Welcome to the official site of Paul Knight - author of 'Coding of a concrete animal'

Billy michaels or is that ????????????? great book and a gripping read from start to finish, if you know your stuff then your recognise many of the charactors in there very judas pig. I for one am hoping to read if it happens the follow up book to this, it will be on my book shopping list and i await patiently. Well done big paulie knight you belong up there with the best sellers in the book world. As you always say "STAY FROSTY" my friend and well done.

I've got to start by being totaly honest and saying that this is the first book i have 'properly' read since leaving school 18 years ago!!!!!!
i figured that i was 'way too cool to read books! how wrong can an idiot be? i first heard of this book when the author Paul 'BIG PAULIE' Knight added me as a friend on myspace. i thought that it would be manners to repay the compliment and give his book a good coat of looking at!
I'm being 100% honest now when i say that from page 1 i was glued! I dont know if its because its a subject i can relate to or what? Not being an expert on the whole writing thing i cant say? But what i can say is that i challenge anybody to read this book and not enjoy it! Its one of them that when you get to the end your gutted that its finished! Im hoping that the author will write a follow up AND BLOODY SOON EH? So what you all waiting for? Go out and get 'CODING OF A CONCRETE ANIMAL' Today !
You will love it! Thats a promise not a threat!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice one Paulie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not an avid book reader at the best of times, but THIS book, I just couldn't put down. From the first line, I couldn't take my eyes away from the pages. It doesn't just grab you by the throat & say "Read Me", it literally, from the word go, pokes you in the eye & says "Now I've got your attention, you're gonna love the rest" & I did. For those of you who know your East end &/or Underworld characters, you will esily see through the thinly veiled allegory as to whom these characters, this "Fictional" book refers. In fact, on many occasion it made me laugh out loud at the ingenuity of the authour & how he came to name said characters.
A Gripping read from start to finish, BUY IT !!!

This book is a must for anybody into the 'london underworld gangster' scene. It's extemely cleverly written and if you know your gangsters then some of the characters will sound very familiar to you.

A gripping read from beginning to end, I found it very hard to put down.

I've got to say this is an altogether excellent read, I'm on my 2nd time through now which is none too bad bearing in mind the book is only about 3 months old.

The style of writing is casual and engaging, but is extremely fast paced - trust me, it is difficult to put down. You get a real feel for who Billy is and what he stands for.

The book is extremely violent at times, but the violence is usually justifiable with Billy looking after decent people and only really coming to blows with those who have crossed him or just been in his eyes dishonourable. The story can be intense, sometimes it overawes you a little, but then again you'll often wish you'd been there!

So, overall highly recomended, I'm positive that other readers will enjoy too!

Big Jase "AKA Shrekkie"

Nicola L. Royden "NikNoks xxx"

I read this book in under 2 days, 36 hours to be precise..!
I put everything on hold until the weekend to finish this great read.

It has the reader captivated from start to finish, and nearly all of the characters "ring a bell"!

I surely hope that there will be a much-needed sequel. Well done BIG PAULIE, TOP MAN!!

You think you know about the London criminal underworld... think again!

This book is a breath of fresh air...it grips you which is what a great fictional book should do.

Billy Michaels story is something I recommend anyone should read... only if you think you can handle it!

A tale of the East London criminal mind that Paul Knight has captured brilliantly with the main character Billy as one you will hate and love at the same time.

Not only does this book explore criminal minds, it also captures life in it’s glory… the problems and the pain that some people have to go through in order to survive and the lengths that a person will go to simply to prove their strength, to unite their blood, or simply for extra cash.

A must read for anyone.

Billy Michaels is the man some men would like to be like or the man every woman secretly wants to be with!!! This booked gripped me from start to finish. It is violent and bloody in places but also touching and a very honest account of an East End Villain.

I have read many books on villains over the years and this I think is the most accurate and moving version I have ever read.

Paul Knight has a very honest insight into the criminal mind, be it factual or fictional.

You must buy this book.

I was incredibly honoured to have bought a first signed edition of Mr Knight's first book of which I hope, as many in my family do, is the start of an incredible life as an author.

