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All Them Dogs
For fans of Lisa McInerney, Gabriel Krauze, and Graeme Armstrong, All Them Dogs is a fizzing debut from one of Ireland's most striking new voices
Things are different since Tony Ward landed back in town.
The West Dublin gangland has changed. His old mentor is dead, and his best pal Kenny Boyle is on the straight and narrow. After five years keeping quiet across the way, Tony is keen to reinstate himself, and when the opportunity to work side by side with Darren 'Flute' Walsh, a top enforcer of notorious crime boss Angus Lavelle, it feels like a no brainer.
Biting off more than he can chew has never bothered Tony Ward, but Flute Walsh is not the meek, quiet boy Tony remembers from school. Brooding, stoic, and unpredictably dangerous, Tony finds himself drawn to his new associate in more ways than one. With retribution from his past actions always close in the rear view, the protection offered by Flute's standing in the gang is crucial. But how safe is Tony really, when a mutual attraction starts to complicate matters?
Things are different since Tony Ward landed back in town.
The West Dublin gangland has changed. His old mentor is dead, and his best pal Kenny Boyle is on the straight and narrow. After five years keeping quiet across the way, Tony is keen to reinstate himself, and when the opportunity to work side by side with Darren 'Flute' Walsh, a top enforcer of notorious crime boss Angus Lavelle, it feels like a no brainer.
Biting off more than he can chew has never bothered Tony Ward, but Flute Walsh is not the meek, quiet boy Tony remembers from school. Brooding, stoic, and unpredictably dangerous, Tony finds himself drawn to his new associate in more ways than one. With retribution from his past actions always close in the rear view, the protection offered by Flute's standing in the gang is crucial. But how safe is Tony really, when a mutual attraction starts to complicate matters?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 30, 2025
Think of the grittiness from Young Mungo and the self-destructiveness from Anyone’s Ghost. This debut about a queer gang member in Dublin really struck a chord with me.
While reading, I wanted to shout at Tony so many times. After laying low for five years, he just slips back into his old life like it’s nothing. I felt the tension simmering when he chased people for money, the way he brushed off his own feelings whenever kids were involved. He was selfish, let his anger and fear take over, and somehow truly believed there was no other way but to mess everything up and get dragged back into gang life. Even Fanny, with her world at college, and Prendergast, who told him he might still become a fashion designer, couldn’t pull him out.
The story starts like the calm after a storm, until that same storm circles back and wrecks everything in its path. It kept me on edge, and I couldn’t stop reading. The knot in my stomach that formed in the first few pages only got tighter, and I clenched my fists more times than I can count. That ending left me staring into the distance, wishing for a sliver of hope.
Be aware that All Them Dogs is pretty disturbing and triggering in many ways.
Thank you, Riverhead and NetGalley, for this gut wrenching ARC.
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While reading, I wanted to shout at Tony so many times. After laying low for five years, he just slips back into his old life like it’s nothing. I felt the tension simmering when he chased people for money, the way he brushed off his own feelings whenever kids were involved. He was selfish, let his anger and fear take over, and somehow truly believed there was no other way but to mess everything up and get dragged back into gang life. Even Fanny, with her world at college, and Prendergast, who told him he might still become a fashion designer, couldn’t pull him out.
The story starts like the calm after a storm, until that same storm circles back and wrecks everything in its path. It kept me on edge, and I couldn’t stop reading. The knot in my stomach that formed in the first few pages only got tighter, and I clenched my fists more times than I can count. That ending left me staring into the distance, wishing for a sliver of hope.
Be aware that All Them Dogs is pretty disturbing and triggering in many ways.
Thank you, Riverhead and NetGalley, for this gut wrenching ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
February 9, 2026
I’ll tell you one thing, this is not fun
Now I am going to add to this initial statement because that paired with my star rating undersells it a bit - All Them Dogs is a grim story of gang violence in Dublin, written in the tight perspective of Tony Ward, who has returned to Dublin after five years' exile following his murder of a man. Back in Dublin, Tony, blinkered to any other options, slips right back into the duplicitous, brutal world he fled.
While he does find friendship in a couple of people around him, and a clandestine sexual relationship with his boss's enforcer, Darren (Flute), his way forward is jagged and vicious. He neither sees his own capacity for nor has the insight to imagine escape or redemption. It's rough going for that reason: this is not a character with much of what you'd call an arc, so much as a young man caught stagnant in a culture of murder and ruthless self-serving.
The heavy dialect may take a minute to get into, but my real struggle with what I think is a valiant effort that pulls off some of its intentions is just the fact that the story is hopeless. My main critique, however, is not that. You will feel bad reading it (that's fine, we love to feel bad). But more than that, to its deficit, it is slow to pick up and then all comes to a head, and very little happens in terms of plot in the middle. Or when it does, there are few peaks and valleys to the action--it all moves forward in a kind of monotone that jangles to a conclusion in the last 20 or so pages. And Tony's stunted emotions are sometimes difficult to engage with. Even his violence is dissociated from him, so that the whole book is like watching with mild horror through fogged glass. Still, it kept me reading, it goes by pretty quickly, and it has a unique voice and willingness to commit to its premise.
