARD WAYSalcedo was a family man, a man with a conscience, a father - he was no cold-blooded murderer. He was left with the last resort. It meant risking his life, his family''s life, and the lives of everyone he cared for. He would have to take the whole syndicate down. It was the price to pay for salvation.WOULD YOU RISK YOUR LIFE TO SAVE YOUR SOUL?Trade ReviewColumbia has been devoured by drug lords: this is a thrilling tale of one man's resistance. * The Times, Book of the Week *In this powerful and riveting work of nonfiction, William Rempeldemonstrates the virtues of investigative reporting. Gaining access to the figure that could - and indeed did - spill the secrets that brought down a cartel, Rempel has an extraordinary story to tell. He not only takes the reader inside the hidden world of the drug cartels. He also provides a fascinating character study of man who must answer a simple harrowing question: Should he risk his life in order to save his soul, or should he keep a pact with the devil? * David Grann, author of THE LOST CITY OF Z *Bill Rempel has earned his reputation as one of America's finest investigative reporters the old fashioned way - by getting people to tell him explosive stories they won't talk about with anyone else. At The Devil's Table brings Rempel's skills to the fore as never before,revealing the graphic details of Colombia's bloody drug wars from the ultimate insider. By the end, you realize that the biggest mystery is how Jorge Salcedo stayed alive long enough to tell Rempel about his amazing life.? * James Risen, author of State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration *

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Book Synopsis'A powerful new voice in thriller writing' ADAM HAMDYBorn and raised in London, Pretty Boy has spent the last ten years in exile after being forced out of his hometown. He's learned patience, and how to disappear. Now Pretty Boy is ready to get his revenge on those who need to pay for his lost years. Meanwhile, back in the city, things have moved on. People still talk about Pretty Boy, of course. He's a legend, more myth than man, and rumours run wild about his deadly legacy. But most think they've seen the last of him. He's finished.Someone who never gave up on Pretty Boy is Alan Pierce. The former policeman turned corrupt businessman has always lived by his own rules: stay focussed, stay one step ahead of the enemy, stay alive. Alan and Pretty Boy have history - Pretty Boy owes him everything - so when Alan finds himself fighting a drug-fuelled war on all fronts, there's only one man he wants to turn to. But where is Pretty Boy?Sharp, fast-paced and gripping and with a cast of unforgettable characters, A Good Night to Kill is a heart-pounding tale of justice, loyalty, and of what happens when two men turn to face the fight they've been trying to outrun. Praise for Amen Alonge and A Good Day to Die'Action-packed, gripping, and wildly entertaining' ADAM HAMDY'One of those books that you hate to put down' 5* READER REVIEW'A smart, gritty, action-packed' WILLIAM SHAW'[An] ultra violent and propulsive London thriller' 5* READER REVIEW'Powerful' LITERARY REVIEW'A great non-stop action thriller with an explosive ending' 5* READER REVIEW'A cracker of a debut' TREVOR WOOD'Enthralling' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewPowerful * Literary Review *Powerful thriller... which moves almost as fast as the many bullets its characters fire at each other * Literary Review *[A Good Night to Kill] has the savage verve of a Jacobean revenge play * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe explosive new thriller for fans of gangland fiction! It's time to get reacquainted with Ruby Darke - behind every strong woman is a good story.

