Organized crime Books

Book SynopsisWhat makes Tony Soprano so likeable? Why would we rather leave the cannoli and take the gun? Do we truly want Scarface’s Tony Montana to succeed? Is Michael Corleone a misunderstood hero or a despicable villain? In The Mafia: A Cultural History, now available in paperback, Roberto M. Dainotto traces the complex and fascinating development of the mafia: its rural beginnings in Western Sicily; its growth into what has been aptly described as a global multinational of crime; and its parallel evolution in music, print and on the big screen. The book probes the tension between the real mafia – its brutal and often violent reality – and how we imagine it to be: a mythical assembly of codes of honour, family values and chivalric masochism. Rather than dismissing such mafia stereotypes as untrue, Dainotto sets out to understand what needs and desires, material and psychic longings, are satisfied by our mafia fantasies. Exploring the rich array of films, books, television, music and even video games portraying and inspired by the mafia, this book offers not only a social, economic and political history of the mafia but a new way of understanding our enduring fascination with what lurks behind the sinister omertà of the family business.Trade Review`Dainotto’s The Mafia: A Cultural History offers something unique in the somewhat overcrowded category of books about the Mafia and its pop culture representations: a Sicilian intellectual’s historically informed yet personal perspective on the enduring appeal of organized crime stories.’ – PopMatters

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Book Synopsis40 YEARS WITH THE KRAYS is the untold, intimate history of the twins and the woman who raised them. Told with humour and insight, it looks back across the decades at the life of this close knit, notorious East End family. Maureen Flanagan, a then 20 year old hairdresser started visiting the Kray family home in Vallance Road each week to give the twins’ mother, Violet, her weekly shampoo and set. Over the cups of tea and the rollers and hairpins, Violet began to confide in ‘Flan’ about her life, her incredible pride in her twins, the celebrities who visited her at their humble East End home - and her troubled relationship with her husband.Trade ReviewNot that many people saw that side of the Krays, but this chatty, vivacious memoir sheds a strangely intimate light on their baleful legend * Daily Mail *...an engaging, atmospheric read * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis'A thriller-like tale ... [Mazur] is a good story-teller, with a flair for details that brings the criminal and their world to life' Daily Mail'Bob Mazur delivers again ... he artfully takes the reader through the harrowing account of life as an undercover cop embedded in the drug cartels' BRYAN CRANSTON'A book you can't put down, nor will you' JOSEPH PISTONE, aka Donnie BrascoFrom the bestselling author who inspired Bryan Cranston's The Infiltrator.Three years after undercover agent Robert Mazur infiltrated Pablo Escobar's Medellín drug cartel, he re-emerged, a half-million-dollar bounty still on his head, with a new identity for a risky new sting.Deployed to Panama, he worked, travelled, partied and washed millions with Central America's criminal elite. Partnered with a DEA task force agent, Mazur slipped effortlessly into Colombia's notorious Cali drug cartel. But as his underworld reputation skyrocketed, the operation started going dangerously off the rails.Robert Mazur's riveting true story exposes the corruption at the heart of one of the most explosive undercover missions of his career.Refusing to acknowledge the danger, Mazur was obsessed with seeing the mission through to its treacherous end: expose the Cali cartel, find out who betrayed him, and escape with his life. This is his true story.Trade ReviewA thriller-like tale ... [Mazur] is a good story-teller, with a flair for details that brings the criminal and their world to life. * Daily Mail *Bob Mazur delivers again with The Betrayal! As with its predecessor, The Infiltrator, Mazur artfully takes the reader through the harrowing account of life as an undercover cop embedded in the drug cartels. In my career I take on characters in life-or-death situations - but I just can't imagine how Mazur does it for real! Read it and find out. I highly recommend it. -- Bryan Cranston – Star of Breaking Bad. Winner of Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe awards for best actor.The Betrayal details the malicious world of drugs, money laundering and the danger of being a DEA undercover agent infiltrating these organizations. A book you can't put down, nor will you. -- Joseph Pistone aka Donnie Brasco, author of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaThe Betrayal is a page-turning thriller about a courageous agent's simultaneous journey through a deadly vise of internal corruption and the ruthless threat of cartel killers. This is the unfortunate reality of the underworld. -- Michael S. Vigil, Former DEA Chief of International Operations and author of DealNo one in law enforcement is more lethally vulnerable to the betrayal of those he/she depends on for support and protection then the deep cover agent; the operative who, unarmed, like a human bait, places himself into isolated situations where the only thing protecting him from an instant death is his acting ability... This book is a must read. -- Michael Levine Author of New York Times bestseller Deep Cover and The Big White LieFATF was created to help governments follow the money and reduce the harm caused by drug traffickers and terrorists. Bob Mazur repeatedly put his life on the line to do just that. This isn't fiction. It's the real deal and scary as hell. -- David Lewis – Executive Secretary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against money launderingIt is a cliché to say that such books have the pace and tension of a thriller - but in this case the cliché has force ... Mazur shows extraordinary courage, and, along the way, reveals much about the labyrinthine world of high-stakes money-laundering. * Tortoise Media *The Betrayal is a page turner for sure and you won't want to put it down until it is finished ... a "must read" for all. * The Laundry *

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Book SynopsisVIRGINIA VALLEJO:Top Colombian television journalist, cover model and socialitePABLO ESCOBAR:Head of the Medellin cartel, the founder of the global cocaine industry and one of the most ambitious - and brutal - criminals in historyOver the course of their tempestuous love affair, Vallejo witnessed first-hand the bloodshed, fear and corruption that accompanied the rise of Escobar's crime empire. In this explosive tale of drugs, sex, wealth and violence, Vallejo describes the man she knew and loved. But, increasingly plagued by threats of kidnap and death for her knowledge on Escobar's ties to the political establishment, Vallejo sought extradition to the United States. Her testimony would reopen one of the most important criminal cases in Colombian history.