I'd be pleased to pick up a second novel by White, because I can't tell from this book if he's going to develop into a virtuoso or be mired in this one mode. He could truly go either way and won't it be--not fun, but interesting--to see which it is?
Now I am going to add to this initial statement because that paired with my star rating undersells it a bit - All Them Dogs is a grim story of gang violence in Dublin, written in the tight perspective of Tony Ward, who has returned to Dublin after five years' exile following his murder of a man. Back in Dublin, Tony, blinkered to any other options, slips right back into the duplicitous, brutal world he fled.
While he does find friendship in a couple of people around him, and a clandestine sexual relationship with his boss's enforcer, Darren (Flute), his way forward is jagged and vicious. He neither sees his own capacity for nor has the insight to imagine escape or redemption. It's rough going for that reason: this is not a character with much of what you'd call an arc, so much as a young man caught stagnant in a culture of murder and ruthless self-serving.
The heavy dialect may take a minute to get into, but my real struggle with what I think is a valiant effort that pulls off some of its intentions is just the fact that the story is hopeless. My main critique, however, is not that. You will feel bad reading it (that's fine, we love to feel bad). But more than that, to its deficit, it is slow to pick up and then all comes to a head, and very little happens in terms of plot in the middle. Or when it does, there are few peaks and valleys to the action--it all moves forward in a kind of monotone that jangles to a conclusion in the last 20 or so pages. And Tony's stunted emotions are sometimes difficult to engage with. Even his violence is dissociated from him, so that the whole book is like watching with mild horror through fogged glass. Still, it kept me reading, it goes by pretty quickly, and it has a unique voice and willingness to commit to its premise.
I'd be pleased to pick up a second novel by White, because I can't tell from this book if he's going to develop into a virtuoso or be mired in this one mode. He could truly go either way and won't it be--not fun, but interesting--to see which it is?
October 11, 2025
Y’all. ;-;
[ARC REVIEW]
Y’all. I haven’t felt this particular way after reading a book since Gabino Iglesias’s The Devil Takes You Home.
I knew All Them Dogs wasn’t going to be a happy story. I knew there most likely wasn't going to be a HEA, but I thought maybe there would be some sort of slightly okay ending. I couldn’t have been any further off.
All Them Dogs follows Tony Ward who is back in Ireland after hiding in London in the aftermath of a deadly skirmish between gangs. He’s a tough guy and runs by old rules, but when he comes back, things have changed. His friend Kenny has seemed to given up on the old ways, his half-brother is back from a failed relationship in Germany, and his mother’s health seems to be taking a turn for the worse.
Tony meets up with a man known as Flute and they begin to work together. Their relationship turns from working to something more. And there begins the fast unraveling of Tony’s life. He struggles to find his place in this new Ireland world he’s in, he finds himself in power struggles, personal struggles, and existential struggles.
I really enjoyed this book. It was heartbreaking at times to watch Tony make such terrible decisions for the sake of clinging to his old life. I wanted him to open his eyes and see what he was doing with his life and how that was affecting the people around him. I felt terrible for his mother being stuck between her two sons trying to right for them and for herself. Kenny’s character was interesting to me. I’ve always loved the “retired” gangster who’s now trying to stay on the straight and narrow type of character. He really tried to get Tony to see beyond the gang life and that they could continue to be friends outside of that life. So does Fanny, and to some extent, Flute in his own way.
Flute was also an interesting character, I felt like I could never really get a read on him. Did he actually care about Tony or was he playing the long game?
I think the only thing was that all the Irish slang kind of took me a bit to get used to. I’m not well versed in Irish slang and there were times I had to stop and puzzle out what some of the terms meant. This is a me thing, I often struggle with books written in heavily dialects unless I’m listening to an audiobook.
In the end, this was an incredibly bleak book, I wish they all had had more time.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I won’t be forgetting this book anytime soon.
[ARC REVIEW]
Y’all. I haven’t felt this particular way after reading a book since Gabino Iglesias’s The Devil Takes You Home.
I knew All Them Dogs wasn’t going to be a happy story. I knew there most likely wasn't going to be a HEA, but I thought maybe there would be some sort of slightly okay ending. I couldn’t have been any further off.
All Them Dogs follows Tony Ward who is back in Ireland after hiding in London in the aftermath of a deadly skirmish between gangs. He’s a tough guy and runs by old rules, but when he comes back, things have changed. His friend Kenny has seemed to given up on the old ways, his half-brother is back from a failed relationship in Germany, and his mother’s health seems to be taking a turn for the worse.
