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The Painter
The Painter is the no holds barred, unflinching true story of a man from a London council estate who chose to become a hitman for a notorious and very well connected criminal underworld 'fixer'. His story is one of hardship, bad luck and tragedy, but is never sentimental, romantic or apologetic. In turns it is extremely violent, thrilling, funny, amoral, explosive and charming. It is also an authentic look at organized crime that avoids cliches and the glamorization of those who are in the business of killing to protect their interests.
From his upbringing to his first kill and his rise as a hitman to his ingenious plan to legitimize his earnings, we see our anti-hero become obsessed with being the very best he can be. We see his relationship with the mysterious, 'Uncle', blossom to the point where both men are bound to each other by their murderous collaborations. We are introduced to the character of 'H', who can only be described as a man who simply won't take 'no' for an answer and spends his life jumping from one piece of graft to another without ever pausing for breath.
Written verbatim using the words of the hitman himself, The Painter is a colourful portrait of very well organized crime and the tactics used when vast amounts of money are at stake.
The Painter is a politically incorrect riot of unapologetic violence that will have you looking at historical criminal underworld executions in a new light.
As our Anti Hero says, "I will never be a victim ... I create victims."
“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue."
Washington Irving
From his upbringing to his first kill and his rise as a hitman to his ingenious plan to legitimize his earnings, we see our anti-hero become obsessed with being the very best he can be. We see his relationship with the mysterious, 'Uncle', blossom to the point where both men are bound to each other by their murderous collaborations. We are introduced to the character of 'H', who can only be described as a man who simply won't take 'no' for an answer and spends his life jumping from one piece of graft to another without ever pausing for breath.
Written verbatim using the words of the hitman himself, The Painter is a colourful portrait of very well organized crime and the tactics used when vast amounts of money are at stake.
The Painter is a politically incorrect riot of unapologetic violence that will have you looking at historical criminal underworld executions in a new light.
As our Anti Hero says, "I will never be a victim ... I create victims."
“Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue."
Washington Irving
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2023
52 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 12, 2024
Loved it! Great Read!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! If you like Scorsese, Pileggi, Tarantino, The Long Good Friday, Irvine Welsh, Ted Lewis, Lock Stock (and all those movies and that whole vibe), British Crime, grew up working class in England (or anywhere really), you'll probably enjoy it too! Can't wait to see what the author, Dean Cavanagh, comes up with next. I highly recommend!!! Top Notch!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! If you like Scorsese, Pileggi, Tarantino, The Long Good Friday, Irvine Welsh, Ted Lewis, Lock Stock (and all those movies and that whole vibe), British Crime, grew up working class in England (or anywhere really), you'll probably enjoy it too! Can't wait to see what the author, Dean Cavanagh, comes up with next. I highly recommend!!! Top Notch!
June 5, 2023
Read this in one sitting. I stumbled across it by accident and decided to have a look and I was pleasantly surprised with how hooked I was from the get go.
March 17, 2024
What a unique and raw read. Although the identity of the Painter remains a mystery, you can really hear his voice. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews