Streets of Sin

Book excerpt: A short walk away from London's West End lies Notting Hill—one of the capital's most exclusive residential districts and a celebrity hotspot. But this outwardly genteel enclave has its shocking secrets. Streets of Sin delves into Notting Hill's distinctly murky past, and relates the deplorable scandals that blighted the area from its development until the late 20th century. Bestselling London historian Fiona Rule sheds new light on notorious events that took place amid the leafy streets, including the horrifying murders at Rillington Place, the nefarious career of slum landlord Peter Rachman, the Profumo affair, and Britain's first race riots, and reveals what life was life in Notting Hill during its dark years when murder, extortion, and disorder were everyday occurrences.