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Book SynopsisDecember, 2014: In the forbidding waters off Antarctica, Captain Hammarstedt of the Bob Barker embarks on a voyage unlike any seen before. Across ten thousand miles of hazardous seas, Hammerstedt's crew will relentlessly pursue the Thunder - an infamous illegal fishing ship - for what will become the longest chase in maritime history. Wanted by Interpol, the Thunder has for years evaded justice: accumulating millions in profits, hunting endangered species and ruthlessly destroying ocean habitats. The authors follow this incredible expedition from the beginning. But even as seasoned journalists, they cannot anticipate what the chase will uncover, as the wake of the Thunder leads them to trail of criminal kingpins, rampant corruption, modern slavery and an international community content to turn a blind eye. Very soon, catching Thunder becomes more than a chase but a pursuit of the truth itself and a symbolic race to preserve the well-being of our planet. A Scandinavian bestseller, Catching Thunder is a remarkable true story of courage and perseverance, and a wake-up call to act against the destruction of our environments.Trade Review'This 110-day, round-the-world pursuit of a rogue trawler reads like a noir thriller ... recorded with flair and precision. The book promises all the pleasures of a crime novel, but it is after bigger game.' 5/5* Telegraph; 'An uproarious adventure - one predicated on the protestors’ ferocious sense of moral rectitude. Engdal and Sæter are energetic writers with a sense of pace and cinematic detail … Catching Thunder is an exciting read.' Spectator; 'A gripping story ... A clarion call for those who want to save our seas.' National Geographic Traveller; 'A true story that reads like a spy novel, peppered with scary organized crime villains, charismatic environmental activists and Interpol agents, and enough tidbits about sailing treacherous seas, commercial fishing, and endangered species to satisfy the most dedicated nautical adventure fan.' 5/5* Foreword Reviews; 'This is a modern pirate story, but the plunder isn't pieces of eight – it's the Patagonian Toothfish, as valuable as narcotics … A solid piece of collaborative journalism.' Sydney Morning Herald; `True adventure, life and death moments, and real life heroism: what reader could ask for more?’ Ingrid Newkirk, President, PETA; 'Engdal and Sæter are to journalism what Jagger and Richards are to rock and roll – sexy, irreverent and brilliant.' Luke Harding, Guardian journalist and author of The Snowden Files; `This is the story of our time: the blind destruction of the oceans and our ecosphere, and the actions of those with the courage to stand up and confront it.’ Peter Heller, author of The Whale Warriors and Celine; `The pursuit of the Thunder has become celebrated folklore by those of us fighting to protect our oceans. This is a captivating story, one which highlights the weaknesses in the global system but also, ultimately, gives us hope.’ Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing WatchTable of Contents1. The Pirate2. "The Bandit 6"3. Operation Icefish4. The Occupation5. Hot Pursuit6. Operation Spillway7. The Ice8. Vesturvon9. The Pirate Capital10. The Storm11. The Secret Channel12. The Longest Day13. The Shipmaster14. Desolation Island15. The Phantom Ship16. The Wall of Death17. The World Record18. "The Only Sheriff in Town"19. The Flying Mariner20. A Bloody Nightmare21. La Mafia Gallega22. God's Fingerprint23. Buenas Tardes, Bob Barker24. Message in a Bottle25. Raid on the High Seas26. Operation Sparrow27. Exercise Good Hope28. The Bird of Ill Omen29. The Wanderer30. The Man in the Arena31. The Third Ship32. "You Are Nothing"33. The Snake in Paradise34. The Armpit of Africa35. Mayday36. A Weird Dream37. A Last Resort38. The Island of Rumours39. 48 Hours40. Three Condemned Men41. The Luck of the Draw42. The Escape43. The Unluckiest Ship in the World44. The Judgment45. Prisoners' Island46. The Man from Mongolia47. The Last Viking48. Operation Yuyus49. The Tiantai Mystery50. A Dirty Business51. The Showdown52. The Madonna and the Octopus53. The Final Act

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Book SynopsisTHE FINAL WORD FROM THE LAST KING OF GANGLAND WITH A FOREWORD BY MARTINA COLE'We couldn't, we wouldn't, let anyone take a liberty. That was never an option at that time.'Eddie Richardson is the last brand-name gangster. Say the name and the world of violent criminality grabs you by the throat.The Richardson brothers, Eddie and Charlie, and their infamous 'Torture Gang', made money while their rivals Ronnie and Reggie Kray made fatal mischief. They fought each other, but now, in 2018, Eddie Richardson says: 'They tell me blood is thicker than water, but with Charlie it wasn't so. He was evil.'With his brother dead, Eddie Richardson feels free to detail the story of a vicious family feud that provoked extravagant acrimony. No Handcuffs unravels the mysteries of decades of crime and political incident. The story of a turbulent era, it rivals the most imaginative fiction in its portrayal of gangland life with all its chanciness and rawness and careless disregard for any obstacle on the way to its target, the big money.In an inspired collaboration with bestselling author Douglas Thompson, the mature Eddie Richardson is given a voice to reflect on his journey from the scrapyards of South London to the glitz and glamour of the West End nightclubs, to the flesh and tease of Soho, down Downing Street and through the door of Number 10 to the perils of espionage and international intrigue, and his elevation to demigod status in hard-men territory - and finally as a high-security inmate at Her Majesty's pleasure, but with a personal fridge kept well stocked with gourmet food. No Handcuffs resonates today for, if anything, greed and corruption are more perverse, more rampant. As Eddie Richardson points out: 'We wrote the handbook for them.'

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Book SynopsisWritten by the bestselling author of The Ice Man, The Butcher is a gripping and disturbing fly-on-the-wall account of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's four-year hunt to bring down Tommy 'Karate' Pitera, a drug-dealing, murderous capo in the Bonanno crime family. In 1992, Pitera was sentenced to life in prison for murdering six people and supporting a massive drug-dealing operation. Yet this covered only a fraction of the crimes he committed. Pitera is thought to have murdered more than 60 people, cutting many of his victims into pieces before burying them on Staten Island.Exhaustively researched and written with the cooperation of the DEA agents who hunted Pitera down, The Butcher will send shivers down the spine of the most hardened reader.Trade ReviewMafia master Carlo is the unrivalled king of true crime writing. He examines Pitera's psyche with forensic scrutiny but stops short of glamorising his subject. Grisly and gruesome, Scorcese should definitely buy up the movie rights * News of the World *Engrossing and chilling . . . a fast-moving and morbidly fascinating story * Booklist *With brutal honesty, Philip Carlo writes from the heart -- Robert De Niro on Philip Carlo's work

