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Shafted: It pays to be in the limelight...doesn't it?
'One of the bad girls of gritty crime' Daily MirrorLarry Logan is a small-time TV star with a mile-wide ego. Gutted when his latest show is axed, he's less than impressed when the only work he can get is fronting a fake game show - actually an undercover police sting to entrap criminals.His reluctance evaporates when the show rockets his career back to prime time stardom. And when lovely, shy Stephanie enters his life he thinks he finally has it made.But Larry doesn't know how dangerous those criminals are. He has shafted some dangerous men - and they want revenge.'A cracking read that will chill you to the bone' Sun on Two-Faced'Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel' Martina Cole on Forget-Me-Not
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
64 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Mandasue Heller
37 books447 followersMandasue was born in Cheshire and moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Crescents which have since become the background to her novels. Not only is she a talented writer, but she has also sung in cabaret and rock groups, seventies soul cover bands and blues jam bands.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 12, 2016
First Mandasue Heller book I ever read....I remember reading this book and shocked about who was behind everything at the end of the book...I'm not really a big crime novel fan but I am actually happy I read this.
Edited: 2016
Edited: 2016
March 28, 2017
4.5 stars
As usual Mandasue Heller produced a great book which was very entertaining. What I love about this author is her ability to make her books all very different in style. The only common link is that they are set in Manchester.
As usual Mandasue Heller produced a great book which was very entertaining. What I love about this author is her ability to make her books all very different in style. The only common link is that they are set in Manchester.
June 10, 2013
Not the best of her books but an ok read
March 20, 2024
Love her books but this one was slow at the beginning, didn’t get into it as much as her others - good twist in end
May 5, 2020
This book has a few problems;
There are no likable characters, (with the possible exception of the agent.)
The dialogue is not in the least bit authentic or believable.
The plot seems like it was written by a GCSE class and is just silly.
The 'twist' is bloody obvious.
But apart from that it's easy to read.
Spare a thought for the author, no one would choose Mandasue as a pseudonym so it must be her real name? Apparently she's "Manchester's answer to Martina Cole". I have a couple of Mrs Cole's books on the lockdown reading pile, I'm not sure I dare pick one up?
There are no likable characters, (with the possible exception of the agent.)
The dialogue is not in the least bit authentic or believable.
The plot seems like it was written by a GCSE class and is just silly.
The 'twist' is bloody obvious.
But apart from that it's easy to read.
Spare a thought for the author, no one would choose Mandasue as a pseudonym so it must be her real name? Apparently she's "Manchester's answer to Martina Cole". I have a couple of Mrs Cole's books on the lockdown reading pile, I'm not sure I dare pick one up?
July 12, 2020
First book I read by Mandasue Heller. It gives like a pocket book kind of vibes to it because the character’s POV’s simultaneously build up the plot that’s why it has the slower phase on it. Though I’m really looking forward to crime scenes never happened but does gave something to look forward at the end. The ending does not give much of an impact but realistic enough to say ‘yeah it should be like that’
March 10, 2020
Very slow to start, I think mainly because it didn’t seem anything like a crime book and maybe because it wasn’t as I was expecting I didn’t enjoy it as much until I got maybe quarter of the way through and loved it from there. If I could give it 3.5 I would.
January 27, 2021
I love Mandasue Heller books but found this one didn't have enough excitement. Was hoping for Larry to have to go in to hiding and more terror, her recent book is lots better
It could be because I read her latest book first and it was so good that this doesn't have the same twists
It could be because I read her latest book first and it was so good that this doesn't have the same twists
January 4, 2018
Shafted
Another great read from Mandasue Heller. Her books are always easy reading with good characters and an interesting story. I am now going to start reading the next .
Another great read from Mandasue Heller. Her books are always easy reading with good characters and an interesting story. I am now going to start reading the next .
February 2, 2018
A really good read a true insight into both modern day life and fame, polished off with a superb ending.
June 15, 2019
Great
Really enjoyed this book. Did have a very good idea that it was Gaynor who was pretending to be Larry's girlfriend. Very good book
Really enjoyed this book. Did have a very good idea that it was Gaynor who was pretending to be Larry's girlfriend. Very good book
September 28, 2020
Riveting read
Really good story, enjoyed every moment of it. Found it hard to put down once I had started it. Would recommend this book to anyone who likes Martina Coles books.
Really good story, enjoyed every moment of it. Found it hard to put down once I had started it. Would recommend this book to anyone who likes Martina Coles books.
December 25, 2020
Heller's books are always worth a read. I predicted the ending of this one fairly early on though. Not her best but still entertaining enough.
January 4, 2021
1st book of hers I have read, really enjoyed it , thought it was similar to Martina Cole and Kimberly Chambers
I will definitely read more of her books
I will definitely read more of her books
March 23, 2021
A slightly far fetched thriller with lots of nasty characters in it. I didn't really enjoy it but it was a quick read over a couple of days.