Tony meets up with a man known as Flute and they begin to work together. Their relationship turns from working to something more. And there begins the fast unraveling of Tony’s life. He struggles to find his place in this new Ireland world he’s in, he finds himself in power struggles, personal struggles, and existential struggles.
I really enjoyed this book. It was heartbreaking at times to watch Tony make such terrible decisions for the sake of clinging to his old life. I wanted him to open his eyes and see what he was doing with his life and how that was affecting the people around him. I felt terrible for his mother being stuck between her two sons trying to right for them and for herself. Kenny’s character was interesting to me. I’ve always loved the “retired” gangster who’s now trying to stay on the straight and narrow type of character. He really tried to get Tony to see beyond the gang life and that they could continue to be friends outside of that life. So does Fanny, and to some extent, Flute in his own way.
Flute was also an interesting character, I felt like I could never really get a read on him. Did he actually care about Tony or was he playing the long game?
I think the only thing was that all the Irish slang kind of took me a bit to get used to. I’m not well versed in Irish slang and there were times I had to stop and puzzle out what some of the terms meant. This is a me thing, I often struggle with books written in heavily dialects unless I’m listening to an audiobook.
In the end, this was an incredibly bleak book, I wish they all had had more time.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I won’t be forgetting this book anytime soon.
May 25, 2026
This is White’s debut novel, and though far from being perfect it says enough about him to be a writer to watch for in the future. It is a gangster noir thriller, set in working class Dublin, with occasional humour and tenderness to temper the violence. In itself, the premise is nothing new, but a third of the way in, White incorporates a twist that gives the story its own identity.
Not on its side though, is how unlikeable the main character and narrator is, Tony Ward, with a criminal past of which snippets emerge as the story progresses.
White writes the violent episodes well, though does not manage the humour and the compassionate aspects as well.
Not on its side though, is how unlikeable the main character and narrator is, Tony Ward, with a criminal past of which snippets emerge as the story progresses.
White writes the violent episodes well, though does not manage the humour and the compassionate aspects as well.
March 29, 2026
I feel so deeply moved and affected by this book and these characters that it’s almost hard to put into words. I laughed, and laughed hard. I cried, too. This book captures the nuance of human connection against the backdrop of gangland Dublin in such a harrowing way. It is grim, haunting and soul crushingly beautiful - full of anger and longing and judgement, with a character who swings on a pendulum. Yearning for belonging one moment, looking down on the world from his perch with his rage in the next.
I feel like this story will haunt me for a long time. To say it put me through it would be an understatement entirely.
I feel like this story will haunt me for a long time. To say it put me through it would be an understatement entirely.
April 28, 2026
What a nasty fucking masterpiece.
“His beauty hurt me, this unmarkable thing that bounced everything back towards me. Hating something beautiful makes your insides blacken and shrivel. It made me ugly. It made me see that I've always been ugly.”
All Them Dogs is a cautionary tale of what happens when living becomes about surviving and surviving means fighting. Tony is diabolically impulsive yet totally motivated by love and we watch him grow his own brambles as a result of both. It is hilarious, gritty and propulsive to read, so unique and fresh like nothing I’ve read before. What a talented writer, can’t wait to see what he does next!
PS it’s also going straight to the top of my favourite book title/cover list cus YES.
PPS can’t believe I found this in Waterstones before it’s even released 🤣😭🙏
“His beauty hurt me, this unmarkable thing that bounced everything back towards me. Hating something beautiful makes your insides blacken and shrivel. It made me ugly. It made me see that I've always been ugly.”
All Them Dogs is a cautionary tale of what happens when living becomes about surviving and surviving means fighting. Tony is diabolically impulsive yet totally motivated by love and we watch him grow his own brambles as a result of both. It is hilarious, gritty and propulsive to read, so unique and fresh like nothing I’ve read before. What a talented writer, can’t wait to see what he does next!
PS it’s also going straight to the top of my favourite book title/cover list cus YES.
PPS can’t believe I found this in Waterstones before it’s even released 🤣😭🙏
January 2, 2026
Tony Ward coming back to West Dublin after five years away feels like lighting a match in a room full of fumes. From the first pages, there’s a sense of inevitability hanging over this book — that whatever Tony is hoping for, whatever fresh start he thinks he might manage, it’s already slipping through his fingers.
Home isn’t what he left behind. His old mentor is dead, his best friend has gone straight, and the criminal landscape has shifted without him. Tony has history, mistakes he’s still running from, and a reputation that follows him like a bad smell. When he falls in with Darren “Flute” Walsh — now a key enforcer for a local crime boss — it feels, to Tony at least, like a way back in. Protection, status, belonging. A no-brainer, or so he thinks.
But Flute is not the quiet lad Tony remembers from school. He’s brooding, unpredictable, and quietly terrifying, and the dynamic between them is electric from the start. There’s attraction there, dangerous and complicated, threaded through violence and loyalty and fear. What I really appreciated is how Tony’s sexuality is treated as part of the fabric of his life rather than the focus of the plot. This is a crime novel first and foremost — gritty, brutal, and tense — but it’s also deeply human, and often surprisingly tender.
