Essex Boys: A Terrifying Expose of the British Drugs Scene

From Brooklyn to Basildon, tales of aggression, loyalty, squabbles and double-dealing swagger fascinate "straight people", many of whom derive a voyeuristic, vicarious thrill. O'Mahoney's flat flow of anecdotes, in which much is left unsaid, builds towards Leah's death, and his own exit from Firm life, with a grim, despairing predictability, but it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the man from the self-glamorising existence of debt-collectors, doormen and gangsters, and the culture of blame and punishment it promotes. In one telling incident, David Arnell, the quietest of doormen, suddenly snaps and badly beats up a customer, illustrating how the atmosphere of violence proves the strongest narcotic of all. O'Mahoney is also the author of Soldier of the Queen, a superior account, detailing his time serving in Northern Ireland, and which fills in much of the personal detail lacking here. Without that, this book-of-the-film-of-the-book, despite its lurid fascination, ultimately punches below its weight. --David Vincent

The scary thing about this book is that it illustrates how the violence and evil perpetrated by a very small group of people affects many innocents.

There are some fascinating insights into some well-known "media gangsters", and the peculiar codes which they follow.

Much of what O'Mahoney says can be questioned: in particular, his motives behind some of his actions (where you have to read between the lines). But every event he relates his backed by facts, and he doesn't at least try to make excuses for the violence in which he often became involved.

This book won't win any literary prizes, but it is a gripping, insightful, frightening read.


THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RETTENDON MURDERS   May 23, 2000
bernard.omahoney@virgin.net (LONDON)
0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I have written this to highlight the plight of Mick Steele and Jack Whomes, two men convicted of murdering my three friends. They are in my view, innocent. It was a roller coaster life we lived and the book takes you on the same ride, you won't want to put it down until the rides over


Fascinating insight into Drugs and Violence   June 16, 2000
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

Bernie O'Mahoney tells the story of the violent world he became a part of when he was the Head Doorman at the notorious Raquels nightclub in Essex. The violence, double-crossing and hatred that was part of his daily life are graphically demonstrated, as one violent act leads to another as his 'firm' fought to control their opponents and the police, in their quest for the pickings of the Drug Dealing trade in the Night Clubs of England. A must read for anyone who underestimates the power and fear with which these Men operated.