- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Black and White Publishing (1 Nov 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1845020308
- ISBN-13: 978-1845020309
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 476,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
One dark night in London during the 1960s, the city's famous twins in crime, the Krays, were holding court in their busy nightclub when they were told somebody wanted to see them. This in itself was audacious enough but what happened next simply beggared belief. There, on the Krays' home turf, the stranger who had made this bold request pulled a sawn-off shotgun from under his coat and demanded that Ron kiss his brother Reg's arse. As Ron knelt and complied with what he'd been asked to do, the grim-faced man smirked and, in a strong Glasgow accent, announced, 'Ma name's Arthur Thompson - ye'll remember me!' Backing out and still holding the gun, Thompson jumped into a waiting cab and sped off through the streets of London This is the opening of The Last Godfather, the true story of Arthur Thompson as it has never been told before. Reg McKay goes back to trace Thompson's criminal life from his apprenticeship as bouncer and heavy for the mobs, his graduation to armed bank robber and through to his rise to the top of the UK's criminal world. Once he had attained this postition, keeping hold of it was never going to be easy and Thompson had to fight constantly to maintain his status as top dog in a world where violence ruled. McKay covers the many 'contracts' taken out on Thompson's life and how he managed to survive the hit men who were out to get him. He also explores the private tragedies the man endured and his possible affiliation with Irish paramilitaries. Thompson supposedly died in his bed of a heart attack but McKay suggests the cause of death may well have been due to something much more sinister...
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had a fasination with this book as my family, on my granmothers side, are in it. So it was a revelation to read what they were up to, I always thought they were really nice and I always liked going to see them.
The book however, begins in the usual way, boy rises above his hard child hood and uses what ever he has to rise abive the rest, even if that is with violence. Where this book got really intereseting was when he gets to the top, what he does to stay there.
Couldn't put the book down. Very easy to read, clear and to the point. Refers to Paul Ferris and so led me to buy the Ferris Conspiracy, which is another good read but similar source material.
Recommend this book. Pulls no punches, tells it how it was and allows you to make your own judgements to the type of people they were.
The book however, begins in the usual way, boy rises above his hard child hood and uses what ever he has to rise abive the rest, even if that is with violence. Where this book got really intereseting was when he gets to the top, what he does to stay there.
Couldn't put the book down. Very easy to read, clear and to the point. Refers to Paul Ferris and so led me to buy the Ferris Conspiracy, which is another good read but similar source material.
Recommend this book. Pulls no punches, tells it how it was and allows you to make your own judgements to the type of people they were.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Great book. Much better than alot of those Glasgow crime world books that talk more about broken bottles than they do, personalities.
I see one problem here though. Reg takes every opportunity to talk at great length about Paul Ferris. The Ferris Conspiracy was a great book too but it's already been written, this book is more like the part Aurthur played in Ferris's life.
I see one problem here though. Reg takes every opportunity to talk at great length about Paul Ferris. The Ferris Conspiracy was a great book too but it's already been written, this book is more like the part Aurthur played in Ferris's life.
Good book Reg, stop thinking about Paul though.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked this book up on sale just a few weeks ago because I was intrigued by the legend of Arthur Thompson and other Glasgow gangsters who dont seem to be household names like most of your london faces although are just as interesting. I have to say I couldnt put it down once I started. After finishing the book which took me one night and a plane journey I felt like I wanted to know more about the man. And I,m glad as wel that for once organised crime was portrayed in a less glamourous light and showed reasons for why many career crimanals do what they do. Think I,ll have to go and buy the Ferris Conspiracy and maybe some other Glasgow crime books,fascinating!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Revenge
Paul Ferris has admitted that these Reg McKay books are acts of retaliation. Firstly against the Thompson family for trying to have him convicted of the murder of Thompson Junior,... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Baby Blue
book review
The book i recieved was in excelent condition that is about all i could say about it i have read The Paul Ferris conspirecy theory and his other books and i feel there is more than... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Michael Callaghan
If only this guy had been a Banker.
You would not borrow money from this firm, and miss a payment. Read part of this book and U will understand. Fact ot fiction.
Published on 19 Jan 2009 by A. Macrae
britains only godfather
Forget the Krays,the real top dogs in gangland uk were Arthur Thompson and his crew.Running britains toughest city(glasgow)for 30 years was no mean feat. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by Thomas Smith
Well written account of a "Hardman"
Thompson was fortunate to have lived in the era of honour among Criminals,something he lacked in his double cross of Ferris, I absolutely refuse to believe the account of his... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2007 by The Colonel
excellent read
brings back many memories of living in glagow.i could not put this book down. well done reg mckay
Published on 26 Jun 2006 by Mr. F. Anderson
Very good
This is a very good read. After Meeting the Guv'nor by Greg Watts it is probably the best book I've read this year.
Published on 10 Mar 2005 by tom
Amazing!
Of all the recent books I've read in the true crime genre, this was by far the best read. Apart from being grippingly entertaining, it gave a fascinating insight into a world I... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2005
E Thompson
Always intrigued...Found out I was a Thompson family member a few years ago and this was an insight into family life, true or untrue not sure but enjoyed reading the book and... Read more
Published on 27 Jan 2005 by J. Cave
Ferris fan club
I was very disappointed with this account of Arthur Thompson's life as a leading player in Glasgow's underworld. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2005
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