What do you think?
Rate this book
Sorted
Ronnie Kray, Britain's most notorious gangster, appeared to take many secrets to the grave when he died in March 1995. Yet there were a number of things he wished the world to learn after his death.
Consequently, he spent months explaining hidden robberies, secret murders and treacherous betrayals to his wife Kate, so that she could share his tales with the world when the time was right. To Kate he explained the real reason for his notorious cold[blooded shooting of George Cornell, in the Blind Beggar pub, in Whitechapel. He also revealed who killed his friend, champion boxer, Freddie Mills, and why.
Among the fascinating stories told in Ronnie Kray: Sorted' are:
The angry remark about the Kray's mother that led to the execution of escaped prisoner Frank "Mad Axeman" Mitchell.
How Mitchell died and how Ronnie disposed of his body.
Ronnie's gay affair with a prominent politician.
The blackmailer whose murder was arranged by Ronnie, yet never discovered by the police.
The plot to spring Ronnie from Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital.
The extraordinary criminal empire run by Ronnie from inside Broadmoor.
Then there is the real truth about Ron's firm friends - the loved men who stood by him - as well as the "slags and rats" he never forgave for their betrayal. Kate also tells the truth about what really happened to Ron's money and his possessions.
'Ronnie Kray@ Sorted' reveals Ronnie's innermost feelings, his deepest secrets and darkest fears. The fun, the laughter, and the endless roller-coaster of crime.
Also revealed is the gentler side of Ronnie Kray's character. Though he wanted the world to see only the harsh, ruthless side of his personality he wrote many loving, gentle letters to the author.
@You are more than my wife,' he wrote on one note. 'You are also my best friend and I know one day when I'm gone Kate, you will reveal the truth just how I told you. I know I can trust you with my life and I can trust you with my secrets. REveal them when you think the time is right ...'
Now, at last, the time is right ...
NB: Although the dust wrapper states: 'Ronnie Kray: Sorted The Deathbed Secrets of Britain's Most Notorious Gangster', the title page states simply 'Sorted' and that is how the book is catalogued. In addition the author is just Kate Kray, with no written words by Ronnie Kray.
Consequently, he spent months explaining hidden robberies, secret murders and treacherous betrayals to his wife Kate, so that she could share his tales with the world when the time was right. To Kate he explained the real reason for his notorious cold[blooded shooting of George Cornell, in the Blind Beggar pub, in Whitechapel. He also revealed who killed his friend, champion boxer, Freddie Mills, and why.
Among the fascinating stories told in Ronnie Kray: Sorted' are:
The angry remark about the Kray's mother that led to the execution of escaped prisoner Frank "Mad Axeman" Mitchell.
How Mitchell died and how Ronnie disposed of his body.
Ronnie's gay affair with a prominent politician.
The blackmailer whose murder was arranged by Ronnie, yet never discovered by the police.
The plot to spring Ronnie from Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital.
The extraordinary criminal empire run by Ronnie from inside Broadmoor.
Then there is the real truth about Ron's firm friends - the loved men who stood by him - as well as the "slags and rats" he never forgave for their betrayal. Kate also tells the truth about what really happened to Ron's money and his possessions.
'Ronnie Kray@ Sorted' reveals Ronnie's innermost feelings, his deepest secrets and darkest fears. The fun, the laughter, and the endless roller-coaster of crime.
Also revealed is the gentler side of Ronnie Kray's character. Though he wanted the world to see only the harsh, ruthless side of his personality he wrote many loving, gentle letters to the author.
@You are more than my wife,' he wrote on one note. 'You are also my best friend and I know one day when I'm gone Kate, you will reveal the truth just how I told you. I know I can trust you with my life and I can trust you with my secrets. REveal them when you think the time is right ...'
Now, at last, the time is right ...
NB: Although the dust wrapper states: 'Ronnie Kray: Sorted The Deathbed Secrets of Britain's Most Notorious Gangster', the title page states simply 'Sorted' and that is how the book is catalogued. In addition the author is just Kate Kray, with no written words by Ronnie Kray.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
285 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 1997
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 5, 2021
This was so badly written, if it wasn't for the subject matter I'd have never finished it. It's repetitive, choppy, contradictory and has no flow at all. The author injected some humour in places but then ruined it by explaining the joke. The paragraphs are so short, and in places, were just dumped in there with no relation to the next, and the 'would of' nearly tipped me over the edge.
December 22, 2016
Well, we can't get closer to Ronnie Kray than by reading what his wife has to tell us following her conversations with him on very many visits to Broadmoor. The cover notes them as 'deathbed secrets' but the anecdotes and tales were gathered together over a period of time prior to Ronnie being taken ill.
