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Razor: Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh and the Razor Gangs
In the 1920s and '30s in inner Sydney, some of the most terrifying criminals in Australia's history waged war with razor and gun. As gang fought gang, the streets echoed with the sound of violence and ran with blood. Razor chronicles in compelling detail the nether world ruled by fabled vice queens Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, and financed by the spoils of illegal drugs and alcohol, prostitution, gambling and extortion. Gangsters such as Guido Calletti, Big Jim Devine and Frank 'the Little Gunman' Green killed, robbed and slashed with impunity. Facing them were the police - some corrupt, some honest, and a few as tough and feared as the razor gangs they fought. Razor is the fascinating true story of the people who lived and died in this world of violence and vice. Razor brings a city's dark past back to life, and ensures that you will never look at inner Sydney in quite the same way again.
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 2, 2015
A must read for anyone interested in the early history of Sydney...specifically 1930's.
Very graphic portrayals of real life Sydney and it's main criminal leaders/rulers, in the streets of 1930's Sydney.
Giving a very good insight into the local laws and community dynamics of the time, which impacted on the overall culture of crime and so dictated the climate for a hierarchy based criminal element.
The book details real day to day events of a seedy underworld with all the wanton lawlessness and fear mongering you would expect to find in any 'R' rated gangster movie! Very scary, real stuff!
Recently made into the "Underbelly" series of the same name. The series was very true to the book, with wonderful actors convincingly portraying the main characters.
I bought a second hand copy of this book whilst doing research into my family history as my people lived and grew in the same areas of Sydney prior to, and during those seedy times. It must have been a very worrisome time to be walking about those streets of Sydney in those days.
The book most certainly portrays a detailed insight into the life and times of the inhabitants of those areas depicted, as well as those of the broader community.
If you like gangster type stories then you will like this!
September 7, 2011
One of the best things about true crime books like RAZOR by Larry Writer is the way that they can inform your understanding of current day events. When you hear the news of Gangland wars gone crazy (you realise that's happening again), blood in the streets (again), crime gone mad (again), notorious gangsters plying the media (again), the end of the world as we know it (again)...
The story of RAZOR is the story of gangland crime leaders Kate Leigh and Matilda (Tilly) Devine, and the sly grog shops and brothels run by each of them respectively in 1920's and 30's Sydney. The title of the book comes from the gangs that terrorised Sydney, the cut-throat razor being the weapon of choice for most of them. For many years Darlinghurst was referred to, amongst other things, as Razorhurst. It was a wild, dangerous, violent, poor and largely deprived place with gangs on the side of both Leigh and Devine, and gangs up against both women trying to claim their own piece of the action.
One of the things that RAZOR does really well is outline to the reader the time and the circumstances that created the powerbases for both of these women. The instigation of 6.00pm closing of hotels set up a world in which sly grog shops were ripe for making money, and it wasn't long before sly grog and drugs were closely connected. Leigh wasn't the only sly-grogger in Sydney, but she did run some of the better establishments. Some classy, some very basic, the standard of the alcohol she sold was high. Leigh could be dangerous and she could be a friend and supporter to many of her clients. She engendered a sense of loyalty in the bad boys that supported her, and in much of her clientele through gestures of generosity - letting somebody down on their luck sleep on her premises, her children's Christmas parties, and other small gestures that make you think of this woman did a good line in benevolent crook. Which she obviously wasn't, although it would seem that she was generally more liked than her great foe - Tilly Devine.
Tilly worked as a prostitute in England before marrying Australian soldier Jim Devine there and coming to Australia when he was demobbed. They were a formidable pair, Tilly working as a prostitute until she realised that it might be illegal for a man to live off the immoral earnings of a prostitute, but it wasn't for a woman, at which point she started to build her empire of brothels. Jim operated as a protector for Tilly and her girls, and he also ran his own illegal activities on the side. He was a violent and dangerous character in his own right. As similar as both Tilly and Leigh might have been, Tilly seems to have been a slightly different kettle of fish - ruthless, with a vicious streak, Tilly was the ultimate party girl who ended up with nowhere near as many supporters or as much understanding.
