Danger and violence have always been part of Sue Dalston's East End upbringing and in sheer desperation she kills her brutal husband. When she is celled up with murderess Matilda Enderby, their lives become inextricably linked.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Two Women
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Neither the elegant middle-class Matilda nor the downtrodden Susan are precisely what they appear to be: when they meet in a prison cell, both are notorious husband killers. Matilda's appeal is imminent. She claims severe provocation in the shape of endless beatings from the husband she stabbed while Susan hardly bothered to defend herself in court. Most of Two Women is a flashback--a powerful venue for portraying domestic violence and criminal manners. Susan's murder of Barry resulted from years of brutality and sexual abuse by him and his partner in low-level gangland violence, her father Joey. "Joey would set people up and Barry execute the acts of violence and robbery, leaving Joe with the wedge and the kudos of being number one bailiff to the criminal community, while at the same time earning off the people stupid enough not to have him as their protection".
Martina Cole is darkly funny about Christmasses and weddings ruined by alcoholic mayhem; she is also good on the ways in which women support each other and let each other down--Susan gets little help from her mother or her grandmother and yet finds a best friend in the most unlikely of places. Martina Cole brings to her novels all the emotional force of her best television scripts. This is a vivid picture of the working-class criminal world in which everyone is supposed to live by a code and where that code is broken by any person violent enough to get away with it. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'The story will grip you from the first pages' (Best)
'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' (Express) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' (Express) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
.. From the begining of the book, you felt that there were parts you could relate to, although some of the incidents were just so horific, you pittied Susan right from the start, yet also held a torch for her and others who in real life had been treated that way. The more you read, the more hostile your feelings got to her Husband, Father and Mother and like another reviewer had written, you were willing Susan not to stay. This is the first Martina Cole book I have ever read, or heard of, and it would certainly not be one that I would have chosen as I prefer Science Fiction - but in reading this..., I found myself transported into the underbelly of Londons East End, and believe me, Ian Beale and Dot Cotton were nowhere to be found! Read it, Weep and promise yourself it would never happen to you! This book is one that you pick up and read from start to finish in one go - you will not be able to put it down!
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
A fantastic book with a great twist in plot towards the end. However, just one criticism - the title "Two Women" is really misleading as is the synopsis which states "when Sue Dalston is celled up with murderess Matilda Enderby their fates become inextricably linked". Actually, their fates do not become inextricably linked. The protaganist, Sue Dalston, doesn't meet Matilda Enderby until two thirds of the way through the book, and even then the only way their lives interlink is that they briefly share a prison cell and also share the same barrister for a while - hardly "inextricably" linked.
Sue Dalston is a fantastic characterisation - I don't doubt there are plenty of real life Sue Dalston's out there. Martina writes about her with such clarity and realism that I really feel she must personally know a Sue Dalston. You get drawn into Sue's life and realise how she is trapped. You really end up understanding why she behaves as she does.
One more slight criticism of this otherwise five star read is that all through the book Sue's mother is a total scumbag, yet towards the end of the book she miraculously discovers maternal feelings. It's as though Martina wants to tie up all the loose ends nicely and provide a nice happy ending. The family party towards the end of the book - with all the family members getting along and enjoying themselves together just seems unreal and spoils it a bit. Memo to Martina : your books are based on realism, real life doesn't have happy endings all the time.
The book is definately a page turner and Martina knows how to work the reader. Agripping read to the end and you won't be disapointed by the twist in the tale as you really feel that it could happen. Very cleverly written.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Leeds lass
Format:Paperback
I enjoyed this book so much that i decided to put cole on my list of favourite authors. However, she wasn`t there long because every book of hers that i read after that was like a re-run - loads of sex, violence, ill-gotten wealth,glamour, `gangsters`, drugs, prostitutes, beaten wives etc etc. You can only read the same stuff a couple of times before you get tired. I think it`s time cole either changed the record or put away the type writer for good.I give this book 5 stars as it deserves it - but she can`t expect to keep selling the same story under a different title and a different front cover.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a great read
Brilliant, I was there with her through her life struggles, and I shouted yes at the end. Totally absorbing, couldn't put it down.
Published 2 days ago by Unknown
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it
Even though this book was depressing most of the time it was a brilliant read.Martina Cole never let's me down.
Published 5 days ago by Loretta Francis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabtastic read
Martina Cole -fantastic as usual. Some twists and turns that even I didn't see coming...highly recommended Martina is one of my favourite authors and will continue to be!
Published 12 days ago by Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars
TWO WOMEN
Amazing... I couldn't put this book down. The shock and emotion is so real...I've cried with Susan throughout the book!!!
Published 18 days ago by Myra Weir
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good
a dame good read I read all her books and will continue can not wait for new books to come out
Published 19 days ago by kathleen hutchinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dalston will out
Fantastic novel,Martina has always been a favourite of mine and my partner but I feel she surpassed herself with this one. Read more
Published 21 days ago by gallon
5.0 out of 5 stars
very good
Its a brilliant book and I would advise anybody who has not read a book by martina cole to get this book
Published 28 days ago by dawn guthrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of her best
I dont know how i missed this book when it first came out ,but i did and i now know what i missed ,I really enjoyed this book ,martina cole at her best
Published 29 days ago by Witch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Reading
This was the first book i read my Martina Cole and i was crying at the end of it, since then I have everyone of her books and they keep you gripped from the start to finish. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mccuel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous read
I couldn't put this book down. Another great read from Martina cole. Absolutely brilliant. Can't wait to read more from her.
Published 1 month ago by Kellie Hall
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