Southside Kings is gritty urban crime fiction set in South Jamaica, Queens—where loyalty is currency, betrayal starts wars, and power is taken, not given. In the heart of Queens NYC, a street empire is rising. But in a world ruled by organized crime, the most dangerous enemies aren’t across town—they’re sitting at your table. Built on ambition, blood, and unspoken rules, the Southside Kings control more than territory. They control silence. Respect. Fear. But when loyalty cracks and betrayal seeps into the foundation, alliances shift. Brothers become rivals. And every decision carries a body count. This is not just a street story. This is a long-arc urban crime saga about power, family, survival—and the cost of sitting on the throne. Fans of gritty crime dramas and organized crime fiction will feel the intensity from page one. Southside Kings is Book 1 of a 5-Book Urban Crime Saga. Book 2, The Outside War, is available now. By the time you hear the thunder… it’s already too late. Kennedy 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read! Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2025 Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase Good read. Couldn't stop once I started. I highly recommend! Kellz 5.0 out of 5 stars pulls you straight into the heart of the Southside — where survival, family, and choices collide Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2025 Format: Paperback Southside Kings is a raw, powerful, and emotional story that captures the reality of street life, loyalty, and redemption. Derek Chatman delivers an authentic voice that pulls you straight into the heart of the Southside — where survival, family, and choices collide. The characters feel real, and the dialogue hits hard with genuine emotion and truth. You can tell the author understands the world he's writing about — every scene feels lived-in and honest. Beyond the action and intensity, there's a deeper message about growth, self-discovery, and breaking cycles that keep people trapped. This isn't just another street tale — it's a story about resilience and identity. Chatman's storytelling keeps you hooked from beginning to end, with moments that make you stop and think long after you've turned the last page. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate urban fiction that balances grit with heart. Nenad 5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read, deep. Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2025 Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase Great book!! FROM THE AUTHOR: Why I Wrote the Southside Kings Series   I wrote the Southside Kings Series because our stories matter — the real stories, the ones born on the blocks that raised us, the ones shaped by survival, loyalty, heartbreak, and hope. I wanted to create something that spoke for the people who come from places the world doesn't always understand... Queens, Roosevelt, Hollis Ave, the 40, Baisley, Park Ave — the places that made me who I am.   Every character in this five-book series carries pieces of people I knew, people I lost, and people who changed my life. Malik "Red," Bishop, Diamond, Ace — they represent brothers, friends, mentors, and the young men we grew up with who were trying to fight the streets and fight their own demons at the same time. Some made it out. Some didn't. But all of them had a story worth telling.   I wrote this series for every kid who ever felt like the streets were closing in on them. For every friend we buried too early. For every mother who worried every night. For every dream that almost died but kept fighting anyway. This series is my way of honoring where I come from and showing the world that even in the darkest corners, there's love, loyalty, ambition, and heart.   Five books because the story is too big, too real, too layered to fit into one. Each book exposes another side of the struggle — the pain, the decisions, the consequences, the victories. It's a journey through what we lived, what we learned, and what we survived.   I wrote this series because the Southside raised soldiers, and soldiers deserve to be seen. This is my tribute to the streets that made me, the people who shaped me, and the life lessons that changed me. If these books touch even one person, inspire somebody, or remind someone they're not alone in their fight... then every page was worth it.   Thank you for taking this journey with me. — Derek Chatman Derek Chatman writes from the heart of South Jamaica Queens and Roosevelt, carrying the voices of the people who raised him, taught him, loved him, and challenged him. The Southside Kings Series is his tribute to the friends he lost, the brothers he grew up with, the coaches who believed in him, and the streets that shaped his strength.   Every page reflects real emotion, real survival, and real memories. Derek uses storytelling to honor his community and show the world that behind every tough environment is a soul fighting to rise.   His mission is simple: tell stories that matter, inspire people who come from struggle, and make sure the world hear