Review: All Them Dogs by Djamel White
This review examines Djamel White’s debut novel, All Them Dogs, a neo-noir crime thriller set in the gritty badlands of west Dublin. The narrative follows Tony Ward, who returns home after five years on the run for murder, working under a local crime boss alongside enforcer Darren “Flute” Walsh. As they collect debts and navigate violent underworld dynamics, their professional partnership evolves into a complex, homoerotic relationship marked by desire and betrayal. The reviewer praises White as a powerful new voice in Irish literature, highlighting his dynamic prose that blends street slang with poetic imagery to create a vivid, propulsive atmosphere. However, the critique notes that the plot feels somewhat overcomplicated and that the central romantic tension between Tony and Flute lacks consistent emotional depth, risking ambiguity between their violent acts and sexual longing. Despite these flaws, the novel is recognized for its ambitious attempt to explore toxic masculinity and psychosexual themes within the crime genre, offering a raw look at damaged male psyches. The story culminates in a lethal double-cross, reflecting the noir tradition while striving for deeper psychological realism regarding guilt and repressed emotion.
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Review: All Them Dogs by Djamel White
This review examines Djamel White’s debut novel, All Them Dogs, a neo-noir crime thriller set in the gritty badlands of west Dublin. The narrative follows Tony Ward, who returns home after five years on the run for murder, working under a local crime boss alongside enforcer Darren “Flute” Walsh. As they collect debts and navigate violent underworld dynamics, their professional partnership evolves into a complex, homoerotic relationship marked by desire and betrayal. The reviewer praises White as a powerful new voice in Irish literature, highlighting his dynamic prose that blends street slang with poetic imagery to create a vivid, propulsive atmosphere. However, the critique notes that the plot feels somewhat overcomplicated and that the central romantic tension between Tony and Flute lacks consistent emotional depth, risking ambiguity between their violent acts and sexual longing. Despite these flaws, the novel is recognized for its ambitious attempt to explore toxic masculinity and psychosexual themes within the crime genre, offering a raw look at damaged male psyches. The story culminates in a lethal double-cross, reflecting the noir tradition while striving for deeper psychological realism regarding guilt and repressed emotion.
The Guardian