East End Gangland

by James Morton

The East End has always held a malign fascination for the general public. In this book James Morton looks at this phenomenon from the days of the unsolved murders committed by Jack the Ripper to the 1960s when the Kray Twins held the reins of the Underworld, to the present and how the structure of crimes and criminal gangs has changed.

EAST END GANGLAND looks not only at the Twins but also at the influx of immigrant gangs of the 1900s, the powerful Chinese drug dealers of the 1920s, the racecourse gangs, the men who ran crime on the docks, and organised prostitution throughout the century to the major drug dealers of today.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Matthew Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the East End from mediaeval times to the Essex Boys of the mid 90s. Those diamond geezers The Krays are put in perspective, one of many villainous partnerships that this poor area of the capital specialises in. The smoke in big cities blows east, apparently, hence the poorest inhabitants have to breathe in the smoke of their more affluent west siders. One thing remains consistent through every such book I've ever read: none of them ever did it. It was always a "fit up". Hmmm....

[Ross Sutherland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's be clear, Morton knows a lot about this subject. And he intends to tell you! This book just feels like there is too much squeezed in at the expense of readability. At times it is just one dry fact after another.

[Nora Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good stories and well researched at times a challenge to read towards the latter chapters.

[Jo Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

very good alot of detail

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look back at some of goings on in the East End back in the day.

From Jack the Ripper through to the Krays & Richardsons up to modern day "gangsters" this is quite an interesting book although there are a few mistakes in there such as labeling the ICF "Inner City Firm" when it is actually "Inter City Firm" (like the trains, Inter City....)

Overall it's a decent read if you're into true crime!

[Gary K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and researched .