Essex Boys: A Terrifying Expose of the British Drugs Scene

by Bernard O'Mahoney

A new edition of a book formerly known as So This is Ecstacy?, this is the true story of the rise of one of the most violent and successful criminal gangs of the 1990s. The author of the book was a key member of that gang, and this is his inside account of their violent ways. Their reign ended when the three leaders were murdered.

Genres: Crime, True Crime

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to remember all the names! Once I've kind of remembered another load of character names are thrown at you!! Woah slow down please Bernard! Its as if he's got so much to say all at once!!! ......otherwise I'm quite enjoying it☺☺

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent a good bit of a whole day reading "Essex Boys", which was easy to read and interesting in the same way that you slow down for a car accident. The author's casual attitude to ultra-violence was as fascinating as it was contemptible, as he meted out severe kicking's to anyone who spilled his pint while working as a doorman in Basildon. His world was one where any perceived challenge could not go unpunished, where almost literally one took an eye for an eye and, if some poor sod stopped breathing after a bit of an altercation, you drove him to hospital because 'phoning an ambulance would also bring the police. His knowledge of the drugs trade, despite his continual stressing that he never dealt in them, never went further than the observational level he was at. If he knew who the "Mr Bigs" were, he wasn't telling, and I thought for such a self-portrayed "honourable" thug and hard man, he had basically shat out of telling anything he might know. Not that I'd tell him that (or even write it in an Amazon review for fear of retribution!)
One thing I did learn though, and a point that the author continually drove home, was that meeting violence with violence breeds nothing but more violence. I'll remember the jobs he did where he and his Firm had been approached by some "middle class" dupe to sort out a heavy situation, which brought about nothing but violence and extortion from the supposed hired help. Never was there a bigger lesson that if you don't move in these circles, don't move in these circles. The police might be fairly ineffectual, but they're all we middle-classes have got between us and this bunch of psychos.

[Mammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

still the best book about the essex boys and there rise and fall in my opinion, its written in a very gritty, matter of fact way, and does a good job covering why exactly these three men were gunned down in there range rover, even if whoever actually done it is left up in the air. a must read

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good read although a bit repetitive with lots of names to remember and not helped as the characters were very similar and rather one dimensional. It was all ‘he hit me, so I hit him harder, I wasn’t wasn’t going to lose face etc’. None of them seemed the brightest bunnies in the wood even before the drugs addled some of their brains. Somewhere at the top of the tree are some people who are the brains of all of this, managing it strategically, getting all the profits and letting the ‘hard men’ sell the drugs, the weapons, maim and kill each other and continually hit each other over the heads like Punch and Judy.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blimey! Well it was interesting and I appreciate the frankness in which the book is written. However there were so many names and characters I got lost trying to keep up with them all! It felt like it was an overwhelming write, in that it felt as though O’Mahoney had all this crowding his brain he needed to just get out and fast. A frank account from an inside perspective and yet I found it sad that drugs and violence seemed to be all they had to live for I’m glad O’Mahoney tried to get out and do right by his family.

[Rob Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shouldn't be surprised this is a self-serving account of O'Mahoney's time in the Essex underworld, but he certainly puts some clear blue water between himself and high profile crimes. That said, this does capture the breathless, exhilarating, terrifying life of organised crime. Not up there with Wise Guys, the source book for Goodfellas, but a decent, engrossing read.

[Gary Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im a massive Fan of the Rise of the foot soldier films but this book was more about Bernard O'Mahoney life as a bouncer which was very interesting but i would of liked to know more about the three murder victims lifes.

[Sam McCartney-Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting! I’m a Masters Criminal Investigation student who has to do a presentation on “The Essex Boys”, although subjective, thumps was a very interesting read/insight into The Firm

[Danielle Spencer-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read and now excited to watch the film.

[Jackpotbaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite hard to get into as there are lots of names and events to imagine. The author doesnt set the scene as well as I would have hoped which is the the main reason for why it was so difficult to digest. I found it hard to conjure up images of the events etc. However. further into the book, when I had got used to the people mentioned, I found the book absolutely gripping! I found it difficult to put the book down and felt emotion towards the people involved.
I am so glad that I didnt give up and finished the book as it is one of the best things I have read so far.
Now I am desperate to watch the film.

[Lee Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good gritty book about one of the most notorious gangs of the 90's. Goes in to a lot of detail of jobs but there are plenty of bits missing in this, for obvious reasons. Love books like this, tell us what goes between the lines (to a certain degree).

[Dignan107 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical gangster-crime fare. Enjoyable if not slightly predictable, but met my expectations. Interesting that the author disagrees with the verdict on the triple murders. Read it in two days while on annual leave from work (kids half term)

[R B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy to read book, a bit dated now but still fairly enjoyable.

[Pipa Guest · Rating 1 out of 5]

Difficult to read as lots of people named in the book and the story went back and forth but OK.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is worth a read, its rather good

[Fiona Schofield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to read the ins and out of a news story we all remember.

[Brian Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proper Naughty ; )