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING BENICIO DEL TORO, PRODUCED BY LEONARDO DICAPRIO.Cuba, 1961.A failed invasion at The Bay of Pigs results in Fidel Castro tightening his hold over Cuba. José Miguel Battle Sr., a former cop and member of the counter-revolutionary group intent on overthrowing him, is captured.Miami, 1962.José Miguel Battle Sr. travels to the USA, chased from the island by revolution, and is renamed The Godfather. A 2,500 strong Cuban-American criminal alliance is established.Known on both sides of the law as 'The Corporation', its powerful members were fellow outcasts and enemies of Castro. A hero to many Cuban-Americans, The Godfather created a unit of trusted men who fought alongside him to reclaim their nation from the Marxist dictator.Gaining money, power and inluence by running gambling rackets, money- laundering, drug tra?cking and murder, The Corporation never gave up the dream of killing Castro and reclaiming their homeland. This explosive biography reveals how an entire generation of political exiles, refugees, racketeers, corrupt cops, hitmen (and their wives and girlfriends) became caught up in this violent desire, and built a criminal empire surviving over 40 years.An epic tale of gangsters, drugs and violence, learn how The Corporation grew into one of the USA's most sordid and deadly organisations. Trade ReviewA mob saga that has it all-brotherhood and betrayal, swaggering power and glittering success, and a Godfather whose reach seems utterly unrivaled. What a relentless, irresistible read. * Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Force *English capably covers half a century of criminal enterprise, avoiding the clichés of the true-crime genre while stocking his narrative with familiar players: the capos and goons, the cops and informants, a mistress or two, and John F. Kennedy.... Fascinating reading. * Kirkus Reviews *It's a gripping, blood-soaked story, rich in drama and suspense; if it were a novel, you might expect to see Don Winslow's name attached to it. Fans of true crime, especially those with a hankering for epic-sized stories, should flock to this book. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisCLASH OF THE CLANS is a story that traces the emergence of the Irish mafia from the streets of Dublin to the highest echelons of global organised crime and right into the heart of professional boxing. When a weigh-in turns into a gangland bloodbath, the tables begin to turn on the powerful Kinahan Organised Crime Group. But is it too late to tame the beast or can the law finally catch up with the mob? Bestselling author and award-winning crime journalist Nicola Tallant brings the reader on her own journey of discovery as she delves into the dangerous underworld where a golden era of cocaine turned a brat pack of street dealers into an international mafia. With a unique insight into the rise of mob and its reach into boxing through a tapestry of confidential informants and some too-close-for-comfort experiences, Tallant brings to life one of the most extraordinary stories in modern organised crime. Following the trail from the local authority estates of the Irish capital to the gilded mansions of Dubai, Clash of the Clans: The Rise of the Irish Narcos and Boxing's Dirty Secret powers through the intriguing tale of the cocaine cowboys and the rivalries that threaten to bring down an empire.

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Book Synopsis'Action-packed, gripping, and wildly entertaining' Adam HamdyMeet Pretty Boy. Vengeance is on his mind.His real name:UnknownHis code of conduct:Don't be a pawn in someone else's game.Never underestimate the enemy.Above all, survive. There is no glory in death.His mission:It's been ten years since Pretty Boy left the big city - today he's back. No one knows why, but it's clear that revenge is on his mind: he is determined to make the person responsible for his exile from the London scene finally pay. But his plans seem derailed when he takes possession of a bracelet, unaware that its original owner has set a high price for its safe return. Suddenly, the hunter becomes the hunted and Pretty Boy will have to find out if it is indeed a 'good day to die'.Jam-packed with action, an unforgettable cast of characters and peppered with dry humour, A Good Day to Die marks the arrival of a fresh and exciting new voice in thriller writing.LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA NEW BLOOD DAGGER'A smart, gritty, action-packed thriller that invokes the spirit of Chester Himes' William Shaw'A cracker of a debut' Trevor Wood'Brutal, striking' Daily MailTrade ReviewAlonge's fine debut is . . . remarkable * Sunday Times *This brutal but striking debut . . . reeks with authenticity. It is crime-writing with a rap beat - fast, hard, unrelenting . . . the story's honesty and impressive humanity shine through the violence * Daily Mail *Debut British writer Amen Alonge's A Good Day to Die intriguingly channels the black crime ethos of such US writers as S.A. Cosby, but places its criminal anti-hero in an acerbically realised UK setting -- Barry Forshaw * Financial Times *Action-packed, gripping, and wildly entertaining, A Good Day To Die is a cracking crime thriller. Amen Alonge is a powerful new voice in thriller writing and a talent to watch * Adam Hamdy, Sunday Times bestselling author *A smart, gritty, action-packed thriller that invokes the spirit of Chester Himes * William Shaw *This is a cracker of a debut, sharp and brutal, with a body count that would make Tarantino blink * Trevor Wood *Expect plenty of punch, some memorable characters and even a dash of humour * Crime Fiction Lover *High octane * Crime Monthly *An action-packed contemporary gangland thriller * BBC Online *In A Good Day To Die the action never stops, the body count is high, but there's also a lot of great humour. Amen Alonge's debut book is a refreshing new addition to the world of British thriller publishing, with a feel of the US cult series The Wire * Melan Mag *A Good Day to Die is a thoughtful and insightful novel and the continuous action feels explosive - often quite literally. The writing is elegant, there's a love of language and the plot superbly crafted... The tension in the plot is maintained in masterly fashion and the level of excitement is fever pitch. A classy debut, the opener for a series that promises to be riveting * Crime Fiction Lover *Seriously gripping from the first page to the last, this fast-paced, action-packed roller-coaster of a thriller comes from an exciting new voice in crime fiction * Dead Good *

