The Rubber Woman

Megan Rhys #3.5

by Lindsay Ashford

Book by Ashford, Lindsay Jayne, Ashford

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Fiction

62 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Rhys is a half-Welsh, half-Indian forensic psychologist who is assessing the impact of the government's new legislation on the vice trade in Cardiff. As predicted by critics, the problem hasn't gone away - prostitutes have simply moved into darker, more dangerous areas. Megan is deeply concerned about the risk this poses to the women - especially as a young prostitute was murdered in the area just a few months ago. The story opens with Megan joining Pauline, a former prostitute turned outreach worker who the police called 'the oldest tart on the beat', in the red light district. Pauline is giving out condoms - she is affectionately known to the working girls as 'The Rubber Woman'.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thought provoking short read about women who work in the red light district of Cardiff. Some are there to support their drug habit, some simply have no other way to support themselves. The worst off of these women are those who are sent out by a pimp and hand over the money they make to him on their return, these men are often violent towards the women who have no means of escape.
In this story an ex sex worker called Pauline goes out every night working with a charity trying to keep the street girls safe by handing out condoms, hence her nickname the 'rubber woman'. Pauline is a good hearted person but her past has been hard. She had a child which she had to put into care and she suffers from extreme guilt. When Megan Rhys, a half-Welsh, half-Indian forensic psychologist joins Pauline on her nightly rounds in order to assess the effect of the government's new legislation on the vice trade in Cardiff, she sees the awful life that some of the women have to endure and the often sad ends to their lives as they become too old to work or when their life is cut short because of their profession. Sad and informative writing.

[Shazzie Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This person has never spoken to a sex worker, not done her research, does know about sexual offensive act (or it’s associated departments) and never lived in social housing. A complete and utter piece of rubbish. Badly written and very poorly researched … when has any department answered the phone with;’hello vice’ This is not America and this novel has been gathered together from snippets of the Daily Mail and every badly written TV drama script. An opportunity missed. A real shame.

[Shahrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me gripped from the first page to the last. Nice little reading adrenalin burst. I could have happily devoured it in one go. I got the feeling that Megan was used to starring in longer books. That was confirmed when I came to review this book. I could happily read more, so I’ll hunt down the rest of the book in this series now.

[Lizmetty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but too short could have kept reading

Good short novella but this would have been more juicy if written as s full novel. Worth a read for a quickie in one sitting

[Jane Fenn]

Very disappointing. I know it's only a 'Quick Read' but Val McDermid packs so much more character development and plot line into the same space than this!

[Vaun Healey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

This is an interesting story. I enjoyed the characters and the language was fun to read. It is a fast read.

[John Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book it took you on a journey to find the killer of the women who work in Cardiff and with a very good twist