November 12, 2024
Loved this book
March 18, 2017
I've read a few of Mandasue Heller's books but for me this wasn't her best, length of time it took me to finish is testament to that. I didn't predict the outcome though .....
October 27, 2015
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 551
Publisher - Hodder
Blurb from Goodreads
Larry Logan is a small-time TV star with a mile-wide ego. When his latest show is axed, he is dismayed to find that the only work he can get is fronting a fake game show that is actually an undercover police sting designed to trap criminals. His reluctance evaporates, however, as the show rockets his career back to prime-time stardom, and when the lovely, shy Stephanie enters his life he thinks he finally has it made. But Larry doesn't know how dangerous those criminals are. He helped imprison some dangerous men—and they want revenge.
My Review
Larry Logan is a disgrace, at the top of his game on a tv show and raking the cash in he is rude, turning up drunk and rude and about to make the mistake of his life! When he pushes his luck one time too much he finds himself spurned from those who loved him, broke and fallen from grace. His only chance at redemption lies in accepting home truths, help from his agent and a new tv show that may boost him back onto the scene but at what cost. Liaising with producers and the police Larry gets involved in a new project were he meets Stephanie and Larry finds out the past isn't always easy to leave behind.
As always, I love the worlds Heller creates, the writing draws you in and the characters are despicable. Just when you think it can't get any worse for Larry there is another twist. I worked out one or two early on but there was plenty to keep you guessing and amused. Larry's life is just a car crash, you cringe for him and can see so many of hollywood's "finest" getting into one or two of these scrapes. 4/5 for me this time, I read this in practically one sitting, I have read most of Heller's work and will continue to do so. One of my fav gritty crime writers, for anyone who isn't familiar with this author, there is swearing, sex, drugs, violence and themes that coincide with the darker side of society.
Pages - 551
Publisher - Hodder
Blurb from Goodreads
Larry Logan is a small-time TV star with a mile-wide ego. When his latest show is axed, he is dismayed to find that the only work he can get is fronting a fake game show that is actually an undercover police sting designed to trap criminals. His reluctance evaporates, however, as the show rockets his career back to prime-time stardom, and when the lovely, shy Stephanie enters his life he thinks he finally has it made. But Larry doesn't know how dangerous those criminals are. He helped imprison some dangerous men—and they want revenge.
My Review
Larry Logan is a disgrace, at the top of his game on a tv show and raking the cash in he is rude, turning up drunk and rude and about to make the mistake of his life! When he pushes his luck one time too much he finds himself spurned from those who loved him, broke and fallen from grace. His only chance at redemption lies in accepting home truths, help from his agent and a new tv show that may boost him back onto the scene but at what cost. Liaising with producers and the police Larry gets involved in a new project were he meets Stephanie and Larry finds out the past isn't always easy to leave behind.
As always, I love the worlds Heller creates, the writing draws you in and the characters are despicable. Just when you think it can't get any worse for Larry there is another twist. I worked out one or two early on but there was plenty to keep you guessing and amused. Larry's life is just a car crash, you cringe for him and can see so many of hollywood's "finest" getting into one or two of these scrapes. 4/5 for me this time, I read this in practically one sitting, I have read most of Heller's work and will continue to do so. One of my fav gritty crime writers, for anyone who isn't familiar with this author, there is swearing, sex, drugs, violence and themes that coincide with the darker side of society.
March 25, 2014
Hmmm, well, that didn't take long. Two chapters in and I'd had enough! I was so confused as to what this was supposed to be...I presumed some sort of thriller maybe, but there was no clue at the start. The character, Larry, was not the sort of person I wanted to continue reading about - perhaps if the action had started after his fall from grace, rather than waffling on about the quiz show and the telephone-athon, then I might have been more interested. As it was, I decided that there are too many good books out there that I have yet to read, so no more time will be wasted on finishing this.
November 19, 2010
Another blinder from Mandasue. I don't need to spend much effort in reading her books, but I do get a lot of enjoyment out of them. I'd half-guessed at the twist to this one then changed my mind so was still taken by surprise. I think she's overtaken Martina Cole now.
January 4, 2011
great read loved all the twists and turns a real good plot
November 18, 2016
Review
Good read, good twist at the end! I do like Mandasue Heller books x
Would recommend it to everyone!
Good read, good twist at the end! I do like Mandasue Heller books x
Would recommend it to everyone!
March 28, 2017
Yet again another great read
Yeah I really enjoyed this book,,, it was a great easy read and was brilliant from the first page... I can't wait to read more from this author
Yeah I really enjoyed this book,,, it was a great easy read and was brilliant from the first page... I can't wait to read more from this author
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews