- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Mainstream Publishing; Reprint edition (18 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1840187816
- ISBN-13: 978-1840187816
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.6 x 19.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 430,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
THE SOHO DON is the story of a shy London boy from a respectable family who became a shadowy but powerful figure in the Soho, Mayfair and Brighton underworlds. Smartly dressed and well spoken, Billy Howard dominated the London crime scene for 30 years, a reign punctuated only by short stays in prison. The Krays said he feared no-one and that Howard was the one man they truly respected.The protection business drew him into a lucrative world of nightclubs and gambling, on the back of the black-market trade that had flourished during the Second World War. Unlike many of the notorious figures that have emerged from this era, he was in many ways a loner, preferring to control his own operations and eschewing the leadership of a gang. In contrast to the Krays, he did not court publicity but on the occasions his name did hit the headlines, it was often with the tag 'Laughing Boy'. A boxer in the Army, a powerful street fighter and utterly fearless with a knife, Howard was ruthless in meting out punishment to villians who stepped out of line and instilled terror in witnesses who were prepared to testify against him. His power and influence were so great that even now, almost two decades after his death, close friends and casual acquaintances are still wary of speaking out. THE SOHO DON is a fine account of Howard's violent life and it exposes the links between the vicious gangland bosses, the police, the celebrity hothouses of Mayfair clubs, high-class prostitution and international gambling. It portrays his slide from power and, finally, his pathetic death in 1984.
About the Author
Michael connor is a writer and journalist and has contributed to numerous publications, including THE GUARDIAN and GQ. He has also undertaken drug trafficking research for both the NEWS OF THE WORLD and THE MIRROR. Having lived abroad for much of his life, he currently resides in Kent with his long-term partner and teenage son.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To tell you the truth I hadnt heard a lot about Billy Howard before purchasing the book so I was looking forward to reading
it as I have a huge interest in British crime. Once I started reading it however, I was very diappointed to find that the author chose to write the book in a very difficult and distant manner, not at all ever really decribing the man or his operations in great detail, leaving me to wonder very much what it was Howard became famous (or infamous) for. The book came across as more of a romantic type of storytellling in a period where Soho was the seedy capital of London and the man's true personality or his lifestyle never is really told by the author. For a man who was in the same league as the Krays and Richardsons etc, you would think that more information would havr been available to tell what would have been a great story.
it as I have a huge interest in British crime. Once I started reading it however, I was very diappointed to find that the author chose to write the book in a very difficult and distant manner, not at all ever really decribing the man or his operations in great detail, leaving me to wonder very much what it was Howard became famous (or infamous) for. The book came across as more of a romantic type of storytellling in a period where Soho was the seedy capital of London and the man's true personality or his lifestyle never is really told by the author. For a man who was in the same league as the Krays and Richardsons etc, you would think that more information would havr been available to tell what would have been a great story.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Quite frankly, this is an appalling book. The story of gangster Billy Howard is recounted by his son and therefore, it could have been an interesting read; it isn't. The author, Michael Connor has a wandering, rambling style of writing which leaves the reader thinking, `Who said that?' or `Who's he talking about?' and by the time one finds out, it really doesn't matter any longer. In his preface, Mr. Connor states that he has sought `to show the truth without fear or favour' but he falls lamentably short of the mark. The alleged conversations, particularly those between the Kray twins and his father are risible, his facts are wrong - Jack `Dodger' Mullins was not beaten to death with an iron bar; he died in hospital of pneumonia, years after the incident referred to by Mr. Connor - and Freddie Mills was not `Jack the Stripper'. This particular theory was aired years ago; it simply was not true, any more than a gangster was when he suggested in print that Tommy Butler, the head of the Flying Squad was responsible for the murders.
The names of celebrities and a number of police officers are scattered like confetti and are slotted into and linked with offences from common or garden corruption to murder - having noted that they're all conveniently dead. But are they true? With so many inaccuracies contained in the book, that seems highly doubtful. The sneering reference to the late Lord Louis Mountbatten is particularly offensive.
No. What could have been a good book goes straight in the trash can.
The names of celebrities and a number of police officers are scattered like confetti and are slotted into and linked with offences from common or garden corruption to murder - having noted that they're all conveniently dead. But are they true? With so many inaccuracies contained in the book, that seems highly doubtful. The sneering reference to the late Lord Louis Mountbatten is particularly offensive.
No. What could have been a good book goes straight in the trash can.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Pretty good bio about Billy Howard, not as well known as the Kray twins but apparently introduced them into protection rackets etc. He used to work mainly alone without a 'crew' or 'gang' and was very well respected by villains and police alike. Some sensational claims right at the end of the book which, I do not know if true, but if they were, they could have rocked the monarchy.
Billy Howards life ended quite sadly, he lived alone with not much money, a contrast to his younger years when the high life was lived.
Billy Howards life ended quite sadly, he lived alone with not much money, a contrast to his younger years when the high life was lived.
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