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.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
A first class review, I agree entirely with all you say. This was my first Martina Cole book, and I have been hooked ever since. I use audio as I am blind, and the reader Annie Aldington, is just excellent. Sharon
salem_witch 10.06.2004 22:02
I like the sound of this. I've never read anything by Cole before. I think I'll have to give her a go!
GavMan 12.12.2003 12:57
Hi Karen!! What a fab review. I've read every one of Martina Cole's books and Runaway was the first. I absolutely love her style of writing, and agree thoroughly with your opinion. But I feel that it makes a very refreshing change to read something like this every now and again. Take Care. GavMan xx
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: 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
Faultfinder 02.06.2006 (02.06.2006)
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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
Faultfinder 02.06.2006 (02.06.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Runaway - Martina cole
Aug 24th, 2003
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