DIRTY GAME - Softcover

Keane, Jessie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007273983 ISBN 13: 9780007273980

Publisher: HarperFiction, 2008

Synopsis

Adultery, murder and dangerous love collide in Jessie Keane’s gritty debut thriller set in the London’s East End. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Lynda La Plante.

For longer than she cares to remember Annie Bailey has lived in the shadow of her older sister Ruthie. Now Ruthie has her hands on Max Carter, the much feared head of the Carter family and a top class villain.

Seducing Max wasn't a problem, but the guilt, shame and anger of rejection afterwards was.

Thrown onto the streets Annie finds herself living with Celia, a wayward aunt with a shocking secret. As the months pass Annie's resourceful nature sees her mature and carve out a life for herself, albeit not legal. But if you play with fire, you can expect to get burned and her lavish new lifestyle and connections may be about to come crashing down around her.

Annie has unwittingly placed herself between two rival gangs and upset too many people, and these kind of people don't forget. But as everyone knows, Annie Bailey is no ordinary woman.

About this title

Review:

Praise for Jessie Keane:

‘This is a riveting story, with gutsy, gritty characters and a genuine feel for the period.’ Books Monthly

'Perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Lynda La Plante' Glamour

'Gritty and powerful, Martina Cole fans will love this addictive novel' Closer

From the Author:

When did you start writing?
As soon as I could crawl. I drew little figures with balloons floating above their heads, and stuffed the balloons full of words – mostly rubbish words, but it was a start. I then progressed to throwing big words I didn’t understand into any sentence I wrote – ‘mutation’ was a favorite. My English teacher concluded that I was either a talented writer, or slightly disturbed.

Where do you write?
At home, in a tiny corner under the eaves, or in the kitchen while cooking - anywhere the mood takes me, really. What are the pros and cons of being a writer? Pros – getting paid for something you are compelled to do and absolutely love to do. Cons – working-alone anxiety and driving yourself crazy over little details you think you’ve missed.

What writers have inspired you?
Shakespeare, Sue Townsend, Lynda La Plante, Dick Francis. How important is a sense of place in your writing? Extremely important. It sets the tone for the whole book. My first book Dirty Game is set in 1960’s East End London, my second Black Widow in 1970 in the same area. That strong sense of place (and time) is essential.

Do you spend a lot of time researching your novels?
Only after the first draft’s written. Then I go back and research and embellish until it’s perfect.

Do your characters ever surprise you?
Not too often. I’m the referee, they’re the players – I’m there to keep them in order.

How much of your life and the people around you do you put into your books?
Very little. I have a wildly vivid imagination!

How did it feel when you saw your book in print for the first time? Deeply weird, and very delightful. If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing now? I’d either be in a proper job, or banged up, but I guarantee that I’d still be scribbling away and trying to get those scribbles published!

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperFiction
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0007273983
• ISBN 13: 9780007273980
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 560