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Jimmy Two Guns: The Life and Crimes of a Gangland Lawyer
The astonishing true story of Glasgow gangland confidant James McIntyre, aka Jimmy Two Guns
James 'Jimmy Two Guns' McIntyre was Glasgow's go-to gangland lawyer and consigliere to one of Scotland's foremost crime families. His maverick approach to the law and a client list that included some of the most feared gangland figures of the time - including the McGoverns and Paul Ferris - ensured that he was always in demand but under the constant scrutiny of the authorities.
Now Jimmy Two Guns recounts the cases he handled, the strokes he pulled, plus his arrests, a high-speed car chase with the drug squad, his time in 'the cooler' for allegedly attempting to murder a cop and much more. He tells how he bounced back after being the target of a near-fatal underworld hit, before being arrested by an armed response unit for possession of two pistols, and reveals with wit and a sharp pen what it's really like being a lawyer for the underdog.
Whatever you thought you knew about crime and justice, think again - because for Jimmy Two Guns, the truth has always been stranger than fiction.
'Crooked judges, bent cops and hypocrites in high places - the most truthful legal memoir you'll ever read. Superb.'
Matthew Hall, bestselling novelist and BAFTA-winning screenwriter of Keeping Faith
'James McIntyre was a legal barracuda swimming both sides of the line; this memoir is his modus operandi.'
G.F. Newman, creator of Law & Order and Judge John Deed
James 'Jimmy Two Guns' McIntyre was Glasgow's go-to gangland lawyer and consigliere to one of Scotland's foremost crime families. His maverick approach to the law and a client list that included some of the most feared gangland figures of the time - including the McGoverns and Paul Ferris - ensured that he was always in demand but under the constant scrutiny of the authorities.
Now Jimmy Two Guns recounts the cases he handled, the strokes he pulled, plus his arrests, a high-speed car chase with the drug squad, his time in 'the cooler' for allegedly attempting to murder a cop and much more. He tells how he bounced back after being the target of a near-fatal underworld hit, before being arrested by an armed response unit for possession of two pistols, and reveals with wit and a sharp pen what it's really like being a lawyer for the underdog.
Whatever you thought you knew about crime and justice, think again - because for Jimmy Two Guns, the truth has always been stranger than fiction.
'Crooked judges, bent cops and hypocrites in high places - the most truthful legal memoir you'll ever read. Superb.'
Matthew Hall, bestselling novelist and BAFTA-winning screenwriter of Keeping Faith
'James McIntyre was a legal barracuda swimming both sides of the line; this memoir is his modus operandi.'
G.F. Newman, creator of Law & Order and Judge John Deed
- GenresNonfictionCrime
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 12, 2023
I received this book from @bwpublishing in exchange for an honest review. I love reading all things scottish, and being a bit of a true crime/crime in general addict, I was curious to see how the scottish court system would come across. Safe to say it was as expected. I really enjoyed the variety of different stories about the court cases and also about James’ life and the odd cameo appearance by well known names such as Paul Ferris. The main thing I loved about this book was the humour, I genuinely found myself laughing out loud at the little quips of dry scottish humour. This is definitely a book you want to read if you have any interest in scottish crime. I can’t wait to make everyone I know read it
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July 2, 2023
Jimmy McIntyre was a criminal lawyer in Scotland sentenced to three years in prison in 1997. ‘Jimmy Two Guns: The Life and Crimes of a Gangland Lawyer’ (2023) is his personal account of his life, from early student antics through becoming a defense lawyer and consigliere to Glasgow’s crime bosses until his arrest in 1996 for possession of two guns, hence the nickname. Holding no firearms license and claiming a client asked him to hand them in as part of an amnesty, what we have is an attempt to put on record his own account outside the material facts of the case.
Billed as his ‘astonishing true story’, it leads us to wonder what truth is in a post-truth world for this is just one man’s version of the truth. McIntyre sees his career’s ignominious end as nothing more than a stitch-up by the police, a Crown conspiracy that sought to bring him down for his success at getting criminals off the hook. There’s many a chapter where verbal dexterity or gaming the system can - and does - lead to a case’s collapse, all told with an obvious relish. It’s clear to see why a system that seeks successful prosecutions would want someone like McIntyre out of the way. Maybe it was true, but there’s a whiff of paranoia without evidence.
It’s a book that seems to want to convince the reader, not of McIntyre’s innocence, but of the severity of his treatment. It’s not Humbert Humbert levels of persuasion, but McIntyre clearly considers hypocrisy to be a running theme. Why did they come for me? Look at what other solicitors were doing. It’s one rule for me and another for them. Surely that crime deserves more than what I got? It’s a fair accusation as we know all too well that institutions are inclined to protect their own - people and reputation - and in the stories related there are heinous crimes that seem to go punished only with, er, career advancement.
The book has an almost conversational tone, as if McIntyre was telling it to you direct, and his language is sprinkled with Scottish patter and occasionally a humorously hard-boiled turn of phrase. But there’s also a sense of uncertainty in who the audience is (“dear reader”; “the reader”; “should this book have attracted any reader from south of the border”). Some obvious things get explained while more esoteric mentions pass with little comment. Although McIntyre could just as well be called Jimmy Two Times as there’s many a frustrating repetition, such as explanations of the HORT1 traffic form or his referencing Billy Connolly on the Territorial Army.
Where the book is most interesting is in its relaying of activities within the Scottish legal and penal systems, showing how courts work, from the defence perspective, and a brief glimpse into prison life. What we don’t see so much of is the gangland stuff. Sure, there are cases here and there, and an attempted hit for good measure, but no doubt a certain omerta keeps the juicier stories from reaching the page and one thing McIntyre is at pains to make clear is that he’s not a snitch. Another Glasgow gangster, turned writer, refers in his foreward to McIntyre’s office being known as ‘the Confessional’ and that McIntyre wouldn’t loose his lips to flip a friend.
After detailing McIntyre’s career in criminal defence - more so the successes than the failures - the question of his own conviction around the two guns comes back into question. He pushes their location (“in a locked drawer, in a locked garage”) over the fact of possession. As we hear so often in the book, the truth is irrelevant in a court of law and it’s ultimately down to the most convincing argument. In Scots Law, the establishment of facts requires corroboration and, this book being one man’s experience, McIntyre has little choice but to leave it “to the reader to decide if my sentence was fair”. No doubt each reader will draw their own conclusions, such is the truth.
Billed as his ‘astonishing true story’, it leads us to wonder what truth is in a post-truth world for this is just one man’s version of the truth. McIntyre sees his career’s ignominious end as nothing more than a stitch-up by the police, a Crown conspiracy that sought to bring him down for his success at getting criminals off the hook. There’s many a chapter where verbal dexterity or gaming the system can - and does - lead to a case’s collapse, all told with an obvious relish. It’s clear to see why a system that seeks successful prosecutions would want someone like McIntyre out of the way. Maybe it was true, but there’s a whiff of paranoia without evidence.
It’s a book that seems to want to convince the reader, not of McIntyre’s innocence, but of the severity of his treatment. It’s not Humbert Humbert levels of persuasion, but McIntyre clearly considers hypocrisy to be a running theme. Why did they come for me? Look at what other solicitors were doing. It’s one rule for me and another for them. Surely that crime deserves more than what I got? It’s a fair accusation as we know all too well that institutions are inclined to protect their own - people and reputation - and in the stories related there are heinous crimes that seem to go punished only with, er, career advancement.
The book has an almost conversational tone, as if McIntyre was telling it to you direct, and his language is sprinkled with Scottish patter and occasionally a humorously hard-boiled turn of phrase. But there’s also a sense of uncertainty in who the audience is (“dear reader”; “the reader”; “should this book have attracted any reader from south of the border”). Some obvious things get explained while more esoteric mentions pass with little comment. Although McIntyre could just as well be called Jimmy Two Times as there’s many a frustrating repetition, such as explanations of the HORT1 traffic form or his referencing Billy Connolly on the Territorial Army.