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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 SynopsisIn a society where trust is in short supply and democracy weak, the Mafia sells protection, a guarantee of safe conduct for parties to commercial transactions. Drawing on the confessions of eight Mafiosi, Diego Gambetta develops an elegant analysis of the economic and political role of the Sicilian Mafia.Trade ReviewA remarkable theoretical achievement. Starting from what is apparently a most unpromising premise, that the workings of the Mafia can be understood within a rational choice framework, Gambetta repeatedly surprises us with his theoretical ingenuity… In a brief review, one cannot do justice to the complexity of the arguments in a book like Gambetta’s. Let it suffice to say I could not put it down and I estimate it will become a classic in the burgeoning literature upon the rational choice approach to sociological analysis. -- Peter Abell * British Journal of Sociology *The Sicilian Mafia goes far beyond the promise of the title. It represents an important and arguably enduring contribution to both sociological and economic theory. Gambetta’s book shows the fruitfulness of a rigorous economic analysis applied with consistency and it is, in spite of the ominous subject, fun to read. It sheds new light on the birth and evolution of the mafia. Furthermore, the twofold parallel between the mafia, an economic industry, and the state, the political community par excellence, can bring us to a more accurate understanding of the nature of the markets for unusual commodities like protection, and it contributes, indirectly, to the political theory of the emergence of protection agencies. -- Alberto Vannucci * European Sociological Review *Diego Gambetta’s analysis of the Sicilian Mafia is likely to become a classic. It uses a dazzling combination of economic theory and sociological insight to make sense of a significant but mysterious social institution. -- Robert Sugden * Journal of Economic Literature *This is a fascinating book. It provides a wealth of information about an organization which, despite its repellent nature, understandably continues to intrigue many people. And the narrative, based, as much of it is, on the testimony of various ex mafiosi who have turned state's evidence, possesses a compelling immediacy. As a work of history, it is first-rate. -- Larry J. Sechrest * Journal of Economics *Gambetta's study is, quite simply, brilliant. At once thoughtful and provocative, he argues that the mafioso deals not in violence, but in protection...Witty and well-argued, compelling but not didactic, this is precisely what a scholarly work should be. * Modern Italy *A carefully argued and well written interpretation of the Sicilian Mafia which should be required reading for every student of criminology. -- David Nelken * British Journal of Criminology *[Gambetta] has done an outstanding job of gathering and analyzing the data that were available...A tremendous achievement. -- Peter Kollock * American Journal of Sociology *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART 1: THE INDUSTRY OF PREOTECTION 1. The market 2. The resources 3. The industry PART 2: THE INDUSTRY IN SICILY 4. The Origins 5. The Cartel 6. The Trademarks PART 3: PROTECTION IN PRACTICE 7. Dispute Settlement 8. Orderly Markets 9. Disordered Markets Conclusion Postscript Appendix A: Etymologies of Mafioso and Mafia Appendix B: Descriptions of the Mafia Ritual Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index

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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 SynopsisExplores the dangerous and combustible power spies hold over international business. This title presents the story of Allan Pinkerton, the nation's true private eye, and extends through the annals of a rich history that includes tycoons and playboys, presidents and FBI operatives, CEOs and accountants, Cold War veterans and military personnel.Trade Review"Eamon Javers has produced a remarkable book about the secret world of business warfare-a world filled with corporate spies and covert ops and skullduggery. This is an important book that has the added pleasure of reading like a spy novel." -- David Grann, author of The Lost City of Z "Eamon Javers is one of Washington's best reporters. In Broker, Trader, Lawyer, Spy, he has told a wonderfully readable tale with great characters and high stakes, and the dubious practices by corporations and intelligence agents he exposes are going to ignite an important public debate." -- John F. Harris, author of The Survivor "If only the mainstream press would follow Eamon Javers' lead and expose the powerful saboteurs and predators of the corporate underworld, this would be a different country. But it's not too late. Read this book and roll up your sleeves." -- Bill Moyers "Turns out there are far more cloaks and quite a few more daggers in this country than most of us realized. That's one of the many lessons of this terrific book. Eamon Javers is as talented a writer as he is a reporter. What a great read." -- Tucker Carlson "This is a must-read, excellent book." -- Booklist "From early wiretaps to the use of satellites, the author expertly explains how spies help clients sabotage corporate competitors or buy and sell stocks based on expected fluctuations in the price of corn." -- Publishers Weekly "Stunning, revelatory." -- John Stewart, The Daily Show

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Book SynopsisBobby Teale was born in central London in the middle of the Second World War, the third eldest of seven children. He met the Krays as a teenager and, after giving evidence at their trial, he left Britain in 1969 for a new life in America. Today he lives in Cedar Hills, Utah with his third wife Dawne.He has written his extraordinary story with the help and love of his two brothers, David and Alfie Teale.

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Book SynopsisAs a gun-wielding bank robber, Noel ''Razor'' Smith was top of the criminal tree, enjoying the excitement and benefits of a dangerous and adrenalin-filled career. But he''d also spent the greater part of his adult life in prison, an environment where respect and basic survival were guaranteed only to those prepared to use the most brutal violence. In his new book, Smith takes the story on from his highly acclaimed memoir A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun, and describes how he came to realize that the game wasn''t worth the candle. In his mid-forties he applied to enter Grendon, then the only prison in Britain offering intense therapeutic treatment to hardened criminals. He went from a brutal high-security prison, HMP Whitemoor, to an institution where he was encouraged to investigate just why his life had been given over to violence and crime. Smith paints an unforgettable portrait of the hardened and severely damaged inmates of Grendon, many of them guilty of famous crimes, and their attempts to turn round their lives. And in particular his own arduous five-year journey to re-enter society as a straight citizen.Trade ReviewA unique insight into how someone goes about changing the vile and destructive habits of a lifetime. A gripping read -- Will Self * The Times *Provocative, funny and thoughtful * Observer *It's saddening, angering and informative stuff * Metro *I can't put it down. Smith's accounts of life beyond the windowless walls [of prison] ... are chilling beyond belief -- Mark Ellen * Word *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This book could not be more relevant. . . brilliant, gripping, astonishingly rich. . . filled with flamboyant gangsters, devious rackets, vicious hits, secret policemen, Kremlin leaders and criminal slang, at once a true-crime chronicle, a work of scholarship, an anthropological study, a political history of the fused underworld and upper echelons of Russian power — and essential reading.”—Simon Sebag Montefiore, Evening Standard “Galeotti, by far the best-informed Western academic writing on the Russian security services today, charts the rich history of the country’s criminal background and the twist of history that saw the vory – “thieves” – suddenly emerge as the victor’s in Russia’s chaotic experiment with capitalism.”—Owen Matthews, TLS “Mark Galeotti makes a convincing case. . . With the West reassessing its decisions to allow Russian oligarchs – many of whom made money by less than honest means – free rein in its capital cities, this book could not be timelier.”—Matthew Partridge, Money Week “You’d be hard pressed to find a more exhaustive and compelling guide to the confluence of state and organised crime in Russia than this history of thievery that stretches back to the underworld’s pre-revolutionary roots.”—Alasdair Lees, Independent “Mark Galeotti’s study of Russian organised crime, the product of three decades of academic research and consultancy work, is more than timely. In these days of ever more bizarre Russian attacks, it reads like the essential companion to a bewildering and aggressive new world. . .”—Charlotte Hobson, Spectator “A fascinating look at Russia’s super mafia and their links to Putin’s secret services. . . . The book could not be more relevant in the midst of global recriminations—and a new round of American sanctions—against Russia.”—Matthew Campbell, Sunday Times (London) “Adds vital texture to the description of Russia as a kleptocracy. . . The Vory is a timely, readable and important text for anyone thinking of ways to restrict Russian influence over the west and to punish Russia’s leadership for its crimes.”—Oliver Bullough, Observer New Review “Many viewers who watched McMafia must have wondered if Russian organised crime is as ruthless and pervasive as the TV series suggested. Mark Galeotti’s indispensable book adds plenty of real-life nuance to that fictional screenplay, and nobody reading it will be in any doubt of the seriousness of the overlap between Russian spooks and crooks at home and abroad.”—Edward Lucas, the Times “The Vory – meaning The Thieves – is a colourful and comprehensive guide to the intersection of crime and politics in Russia.”—The Economist “For all those interested in the future, as well as in the past and present, of Russia, this is a ‘must-read’ volume.”—Martin Dewhirst, FORUM “Galeotti’s book is an excellent study of the little researched area of criminal life in the Soviet Union.” —Taras Kuzio, Europe-Asia Studies Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Prize 2019 "To understand power in contemporary Russia, this is a must read."—Misha Glenny, author of McMafia "Galeotti lays bare the lattices of power and influence between official Russia and its criminal organizations. This is the best guide to understanding the workings of the Kremlin since Mario Puzo's The Godfather."—Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of Estonia “Gritty, historically grounded and superbly readable, this is an essential work by one of the most knowledgeable and dispassionate observers of contemporary Russia.”—Rachel Polonsky, author of Molotov's Magic Lantern "Galeotti writes with wit, clarity and authority about the grimly fascinating, and all-too-important, history of organized crime and its outsize role in shaping contemporary Russian society and government."—Michael Weiss, CNN National Security Analyst "The culmination of more than twenty-five years of writing on Russian organized crime, Vory is destined to become the standard work on the subject. It is instructive and shocking—and a pleasure to read."—Federico Varese, author of Mafia Life

