King of the Cross is crime fiction unlike any other. Mark Dapin’s award-winning novel depicts the world of Jacob Mendoza- ruler of Kings Cross and, for more than forty years, Australia’s most powerful and infamous crime figure.

King of the Cross is crime fiction unlike any other. Mark Dapin’s award-winning novel depicts the world of Jacob Mendoza- ruler of Kings Cross and, for more than forty years, Australia’s most powerful and infamous crime figure. Now in his eighties, Mendoza decides to employ a hapless young journalist to ghostwrite his memoir. As Mendoza reveals his epic life of thugs and drugs, murders and mayhem, crooked cops and girls, girls, girls, it appears that he’s not the only one with a past. And as his story develops, other more terrifying criminals are circling the kingdom that Mendoza built.

Praise for King of the Cross

‘Profane, funny and sometimes confronting … This book is not for the easily offended. Hilarious … outrageous … It’s a wild, macho ride.’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘Truly original. This book detonates while you’re reading it.’ Robert Drewe

‘Punctuated by lacerating comic dialogue and scenes of explosive violence, full of … inventive word play and thinly veiled social commentary … there’s ample substance beneath the dialogue.’ The Age

‘Dapin is a writer who punches with both hands and winks at the crowd while he’s at it … A cunning stunt that could get him knee-capped.’ Andrew Rule, author of Underbelly

‘Think Nick Hornby on a meth binge and you’ve got the style. Think Underbelly 2, but so much more real, and you’ve got the content … Fun and compelling.’ Melbourne Times