I did the unthinkable of setting my new book down on the kitchen table, which was grabbed and not returned for 3 days, by my daddy, who could only be described, as a book eating monster, who reads books like there's no tomorrow. His words of "fantastic read" "gripping from start to finish" are only a few comments made.

When I finally got my book back, I have to genuinely report, that this book grabs you as soon as you open the first page and marches you through a series of emotions, while making you actually visualise in your head the area's Billy went about and the people he met along the way. If there is one book you buy this year, THIS BOOK IS THE ONE.

Mr McKnight takes you on a journey, with all the different characters, his style of writing brings you into the story, and god bless him for doing so, as this is one book you just HAVE TO turn the next page to see what happens. My daddy and I cant wait for the next instalment of page turning books from this fantastic author, may success and happiness surround him forever.

I am not a great lover of these type of books, I know little about the background of the British criminal scene... but I did not need to, to enjoy this book.

It is written with a tongue in cheek style, with, I assume, plenty of `IN' jokes as well as something for those not in the inner circle.

It was a good read and it has got me searching for other titles in this genre, which shows it's positive affect on readers like me.

Excellent start to the authors writting career.

As an Eastender I love to read about the London criminal underworld as most of it happens in and around where I was born and brought it.

I had to read The Coding of A Concrete Animal By Paul Knight, luckily I had preordered it and I finished the book in 3 nights, addictive East End reading, I knew a lot of the places mentioned and the actual story including the feelings and actions of the main character made a very addictive read.

Billy Michaels tells his story with such passion and conviction that you actually feel as though you are standing next to him experiencing everything with him, the highs and lows and shocks.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in both the criminal underworld and a good read.

I am now waiting for Paul to write the second book so I can follow further the undertakings of Billy Michaels and the East London underworld.

A memorable book, bloody and violent in places, heart warming in others. The narrator, Billy, vividly describes his memories from childhood into adulthood. Portraying what it was like to see violence first hand and then how he himself went onto inflict it upon others.

Wow wow wow!!! - having never had my head out of a book as a youngster it is now a rare occurence for me to actually sit and read one - and when I do it has to be something that has either come highly recommended or something I have just got to have.

This one was one of the "I just had to have it" books - and am also lucky enough to have received one of the first editions, and signed too!!!! Woot Woot!!!!

If restrictions on my time hadnt been a factor I would have sat and read it from start to finish without putting it down.

If a book doesnt carry my imagination away then I dont read it - and with this book I was gripped from the very first page, and as always when I get totally into a book it isnt just the words that I see but the scene itself, I can see clearly everything that is happening, and I most certainly could with this one, I was living every moment, gripped, totally in awe of the Michaels family and indeed their comrades and enemies, scared at times too, shaking with fear in fact in some parts!!!!

The authors ability to draw you into every scene, whether funny, gruesome, or sexual is just astounding, and I would absolutely wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, a definate must must must read!!!!

The only disappointment is that it had to finish...............at a stage where you are indeed gripped and desperate for the next thrilling instalment.

And not only that, it leaves me wondering when the movie will be released?????

This is a highly entertaining account of an individual who has grown up in the toughest and roughest part of the East End of London. He has stared death in the face and experienced things in life that would make most people's blood curl, yet, Billy Michaels came through it and out the otherside as a champion of men. A thoroughly compelling read if your poison is rogues and villains of the old school.

This book had me gripped from the start. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to see more books by this author.

This book is written from the heart of the East end and benefits from genuine dry cockney wit, not to say that it is an amusing tale being told, far from it. Billy Michaels 'the hero' makes his way through the early years of his life rolling from one venture to another always showing great savvy, but always with a big left at his disposal and a good bunch of people following his lead should he need them. A great read and a real eye opener to what really happened/'s in earshot of Bow Bells and beyond. Read it and like me you'll be waiting for the sequel.

As an avid reader of American gangster stories and East end Villain stories, I would rate this book within my top five. You are taken along with the ride that Billy Michaels takes and by the time you have reached the end of the first chapter, you are in Billy Michaels soul and you are either spitting blood or experiences the best time of your life.

I can't wait for the sequel, just to get back on that Billy Michaels merry go round once again.

