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I approached The Runaway with a mixture of excitement and a feeling of facing the inevitable. I didn’t want her to disappoint or to be too predictable. It is wonderful to discover a new author and have her entire collection of novels to read for the first time, knowing she still ... Read review
When Cathy Connor and Eamonn Docherty are thrown together as children in the East End ... more
their fate is sealed. Cathy's miserable life as a prostitute's child changes forever when she's forced into care. The ordeal that follows leaves her with no choice bu...
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Advantages: A page-turning, well written, multi-layered story. Disadvantages: Swearing and gory violence might not be to your taste.
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I approached The Runaway with a mixture of excitement and a feeling of facing the inevitable. I didn’t want her to disappoint or to be too predictable. It is wonderful to discover a new author and have her entire collection of novels to read for the first time, knowing she still produces new ones regularly.
When I started reading, it was obvious the magic was still there. I was hooked within a few pages and once again, ... ...her life there as a runaway without friends to help her. Eamonn takes his criminal acts too far several times, his acts of brutality and ruthlessness making him both respected and despised simultaneously. He has to leave London with his father and ends up living the high life in New York.
The characters are brilliantly described, so that even those who make brief appearances have a background and are easy to picture. This is especially ... more
While I loved the first Martina Cole book I read (Goodnight Lady), I was slightly wary about reading a second. I had heard people say her books were very similar to one another, featuring the same kind of characters, settings and themes. It must be hard for an author to get the balance right. As with a singer, you want a voice that is recognisable, but you don't want to regurgitate the same thing time after time, so it becomes boring.
I approached The Runaway with a mixture of excitement and a feeling of facing the inevitable. I didn’t want her to disappoint or to be too predictable. It is wonderful to discover a new author and have her entire collection of novels to read for the first time, knowing she still produces new ones regularly.
When I started reading, it was obvious the magic was still there. I was hooked within a few pages and once again, I was faced with the problems I had while reading Goodnight Lady – how could I read as much of the book as possible, while still finding time for the house, my family, time on the computer and the right amount of sleep? After all, 663 pages is a weighty tome, not a couple of hours’ read.
The characters drew me in almost immediately. The novel starts and finishes in 1995, with our first introduction to the story being the description of a woman called Cathy - badly beaten and fighting for survival in a London hospital. Then we meet Eamonn Docherty, who is in New York when he receives a phonecall telling him Cathy is dying.
I wanted to read on and find out more straight away. Who was Cathy and how did she come to be in this state? What happened to her and will she survive? Who is Eamonn? What was his story and how is he connected to the mysterious Cathy?
Over the next few hundred pages, all is revealed. The novel takes us from 1960 through the three and half decades until we are back at the prologue – and then continues the story to its natural conclusion. We are transported between London and New York, following Cathy and Eamonn’s lives and all those they encounter during it.
It is hard to give you an idea of the plot, without spoiling it, as there are twists, turns and surprises that regularly pop up and it would be a shame to let the potential reader in on any of these beforehand. But here’s a brief summary to give you an idea as to whether it’s the kind of book you would like to read.
In 1960 London, Cathy and Eamonn live together with their parents. Cathy’s mother, Madge Connor, is a prostitute and not a high class one either. She is lazy and leaves all the housework to her seven-year-old daughter. Eamonn’s father, Eamonn Senior, is an alcoholic with a temper, who regularly beats Madge. It’s as much a part of their relationship as their noisy sex sessions – both of which ten year old Eamonn Junior tries to ignore and shut out. Life is not easy for the two children, but they have each other.
As the years go by, Cathy and Eamonn are forced apart, then thrown together. They marry other people, but still appear to be drawn to one another. Cathy finds herself in Soho where she begins her life there as a runaway without friends to help her. Eamonn takes his criminal acts too far several times, his acts of brutality and ruthlessness making him both respected and despised simultaneously. He has to leave London with his father and ends up living the high life in New York.
The characters are brilliantly described, so that even those who make brief appearances have a background and are easy to picture. This is especially effective when something nasty happens to them! It is much easier to accept violence when you have no idea about the victim. Once you know something about them – maybe how young they are or how many children they have – it is harder to become detached.
Cathy and Eamonn are our heroine and hero, but are in no way perfect. They make mistakes, they follow the wrong path, they make bad decisions. But they are still admired and loved by the readers, even if we are sometimes repulsed by their actions. The reader’s empathy is gained and retained by Martina Cole’s wonderful descriptive writing which draws us into the heads of her characters, where we can at least understand why they did something, even if we do not agree with their actions.
