The Ferris Conspiracy

by Paul Ferris, Reg McKay

On Glasgow's meanest streets life started well for the young Paul Ferris. How did he become Glasgow's most feared gangster, deemed a risk to national security?





Arthur Thompson, Godfather of the crime world and senior partner of the Krays, recruited young Ferris as a bagman, debt collector and equaliser. Feared for his capacity for extreme violence, respected for his intelligence, Ferris was the Godfather's heir apparent. But when gang warfare broke, underworld leaders traded in flesh, colluding with their partners - the police. Disgusted, Ferris left the Godfather and stood alone.





They gave him weeks to live.





While Ferris was caged in Barlinnie Prison's segregation unit accused of murdering Thompson's son, Fatboy, his two friends were shot dead the night before the funeral and grotesquely displayed in a car on the cort�ge's route. Acquitted against all the odds, Ferris moved on, determined to make an honest living.





They would not let him.





The National Crime Squad, MI5, the police and two of the country's most powerful gangsters saw to that. A maximum-security prisoner, Ferris is known as 'Lucky' because he is still alive.





This is one man's unique insight into Britain's crime world and the inextricable web of corruption - a revealing story of official corruption and unholy alliances.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mr Allan Goldie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about true crime especially about those characters I had heard of over many years. I knew of the background of Paul Ferris and associates and I learned more of all that was ongoing during his activities over many years. It is a good read and for me showed how such criminals come and go over time. No body is forever in that area of life and there’s always someone muscling in to take over the roles in that criminal come gangster lifestyle. There are of course winners and losers and some lost their lives in such criminal activities and even in the criminal justice process there were tainted characters who got drawn into such a lifestyle.

[David Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book from reading Russell Findlay's, Acid Attack, so was fairly sceptical of the author's account here. In terms of a window into the mind of a Scottish criminal, this book serves a good purpose but as historical fact it seems somewhere between bias and fabrication. No doubt the claims of violence perpetrated and underhanded police tactics are true; that's the world Mr Ferris lived in. But his pleas of conspiracy and fit ups seem to be weak cries of the guilty to make you think that they are otherwise. The language is ok, easy to read but does stray into self-important cliche at times. One thing that does really jump out the page is the treachery of thieves and how paranoid a life you'd have to live to survive. I believe the brutality of the book but the ethics, the code of honour, the romance, I don't believe for a second.

[Darren English]

Excellent read !

This isn't the story you'd expect if you are the sort of person to believe what the media says about people like Paul . Paul Ferris goes to good lengths to show what most people are affraid to admit. Justice systems and those who enforce the law can be as crooked as those they wish to lock up. Fantastic book, very insightful and I'll be back for more of Paul's books.

[Rick Tenderowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mind blowing storyline, leading me too purchase the further publications.
Extremely riveting with plenty of twists and turns.

[Morag Cooper]

Good book but very short

Very good boom quite short its follow up is a lot longer still a good book though very funny in parts

[mr sam Miller mr sam Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, gives a really good view on glasgow robbin hood.

[Marmalade · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good true crime book about the Wee Man Paul Ferris

[Jason]

Documents the author's life growing up in Glasgow. Goes in to graphic details about his life as a henchman for Arthur "The Godfather" Thomson, to his possible involvement in the latter's son.

Good book though does highlight the issues facing growing up in the poorer areas of Glasgow. Having grown up there also, it is easy to relate to a lot of what happens in young Paul's life.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight to Paul Ferris, Must read for all who are into their Glasgow gangs or gangster books.