Not as good as the rest! (The Business - Martina Cole)

Member Name: dthpsb

Product:	The Business - Martina Cole
Date:	03/09/09 (18 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A well researched crime novel about London's criminal world

Disadvantages: Very descriptive with not a lot actually happening.

After first discovering Martina Cole books I went to read all of her novels and really enjoyed them up until Faces which was published christmas 2007. Therefore when The Business was published christams 2008 I was unsure whether to rush out and buy it in hardback.
Against my better judgement I did go out and buy it, it should have been £17.99 but I got it on special offer at Tesco for £10. After reading it I wish I had waited for it to come out in paperback.

I cannot pinpoint exactly why I did not like it but it just did not seem as good as her earlier novels. It was very descriptive but yet without much actually happening. Gone are the twists and turns of the previous novels which I enjoyed so much. It is basically one long description of a woman's life from start to finish. Beginning in the seventies up until the present day.

Anyway, the novel is described as a gritty, disturbing and haunting tale of drugs and prositution. It starts in the seventies with the Dooley family. Imelda Dooley just a young girl finds out she is pregnant, unable to tell her parents who the father is Imelda lies, something which has drastic consequences. Her father is a bit of a 'face' and goes out to make someone pay for what has happened to his daughter, however his actions result in himself being killed.
Leaving Mary Dooley in charge she now has to look after her daughter and unborn grandchild, and takes over her husbands 'business', becoming a face in her own right.

Imelda has her baby, Jordanna and a few years later has another baby Kenny. Her life however spirals out of control as she gets involved in drugs and prostitution. Her mother tries her best with her but nothing and no-one can help Imelda. She is an unfit mother whose children are left to bring themselves up when they are not in care. Drugs take over Imelda's life and from the moment she begins to take them they are the only thing that matters. She will do anything to get them, anything!

I was disappointed with this book, maybe because I had read all the other Martina Cole novels and I don't believe this is as good. She is an award winning author who is critically acclaimed but in my opinion I don't think this book will be winning any awards.

Summary: If you're looking for a good read try one of Martina Cole's earlier novels.