Definitely not just a book about boxing! I was fascinated by this strange world of gambling, extortion and violence - and cheering Hilary on despite everything. What a dark and terrible place London can be.
Extract
The only gamblers left were those around the central table, hunched together like conspirators. As H looked around he was acutely aware of something: these people weren't here to play, the were here to work. For the patrons of Blackie's shebeen gambling was a way of life. H knew he couldn't stay in the gambling world for too much longer. Maybe until he'd had one more big win. Just one. Really.
