‘Family’ is the latest novel from the pen of Scottish author, Owen Mullen. We’re introduced to Team Glass; Danny and his younger siblings, Nina and Luke. Danny built up his empire after the death of his alcoholic father and now holds an area south of the River Thames in a vice like grip. The story is told in the past tense and we see some of the action through the eyes of Luke and his sections are written in the first person, with the remainder in the third person.

Luke has served a seven year prison sentence for his involvement in the death of a rival gang boss, Albert Anderson. Now released, he wants to start a new life away from his brother’s Machiavellian influence but someone is watching his every move and that someone wants to make him suffer for the past. Events soon supersede his plans and the stage is set for a gangland war to rival any in London’s history.

This book definitely packs a punch with a shocking opening scene. Its relentless pace takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through the streets of London, from seedy pubs and clubs to the luxurious house owned by the senior police officer that Danny has in his pocket. Rollie Anderson, Albert’s son, has made Danny look foolish; we know Danny will retaliate but how and when?

The plot and subplots lay before us many negative human emotions; fear, disgust, shame, hatred, greed, envy, revenge and guilt. In contrast, we have small glimmers of positivity in the form of hope, trust, loyalty and love. The structure is tight and the characters complex. We witness Luke’s struggle with his conscience; the old life dragging him back into crime, against a chance of freedom to start afresh. We see how Nina resorts to desperate measures to cover her tracks and we watch as Danny descends from mindless cruelty to sadistic madness as his grip on reality diminishes. In addition, we glimpse into the lives of some peripheral players so that they can then act out memorable and heart-wrenching cameos.

In the world of the gangster, you have to be ruthless and without exception, the main participants in this story fit the bill. This is a tale of survival of the fittest; back the vanquished side and you’re literally dicing with death. There are a host of literary devices on display here, all playing their part in bringing this multi-layered, slick plot to its conclusion. We have foreshadowing in abundance and I am particularly impressed with the misdirection that the author slips in, and commend him for his ingenuity.

‘Family’ will appeal to fans of the hard-hitting thriller genre but if you’re of a delicate disposition some of the scenes may be upsetting. For me, it was a great read and I have no hesitation in awarding five stars.