Glasgow Crimefighter: The Les Brown Story

by Les Brown, Robert Jeffrey

The true story of one of Glasgow's most controversial detectives and his battle with the criminals and violent street gangs of the city Two children lay dead on the floor. Beside them was a hammer and the ceiling was splattered with blood from the fatal blows. Even to a hardened detective, it was the kind of sight that would stay with you to the grave. This was Glasgow and the initial crime that led to the killings was as petty as the crime scene was horrific - the theft of a TV set. This was just one case among hundreds investigated by Les Brown, one of the most experienced and controversial detectives in a force charged with policing the city known as the Chicago of north-west Europe. Glasgow Crimefighter tells the inside story of cases and criminals who have written themselves into the history of a city where brawling is said to be in the blood. Down the years, the stories of many of the Glasgow godfathers and gangsters have appeared in lurid headlines and in books and articles. This is a different view - a rare and intensely human insight into what it was like on the other side of the law and it is told by someone who was just as hard as the men and women he hunted down. This is what it was like to be on the frontline in the war against crimes such as murder, fraud, rape, moneylending and prostitution, and having to deal with violent street gangs on a daily basis. Throughout his amazing career, Les Brown was in the thick of the action and here he gives the insider's view on many of the aspects of his work - the success stories and the failures of the controversial Special Unit, the drama of famous trials and his tangling with notorious gangland figures like Arthur Thompson.

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating true story of the crime scene in Glasgow. It was of particular interest to me as I lived in the countryside not far from the city and worked in the area for many years – but never came across any criminal activity during that period.

The author’s experience, in rising through the police ranks, highlights the frustrations experienced in coping, not only with the criminals, but with the bureaucracy, lack of justice caused by technicalities, incompetence, clever high paid defence solicitors, jealousy and corruption.

The book includes photographs, including a few of well know figures, and manages to portray a fairly clear picture of criminal life in the city, known both for it’s friendly people and dreadful crime.

Glasgow folk are known for their humour and the book includes a number of issues that made me laugh, which helped to balance some horrendous situations.

[Lisa-Jaine]

Quite an interesting book although a couple of cases were overly long and good if you are into police procedurals however at times I felt as thought he was literally reading from his notebook. Not bad but could have been better.