Download or read book Gangland Glasgow written by Robert Jeffrey and published by Spotlight Poets. This book was released on 2002 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharp-suited gang members hiding swords down the panelling of trendy Italian scooters Police wearing specially designed leather neckbands to deflect knife attacks Mounted police wielding sabres For more than 100 years Glasgow was known worldwide for its gangsters and villains. This book traces the history of the city's gangland violence from the bloody turf wars, extortion and religious battles to the rise in drug dealing today. A powerful read.

Download or read book The Glasgow Curse written by William Lobban and published by Birlinn. This book was released on 2013-10-03 with total page 349 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This chilling and disturbing memoir tells the story of one of Glasgow's most notorious criminals. In his own words, William Lobban tells how he was born in Exeter Prison to a violent, schizophrenic mother. His upbringing in the East End of Glasgow was just as bleak, and he ended up in care, destined for a life of violence and insecurity. Aged only 15 he masterminded a daring break-in to a Glasgow pub, and many years of armed robberies, dealing class A drugs and gang fights followed. When he wasn't causing mayhem on the streets, Lobban was serving terms in various young offenders' institutions and prisons, where he was involved in some of the most serious prison riots of recent years. In the course of his criminal career Lobban became closely associated with the infamous Paul Ferris, who was later to incriminate him as the murderer of fellow gangster Arthur Thompson Jr. Police also believed that Lobban was the man behind the brutal double killing of Bobby Glover and Joe 'Bananas' Hanlon, but none of these charges was made to stick. Finally released from prison in 1998, Lobban decided to walk away from a life of crime, but at first it proved impossible for him to break the way of life that had moulded him, and only in recent years has he found a measure of peace and stability. In this searing expose of the Glasgow underworld he reveals the true facts behind those crimes which he really committed, and those of which he is falsely accused.

Download or read book Gangs of Glasgow written by Robert Jeffrey and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07-19 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the twenty-first century, Glasgow is still a city living down a fearsome reputation for crime. And for some citizens of the Dear Green Place, brawling is in the blood and gang warfare is a way of life. The stinking deprivation of the Gorbals and the East End, deprivation that helped spawn pre-war gangs like the Billy Boys, the Norman Conks and the Redskins, is largely gone, but in each era new gangs have risen to take their place. Battles over turf and control of the drugs trade still regularly make the headlines. Now newly updated, Gangs of Glasgow takes an in-depth look at the gripping evolution of the city's gangs from the days of the Penny Mob, through the extortion, slashings and street fighting of the Thirties to the smart-suited men of violence of the modern day.

Download or read book Gangland Glasgow written by Robert Jeffrey and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sharp-suited gang members hiding swords down the panelling of trendy Italian scooters Police wearing specially designed leather neckbands to deflect knife attacks Mounted police wielding sabres For more than 100 years Glasgow was known worldwide for its gangsters and villains. This book traces the history of the city's gangland violence from the bloody turf wars, extortion and religious battles to the rise in drug dealing today. A powerful read.

Download or read book Glasgow s Hard Men written by Robert Jeffrey and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2006-08-16 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than 100 years the poverty of Glasgow's slums fuelled the violence of the gangs. But the criminals were not Glasgow's only hard men. The crimefighters - from cops to chief constables and high court judges - were also tough. This volume is the story of both sides, the good and the bad, and the battle between the two.

Download or read book Blink written by David Leslie and published by Random House. This book was released on 2012-06-07 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a young man in Glasgow’s underworld, Ian ‘Blink’ MacDonald fought, robbed and slashed his way to the top, developing a taste for the high life along the way. His notoriety earned him an offer of work from Scotland’s most feared gangster, Arthur Thompson, but MacDonald had other plans: to finance a new life in Spain with the multimillion-pound proceeds of a high-risk armed bank robbery. But the job went badly wrong, and MacDonald was jailed for 16 years. In prison, he met scores of high-profile inmates, including torture-gang boss Eddie Richardson, high-society serial killer Archie Hall, notorious lifer Charles Bronson and Ronnie O’Sullivan senior, father of the snooker star. On his release, MacDonald became a magnet for trouble, enjoying a hedonistic, drug-fuelled lifestyle and finding himself drawn into conflict with police, gangsters and businessmen. Rearrested several times, he was the target of more than one terrifying murder attempt. In Blink, MacDonald provides an eye-opening account of his highly eventful journey through life in Glasgow’s brutal gangland.

Download or read book Scotland s Wildest Bank Robber written by Ian Macdonald and published by . This book was released on 2020-12-18 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a young man in Glasgow's underworld, Ian 'Blink' MacDonald earned a reputation for fighting and stabbing his enemies. After refusing to work for Arthur "The Godfather" Thompson, he tried to steal £6 million in a high-risk armed bank robbery. While serving 16 years, Blink met the torture-gang boss Eddie Richardson, the serial killer Archie Hall, notorious lifer Charles Bronson and members of the Krays. After his release, his drug-fuelled violent lifestyle created conflict with the police and rival gangsters. Rearrested several times, he was the target of a gruesome assassination attempt. During filming for Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men, a bomb was discovered under Blink's car and the terrified camera-crew members fled from Scotland. In Scotland's Wildest Bank Robber, Blink provides a jaw-dropping account of how he survived gangland warfare, prisons, stabbings and bombs.

Download or read book The Alex Kane Gangland Thriller Collection written by Alex Kane and published by Hera books Ltd. This book was released on 2022-07-28 with total page 1397 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Prepare to be plunged into the darkest corners of Scotland in these four gritty books; The Angels, The Housewife, The New Friend and The Family Business. The Angels: Amber. As the top performer at Angel Silk gentleman’s club, Amber’s seen it all and been forced to do things she never wanted to do. She’s tired of this life... but can she escape it? Strong queen bee and mother to the girls, Lizzy, has been hiding her own dark secrets – and if they come to light, her life could be destroyed. Jade, the newest dancer at Angel Silk, is innocent, beautiful... and trapped in over her head. The three women must come together to take back their lives from feared gangster, Marcus. Will he let them go – or will finding freedom mean paying the ultimate price? The Housewife: Leah is the perfect mum to ten-year-old Samuel, wife to loving husband Thomas and head of the PTA. But her closet is full of skeletons – and if the truth gets out, her world could be destroyed. Annie is a gangster’s moll who isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty to play the men at their own game. But what no one knows is the devastating secret haunting her. King of Glasgow gangland, Terry is working his way up from estate to mansion. From drugs to guns, there’s nothing he won’t stop at to grow his dirty money. As their three stories collide, the lives of each will never be the same... The New Friend: Arabella MacQueen had a tough start. Growing up surrounded by drugs and alcohol, getting into trouble as a teen, she’s now in her late-twenties and has turned her life around. Until the fateful night that sees her imprisoned for ten months. She’s hit rock bottom ... but unexpectedly forges a bond with cellmate Roxanne McPhail that lasts beyond the prison walls. Now both women are free, and Arabella is excited about the future with boyfriend Eddie, with Roxanne at her side. But Arabella doesn’t know the truth about her new best friend; about Roxanne’s reputation as the head of Glasgow gangland, about the violence in Roxanne’s past. She doesn’t know that Roxanne has plans for Arabella that might lead her into some very dangerous places... The Family Business: Donnie Black is charming, successful... and utterly terrifying. He rules the Glasgow underworld with an iron fist. Nothing – or no one – will stop him and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty to grow his fortune. Layla has been married to Donnie for twenty years, enjoying the lavish world he has worked hard to create. But Layla doesn’t know the secrets Donnie keeps – and the truth will send her spiralling. Young, beautiful and innocent Louise Bellshaw is charmed by Donnie and believes she’s found true love. But Louise doesn’t know her dream man has plans that will turn her life into a nightmare – you’ll do anything for the ones you love, won’t you? Completely addictive, gripping gangland thrillers that will have you hooked. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Mandasue Heller. Praise for Alex Kane ‘Dark and gritty... kept me hooked from the first page.’ Casey Kelleher, author of No Fear and Mine ‘Got under my skin. Alex Kane writes one hell of a villain.’ Gemma Rogers, author of Stalker and Reckless ‘A great crime family saga filled with strong female characters... definitely a five star read and I already cannot wait to re-read.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Amazing. Would recommend this author to anyone... So many twists and turns.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my good god, what a blooming gripping fantastic read... Lots of twists and turns that will keep you on tenterhooks throughout.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must read! Highly deserving of all the stars and completely unputdownable.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Full of tension, this will have you racing through the pages.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book Glasgow Crimefighter written by Les Brown and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2005-11-15 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For decades, a war to control Glasgow's streets has been waged. On one side are some of the most violent and dangerous criminals in the world and, on the other, a police force with officers as hard as the gangsters, striving to keep the city safe. In GLASGOW CRIMEFIGHTER, legendary detective Les Brown tells the extraordinary and controversial inside story of his part in this conflict during his twenty-two years as a Glasgow detective. Throughout this time, he dealt with gangland bosses like Arthur Thompson and Tam McGraw, took on mobs of street fighters and helped in the hunt for Bible John. Compelling, hard-hitting and intensely human, GLASGOW CRIMEFIGHTER is a fascinating report from the frontline of a great city's battle against crime.

Download or read book Glasgow s Godfather written by Robert Jeffrey and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2011-05-22 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Walter Norval was a man marked by destiny to be a career criminal in one of Britain's hardest cities. As a boy he grew up in a world of illegal betting, violent canal bank pitch-and-toss schools, sleazy dance halls, brothels and bars where the denizens of the slums in the north side of Glasgow slaked gargantuan thirsts and plotted murder and mayhem. Before he had reached his teens, close relatives had died as blood was spilled in the streets. As a youngster he ran 'messages' for the toughest gangsters in the city and stood guard over the pots of cash in illegal gambling schools. It was a remarkable apprenticeship, dangerous and sometimes deadly. It honed a latent toughness and a talent for lawbreaking that saw him emerge in the Seventies as the first of a succession of Glasgow godfathers. Dressed in pinstriped style, he controlled his foot soldiers with fearsome fists and planned robberies with the attention to detail of a military general. He organised various Glasgow fighting factions into a single gang, which pulled off a spectacular series of robberies. But, unlike his successors, he abhorred drugs and drug-dealing.And, in a remarkable twist, he joined the anti-drugs war in later life. His story - told by the best-selling crime historian Robert Jeffrey - provides a fascinating insight into the making of a criminal mastermind, from boy to man.

Download or read book Gorbals Diehards written by Colin MacFarlane and published by Random House. This book was released on 2011-03-25 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enid Blyton wrote about the Famous Five - wholesome kids who were always up to some adventure or other - but during the 1960s Glasgow boy Colin MacFarlane had his own gang: the Incredible Gorbals Diehards. These were young boys trying to survive in one of the world's toughest areas, the infamous slums of Glasgow. During the gang's daily adventures, they came across a plethora of undesirable characters, including foul-mouthed drunks, thieves, razor-flicking gang members, con men, fly men and street brawlers. Through it all, MacFarlane and his band of brothers retained their sense of humour while roaming the filthy, stench-ridden Gorbals backstreets. In the third volume of his acclaimed memoirs, bestselling author Colin MacFarlane reveals what it was like to grow up on the streets of the Gorbals during this period. Be prepared to be shocked and entertained at the adventures of the gang that called themselves the Incredible Gorbals Diehards.

Download or read book Underworld written by Duncan Campbell and published by Random House. This book was released on 2019-07-11 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Live on the wrong side of the law with Britain’s gangsters, Peaky Blinders, godfathers, robbers, informers, kingpins, vice lords and career criminals ***The Sunday Times Bestseller *** With stories of murder, theft, fraud and treachery, The Underworld is a deep-dive into the history of professional and organised crime in Britain. From the racetrack gangs and the smash-and-grab merchants, through the Soho vice bosses and the Kray twins, to the Great Train Robbers, the Hatton Garden burglars and the new wave of international hit-men and drug and sex traffickers, Duncan Campbell exposes the dark underbelly of Britain. A unique perspective – told by the criminals themselves and the detective who pursued them – this is a definitive history from the very beginning to the present day.

Download or read book The Underworld Captain written by Alexander Shannon and published by Random House. This book was released on 2011-04-07 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alexander Shannon escaped a shady past to enjoy a glittering career in the army, only to end up back in the thick of criminal activity. Shannon's time as a soldier saw him posted to the Falklands, Northern Ireland and war-torn Bosnia. The rigours of army life took their toll and he found himself drawn into a series of ruthless gang wars. He used the skills he'd learned in the forces to hide weapons, work for drugs racketeers and plot a massacre, and he was offered a fortune to work as a Mafia-style contract assassin. He was questioned over brutal killings and accused of a triple murder attempt, yet his dedication and determination to succeed in the army brought him accolades and a series of promotions. In The Underworld Captain, Shannon explains how he managed to combine a successful army career with dangerous gangland dealings for so long and how he finally broke free for good.

