Danielle Crosby had a body to die for. A body she sold to the highest bidder. But she ended up paying for it with her life. When a prostitute's body is found lifeless, mutilated and brutally raped, DCI Annie Carr has never seen anything like it and never wants to again. Retired DCI now consultant, Kate Burrows has plenty of experience when it comes to murder ? after all she caught the Grantley Ripper and broke the biggest paedophile ring in the South East. She is determined to help put the killer behind bars. But whoever it is won't be easily caught. And when another girl's body is found, even more horrifically disfigured than the last, it's clear the killer is just warming up...In a ruthless world where everyone's out for themselves, Annie and Kate must dig deep if they hope to catch a callous serial killer who knows no limits and makes no mistakes. For some, prostitution is seriously big business. But how many people will pay the ultimate price? Utterly page-turning, HARD GIRLS is a gripping and disturbing thriller that will have you hooked until the very last moment. Martina Cole is a phenomenal multi-million copy bestselling author, whose novels are original, gritty and compelling. She is the only author who dares to tell is like it really is.
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Martina Cole is not so much a publishing phenomenon (although she is certainly that) as a something of a force of nature. Though the sales of her tough East End-set novels are the envy of many a writer, and despite her punishing work regime (from the regularity of her publication schedule, it doesn't appear that she ever takes a holiday), the standard of her writing is always consistent: direct and no-nonsense. She writes about men and women who are prepared to bend the rules in the most uncompromising fashion, and it's clear that this technique strikes a chord in many a reader; we may lead law-abiding lives, but we can't deny that those who step outside the strictures of society hold a grim fascination. She has an unerring ear for dialogue and everyday speech, and it is this (as much of her in-your-face storytelling) that gives her books such an impact. Since her debut novel Dangerous Lady in 1992, there has been a steady stream of equally forceful books, of which the latest is Hard Girls
The murdered body of a prostitute is discovered, grotesquely mutilated and sexually assaulted. The condition of the body is a shock even to DCI Annie Carr -- a woman who has no illusions about life. Kate Burrows once held down the same job as Annie, but is now retired and acting as consultant. Kate is a woman who has plenty of experience when it comes to capturing murderers (the Grantley Ripper was one of those she tracked down), and took on a paedophile ring in the southeast. Kate takes on the task of helping to catch a sadistic killer, and working with Annie Carr, the two women realise that they will have to move into different territory -- territory that will be a challenge even to these two experienced police women.
Fans of Martina Cole (and they are legion) know exactly what to expect from her, and she delivers here as unswervingly as ever. And if you’re the kind of reader who is made uncomfortable by being forced to sympathise (or at least understand) protagonists who are on the wrong side of the law, Hard Girls is a book for you, with its two powerfully realised female copper heroines. Don't be surprised if (as in the recent TV adaptation of The Take) filmmakers come calling at Ms. Cole’s door over this one: this is a book which is simply crying out to be filmed. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Cole at her finest... with all the usual hallmarks: gritty dialogue, shocking violence and a gripping storyline' -- Daily Express
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By moxxy-girl
Format:Paperback
What a poor and disappointing read!
Having read a few of Martina's earlier ones - and found them quite realistic and gritty, this was a real load of rubbish by comparison.
The dialogue was awful- I even attempted saying some of it out loud, to see if it sounded better - NO !The the story line was slow, repetitive and to be honest fairly unbelievable.
I had spotted the twist by a third of the way through the book.
Shake yourself up Martina - this is very poor indeed!
Having read a few of Martina's earlier ones - and found them quite realistic and gritty, this was a real load of rubbish by comparison.
The dialogue was awful- I even attempted saying some of it out loud, to see if it sounded better - NO !The the story line was slow, repetitive and to be honest fairly unbelievable.
I had spotted the twist by a third of the way through the book.
Shake yourself up Martina - this is very poor indeed!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By kintamani293
Format:Hardcover
I was given this Martina Cole book, and I was intrigued as I had never read a Martina Cole book and she is a huge bestselling author. After reading this book I can only assume that the person that had off loaded it onto me simply didn't like me or couldn't be bothered to make the trip to the charity shop.
It is dire. And completely unbelieveable. On the sleeve, it is described as 'gritty' and praises Cole's use of applicable language. Using the F word on practically every page, sometimes 10 times a page, does not make it 'gritty', just tedious. The characters also seem to be identical, speaking and acting with exactly the same mannerisms whether they are criminals or police. Do you know any policemen/women that refer to themselves as 'the filth' over and over everyday?
Towards the end of the book the author appears to wish to come to the end as much as I did, as the characters seem to become physic, refering to events they were not previously aware of. In true rushed endings...the killer is discovered, caught and the good guys drive off into the sunset...all in little more than a paragraph.
It is dire. And completely unbelieveable. On the sleeve, it is described as 'gritty' and praises Cole's use of applicable language. Using the F word on practically every page, sometimes 10 times a page, does not make it 'gritty', just tedious. The characters also seem to be identical, speaking and acting with exactly the same mannerisms whether they are criminals or police. Do you know any policemen/women that refer to themselves as 'the filth' over and over everyday?
