Moss Side Massive

Manchester, United Kingdom, 1994


When a young, gang leader is shot dead and killed in broad daylight, his brother strongly suspects opposing gang-leader, Storm Michaels, is responsible. Storm lives a double life, leader of the Grange Close gang, and his mother's, (Queenie) doting son, with a good job as jewellery sales representative, and can do no wrong. Just when he is about to give up the gang life to concentrate on his son and daughter, and conflicts with his women, he finds himself divided concerning his loyalties. 

In the midst of this is Queenie, who came to England and settled in Moss Side, in the early seventies, following her husband Vermont. After the marriage deteriorates. Queenie is forced to bring up two sons alone in the area with no idea that one of her sons is a notorious gang-leader and that her life is under threat.


In the dark Winter that follows, the war between the two feuding gangs, Pier Mill Massive and the Grange Close crew steps up. Two Generals fighting for control of one army, for control of the streets, the clubs, and even the local black businesses, claiming a stake (taxing) of profits and of course vengeance.


By the time Storm realises that his family is under threat it is almost too late. His younger brother, up-and-coming sound system engineer eighteen-year-old Zukie, becomes the main focus of the Piper Mill’s craving-for-revenge and unstable new leader, Jigsy and Jigsy’s message is simple:


'A brother for a brother, a life for a life.'


"The side of Manchester people never get to see...wicked stuff" - Victor Headley, author of best-selling Jamaican gangster novel YARDIE.


"A rare glimpse into a world in which the women are hopelessly patient and the men little more than demanding children obsessed with their toys is grimly exotic and extremely readable. " - Times Literary Supplement.


"Karline Smith is an author that is certainly going places." - The Voice Newspaper.


“This book is a jewel. A time-piece that captures an era, revisited through its pages. Pulsating with tension, Moss Side Massive is peppered with historical moments. Music, streets, clubs, street language, gang-grooming and culture, generational conflict, despondency and at that time, hopelessness. Fantastic.” - City Life Magazine.