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Crime and Punishment
In 1951 the Festival of Britain marks a new golden age of hope and prosperity for the country. Things are certainly looking up for the criminal elite who run the East End.
For Jack, a draft-dodger with aspirations to be a champion boxer, there's easy money to be made for providing a bit of muscle. Meanwhile his sister Kath must keep secret the fact that she killed their father to protect her son, Brian, from the abuse she experienced as a child. Brian is so traumatised by witnessing this event that the complex union of violence and sexuality will shape his character for life.
As the years go by and disillusion sets in, successive Labour and Tory governments aren't able to stop the rot. Younger, nastier criminals like the Kray twins and the Richardson brothers begin to carve out their own criminal empires and crush all resistance. Brutalised and embittered by years of failure and imprisonment, Jack decides to make a stand. The stage is set for one big war.
Crime and Punishment is the first volume in a two-part epic, and follows the characters' lives up until the accession of Thatcher. The second volume will trace the dramatic changes in criminal society that reflected the wider social upheaval of the times, right up until the present day.
For Jack, a draft-dodger with aspirations to be a champion boxer, there's easy money to be made for providing a bit of muscle. Meanwhile his sister Kath must keep secret the fact that she killed their father to protect her son, Brian, from the abuse she experienced as a child. Brian is so traumatised by witnessing this event that the complex union of violence and sexuality will shape his character for life.
As the years go by and disillusion sets in, successive Labour and Tory governments aren't able to stop the rot. Younger, nastier criminals like the Kray twins and the Richardson brothers begin to carve out their own criminal empires and crush all resistance. Brutalised and embittered by years of failure and imprisonment, Jack decides to make a stand. The stage is set for one big war.
Crime and Punishment is the first volume in a two-part epic, and follows the characters' lives up until the accession of Thatcher. The second volume will trace the dramatic changes in criminal society that reflected the wider social upheaval of the times, right up until the present day.
- GenresFiction
705 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2009
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93 people want to read
About the author
G.F. Newman
35 books13 followersGordon Frank Newman is an English television producer and writer. He is known for his two series Law and Order and The Nation's Health, each based on his books.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 18, 2014
Crime and Punishment is an epic crime story spread over more than thirty years from the end of the Second World War to Margaret Thatcher's election victory in 1979. It's totally credible, gripping and often unpleasant reading.
GF Newman has woven his tale of the rise and fall of two London underworld characters around true life characters like the Krays, the Richardsons, John Bindon (the actor with dodgy friends) John Bloom (the washing machine man) Wilfred Bramble (Steptoe - a real life dirty old man according to Newman) and notorious homosexual Tom Driberg. Throw in a couple of bent policemen as well as the straight Commissioner Sir Robert Mark and you have a thrilling mix of the real and the imagined.
Crime and Punishment is not just an exploitation novel. Newman's characterisation is skilful and he gets the reader to empathise with the villains as he details the tragic circumstances which drove the central characters into a downward spiral of crime.
Having been brought up in the 40s, 50s and 60s, though not in London, I recognise the feel of the era with rationing, the end of rationing and Harold MacMillan's 'You've never had it so good' times.
This is an outstanding novel and highly recommended.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil (thebluepencil.co.uk)
GF Newman has woven his tale of the rise and fall of two London underworld characters around true life characters like the Krays, the Richardsons, John Bindon (the actor with dodgy friends) John Bloom (the washing machine man) Wilfred Bramble (Steptoe - a real life dirty old man according to Newman) and notorious homosexual Tom Driberg. Throw in a couple of bent policemen as well as the straight Commissioner Sir Robert Mark and you have a thrilling mix of the real and the imagined.
Crime and Punishment is not just an exploitation novel. Newman's characterisation is skilful and he gets the reader to empathise with the villains as he details the tragic circumstances which drove the central characters into a downward spiral of crime.
Having been brought up in the 40s, 50s and 60s, though not in London, I recognise the feel of the era with rationing, the end of rationing and Harold MacMillan's 'You've never had it so good' times.
This is an outstanding novel and highly recommended.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil (thebluepencil.co.uk)
January 12, 2014
This book was serialized on BBC radio and I heard a couple of episodes that were rather good. Couple that with the unhealthy British fascination with the faux heroism of violent thieves (Kray, Richardson, ...) and you see why people buy these things.
Very disappointing. Poor characterization, implausible plot and above all far too long at 690pp. If he'd held it under 300 he could have binned the crap bits. The premise of the murder (not a spoiler as it's on p1) is actually scarcely revisited.
The very early stretches with the post-war backdrop are the best - the more he touches the news stories of the days, the worse it gets.
Don't waste your money.
Very disappointing. Poor characterization, implausible plot and above all far too long at 690pp. If he'd held it under 300 he could have binned the crap bits. The premise of the murder (not a spoiler as it's on p1) is actually scarcely revisited.
The very early stretches with the post-war backdrop are the best - the more he touches the news stories of the days, the worse it gets.
Don't waste your money.
December 28, 2018
I can see how this would make an excellent TV series but as a novel it’s awful. The writing is choppy and with the exception of Leah, there is not a single likeable character. Very long and drawn out, it could have done with being 200 pages less.
May 10, 2020
Listened to series on BBC Sounds 5 series of 10 episodes each. Unfortunately story didn’t end, can’t find 2nd book and frustrated
July 7, 2014
The BBC Radio 4 drama adaptation was excellent, this prompted me to buy the book. Sadly it didn't live up to expectations, way too long.
January 6, 2016
It started off well, the characters grabbed my attention and the story clicked along, but it soon got bogged down and repetitive. I gave up just over half way through.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews