Running Scared: A Gritty Thriller Set in Urban Manchester

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The writing starts and finishes with you, the reader, in the centre of this story and holds you there through every line I admit that that I have only read one other book from Mandasue Heller but, after reading Brutal, I will make sure I will read other books from her. Because this is a five-star read. I loved it. It has been a wee while since I read Heller and I forgot how much I enjoy her writing. She creates some real unsavoury characters, some we root for and can still get exasperated but some of their choices and behaviours. Meet Lexi, poor, estate kid, best pal has now got money, isn't a very nice individual and her home life brings its own challenges. When she has a chance to stay out, be with her friend and just enjoy a party.............everything changes!

Be warned, a lot of this involves sexual detail and sexual activity of minors. Later, this turns into sexual violence. Holly Evans and her over-protective mother, Josie, are living a hand-to-mouth existence, moving constantly from one squalid dump to the next. When they move into an illegally sub-let council flat in Manchester’s rough Lansdowne Estate, Holly finally feels settled for the first time in her life – even if she is forbidden to go out, or even open the front door to callers when her mum’s at work due to fear of eviction. Increasingly cut off from friends at school, she soon feels isolated and alone in the world. When hearing noises on the farm one night he goes to investigate and comes across a woman who seems to have been injured some how. It's only normal that frank would want to take her in and help her, you cant leave a young lady out in the cold with her injuries. Over the coming days Frank helps Irena get better, in turn she helps Frank and an unlikely bond develops.

As always told with ‘no holds’ barred it was a great, edge of my bed read that once again confirmed why this author is my favourite, a perfect read

Holly Evans and her over-protective mother, Josie, are living a hand-to-mouth existence, moving constantly from one squalid dump to the next. When they move into an illegally sub-let council flat in Manchester, Holly feels settled for the first time in her life – even if she is forbidden to go out, or even open the front door to callers when her mum’s at work. What exactly are they hiding from?Frank comes home after buying few bits from the shop to find the man that Irena is being hiding from. He arrives with another two burly men in toe. Then a van brings young women that have come from abroad to start a new life in this country only they realise that it is not all that it seems. Returning home one night to her high-rise flat, she is faced by a terrifying scene that changes her life forever, and matters are made worse when she is put into care in another town. As always ( some things you dont mind being unchanged, this is one ) the story is littered with characters that are instant, instant to love AND instant to hate and of course the odd one like Big Shirl that you cant help but want to see ( even though shes vile!! ) Returning home one night to her high-rise flat, she is faced by a terrifying scene that changes her life forever and matters are made worse when she is put into care in another town. Brutal certainly lives up to its title here and is yet another brilliantly gripping thriller from Ms Heller. I've read every one of her novels and can say with certainty that this is one of her best to date. It has all of the grit we've come to expect from her and the plot is tense and exciting from the get-go. Once again we enter the harsh gangland underworld which is impeccably described in chilling detail and along with a supply of stellar characters who will illicit ferocious responses in readers in terms of emotion, we are dealt an unpredictable story. Some characters you love, some you hate, and some you love to hate.

The last quarter of the book felt so rushed, no loose ends were tied up at all. Were the boys who found Evan’s body supposed to be heartwarming or something? Coming to his funeral? It just made me mad. So Karel gets arrested, and Irena is just allowed to swan around visiting whoever she wants until the trial? Okay hun whatever. Frank was held hostage in his own home and just lives there happily ever after when it’s over? I don’t think so! I’m still fuming now about Yvonne’s cats. And her niece turning up and living with Frank? First of all, where was she when the cats were starving to death, secondly, WHY, FRANK, WHY??? Her moving in is like a carbon copy of Irena from the beginning. When teenager Alexis 'Lexi' James falls out with her best mate Nicole over 'bad boy' Ryan King, it's just the beginning of a chain of events that go from bad to worse to deadly. Set in Manchester, Running Scared is a nerve-shredding thriller by bestselling author Mandasue Heller.But what is Irena hiding and what is Frank going to find out about her, what is going to end up getting involved with. Mandasue holds no punches, thats why her books are so so good, she remains with this book at the top of her game and an author that writes an outstanding book every time A bereaved husband is faced with a devastating choice in Brutal , an engrossing, gritty thriller from the top ten bestselling author Mandasue Heller.