The overriding feeling that comes from the book is that Ronnie Kray could be an absolute charmer and that, always impeccably dressed, he was always, well very nearly always, delightful company - that is providing one hadn't crossed him or his pals. Then it was a very different matter as many found out to their cost.
Kate Kray tells the story sensitively and without any braggadocio; it is all matter of fact that such and such a thing happened and then something else and so on and it did not matter whether these things be treacherous or pleasant enough episodes. Ronnie never wanted the stories told while he was alive and he instructed Kate not to publish anything until he was gone - and she abided by his wishes, wisely.
Even though he was imprisoned Ronnie still held sway outside; anything he wanted he usually got, be it money or material goods - and Kate found a way of getting it all to him- and anything he wanted taken care of usually was. Heaven help anyone who crossed him, he called such people 'slags and rats', but his firm friends, and he had many, could always rely on his support and assistance.
Some of the stories he tells add flesh to the bones of earlier incidents, such as the death of his big friend boxer Freddie Mills, who allegedly committed suicide. We now know that he didn't and not only do we know the name of his killer but we also know what happened to him for Ronnie saw to that alright. And Ronnie was a big family man and loved his mother dearly so when Frank "Mad Axeman" Mitchell made a disparaging remark about Mrs Kray, he should have known that his time was up - and it most certainly was.
Ronnie was imprisoned for 27 years and only once did he consider escape and that was when he was a patient in the Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital; however, the plan did not materialise and he remained incarcerated until almost the end of his days. For once he was taken ill he was transported to a heavily guarded Wexham Park Hospital in Slough where Kate, although by that time divorced from Ronnie, was planning to visit him. But unfortunately she never made it, for, stopping in a local store to purchase his favourite Brylcreem en route, she heard on the radio that he had died.
There are plenty of testimonies from many of Ronnie's friends to accompany Kate's stories, which she has faithfully recorded in accordance with her husband's wishes. 'I can trust you with my secrets. Reveal them when you think the time is right,' he had said and that is just what she has done.
The overriding feeling that comes from the book is that Ronnie Kray could be an absolute charmer and that, always impeccably dressed, he was always, well very nearly always, delightful company - that is providing one hadn't crossed him or his pals. Then it was a very different matter as many found out to their cost.
Kate Kray tells the story sensitively and without any braggadocio; it is all matter of fact that such and such a thing happened and then something else and so on and it did not matter whether these things be treacherous or pleasant enough episodes. Ronnie never wanted the stories told while he was alive and he instructed Kate not to publish anything until he was gone - and she abided by his wishes, wisely.
Even though he was imprisoned Ronnie still held sway outside; anything he wanted he usually got, be it money or material goods - and Kate found a way of getting it all to him- and anything he wanted taken care of usually was. Heaven help anyone who crossed him, he called such people 'slags and rats', but his firm friends, and he had many, could always rely on his support and assistance.
Some of the stories he tells add flesh to the bones of earlier incidents, such as the death of his big friend boxer Freddie Mills, who allegedly committed suicide. We now know that he didn't and not only do we know the name of his killer but we also know what happened to him for Ronnie saw to that alright. And Ronnie was a big family man and loved his mother dearly so when Frank "Mad Axeman" Mitchell made a disparaging remark about Mrs Kray, he should have known that his time was up - and it most certainly was.
Ronnie was imprisoned for 27 years and only once did he consider escape and that was when he was a patient in the Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital; however, the plan did not materialise and he remained incarcerated until almost the end of his days. For once he was taken ill he was transported to a heavily guarded Wexham Park Hospital in Slough where Kate, although by that time divorced from Ronnie, was planning to visit him. But unfortunately she never made it, for, stopping in a local store to purchase his favourite Brylcreem en route, she heard on the radio that he had died.
There are plenty of testimonies from many of Ronnie's friends to accompany Kate's stories, which she has faithfully recorded in accordance with her husband's wishes. 'I can trust you with my secrets. Reveal them when you think the time is right,' he had said and that is just what she has done.
March 1, 2016
Kate Howard married Ronnie Kray in Broadmoor prison.
This book is a collection of stories told supposedly told to her by Ronnie.
It's an OK book, badly written in parts ("would of been" - really?!) and in some cases repeats itself.
This book is a collection of stories told supposedly told to her by Ronnie.
It's an OK book, badly written in parts ("would of been" - really?!) and in some cases repeats itself.
December 7, 2018
An enjoyable read. It did make me cry when Ron's wish was to walk through a park and stroke a dog. Such a simple thing. RIP Ronnie Kray, never forgotten , God Bless xx
September 6, 2022
It was a bit look at me I married a gangster but interesting.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews