... Ms Cole is a best selling author in her field and many of her books have been dramatised for TV series, such as Dangerous Lady and The Jump.
However, that all changed on my recent fishing holiday in rural Devon where I had lots of time to participate in solitude and enjoy reading and fishing ... Read review
Being in the know can be deadly. Joanie Brewer’s children mean the world to her. ... more
She’d do anything to make sure they’re fed and clothed – even if it means going on the game – and she lives in constant fear that one of them will be taken from her
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:in stock
Advantages: Engaging, well written, gritty story Disadvantages: Sensitive issues included
...such as Dangerous Lady and The Jump.
However, that all changed on my recent fishing holiday in rural Devon where I had lots of time to participate in solitude and enjoy reading and fishing (sometimes simultaneously) in equal measure. I have the plethora of charity shops in the Somerset towns of Wellington and Chard to thank for enabling me to pick up a substantial number of books in mint condition at bargain prices!
... ...unconditionally and wants to do the best by them, who earns her living through the seedy world of prostitution.
Joanie is also a single parent to a close family unit of three children, two of mixed race, who is unfailingly admired by her peers (admittedly mainly prostitutes) for the effort she puts into taking care of her children and the pride she shows in her humble living accommodation on a rundown council estate in London. more
Given that crime fiction, psycho thrillers is perhaps my favourite genre, it may seem strange to some that until recently I had never read an offering by Martina Cole. Ms Cole is a best selling author in her field and many of her books have been dramatised for TV series, such as Dangerous Lady and The Jump.
However, that all changed on my recent fishing holiday in rural Devon where I had lots of time to participate in solitude and enjoy reading and fishing (sometimes simultaneously) in equal measure. I have the plethora of charity shops in the Somerset towns of Wellington and Chard to thank for enabling me to pick up a substantial number of books in mint condition at bargain prices!
My first Martina Cole experience was the book “The Know”, a chunky offering at 629 action packed paper back pages. I could say this book is predominantly about a mother’s love for her children, or I could say that it’s mainly about how a woman makes a living from prostitution. Or I could say it’s both. Because Cole’s central character Joanie Brewer is a mother who loves her children unconditionally and wants to do the best by them, who earns her living through the seedy world of prostitution.
Joanie is also a single parent to a close family unit of three children, two of mixed race, who is unfailingly admired by her peers (admittedly mainly prostitutes) for the effort she puts into taking care of her children and the pride she shows in her humble living accommodation on a rundown council estate in London.
Cole strips bare that seedy world of pimps and prostitution exploring the hidden depths of a city’s underworld, the gangland culture, the drinking, the drug dealing, recreational drug takers and addicts and explodes our pre-conceptions by uncovering “real” people behind this “third class society”. People that you know you could find qualities to admire in, people you feel an affinity with, people that you might even like were it not for the distasteful situation in which they find themselves. And you know, that made me feel uncomfortable. It made me feel uncomfortable, because who am I to judge? Who am I to judge a woman who has decided (consciously or otherwise) to make a living from the oldest profession in the world – selling her body?
Joanie’s world revolves around her three kids, Jon Jon (18), Jeanette (14) and Kira (11). I’m sure that most parents out there would agree that these ages can prove difficult for many; adolescence into adulthood is a challenging time for parents and children alike. Joanie, the single parent prostitute, is faced with all the usual problems as well as dealing with the environmental circumstances and trying to ensure that her children adhere to the unspoken moral code of such a background whilst protecting them from their dangerous environment.
Jon Jon is the man of the house and has been for a long time, even though he is only 18. He is supportive of his mother and a loving son, yet he earns his living through drug dealing and other criminal activity. Within the book, he is frequently involved in scenes of gratuitous violence and eventually becomes the right hand man of the local gangland boss. Yet Martina Cole manages not to glamorise the situation but at the same time make Jon Jon a very likeable young man.
Jeanette is a jealous 14 year old (jealous of her younger sister and older brother), a difficult adolescent who is mainly interested in flunking school, trying drugs and alcohol and, of course, boys. Of all her children, it is with Jeanette that Joanie struggles most with.
Kira (at 11) is the baby of the family. Although it’s never made explicit anywhere in the book what is actually “wrong” with Kira, it is made clear that she’s not a particularly bright girl, and would appear to have significant learning difficulties. She’s a sweet, loving child and it is Kira who Joanie worries about most.
The story itself is focused around the gritty, real, dark, hidden City underworld that challenges our thinking and pre-conceptions. But at the end of the day gangland culture and Cities can be dangerous places to be, especially for children. Perhaps more so than in mainstream life, seedy, despicable people can hide behind other illegal activity to indulge in perversions and unspeakable horrors that we would not want to imagine. The story does venture into the world of child abduction and paedophilia, a place that none of us want to go, but the issue is tackled sensitively in comparison to other works I’ve read recently. The reader is taken on a stomach churning, emotional rollercoaster of a journey that compels you to read on to find out what happens next.
To say any more about the story would be giving the plot away, so I’m not going to, but this book is definitely worth a read if this is your genre of interest.
To summarise, Martina Cole’s characterisation is quite exceptional. She really made the characters come to life through her writing. For me, they were definitely vivid and real and drew from the reader emotion for those characters such as humour and sympathy. Perhaps even empathy.
The narration itself is good and flows well. The main plot is threaded with sub plots that are followed through well and all loose ends are tied up in the final chapter of the book. I enjoy a book that has a conclusion sometimes more so than those that leave the ending open or questionable.
Cole is clearly not afraid of tackling gritty subject matter and does it with enthusiasm, belief and most importantly style. After this experience I will definitely read more of Martina Cole’s work. On the whole, I would give this story 4 stars out of 5.
Available in paperback from headline fiction. RRP £6.99 Available new from Amazon for £5.59 (I bought my copy in a charity shop for 60p).
Advantages: A great read Disadvantages: There was an ending!
The novel, "The Know", is the most recent of stories by the acclaimed criminal and seedy underworld expert, Martina Cole. As were the previous nine books before this, The Know (released in 2003) was a number one bestseller and highly praised.
Martina Cole seems to write with apparent ease: her words flow effortlessly and digesting the story takes little thought whatsoever. Before you know it, you are ploughing through this novel with abandon - sometimes ... ...at the brutality. The story rattles along at intense speed, slowly building to a climatic end. The story centres on an unnamed London council estate and namely the Brewer family. A family well-known in the area by neighbours, criminals and police alike and headed by the matriarch, Joanie Brewer. Joanie is a proud women, of indeterminable age, who works as a prostitute and has done so from an early age. However, despite this fact, Joanie is houseproud ...
sunworld 03.09.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Know - Martina Cole
Advantages: Well written Disadvantages: Will scare parents
...little or no interest in the world of falling down council estates and more flesh on show than the daily sport. But, Cole’s creative response to issues such as prostitution, drugs and racism are so well-written that I haven’t looked back since.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*THE STORYLINE*
The book starts with a prologue that, for me, partly spoils the ending of the book. In my opinion, endings are endings, I don’t want to know the ... ...The beginning introduces the main character, Joanie Brewer, who’s personality way of life are summed up within the first paragraph;
“The double bed took up nearly all the room and she had to climb across it to get to the overflowing dressing table for a quick puff on her Benson and Hedges Light. She also took a large gulp of vodka and Coke, the acid taste making her belch loudly.”
Joanie Brewer is a prostitute and has been for most of her life. ...
frizzball 15.01.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Know - Martina Cole
Advantages: A compelling well written novel Disadvantages: May offend some readers
...a few topics. In The Know, all these are covered. Ms Cole is not afraid to draw on things that most of us find uncomfortable and work them into her novels. She pulls no punches and tells her tales of crime and the shady criminal underworld in a highly readable fashion. Several of Martina Cole's novels have gone on to become television drama series and when first published in 2003, The Know' jumped straight to No1 of the Sundy Times bestseller list ... ...**The Know**
The story covers the family and life of prostitute Joanie Brewer. Joanie is the typical tart with a heart, yes she's on the game but she works the streets to provide for her children, Jon Jon, at 18 years old already knee deep in crime and a hard man in the making, 14 year old Jeanette, a street wise foul mouthed girl who knows far more than any 14 year old should and the baby of the family 11 year old Kira. Kira is the apple of Joanie ...
brittle1906 04.04.2008 (09.04.2008)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Know - Martina Cole
Advantages: Well written. Disadvantages: Sensitive issues tackled badly. Shocking.