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Book Synopsis The explosive memoir of legendary DEA agents and the subject of the hit Netflix series Narcos, Steve Murphy and Javier F. Peña For the first time, legendary DEA operatives Steve Murphy and Javier F. Pena tell the true story of how they took down Pablo Escobar. Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar''s brutal Medellin Cartel was responsible for trafficking tonnes of cocaines to North America and Europe in the 1980s and ''90s. Colombia became a war zone as his sicarios mercilessly murdered thousands of people - competitors, police and civilians - to ensure he remained Colombia''s reigning kingpin. With billions in personal income, Escobar bought off politicians and lawmen and became a hero to poorer communities by building houses and sports centres. He was untouchable. But when Escobar became one of America''s most wanted, agents Steve Murphy and Javier F Pena were tasked with ending his reign of terror. For eighteen months, Steve and JaTrade ReviewManhunters is a gripping story about two true patriots who were the difference makers in the final hunt for Pablo Escobar. They are heroes to a world that was otherwise held captive by the evil of the planet's first narco-terrorist. Their bravery is unparalleled, and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for their selfless sacrifices. It is an honor to know them and their story. * Robert Mazur, New York Times bestselling author of The Infiltrator *A fast-paced tale by two agents for the DEA who had the inside track on bringing down the most wanted man in recent U.S history. * Bruce Porter, New York Times bestselling author of Blow and Snatched *Steve Murphy and Javier Pena recount their involvement in the pursuit and ultimate victory over a savvy and ruthless killer who declared an uncivil war against his own country. Never failing to credit Colombian heroism in this gripping struggle, Murphy and Pena offer fresh details of the chase for Pablo Escobar that resulted in his defeat and reclamation of the country from the deadly forces of narco-terrorism. A must-read for any fan of Narcos! * Chris Brancato, Executive Producer, "Narcos" *Riveting. A must-read for anyone interested in one of the major campaigns on the war on drugs. * Publishers Weekly *A thriller-esque account...keep[s] the pages turning. * Kirkus Reviews *A gripping insider account of the hunt for Pablo Escobar. Brilliant, bold, and no holds barred, this is an impeccable true crime story, told by the two brave men who risked everything to bring down the world's first narco-terrorist. A five-star read! * Brad Thor, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Spymaster *Steve Murphy and Javier Pena are the real deal; true heroes of the drug war. Manhunters outlines the most important operation in the history of DEA; the killing of the most brutal and notorious drug lord in the world, Pablo Escobar. They give an incredible account of that day in Medellin, Colombia, when Pablo was killed by Colombian police that were supported, advised, and trained by these two American warriors who were on the scene when it all happened. This book is a great read and a critical account of DEA's finest hour * LTG (Ret.) William G. Boykin, Former Commander of U.S. Army Special Forces and Founding Member of Delta Force *Manhunters grabs you from the first page and gives you a front-row seat into the harrowing inter-agency and international hunt for the brutal narcotrafficker Pablo Escobar. Two unlikely heroes recount their stories in a way that is both compelling and captivating. * US Congresswoman Mary Bono *A compelling read about the adventures of two true American law enforcement heroes who ultimately took on the world's first narco-terrorist, the world's most wanted criminal, the world's largest cocaine baron, Pablo Escobar, and won! They include accounts of other investigations, personal challenges, and the sacrifices made not only by them but their families as well. * Barbara Comstock, former US congresswoman *Manhunters is a riveting account of two brave DEA Agents who put their lives, along with their families lives, on the line to fight the war on drugs in the US and Colombia. A must read on the take down of Pablo Escobar and the part they played in the investigation * Joe Pistone, a.k.a. Donnie Brasco *Steve and Javier's experience on the front lines of the war on drugs over the last thirty years made them an invaluable source of information for us. Their contacts, both foreign and domestic, allowed us to put together a narrative of one of the most complex, poorly reported, and misunderstood chapters in our recent past. * Eric Newman, Executive Producer, "Narcos" *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Book of the Year and Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 True Crime AwardsStreet kid turned undercover cop. 'This time he wasn't getting up. Neither were the two young women he'd just murdered. The two unarmed young police officers he cut down in a hail of 32 bullets and the fragments of a grenade, ending their promising lives so savagely, so senselessly. I felt empty. Cold. How had it come to this?'Shay Doyle grew up on a tough Manchester council estate where drugs and gangs were rife. A life of crime would have been an easy path to take. So it went against everything that was expected of him when he joined the police.It wasn't long before Shay's prodigious talent caught the attention of the top and he was called upon to join the secret Level 1 undercover unit, Omega. He was given a new identity and his DNA and fingerprints were removed from the national database.In a distinguished covert career spanning 17 years, Shay led covert operations tackling high-profile murder cases and came face to face with some of Britain's most dangerous gangsters, often risking his own life. But there would be a heavy price to pay for a life in the shadows, where any mistake could have lethal consequences...Trade ReviewA phenomenal story of the life of a Level 1 undercover police officer with the courage to step into the lion's den every day, not knowing if it would be his last. -- James Deegan

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Book SynopsisAn astonishing read -- full of corruption, greed, strong drink and stronger language -- that reveals the rotten heart of the global economy - Oliver Bullough, author of MoneylandCrackles along ... they deserve credit for exposing the dark underbelly of the jewellery industry and giving us another glimpse into the real cost of the global obsession with gold - Spectator__________All that glitters is not gold.Gold is the new cocaine - and it's just as lucrative, dangerous, and destructive.__________Dirty Gold is a searing expose on the booming gold mining industry and destruction on the land and people of Latin America. It looks closely at a small US firm in Miami that helped transform the city into the nation's No.1 importer of gold into the United States.The book follows the meteoric rise and fall of a group of drug traders known as 'the three amigos' who laundered narco money through gold illegally brought into the US and raked in millions before they were caught. Whilst they were making their millions, the humanitarian situation in Colombia, Peru, and many other countries deteriorated dramatically.

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Book Synopsis'A powerful new voice in thriller writing' ADAM HAMDYBorn and raised in London, Pretty Boy has spent the last ten years in exile after being forced out of his hometown. He's learned patience, and how to disappear. Now Pretty Boy is ready to get his revenge on those who need to pay for his lost years. Meanwhile, back in the city, things have moved on. People still talk about Pretty Boy, of course. He's a legend, more myth than man, and rumours run wild about his deadly legacy. But most think they've seen the last of him. He's finished. Someone who never gave up on Pretty Boy is Alan Pierce. The former policeman turned corrupt businessman has always lived by his own rules: stay focused, stay one step ahead of the enemy, stay alive. Alan and Pretty Boy have history - Pretty Boy owes him everything - so when Alan finds himself fighting a drug-fuelled war on all fronts, there's only one man he wants to turn to. But where is Pretty Boy?Sharp, fast-paced and gripping and with a cast of unforgettable characters, A Good Night to Kill is a heart-pounding tale of justice, loyalty, and of what happens when two men turn to face the fight they've been trying to outrun. Praise for Amen Alonge and A Good Day to Die'Action-packed, gripping, and wildly entertaining' ADAM HAMDY'One of those books that you hate to put down' 5* READER REVIEW'Smart, gritty, action-packed' WILLIAM SHAW'Powerful' LITERARY REVIEW'A great non-stop action thriller with an explosive ending' 5* READER REVIEW'A cracker of a debut' TREVOR WOOD'Enthralling' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewPowerful * Literary Review *Powerful thriller... which moves almost as fast as the many bullets its characters fire at each other * Literary Review *[A Good Night to Kill] has the savage verve of a Jacobean revenge play * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisMcMafia meets Narcos in a searing true crime tale of the dark side of globalisation set in the US, Italy, Colombia and the Middle East.Trade ReviewGripping... Part geopolitical essay, part toothsome slice of true crime ... [a book with] humour, tension and pathos - Four stars -- Jake Kerridge, The Daily TelegraphJohnson has recreated the most private of criminal moments, including dialogue and even thoughts. He has opened a window on the narco-terror nexus that most observers knew very little about ... Johnson's writing gallops along. -- The GuardianReads like a first-rate thriller. [A] vivid exposé of the murky world of transnational crime ... the overall narrative is so compelling and well-presented. -- Andrew Lycett, SpectatorA page-turner that criss-crosses borders and time zones, told in brisk, episodic, non-linear chapters -- Sunday Irish IndependentRead this powerful book by Miles Johnson right now. It will make you realise that what we call terrorism is actually drug trafficking, what we call politics is organised crime and what we call peace is just a truce between mafias. -- Roberto Saviano, author of GomorrahAs breathless, complex and on-the-edge suspenseful as the finest thriller fiction - but it's all real, which makes it truly extraordinary -- Lee ChildA truly impressive book that takes the reader deep into the dark underbelly of global money laundering where Hezbollah, Russian arms traders, the Italian mafia and Colombian drug lords meet. This McMafia for a new age is vital for understanding the black cash networks that have funded wars and terrorism across the Middle East. -- Catherine Belton, author of Putin’s People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then took on the WestThis book is like being inserted deep into the secret heart of the global criminal economy, where mafiosi, terrorists and traffickers are all on the same side. It's compelling, visceral and highly readable -- Oliver Bullough, bestselling author of MoneylandA terrific and utterly absorbing account of the murky and lethal connections between transnational organised crime and global politics. Enthrallingly and lucidly written with great authority and expertise, it is a classic of its kind -- William BoydChasing Shadows is a true crime work of international intrigue as gripping and suspenseful as any novel you'll read this year -- Harlan CobenHoly Mackerel, what a story! Miles Johnson exposes the interlocking worlds of terror and drugs with verve and drama in this tale of truck bombs, arms deals, political assassinations, undercover cops and several tonnes of cocaine. Chasing Shadows is an astounding true crime epic that puts us in the room as a Calabrian mob boss whispers to his mistress, a Lebanese militant plots to set the world on fire, and a US agent races to expose it all -- Dan McCrum, author of Money MenThis astonishing and cinematic rollercoaster of a debut will bring Miles Johnson's talent into the brilliant light. Delivered with trademark verve and precision, it achieves that rare and precious thing that is the goal of all great reporting: it reveals the world to itself -- Alex Perry, author of The Good MothersThis is an extraordinary story of improbable but lethal connections across continents. Miles Johnson writes with verve and insight about ruthless men and the terrible consequences of their crimes -- Fergal KeaneChasing Shadows offers a captivating glimpse into the complex world of international intrigue. This skilfully written thriller intertwines the compelling stories of three distinct men whose fates are undeniably linked. With its engaging prose, well-structured plot, and memorable characters, Chasing Shadows provides a thought-provoking look into the darker aspects of humanity and the high-stakes realm of drugs, terrorism, and power. Readers will find themselves fully immersed in this fascinating tale from start to finish. -- Eliot Higgins, author of We Are BellingcatChasing Shadows is a fascinating journey into the intersecting worlds of politics, terrorism and organised crime. Miles Johnson adopts a narrative technique reminiscent of the late John le Carré, while telling a true story. The result is an impeccably researched book, which is also a pleasure to read -- Federico Varese, Professor of Sociology, Sciences Po

