The Hustlers: Gambling, Greed and the Perfect Con

Invitations to John Aspinall and John Burke's illegal gambling parties were the most sought after in 1950s London—only the wealthy and well-connected were allowed past their door. When the police finally arrested them, Aspinall and Burke challenged the law—and won. As a result, gambling was legalized and crime boss Billy Hill and his lieutenant Bobby McKew took notice. Clubs sprang up everywhere and Billy had a foolproof way of fixing the cards. He also had his eye on the ultimate prize, Aspinall's exclusive new club, The Clermont . . . Revealing for the first time how Aspinall and Hill plotted to steal a fortune, based on testimony from Burke and McKew, The Hustlers is a riotous journey back to 50s and 60s London. With a cast of characters that ranges from safecracker Eddie Chapman to the reckless Earl of Derby, from croupier Louis the Rat to unlucky Lord Lucan, it vividly recreates the exploits of the gamblers and gangsters whose lives collided in the clubs and pubs of Mayfair. Read more