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Family Betrayal
Every family has its dark secrets...
Menacing... The Drapers rule the streets of South London. Everyone's afraid of them - and that's just how they like it. But when tempers flare and a feud spirals out of control, tragedy strikes, leaving eldest son Danny in charge.
Manipulated... But Danny has shocking plans for the family business and younger sister Petula becomes the scapegoat for the Drapers' dirty dealings.
Missing... Years later, and the once united clan has now split up. Petula returns to the place she once called home to face her family as well as her demons, unleashing a terrible secret that could destroy them once and for all...
Menacing... The Drapers rule the streets of South London. Everyone's afraid of them - and that's just how they like it. But when tempers flare and a feud spirals out of control, tragedy strikes, leaving eldest son Danny in charge.
Manipulated... But Danny has shocking plans for the family business and younger sister Petula becomes the scapegoat for the Drapers' dirty dealings.
Missing... Years later, and the once united clan has now split up. Petula returns to the place she once called home to face her family as well as her demons, unleashing a terrible secret that could destroy them once and for all...
423 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
86 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 27, 2018
I read this book some time ago and I really enjoyed the story. Easy to read but very hard to put down.
November 14, 2013
I really didn't think I would like this book, but was surprised when I was unable to put it down! Read it within 2 nights, really excellent, well written and keeps you guessing right up until the end
February 27, 2013
First Kitty Neale book that i have read (I think) Very good.
March 7, 2019
A good read with a bit of a twist at the end.
June 17, 2020
Welcome to Draper’s Alley. As you will soon find out, only a few unlucky individuals have the opportunity to venture in, but a world of crime, mystery and deceit lie within the very foundations of this familial home.
Kitty Neale’s “Family Betrayal” is a great book for someone looking for an easy yet gripping read. Neale has touched on some very controversial yet crucial and pressing topics, ranging from the production of pornography to rape and murder, leaving the reader to play investigator in this underworld lacking any police presence. Neale has provided a great perspective into East London of the 1960s, including the importance family played in such communities, even when those families are struck by catastrophe and torn apart.
Personally, however, I believe the book only deserves 3 stars, as I found a few plot holes within the narrative – particularly a lack of reasoning behind some of the crimes committed, including the murder (yet it would indeed be easy to say that Neale aimed to portray heartless characters committing crime purely for financial gain). I also found the private life of one of the brothers – Chris – a little lacking. It almost seems as if Neale forgot to give Chris a private life until more than halfway through the book, and then his fate is sealed within a few lines, being given much less detail when compared to the other brothers.
Overall, as stated in many other Goodreads reviews, an incredibly gripping book providing a crucial focus on pressing themes. Yet I found something lacking when it came to creating believable characters and individual identities – there’s more to someone’s personality than crime and a family name.
Kitty Neale’s “Family Betrayal” is a great book for someone looking for an easy yet gripping read. Neale has touched on some very controversial yet crucial and pressing topics, ranging from the production of pornography to rape and murder, leaving the reader to play investigator in this underworld lacking any police presence. Neale has provided a great perspective into East London of the 1960s, including the importance family played in such communities, even when those families are struck by catastrophe and torn apart.
Personally, however, I believe the book only deserves 3 stars, as I found a few plot holes within the narrative – particularly a lack of reasoning behind some of the crimes committed, including the murder (yet it would indeed be easy to say that Neale aimed to portray heartless characters committing crime purely for financial gain). I also found the private life of one of the brothers – Chris – a little lacking. It almost seems as if Neale forgot to give Chris a private life until more than halfway through the book, and then his fate is sealed within a few lines, being given much less detail when compared to the other brothers.
Overall, as stated in many other Goodreads reviews, an incredibly gripping book providing a crucial focus on pressing themes. Yet I found something lacking when it came to creating believable characters and individual identities – there’s more to someone’s personality than crime and a family name.
August 9, 2024
Such a great story
The Drapers ruled the streets of south London people afraid of them but when tragedy struck and the oldest boy was in charged life just got worse and worse for them due to the family business changing and their rivals from another district kidnapped and tortured their baby sister
Life really did change but not for the better
The Drapers ruled the streets of south London people afraid of them but when tragedy struck and the oldest boy was in charged life just got worse and worse for them due to the family business changing and their rivals from another district kidnapped and tortured their baby sister
Life really did change but not for the better
January 19, 2020
'A snail goes into a pub, but it's against policy to serve snails so the barman kicks him out. A year later the snail comes in again, looks up at the barman and says, "What did you do that for?" '
Made me chuckle!
