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North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London
Book by Willetts, Paul
270 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 22, 2018
I came to "North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London" having thoroughly enjoyed Paul Willetts’ other books: "Fear and Loathing in Fitzrovia" the biography of the English writer and dandy, Julian Maclaren-Ross; "Members Only: The Life and Times of Paul Raymond; Soho's Billionaire King of Burlesque”; and "Rendezvous at the Russian Tea Rooms: The Spyhunter, the Fashion Designer & the Man From Moscow”. Indeed it was recently reading this last book that inspired me to pick up "North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London" which had been on my shelf for a few years before finally reading it.
I am pleased to report it’s up to the same level of excellence as the other books by Paul Willetts. His customary meticulous research inform a detailed and well written account of the murder of Alec de Antiquis, a 'have-a-go hero’ who tried to obstruct a smash-and-grab gang who had just robbed a jewellers in London’s Charlotte Street on April 29 1947. This murder was symptomatic of a surge in gun crime in London after World War Two (something similar also happened after World War One).
As with the other books by Paul Willetts, where "North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London” scores highly is in the novelistic writing style and eye for detail, both of which bring post-war London vividly to life. It’s a world of bomb sites, rationing, smoke-filled pubs, grasses, violence, prostitution, and teenage gun crime. In London 10,300 people between the ages of 14 and 20 were, by 1947, convicted members of criminal gangs. Trying to reassure a jittery public, the police were required to find and convict those responsible for violent crime, with varying degrees of success.
Detective Superintendent Bob Fabian of Scotland Yard, leads the team who work tirelessly to apprehend the gang responsible for the murder of Alec de Antiquis, and it is an impressive and dedicated round-the-clock effort that is finally rewarded by success.
This book also finds time to feature the roles played by the pioneering forensic pathologist, Sir Bernard Spilsbury, the hangman Albert Pierrepoint, the journalist Duncan Webb, and many more.
In short, it is true crime writing at it’s very best, full of interesting and fascinating insights, and a compelling page turner.
4/5
I am pleased to report it’s up to the same level of excellence as the other books by Paul Willetts. His customary meticulous research inform a detailed and well written account of the murder of Alec de Antiquis, a 'have-a-go hero’ who tried to obstruct a smash-and-grab gang who had just robbed a jewellers in London’s Charlotte Street on April 29 1947. This murder was symptomatic of a surge in gun crime in London after World War Two (something similar also happened after World War One).
As with the other books by Paul Willetts, where "North Soho 999: A True Story of Gangs and Gun-Crime in 1940s London” scores highly is in the novelistic writing style and eye for detail, both of which bring post-war London vividly to life. It’s a world of bomb sites, rationing, smoke-filled pubs, grasses, violence, prostitution, and teenage gun crime. In London 10,300 people between the ages of 14 and 20 were, by 1947, convicted members of criminal gangs. Trying to reassure a jittery public, the police were required to find and convict those responsible for violent crime, with varying degrees of success.
Detective Superintendent Bob Fabian of Scotland Yard, leads the team who work tirelessly to apprehend the gang responsible for the murder of Alec de Antiquis, and it is an impressive and dedicated round-the-clock effort that is finally rewarded by success.
This book also finds time to feature the roles played by the pioneering forensic pathologist, Sir Bernard Spilsbury, the hangman Albert Pierrepoint, the journalist Duncan Webb, and many more.
In short, it is true crime writing at it’s very best, full of interesting and fascinating insights, and a compelling page turner.
4/5
January 7, 2020
Very well written history detailing the events, participants and social background of London's Post WW II crime epidemic. Willetts uses a 1947 attempted jewel robbery that resulted in the death of man attempting to thwart the criminals' escape as a centerpiece for exploring the political, social and cultural conditions that accompanied the crime, the resulting trial and the hanging of two of the criminals. There are vivid portraits of both the criminal and police participants involved, an analysis of the role played by the media and an exploration of the social consequences resulting from the key event. In an epilogue, Willetts highlights the aftermath of the situation: the proliferation of movies and TV shows inspired by the post WW II crime wave and the subsequent fates of the key participants.
The crime, investigation and trial events are meticulously recounted and Willetts' extensive research into the subject is admirable. The writing is never dry or tedious, due mainly to his character portrayals of detective Bob Fabian, hangman Albert Pierrepoint and medical examiner Bernard Spilsbury. Lesser personalities are not slighted, but more interesting than the people themselves perhaps is an examination of the investigative and forensic techniques employed by the police at the time.
Willetts maintains a detached view throughout; there is no social or political axe grinding and by providing an objective presentation of the known facts and events, he leaves the reader to muse (or not) over the results. A case in point would be Chris Geraghty, one of the two men hanged for the crime, who certainly seemed to be at least borderline incompetent. Back then however, the primary impulse would have been to err on the side of potential public safety. The criminals are not fiends and the police are not superheroes and the press is as demented as always, but even they were instrumental in doing some good: a great deal of money was raised for the family of the slain citizen attempting to fight crime.
Both informative and entertaining, I would think this book would be a must, not only for true crime enthusiasts, but for anyone interested in the social climate of Post WW II Britain.
The crime, investigation and trial events are meticulously recounted and Willetts' extensive research into the subject is admirable. The writing is never dry or tedious, due mainly to his character portrayals of detective Bob Fabian, hangman Albert Pierrepoint and medical examiner Bernard Spilsbury. Lesser personalities are not slighted, but more interesting than the people themselves perhaps is an examination of the investigative and forensic techniques employed by the police at the time.
Willetts maintains a detached view throughout; there is no social or political axe grinding and by providing an objective presentation of the known facts and events, he leaves the reader to muse (or not) over the results. A case in point would be Chris Geraghty, one of the two men hanged for the crime, who certainly seemed to be at least borderline incompetent. Back then however, the primary impulse would have been to err on the side of potential public safety. The criminals are not fiends and the police are not superheroes and the press is as demented as always, but even they were instrumental in doing some good: a great deal of money was raised for the family of the slain citizen attempting to fight crime.
Both informative and entertaining, I would think this book would be a must, not only for true crime enthusiasts, but for anyone interested in the social climate of Post WW II Britain.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews