An enthralling and hard-hitting story of violence and revenge from No. 1 bestselling author Martina Cole.Looking back, Nick Leary couldn't say exactly what kept him awake that night. He'd had a lot on his mind; perhaps he'd been thinking about the 'respectable' Essex business that he ran, or about his two young sons sleeping in the room next door. Or was it simply the sound of his beautiful wife's steady breathing beside him...Whatever it was, he was awake when he heard someone's footsteps downstairs, and Nick's instinct was to fight. It had always been that way, to protect the things he treasured most: his family, his privacy, his reputation. He'd grafted for these things all his life and no one was going to jeopardise them now. Unless, of course, Nick's instinct is wrong, and what happens this time is the start of something even he cannot stop...
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
The Graft
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
Is The Graft up to Martina Cole’s usual standard? The unarguable success of her sizable tally of crime novels must be a source of envy to other practitioners. Almost from the beginning, she has gleaned praise for her gritty and pungent fiction. Even the very ordinary TV adaptations of such books as Dangerous Lady stripped no lustre from her reputation, when novels as good as The Know flowed from her pen. Her prose style is always pared down and vivid--which is, thankfully, still very much the case with The Graft.
Nick Leary is having trouble sleeping, what with sultry heat and business and family problems weighing on his mind. His wife is sleeping beside him, when he hears a noise downstairs--and soon he has to decide how much violence he will use to defend his home and family. The decision he makes is to change his life forever. Nick and his wife are taken to the very extremes of human behaviour--and he is obliged to decide how high a price he will pay to keep what he values most.
As ever, Cole exerts an effortless grip throughout her unsettling narrative. We’re used to her exuberantly characterised heroines, but the beleaguered Nick shows that’s she’s just as on-the-nail with her male characters. The edgy plotting has the kind of no-nonsense handling that is Cole's métier. Perhaps a touch more psychological strip-mining of her protagonists would have deepened her achievement, but what the hell--all the right buttons are pressed here.--Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Cole is brilliant at portraying the good among the bad, and vice versa, so until the very end we never quite know who to trust. This is the very stuff that makes her so compelling' -- Daily Mirror 'No one writes about East End women and their vagaries like Martina Cole' -- Maxim Jakubowski, Murder One 20020329 'A powerful novel that pulls no punches... Cole has an ear for the vernacular of the East End, as well as an ability to portray the viciousness of life at the edge' the Guide -- Guide 20020329 'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' -- The Times 20020329 'Intensely readable' -- Guardian 20020329 'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' -- Sunday Express 20020329 'Utterly compelling' -- Mirror 20020329 'The story will grip you from the first pages' -- Best 20020329 'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' -- Express 20020329
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Sloane
Format:Audio CD
I have to admit I gave up on this book about 1/3 through. It is coarse, slow and unappealing. The plot plods along. The characters are cardboard cliches who are unattractive. She wants to be gritty and hard-hitting but it comes across as forced and unnatural. Very disappointing.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At first I couldn't really get into this book. I thought the writing was really bad and needed a good editing. Also, being Greek,I had trouble understanding some of the British slang. There was too much 'telling' and not enough 'showing'.Phrases and sentences were repeated over and over until you wanted to scream 'Ok, we get it, get on with the plot!'.There were whole chapters where almost nothing was happening because there was detailed description of the characters' thoughts, feelings and flashbacks. Also, at the begining I thought the characters were unconvincing. I couldn't really 'get' them, or understand why they behaved like they did. I didn't really like any of them. One minute they were decent people and the next they were complete jerks. Why did 'tough guy' Nick cry like a baby over killing an armed robber that broke into his home and then torture and kill people withought feeling any remorse ? Why did he let his wife sleep around ? Why did the couple live with Nick's mother ? Why did everyone feel sorry for that b..ch Junky Jude ? It didn't make any sense.
I was ready to give the book up, but around page 200 something happened. I'm not really sure if the writing got any better or if I got used to the bad writing, but the pace started to pick up and things started to make sense. By the end of the book everything was falling beautifully into place and I couldn't put the book down.
This book explores the criminal underworld in a very realistic and absorbing way, although there is too much sex, violence and drugs in the book, and too many perverts. Not a masterpiece, but recommended.
