Powder Wars: The Supergrass Who Brought Down Britain's Biggest Drug Dealers

by Graham Johnson

Gangster Paul Grimes was a one-man crimewave with a breathtaking capacity to steal. Any villains who got in his way were made to pay—often with their blood. But when his son died of a drug overdose, the old-school mobster swore revenge on the new generation of Liverpool-based heroin and cocaine dealers. Against all odds, he turned undercover informant.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2004

About the author

There is more than one author in the database with this name. Not all books on this profile belong to the same person.

For the British musicologist, see Graham Johnson, listed on Goodreads as Graham^^Johnson.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty account of growing up as a member of one of Liverpool's crime families. Paul Grimes steps you through his (I stress his) account of being a career criminal. From shop lifting in Bootle to nationwide drug importing, Grimes crossed paths with the likes of Curtis Warren and John Hasse, later putting them away when he turned grass due to his son dying of an overdose.

This book is split into two with Graham Johnson giving background information to Grimes' first-person account.

The book is a good read, however it's ruined by Grimes' poor justification for turning "grass" (informer). He happy laughs off attacking people with claw hammers and throwing people out of cars but preaches that those who sell drugs are the scum of the earth. Such hypocrisy is comical.

[Jane Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was given this, didn't know much about it, and, as it was a short book, thought I'd give it a go. Wasn't a bad start, but as I read on, it was just the same ol same ol again and again. I got bored and was thankful when I got to the end.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A proper trashy and gritty account of Liverpool's criminal underworld and underground drugs scene covering the late 80s/early 90s era. Focused primarily on the notorious gangster Paul Grimes, it's the classic tale of a successful druglord who experiences the drug-related death of a loved one (in this case, his son), and then turns it all around by becoming a Police informant hellbent on bringing the people he once associated with, to justice.

[Mart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was alright

I've read a lot of these story s in previous books so.....same old same old. Try find something new to Wright about

[Rosie Sloane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was well written and eye-opening.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story, well presented

The beans of the book is ofcourse how he came to be a grass but the first half where he just rattles off the bullshit he was upto as a criminal is also great

[Martin Morris]

£3 from HMV. Worth a read I suppose. Nothing in it that wasn't covered in McIntyres Underworld.

[Joe]

Good account of Liverpool Gangster turning against major drug dealer.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful true account of organised crime in Liverpool.

[Ian Fiddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10. A fascinating read. Got through this one very quickly.

[Andy Sutcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book some years ago and could not put it down. Opens your ryes and confirms your suspicions of the gangland culture operating in Liverpool.