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Chief constables could learn a great deal from how these old-time detectives tackled crime. -- John Beadle, President of the Ex-CID Officers Association
Dick Kirby's latest endeavour, 'The Guv'nors' is an informed and thrilling account of the work of these great men. -- Paul Millen, author of 'Crime Scene Investigator'
Scotland Yard legends are vividly brought to life by a man who has walked the walk, the Flying Squad's own Dick Kirby.
-- Joseph Wambaugh, author of 'The Choirboys' & 'Hollywood Moon'
Dick Kirby's latest endeavour, 'The Guv'nors' is an informed and thrilling account of the work of these great men. -- Paul Millen, author of 'Crime Scene Investigator'
Scotland Yard legends are vividly brought to life by a man who has walked the walk, the Flying Squad's own Dick Kirby.
-- Joseph Wambaugh, author of 'The Choirboys' & 'Hollywood Moon'
Product Description
The ten Scotland Yard detectives, featured in The Guv nors, are unique. Such a group of intrepid crime-busters will never exist again. They possessed only the most rudimentary education; none had a degree. Intuition and knowledge of their manor counted for more than DNA and databases. They worked tirelessly in the pursuit of criminals, used informants, worked on hunches and grabbed hold of investigations and shook them until every piece of evidence was unearthed. Criminals trembled when these detectives were after them because, once they were nicked, they stayed nicked. The Guv nors covers legends such as Fred Wensley, who nailed strips of bicycle tyres to the soles of his boots when on the look-out for Jack the Ripper. He later formed the Flying Squad and became chief constable of the CID. Fred Sharpe would single-handedly confront forty of the worst racetrack gangsters and tell them to clear off , anyone who refused would collect a punch on the jaw. Sharpe later became head of the Flying Squad, as did Bob Fabian, who was awarded the King s Police Medal for dismantling an IRA bomb. Bert Wickstead, known as The Gangbuster , literally terrorised the gangs who attempted to fill the void in London s East End, after the demise of the Kray bothers. This is a book which will delight those who want to know what life was like when The Guv nors and others like them were in charge of law and order and the streets were far safer than they are today.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read all of the authors previous works and always found them to be thoroughly interesting and written with the knowledge gained from a vast experience. This book is about the lives and work of ten of the best detectives to have walked the corridor's of Scotland Yard. His research is second to none and he delivers to the reader, stories of how these detectives investigated and dealt with serious crime and the perpetrators of it in bygone days. Unfortunately, without being critical of todays hard working detectives, we will probably never see the like of these ten again. As always, a fabulous read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I found this book interesting and enjoyable. I have read all of this authors previous publications, and like them, his knowledge of the subject, enthusiasm for telling a good story backed by his obvious commitment to researching the subject thoroughly does come through. It is does give the reader an insight as to how policing of days gone by were vastly different as from today. Personal knowledge of miscreants, their habits and haunts, when conjoined with the detectives guile and gut feeling makes it, to my mind, a good read. Just some of the `tricks' that they used to apprehend a felon allows one to imagine the almost `chess game' that went on between the two sides, rather than sitting down and waiting for scientist to solve the case as is today's way. The fact that my Grandfather was at the siege of Sydney St and had recalled to me his story of the happenings, made the book just a bit more of a connection to me than most others. I would recommend it and any of Mr Kirby's other works.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Once again, I found Dick's writing very interesting and informative. He conjures up images of the good old days when Policemen were allowed to get on with their job - that of protecting the law abiding public and locking up the baddies, which they did with tenacity and professionalism. Sadly, the do-gooders have put an end to that with their insistence on preserving the civil rights of the criminal, without any thought for the victim.
I couldn't put the book down - read it in one sitting and enjoyed it immensely.
Well done again Dick. keep 'em coming.
I couldn't put the book down - read it in one sitting and enjoyed it immensely.
Well done again Dick. keep 'em coming.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great opportinity missed
Not a great read and feel that Dick Kirby has missed a great opportunity when writing this book, it would have been far better to pick one of the Guv'nors and add some substance,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. Raymond Gregory
Learning from history
The Guv'nors is a departure from Dick Kirby's usual style of presenting police anecdotes. This book is very entertaining and informative - a 'must read' for every armchair or... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. Edwin Williams
the guv'nors
ANOTHER FIRST CLASS BOOK. THE AUTHOR HAVING JOINED THE MET AND SPENT THE VAST MAJORITY OF HIS CAREER ON THE *COBBLES* AND STAYED IN TOUCH WITH REALITY. Read more
Published 15 months ago by ANN TAYLOR
The Guv'nors
Once you start reading it, you will put it down when you finish it.
You will never see the likes of these men in the police force again.
So read how it used to be. Read more
You will never see the likes of these men in the police force again.
So read how it used to be. Read more
Published 16 months ago by G. Hickson
Richard,yet another great book.
I have known the author of The Guv'nors for some years and during my 32 years service in the Metropolitan Police Force,with 29 years spent in the C.I. Read more
Published 16 months ago by David Pritchard
Very disappointing
I had high hopes of this book. The previous review and the synopsis of the content led me to believe it would be a fascinating delve into the history of policing with interesting... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Victoria Chesters
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