Yardie - Victor Headley

Now a major film directed by Idris Elba, Yardie by Victor Headley shines a light on the brutal underworld of 90s London gang culture.

At Heathrow Airport's busy immigration desk, a newly arrived Jamaican strolls through with a kilo of top-grade cocaine strapped to his body. And keeps on walking . . .

By the time the syndicate get to hear about the missing consignment, D is in business - for himself - as the Front Line's newest don.

But D's treachery will never be forgotten - or forgiven. The message filters down from the Yardie crime lords to their soldiers on the streets:

Find D. Find the merchandise. And make him pay for his sins . . .

Victor Headley (born 1959) is a Jamaican-born British author. He is the author of the bestselling novel Yardie, which gained cult status upon publication. Other books by Headley included Excess, Yush, Fetish, Here Comes the Bride, Off Duty and Seven Seals.

Victor's novel captured my imagination and that of the many people who made this book a cult 90s classic
Idris Elba

A book which everyone should read, and soon
The Voice

The black Godfather . . . quite simply, Headley knows what time it is
The Journal