All Them Dogs

by Djamel White

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?

Genres: Queer, LGBT, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Gay, Ireland, Contemporary

320 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 19, 2026

Reviews

[Marieke (mariekes_mesmerizing_books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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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[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[The Fake Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Miranda Binsfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good! very funny, very dublin and def for fans of roddy doyle and colin barrett

[Novels and Nummies · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

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]

[Erin U · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony is an Irish gangster that recently arrived back in Dublin after being away for five years after killing a fellow gang member. Once he arrives back in Dublin he ends up working for an enforcer of a local crime boss. His new job, yet returning to his old life, chips away at his sense of self. He makes moral compromises with himself to further his work and get what he wants.

Watching as Tony dives back into the old-yet-new environment was an experience. We see how his morals conflict with each other as he does his job, flipping between helping himself and reducing harm while he carries out his orders.

The story is written in Irish vernacular which was interesting. I picked up on most words but I wish there were a couple more context clues to understand what was really going on. I think I may have missed/glossed over some plot points due to my lack of understanding. I know I could have looked the confusing words up online but slang definitions on the internet are hit or miss.

Sometimes queer gangster or mafia books will “feminize” a character in the M/M pairing to create a power dynamic. That didn’t happen here and I’m glad about that. The yearning and sexual content levels were perfect for this kind of story. I could feel Tony’s strong attraction to Darren but it didn’t come across as his main focus. Also, I’m a sucker for the brothers best friend dynamic…sue me.

The weight of the ending really sold the story to me. It was as if Tony’s hopelessness and defeat were being transmitted through the page. I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending but it made for an eventful reading experience. I heavily gravitate towards books with happy endings though, so that’s all on me.

I’d recommend this to people who love emotionally devastating, queer, gangster stories. I think I will purchase this book once it is published and reread it!

Thank you to Riverhead and Djamel White for providing this ARC ebook copy through NetGalley for this review!

[Michael Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Them Dogs is a stunning, haunting novel.
If you are looking for an optimistic, uplifting read, look elsewhere. This is a harrowing look at the many ways plans, and hope, can shatter. Most books I read and review are young adult, and to be clear, this is not. I won't be adding this to my high school library because the language, sex, and violence go quite a bit too far for this particular library. I knew early on that this wouldn't work in my school library, but I could not stop reading. And it has stayed with me, echoing through my brain, since I finished it. However, I do believe this should be in every public library that serves an adult population.
Tony has come back to Dublin after doing as he was told: laying low in England for five years, waiting for the smoke to clear for a gang-related crime he committed. In his absence, his mentor Phillie has been killed, possibly as payback for Tony's work. His best friend has escaped the gang and gone straight -- he even has a young daughter. And Tony's older brother has moved back in with their mother, crushed under the disappointment of his own failed ambitions. Tony finds work as an enforcer, but is almost instantly tripped up in gang politics, his own desires, and the nearly impossible odds his impoverished Irish life offers.
This is the rare book I might go back and re-read, as it has been living in my head basically since I started reading it. All Them Dogs is desperate, raw, and harrowing.

[Jamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tony Ward returns to Dublin after five years in England, where he fled after a fatal mistake. Home has changed: his mentor is dead, his best friend has gone straight, and the criminal landscape feels unfamiliar. He takes work with Flute Walsh, an enforcer for a local crime boss, and is pulled deeper into a world of violence, desire and shifting loyalties as he tries — and often fails — to regain control of his life.

For me, All Them Dogs was a “barely two-star, okay” read. Tony’s constant missteps made him a frustrating protagonist, and his repeated self-inflicted problems became more tiring than tragic. The novel’s unrelenting bleakness didn’t help; almost every chapter piles on more danger and bad choices.

The heavy slang may work for some readers, but I found it added another layer of distance. Overall, the book felt more exhausting than engaging, and ultimately just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Chelsea Knowles]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*

All Them Dogs is a debut novel that follows Tony who works for a gang in West Dublin. Tony has been away for five years so he wants to raise his standing in the gang. He starts working with Darren ‘Flute’ Walsh who is dangerous but a mutual attraction brings complications and Tony is more at risk day by day.

This was an interesting look at an Irish gang. Tony is a very complex character and I like that this is queer because that is not something you always find in these types of stories. That said, this was way too short for me to properly get into it and it needed more development.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerhouse debut built on sharp snappy writing and taut intense drama. Right from the start the story takes hold and never lets go.

Our fiery protagonist is on a collision course with destiny trying desperately to find another way out. But is a new job and an unexpected romance enough to distance himself from an explosive departure five years ago? Thrown right into fire on his return home, we follow along as Tony must navigate a fragile Irish crime scene rocked by revenge, retribution and naked ambition, while his very life hangs in the balance.

A vividly described and fast paced thriller sure to satisfy any fan of the genre. I simply could not put this one down.

The book was provided as an advanced reader copy through netgalley.com

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Riverhead for the ebook. This violent and fast story starts with Tony Ward back in Dublin after hiding out in England for the last five years. Told that the heat will be off him now for a killing he did five years ago, Tony doesn’t want to take any chances and joins up with a local crime boss, for money, but also he hopes for protection. He falls in love with the guy he’s working directly with and their affair has to stay a secret. The whole story deals in secrets on top off secrets until all the seams come loose and can only be solved with extreme violence.

[Jeffrey Aubuchon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've read this year. This is raw Ireland and raw life. gripping and gritty. must read.

[vi_reads]

this is the kind of book where the last ~50 pages will have you on the edge of your seat, heartbroken, stressed, and enthralled