I struggled with the first half, which is a who's who of who were involved in the Krays lives. It is difficult to read from one name to another without getting a bit lost. I was prompted to read this after seeing the trailer for Universal and Studio Canal's upcoming film Legend based upon this book and the true story of the rise and fall of London's most infamous and successful gangsters, Ronald and Reginald Kray, starring Tom Hardy as both the twins. (Note: I feel like the filmmakers definitely missed a beat not calling the movie 'Kray Kray', but whatever haha)

The Peer and the Gangster: A Very British Cover-up The Peer and the Gangster: A Very British Cover-up

Reggie was the face of the business, a club owner who mingled with the rich and famous, seemingly charming and eventually married. Ronnie on the other hand was 'scary' suffering from mental health issues all his life even his own sister in law and those who knew him were scared and wary of him. The Krays’ bribing and intimidation of witnesses and their use of solicitors and the clergy to set up potential defences against police action.Much more cerebral and wise- when compared with his twin brother, for he is otherwise a mobster- Reggie is the preferred partner.

Kray Twins Books - Goodreads Kray Twins Books - Goodreads

Not that I don't expect information in a non-fiction book (I want information), it's that this book has too much of it. The author knows his subject, and I enjoyed his writing style. It was easy reading, although at times I did get a bit bogged down in who was who, as he introduced a plethora of different characters.British actresses Diana Dors and Barbara Windsor were also courted by the Krays and photographed with them. This cross-fertilisation between crime and showbusiness, exemplified in the US by Frank Sinatra’s relationship with the mafia, had benefits for both sides: prestige for the gangsters, edgy cool for the stars. Carried away by the ease with which the famous responded to their approaches, they summoned their high-profile biographer. “They thought they would come out as good guys,” said Flanagan. John Pearson former journalist and well known writer/biographer was invited to write the Krays' memoirs in 1969, and went on to collaborate with the twins over a number of years before getting this book finally published in 1972. This has got to be the definitive Krays' biography not only because of the sources but also the nature of Ronnie Kray who was never apologetic for his behaviour and crimes thus had nothing to hide and indeed provided information on the establishment that originally prevented the original script of this book being published. See The Peer and the Gangster: A Very British Cover-up. BuzzFeed Bring Me Obsessed with travel? Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! However, while I sadly didn’t learn anything substantially new, I did like the unbiased writing, in that many of the previous books I’ve read on the Krays was either written/ghostwritten by themselves or by associates or members of their extended family/friends. I can't really say for sure how much of a bond these twins had but, like I said in the beginning of my review, I'm an identical twin and there is no deeper loyalty than to your identical twin.

The Krays – 15 Fascinating Things I Learned Secrets Of The Krays – 15 Fascinating Things I Learned

The first half of the book is heavy going. The second half improves marginally but concludes with a whimper as it records where all the bit part characters are now. Interesting to see a man who in the 1960s could be so comfortable with being out of the closet with his criminal associates and the world at large. Any Kray fans will want to add this to their collection. I have always been fascinating by them, they way they lived, he lived they lived and the people they surrounded themselves with.It was astonishing reading how two working class boys from the East End rose through the ranks to become two of the most powerful men in Britain. They effectively ruled London. They practically ran circles around the authority and were involved in armed robberies, arson, violent assaults - which often included torture and resulted in murder - from a young age.