Djamel White's Debut Novel 'All Them Dogs' Blends Crime Fiction with Gangland Romance

Djamel White's debut novel 'All Them Dogs' has been published by John Murray Press. The book, which emerged from a six-way auction, combines elements of crime fiction, gangland romance, and erotic thriller before concluding as a tragedy. Set in the West Dublin suburb of Lucan, where White grew up and currently resides, the narrative follows protagonist Tony Ward as he returns to Dublin and partners with Darren 'Flute' Walsh to collect debts for a criminal stepfather. White notes that his work differs from much contemporary Irish fiction, which often focuses on characters escaping working-class backgrounds through art; instead, his protagonist finds no such escape. The story explores Tony's criminal activities and his secret sexual relationship with Flute, with White describing his narrator as 'all about the body, not the mind.' In an interview, White revealed that the sex scenes originated from his own imagination rather than literary influences, and he varied their intensity based on narrative momentum. The novel has drawn comparisons to 'Heated Rivalry,' though White acknowledges he hasn't read that work. His family has long supported his writing aspirations, celebrating his childhood efforts. Additionally, 'All Them Dogs' has been optioned for television adaptation, with a lead writer already attached. White expressed a preference for unknown actors to portray the main roles, though he humorously suggested Jacob Elordi for Flute due to height considerations.