Few people in Britain have not heard of The Great Train Robbery, the biggest and most daring crime in British History. Ronnie Biggs was one of the gang that was captured and sentenced to 30 years in prison, but pulled off a daring escape from Wandsworth prison and fled to Brazil, where he remained on the run until earlier this year, when he gave himself up and returned to Britain. Less is known in Britain of Michael Biggs, Ronnie's Brazilian son, whose birth in August 1974 saved Ronnie from being deported. Michael became a highly successful musician in his homeland, in one of the most popular child bands of recent times – The Magic Balloon Gang. Ricky Martin used to open their shows, and they sold over 12 million records in six years.

The Biggs Time opens with the detailed and untold story of how Ronnie Biggs returned to Britain after suffering his second stroke at his home in Rio de Janeiro. It chronicles Ronnie's life, his version of the train robbery, what happened to the money, and his life on the loose – including how he was kidnapped twice! It is also the story of Michael Biggs and how he saved his father's life on at least four occasions, and how he has battled against the British Government to secure his ailing father's release from prison. The bond that exists between Ronnie and Michael Biggs is special, they are more than father and son, they are the closest and best of friends.

Are you a nob, on a one-way ride? Perhaps you're a mechanic, or a standover man? Do you have brown kotchel or do you go mumping? If you don't know what this means, then you need Gang Slang – the complete guide to criminal slang as spoken in the UK, America, and Australia. Relax with a lace while you wait at the slaughter and bone up on your knowledge. Crimspeak also provides a useful guide to the nicknames of criminals, and their origins. Mark Reade became Chopper, for example, because he took his own ears off. Knockout; 1. (UK) to dispose cheaply of stolen goods or those acquired on credit, often quite openly in a shop used as a front (qv) for a long firm fraud (qv). 2. (US) a good looking woman.

This was a simple idea which makes for a great book. I found some of the language in our true crime books baffling, and James Morton, who’s heard rather more than his fair share of this kind of language in his time, turned this to our advantage by incorporating this into an authoritative and informative dictionary, giving meanings, definitions, and even some nicknames to make the book entertaining.

James Morton is a former solicitor; he found himself defending criminals throughout his career and consequently has a great understanding of criminal slang from this first-hand knowledge. He has written many successful books, including the bestselling Gangland series, and he has written, with Frankie Fraser, the former gangster's memoirs and anecdotal books about crime.