A brilliant read.

I was lucky enough to get in on the ground level on this one…I purchased a signed, first edition copy and I am reading it for the second time now.

I have to agree with the review by Denise, that it does feel like you are reading an autobiography of an unsung villain rather than the pure fictional piece the author wants you to believe this is. Right from the disclaimer you know that this is going to be something forbidden and it does not disappoint.

There are a couple of mistakes within the writing that make this assumption more of a certainty, which I would not be surprised if these vanish by the 2nd edition release. All those that got the first edition really have a cherished find on their hands.

It is not the length of this book that makes it a quick read but the fact you are drawn in straight away and you can not help but see that you have the makings of the British version of the ‘Godfather’ in front of you, there I said it.

All the character elements are there, the history of their family, the conflicting brothers, the desire for power and the no nonsense approach in making offer’s others can’t refuse. I can only imagine that ‘Corleone’ is Italian for ‘Michaels’ and hope that this family saga continues for many more sequels.

There have been an untold number of books written about gangland, if this is your choice of reading then this one is the Holy Grail. You feel somewhat tainted and dirty as you read this book because you sense that you are in on some deep dark secret that you should not know.

If, like me, you love to follow the lives and exploits of the high profile names in the British criminal underworld, then this is a must. According to the author, this story is a fictional read but with elements of it based on actual events, however the realism of it is, you cannot help but wonder if what you are reading is more on the non-fictional side than fictional. There are some things an author should not be able to write about with such in-sight unless they have actually experienced it, and this tale certainly projects that feeling to the reader.

Although the characters are both believable and likable (in a roguish, bad boy kind of way), the outcome of some of their exploits seems a little too convenient whilst others show the realism of living a life of crime. This to me is an excellent start of a promising career for this first time author and should give Martina Cole a run for her money in the years to follow.

Brutal, great read following Billy Michaels as he moves from demanding free ice cream with menace to a whole different level of caper, all profitable but all dangerous. Through the whole book you get the sense of realism that is missing from so many similar reads, its hard to escape the strong belief that that this actually happens. You'll certainly view the bouncers that you stroll by into clubs in a new light. Certainly something worth spending your coinage on ill-gotten or otherwise. By the end you suspect the author has a lot more say, you'll want to know what it is.

Reviews & Pics from readers of 'Coding of a concrete animal'

Name	Rating
H. Imen	***** (5 out of 5) - NEW
Billy michaels or is that ????????????? great book and a gripping read from start to finish, if you know your stuff then your recognise many of the charactors in there very judas pig. I for one am hoping to read if it happens the follow up book to this, it will be on my book shopping list and i await patiently. Well done big paulie knight you belong up there with the best sellers in the book world. As you always say "STAY FROSTY" my friend and well done.
Saffy	***** (5 out of 5) - NEW
There's nothing better than when you watch a great British gangster film, and this book was no different. Exciting, funny, gripping, violent, sad and much more. Billy Michael's story gives us a "real" insight of the East End gangsters underworld. I'm pretty gutted as I didn't get to read the very end of the book as someone stole it from me at Stansted Airport, but hey, what a great compliment to the author ..lol Looking forward the reading the end. This is one book you wont want to put down and kept in suspense as to what happens next, but looks like I'll have to, until my new book arrives! :o) Congratulations on one great book Paul, you've certainly made your mark! Saffy :o)
Trav	***** (5 out of 5)
I've got to start by being totaly honest and saying that this is the first book i have 'properly' read since leaving school 18 years ago!!!!!! i figured that i was 'way too cool to read books! how wrong can an idiot be? i first heard of this book when the author Paul 'BIG PAULIE' Knight added me as a friend on myspace. i thought that it would be manners to repay the compliment and give his book a good coat of looking at! I'm being 100% honest now when i say that from page 1 i was glued! I dont know if its because its a subject i can relate to or what? Not being an expert on the whole writing thing i cant say? But what i can say is that i challenge anybody to read this book and not enjoy it! Its one of them that when you get to the end your gutted that its finished! Im hoping that the author will write a follow up AND BLOODY SOON EH? So what you all waiting for? Go out and get 'CODING OF A CONCRETE ANIMAL' Today ! You will love it! Thats a promise not a threat!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nice one Paulie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guy Morris	***** (5 out of 5)
I'm not an avid book reader at the best of times, but THIS book, I just couldn't put down. From the first line, I couldn't take my eyes away from the pages. It doesn't just grab you by the throat & say "Read Me", it literally, from the word go, pokes you in the eye & says "Now I've got your attention, you're gonna love the rest" & I did. For those of you who know your East end &/or Underworld characters, you will esily see through the thinly veiled allegory as to whom these characters, this "Fictional" book refers. In fact, on many occasion it made me laugh out loud at the ingenuity of the authour & how he came to name said characters. A Gripping read from start to finish, BUY IT !!!
Angie	***** (5 out of 5)
This book is a must for anybody into the 'london underworld gangster' scene. It's extemely cleverly written and if you know your gangsters then some of the characters will sound very familiar to you. A gripping read from beginning to end, I found it very hard to put down.
P. Riley	***** (5 out of 5)
I've got to say this is an altogether excellent read, I'm on my 2nd time through now which is none too bad bearing in mind the book is only about 3 months old. The style of writing is casual and engaging, but is extremely fast paced - trust me, it is difficult to put down. You get a real feel for who Billy is and what he stands for. The book is extremely violent at times, but the violence is usually justifiable with Billy looking after decent people and only really coming to blows with those who have crossed him or just been in his eyes dishonourable. The story can be intense, sometimes it overawes you a little, but then again you'll often wish you'd been there! So, overall highly recomended, I'm positive that other readers will enjoy too!
Ian Bentley "Bentz"	***** (5 out of 5)
Outstanding read, gripped from start to finish, I could be found reading this book in every spare minute I had.(home or work) Every character is easy to picture, this is down to the brilliant writting style and talent of Mr Paul Knight. A real insight into the life of a underground gangster.
Big Jase "AKA Shrekkie"	***** (5 out of 5)
If you like the east end underworld scene, and gangster stories you will absolutely love this book. The book goes along the lings of the autobiographies of other East End infamous names like, Dave Courtney, Lenny McLean and Roy Shaw, and if you loved those books this will be a must read for you. The book was so compelling to read that you would picture in your mind the scene of the what is going on in the book. I'm not much of a reader, but this book had me switch off the TV, and computer and just sit and read the book from cover to cover. I'm an ex-bouncer and can relate to the book in many ways which just intensified the story even more for me. I've read most of the "london underworld" related books and this is one of the best. I reccomend this to everyone!
Nicola L. Royden "NikNoks xxx"	***** (5 out of 5)
Billy Michaels is born into the Heart of Adventure, a Menacing neighbourhood, so its inevitable that he leads and lives a life of Adventures including plenty of crime and violence! Once you start reading this Action packed, Fun-Filled Book, I honestly had trouble putting it down! (I even considered takin it the chinese restaurant!!- but didn't!!) Paul Knight has written this book so well with plenty of Giggles throughout!.... Billy Michaels is a very well respected part of the community, and to be in his company a real treat! (unless you'v upset him haha!) Billy's a man of Honour, he's all about Trust and of course... "The odd party!!!" He has a heart of Gold which is clearly displayed in his story! He has won the respect of many a colourful character in the Gangland world, leading him on a very dangerous ride with well-known Gangsters!!! But personally for me, i've gained a "MySpace" friend from the release of the Book, Paul Knight has sent me a signed copy and we've kept in touch throughout. I wish him all the best with this book as its BLOODY BRILLIANT!!!
Mark Emmins	***** (5 out of 5)
I have been lucky enough to read this book prior to it’s official release. I am your everyday bloke that goes with the flow of life, just blending in with the community “ as you do”. I have never been one for reading books as life, women, cars, tv all get in the way . that is until I got my eyes working out on the pages of this book. From the beginning to end, this book gives you a clear image in your imagination “ as if you are in the room” of what is happening around Billy Michaels Billy Michaels comes across loud and clear that you wanna be in his good books and shows an almost regal attitude from childhood to manhood. A man you would not want to cross the line with, but a great mate to be on the right side of who shares his generousity amongst his Extended family. Billy shows us that even though he has the gift of taking care of business, he also had the gift with the ladies and his antics on the lady side, is a book all to itself. He shows us that even though he knew inside he was destined for better things, he had the same needs that any other red blooded boy would have .. “fare play to him”. Chapter by chapter Billy Michael’s career grows in front of you and each chapter opens a fresh trail of thought for your imagination to run wild with. It gives a good look into the gangster mind and helps you to understand why true gangsters are a rare breed. Some great London language, some teeth grinding moments , and some hilarious situations to be caught up in. All in all, this is a really good read, for the person who is into their Gangster films and books and leaves you wanting a sequel, to answer a few questions. This book has all the ingredients needed for a best seller. Blood. Gore. Fights. Guns, Women, Sex, Sex, Sex, Tears, Laughter, Icecream men did I say sex ?
FRAZERMAN	***** (5 out of 5)
I read this book in under 2 days, 36 hours to be precise..! I put everything on hold until the weekend to finish this great read. It has the reader captivated from start to finish, and nearly all of the characters "ring a bell"! I surely hope that there will be a much-needed sequel. Well done BIG PAULIE, TOP MAN!!
J.Hudson	***** (5 out of 5)
You think you know about the London criminal underworld... think again! This book is a breath of fresh air...it grips you which is what a great fictional book should do. Billy Michaels story is something I recommend anyone should read... only if you think you can handle it!
David P Smith	***** (5 out of 5)
I have read books on hard men and books on drugs and violence but none have encapsulated the three as this book does. The life story of Billy Michaels and his brothers growing up into a life of crime and glory in the East End of London. Straight from the kick-off of this book you will be grabbed by the sheer reality of the family life and the perils of Billy Michaels and what it can be like growing up as a child on wild and ruthless estates and how easy it can be to gain a name for yourself, whether it be good or bad. This book will have you and you will not want to put it down trust me. I have read my copy in just short of 4 days so see if you can beat that, that’s how good it is. I Can’t wait for this authors next book as I’m not sure I can find one at the min to replace it now I’ve finished it.
Rubber Duck	***** (5 out of 5)
CONCRETE DOESNT SET THIS HARD......... I’ve just finished reading Coding of a concrete animal and it’s the quickest book I’ve ever read. This isn’t because it’s a short book but because it’s the most addictive book I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Straight from the out start I was hooked on the life of Billy Michaels and his brothers and there family life. I was hooked by the end of chapter one, by chapter three I was following the chapters faster than a homeless person chasing a ten pound note down a street in a force nine gale. You just cannot put this book down what ever is going on in your life time will stop so if your in a marriage that calls for attention buy her some chocolates or something as you ain’t doing nothing quick once you have picked this book up. Lucky for me I’m single and no kids, so they weren’t left standing at school because I had my head buried in it. I cannot wait for the next edition by this author as he encapsulates what it’s like to grow up into a life of crime glory sex and drugs. Trust me though, its not all plain sailing for Billy Michaels so if I was you now, I would go back to top of page and order your copy now. I can’t rave enough about this book without spoiling it... Hope this review is of use....
Samantha South	***** (5 out of 5)
A tale of the East London criminal mind that Paul Knight has captured brilliantly with the main character Billy as one you will hate and love at the same time. Not only does this book explore criminal minds, it also captures life in it’s glory… the problems and the pain that some people have to go through in order to survive and the lengths that a person will go to simply to prove their strength, to unite their blood, or simply for extra cash. A must read for anyone.
Melanie Tyrrell	***** (5 out of 5)
