The Real Top Boys: The True Story of London's Deadliest Street Gangs

by Wensley Clarkson

The true story of London's toughest, deadliest street the events, the rules and the real top boys. Are the streets of London some of the deadliest in the world? What's the truth behind the headlines? And who are the real top boys? Looking beyond the hit TV series, The Real Top Boys reveals the lives of the street gangs who have taken over, and now rule, dozens of corners of the UK's capital. Bestselling true crime author Wensley Clarkson takes us on a tour of the housing estates and volatile neighborhoods where pride, rivalry and revenge are the codes people live and die by. He talks to the criminals who have helped create this chilling modern-day underworld and recounts the vicious turf wars that changed the map, unravels the rules and rights of the streets, and charts the rise and fall of many of the game's key players over the decades that have transformed the city. Featuring interviews with real-life gangsters and told in a gripping story that lays bare the hard life in this world, The Real Top Boys is the ultimate account of gang life in London and a jaw-dropping look at who really runs the streets.

Genres: True Crime

320 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2021

Reviews

[Jennifer deBie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Read" through Audible, and first things first - Ben Onwukue (who narrated it) has a fabulous voice! Great work from a very skilled voice actor.

Fascinating look into the cycles of abuse, poverty, and crime in London, and the way those cycles are portrayed in the TV/Netflix series, Top Boy. I'd never seen the show, so I came into this purely as someone interested in the topic, rather than as a fan, and I have to say Clarkson does a good job of balancing show details with context from the real world.

The number and variety of interviews Clarkson was able to conduct for this book is also, frankly, astonishing. As with Ioan Grillo's Gangster Warlords, I am amazed by the fact Clarkson was able to talk to some of these people and get out with his skin intact. The fact that he has compiled that research and presented it to readers/listeners in such a comprehensive, and narratively engaging way is equally impressive, and makes The Real Top Boys a satisfying read for sure.

[Calum McCabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the book to be a little disappointing as I felt it was more a review and explanation of the Top Boy series, rather than adding original content.

I appreciate that the author would have had to do real life research for the book. However I felt this would have been delivered better without continuous reference to the Top Boy Series

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*GIFTED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
*Release Date: 17th September 2020*

As the title suggests, this is a real life crime account of the gangland culture currently taking over the UK, whilst running parallel with the TV series Top Boy. Ideal for any fans of the show. If you are also a fan of similar programmes, films like the Noel Clarke trilogy, or Ross Kemp/Reggie Yates documentaries, this book is for a must read for you.

Full of blunt but honest information, I found this to be interesting, educating and deeply intriguing. Living only 62 miles outside of London myself, I was aware of the gangland culture that is upon us, but I was dismayed to learn about the exact extent of the violence, criminality and perhaps the most heart breaking of all, was how common and easy it is for young people to get caught up in it all, with gangs recruiting children as young as 8 years old. The young people that society fails immensely, with futures destined for prison or death.

This book covers all topics expected and so much more. From the use of social media within the gangs, the current knife culture upon us, the growth of country lines all over the UK to name just a few. Factual, gripping and compelling, I couldn't put this down. A true non-fiction page turner. Very well written by Wensley Clarkson and I will definitely be on the look out for his other work.

(Warning - if you haven't watched Top Boy but are planning to, this book contains a lot of spoilers, including interviews with the cast and the creator and comparisons of scenes vs reality, so just a little note to avoid reading until the credits roll!)

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book, it sounded so good. I had a few issues with it in that it kept referencing a tv show that I have never watched so I had no clue about those parts of the book. I also struggled with the fact that the author referred to all the drugs, money and friends etc. in the terms of the gangsters, I don't know why that needed to be there, other than when he was quoting them. Also there wasn't a hige amount of detail, what there was, was good but I would have liked more information, it would have made for better reading than jumping back to a tv series. Parts were also repetitve, almost like he had forgotten his explanation in the previous chapter. I did enjoy the informative bits, and it did enlighten me to what goes on - it's weird to think it happens in real life. Maybe if I'd watched the TV series I would like this more - maybe there needed to be a pointer on the cpver to warn people.

[Zahida Zahoor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on the TV drama series, the book explains the reality of selling drugs and inner city gangs in the UK. Sells drugs is a thriving industry run like a business, with huge profits but you will have low life expectancy if your in the game. The book discusses the new drug warlord from Albania, children working in the industry, bystanders and the new middle class elite that are the new customers.
A general ok read, the book made me want to watch the series, but I felt the author flicked between the TV series and reality too often and put too much emphasis on the show which distracted from his point. I further skipped the last chapter as it wasn't relevant and dull if you hadn't watched the show.

[Hanna Van Den Heuvel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely do not read if you haven't watched Top Boy as there are many references throughout you will not resonate with. However, if you have watched Top Boy and you, like me, think it might be the best thing ever created for the small screen, this will be of interest to you. It isn't very well written - the use of words is repetitive and overdramatized (netherworld, triggerhappy) and the structure is very unclear. Yet it still deserves 3 stars in my opinion because of the understanding of crime as a result of racial and social inequality, as well as the amount and insights of the many interviews the author was able to conduct with dealers.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got recommended this by a friend and I regret not researching more before I bought it. It’s starts well with some good detail on real life gangsters but then soon disappears into fiction. The accounts of real life Top Boys are so obviously made up it’s laughable - the story of ‘Patrick’ is so fake it’s laugh out loud funny, especially ending that section with the author claiming he can’t share any details with the reader because someone knocked on his door and told him Patrick’s crew would off him if he wrote about him!

Terrible book, avoid

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be quite interesting however I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I think this is because I expected more in depth stories of the ‘real top boys’ of London.

Saying that, there were things that I found out about some really interesting people and stories. I would say to anyone wanting to gain some kind of knowledge about gang related crimes who doesn’t have knowledge on this subject and would like to learn the harsh reality of the matter would benefit from reading this.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your a fan of Top Boy with Ashley Walters and Kano you need to read this book!
Definitely adding this to my top reads of 2026! Much of this will stay woth me. Many chilling tales and much like Dushane and Sully the people in here grow on you and live under your skin.
An eye opening book into Londons underworld on the housing estates of east London.
🙏🤯

[Simon Gough · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looked forward to reading this but was very disappointed
Not sure how it was stretched out to 300+ pages, a lot of repetitive accounts of life in London Gangs
I really enjoyed other books by this author but not this 1

[mr oj pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

An excellent book, from an author I have followed for years. Illustrates how difficult it is to escape the life if you are. Raised in certain areas of the capital

[Demi Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Book was ok I did find it a bit repetitive though.

[Neil Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent bookhighlighting the real truth behind a compelling TV drama

[Nashe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 interesting

[mrs e collard · Rating 2 out of 5]

good read

Good read although slow in parts. Was kinda done part way through and felt repetitive at times. Overall glad I’ve read it.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

RAN🏃 through first 3/4 but was much harder to get through the end :/

[Elle Luxford · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧
⭐️⭐️⭐️•5️⃣

[Ajax · Rating 2 out of 5]

2

[Ben L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, eye opening and a great read. Watching Top Boys is a must too. 👍🏻😁

[A Book Lovers Diary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. The only issue I had was around some of the language used, it just didn’t sit right sometimes.

[John Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read but hard to follow in places