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Book Synopsis''A work of journalistic brilliance and rare humanity'' GEORGE PACKER ''Truly a remarkable achievement'' JON LEE ANDERSON''Ahmed writes about Mexico with uncommon authority and a broken heart'' GARY SHTEYNGART''A stunning, colour-saturated portrait of the collapse of formal justice in one Mexican town'' STEVE COLLFear is Just a Word begins on an international bridge between Mexico and the United States, as fifty-six-year-old Miriam Rodriguez stalks one of the men she believes was involved in the murder of her daughter Karen. He is her target number eleven, a member of the drug cartel that has terrorised and controlled what was once Miriam''s quiet hometown of San Fernando, Mexico, almost one hundred miles from the US border. Having dyed her hair red as a disguise, Miriam watches, waits, and then orchestrates the arrest of this man, exacting her own revenge. Woven into this deeply researched, moving account is

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Book Synopsis136,000 people in the UK are in some form of slavery. This is big business, generating more than £120 billion annually for criminal organisations across the world. Stolen Lives examines trafficking and slavery in Britain, hearing from those on the front line. Powerful and moving testimony from survivors reveals the individual stories behind the headlines and charts one young woman’s terrifying and ultimately inspiring journey to freedom and independence. Finally, it shows us what we can do to make a difference.Trade Review‘If you’ve ever doubted slavery exists in the 21st century, this is the book for you. Louise Hulland has a reporter’s grip on the facts and the heart to understand the brutal realities. A story about one person, and a story about millions. A must-read — how slavery came back. Modern slavery won’t end without books like this and investigators like Louise.’ -- Jeremy Vine‘A powerful, shocking and moving investigation into this horrendous crime lurking all around us.’ -- Ayesha Hazarika‘Louise tells the stories of trafficking survivors with a sensitivity and tact that is too often missing from mainstream discourse on the issue.’ -- May BulmanImportant. -- Martin Chilton * The Independent *Notwithstanding the book’s careful, thoroughly-researched account of the high-level background, it is a gripping read. Highly recommended. * Scottish Legal News *