...cant put down and in the case of Martina Cole I now wait with baited breath until she publishes a new title! The Know is the most recent of Cole’s work to be published, it’s her tenth novel and although only published in October 2003 is already receiving rave reviews.
Before we go any further I must point out that Martina Cole isn’t scared to dice with controversial or sensitive storylines so if you’re looking for a fairytale this certainly isn’t ... ...plot of The Know is based around the Brewer family and the disappearance of Joanie Brewer’s eleven year old daughter Kira. Joanie Brewer is a middle aged prostitute devoted to her children. Jon Jon Brewer is Joanie’s eldest child and at 18 is already a big player in the sleazy underworld and knee deep in crime but on the other hand a family man who is utterly devoted to his mother and younger sister Kira. Jeanette Brewer is a bit of a family misfit, ...
mizzameII 09.01.2004 (22.01.2004)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Know - Martina Cole
Advantages: Addictive plot Disadvantages: Sickening and worrying
...Ms. Cole.
Welcome to the world according to Joanie Brewer, and the criminal ins and outs of her and hers. Caring Joan would do anything for her children to the point of selling her own body. Joan has three kids, each with their own personality, and each with their own father.
Jon Jon is an eighteen year old up-and-coming wide-boy, not to be messed with but nevertheless, he loves his family. Jeanette, Joan’s eldest daughter at fourteen, seems ... ...doesn’t like Jeanette’s beau, and the consequences are dire for her. Joan is determined to keep from her beloved Kira the truth behind the dangerous circles she and her siblings move in, consequently Kira is as innocent and as placid as an eleven year old should be. A vulnerable and naïve Kira forms a friendship with an obese ‘Little’ Tommy Thompson, a man who lives nearby, and when Jeanette abandons her when she should be ...
Ash28 16.05.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Know - Martina Cole
Would you read it again?
Story
Characters
Readability
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "The Know - Martina Cole"
Advantages: cant put it down Disadvantages: cant put it down
i loved this book 2 children torn apart and the story as one becomes a new york gangster and the other becomes a face in soho it starts off at there dramatic chilldhoad with crime all around the and the book goes all the way through there drastic and dramatic lives from violenc to crime murder drugs prostitutes gangsters faces hit men ira new york mafia this book the runaway has everythin you could posible want from martinacole a dont know wat it is but for me martinacole does it every time i em a true fan of martinacole 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 ...
Advantages: Loveable charactors, good plot Disadvantages: That there wasn't a sequel
This is MartinaCole at her best.
The plot of the story is amazing.
Throughout the story we get to know each of the charactors and their feelings and fears. The story is told in such a way that leaves you always wanting more.
The book's main charactors are a mother and daughter stuck in a dangers area with people who will stop at nothing to get what they want. It is not safe to walk down your street and where the only person you can really trust is yourself.
The story has lots of unexpected twists and will keep you on the edge of your seat
I would recommend to people of all ages.
This is by far the best by MartinaCole and I will read it again. ...
Advantages: Exciting. Provocative. Dramatic. Disadvantages: Far fetched and rather close to the bone at times
to all other MartinaCole novels The Jump is not her best work however I didn?t leave my sun-lounger for 3 days nor did I swim with the dolphins in Masca Bay instead I sat perched, glued to the pages of what can only be described as a powerfully gripping novel. If you like danger, strong female characters and shadiness all within the pages of one novel The Jump certainly shouldn?t be overlooked. If however you want good old fashioned romance and may be shocked by graphic tales of sex, drugs and lies I?d avoid The Jump. MartinaCole is not a name I associate with Christmas presents for my mother if you get what I mean!
I don?t know about you I love to browse in bookshops reading cover after cover so my knowledge of online book shopping is limited however I do know that The Jump is available in paperback on Amazon for £5.59, I normally ...
Product Information for "The Know - Martina Cole" »
Product details
Author
Martina Cole
Title
The Know
Genre
Thriller
Type
Fiction
ISBN
0747267642; 074726967X; 0747269688
Manufacturer's product description
When the police tell Joanie Brewer that a child's body has been found, her darkest fears are realized. She thinks she's in the know when it comes to who killed her little girl, but her deadly obsession to make him pay threatens to destroy the rest of her family. See all Product Description
Compare The Know - Martina Cole to other similar Thriller Books »