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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 SynopsisKnown for their striking full-body tattoos, Japan's gangsters comprise a criminal class eighty thousand strong - more than four times the size of the American mafia. This title tells the story of Japan's crime syndicates, from their feudal start as bands of medieval outlaws to their emergence as billion-dollar investors in real estate, and more.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments About the Authors Preface to the 2012 Edition Prologue: Enter the Yakuza PART I: EARLY HISTORY 1. The Honorable Outlaws PART II: THE KODAAAA YEARS 2. Occupied Japan 3. Nexus on the Right 4. The Black Mist PART III: THE MODERN YAKUZA 5. The Syndicates 6. Corruption, Japanese-Style 7. The Keizai Yakuza 8. The Collapsing Bubble PART IV: THE MOVE ABROAD 9. Meth, Money, and the Sex Trade 10. Old Markets and New 11. Across the Pacific 12. To America Epilogue: A New Yakuza A Note on Research Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOne Sunday morning in 1993 a 16-year-old girl named Eliza Claps goes missing from a church in the centre of Potenza, Italy. Shortly before her disappearance, Elisa had met Danilo Restivo, a strange local boy with a fetish for cutting women''s hair on the back of buses. Elisa''s family are convinced that Resitvo is responsible for their daughter''s disappearance, but he is protected by local big-wigs: by his Sicilian father, by a doctor with links to organised crime, by a priest who had vices of his own. Years went by and Elisa''s family could find only false leads.2002, and Restivo is now living in Bournemouth. In November that year, his neighbour is found murdered, with strands of her own hair in her hands. Once again the police are at a loss to pin anything on him. It''s not until 2010, when Elisa''s decomposed body is found in the church where she went missing, that the two cases are linked and Restivo is finally dealt with. Blood on the Altar combines a gr

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Book SynopsisIn 1987, Wayne Anthony and two friends established the legendary Genesis raves that were attended by the wide-eyed, loved-up youth of the late Eighties and early Nineties. Wayne and the Genesis team took Acid House to the masses and changed the face of British rave culture. Wayne then promoted a series of events around Europe, released a series of infamous compilation albums under the banner Havin' It'. Since then Wayne has been involved in Internet start-ups and tech companies. He spent the last ten years at the helm of LSD Magazine, one of Europe's biggest street art graffiti networks. He is currently in the process of launching the world's first dedicated street art graffiti channel from Los Angeles.

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Book SynopsisThis Element investigates the relationship between the narcotics industry and politics. It claims that different manifestations of criminal politics arise depending on how different phases of drug-trafficking activity interact with the distinct politico-institutional endowments of Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Conceptualizing criminal politics; 3. Case studies; 4. Implications; References.

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Book SynopsisRevenge killings, gangland shootouts, brutal executions and drownings - there was no escape from the Mob''s hitmen. Featuring historical photographs, Mafia Murders details the bloody ends of these infamous gangsters. Since the late 19th century, the Mafia has used intimidation and worse to exert its control over organized crime. Mafia Murders recalls the 100 most important executions by the Mob. In a world where family, turf wars and crime were big business, the relentless murders of rival bosses, stool pigeons, snitches, good cops, and dirty cops became part of everyday life.Discover the stories of the hit-men who lived and died by the gun in this fascinating tale of the American underworld.

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Book SynopsisOrganized crime is perhaps the most fascinating phenomenon of our time. From Al Capone, who boldly claimed his bootlegging activities were a public service, to the flamboyant Teflon Don, the criminals of the underworld have garnered headlines and captured our imagination with their violent and extravagant lifestyles. Arthur Martin provides a gripping introduction to the history of the mob, from the early vendettas of the 19th century in southern Italy to the mass killings a century later across New York, Chicago and other American cities. Featuring shocking photographs of these gang members, Mafia Wars offers shocking insight into the role of the mob explores whether recent high-profile hits are a mark of the Mafia''s re-emergence as a violent force in the 21st century. For anyone who wants to know the truth about organized crime and understand the violent forces that have shaped it over the last century, this book is an indispensable guide.