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Book Synopsis_____________________________At Ronnie Kray''s funeral, London crime expert John Pearson saw a man he didn''t recognise - but who all the notorious criminals present deferred to.This is the remarkable true story of that man: ''the Englishman''.Investigations revealed that the Englishman was never mentioned in any of the previous books on organised crime, not because he wasn''t involved, but because everyone was too scared to speak his name. Moreover, he was as legendary a figure on the streets of New York as on the streets of London.Pearson persuaded the mysterious criminal leader to talk to him - and the result was a story even more extraordinary than that of the Kray twins. Here Pearson reveals the true story of the Englishman who became the adopted son of Joey Pagano, the head of one of the major New York crime families. Here the Englishman tells the story that no-one else dared to tell._____________________________<Trade ReviewStraight out of The Godfather ... this insight into the hidden world of the mafia is well worth reading * The Oldie *Brilliantly thrilling * Heat *

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Book SynopsisHuman freedom has one last hope to survive the information revolution in the epic, apocalyptic sequel to the international bestseller Daemon.The Daemon is now firmly in control and moving towards its endgame, using an expanding network of real-world, dispossessed darknet operatives to tear civilization apart and build it anew. As the global economy begins to fail, the world''s most powerful organizations - monolithic corporations, complete with armies of their own - prepare to fight their unseen enemy. When a brutal civil war breaks out in the United States, former detective Pete Sebeck, now the Daemon''s most powerful though reluctant operative, must lead a small band of enlightened humans to protect the new world order. Amid conflicting loyalties, rapidly diminishing human power and the possibility that anyone can be a daemon operative or a corporate spy, Sebeck knows that he embodies the last hope that freedom can survive the information revolution.

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Book SynopsisFor over fifty years, Freddie Foreman's name has commanded respect, and occasionally fear, from those who work to uphold the law - and those who operate just outside of it. With almost all of his compatriots - like the notorious Kray twins - now gone, Freddie is the last real gangster.A true entrepreneur and businessman, Freddie was one of the great personalities of the criminal underworld. A man of principle, protective of his family and unfailingly loyal to his friends, Freddie was someone who could be relied upon with complete confidence in all circumstances. Running with the Krays is the no-holds-barred account of life alongside the Kray twins - as well as dozens of other recognisable 'Faces' - and the exciting and glamorous world they lived.

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Book Synopsis**THE EXPLOSIVE BESTSELLER, NOW UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE GANGLAND TRIAL OF THE CENTURY**On the streets of the tough Dublin inner-city neighbourhood where he grew up, Gerry Hutch was perceived as an ordinary decent criminal, a quintessential Robin Hood figure who fought the law - and won. To the rest of the world he was an elusive criminal godfather called the Monk: an enigmatic criminal mastermind and the leader of one side in the deadliest gangland feud in Irish criminal history.This fully revised and updated edition of Paul Williams' classic bestseller reveals the inside story of Hutch's war with former allies the Kinahan cartel, his years on the run and the drama of his trial and shock acquittal on murder charges relating to the Regency Hotel raid.The Monk is an enthralling account of the rise and fall of a modern-day gangster, charting the violent journey of an impoverished kid from the ghetto to the top tier of gangland and the deadly enemies he amassed along the way.Table of Contents1: Clash of the Clans 2: Carnival of Crime 3: Learning the Trade 4: Power Base 5: First Blood 6: The First Big Job 7: Dirty Money and Murder 8: A Man of Property 9: A New Record 10: The Brinks-Allied Job 11: Family Business 12: Operation Alpha 13: The Nephews 14: Stepping into the Limelight 15: A Threat to National Security 16: Dangerous World 17: Operation Shovel 18: Treachery and Betrayal 19: War 20: Winners and Losers

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Book SynopsisTough, resourceful and ruthless, ex-SAS trooper Nick Stone is now working for British Intelligence on deniable operations. And is desperately in need of cash.When he is offered a lucrative freelance job, Stone thinks his problems are over. All he needs to do is kidnap a Russian mafia warlord.And so Stone is thrust into the grim underworld of Estonia, with unknown aggressors stalking the Arctic landscape. Russia has launched a cyber-espionage attack, hacking into the West''s most sensitive military secrets. Stone must stop them. But the mafia are waiting in the wings with their own chillingly brutal solution...Trade ReviewMcNab is a terrific novelist. When it comes to thrills, he's Forsyth class * Mail on Sunday *McNab's great asset is that the heart of his fiction is non-fiction: other thriller writers do their research, but he has actually been there * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe enthralling story of Henry Hill's life as a gangster and notorious participation in the Witness Protection Programme, made into the hugely acclaimed Martin Scorsese filmTrade Review‘Absolutely engrossing' * New York Times *‘The best book ever written on organised crime' * Cosmopolitan *‘A riveting account of organised crime as a way of life ... extraordinary' * Publishers Weekly *‘This book chronicles Hill's criminal successes ... smuggling, hijacking, union racketeering, credit card fraud, robbery, bribery, drug dealing, prison, marriage, and assorted girlfriends ... faithfully portrayed' * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe first book to examine the truth behind the legend of the Krays, written by bestselling Kray family biographer Jacky Hyams