Download or read book Bleak written by R.M. Murray and published by Saraband. This book was released on 2022-04-05 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Best First Book of the Year, Scotland's National Book Awards 2021. An entertaining Scottish memoir of rain, biting bugs, and minor humiliations, lightened with music, booze, dry humor and an array of eccentric characters. R.M. Murray has a story. Quite a few of them. Of seasickness, hangovers, the wrong kind of weather. Of the joy of woe, and disappointments fairy-lit with hope. From fishing in the endless rain on the Isle of Lewis to performing in a punk band with Craig Ferguson and Peter Capaldi at Glasgow's famous School of Art. A stargazer, looking through the wrong end of the telescope. This is a memoir... of sorts. A join-the-dots journey through a life. A series of vignettes and minor personal fables. If it were a wine it would be very dry with an insolent nose and a desperate finish. Complex but approachable. And affordable.

Download or read book The Barlinnie Story written by Robert Jeffrey and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2011-11-08 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Barlinnie is one of the most notorious prisons in the world and for a hundred years it has held Glasgow's toughest and most violent men, swept up from the city streets. Ten men died on its gallows in the infamous Hanging Shed, including serial killer Peter Manuel. It has sparked rooftop protests and cell block riots, and been home to godfathers of crime like Arthur Thompson Snr and Walter Norval. Barlinnie was also the scene of one of the most controversial experiments in penal history, the Special Unit, where the likes of Jimmy Boyle and Hugh Collins were at the centre of a fierce battle between those who see prison as retribution and those who regard it as a step on the road to redemption, even for the most evil killers. Paul Ferris, T C Campbell and gangleaders galore have languished behind its grim walls and, a hundred years on, Barlinnie still makes headlines. This is its fascinating, turbulent story.

Download or read book The Last Godfather written by Reg McKay and published by Black & White Publishing. This book was released on 2006-04-15 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It used to be thought that no single person could rule the mean streets of Glasgow. Arthur Thompson proved this to be wrong. From an ordinary working-class family, Thompson started out as a bouncer and minder. Hard yet bright, he learned quickly. Cross him and you'd be scarred. Cheat him and he nailed you to the floor, crucifixionstyle. The gangsters of Glasgow thought it couldn't get any worse - it did. For forty years, Thompson ruled Glasgow and there came a time when his capacity for violence became so boundless that people would pray to be crucified. This fully revised edition of The Last Godfather visits places no law-abiding person has been. The gunrunning, murders, drug dealing and torture are all still there but there's much more - atrocities like how he improved on crucifixion as a means of revenge, how he created Europe's Tartan Mafia, how he invented concrete boots as a failsafe way of disposing of enemies' corpses. Then there are the ways he has had an impact on the lives and, more importantly, deaths of others - one man killed by a sniper, another kidnapped in London and tortured for days in Glasgow. Thompson died of natural causes but his influence didn't stop at his grave - which, incidentally, was deliberately left unmarked in case someone he'd had a run-in with decided to dig him up and wreak some kind of horrible revenge. This new edition includes previously unexplored aspects of Thompson's legacy and investigates the reasons there could never be another gang lord as all-powerful as Arthur Thompson - why he was destined to become The Last Godfather.

Download or read book Dead Find written by T.F. Muir and published by Constable. This book was released on 2022-11-29 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Tightly plotted with a real sense of place and characters with heart that will stay with me for some time. Recommended for all lovers of police procedurals' Lisa Ballantyne St. Andrews, Scotland: Renovation works on the famous Old Course golf course uncovers the remains of a body in a shallow grave - two bullet holes in the skull. DNA confirms the victim as Rab Shepherd, the missing brother of Scotland's late crime patriarch, Jock Shepherd. But Rab pulled out of the family business over twenty years ago, and moved to Australia where he allegedly lived an honest and wealthy life. This body confirms otherwise. Why was Rab killed? And who would risk killing him, knowing he was big Jock's brother? DCI Andy Gilchrist and his associate, DS Jessie Janes, are assigned the murder investigation, and soon uncover a trail of executions and torture, treachery and betrayal, and ultimately a gangland secret so powerful it could shake the UK government to its core... PRAISE FOR T.F. MUIR: 'Rebus did it for Edinburgh. Laidlaw did it for Glasgow. Gilchrist might just be the bloke to put St Andrews on the crime fiction map.' Daily Record 'A truly gripping read, with all the makings of a classic series.' Mick Herron 'Gripping and grisly, with plenty of twists and turns that race along with black humour.' Craig Robertson 'DCI Gilchrist gets under your skin. Though, determined, and a bit vulnerable, this character will stay with you long after the last page.' Anna Smith 'Gripping!' Peterborough Telegraph