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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 SynopsisThe gripping new gangland thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller and Queen of the Underworld, Jessie Keane.Once, he loved her. Now he''s going to put her away for murder.Christie Doyle is living the dream: she has a beautiful mansion on the South Downs with an infinity pool and stables, and her husband, Kenny, spoils her rotten. It''s her birthday and she is the centre of the most amazing party.And then the bombshell drops. Kenny confesses to an affair and asks for a divorce. Worse is to come when the ''other woman''- Lara, nineteen years old and pregnant with Kenny''s child - is found dead.Suspicion falls on Christie and the Doyles'' life is ripped apart as the police hunt for evidence: lead investigator DCI Dexter Cooper is a face from Christie''s own troubled past and he knows better than anyone what she is capable of.The race to unmask a killer is on...Trade ReviewA brilliant historical crime read * Bella *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 *Another charged gangland thriller from the bestselling author * Woman's Weekly *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 *

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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 Synopsis2016 Outstanding Publication Award (The International Association for the Study of Organized Crime) Organized Crime: Analyzing Illegal Activities, Criminal Structures, and Extra-legal Governance provides a systematic overview of the processes and structures commonly labeled organized crime, drawing on the pertinent empirical and theoretical literature primarily from North America, Europe, and Australia. The main emphasis is placed on a comprehensive classificatory scheme that highlights underlying patterns and dynamics, rather than particular historical manifestations of organized crime. Esteemed author Klaus von Lampe strategically breaks the book down into three key dimensions: (1) illegal activities, (2) patterns of interpersonal relations that are directly or indirectly supporting these illegal activities, and (3) overarching illegal power structures that regulate and control these illegal activities and also extend their inflTrade Review" It is without question, the most comprehensive and robust treatment of organized crime research, theories and perspectives that has been published to date." -- Frederick T. Martens"This book makes an important contribution to the academic literature. It moves well beyond the usual examination of "mafia" groups that has dominated the organized crime literature for years." -- Robert Lombardo"(...) the reading is engaging, due to the concise expression and the short length of the chapters that permit the best absorption of elaborate concepts (...) although the topic itself is complex and eludes exhaustive presentation, von Lampe uses his extensive knowledge to present the pivotal developments in the field of organised crime (...)" -- Elena Sciandra"This is a major contribution to the literature. I like it enormously, and although I do not use a single text I recommend to my transnational organized crime class that if they buy one book it should be ′Organized Crime: Analyzing illegal activities, criminal structures, and extra-legal governance." -- Phil Williams"Organized Crime: Analyzing illegal activities, criminal structures, and extra-legal governance is by far the most comprehensive and thoughtful treatment of the subject matter I′ve ever come across and I don′t see this changing easily in the foreseeable future either." -- Georgios Antonopoulos & Georgios PapanicolaouTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments About the Author Part I: Organized Crime as a Construct and as an Object of Study Chapter 1: Introduction - The Study of Organized Crime Phenomena Associated With Organized Crime Conceptual Confusion What Is the Object of Study in the Study of Organized Crime? Chapter 2: The Concept of Organized Crime The Conceptual History of Organized Crime The Reception of the American Concept of Organized Crime in Other Countries Lessons to Be Learned From the Conceptual History of Organized Crime Overview of Definitions of Organized Crime Outline of a Conceptual Framework for the Study of Organized Crime The Concept of Organized Crime: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 3: Organized Crime Research The Study of Organized Crime as an Academic Subdiscipline The History of the Study of Organized Crime The Main Lines of Contemporary Research Challenges to the Study of Organized Crime Research on Organized Crime: Summary and Conclusion PART II: Empirical Manifestations of Organized Crime Introduction to Part II Chapter 4: Organized Criminal Activities Why Study Organized Criminal Activities Separate From Criminal Organizations? Outline of This Chapter Case Study: Cocaine Trafficking Case Study: The Trafficking in Stolen Motor Vehicles Conceptualizations of Organized Criminal Activities The Main Types of Organized Criminal Activities Illegal Markets The Conceptualization of Particular Organized Criminal Activities Organized Criminal Activities: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 5: Criminal Structures – An Overview Introduction Case Study: Pedophile Networks Existing Classifications of Criminal Organizations The Three Basic Types of Criminal Structures The Basic Forms of Criminal Structures: Markets, Networks, and Hierarchies The Conceptualization of Criminal Networks The Emergence and Persistence of Criminal Network Ties Criminal Structures: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 6: Illegal Entrepreneurial Structures Introduction Case Study: The Lavin Enterprise The Illegal Firm Conceptualizing Illegal Entrepreneurial Structures Explaining the Structure of Illegal Firms Illegal Entrepreneurial Structures: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 7: Associational Structures Introduction Case Studies of Associations of Criminals Variations Across Illegal Associational Structures The Core Functions of Associational Structures Delineating Associational Structures from Entrepreneurial Structures and from Quasi-Governmental Structures Associational Structures: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 8: Illegal-Market Monopolies and Quasi-Governmental Structures Introduction Case Study: The American Cosa Nostra Illegal-Market Monopolies and Quasi-Governmental Structures Monopolies in Illegal Markets Quasi-Governmental Structures Delineating Illegal-Market Monopolies and Quasi-Governmental Structures Illegal-Market Monopolies and Monopolies of Violence: Summary and Conclusion Part III: Organized Crime and Society Chapter 9: The Social Embeddedness of Organized Crime Introduction The Social Embeddedness of Organized Crime: Illegal Goods and Services The Social Embeddedness of Organized Criminals The Social Embeddedness of Organized Crime: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 10: Organized Crime and Legitimate Business Introduction Conceptualizations of Organized Crime and Legitimate Business Along the Dimensions of Activities, Structures, and Governance Organized Criminals and Legitimate Business Racketeering: Criminal Control Over Business Sectors Business Sectors Vulnerable to Criminal Influence Organized Crime and Legitimate Business: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 11: Organized Crime and Government Introduction Conceptualizations of Organized Crime and Government: Activities, Structures, and Governance The Relationship Between Organized Crime and Government as Two Separate Entities Organized Crime within Government The Relationship Between Organized Crime and Government: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 12: Transnational Organized Crime Introduction Transnational Criminal Activities Cross-Border Mobility and Cross-Border Networking of Criminals Transnational Criminal Structures The Cyberization of Organized Crime and the Organization of Cybercrime Transnational Organized Crime and Organized Cybercrime: Summary and Conclusion Note PART IV: The Big Picture and the Arsenal of Countermeasures Introduction to Part IV Chapter 13: The Big Picture of Organized Crime Introduction The Range of Phenomena That Fall Under the Umbrella Concept of Organized Crime Modelling Organized Crime Typologies of Organized Crime Trajectories in the Development of Organized Crime The Big Picture of Organized Crime: Summary and Conclusion Chapter 14: Countermeasures Against Organized Crime Introduction Substantive Criminal Law as an Instrument Against Organized Crime Investigative Tools and Institutional Innovations as Instruments Against Organized Crime Non-Criminal Justice Approaches to Combating ‘Organized Crime’ Combating Organized Crime: Summary and Conclusion Bibliography Index

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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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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 SynopsisLive on the wrong side of the law with Britain’s gangsters, Peaky Blinders, godfathers, robbers, informers, kingpins, vice lords and career criminals***The Sunday Times Bestseller ***With stories of murder, theft, fraud and treachery, The Underworld is a deep-dive into the history of professional and organised crime in Britain. From the racetrack gangs and the smash-and-grab merchants, through the Soho vice bosses and the Kray twins, to the Great Train Robbers, the Hatton Garden burglars and the new wave of international hit-men and drug and sex traffickers, Duncan Campbell exposes the dark underbelly of Britain.A unique perspective – told by the criminals themselves and the detective who pursued them – this is a definitive history from the very beginning to the present day.Trade ReviewWhen it comes to stellar crime reporting, Duncan Campbell is the absolute maestro * Baroness Helena Kennedy QC *Duncan Campbell remains one of the very few journalists who has retained the criminal fraternity’s trust and respect * Howard Marks, author of Mr Nice *

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Book SynopsisDavid Teale: groomed by the twins, controlled by threats, raped by Ronnie, falsely imprisoned by the State for his 'own protection' as younger brother of Kray-informer Bobby. Turns out that's only half the story. David first met the Krays when he was seventeen years old. He was drawn into London's underworld, and became Ronnie's reluctant foot soldier, driver, errand boy. He was close to murder, and witnessed menaces and the increasingly psychotic behaviours of the most feared men in gangster land. Unbeknown to David, his brother Bobby had bravely turned informer at great risk to his own safety and that of his brothers. That had its own consequences. But why, when the police were being furnished with eye-witness statements, from an impeccable source, were they seemingly incapable of bringing the twins to justice? The Krays were untouchable. After tireless research through newly released documents in the National Archives, and piecing together previously classified information together with his own, first-hand knowledge of the time, David Teale uncovers the shocking new truth, revealed in this book for the first time. David's story rewrites True Crime history.

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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 SynopsisThe ‘ndrangheta – the Calabrian region of Italy’s mafia – is one of wealthiest and most powerful criminal organizations today. It is considered Italy’s most powerful mafia; it’s not only the main object of concern for anti-mafia units in Italy, but also for joint investigative teams in Europe and beyond. Combining autobiography, travel ethnography, memoir, academic rigour and investigative journalism, this book provides a global outlook on the ‘ndrangheta, taking the reader to small villages and locations in Italy and abroad to Australia, Canada, United States and Argentina.Table of ContentsPrologue 1. Mafia, Memories and Journeys 2. Wine, Cannabis and Ancestors: Rural Australia 3. Aspromonte, the Roots 4. From St Kilda to Kings Cross 5. Bombs, Bridges and Gold 6. North American Hybrids 7. The Port, the Sea and the Wrong Sun 8. ’Ndrangheta City and Spiderwebs Epilogue

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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 SynopsisForget what you think you know about the Mafia. After reading this book, even life-long mob aficionados will have a new perspective on organized crime. Informative, authoritative, and eye-opening, this is the first full-length book devoted exclusively to uncovering the hidden history of how the Mafia came to dominate organized crime in New York City during the 1930s through 1950s. Based on exhaustive research of archives and secret files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, author and attorney C. Alexander Hortis draws on the deepest collection of primary sources, many newly discovered, of any history of the modern mob. Shattering myths, Hortis reveals how Cosa Nostra actually obtained power at the inception. The author goes beyond conventional who-shot-who mob stories, providing answers to fresh questions such as: * Why did the Sicilian gangs come out on top of the criminal underworld? * Can economics explain how the Mafia families operated? * What was the Mafia's real role in the drug trade? * Why was Cosa Nostra involved in gay bars in New York since the 1930s? Drawing on an unprecedented array of primary sources, The Mob and the City is the most thorough and authentic history of the Mafia's rise to power in the early-to-mid twentieth century.

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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 SynopsisFor fans of Christopher Berry-Dee's Talking with Serial Killers series, this chilling new book explores the dark heart of Russia. For decades, it has been assumed that the United States of America was the serial killer capital of the world.Now, criminologists believe that Russia (and previously the Soviet Union) has been, secretly, the biggest home of serial killers for almost a century.In Serial Killers of Russia, bestselling true crime author Wensley Clarkson reveals the inside stories and gruesome details behind the country's most notorious and previously unknown murderers. Using information from a vast range of new and archive sources, Clarkson tells stories of the dangerous, the devious and the truly shocking, and tackles why the nation has become a breeding ground for humanity's most evil.These are the most horrifying cases from the darkest corners of Russia.

