When an appalling and seemingly inexplicable murder shattered the peace of a quiet English suburban street it revealed the extent to which organised crime has now seeped into our lives, often without our knowledge. In his groundbreaking book Misha Glenny takes us on a journey through the new world of international organised crime, from gun runners in Ukraine to money launderers in Dubai, by way of drug syndicates in Canada and cyber criminals in Brazil. During his investigation into the dark side he spoke to countless gangsters, policemen and victims of organised crime, while also exploring the ferocious consumer demands for drugs, trafficked women, illegal labour and arms across five continents. This constantly riveting account unveils the nature of crime in today's world but it also offers profound insights into the pitfalls of globalisation where the rules dividing the legal from the illegal are often far from clear.

About the Author

Misha Glenny is a distinguished journalist and historian. As the Central Europe Correspondent first for The Guardian and then for the BBC, he chronicled the collapse of communism and the wars in the former Yugoslavia. He has won several major awards for his work, including the Sony Gold Award for outstanding contribution to broadcasting. The author of three books on Eastern Europe and the Balkans, he has been regularly consulted by the US and European governments on major policy issues and ran an NGO for three years, assisting with the reconstruction of Serbia, Macedonia and Kosovo. He now lives in London.

Prizes

A riveting, original and comprehensive account of international crime and a brilliant critique of globalisation's dark side.

Reviews

"A smart, outraged, and vividly described whirlwind tour of criminal conspiracy.... Clear, compelling, and scary."
--"The Christian Science Monitor"
"Glenny's obsessive interest in his subject is infections, and his colorful writing and eye for detail give [McMafia] the feel of a juicy tell-all."
--"The Washington Post"
"Riveting. . . . Provides insightful sociological perspectives about why certain nations spawn especially widespread and virulent organized crime networks."
--"The Seattle Times"
"Daring. . . . A bravura piece of globe-trotting reportage."
--"San Francisco Chronicle"
"A terrifying tour of the violent underworld of globalized crime."
--"New York Post"
"Eye-opening...Engrossing."
--"The Miami Herald"
"A vividly recounted journey through a dozen of the world's most potent gangs, cartels and transnational mafias."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
For anyone who wants to understand the 21st century, this illuminating and page-turning book is essential reading.
--Emma Thompson
"'Behind every great fortune, ' said Balzac, 'there lies a great crime.' Misha Glenny has updated this apercu for our own time."
--Christopher Hitchens, author of "God is Not Great"
"""A riveting and chilling journey . . . Readers yearning for a deeper understanding of the real-life, international counterparts to "The Sopranos" need look no further than Glenny's engrossing study."
--"Publishers Weekly"
"In this well-researched and riveting account, Glenny does for crime what he did for the Balkans. He dissects the international criminal organizations that run much of the world's economy and explains how the criminal underworld has bothbenefited from and contributed to globalization."
--Joseph Stiglitz, author of "Making Globalization Work"