Tony is a fascinating protagonist. He does awful things, makes consistently bad decisions, and yet there’s something heartbreakingly endearing about him. He feels broken in a way that rings true, and there’s a real sense that he wants to be loved, or at least seen, even if he doesn’t quite know how to ask for it. The supporting cast are just as well drawn, particularly his mother and brother, whose presence adds emotional depth and grounding to an otherwise ruthless world.
The writing is sharp, visceral, and unapologetically Irish. The dialogue crackles. The slang feels lived-in rather than performative. It reminded me of The Blood Miracles meeting Young Mungo, with shades of Kin running right through it. The pacing is relentless without ever feeling rushed, and the atmosphere is thick with menace and inevitability.
And that ending — genuinely unexpected, but absolutely spot on. It took me by surprise in the best way and gave the story exactly what it deserved. I closed the book feeling both satisfied and slightly stunned, which is no small feat.
This is a superb debut. Bleak, gripping, emotionally charged, and impossible to put down. I inhaled it. A vivid, fast-paced Irish crime novel with real heart and bite, and an early contender for one of my favourite reads of 2025. I’d be shocked if this doesn’t end up on screen somewhere — it’s crying out for it.
Pub date: 26 March 2026.
Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read via NetGalley — as always, this is an honest review.
Home isn’t what he left behind. His old mentor is dead, his best friend has gone straight, and the criminal landscape has shifted without him. Tony has history, mistakes he’s still running from, and a reputation that follows him like a bad smell. When he falls in with Darren “Flute” Walsh — now a key enforcer for a local crime boss — it feels, to Tony at least, like a way back in. Protection, status, belonging. A no-brainer, or so he thinks.
But Flute is not the quiet lad Tony remembers from school. He’s brooding, unpredictable, and quietly terrifying, and the dynamic between them is electric from the start. There’s attraction there, dangerous and complicated, threaded through violence and loyalty and fear. What I really appreciated is how Tony’s sexuality is treated as part of the fabric of his life rather than the focus of the plot. This is a crime novel first and foremost — gritty, brutal, and tense — but it’s also deeply human, and often surprisingly tender.
Tony is a fascinating protagonist. He does awful things, makes consistently bad decisions, and yet there’s something heartbreakingly endearing about him. He feels broken in a way that rings true, and there’s a real sense that he wants to be loved, or at least seen, even if he doesn’t quite know how to ask for it. The supporting cast are just as well drawn, particularly his mother and brother, whose presence adds emotional depth and grounding to an otherwise ruthless world.
The writing is sharp, visceral, and unapologetically Irish. The dialogue crackles. The slang feels lived-in rather than performative. It reminded me of The Blood Miracles meeting Young Mungo, with shades of Kin running right through it. The pacing is relentless without ever feeling rushed, and the atmosphere is thick with menace and inevitability.
And that ending — genuinely unexpected, but absolutely spot on. It took me by surprise in the best way and gave the story exactly what it deserved. I closed the book feeling both satisfied and slightly stunned, which is no small feat.
This is a superb debut. Bleak, gripping, emotionally charged, and impossible to put down. I inhaled it. A vivid, fast-paced Irish crime novel with real heart and bite, and an early contender for one of my favourite reads of 2025. I’d be shocked if this doesn’t end up on screen somewhere — it’s crying out for it.
Pub date: 26 March 2026.
Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read via NetGalley — as always, this is an honest review.
August 21, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced digital arc.
Tony is finally back in his hometown after spending five years away to stay out of the mess and heat he created by burying a knife in someone. Things are quite how he left it—his mentor is dead. His best friend has gone clean and escaped the gang life to raise his daughter. Despite the changes, Tony goes looking for the same old work and gets himself a job beneath a notorious gang boss. His new job places him at the side of Flute Walsh, a quiet boy from school that’s grown into something large and violent. But proving himself to his new boss is no easy feat with his own baggage coming back to haunt him, and his mess of feelings for Flute that can’t go ignored.
I was excited to jump into this book about Irish gangs with queer main characters. The narrative was fast paced, which helped stumble into the story, but in the end, it felt a little rushed. Between Tony’s history and feelings, including the complications that come with Darren (Flute) and Fanny, plot points and moments felt glossed over, and I wish the narrative could have either lingered or fleshed things out a bit more. However, it didn’t kill the story because it also added to the violence and suffocation that permeates Tony’s life. While it wasn’t my favorite, I’m still happy to have read this one.
Tony is finally back in his hometown after spending five years away to stay out of the mess and heat he created by burying a knife in someone. Things are quite how he left it—his mentor is dead. His best friend has gone clean and escaped the gang life to raise his daughter. Despite the changes, Tony goes looking for the same old work and gets himself a job beneath a notorious gang boss. His new job places him at the side of Flute Walsh, a quiet boy from school that’s grown into something large and violent. But proving himself to his new boss is no easy feat with his own baggage coming back to haunt him, and his mess of feelings for Flute that can’t go ignored.
I was excited to jump into this book about Irish gangs with queer main characters. The narrative was fast paced, which helped stumble into the story, but in the end, it felt a little rushed. Between Tony’s history and feelings, including the complications that come with Darren (Flute) and Fanny, plot points and moments felt glossed over, and I wish the narrative could have either lingered or fleshed things out a bit more. However, it didn’t kill the story because it also added to the violence and suffocation that permeates Tony’s life. While it wasn’t my favorite, I’m still happy to have read this one.
October 22, 2025
Oh this book put me through the ringer in every way possible. Hauntingly twisted, achingly beautiful, there is nothing about this book that doesn't belong precisely where it is. Tony is a character that is not only real and realistic but tragic in his arc, in his ability to feel so much but so little. Philly's presence haunts the narrative, defines it. Darren and Fanny, the rage and pain that is born of the betrayals Tony brings to light. The casual insertion of nontraditional queer dynamics. The realizations that occur throughout this novel, the layers of careful plotting and planning, the intricacies that result in such a heart poundingly true to the characters themselves ending..... I was astonished and devastated. Stunning work. I cannot recommend highly enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2025
ALL THEM DOGS gripped me from the opening line, a Dublin I recognise, have lived alongside, but have never been apart of made disturbingly real in this spectacular debut. Themes reminiscent of Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo and Colin Barrett’s Wild Houses with flavour of the RTE drama KIN. Thrilling, heartbreaking, and raw.
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May 23, 2026All Them Dogs by Djamel White
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
All Them Dogs was a really strong read that pulled me in with its raw emotion and realistic characters. The writing feels honest and unfiltered in a way that makes the story feel authentic, and I found myself getting attached to the characters pretty quickly. The book does a great job showing complicated relationships, personal struggles, and the ways people try to survive difficult situations. A lot of the dialogue felt natural, which made the emotional moments hit even harder.
What I liked most was how grounded the story felt. It doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything, but there’s still a lot of heart underneath the heavier themes. While the pacing slowed down in a few spots, I was still invested in seeing where the characters would end up. The emotional depth and strong character work made the book memorable for me, and I think readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven stories would really connect with it. Overall, I give it 4 stars for its realism, emotional impact, and unique voice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead Books for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review
Publish Date: May 19th.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars
All Them Dogs was a really strong read that pulled me in with its raw emotion and realistic characters. The writing feels honest and unfiltered in a way that makes the story feel authentic, and I found myself getting attached to the characters pretty quickly. The book does a great job showing complicated relationships, personal struggles, and the ways people try to survive difficult situations. A lot of the dialogue felt natural, which made the emotional moments hit even harder.
What I liked most was how grounded the story felt. It doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything, but there’s still a lot of heart underneath the heavier themes. While the pacing slowed down in a few spots, I was still invested in seeing where the characters would end up. The emotional depth and strong character work made the book memorable for me, and I think readers who enjoy gritty, character-driven stories would really connect with it. Overall, I give it 4 stars for its realism, emotional impact, and unique voice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead Books for the digital advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review
Publish Date: May 19th.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Meanwhile, the premise of this book is super interesting and promising (I've been wanting to read a book like this for a long time) but I personally felt it was a bit hard to get into the story.
Some people will probably love the writing style; very gang-style language with a lot of heavy slang and language. But for me, it was a little difficult to follow through the story. But that's just me. So if you're good and familiar with that kind of language this book using, just ignore this.
Other than that, I also found myself a bit struggling at the beginning with how the characters were introduced. It felt a bit too fast. Like, from the start, all the characters already know each other, talk to each other, and like I was supposed to already know who they are and what their roles are. Here, I had to think a lot and keep reminding myself who was who.
But despite all of that, this book is a good read if you want something different from the usual. This book is full of gangs and all them dogs! I think this book is perfect for Florida Palms - Joe Pan fans
Some people will probably love the writing style; very gang-style language with a lot of heavy slang and language. But for me, it was a little difficult to follow through the story. But that's just me. So if you're good and familiar with that kind of language this book using, just ignore this.
Other than that, I also found myself a bit struggling at the beginning with how the characters were introduced. It felt a bit too fast. Like, from the start, all the characters already know each other, talk to each other, and like I was supposed to already know who they are and what their roles are. Here, I had to think a lot and keep reminding myself who was who.
But despite all of that, this book is a good read if you want something different from the usual. This book is full of gangs and all them dogs! I think this book is perfect for Florida Palms - Joe Pan fans
May 14, 2026
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Riverhead Books in exchange for an honest review.
[anguished screaming for one million years]
NOT getting over this one quickly, folks! I’m sad! I had multiple physical reactions to this book, including putting my head fully into my hands on the train and weeping. I love the dialect of this book; sometimes I would just mouth sentences out loud to myself because I loved the way they felt on my tongue. I can’t get enough of stories like these: violence and fear and love and betrayal and loyalty all wrapped up like a bloody cloth pressed over a wound. Fucking hell. I’m FINISHED. Don’t call, don’t text, I need 3-5 business days to recover.
[anguished screaming for one million years]
NOT getting over this one quickly, folks! I’m sad! I had multiple physical reactions to this book, including putting my head fully into my hands on the train and weeping. I love the dialect of this book; sometimes I would just mouth sentences out loud to myself because I loved the way they felt on my tongue. I can’t get enough of stories like these: violence and fear and love and betrayal and loyalty all wrapped up like a bloody cloth pressed over a wound. Fucking hell. I’m FINISHED. Don’t call, don’t text, I need 3-5 business days to recover.
March 7, 2026
Okay so this took me a hot minute to get IN TO (I get distracted easily)
however it was incredible and well worth it. A very gritty book which takes you up and down and all around with wonderful memorable characters and emotional storylines. I loved it genuinely. So excited for this to be released so I can hype it up
however it was incredible and well worth it. A very gritty book which takes you up and down and all around with wonderful memorable characters and emotional storylines. I loved it genuinely. So excited for this to be released so I can hype it up
November 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book was right up my alley! Complete and total perfection. I ate it up so quickly, I couldn’t stop reading.
It was very fast paced and gritty.
It was just written so well. I could picture all the emotions and the scenery so clearly! There were so many lines that left me breathless.
At first I had a hard time understanding what they were saying and some of the terminology that was used, but I got used to it as I read on, and could figure out what it all meant by the end of it.
Tony, man. He could not catch a break. I loved him as a main character. I could see where people may get frustrated with his decisions, but I was on his side the entire time. It was easy to get caught up in all of his emotions because we were inside of his head.
I loved Fanny. I loved their friendship. She was an awesome character. I was always so happy to see her on the page. I could have used so much more of her! But I was glad she was in it a lot.
Darren, you can never get me to have a solid opinion on you! I am so conflicted. I really liked him, but I can’t tell if it was because Tony likes him, or if it was because he was a good character. All in all I’m going to put Tony first. I am not going to say because of spoilers, but he is such an interesting character, and I’m not sure what to make of him. I think I know my stance on it, but it still made it very intriguing to read about!
I don’t know why I expected this book to be happy, but it maybe had like five happy moments the whole book. The rest my heart was pounding and I was scared out of my mind. Especially at the end of the book! It was such a nail biter! I was so stressed on what was going to happen.
I wanted the end to be different, as a personal preference, but I also thought it fit, even if it hurt. Not even so much that I wish it was a happy ending because like I said before, this type of book you shouldn’t expect to have one, but there was a couple different options I’d rather have had happened that I would’ve liked better than what did happened.
I could have hundreds of more pages of this, but I think it was also the perfect length too.
This is a must read. One of my favorites of the year.
This book was right up my alley! Complete and total perfection. I ate it up so quickly, I couldn’t stop reading.
It was very fast paced and gritty.
It was just written so well. I could picture all the emotions and the scenery so clearly! There were so many lines that left me breathless.
At first I had a hard time understanding what they were saying and some of the terminology that was used, but I got used to it as I read on, and could figure out what it all meant by the end of it.
Tony, man. He could not catch a break. I loved him as a main character. I could see where people may get frustrated with his decisions, but I was on his side the entire time. It was easy to get caught up in all of his emotions because we were inside of his head.
I loved Fanny. I loved their friendship. She was an awesome character. I was always so happy to see her on the page. I could have used so much more of her! But I was glad she was in it a lot.
Darren, you can never get me to have a solid opinion on you! I am so conflicted. I really liked him, but I can’t tell if it was because Tony likes him, or if it was because he was a good character. All in all I’m going to put Tony first. I am not going to say because of spoilers, but he is such an interesting character, and I’m not sure what to make of him. I think I know my stance on it, but it still made it very intriguing to read about!
I don’t know why I expected this book to be happy, but it maybe had like five happy moments the whole book. The rest my heart was pounding and I was scared out of my mind. Especially at the end of the book! It was such a nail biter! I was so stressed on what was going to happen.
I wanted the end to be different, as a personal preference, but I also thought it fit, even if it hurt. Not even so much that I wish it was a happy ending because like I said before, this type of book you shouldn’t expect to have one, but there was a couple different options I’d rather have had happened that I would’ve liked better than what did happened.
I could have hundreds of more pages of this, but I think it was also the perfect length too.
This is a must read. One of my favorites of the year.
October 11, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Riverhead Books for the ARC.