Re-published to tie in with the UNDERBELLY TV series based on the book, RAZOR takes you through the lives, loves, fights, jail terms, and wars of these two women, and many of the other characters from the same time period in Sydney. And it really does remind you that there are some things that simply do not change. The underworld's modus operandi might have changed a bit and the tools of the trade moved on, but the motivation remains the same. RAZOR gives you a really good feeling for what was going on in 1920's and 30's Sydney, it also gives you a real feeling for how these two women got where they got, how they operated, and how they ended.
The story of RAZOR is the story of gangland crime leaders Kate Leigh and Matilda (Tilly) Devine, and the sly grog shops and brothels run by each of them respectively in 1920's and 30's Sydney. The title of the book comes from the gangs that terrorised Sydney, the cut-throat razor being the weapon of choice for most of them. For many years Darlinghurst was referred to, amongst other things, as Razorhurst. It was a wild, dangerous, violent, poor and largely deprived place with gangs on the side of both Leigh and Devine, and gangs up against both women trying to claim their own piece of the action.
One of the things that RAZOR does really well is outline to the reader the time and the circumstances that created the powerbases for both of these women. The instigation of 6.00pm closing of hotels set up a world in which sly grog shops were ripe for making money, and it wasn't long before sly grog and drugs were closely connected. Leigh wasn't the only sly-grogger in Sydney, but she did run some of the better establishments. Some classy, some very basic, the standard of the alcohol she sold was high. Leigh could be dangerous and she could be a friend and supporter to many of her clients. She engendered a sense of loyalty in the bad boys that supported her, and in much of her clientele through gestures of generosity - letting somebody down on their luck sleep on her premises, her children's Christmas parties, and other small gestures that make you think of this woman did a good line in benevolent crook. Which she obviously wasn't, although it would seem that she was generally more liked than her great foe - Tilly Devine.
Tilly worked as a prostitute in England before marrying Australian soldier Jim Devine there and coming to Australia when he was demobbed. They were a formidable pair, Tilly working as a prostitute until she realised that it might be illegal for a man to live off the immoral earnings of a prostitute, but it wasn't for a woman, at which point she started to build her empire of brothels. Jim operated as a protector for Tilly and her girls, and he also ran his own illegal activities on the side. He was a violent and dangerous character in his own right. As similar as both Tilly and Leigh might have been, Tilly seems to have been a slightly different kettle of fish - ruthless, with a vicious streak, Tilly was the ultimate party girl who ended up with nowhere near as many supporters or as much understanding.
Re-published to tie in with the UNDERBELLY TV series based on the book, RAZOR takes you through the lives, loves, fights, jail terms, and wars of these two women, and many of the other characters from the same time period in Sydney. And it really does remind you that there are some things that simply do not change. The underworld's modus operandi might have changed a bit and the tools of the trade moved on, but the motivation remains the same. RAZOR gives you a really good feeling for what was going on in 1920's and 30's Sydney, it also gives you a real feeling for how these two women got where they got, how they operated, and how they ended.
June 10, 2011
Great read for anyone who lives, or has ever lived, in inner-city Sydney. Narrates the rise and fall of the Razor Gangs of the 1920s and 30s, based around Darlinghurst and Surry Hills, and the criminal matriarchs Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh. Fascinating. All this time I've been living atop the site of the Great Eveleigh Railyards Robbery, or at least slightly to the left of it, and I didn't even know it, and that's just from the first chapter. Interviewed the author today as part of my research for an article on several dramatisations of this period including the upcoming 'Underbelly:Razor' and, more importantly, Vashti Hugh's one-woman musical 'Mum's In' ( )
September 10, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I used it as a research tool at first as I am also writing a book about Tilly Devine, but fiction based on her life. I enjoy books that have a strong female character whether good or evil, whereas this book had a few. I didn't watch the TV series as I didn't like the fact that they beautified and sexualised the women to be something they weren't. The book is better because it is the truth and in tune with the time the subjects existed. Larry's book offered an amazing glimpse into the history of Australia's post Colonial days, when life was hard, violent and a person did what they must to survive.
