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Editorial Review:
"Violence is a messy business". Bernard O'Mahoney's words don't do justice to the casual brutality that litters his side of the Rettendon murders story. And justice, as opposed to man-made law, is his pre-occupation throughout. Standing toe-to-toe with Tony Thompson's account, Bloggs 19, what drives O'Mahoney's uneasy narrative is the belief that the two men jailed for the murder of three Firm members are innocent. One would be tempted to say that hoodlums assassinating hoodlums is itself a form of natural justice, and that Mick Steele and Jack Whomes were hardly angels, but that panders to the vengeful amorality endemic in that world. O'Mahoney was head doorman at Raquels nightclub in Basildon, where the ecstasy tablet was procured which killed Leah Betts. The dead girl's father holds O'Mahoney primarily responsible for her death, as he was aware of the drug dealing in the club. The first edition of this book, called "So This Is Ecstasy?", was initially withdrawn after Paul Betts objected to the use of the now-famous image of Leah on a life-support machine. Leah is one of the "victims" to whom the book is dedicated, while O'Mahoney's coldly staring eyes now fix you from the cover.
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
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
poor Poor book , well researched but thats all it is , research.
Not as in-depth as what the other "real" key members of the Essex boys have written. Not the best book on the subject imo. Best taken with a pinch of salt.
Eye Opener I originally bought this book about 5 years ago. Since that time, I have re-read it many times and can honestly say that this is a very interesting book. This book is succesful in showing the reader that the underworld is not all money and glamour. This book highlights the true state of the murky underworld that is involved in narcotics and the devestating effect that it can have. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in True Crime.
Essex Boys has ring of authnenticity. During the early 90's I spent two wild and exciting years working on the doors in Blackpool's club-land. O'Mahoney's book captures perfectly the mood and culture of the time. The only difference in the characters of 'Essex Boys'and any 'Boys'from any other major club-scene are the names and faces, everything else is the same - the same drugs, same personalities, same muscles, and yes, the same Range Rovers (or maybe a Shogun). The book proved completely fascinating to me as I felt that I could almost... more info
a good look at the english club scene A very good book about the door scene in Essex aswell as the death of Leah Betts, The triple land rover murders in Rettendon and the drug dealing and double crossing that surrounded these chaotic times. this book is rather contradictory to tony thompsons excellent Bloggs19
