Crooks
The Stories Behind the Headlines
Published on 7. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-80546-121-0 (ISBN)
Description
THE #1 IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
For almost forty years, Paul Williams has chronicled the life and crimes of some of Ireland's most notorious godfathers, killers and thieves. In Crooks he brings his readers for a ride-along, taking us behind the scenes of his most notorious scoops, describing the run-ins he's had with unsavoury, dangerous criminals and the high price of his line of work.
From pursuing the General to death threats from PJ 'The Psycho' Judge, exposing the Westies and tracking the Kinahan cartel, Paul's extraordinary career doubles as an eyewitness account of the evolution of organized crime in Ireland.
For almost forty years, Paul Williams has chronicled the life and crimes of some of Ireland's most notorious godfathers, killers and thieves. In Crooks he brings his readers for a ride-along, taking us behind the scenes of his most notorious scoops, describing the run-ins he's had with unsavoury, dangerous criminals and the high price of his line of work.
From pursuing the General to death threats from PJ 'The Psycho' Judge, exposing the Westies and tracking the Kinahan cartel, Paul's extraordinary career doubles as an eyewitness account of the evolution of organized crime in Ireland.
Reviews / Votes
Paul Williams is the outstanding journalist of his generation -- Joe Duffy * RTE *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-80546-121-0 (9781805461210)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2024
Atlantic Books
€6.99
Available for download
Person
Paul Williams is Ireland's leading crime writer and one of its most respected journalists. For over three decades his courageous and ground-breaking investigative work has won him multiple awards. He is the author of eleven previous bestselling books and has also researched, written and presented a number of major TV crime series. His first book, The General, was adapted for the award-winning movie of the same name by John Boorman. He is a former presenter on Newstalk Breakfast and currently writes for the Irish Independent. Williams holds an MA in Criminology and is a registered member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists based in Washington, DC.
Content
1: Crime Reporting 2: Unmasking the General 3: Publish and Be Damned 4: Shootouts and Death on the Streets 5: The Psycho 6: The Battle for Gallanstown 7: The Plague, The Godfather and The Junkie 8: Exposing the Westies 9: Finding Larry Murphy 10: The FBI: A Hero, 9/11 & The Hunt for Whitey Bulger 11: The Era of the Narcos 12: Living Dangerously 13: Danger Looms 14: The Bomb Scare 15: The Cost of Fear