Where the book is most interesting is in its relaying of activities within the Scottish legal and penal systems, showing how courts work, from the defence perspective, and a brief glimpse into prison life. What we don’t see so much of is the gangland stuff. Sure, there are cases here and there, and an attempted hit for good measure, but no doubt a certain omerta keeps the juicier stories from reaching the page and one thing McIntyre is at pains to make clear is that he’s not a snitch. Another Glasgow gangster, turned writer, refers in his foreward to McIntyre’s office being known as ‘the Confessional’ and that McIntyre wouldn’t loose his lips to flip a friend.
After detailing McIntyre’s career in criminal defence - more so the successes than the failures - the question of his own conviction around the two guns comes back into question. He pushes their location (“in a locked drawer, in a locked garage”) over the fact of possession. As we hear so often in the book, the truth is irrelevant in a court of law and it’s ultimately down to the most convincing argument. In Scots Law, the establishment of facts requires corroboration and, this book being one man’s experience, McIntyre has little choice but to leave it “to the reader to decide if my sentence was fair”. No doubt each reader will draw their own conclusions, such is the truth.
June 15, 2023
I gratefully received a copy of Jimmy Two Guns from @bwpublishing in exchange for review. So here we go…
I want to read more non fiction this year, and this memoir jumped out at me because it sounds so interesting, offering the reader a peek behind the curtain to the underbelly I consider myself fortunate enough to know very little about.
Im pleased to say that I enjoyed reading this memoir, which surprised me as true crime is not my usual genre. As the quote above shows, the humour and ‘Glasgow patter’ are second to none, and I found myself laughing far more than I expected to from a book about true crime in Scotland. There are glimpses from the authors education and work around the country, so this book isn’t purely Glasgow based.
The chapters are short and sharp, and I enjoy the use of an epigraph at the beginning of each to set me up for the chapter ahead.
The chapters themselves are fascinating, and offer the reader the opportunity to know more about law in Scotland, a poignant topic with the recent motion to scrap the not proven verdict for the first time since it’s inception.
Overall, this is an interesting read, one you will learn from and (if you’re anything like me) will leave you thinking more about the law, verdicts, lawyers and the justice system that we all live by a little more deeply than I have before. Recommended!
I want to read more non fiction this year, and this memoir jumped out at me because it sounds so interesting, offering the reader a peek behind the curtain to the underbelly I consider myself fortunate enough to know very little about.
Im pleased to say that I enjoyed reading this memoir, which surprised me as true crime is not my usual genre. As the quote above shows, the humour and ‘Glasgow patter’ are second to none, and I found myself laughing far more than I expected to from a book about true crime in Scotland. There are glimpses from the authors education and work around the country, so this book isn’t purely Glasgow based.
The chapters are short and sharp, and I enjoy the use of an epigraph at the beginning of each to set me up for the chapter ahead.
The chapters themselves are fascinating, and offer the reader the opportunity to know more about law in Scotland, a poignant topic with the recent motion to scrap the not proven verdict for the first time since it’s inception.
Overall, this is an interesting read, one you will learn from and (if you’re anything like me) will leave you thinking more about the law, verdicts, lawyers and the justice system that we all live by a little more deeply than I have before. Recommended!
June 3, 2023
✒️ Thank you so much to @bwpublising for sending me a copy of this fab memior. I absolutely loved it! Out on the shelves to buy now!!
🏴Scottish true crime, Glasgow gangland families, an insight into Scottish law and true court cases. What else do you want from a memoir? I love a bit of true crime, especially Scottish.
✒️ I really enjoyed the different court case stories, there were a variety of interesting and itriguing cases. I feel this could easily be made into a great Scottish TV drama.
🏴This turned out to be quite an educational read! I learned alot about Scottish laws and how court proceedings work. It's gives the reader a background into Scottish law, criminal defense, prison sentences and corruption justice system.
✒️ This memior was packed with knowledge, humour and intruiging stories. I enjoyed how it was written, it was easy to read and quick short chapters. I loved recognising different Scottish locations being mentioned throughout.
🏴Safe to say James McIntyre has had a very fascinating life meeting some interesting people along the way. If I ever needed a defense lawyer, Jimmy Two Guns would be on my list !
