> Skip to content
Play sample
  • Published: 30 April 2020
  • ISBN: 9781529103663
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $45.00

Underworld

The definitive history of Britain’s organised crime




The Sunday Times bestselling definitive history of Britain’s ever-changing criminal scene, perfect for readers of Bringing Down the Krays, The Real Peaky Blinders and Freddie Foreman

Live on the wrong side of the law with Britain’s gangsters, Peaky Blinders, godfathers, robbers, informers, kingpins, vice lords and career criminals

***The Sunday Times Bestseller ***

With stories of murder, theft, fraud and treachery, The Underworld is a deep-dive into the history of professional and organised crime in Britain. From the racetrack gangs and the smash-and-grab merchants, through the Soho vice bosses and the Kray twins, to the Great Train Robbers, the Hatton Garden burglars and the new wave of international hit-men and drug and sex traffickers, Duncan Campbell exposes the dark underbelly of Britain.

A unique perspective – told by the criminals themselves and the detective who pursued them – this is a definitive history from the very beginning to the present day.

  • Published: 30 April 2020
  • ISBN: 9781529103663
  • Imprint: Ebury Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $45.00

About the author

Duncan Campbell

Duncan Campbell has been writing about crime for nearly half a century. He was the crime correspondent of the Guardian and chairman of the Crime Reporters’ Association. He has written extensively on the subject of crime for various publications, including Guardian, Observer, Esquire, New Statesman, London Review of Books, Radio Times and Oldie.

He has written four other books on crime: That Was Business, This Is Personal; A Stranger and Afraid; If It Bleeds and We’ll All Be Murdered in Our Beds! The Shocking History of Crime Reporting in Britain.

Duncan was the first presenter of BBC Radio Five Live’s Crime Desk and the winner of the Bar Council newspaper journalist of the year award. He has appeared in numerous documentaries about crime and was the consultant on the 2018 film about the Hatton Garden burglary, which was partly based on an article he wrote about the case for the Guardian.

Also by Duncan Campbell

See all

Praise for Underworld

When it comes to stellar crime reporting, Duncan Campbell is the absolute maestro

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Duncan Campbell remains one of the very few journalists who has retained the criminal fraternity’s trust and respect

Howard Marks, author of Mr Nice