The Long Firm - Jake Arnott

Jake Arnott's accomplished debut takes the form of five interlinked short stories, that collectively tell of the criminal history of Harry Starks, 'Torture Gang Boss' and entrepreneur. Between the boyfriend, the crooked peer, the heavy, the showgirl and the academic, snapshots contribute to a bigger picture of Starks. The novel has been praised for its meticulous attention to historical detail, and it feels entirely accurate. The '60's period tone never falters, and the depth of his research isn't to be denied. But at times, all that knowledge weighs heavily on Arnott. He spends far too much time explicating his underworld slang, in a ...