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Book SynopsisWickedly funny. Wildly twisty. The new book from the master of the heist novel. A super-thief who leaves no trace.-Andy Garcia An anti-hero for our times.-Sarah Dunn A can''t-miss master.-David Baldacci Super thief Riley Wolfe can do it all. He is a master of disguise, can scale a wall, and can vanish into thin air (thick air, too). He uses these unique talents to rob the richest. But this time, it''s the most powerful who have him in their grips. ONE MADMAN. TWO HOSTAGES. It''s not just that the high-up, rogue government agent has abducted the only two people Riley loves: it''s the fact that Riley has to do the man''s dirty work to set them free. It''s something Riley ordinarily would find a modest day''s work, infiltrating a madman''s Soviet missile silo in one of the world''s most remote places, all to find a secret on a tiny flash drive-but he''s never had to race the clock like this. STrade ReviewOne of the best books in the series -- David Pitt * Booklist *As usual with a Lindsay Thriller, the darkly humorous tale is tightly written * The Associated Press *Readers will be transfixed by Riley's every move as he engages in astonishing transformations and clever ruses in pursuit of his seemingly impossible goals in this audacious and action-packed thriller. * Book Page *

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Book SynopsisKillers. Traffickers. Thieves.Shaun Attwood is the man who talks to gangsters, drug lords and mafia bosses. Infamously known for his time as the head of an international ecstasy ring in Arizona, Shaun has since turned to gaining the trust of some of the world''s most dangerous people, interviewing and questioning them about their stories.Collated from the many hours of interview material, and containing additional content exclusive to the book, Shaun brings together ten powerful conversations with the most gruesome and deadly gangsters of recent years.Filled with truthful, brutal, and often redemptive stories, Shaun''s interviews feature international smugglers, mafia enforcers and a man who escaped from Thailand''s most notorious prison. Sitdowns with Gangsters is an unputdownable read that offers a glimpse into the lives and inner workings of some of the world''s most fearsome gangsters.Featuring an introduction from the UK''

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Book SynopsisFast paced and full of grit, this is the first crime novel from the UK''s most charismatic sporting genius.WHEN THE GAME IS MURDER, YOU CAN''T AFFORD TO LOSE.An innocent man. Frankie James is a young man with a lot on his shoulders. His mother disappeared when he was sixteen; his father''s in jail for armed robbery; and he owes rent on the Soho snooker club he inherited to one of London''s toughest gangsters. A brutal murder.And things are about to get a whole lot worse when Frankie''s brother Jack is accused of killing a bride-to-be. He needs to find out who framed Jack and why; but that means entering the sordid world of bent coppers, ruthless mobsters and twisted killers. But in the dog-eat-dog underworld of 1990s Soho, is he tough enough, and smart enough to come out on top?If you like Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, you''ll LOVE this.Trade ReviewThe running is literal as well as metaphorical...it's a heartbreaking story - METRO on RUNNINGRUNNING is a chaotic race through O'Sullivan's life, but this does little to dethrone him as the people's champion - it simply adds further to his legend. - PRESS ASSOCIATION on RUNNINGWhen he starts talking about snooker and his rivals, he is fascinating. Yet it wasn't snooker that ended up saving him from the booze and drugs - it was distance running. - DAILY TELEGRAPH on RUNNINGAt snooker, O'Sullivan is easily the best in the world. At running, he is club class...His frank memoir, which reads like a transcript from the psychiatrist's coach, explains that running - and the running community - gave him a sense of acceptance and achievement. - THE SUNDAY TIMES on RUNNINGLike a lot of shy people, he can look arrogant and aloof when he is performing, while underneath there's turmoil. - DAILY MAIL on RUNNING