I was ready to give the book up, but around page 200 something happened. I'm not really sure if the writing got any better or if I got used to the bad writing, but the pace started to pick up and things started to make sense. By the end of the book everything was falling beautifully into place and I couldn't put the book down.
This book explores the criminal underworld in a very realistic and absorbing way, although there is too much sex, violence and drugs in the book, and too many perverts. Not a masterpiece, but recommended.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By O. Doyle
Format:Paperback
The Graft is my fifth Martina Cole book after reading The Take, The Ladykiller, The Know and Broken. While my first 4 Martina Cole books had me gripped from page one I have to agree with others before me.....The Graft wasn't up to Cole's usual standard.
The story starts with the death of a local villain who is killed while trying to burgle the house of local hardman Nick Leary. Nick becomes the hero of the hour after `doing what anyone would have done' when faced with a local thug with a gun in his house in the middle of the night. While everyone applauds Nick for protecting his own Nick is having trouble dealing with what he's done. For a man who maims and kills in the course of his every day why should the death of a villain like Sonny Hatcher upset him so much? That's where the real story lies.
While The Graft had the usual formula of hard men, tragedy and retribution I too felt that Cole spent way too much time focusing on the thoughts and feelings of every character and not enough time on developing the story and moving it along. Quite a big chunk of the 700-odd pages could have been omitted and nobody would have noticed. The story was there, the characters were there.....I just feel the final product was lacking. Disappointing.
The story starts with the death of a local villain who is killed while trying to burgle the house of local hardman Nick Leary. Nick becomes the hero of the hour after `doing what anyone would have done' when faced with a local thug with a gun in his house in the middle of the night. While everyone applauds Nick for protecting his own Nick is having trouble dealing with what he's done. For a man who maims and kills in the course of his every day why should the death of a villain like Sonny Hatcher upset him so much? That's where the real story lies.
While The Graft had the usual formula of hard men, tragedy and retribution I too felt that Cole spent way too much time focusing on the thoughts and feelings of every character and not enough time on developing the story and moving it along. Quite a big chunk of the 700-odd pages could have been omitted and nobody would have noticed. The story was there, the characters were there.....I just feel the final product was lacking. Disappointing.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 5 reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
This book was brilliant from start to finish. Martina Cole at her best. Can't wait for Tammys Story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good gritty story.
Published 22 days ago by Marti Scott
3.0 out of 5 stars
think this is so much like her other books,
Used to like M,C`s books but all the same lately, first 2 or 3 could not put them down,
loved them, Lady Killer, Bad Girls, but they seem to be the same drugs killing but... Read more
loved them, Lady Killer, Bad Girls, but they seem to be the same drugs killing but... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Elaine Anne Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Big fan of Martina Cole, so difficult to give negative feedback. I am reading some proper Gangster Books at the moment which are quite serious but a good read.
Published 2 months ago by Joanna Young
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good
I find Martina Cole's books most of the time well worth reading. This one is no exception. Would recommend it.
Published 2 months ago by goeash
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Graft by Martina Cole
Good twist near end. Kept me involved and I love her writing. She knows a lot about her subject. Great
Published 2 months ago by gwen metcalfe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
As you would expect from this writer - gripping, exciting, gruesome, addictive, fantastic as always - would highly recommend to anyone!
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. R. Wootten
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Graft
Martina Cole Great as usual. Sometimes sad sometimes real Couldnt wait to see our it finished.will read again. Cant wait.
Published 3 months ago by mrs veronica webb
2.0 out of 5 stars
Laborious
Having read a few Martina Cole books I can honestly say, in my opinion, this is by far her worst. Her repetitive use of grammar throughout her books is starting to get a bit... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs.G
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yet another great book
Yet another award winning book by Martina Cole. Such a great read you don't want to put it down. You just need to know what is going to happen next. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Chele
5.0 out of 5 stars
peace & quiet
absolutely great arrived on time well packed even though it was not for myself i think is dose the job has it was for the wife has i am not a reader
it certainly keeps her... Read more
it certainly keeps her... Read more
Published 9 months ago by doug
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