January 30, 2012
I loved the book so much, if you read the book and watch the show, it makes the story line easier to understand. I liked the book more though, it was very informative and gave you a sight in what the 30s looked like. That's a good thing, because TV is becoming to explicit for viewing these days, especially for young audiences. It's a good book and there are pictures in the middle, it gave you an insight on the weapons they used for the slashing and horrifying murders of the razor hurst victims.
May 15, 2013
Razor shines a light into the fascinating history of the underworld of Sydney under the competing interests of Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine. While I feel the writing is sometimes a little jumpy (suddenly you are back 20 years to follow a new story), the stories themselves are so fantastic and the characters of Kate and Tilly so unbelievable that I enjoyed reading it.
This is one of the most interesting books on Australian history I have read. You could not make these people up!
This is one of the most interesting books on Australian history I have read. You could not make these people up!
June 13, 2010
I really liked this book. As a historical read it was easy to digest because the tale it tells is so gripping. This murky world is amazing and the real life characters are scary and probably more so in real life.
The most amazing thing is that two women ran Sydney's underworld and they were formidable characters.
Highly recommend.
The most amazing thing is that two women ran Sydney's underworld and they were formidable characters.
Highly recommend.
March 18, 2015
A really interesting look at the history of inner-city Sydney in the 1920's & 30's & the lives of Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine & the rest of the Razor Gangs that ruled its streets during that time. And of course the policemen & women whose job it was to try & control them.
November 2, 2011
That's right, I read this book well before the Underbelly TV series was even created. ANY Underbelly series.
November 6, 2012
Awesome!!!!
June 18, 2023
What a delight to read a book, that has been used as a basis for the low budget “Underbelly� series, but is streets away from that series' poor interpretation of it. Unlike the previous, and following entries that make up the TV series “Underbelly� this is not written by John Sylvester & Andrew Rule. This means it reads like a chronological history, not a series of short articles slapped together. This is not 'all over the cook shop', meaning you can pick the book up the following day and not have to re-read the previous page(s) or lose track of what is happening if you tune out for a minute or so. This is not just True Crime, but a social history of the period from 1900 to 195?.
Larry writer is an excellent author, and if the TV show loosely based on this book is your basis for buying or not buying either beware or be delighted. This is real history written by a gentleman with a great interest and knowledge of this time. Unlike the TV series, which in my opinion is absolutely dreadful, beaten in shonky quality only by “Squizzy�, a truly shocking travesty that had nothing in common with the real man, this is exceptional history and reads like a novel. I compare this with the Milat-based book “Sins of the Brother� in quality and depth. And boy, is it deep, based on exhaustive research that even the author felt overwhelming many times in the writing.
In short (TL;DR), this is as close a complete history of the period and places (Darlinghurst, King's Cross, etc.) that you will likely come upon. Read it, immerse yourself in this truly horrible world of poverty and crime and put it with your collection of the Underbelly series, in order of TV shows as I have but don't re-watch the TV show hoping for a retelling of the book. The title, personalities, and subject is about all they have in common.
Larry writer is an excellent author, and if the TV show loosely based on this book is your basis for buying or not buying either beware or be delighted. This is real history written by a gentleman with a great interest and knowledge of this time. Unlike the TV series, which in my opinion is absolutely dreadful, beaten in shonky quality only by “Squizzy�, a truly shocking travesty that had nothing in common with the real man, this is exceptional history and reads like a novel. I compare this with the Milat-based book “Sins of the Brother� in quality and depth. And boy, is it deep, based on exhaustive research that even the author felt overwhelming many times in the writing.
In short (TL;DR), this is as close a complete history of the period and places (Darlinghurst, King's Cross, etc.) that you will likely come upon. Read it, immerse yourself in this truly horrible world of poverty and crime and put it with your collection of the Underbelly series, in order of TV shows as I have but don't re-watch the TV show hoping for a retelling of the book. The title, personalities, and subject is about all they have in common.
