Scorpian Rising

by Anthony Frewin

Sidney Blattner is the most successful — and the most brutal — organized crime figure in London, and now someone has dared to execute his innocent brother in the seaside resort of Margate. When Sidney attends the funeral, his chauffeur disappears and two aides turn up dead. Will Vince, the sharpest member of Sid’s firm, have better luck when he arrives in the seaside town?

Genres: Crime

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[Nigeyb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scorpian Rising (2001) is a classic pared down gangster noir novel. If you enjoy Ted Lewis and Derek Raymond then you should like this too. I certainly did.

I’m a big fan of books set in either London or seaside towns. Double bubble here given all the action takes place in London and on the Isle of Thanet (Margate and Ramsgate).

When London crime boss Sidney Blattner learns his innocent brother has been executed in Margate, he sets out to find out why he was killed. Is someone sending him a message? Various emissaries get killed so he sends down his main man Vince, and most of the novel is narrated from Vince’s point of view. When this move doesn’t go to plan Sid becomes ever more anxious and disconcerted.

So far so familiar, right? There are echoes of Get Carter and other novels, but what elevates this one is the storytelling, and the depiction of the crime milieu. Best of all, the Isle of Thanet is powerfully portrayed. The bleak and down at heel Kent coast making a wonderfully disconcerting backdrop for the unsettling storyline.

It may all be fairly predictable but, when it’s done this well, I’m all in. An intriguing slice of British seaside noir that is well worth a read.

Anthony Frewin, in addition to having written three novels, was assistant film director to Stanley Kubrick for over 20 years. I will be reading his other two novels ASAP.

4/5



Sidney Blattner is the most successful — and the most brutal — organised crime figure in London, and now someone has dared to execute his innocent brother in the seaside resort of Margate. When Sidney attends the funeral, his chauffeur disappears and two aides turn up dead. Will Vince, the sharpest member of Sid's firm, have better luck when he arrives in the seaside town?

[Sam Reaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gangsters are gangsters everywhere; this tale of crime bosses fighting over rackets could take place in Chicago or Hong Kong. In the event it's British, with all the catchy slang and seedy Andy Capp atmosphere we Yanks love. It takes place largely in Margate, a seaside town near London which I gather from the book, never having visited it, is not exactly a jet-set rendezvous. Vince is the main fixer for Sid, a complacent rackets boss whose empire is threatened by a mysterious and quite ruthless challenger who is picking off his best men one by one. Vince would like to get out of the game but he has to deal with this menace first. Good stuff, but at the end it seemed to me we were being set up for a sequel instead of being rewarded with the big payoff. Still, worth a few hours of your time.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. A solid British gangland crime thriller, centred around Margate. It would make a fantastic film too, someone should do that. But don't cast Danny Dyer in it. Or in anything.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fairly decent old-school gangster story
it kept me reading but didnt lite an fires

[David Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
Gritty Brit Noir - very much reminded me of Ted Lewis and particularly Vince has a bit of Jack Carter about him.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because the blurb on the cover compared it to Derek Raymond and I have a soft spot for British gangster movies (Get Carter, The Long Good Friday, The Krays, etc.). While the characters and dialogue are solid, the story is thin and the conclusion is unsatisfying. Still looking for the definitive British gangster novel.