A Kid Out the Flats - Softcover

Stepney, Johnny

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1035839989 ISBN 13: 9781035839988

Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers, 2024

Synopsis

Amidst the squalor of 1960s East End London, this visceral novel plunges readers into the young life of John Best, a boy whose path leads to a life of crime forged on the poverty-stricken streets. From the bustling docks to derelict council estates, A Kid Out the Flats chronicles Best's descent into the city's turbulent criminal underbelly.

Stealing to survive alongside his gang of mates, John soon finds himself caught between warring factions of the IRA and Jamaican Yardie drug gangs. The narrative brings an unflinching authenticity to this tale of resilience against deprivation, violence, and familial strife. John's misadventures unfurl in a close-knit yet volatile community, pulling no punches in depicting his brushes with these murderous organisations and London's outlandish criminal outfits.

Anecdotes of the East End's most notorious personalities and crimes lend a gritty realism to this immersive journey through the area's darkest eras and ugly drug trade realities. Yet it remains John Best's story of triumph - a tenacious battle for survival, friendship, and family loyalties in a world where Irish paramilitaries clash with Jamaican drug lords on London's unforgiving streets.

Raw and uncompromising, A Kid Out the Flats plunges into the abyss of London's criminal depths and one man's resolute determination to conquer the demons that breed there, even as he navigates the dangerous waters between opposing criminal forces.

About this title

About the Author

Johnny Stepney, a native of London's East End, has lived a life as diverse as the city he calls home. Raised on a council estate, he left school at 15 without qualifications, but his passion for football led him to sign with Chelsea FC. This opportunity took him to America, where he spent three years playing and coaching.

Upon returning to London, John discovered his untapped academic potential. He successfully passed his CeMAP exams, becoming a qualified Mortgage Broker, and earned his Knowledge of London green badge, allowing him to drive one of London's iconic black cabs.

For 19 years, John ran a thriving video business in the East End, adding another chapter to his varied career. Drawing from his rich life experiences, John has now turned his hand to writing. A Kid Out the Flats marks his debut as a novelist, bringing to life the vibrant world of London's East End through his unique perspective.

Edition details

• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1035839989
• ISBN 13: 9781035839988
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 214