After I finished the book I pondered as to what happened to the filming of Pet?
Made me chuckle!
After I finished the book I pondered as to what happened to the filming of Pet?
April 21, 2022
Brilliant from start to finish.
What a brilliant read, gutted when I turned the last page. I'd love there to be a follow up about Pets life. I've just downloaded another of Kitty Neales books,if it's half as good I'll be happy.
What a brilliant read, gutted when I turned the last page. I'd love there to be a follow up about Pets life. I've just downloaded another of Kitty Neales books,if it's half as good I'll be happy.
October 23, 2019
Best read for ages
This was one of the best books I've read of Kitty Neals
It was very much a Martina Cole theme
This was one of the best books I've read of Kitty Neals
It was very much a Martina Cole theme
January 3, 2021
Couldnt out it down, it was like a murder mystery where I had to know what happened and it was easy to read!
April 22, 2022
Wonderful
Captivating to the end as always what a lovely and gifted author
Cannot wait for her next book as always
Captivating to the end as always what a lovely and gifted author
Cannot wait for her next book as always
June 29, 2022
Brilliant read. Couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended. One of my favourite authors.
June 23, 2023
Kitty Neale’s stories are always easy to follow, even when there are multiple characters being introduced, but I enjoyed this story less than some of her others.
May 28, 2024
A good read, lots of twists and turns
November 28, 2024
Loved it looking forward to next kitty Neale book
February 12, 2025
Excellent read from start to finish loved it
February 23, 2025
Wow, a real gripping book to read. Had me interested right from the first page. Brilliantly ended too. Recommend this great read...
March 8, 2017
good read
loved this book.a good family based storyline.believable characters.you get to feel you know these characters personally.will be looking for more books by kitty neale.
loved this book.a good family based storyline.believable characters.you get to feel you know these characters personally.will be looking for more books by kitty neale.
May 21, 2014
Kitty Neale has me at the first page every time I read her books and I have read a lot of them. She is so crafted at drawing a picture of what she is writing about and you get drawn into it completely.
This is set in the 1960's when gangs were rife.There was a particularly nasty one called the Draper family tough, uncouth everyone fears them and they relish that fact. A terrible family feud has drastic repurcussions. This story takes you on a journey like no other. The daughter Petula is one of the main characters. She returns many years later, the family have split up what now? As usual Kitty weaves a web around you.
This is set in the 1960's when gangs were rife.There was a particularly nasty one called the Draper family tough, uncouth everyone fears them and they relish that fact. A terrible family feud has drastic repurcussions. This story takes you on a journey like no other. The daughter Petula is one of the main characters. She returns many years later, the family have split up what now? As usual Kitty weaves a web around you.
November 14, 2015
I have read a few Kitty Neale books over the years and so I was pleased to find this in my holiday apartment. I must say I wasn't dissapointed, although the book is around 530 pages long it kept my interest all the way through. Kitty tells a brilliant story of 1960's London and a family of small time crooks who get in out of their depth with alarming consequences.
July 31, 2018
Amazing book, clung to every word, and often found myself skipping ahead to the next page, much to my annoyance! A heartbreaking story about a family torn apart. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great book!
February 3, 2017
Gritty story
I enjoyed reading this book as it was interesting to get to know all the characters. I love reading Kitty's books as I like to get the characters and its almost like watching a film unfold.
I enjoyed reading this book as it was interesting to get to know all the characters. I love reading Kitty's books as I like to get the characters and its almost like watching a film unfold.
December 13, 2009
I enjoyed this book, not a great deal of storyline but enjoyable none the less
August 9, 2011
surprisingly good
February 12, 2013
this is like the plimsol version of a martina Cole doc Martin - it does the same thing but lacks the grip, suspense, hardness of our miss Cole!! in other words lame and boring!!
April 20, 2013
Slow to start but got better as it went on, Good twist at end
August 18, 2014
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Although I read the back of the book, I thought this was going to be a sad story rather than a tale. A nice surprise.
Although I read the back of the book, I thought this was going to be a sad story rather than a tale. A nice surprise.
February 18, 2014
Really liked it.
February 2, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this book
February 26, 2015
Another great Kitty Neale read with all the usual twists and turns. Couldn't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews