The Know - Martina Cole

Sitting in the staff kitchen a couple of weeks ago, one of my work colleagues came out and asked what I was reading. Generally I hate that question because firstly it means I have to actually stop reading which is annoying enough because it means returning to the real world, and secondly, it means having to explain whatever obscure book that I'm reading at the time to my colleagues who are likely not to like what I'm interested in. On this particular occasion, my colleague suggested this "fantastic" book to me that I just had to read; completely ignoring the type of books I said I was interested in, the next day she brought in "The Know" ...  Read the complete review

I have read quite a few of Martina Cole books now and i think this one is up there with the best of them. This book is about a single parent family who live on a council estate in London. The mother (Joanie) is a prostitute, who loves her children dearly. She has three kids to three different fathers. Her son (Jon Jon) is the oldest and he takes the role of the man of the house, he is also the local up and coming hard man. Jon Jon may be a gangster in the making but his biggest loyalties are with his family, he would do absolutely anything to protect his mother and his two younger sisters. Jeanette is the middle child who is spoilt rotton and causes an ...  Read the complete review

A review of 'The Know' by Martina Cole I was first introduced to Martina Cole's work by my mother, who in her own inimitable way handed me a book called 'The Know' and stated that it was a 'disgusting' book, so she thought I might like it..... There started my collection of Martina Cole novels! **The author** The author was born in 1958 and brought up in Essex. She wrote her first novel, 'Dangerous Lady' when she was a single mum in her early twenties. The novel was written in long hand and Martina Cole held on to her novel before eventually plucking up courage to approach a literary agent, Darley Anderson, with the book in the ...  Read the complete review