🏴Scottish true crime, Glasgow gangland families, an insight into Scottish law and true court cases. What else do you want from a memoir? I love a bit of true crime, especially Scottish.
✒️ I really enjoyed the different court case stories, there were a variety of interesting and itriguing cases. I feel this could easily be made into a great Scottish TV drama.
🏴This turned out to be quite an educational read! I learned alot about Scottish laws and how court proceedings work. It's gives the reader a background into Scottish law, criminal defense, prison sentences and corruption justice system.
✒️ This memior was packed with knowledge, humour and intruiging stories. I enjoyed how it was written, it was easy to read and quick short chapters. I loved recognising different Scottish locations being mentioned throughout.
🏴Safe to say James McIntyre has had a very fascinating life meeting some interesting people along the way. If I ever needed a defense lawyer, Jimmy Two Guns would be on my list !
July 11, 2023
I’m not much of a nonfiction reader but this was an enjoyable, funny and at times fascinating read.
As the lawyer of choice for many of Glasgow's criminal underworld, James McIntyre has many an interesting story to tell. Told with typical Glasweigian swagger there are many humorous tales alongside the darker and more serious episodes recounted.
There might be a few things non Scots might not fully appreciate - some of the places name and colloquialisms for example - but as a Scot I really enjoyed some of these details and recognising the attitudes, personality types and places described.
Short, sharp chapters drive the narrative along nicely & I learned a lot about the Scottish legal system and had my eyes opened to some of the underhand practices that goes on from the supposed gatekeepers of the law.
Huge thanks to Black & White publishing for my copy in exchange for an honest review
As the lawyer of choice for many of Glasgow's criminal underworld, James McIntyre has many an interesting story to tell. Told with typical Glasweigian swagger there are many humorous tales alongside the darker and more serious episodes recounted.
There might be a few things non Scots might not fully appreciate - some of the places name and colloquialisms for example - but as a Scot I really enjoyed some of these details and recognising the attitudes, personality types and places described.
Short, sharp chapters drive the narrative along nicely & I learned a lot about the Scottish legal system and had my eyes opened to some of the underhand practices that goes on from the supposed gatekeepers of the law.
Huge thanks to Black & White publishing for my copy in exchange for an honest review
February 7, 2024
I decided to read this book as I knew about the solicitor James McIntyre and what had happened to him. It was an interesting read and I enjoyed the references and connections with Linlithgow where I go to Church. I have to say though that there were large areas of the book that I did not like. I found that James McIntyre was very arrogant in his references and tone towards the Police Service and other areas of the Criminal Justice system and for me that did not come across well. However I take him at face value and accept that is how he feels when he talks about his life as a Solicitor and the experience he had during that time.
June 15, 2023
I wasn't too sure what to expect with this book but was probably thinking more along the lines of a behind the scenes look at gangland crimes. However, I found this to be a very informative and humorous insight into the Scottish Criminal Justice system and James has some very funny stories to tell. Defending gangland figures made him a target for the police and judicial system and James ended up seeing himself behind bars.
January 2, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down. Wonderfully captivating collection of real life, true crime stories, written in a light-hearted style. There were several laugh out loud passages in the book! I hear the author may be writing another book - and I cannot wait to read it.
May 31, 2023
Funny, incisive and frequently shocking - a brilliant memoir by a superb storyteller.
November 21, 2023
James McIntyre was a defense lawyer in Scotland, defending gangland clients. He tells his experience with being a lawyer and then being on the wrong side of the law.
January 20, 2024
Enjoyable would read more of his stories that he hints towards in book liked the style
May 13, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! His writing style was extremely easy to read, and his witty remarks made me laugh on numerous occasions!
August 6, 2024
Great read.
April 21, 2025
Liked this book , comming from the north of Glasgow I could recognise some of the names mentioned ,. Totally agree with the writer as most of the true criminals wear the uniforms , diffent strokes for diffent folks as they say . Really glad u got a second shot Jimmy , book is also got good pater as they say in glesga.
September 26, 2023
A brilliant perspective of the corruption in the Scottish courts system. Jimmy McIntyres story tells the tangled weave of justice and corruption.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews