Dominic Nolan’s White City is a gritty, evocative story set in 1950s London, a city in ruins after World War II. While many crime novels set in the city focus on the East End, here we’re up west, in and around Notting Dale, Soho, White City itself and down to Brixton. And things get underway near Paddington, where the biggest heist in British history takes place.
The Eastcastle Street robbery was a real-life event, and through the eyes of Fred Martin we see a Post Office van on its way to the Eastern Central District office intercepted by a gang. This is the crime that sets Nolan’s character-driven chronicle in motion, exploring the strain on families and communities in post-War London – riven by poverty and crime, and the repercussions of the heist for those close to the men involved.
The following morning, Fred Martin and his accomplice Reggie Rowe fail to return home to their families, and here we meet the characters who drive the story. Addie Rowe is Reggie’s mixed-race daughter, who must become the backbone of the family in his absence. Her mother, Stevie Rowe is an alcoholic who has given up caring for her daughters and even thinks they’re conspiring to ruin her. But Addie is a fighter and wants to know where her father went.
Meanwhile, Claire Martin also struggles after Fred’s disappearance, but she wants to find out where he’s gone and why. Her son, Ray, will be difficult to raise under financial pressure and without his father to help.
The first part of the novel focuses on the fallout of the robbery. The crew was put together by Teddy Nunn, AKA Mother, a top enforcer for the West End kingpin Billy Hill. Mother is a sadist who disappears people and makes gourmet sausages. The tension builds as Addie and her best friend and neighbour, Chabon, go to Mother’s compound looking for Reggie.
Then there’s the policeman Dave Lander, whose role in the force was to infiltrate gangs and bring them down. Trouble is, he’s been recruited by Mother. In the aftermath of the heist, Lander’s mental conflict and moral ambiguity lend depth and complexity to the story. Will he, will anyone, face justice?
The latter part of the novel demonstrates the longer term fallout of the crime. Without Reggie and Fred, the Rowes and Martins have been exposed to the loan sharks and usurious landlords who prey upon the destitute and marginalised – from both white and Afro-Caribbean backgrounds. Ironically, Ray Martin has gone to work for Peter Rachman, a slumlord who exploits immigrants in need of housing.
Nolan’s skilled writing transports to a bygone era, depicting London’s filthier boroughs and their inhabitants: the criminals and those living on the margins of society. The historical setting of White City has been meticulously researched and is seamlessly integrated into the plot.
He depicts 1950s London vividly and realistically, encapsulating the upheaval and hardship of the post-War era. Many areas still lie in ruins, bombed out years ago. Families have lost their homes and loved ones, and now live in poverty. Lack of housing leaves them open to exploitation, particularly those who have recently arrived from the Caribbean.
Including events like the Notting Hill riots in 1959 enhances the plot and emphasises the social tensions of the era. Exploring the experiences of Jamaican immigrants is particularly timely in today’s context along with themes of class, race and corruption.
There isn’t a single storyline here – no procedural investigation, mystery or crime to solve. Nobody was ever charged and the money never recovered. Nor is there a single resolution to the tales of those involved. But that is not what White City is about; it is about the wider repercussions of a crime and how they affect people down through the years.
White City presents a vivid and atmospheric snapshot of an important slice of London’s history. The strong sense of place, finely drawn characters and subtle exploration of social issues combine to create an impressive and extensive novel.
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£11.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