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS, WHICH IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD AND WON THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZE''(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both. Set in Edinburgh, too'' - Ian Rankin ''Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime'' - Daily MailDI Helen Birch faces a terrible choice - family or justice? - in the gripping second novel from the author of All the Hidden TruthsDI Birch joined the police to find her little brother, who walked out of his life one day and was never seen again. She stayed to help others, determined to seek justice where she could.On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie''s disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland''s most feared criminal organisations. It''s a good day''s work - a chance to Trade ReviewPraise for What You Pay For * : *Ambitious * Sunday Times Crime Club *Askew is a master of dialogue ... Birch is a great character ... There's a pleasing vein of dark humour ... The breakneck pace and adrenaline will leave readers as spent as the sleep-deprived DI Birch * The Scotsman *Intriguing and brilliant * The Skinny *Another top-notch slice of Scottish noir * Mail on Sunday *Askew is a writer to watch * The Sunday Times *Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime * Daily Mail *Explosive... the breakneck pace and adrenaline rushes will leave readers as spent as the sleep- deprived DI Birch * The Scotsman Book of the Year *We all need some escapism right now and Claire Askew's latest book is the ideal read to help you swap your worrying Covid-19 thoughts for something grimy and gripping * Daily Record *Praise for All The Hidden Truths * . *Stunning debut... compellingly written. * Daily Mail *Gripping, heartbreaking and horrifyingly plausible. I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Claire Askew is a stunning new voice in crime fiction.As scarily plausible as it is utterly captivating, this is an absorbing and unforgettable debut. * Heat *Moving and memorable. * The Sunday Times *Splendid debut... thoughtful and well-written. * Guardian *An intricate, pacy, risky and intriguing novel.Vivid and powerful

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Book SynopsisFans of Peter James and his bestselling Roy Grace series of crime novels know that his books draw on in-depth research into the lives of Brighton and Hove police and are set in a world every bit as gritty as the real thing. His friend Graham Bartlett was a long-serving detective in the city once described as Britain's 'crime capital'. Together, in Death Comes Knocking, they have written a gripping account of the city's most challenging cases, taking the reader from crime scenes and incident rooms to the morgue, and introducing some of the real-life detectives who inspired Peter James's characters. Whether it's the murder of a dodgy nightclub owner and his family in Sussex's worst non-terrorist mass murder or the race to find the abductor of a young girl, tracking down the antique trade's most notorious 'knocker boys' or nailing an audacious ring of forgers, hunting for a cold-blooded killer who executed a surfer or catching a pair who kidnapped a businessman, leaving him severely beaten, to die on a hillside, the authors skilfully evoke the dangerous inside story of policing, the personal toll it takes and the dedication of those who risk their lives to keep the public safe.

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It is a little known fact that one immigrant Italian family ran London's thriving vice trade unchecked from the mid-1930s for some twenty years. The five Messina brothers imported prostitutes from the Continent on an industrial scale, acquiring the women British citizenship by phoney marriages. Demanding 80% of earnings, the Messina family became fabulously wealthy, purchasing expensive properties, cars and influence. As this revealing and absorbing account describes, the brothers ruled with a ruthless combination of charm, blackmail and all too credible threats of disfigurement and death. It took a sensational Sunday newspaper expos to get the authorities to act. A series of dramatic arrests and trials followed and one by one the brothers were imprisoned and deported for crimes including immoral earnings, attempted bribery and firearms offences. Such was their fortune that numerous potential beneficiaries came forward, most recently in 2012. The author, a much published former Metropolitan police officer, has researched the remarkable criminal careers of the five Messina's and the result is a riveting and shocking read.

