Boysie Singh was a charismatic, notorious Trinidadian gangster during the 1920s to 1950s whose activities included prostitution rings, gambling dens, piracy, human trafficking, extortion and murder. This book is not his story. Rather, it is that of four women whose lives were entangled with his, who loved him in different ways, and whose lives were undoubtedly the worse for it. If you struggle with women with bad taste in men, this book won't be for you. I, however, was engrossed by their distinctive voices and, in at least three of the cases, felt sympathy for them and was able to understand how they had been drawn to Boysie. Popo is a sex worker who lends him money to start his gambling business but then makes the mistake of crossing him. Mana Lala is his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his much loved son. She wants nothing more than for Boysie to marry her and for them to be a proper family. Rosie is a childhood friend who now runs a rum shop and pays protection money to his gang, while Doris is an ambitious "red" woman who ignores all the rumours in the hopes that Boysie's glamour money will allow her access to the wealthiest echelons of Port-of -Spain society. I felt that they were well drawn, undoubtedly flawed, but realistically so. Even when I abhorred some of their actions, particularly Mana Lala's mistreatment of her son, Persaud ensured I understood what drove them to such ends.

This book has clearly been meticulously researched and blends known facts with rich, sympathetic imaginings. Trinidadian society came vividly to life, including social stratification, ethnic divides, religion, spirituality, colorism, racism, colonisation, and, of course, the criminal underbelly. The story is told in the Trini dialect and uses plenty of vernacular terms, which really adds to the immersive experience but will challenge some readers. It made listening to the audio especially enjoyable.

The violence inflicted by Boysie, sometimes casually and other times in a deliberate and calculated manner, made this a hard and confronting read. But it's also excellently written with a strong characterisation and a vibrant sense of place. I loved it.