This is truly a "I can't help you if you dont want to be helped" type of plot. I almost gave less stars because of how frustrated I became with Tony. But I had to check myself - good story telling is supposed to make you feel something.
I've had a few "Tonys'" throughout my own life, some were partners others were family or friends. Some of them are definitely unreliable narrators. Thank you for showing that some characters - despite having the opportunity to do something else will always cling to what they know.
While I was reading all the characters I pictured as animated style - like maybe a mix between arcane animation but the character styles from the boxtrolls movie.
Be comfortable with the fact that not every story needs a happy ending. If you're looking for spice, this won't be it. It has its moments but its not what the story line is really about.
This is truly a "I can't help you if you dont want to be helped" type of plot. I almost gave less stars because of how frustrated I became with Tony. But I had to check myself - good story telling is supposed to make you feel something.
I've had a few "Tonys'" throughout my own life, some were partners others were family or friends. Some of them are definitely unreliable narrators. Thank you for showing that some characters - despite having the opportunity to do something else will always cling to what they know.
While I was reading all the characters I pictured as animated style - like maybe a mix between arcane animation but the character styles from the boxtrolls movie.
Be comfortable with the fact that not every story needs a happy ending. If you're looking for spice, this won't be it. It has its moments but its not what the story line is really about.
December 22, 2025
a haunting, intense, and emotional noir told in a deeply irish voice, djamel white's ALL THEM DOGS tells the story of tony ward, an irish gangster who returns home to west dublin after five years in england to reinstate himself in his former gangland. what awaits him is a series of devastating reckonings: his old mentor is dead, his best friend has gone straight, his family is irreparably fractured, his past is rushing up to meet him, and there's a love slowly unfurling between himself and his new mentor, flute walsh, who is not the same as tony remembers.
ALL THEM DOGS is a vivid, heartbreaking study of masculinity, violence, queerness, loyalty, desire, and all the ways in which they intersect. from its very first page, white's immersive voice and gorgeous character work stole me away from everything else i'd been reading, and i couldn't focus on anything else until i found out what happened to tony and those he loves. ALL THEM DOGS is a truly astonishing novel, and one of my favorites i've read this year. with any justice, this book will be inescapable when it releases next spring, and i can't wait to follow djamel white wherever he wants to take us.
ALL THEM DOGS is a vivid, heartbreaking study of masculinity, violence, queerness, loyalty, desire, and all the ways in which they intersect. from its very first page, white's immersive voice and gorgeous character work stole me away from everything else i'd been reading, and i couldn't focus on anything else until i found out what happened to tony and those he loves. ALL THEM DOGS is a truly astonishing novel, and one of my favorites i've read this year. with any justice, this book will be inescapable when it releases next spring, and i can't wait to follow djamel white wherever he wants to take us.
November 24, 2025
very good! very funny, very dublin and def for fans of roddy doyle and colin barrett
November 22, 2025
From the book description, I was expecting a gritty, fast paced story full of yearning. For the most part, that was what I got, but somehow I felt there wasn't enough to make me invested in the story and characters. To preface my review, I don't think this was a bad book at all, and hypothetically I would quite enjoy analysing it in an English class. However, reading it on my own I felt that this book just wasn't for me, also considering that my standards were high as I recently read a book about gang wars which ended up being one of my favourite reads of the year.
The abundance of slang, whilst doing a great job of immersing the reader in the setting, made it a struggle for me to read and I had to guess at what the characters were saying at times. There was a scene where the characters were snorting cocaine and I only realised it halfway through the scene because I didn't understand the slang. Definitely a me problem as I could have looked up the words but was too lazy to.
Also, this book felt weirdly short to me, maybe because I wanted some more character interactions and insight into the various relationships in the book. E.g. I thought we would get to see how Tony and Flute first met, or more scenes of Tony and the officer from the past.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
The abundance of slang, whilst doing a great job of immersing the reader in the setting, made it a struggle for me to read and I had to guess at what the characters were saying at times. There was a scene where the characters were snorting cocaine and I only realised it halfway through the scene because I didn't understand the slang. Definitely a me problem as I could have looked up the words but was too lazy to.
Also, this book felt weirdly short to me, maybe because I wanted some more character interactions and insight into the various relationships in the book. E.g. I thought we would get to see how Tony and Flute first met, or more scenes of Tony and the officer from the past.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
March 19, 2026
thank you to Netgalley and Riverhead for the ARC!
wow. this was a dark, gritty, fast-paced story that never really gives you (or the characters) a break. stressful to say the least. witnessing Tony go down such a self-destructive path was frustrating, but also very realistic-feeling. the development of his relationships with his family and other gang members was intriguing to see, and really rounded out who Tony was as a person — a product of both his own impulses and the influences of the people around him.
