The Encyclopedia of Modern Crime Fiction says: Russell James shines his torch into the crevices of the British underworld and turns what crawls out into some of the best crime fiction being written today. Underground: He's created a life for himself in Deptford while waiting for three years for word from the Man. His allies are Victor and Timmy, but they got Timmy. Was it the other side, the mob, the cops? He doesn't know. He only knows that his cover is blown. Escaping to Brighton, he meets Rachel. They spend time together. It's not supposed to happen, but he begins to care. And this is where his real trouble starts. Collected Stories: Five diverse stories from the Godfather of British noir. Four of these stories have appeared in British magazines, but none have appeared before in the US. How Could it Last?, is published here for the first time.