I bought this while I was visiting England mainly because it was written by an English author. Her characters were well developed and I was interested in what was going to happen to them. It was also fun to learn some new English! ( )

This was my first book from this author and I loved it. A gripping story that pulled me in from the start through to the end. For me if a book has me looking forward to the next time I can pick it up to continue reading is a winner. I have recommended it to others. ( )

This is the first time I've read anything by Martina Cole, and I found myself quickly sucked into what is a very compelling story about gangsters in the East End. Throughout, the novel focuses predominately on the wife of mob boss Phillip Murray, and the transition she goes through from a young and innocent 15 year old girl, to a woman ravaged by drink and drugs. The story is powerfully told, and with each chapter being no longer than 4 pages, it's an easy book to pick up and put down, meaning that you can easily read it whilst moving round the house: cooking; making a cup of tea; sitting on the toilet etc.

Of course because the chapters are so short, you're not to expect much in terms of content, and the impact of key events in the novel is often lost. Nevertheless, the characters and the story are what hook the reader, and see them through to what is a very interesting and effective ending, the author achieving the desired crescendo in an otherwise slow paced story.

I'd admittedly be dubious about reading anything by Cole again, whilst 'The Family' was a very good story, the content was too thin for my liking, and I found the short and choppy chapter format a bit irritating at times. For a book to have over 150 chapters is a bit extreme! ( )

First time I have ever read Martina Cole and WOW she did not let me down.

This is like an Eastenders style storyline. I felt every emotion towards Christina Booth. One chapter i loved her the next i wanted to give her a shake. Gripping story about gangland families. The loyalty they share towards one and other.

I have already purchased another Martina Cole book. She has earned a new fan. ( )

When Christina Booth falls in love with Phillip Murphy she has no idea what she is letting herself in for. Her mother is horrified that Christina wants to ally herself with a criminal family but Christina sees it as a way to escape. And before long she is part of "the family", pregnant at 16, and trapped just like Phillip's mother Veronica before her.

THE FAMILY is a very black book, hard and gritty, unusual because it is written from the point of view of an insider in a criminal family. Most books I read are written from the point of view of a detective or an investigator, looking at a criminal family from outside. Newcomers to the Murphy family like Christine tend to see how united it is, and to mistake its bonhomie for healthy togetherness. They don't at first realise that a veneer hides brutality and corruption. Even members of the family not cut out for the criminal life can't escape. And newcomers like Christine's parents Ted and Eileen Booth get sucked in by what the family can offer them. And once in, it is too late. Christine is making the same mistake her mother in law Veronica did before her and her daughter in law will make in her turn.

Nicola Duffet does an excellent job of the narration with terrific variety in the voices she uses.

The structure of the novel is unusual as it comes a full circle, starting with a prologue in current times and then going back to the beginning to explain how Christine had got to this point. In fact, after the CDs were finished we listened to the prologue again. ( )