the Irish slang and manner of speak took a bit of getting used to, but a bit of googling + context clues eventually made things easier to understand. this book is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it was a nice change of pace from what i’ve been reading! though i think i need something a bit more lighthearted now
wow. this was a dark, gritty, fast-paced story that never really gives you (or the characters) a break. stressful to say the least. witnessing Tony go down such a self-destructive path was frustrating, but also very realistic-feeling. the development of his relationships with his family and other gang members was intriguing to see, and really rounded out who Tony was as a person — a product of both his own impulses and the influences of the people around him.
the Irish slang and manner of speak took a bit of getting used to, but a bit of googling + context clues eventually made things easier to understand. this book is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it was a nice change of pace from what i’ve been reading! though i think i need something a bit more lighthearted now
March 24, 2026
“I love the bones of you”
Absolutely addictive, gritty, and cinematic. I couldn’t put it down. Everything (the narration, characterization, setting) fit so well together and created this beautiful chaos that you can’t help but love. Holy shit, I’m so amped up right now. I feel like I’ve just finished watching a movie instead of a ~300-page book.
I’m grateful my job enables me to experience some truly incredible books for free and in advance. I will be recommending this to everyone at my store <3
Absolutely addictive, gritty, and cinematic. I couldn’t put it down. Everything (the narration, characterization, setting) fit so well together and created this beautiful chaos that you can’t help but love. Holy shit, I’m so amped up right now. I feel like I’ve just finished watching a movie instead of a ~300-page book.
I’m grateful my job enables me to experience some truly incredible books for free and in advance. I will be recommending this to everyone at my store <3
April 16, 2026
[About a pair violent gang members] “omg I hope nothing bad happens to them”
And then bad things happened to and because of them.
Frustrating, funny, desperate and devastating. The central trio didn’t get nearly enough time being a trio—their joy was the pristine jelly at the center of a dirt shit donut. Tbh I gobbled it up, dirt shit n all
And then bad things happened to and because of them.
Frustrating, funny, desperate and devastating. The central trio didn’t get nearly enough time being a trio—their joy was the pristine jelly at the center of a dirt shit donut. Tbh I gobbled it up, dirt shit n all
March 30, 2026
Exceptional debut. Brilliantly written, characters are fabulous. What an exciting new literary voice Djamel White is.
Did Not Finish
April 4, 2026Great writing, but this book is HEAVY... I'm taking a break from it for the time being.
May 11, 2026
A fairly entertaining one-time read, though beyond that, there isn’t much depth here. The characters felt more like tropes and archetypes than real, living, breathing people.
May 22, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
November 4, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and Riverhead for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fast paced and held my attention easily. The language used in this book was unlike anything else I have read, and gave this book a feeling of authenticity.
I wish that we had been able to explore the characters and their feelings a bit more and, to me, the ending felt entirely to sudden and fast paced (especially since I felt the lead up to it was a excellent).
Overall, I would recommend this book despite it not being one of my favorites
This book was fast paced and held my attention easily. The language used in this book was unlike anything else I have read, and gave this book a feeling of authenticity.
I wish that we had been able to explore the characters and their feelings a bit more and, to me, the ending felt entirely to sudden and fast paced (especially since I felt the lead up to it was a excellent).
Overall, I would recommend this book despite it not being one of my favorites
March 28, 2026
It is a bit difficult to read, at least for me. It takes a bit to get into the dialect. There is a lot of specific slang and gangster-ish talk. The story is gritty and confusing, I’m not sure I liked any of the characters. Without giving anything away, it doesn’t end well for anyone, this is a dark story of violence and drugs.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
Please note, I received an ARC copy of this book for review from NetGalley, but that never influences my honest reviews of books or authors.
November 29, 2025
All Them Dogs delivers exactly the kind of story I’m always searching for—one that puts a gay protagonist at the center of a gritty, real-world narrative rather than the usual campus romance.
Tony’s return to West Dublin drops him straight back into a world that has evolved into something even more volatile and dangerous.
What I appreciated most is how Tony’s sexuality is a part of who he is, but not the whole story. Instead, we get a tense look at survival, loyalty, and identity in a tough environment.
It’s refreshing to see queer representation in a story with real stakes, real danger, and real emotional weight.
A gripping and gritty read—I was hooked from the start.
Tony’s return to West Dublin drops him straight back into a world that has evolved into something even more volatile and dangerous.
What I appreciated most is how Tony’s sexuality is a part of who he is, but not the whole story. Instead, we get a tense look at survival, loyalty, and identity in a tough environment.
It’s refreshing to see queer representation in a story with real stakes, real danger, and real emotional weight.
A gripping and gritty read—I was hooked from the start.
September 8, 2025
All Them Dogs traps you in a world that’s crowded, hot, relentless, and insatiable, every street too narrow and every breath too heavy on the skin. White’s gritty language presses you into smoke-filled kitchens, collapsing car seats, and frayed tempers, where desire remains urgent, loyalty shifts without warning, and survival is the only constant.
[Full review available here]
[Full review available here]
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