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Book Synopsis'Simply the best British novel I've read this century' David Peace'Will stay in my head forever...a fantastic book' The Tablet'A maverick project that defies comparison' MetroAt a bus stop in south London, black teenager Eldine Matthews is murdered by a racist gang. Twenty years later, L Troop's top boys - models of vice, deviance and violence - are far beyond justice. There are some people the law will not touch.But Eldine's murder is not forgotten. His story is once again on everyone's lips and the streets of south London; a story of police corruption and the elimination of witnesses. A solicitor, a rent boy, a one-eyed comedian and his minder are raising ghosts; and Carl Hyatt, disgraced reporter, thinks he knows why.There's one man linking this crew of rambunctious dandies and enchanting thugs, and it's the man Carl promised never to challenge again: Mulhall, kingpin of London's rotten heart and defender of L Troop's racist killers. Carl must face up to the morality of retribution and the reality of violence knowing that he is the weak link in the chain; and that he has placed everyone he loves within Mulhall's reach.The Treatment is steeped in London's criminal past, its shadows of corruption and institutional racism. Like a seventeenth-century revenge tragedy, its characters reel from the streets, bars and brothels, hyperarticulate and propelled by wild justice. Trade ReviewNath has a confidence and attitude that rocks you on every page - Daisy Goodwin on La RochelleOriginal, funny and absolutely spot-on - Nicholas Royle in The Independent on La RochelleThe most marvelous crime novel, based around real events in London. It's very much a literary work, with really wonderful writing. A very strong book -- Paul FrenchThis is the beauty of Nath's writing. He has brought to life a range of Brits who all bark and bite with equal ferocity, but love and dream as well. British Story is a novel for our time. Michael Nath knows how to write real literature, stuff with heart and character. He isn't afraid to look life in the eye, despite all of its jagged edges and contradictions, and he knows how to take this and turn it into a story. A British story at that. -- Joe Darlington, on British Story * Manchester Review of Books *THE TREATMENT is simply the best British novel I've read since I don't know when - this decade? This century? And why? Because it engages with and confronts the central, crucial subjects of our time: race and racism, individual and institutional, of the corruption and failure of the police, the media and the law itself, asking where that then leaves us as citizens of such society, where revenge is the only justice left to us. But its brilliance is also in the telling of this tale, urgent and moral, in the sheer exuberance of the language and its narrative, filled with both humour and tragedy, and which really does reaffirm the potential and power of the novel, and the British Novel, no less. -- David PeaceWith its unique and ambitious form - there are over 108 characters - this is a fresh addition to the literary landscape * Cosmopolitan *Michael Nath sends a timeless, unforgettable firm of avengers to confront racist thugs and corrupt cops. A performance of rare linguistic dexterity and lacerating wit, The Treatment sees the emergence of a unique British imagination -- Kester Aspden (CWA Crime Non-fiction Winner), author of * The Hounding of David Oluwale *This ribald "secret history" draws on the murder of Stephen Lawrence before spinning off down its own dark alleyways. Both brilliant and highly imaginative; I loved it * Independent *A trenchant state of the nation novel based loosely on real life events about the murder of a black teenager by a racist gang. This timely novel takes a lacerating look at Britain's relationship with systemic racism, police violence and terrorism. * Book Riot *Imaginative, confident, erudite and original storytelling . . . It's scope is extraordinary as it draws on the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence that rocked the British establishment to its core. . . Nath's use of language is sublime, in a narrative that more often than not feels like a stream of consciousness, and his priceless depiction of London is vibrant, ribald, and colourful, peopled by a huge cast of terrific characters . . . Michael Nath deserves to win awards for this and I cannot recommend this highly enough! * Goodreads *With a cast list of lairy, scary characters populating the swirling narrative, interspersed with real-life news seen from a new angle, it's a full-on literary assault course, sprawling and immersive. * Sunday Times Crime Club *A London novel to join the greats (...) What really impresses is the way Nath navigates the twists and turns. It's told with (...) bookish savviness. You want to know more. To read more. To hear more * The Arts Desk *Allusive, powerful, eccentric, multi-layered with moving levels of narrative, historical vignettes and stream of consciousness ... With a gallery of Londoners from all walks of life and both sides of the law, THE TREATMENT soon transforms in a hypnotic, repetitive manner into a widescreen, black and white panorama of London's contemporary multiracial and divided society. Impressive and thought-provoking * Crime Time *A maverick project that defies comparison * Metro *An ambitious, darkly comic investigation into corruption and revenge... In his skilful and entertaining explorations of plurality and complexity, Nath wildly eschews the straight story, and celebrates the mixed * Guardian *His writing is addictive, sometimes strange, often beautiful and, as The Treatment makes clear, deserves to be better known * iPaper *Michael Nath is brilliant . . . The Treatment remains, for all its unflinching insight into the reality and psychology of the worst hate-crimes imaginable, potently uplifting * The Storgy *Vivid and raw in characterisation and narrative ... The Treatment is an uncorrupted account of our society and beautifully vulgar one at that * Morning Star *Will stay in my head forever...a fantastic book. * The Tablet *

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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 SynopsisOn a Sunday night in 1998, Bishop Juan Gerardi, Guatemala's leading human rights activist, was bludgeoned to death. Two days earlier, a Church-sponsored report had implicated Guatemala's government in the disappearances of 200,000 civilians. The Church, feeling that it could not rely on the legal system, took the controversial decision to assemble a team of men, Los Intocables (The Untouchables), to take down Gerardi's killers.In a gripping reconstruction, worthy of Graham Greene, Francisco Goldman traces Los Intocables struggle with the Guatemalan authorities to reveal the true story, uncovering the involvement of youth gangs, political corruption and organised crime. Most of all, he tells the story of an extraordinary group of courageous people and their fight for justice.Trade Review"'A multi-layered real-life whodunnit... Forensic and chilling.' Rory Carroll, Guardian 'A truly extraordinary book' George Rosie, Sunday Herald 'It simply seethes with violent action and counter-action, conspiracy and intrigue.' Ciaran Cosgrove, Irish Times 'As gripping as a thriller' Duncan Campbell, The Week 'A hugely impressive account: passionate, involving and profoundly moving.' Peter Standford, Independent on Sunday 'Passionate and stunningly researched... Goldman's book portrays the hysterical confusion, the dark fog that power - corrupt, ruthless and enduring - can impose on a society.' Richard Eder, New York Times"

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Book SynopsisSOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING BENICIO DEL TORO, PRODUCED BY LEONARDO DICAPRIOCuba, 1961.A failed invasion at The Bay of Pigs results in Fidel Castro tightening his hold over Cuba. José Miguel Battle Sr., a former cop and member of the counter-revolutionary group intent on overthrowing him, is captured.Miami, 1962.José Miguel Battle Sr. travels to the USA, chased from the island by revolution, and is renamed The Godfather. A 2,500 strong Cuban-American criminal alliance is established.Known on both sides of the law as 'The Corporation', its powerful members were fellow outcasts and enemies of Castro. A hero to many Cuban-Americans, The Godfather created a unit of trusted men who fought alongside him to reclaim their nation from the Marxist dictator.Gaining money, power and inluence by running gambling rackets, money- laundering, drug trafficking and murder, The Corporation never gave up the dream of killing Castro and reclaiming their homeland. This explosive biography reveals how an entire generation of political exiles, refugees, racketeers, corrupt cops, hitmen (and their wives and girlfriends) became caught up in this violent desire, and built a criminal empire surviving over 40 years.An epic tale of gangsters, drugs and violence, learn how The Corporation grew into one of the USA's most sordid and deadly organisations.

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