Towards the end of the book the author appears to wish to come to the end as much as I did, as the characters seem to become physic, refering to events they were not previously aware of. In true rushed endings...the killer is discovered, caught and the good guys drive off into the sunset...all in little more than a paragraph.
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful
By Raquel
Format:Hardcover
I have just finished reading this book and was really keen to see if Martina had recaptured some of her old magic sadly lost in The Take, the abismal Faces and The Business, which I didn't even read the reviews were so bad.
Unfortunately either Martina doesn't pay any attention to the opinions of her loyal fans of she has just become complacent and believes she can sell us any old rubbish.
The plot was very weak with a very obvious "twist" at the end that any idiot could see coming from page one. There was no pace and very little depth of character. Like other readers I was disappointed that the language had been cleaned up - Martina even felt the need to explain a lot of her underworld terminology which was very frustrating as anyone who reads a Martina Cole novel doesn't need it explaining and it really slowed the already very minimal action down. Like Faces and The Take, Hard Girls was very repetitive, with sentences being repeated only with a few words presumably "thesaurus"-ed and changed around. The worst thing for me though apart from the weak storyline, unsympathetic characters and lack of real grittiness was the unbelievable dialogue. It didn't sound like the kind of language you would expect between east end gangsters and prostitutes, especially not when you compare it to her earlier books and lacked any real punch. I couldn't believe in what the characters were saying and therefore I couldn't really believe in them and I wasn't actually that bothered what happened to them. Not one of them was particularly likeable and she seemed to change major aspects of a characters personality whenever it suited her.
Overall I was really disappointed; it's as if she has become lazy and can rest on her laurels knowing that stores will still stock her new books based on her earlier bestsellers. I hoped that she would be making more effort now that she had written a few stinkers but it looks like her TV committments have taken over and she doesn't have the time or the inclination to write with the same passion and realism that she used to.
A real shame actually.
Unfortunately either Martina doesn't pay any attention to the opinions of her loyal fans of she has just become complacent and believes she can sell us any old rubbish.
The plot was very weak with a very obvious "twist" at the end that any idiot could see coming from page one. There was no pace and very little depth of character. Like other readers I was disappointed that the language had been cleaned up - Martina even felt the need to explain a lot of her underworld terminology which was very frustrating as anyone who reads a Martina Cole novel doesn't need it explaining and it really slowed the already very minimal action down. Like Faces and The Take, Hard Girls was very repetitive, with sentences being repeated only with a few words presumably "thesaurus"-ed and changed around. The worst thing for me though apart from the weak storyline, unsympathetic characters and lack of real grittiness was the unbelievable dialogue. It didn't sound like the kind of language you would expect between east end gangsters and prostitutes, especially not when you compare it to her earlier books and lacked any real punch. I couldn't believe in what the characters were saying and therefore I couldn't really believe in them and I wasn't actually that bothered what happened to them. Not one of them was particularly likeable and she seemed to change major aspects of a characters personality whenever it suited her.
Overall I was really disappointed; it's as if she has become lazy and can rest on her laurels knowing that stores will still stock her new books based on her earlier bestsellers. I hoped that she would be making more effort now that she had written a few stinkers but it looks like her TV committments have taken over and she doesn't have the time or the inclination to write with the same passion and realism that she used to.
A real shame actually.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent writer
Good read.Martinas books are well worth reading there gritty and delve deep in to the subject of the matter. Loved it.
Published 3 days ago by STEPHEN SUMNER
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
A great read from start to finish, martina cole is great at mystery and intrigue and kept me guessing the whole way. A good summer read
Published 17 days ago by Rexx
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very 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
2.0 out of 5 stars
Don't bother.
Read the reviews, so why did I bother, it was so long drawn out, a question was asked, but it took a whole page before it was
answered, I wanted to know who the killer was ,... Read more
answered, I wanted to know who the killer was ,... Read more
Published 2 months ago by jude
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good story
This book was purchased by me for a freind, the lady freind reads lots of books, and she enjoyed reading this one
Published 2 months ago by Les
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to put down
As usual Martina didn't let us down with this one. I always get right in to her books and his was no exception. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Polly - Chippenham
5.0 out of 5 stars
HARD GIRLS
A good enjoyable read, couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start another one .Well done again Martina Cole .
Published 2 months ago by lisa woodvine
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hard Girls
Bought this cd as a present and feedback is positive for this product. Arrived ahead of schedule and well packaged.
Published 3 months ago by Mr. William T. Bartley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forgot how good her books were.
It had been a couple of years since i read a Martiina Cole book, then just before xmas i picked one up and have now just finishied reading three, i could relate to the places in... Read more
Published 3 months ago by kim
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book by Martina Cole
superb reading, again from a super author of fiction.
She has this tremendous ability to hold you in suspence until the last chapter.
She has this tremendous ability to hold you in suspence until the last chapter.
Published 3 months ago by Ted
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