The Take a novel by Martina Cole (The Take - Martina Cole)

Member Name: brittle1906

Product:	The Take - Martina Cole
Date:	29/07/09 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Compelling reading

Disadvantages: Strong language may offend some

Review of "The Take" a novel by Martina Cole

I am reviewing the hardback version of the book, ISBN 978-0747269717 , 512 pages, published by Headline Book Publishing, in 2005. Jacket price £17.99.
Also available used from www.amazon.co.uk .



**The Novel**

This novel is from the pen of Martina Cole, a British author who has made the London criminal underworld come alive for the readers of her work.
The Take follows the fortunes and lives of the Jackson family from the early 1980's to the early '00s.

The plot begins with the release from prison of Freddie Jackson. Freddie has done his time, made some useful contacts in prison and is back on the streets accompanied by his young cousin, Jimmy.
As Freddie celebrates his freedom with booze, women and drugs, he conveniently forgets his wife Jackie waiting at home with the family to welcome her husband.

When Freddie finally goes home, the first of many rows blows up. As time goes on, his wife is unable to cope with the mood swings that make Freddie unpredictably violent and extremely dangerous to be around. Jackie takes to drink and resentment soon builds up, as she realises that her husband will not give up his womanising ways or settle down to family life. Jackie's younger sister Maggie, is engaged to Jimmy Jackson, a situation which pleases Jackie, yet irritates her too. She is jealous of Maggie who is younger, prettier, slimmer and seemingly the family favourite as Jackie's mother and family become increasingly exasperated with her drinking and neglect of her children.

Freddie has been recruited by a prison inmate called Ozzy who runs the criminals of London from his cell. Freddie's cousin Jimmy is selected to be the go between who visits Ozzy in jail to receive orders and supply information. Jimmy is intelligent, worldly wise and happy to oblige. Between Freddie and Jimmy Jackson, Ozzy has just the people he needs to keep his business interests on the boil.

As the story unfolds, Freddie Jackson becomes more and more unstable and events take a turn for the worse. More I will not reveal here for fear of spoiling the book for others!


**The Author**


Martina Cole was born in 1958, she was brought up in Essex. Her first novel, DANGEROUS LADY, was an instant best-seller and became a highly successful TV drama series. Since then Martina Cole has written fourteen more best selling novels set in the criminal underworld of London.

Martina Cole is no stranger to hardship and has taken many knocks in life herself. Her parents both died when she was young and by 18 years of age she was living alone in a Tilbury council flat with her baby son. She began writing as a way of escaping her own problems. She has in her own words 'always been a grafter' and has built a comfortable life on the strength of her books. She has divorced twice and has a son, a daughter and a grandchild. Martina Cole teaches creative writing to inmates at Wandsworth and Belmarsh prisons and a patron of Chelmsford Women's Aid, which she says is her way of putting something back into society.
For further information about the author and her books, visit Headline and Martina's own website
www.headline.co.uk
www.martinacole.co.uk

**My Thoughts and Conclusion**

The Take is a gutsy, compelling read. The characters are very well drawn, believable and definitely not the sort of people you'd ask round for Sunday Lunch! Those who are unfamiliar with this author's work should be warned that the language used throughout this novel may be offensive to some as it is strong and at times bordering on obscene, however it is totally in keeping with the nature of the characters.

If you enjoy a family saga, with a strong crime theme, The Take is worth reading.

Thank you for reading.

©brittle1906 July 2009

Summary: A good read with strong characters