Hard Girls
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 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 'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' -- The Times 'Intensely readable' -- Guardian 'Martina Cole explores the shady criminal underworld, a setting she is fast making her own' -- Sunday Express 'Utterly compelling' -- Mirror 'The story will grip you from the first pages' -- Best 'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' -- Express
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
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!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The only conceviable reason to read this book is to gratify your vanity, as the villain is clearly obvious from the second time they make an appearance.
Martina Cole has always lacked the ability to create believable characters, and to call her prose wooden is to insult the average tree, but the early books were redeemed by an all-too-realistic 'underclass' setting, and a breakneck pace which certainly whiled away a train journey.... but all that has gone, just leaving a tired old rehashing of underworld cliches. The only credible violence here is that done to the English language.
Martina Cole has always lacked the ability to create believable characters, and to call her prose wooden is to insult the average tree, but the early books were redeemed by an all-too-realistic 'underclass' setting, and a breakneck pace which certainly whiled away a train journey.... but all that has gone, just leaving a tired old rehashing of underworld cliches. The only credible violence here is that done to the English language.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
enjoyable read
as usual a very well written book well researched true to life enjoyed reading this book i found it hard to stop reading this
Published 19 hours ago by lyn
STANDARD COLE
THIS STORY ALTHOUGH TYPICALLY COLE WAS NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS SOME OF HER LATER BOOKS. STILL ENJOYABLE- AND FANS WILL LIKE IT.
Published 3 days ago by tofncstle
Excellent book, kept me gripped from beginning to end!
This book is fab, as are all of Martina's novels. It really does keep you gripped from beginning to end!
Published 7 days ago by Ms. K. L. Miles
Great buy
This item turned up in great time, and perfectly packaged. The price was brill. I have read the book already and it was a brilliant read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bexstar
Guessed the ending from the beginning
Ive read a few Martina Cole books and really really enjoyed them. The characters and the intregue. But this as a sequel to Ladykiller and Broken is a real watered-down let-down. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Me!
JJ
Amazing as well as all of her others i read this when i was 13 and loved it and still re-read it still 3 years later.
Published 1 month ago by Juliette
FANTASTIC!!
WOW! LOVED THIS BOOK - MARTINA COLE AT HER BEST!!!I THOUGHT IT WAS SO EXCITING. IT MADE ME WANT TO KEEP READING IT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.
Published 3 months ago by Hamstermadgirl
Very disappointed as a big fan
I was really really disappointed by this book. I've read lots of Martina Cole's books, some of them I couldnt put down, finished withing 2 days, then picked back up and read again... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Kimberley
Another brilliant Martina Cole book
Although I have not yet finished this book, it is proving to be as good as her other books. This author doesn't mince her words - a spade is a spade - but this is necessary due to... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sandra Paterson
Disappointing.............
I must agree with some of the adverse comments in relation to this book. I have decided to abandon reading it.... Read more
Published 8 months ago by dollysmum
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