A KINGDOM OF RATS: a novel
In the shadows of 1930s London, a new king is rising-but every crown is paid for in blood.
London, 1932. The River Thames takes everything in the end: secrets, bodies, and the sins of the men who rule the East End. For Jacob "Jack" Kessler, rising from a simple tailor's boy to the heir apparent of Solomon Aronovitch's criminal empire required patience, careful arithmetic, and a ruthless willingness to do what others wouldn't. Now, Sol has been sent to the bottom of the river, and Jack sits on the throne of Wentworth Street.
But the kingdom Jack has claimed is rapidly fracturing. Rival mob boss Sallie Corvo is aggressively testing the boundaries of their territories, while a deadly, highly profitable new trade in cocaine-the "Northern goods"-threatens to bring unprecedented danger to the streets. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Harold Pike is quietly tightening a noose around Jack's entire operation.
To secure his empire and cement his power, Jack orchestrates a daring diamond heist in Hatton Garden and begins ruthlessly purging anyone he suspects of betrayal. However, his coldest calculations come at a devastating, irreversible price: the tragic death of an innocent pawn and the alienated loyalty of Georgie Payne, his oldest and most trusted friend.
Amidst the escalating violence and paranoia, Jack finds unexpected solace in Evie Marsh, a captivating Soho nightclub singer who is harboring dangerous secrets and desperate debts of her own. As Jack's empire expands and the body count rises, the line between the careful man he once was and the monster he must become begins to blur. With a full-scale turf war looming, Jack Kessler is forced to confront the ultimate question: what is the true cost of power, and how much of his own soul is he willing to drown to keep his crown?
A Kingdom of Rats is a gripping, sharply written historical crime thriller filled with ambition, brutal betrayal, and relentless suspense. Perfect for fans of Peaky Blinders, gritty gangster noir, and atmospheric 1930s London thrillers
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