Among Thieves

by Mez Packer

It's 1984 and two ex-campus drug dealers are locked in a feud of mysterious origin. Chilly Pads has the upper hand and the money, while Andy has the charisma and the girls. But when Andy sets up a disastrous deal with IRA gangsters, he's paid in fake dollars--and, much to Pads' delight, needs his help financing a scam to recoup his money. The two leaders send a shady pair--ska-loving Jez and Jamaican Bas--to launder the money in Spain, where Jez becomes convinced they're being followed and completely unravels. When they meet beautiful, feisty Becca, they worry that Pads may have hired her to spoil the group plans, and carry out his own. Either way, Becca impresses Andy and Chilly Pads and they recruit her for the next big job--smuggling hash into the UK from India.

305 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007