The Long Firm — Jake Arnott

This is the story of Harry Starks, gangster, night club owner, Jewish and gay. It is narrated by various characters who have contact with Harry. The setting is London during the '60s.

As the story unfolds, he meets a young man named Terry who harrates how he was won over by Harry's generosity and assertiveness. Soon after meeting, Harry asks Terry to move in with him as his lover.

When Terry tires of this, Harry sets him up to run an electronics firm. One day when Harry removes a number of TVs without paying, Terry learns about 'the long firm.' This is a scheme that gangsters impose on the innocent. They get a name from a person who is deceased, get together the necessary documents and register a business under the deceased person's name. Put some money into an account to obtain credit, then build an inventory, delaying the payment of bills. Keep that going until everything is ready, then remove the money from the account, have a fire sale and disappear. The business is registered in the name of the deceased man so the gang gets away with the scheme.

Another trait of Harry is that he has a strong sense of loyalty, but when this loyalty isn't returned, he can be sadistic. Terry learns this lesson first hand when he attempts to skim some of the money from one of Harry's schemes.

The srory moves on as Harry wins favor of a member of parliament, uses him to further his, (Harry's) con games, and develops an international scope when he tries to con a man named John Ogungbe from Gambia.

The story is a light hearted romp throught the British mob scene. Harry is a paradox. He's generous but dangerous when crossed; most of the time he's in good spirits but when someone attempts to take advantage of him, he can be as deadly as a poisonous snake.