Billy Michaels is the man some men would like to be like or the man every woman secretly wants to be with!!! This booked gripped me from start to finish. It is violent and bloody in places but also touching and a very honest account of an East End Villain. I have read many books on villains over the years and this I think is the most accurate and moving version I have ever read. Paul Knight has a very honest insight into the criminal mind, be it factual or fictional. You must buy this book.
Ravenlooney	***** (5 out of 5)
I was incredibly honoured to have bought a first signed edition of Mr Knight's first book of which I hope, as many in my family do, is the start of an incredible life as an author. I did the unthinkable of setting my new book down on the kitchen table, which was grabbed and not returned for 3 days, by my daddy, who could only be described, as a book eating monster, who reads books like there's no tomorrow. His words of "fantastic read" "gripping from start to finish" are only a few comments made. When I finally got my book back, I have to genuinely report, that this book grabs you as soon as you open the first page and marches you through a series of emotions, while making you actually visualise in your head the area's Billy went about and the people he met along the way. If there is one book you buy this year, THIS BOOK IS THE ONE. Mr McKnight takes you on a journey, with all the different characters, his style of writing brings you into the story, and god bless him for doing so, as this is one book you just HAVE TO turn the next page to see what happens. My daddy and I cant wait for the next instalment of page turning books from this fantastic author, may success and happiness surround him forever.
DI-HARD	**** (4 out of 5)
I am not a great lover of these type of books, I know little about the background of the British criminal scene... but I did not need to, to enjoy this book. It is written with a tongue in cheek style, with, I assume, plenty of `IN' jokes as well as something for those not in the inner circle. It was a good read and it has got me searching for other titles in this genre, which shows it's positive affect on readers like me. Excellent start to the authors writting career.
Tina Harvey	***** (5 out of 5)
As an Eastender I love to read about the London criminal underworld as most of it happens in and around where I was born and brought it. I had to read The Coding of A Concrete Animal By Paul Knight, luckily I had preordered it and I finished the book in 3 nights, addictive East End reading, I knew a lot of the places mentioned and the actual story including the feelings and actions of the main character made a very addictive read. Billy Michaels tells his story with such passion and conviction that you actually feel as though you are standing next to him experiencing everything with him, the highs and lows and shocks. Highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in both the criminal underworld and a good read. I am now waiting for Paul to write the second book so I can follow further the undertakings of Billy Michaels and the East London underworld.
Senay Zeki	**** (4 out of 5)
A memorable book, bloody and violent in places, heart warming in others. The narrator, Billy, vividly describes his memories from childhood into adulthood. Portraying what it was like to see violence first hand and then how he himself went onto inflict it upon others.
Ann Heffernan	***** (5 out of 5)
Wow wow wow!!! - having never had my head out of a book as a youngster it is now a rare occurence for me to actually sit and read one - and when I do it has to be something that has either come highly recommended or something I have just got to have. This one was one of the "I just had to have it" books - and am also lucky enough to have received one of the first editions, and signed too!!!! Woot Woot!!!! If restrictions on my time hadnt been a factor I would have sat and read it from start to finish without putting it down. If a book doesnt carry my imagination away then I dont read it - and with this book I was gripped from the very first page, and as always when I get totally into a book it isnt just the words that I see but the scene itself, I can see clearly everything that is happening, and I most certainly could with this one, I was living every moment, gripped, totally in awe of the Michaels family and indeed their comrades and enemies, scared at times too, shaking with fear in fact in some parts!!!! The authors ability to draw you into every scene, whether funny, gruesome, or sexual is just astounding, and I would absolutely wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, a definate must must must read!!!! The only disappointment is that it had to finish...............at a stage where you are indeed gripped and desperate for the next thrilling instalment. And not only that, it leaves me wondering when the movie will be released?????
Denny	***** (5 out of 5)
This is a highly entertaining account of an individual who has grown up in the toughest and roughest part of the East End of London. He has stared death in the face and experienced things in life that would make most people's blood curl, yet, Billy Michaels came through it and out the otherside as a champion of men. A thoroughly compelling read if your poison is rogues and villains of the old school.
Mrs. S.J. Ryder	***** (5 out of 5)
This book had me gripped from the start. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to see more books by this author.
R.J	***** (5 out of 5)