Other characters stand out in the novel, including Desrae and Richard Gates, who were two of my favourites. Desrae is beautiful, wears glamorous clothes and perfect make up – but between the legs is all male. Richard Gates is a corrupt policeman, who is not unused to resorting to violence himself, if the situation requires it. Again, we see all facets of their personalities though, which endears them to us.
A common thread between Martina Cole’s novels is that they are definitely for an adult readership. Expect a harsh view of life – prostitution, drugs, extreme swearing, child abuse and violence that will turn your stomach. Again, this is written in a very clever way, so you are revolted, but swayed to condone some of it and even admire acts of brutality in a strange way. You will certainly understand people’s motivations, as you get to follow the events and see how their minds work.
If you are at all interested in gangland violence or the crime networks of major capital cities, this will fascinate you. But Martina Cole’s are so much more than just a crime novel or a thriller. Add these genres to a family saga type book and you’re getting closer. Imagine finding out the whole of a person’s history from childhood through adulthood, then you read about them being viciously attacked. It has an impact. You care. You ‘know’ them. It is a very clever device and works perfectly.
I cannot recommend Martina Cole enough, but she may not be your cup of tea – or, more aptly, your double vodka with cocaine chaser. But if you like the sound of her, do try at least one of her novels. I am so pleased I did. Now I just need to persuade myself to stop reading her temporarily, so I can get this huge pile of library books reduced! Not to mention catch up on some sleep…
NB: Thanks to all those on the opinion sites who recommended Martina Cole and thanks to Mizzame for lending me the book.
Advantages: Well written, great story Disadvantages: none
I am not quite sure what category this book would come under but i'd say its a thriller. As most people, I have my favourite authors (Patricia Cornwell, Val McDermid) but when you've read all their books what do you do? Well you either read reviews like this or ask friends. Martina Cole was recommended to me by a friend who like me enjoys a good thriller or murder story. Although I do trust my friend's judgement rather than buying a book I went to ... ...I thought i'd give it a go.
When you read a book you can generally tell in the first couple of chapters whether you are going to enjoy it or not and after the first few pages I was hooked. The first chapter sees Cathy (the main character) lying in a hospital bed near death with various friends watching over her and one making a call to a Eammon Docherty who was in New York.
The second chapter then goes back to the 60s with Cathy Connor and Eammon ...
Sarahb1976 10.09.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Runaway - Martina cole
Advantages: gripping, attention keeper Disadvantages: The severe content of some subjects may not be everybodys taste
In the first instance I found the book very challenging and hard to keep a hold of where I was upto as the setting and story changed so often.However the way that Miss Cole makes a stronger person out of the young lady who comes from a hugely disfunctional family is admireable.
The book is a huge must for all gangland loving thrillers and even those witha slight taste for a mystery as this book has twists and turns and unimaginable crimes that will ...
sarahp1985 25.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Runaway - Martina cole
Advantages: excellent for a first read Disadvantages: could not put it down so the social life was out of the picture!
this was the first martina cole book i read after hearing only good things about her, i have to now agree and become a follower of her work, I have just finshed reading dangerous lady and have 2 more of hers to read. one of the main reasons i find that i like her books is because she is from my way and talks abouts local things which is always good to see.
the characters were extremley strong, and the storyline was excellent, i could not put the ...
sexygems 21.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Runaway - Martina cole
Advantages: cant put it down Disadvantages: cant put it down
...york mafia this book the runaway has everythin you could posible want from martina cole a dont know wat it is but for me martina cole does it every time i em a true fan of martina cole from wen i picked up her first book at the age of 19 years old one you start reading you wont be able to stop phenominal ...
jaypup22 21.10.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Runaway - Martina cole
Advantages: the book captures the reader within the first few pages Disadvantages: i could only get the book in large size - i quite prefer smaller size paperbacks
...buy her full collection.
Runaway was not disappointing. It's the type of read that you can't put down.
The "Goings' On" in the story are very down to earth - stuff that you know actually happens in certain parts of the country. (or anywhere in the world for that matter) You can relate to the characters and after a few chapters you seem to know the characters and what they're about.
This makes the read more interesting in my opinion.
I also like ...
Faultfinder 02.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Runaway - Martina cole