January 15, 2019
This Underbelly TV tie-in edition is the acclaimed, award-winning history of the Razor gangs � now the basis for Channel 9's 13-part blockbuster � Underbelly Razor.
In the 1920s and '30s in inner Sydney, some of the most terrifying criminals in Australia's history waged war with razor and gun. As gang fought gang, the streets echoed with the sound of violence and ran with blood.
Razor chronicles in compelling detail the nether word ruled by fabled vice queens Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, and financed by the spoils of illegal drugs and alcohol, prostitution, gambling and extortion. Gangsters such as Guido Calletti, Big Jim Devine and Frank 'the Little Gunman' Green killed, robbed and slashed with impunity. Facing them were the police � some corrupt, some honest, and a few as tough and feared as the razor gangs they fought.
Razor is the fascinating true story of the people who lived and died in this world of violence and vice. Razor brings a city's dark past back to life, and ensures that you will never look at inner Sydney in quite the same way again.
In the 1920s and '30s in inner Sydney, some of the most terrifying criminals in Australia's history waged war with razor and gun. As gang fought gang, the streets echoed with the sound of violence and ran with blood.
Razor chronicles in compelling detail the nether word ruled by fabled vice queens Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, and financed by the spoils of illegal drugs and alcohol, prostitution, gambling and extortion. Gangsters such as Guido Calletti, Big Jim Devine and Frank 'the Little Gunman' Green killed, robbed and slashed with impunity. Facing them were the police � some corrupt, some honest, and a few as tough and feared as the razor gangs they fought.
Razor is the fascinating true story of the people who lived and died in this world of violence and vice. Razor brings a city's dark past back to life, and ensures that you will never look at inner Sydney in quite the same way again.
June 11, 2018
I love this book, loved reading about the true crime stories of these two amazing women, Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh. Having known about Tilly since I was a kid, it was awesome to read more detailed stories about this formidable woman!
April 16, 2022
Anything you want to know about Sydney's razor gangs is in this well-researched book. The author has an accessible writing style & it was fascinating to learn about my hometown, back in the 1920s. It was a violent city!
January 1, 2018
Former winner of Australian Crime Novel of the year, I can see why
Florid in detail that brings 1920�-1950’s Sydney razorhurst to life.
Florid in detail that brings 1920�-1950’s Sydney razorhurst to life.
March 20, 2022
Loved it and Larry was lovely to meet. Was interesting reading about my great aunt Kate.
August 24, 2023
Such a brilliant book about a time in history that not a lot of people know about.
Read
August 27, 2023What an interesting time in Sydney! At times the book got bogged but mostly worth the read. RIP the people of Razorgangs.
December 1, 2022
Loved reading this book! I really enjoy learning about the early 20C in Sydney, especially about the Razorhurst era. Appreciate the level of research that has gone into this book, the photos make it really real. Very easy to read and engaging. All the different locations around Sydney, I looked up in a map and am also familiar where the places are, I like checking them out. Takes me back in time.
The people in the book were ruthless, tough and violent, but by the end it was sad to learn about their demise. When you think about it, those times were not really that long ago. How life has changed. Women had it really, really tough, being prostitutes and being beaten but Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine were something. To hold their ground back in the day was remarkable. Sydney was really a wild, wild place. The whole concept of using razors as a weapon, and slashing people across the face and surviving is unbelievable. Loved this book!
The people in the book were ruthless, tough and violent, but by the end it was sad to learn about their demise. When you think about it, those times were not really that long ago. How life has changed. Women had it really, really tough, being prostitutes and being beaten but Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine were something. To hold their ground back in the day was remarkable. Sydney was really a wild, wild place. The whole concept of using razors as a weapon, and slashing people across the face and surviving is unbelievable. Loved this book!
March 2, 2017
Loving 19th and twentieth century Sydney, this is an excellent read. The screen version is also a great adaptation of the time. Well worth the time to read for the historical accuracy and research undertaken (although I am sure there has been some licence in the writing!)
March 22, 2017
I was incredibly bored one afternoon, so I decided to watch the Australian miniseries 'Underbelly Razor'. 40 minutes later, I was completely hooked and an obsession was born.
Following the series, I was desperate to know how accurate it had actually been (Answer: surprisingly accurate)
Now it is prime real estate, but back in the roaring twenties, Darlinghurst was a dark and frightening place ruled by 3 underworld figures: Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine and Phil "The Jew" Jeffs. Razor tells the tale of the many drug deals, gun crimes and razor slashings that occurred during that time.
Kate Leigh dealed mainly in sly grog, thanks to the ban on liqour after 6pm. Tilly Devine ran multiple brothels, and The Jew pretty much wanted in on all that, as well as gambling rings.
A dark cast of characters that will stay with you after dark, include "Pretty" Nellie Cameron, Frank "The Little Gunman" Green, Greg "The Gunman" Gaffney, "Big" Jim Devine, Wally Tomlinson, Hugh "Guido" Calletti, "Pretty" Dulcie Markham and Snowy Cutmore.
I could pretty much babble about this book for an hour, but I will leave you with this: Razor is an incredibly insight into "Razorhurst" and the dark history it conceals. Look into it.
Following the series, I was desperate to know how accurate it had actually been (Answer: surprisingly accurate)
Now it is prime real estate, but back in the roaring twenties, Darlinghurst was a dark and frightening place ruled by 3 underworld figures: Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine and Phil "The Jew" Jeffs. Razor tells the tale of the many drug deals, gun crimes and razor slashings that occurred during that time.
Kate Leigh dealed mainly in sly grog, thanks to the ban on liqour after 6pm. Tilly Devine ran multiple brothels, and The Jew pretty much wanted in on all that, as well as gambling rings.
A dark cast of characters that will stay with you after dark, include "Pretty" Nellie Cameron, Frank "The Little Gunman" Green, Greg "The Gunman" Gaffney, "Big" Jim Devine, Wally Tomlinson, Hugh "Guido" Calletti, "Pretty" Dulcie Markham and Snowy Cutmore.
I could pretty much babble about this book for an hour, but I will leave you with this: Razor is an incredibly insight into "Razorhurst" and the dark history it conceals. Look into it.
November 13, 2014
I wasn't interested in the underbelly version of this book, I read it some years previous to the TV show. Names like Kate Leigh and Chow Hayes, Squizzy Taylor made me eat this story up. Having heard lots of stories of the area from my Dad when he was young made me want to find out more. I loved the image of Kate Leigh knitting or shucking peas at the Darlo courts, while watching the court sessions. I wonder what they would think of the cross now, and how the razor gangs wound fair against the current thugs?
March 12, 2011
Razor included some solid research and interesting facts, but it could have been presented in a more interesting way.
Writer stated facts in chronological order and could have made an effort to give each character more of a narrative.
I think someone could make an excellent historical fiction novel with this material.
Writer stated facts in chronological order and could have made an effort to give each character more of a narrative.
I think someone could make an excellent historical fiction novel with this material.
July 25, 2013
An amazing glimpse into Australias history! Who knew the once now quiet city streets of Sydney where the pavement for such crime! Will be checking out the main locations in my next trip to Sydney! The story was incredibly told and pieced together a credit to Larry writer.
February 3, 2009
Brilliant portrait of Sydneys gruesome underworld in the 30's 40's and 50's
January 11, 2015
Amazing history, but no pole-dancing or fake tits, so I'm not sure how Channel 9 will make an Underbelly series out of it. Will be interesting to watch.
August 9, 2012
Informative chronicle of the Razorhurst era. Not the most gripping book I've ever read but good as a record of an aspect of true Australian crime.
April 16, 2013
A brilliantly narrated account of the razor gang wars of the 20's and 30's in Sydney. Absolutely riveting.
July 14, 2014
The book is much better than the TV show.
July 4, 2016
Read this in preparation for reading Justine Larbalestier's Razorhurst. So weird to read this and recognise half the streets, particularly as I knew next to nothing about this history.
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