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Book Synopsis*** THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER ***'A brilliant historical crime read' Bella'This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole' My Weekly'A rollercoaster of crime, revenge and murder' The SunBEHIND EVERY STRONG WOMAN IS AN EPIC STORY...In the early years of the last century, a desperate young girl changes her name and flees the confines of her brutal, dominating gangland family in London. Now calling herself 'Diamond Dupree', she goes to Paris to become an artist's model but the world there is different to what she had supposed it would be and she soon falls on hard times. When she manages to escape at the end of the First World War, she leaves behind her a mystery - and a dead man.Back home in London, she reluctantly re-joins the Soho family 'firm' she'd once been glad to leave behind. Having grown tougher during her time in Paris, she soon becomes a force to be reckoned with, a feared and respected gangland queen. But then she meets Richard Beaumont, the youngest son of a wealthy aristocratic family, and sparks fly. But can she escape the long arm of the law and the hangman's noose, when the crimes of her past finally catch up with her?For fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, as well as viewers of Peaky Blinders, this is historical crime fiction at its most compelling.'No one delves into the underworld like Keane!' Woman's Weekly'A gritty and enlightening read' Yours'Authentically gritty' Crime MonthlyTrade ReviewA brilliant historical crime read * Bella *An epic drama starring an unforgettable heroine. Keane...has a wicked eye for the ruthless, fiercely factional criminal underworld and her books never fail to pack a powerful punch... Every story that Keane writes transports her readers into the heart of a terrifying but addictive underworld, and into the lives of people of every shade... And this cracking page-turner is certainly packed with Keane's trademark cast of larger-than-life characters - each superbly fleshed out and each inhabiting a world so palpably real that we can feel the menace... Brimming with drama, suspense, cruelty and the kind of gobsmacking violence that has made Keane one of the most powerful writers in contemporary crime fiction, this is full-on, eye-watering (of every kind!) entertainment from start to finish * Lancashire Evening Post *This thrilling and twisty crime novel is perfect for fans of Martina Cole * My Weekly *Mills & Boon meets Peaky Blinders in a mix of heaving bosoms and cut-throat razors * The Sun *A gritty and enlightening read * Yours *No one delves into the underworld like Keane! * Woman's Weekly *Authentically gritty * Crime Monthly *

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Book SynopsisWe see mafias as vast, powerful organisations, harvesting billions of dollars across the globe and wrapping its tentacles around everything from governance to finance. But is this the truth? Travelling from mafia initiation ceremonies in far-flung Russian cities to elite gambling clubs in downtown Macau, Federico Varese sets off in search of answers. Using wiretapped conversations, interviews and previously unpublished police records, he builds up a picture of the real men and women caught up in mafia life, showing their loves and fears, ambitions and disappointments, as well as their crimes. Mafia Life takes us into the real world of organised crime, where mafia henchmen worry about their bad managers and have high blood pressure, assassinations are bungled as often as they come off, and increasing pressure from law enforcement means that a life of crime is no longer lived in the lap of luxury. As our world changes, so must the mafia. Globalisation, migration and technology are disrupting their traditions and threatening their revenue streams, and the mafiosi must evolve or die. Mafia Life is an intense and totally compelling look at an organisation and the daily life of its members, as it gets to grips with the modern world. Out now in paperback.Trade ReviewFederico Varese, who has made organised crime a life's work, is the capo di tutti capi of mafia studies. His desire to pierce ever more deeply through the layers of violence, comradeship, greed, corruption and pathos of men, at once parasitical on societies and contemptuous of them, plunges him into their worlds to discover that, different as the mafias are, at root they are the same. * Financial Times *Excellent ... each chapter shines a new light on a fundamental aspect of mafia activity. -- Misha Glenny * Times Literary Supplement *Federico Varese is two writers rolled into one: a fearless fact-hunter who goes after his quarry with the zeal of a thoroughbred journalist, and a dedicated academic who examines and analyzes his catch with relentless detachment. -- John le CarréWide-ranging ... digs deep into the culture and practices of the mafia * Daily Telegraph *In this beautifully penned book, the reader has the opportunity to go beyond the fabricated mafia image usually offered to the public. Mafia Life is a landmark text exploring realms of power and looking at these contested men of our time from an anthropological point of view -- Dr Baris Cayli * LSE Review of Books *An intoxicating narrative that tugs the reader from Hong Kong to Moscow, Salford to New Jersey, Tokyo to Sicily in search of the essence of Mafia Life. There is humour, pathos and poignancy amid stories of violence, corruption and intimidation. It begins and ends, festively, in a snowswept Russian graveyard. But it leaves you anything but cold. -- Alistair Fraser, University of Glasgow

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