• Assignment One

  Need Recommendations!

  Posted by Phillip Lacy on 27 February 2025 at 18:58

  Hey

  I’m working on my crime novel, Right Hand Lead, but I’m aware that I don’t know as much as I’d like to about its particular sub-genre. Right Hand Lead is a gangster-focused novel.

  I have read quite a lot of crime novels: a ton of James Ellroy, a fair few of Martin Cruz Smith’s Renko novels, some Antti Tuomainen, Owen Matthews, plenty of spy stuff, a few translated Polish novels, and so on. But not much contemporary gangster stuff.

  I don’t really know where to start. Much of the biographical matter out there is dated. Asking Uncle Google hasn’t been helpful. So I’m asking you!

  Gangster novels. 21st Century British setting. What’s good?

  Phillip Lacy replied 31 minutes ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
• 2 Replies

• 

  Steve Marks

  Member

  1 March 2025 at 13:42

  Hi Phil – happy to help here. First off the Layer Cake – JJ Connolly – in my top 10 of all time ! I like – A Good Day To Die – Amen Alonge fairly recent. Then a strong American contemporary – A Lesson in Violence – Jordan Harper. Also – Stone Cold Trouble – Amer Anwar – Indian gangs in London. One other must is any one of the Parker series -Richard Starke – another American 1950s writer but quite short books and so so good.

  • 

    Phillip Lacy

    Member

    4 March 2025 at 20:17

    Thanks, Steve!

    Layer Cake – I’m familiar with the movie. I’ll look up the other stuff too.

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