What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Gangster
C.S. Poe · Book · 2021
If you loved The Gangster, start with A Thousand Blows (Steven Knight, 2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Gangster across media.
What hooked you in The Gangster is the high-stakes dance between law enforcement duty and the allure of dangerous, underworld power.
Films on the same thread
American Gangster
Ridley Scott · Film · 2007
Explores: Drug Trafficking, Corruption, Moral Ambiguity.
Like the pursuit of Tick Tock in The Gangster, this film captures the relentless tension between a dedicated investigator and a criminal mastermind operating within a corrupt system.
The Public Enemy
William A. Wellman · Film · 1931
Explores: Rise and Fall, American Dream Corruption, Brotherhood and Betrayal.
If the criminal underworld of The Gangster intrigued you, this classic offers an unfiltered look at the rise and fall of mob figures operating in a lawless era.
The Untouchables
Brian De Palma · Film · 1987
Explores: Good vs Evil, Corruption, Justice.
The Gangster features a law enforcement officer pushed to his limits, a struggle reflected in this film as agents battle to dismantle a powerful, untouchable crime syndicate.
Gangster Squad
Film · 2013
Shares 2 threads with The Gangster: Organized crime, Law enforcement.
The clash between organized crime and the authorities in The Gangster finds a brutal echo here as a specialized squad confronts a ruthless mob king in 1940s Los Angeles.
Series on the same thread
Heated Rivalry
Jacob Tierney · Series · 2025
Explores: Rivalry, Forbidden Love, Career Ambition.
While set in a different world, this story mirrors the forbidden romance and complex personal stakes that complicate the professional life of the protagonist in The Gangster.
Boardwalk Empire
Terence Winter · Series · 2010
Shares a thread with The Gangster: Organized Crime.
The moral ambiguity and political maneuvering found in The Gangster are amplified in this portrait of a treasurer balancing his public duty with his life as a gangster.
Peaky Blinders
Steven Knight · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with The Gangster: Organized Crime.
The historical grit of The Gangster is mirrored in this epic, which tracks a family navigating the criminal underworld while seeking to expand their influence and power.
A Thousand Blows
Steven Knight · Series · 2025
Explores: Criminal Underworld, Friendship, Gang Violence.
If you enjoyed the atmospheric criminal landscape of The Gangster, you will appreciate this look at two friends thrust into the unforgiving and dangerous underworld of London.
Podcasts on the same thread
CounterClock
Audiochuck · Podcast · 2025
Explores: unsolved homicide, seeking justice, historical mystery.
The investigative drive that defines the protagonist of The Gangster is central to this series, which focuses on digging through history to uncover the truth behind cold cases.
Criminal
Vox Media Podcast Network · Podcast · 2026
Explores: moral ambiguity, social justice, human behavior.
This podcast explores the same moral ambiguity and legal complexities that Gillian Hamilton faces in The Gangster, focusing on those caught between the law and personal choices.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Gangster a sequel to another book?
Yes, The Gangster follows the events of Shallow Grave. Special Agent Gillian Hamilton is recovering from injuries sustained in that previous location before beginning his investigation into the gangster known as Tick Tock in New York City.
What is the setting of The Gangster?
The Gangster is set in 1881. After recovering from injuries in Arizona, Special Agent Gillian Hamilton returns to New York City to continue his work for the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam during the New Year's Eve holiday.
Who is the antagonist in The Gangster?
The primary antagonist in The Gangster is a criminal known only as Tick Tock. He is identified by his unique ability to utilize elemental magic ammunition, which complicates the holiday plans of Special Agent Gillian Hamilton.
Does The Gangster involve magic?
Yes, The Gangster features a magic-infused setting. The protagonist, Gillian Hamilton, is a magic caster for the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam, and the plot centers on a criminal who has developed a method for using elemental magic ammunition.