This book is written from the heart of the East end and benefits from genuine dry cockney wit, not to say that it is an amusing tale being told, far from it. Billy Michaels 'the hero' makes his way through the early years of his life rolling from one venture to another always showing great savvy, but always with a big left at his disposal and a good bunch of people following his lead should he need them. A great read and a real eye opener to what really happened/'s in earshot of Bow Bells and beyond. Read it and like me you'll be waiting for the sequel.
Dennis Cooke	***** (5 out of 5)
As an avid reader of American gangster stories and East end Villain stories, I would rate this book within my top five. You are taken along with the ride that Billy Michaels takes and by the time you have reached the end of the first chapter, you are in Billy Michaels soul and you are either spitting blood or experiences the best time of your life. I can't wait for the sequel, just to get back on that Billy Michaels merry go round once again. A brilliant read.
Charlie Smith	***** (5 out of 5)
I was lucky enough to get in on the ground level on this one…I purchased a signed, first edition copy and I am reading it for the second time now. I have to agree with the review by Denise, that it does feel like you are reading an autobiography of an unsung villain rather than the pure fictional piece the author wants you to believe this is. Right from the disclaimer you know that this is going to be something forbidden and it does not disappoint. There are a couple of mistakes within the writing that make this assumption more of a certainty, which I would not be surprised if these vanish by the 2nd edition release. All those that got the first edition really have a cherished find on their hands. It is not the length of this book that makes it a quick read but the fact you are drawn in straight away and you can not help but see that you have the makings of the British version of the ‘Godfather’ in front of you, there I said it. All the character elements are there, the history of their family, the conflicting brothers, the desire for power and the no nonsense approach in making offer’s others can’t refuse. I can only imagine that ‘Corleone’ is Italian for ‘Michaels’ and hope that this family saga continues for many more sequels.
Denise Fencebolt	**** (4 out of 5)
There have been an untold number of books written about gangland, if this is your choice of reading then this one is the Holy Grail. You feel somewhat tainted and dirty as you read this book because you sense that you are in on some deep dark secret that you should not know. If, like me, you love to follow the lives and exploits of the high profile names in the British criminal underworld, then this is a must. According to the author, this story is a fictional read but with elements of it based on actual events, however the realism of it is, you cannot help but wonder if what you are reading is more on the non-fictional side than fictional. There are some things an author should not be able to write about with such in-sight unless they have actually experienced it, and this tale certainly projects that feeling to the reader. Although the characters are both believable and likable (in a roguish, bad boy kind of way), the outcome of some of their exploits seems a little too convenient whilst others show the realism of living a life of crime. This to me is an excellent start of a promising career for this first time author and should give Martina Cole a run for her money in the years to follow.
Richard Ashton	***** (5 out of 5)
Brutal, great read following Billy Michaels as he moves from demanding free ice cream with menace to a whole different level of caper, all profitable but all dangerous. Through the whole book you get the sense of realism that is missing from so many similar reads, its hard to escape the strong belief that that this actually happens. You'll certainly view the bouncers that you stroll by into clubs in a new light. Certainly something worth spending your coinage on ill-gotten or otherwise. By the end you suspect the author has a lot more say, you'll want to know what it is.
Jean Wahlborg	**** (4 out of 5)
`Coding of a concrete animal: The Billy Michaels story', written by Paul Knight, is an intriguing submission of original fiction that focuses on the extraordinary life, exploits and adventures of the main character. Born into a family steeped in nefarious deeds and activity, Billy Michaels' fate was cast from the cradle. As a third generation `East End' villain, Billy's childhood was short, though eventful. Learning the tricks of his predestined trade from masters in the field, he proved to be quite adept and effective in this endeavour. While his future appeared to be nothing more than a litany of successful and profitable capers, events as he would have anticipated weren't exactly as he expected. From this foundation, the author constructs a riveting saga the embodies many of the same traits often associated with well-known works of a similar literary genre. Composed in captivating narrative and compelling dialogue, the story flows at a brisk tempo. The plot contains more than a few strategically placed, unexpected twists that should maintain the reader's interest throughout. The characters are well developed and presented in a multi-dimensional fashion revealing the intricacies of their unique personalities and individual agendas. In addition, Mr Knight effectively manages to avoid artificially padding the work with superfluous material and unnecessary characters thereby keeping the focus directed towards the primary storyline. Navigating the plot to a well-conceived and logical conclusion, the author could leave the reader with a sense of time well invested in the reading of this story. Paul Knight's highly descriptive style of writing combined with a keen attention of detail further enhances the appeal of this work.