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DI Kate Burrows #4
Damaged
When the bodies of missing schoolgirls start turning up, former DCI Kate Burrows is dragged out of retirement.
A new Grantley serial killer is in town and DCI Annie Carr turns to Kate for help. She welcomes the distraction from her home life with former gangster, Patrick Kelly, whose long lost son has turned up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him.
It soon becomes clear the killer is on their doorstep and as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock.
But they have no real leads ... and there's more to these murders than meets the eye. Can Kate take the killer down before another schoolgirl dies?
A new Grantley serial killer is in town and DCI Annie Carr turns to Kate for help. She welcomes the distraction from her home life with former gangster, Patrick Kelly, whose long lost son has turned up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him.
It soon becomes clear the killer is on their doorstep and as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock.
But they have no real leads ... and there's more to these murders than meets the eye. Can Kate take the killer down before another schoolgirl dies?
357 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2017
589 people are currently reading
1720 people want to read
About the author
Martina Cole
112 books1,728 followersMartina Cole was born and brought up in Essex. She is the bestselling author of fourteen novels set in London's gangland, and her most recent three paperbacks have gone straight to No. 1 in the Sunday Times on first publication. Total sales of Martina's novels stand at over eight million copies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
November 15, 2022
DI Kate Burrows book 4 - Kate is now retired and her illustrious police career is really over; partner Patrick Kelly technically a former big-time old-school gangster is slowly pulling away from his businesses (very slowly). A man turns up at Pat's door claiming to be his son. Multiple 14 year old girl corpses start turning up. Both these issues bring damaged people into Kate and Pat's orbits, we know they can cope, but can they prevent any collateral damage? Not one of Cole's trailblazing best reads as this is very much more like a police procedural than her better work as we spend a lot of time with Kate's female successor's murder case. Although a Three Star 5 out of 12, the book does no damage to the superlative body of work by this writer, who tells tells stories about the 'other side' of the UK.
2022 read
2022 read
September 25, 2017
I love Martina Cole and I have read all of her books. This is the fourth book in the DCI Kate Burrows series. Although Kate has retired now and so her is partner, former gangster, Patrick Kelly.
There is a lot going on in this book. Patrick discovers he has a son and two grandchildren he did not know about. Kate's former colleague and and friend DCI Annie Carter has asked Kate to cast her eye over a file she has compiled on a serial killer that she is desperately trying to catch. I loved the book from beginning to end. Especially the part near the end where........, well I can't tell you or I would spoil the ending. You will just have to read it for yourself. The book can be read as a standalone. I do recommend this book.
There is a lot going on in this book. Patrick discovers he has a son and two grandchildren he did not know about. Kate's former colleague and and friend DCI Annie Carter has asked Kate to cast her eye over a file she has compiled on a serial killer that she is desperately trying to catch. I loved the book from beginning to end. Especially the part near the end where........, well I can't tell you or I would spoil the ending. You will just have to read it for yourself. The book can be read as a standalone. I do recommend this book.
September 26, 2017
Martina Cole brings back Kate Burrows here in Damaged but unfortunately that isn’t enough for me to say that this is a return to form for Martina. I so wish she would take a few years off and write that doorstop book we are all waiting for, something in the vain of Goodnight Lady which spans multiple decades rather than writing books that contain so much white space because of the short chapters and which ultimately feel rushed and lacking in depth.
The story itself is dark and twisted, dealing with a serial killer that is targeting young girls. Unfortunately it doesn’t read like your typical crime novel because the actual detective work is shockingly bad. If Annie was a real life detective I would be terrified to be living in the city that she had some control over. Also the fact that she calls in Kate Burrows to help with the case and Kate manages to be this knight in shining armour didn’t wash with me either. The story could have worked without Kate, but then the book wouldn’t have had that nostalgic factor at meeting Kate and Patrick again but even reading about them two was pretty boring and just felt repetitive, the story itself moves along really slowly.
I’m not entirely sure Kate’s role was even needed (and when this book was first announced many months ago I’m not even sure the blurb matched what the final book turned out to be, but I might be wrong). The storyline with Patrick I just felt was unnecessary with us finding out he had a secret family he knew nothing about. Whilst there’s plenty of drama surrounding this revelation it just didn’t seem necessary and never really seemed to go anywhere, it felt like it was just added in again for the nostalgic factor and just to fill the white space that would otherwise have been left. I also worked out who the killer was from basically the minute we met them, not enough is done to throw the reader off the scent and there are virtually no red herrings that ever made me consider another suspect. Martina does best when she writes from the criminal point of view as the policing here was virtually non existent. Which, taking everything else away and judging this solely as a detective novel and comparing it with other books out there at the minute, this is terrible as the crime genre the last few years has grown with so many new and exciting authors.
It seems to be a recurring theme to be saying year after year that it’s another disappointing read from Martina and hopefully next year will be different but I am going to keep saying that until it is. Martina is one of my all time favourite authors, her earlier books amongst the best this genre has ever seen and surely there’s still a book in her that can rival that earlier work. I’ll be very surprised if the hardcore fans enjoy reading this book.
The story itself is dark and twisted, dealing with a serial killer that is targeting young girls. Unfortunately it doesn’t read like your typical crime novel because the actual detective work is shockingly bad. If Annie was a real life detective I would be terrified to be living in the city that she had some control over. Also the fact that she calls in Kate Burrows to help with the case and Kate manages to be this knight in shining armour didn’t wash with me either. The story could have worked without Kate, but then the book wouldn’t have had that nostalgic factor at meeting Kate and Patrick again but even reading about them two was pretty boring and just felt repetitive, the story itself moves along really slowly.
I’m not entirely sure Kate’s role was even needed (and when this book was first announced many months ago I’m not even sure the blurb matched what the final book turned out to be, but I might be wrong). The storyline with Patrick I just felt was unnecessary with us finding out he had a secret family he knew nothing about. Whilst there’s plenty of drama surrounding this revelation it just didn’t seem necessary and never really seemed to go anywhere, it felt like it was just added in again for the nostalgic factor and just to fill the white space that would otherwise have been left. I also worked out who the killer was from basically the minute we met them, not enough is done to throw the reader off the scent and there are virtually no red herrings that ever made me consider another suspect. Martina does best when she writes from the criminal point of view as the policing here was virtually non existent. Which, taking everything else away and judging this solely as a detective novel and comparing it with other books out there at the minute, this is terrible as the crime genre the last few years has grown with so many new and exciting authors.
It seems to be a recurring theme to be saying year after year that it’s another disappointing read from Martina and hopefully next year will be different but I am going to keep saying that until it is. Martina is one of my all time favourite authors, her earlier books amongst the best this genre has ever seen and surely there’s still a book in her that can rival that earlier work. I’ll be very surprised if the hardcore fans enjoy reading this book.
September 1, 2018
I started by liking this book. I thought it had potential. A good little investigation. Oh! I was wrong.
There isn't any investigation ( The crime is solved by someone spilling the beans ) . Just side stories that are repetitive. The glorification of a gangster. A predictive plot. Too much drinking and lots of swearing.
I ended up hating the book.
There isn't any investigation ( The crime is solved by someone spilling the beans ) . Just side stories that are repetitive. The glorification of a gangster. A predictive plot. Too much drinking and lots of swearing.
I ended up hating the book.
February 10, 2018
Literally the worst book I have ever read.
Repeatedly reading the back of a bus ticket (the 'same' bus ticket) would be a superior way of spending 10 hours of my life...and to quote in the vernacular of M. Cole: 'I wouldn't have to swallow my knob' or 'be tied', to do it either...seriously, if I sat and read the alphabet spaghetti my dog had just gorged itself on, and than randomly threw up, it would be a better read.
Wow. I live in a world where people read this, and then give it 5 stars. We're all doomed I tell you. Doomed !
My dog's vomit foretells it...and in a much more lucid way...I'm also telling you now folks, there's better out there. Honest. This 'bestseller' lark is utter mind pap, smoke and plastic mirrors....emperor's new clothes...brainless, lowest common denominator, terribly edited, purely profit seeking drivel...like several of the characters: 'I have done my nut in', by being a bit of a 'c@*!ish Face'. Hilarious.
Repeatedly reading the back of a bus ticket (the 'same' bus ticket) would be a superior way of spending 10 hours of my life...and to quote in the vernacular of M. Cole: 'I wouldn't have to swallow my knob' or 'be tied', to do it either...seriously, if I sat and read the alphabet spaghetti my dog had just gorged itself on, and than randomly threw up, it would be a better read.
Wow. I live in a world where people read this, and then give it 5 stars. We're all doomed I tell you. Doomed !
My dog's vomit foretells it...and in a much more lucid way...I'm also telling you now folks, there's better out there. Honest. This 'bestseller' lark is utter mind pap, smoke and plastic mirrors....emperor's new clothes...brainless, lowest common denominator, terribly edited, purely profit seeking drivel...like several of the characters: 'I have done my nut in', by being a bit of a 'c@*!ish Face'. Hilarious.
November 20, 2017
This has to be the worst book I have read this year. I loved all the other Kate and Patrick books, and Martina Cole as a whole, but this was really bad. Despite a good storyline, the writing in this one was awful, the characters didn't come across very well and every other sentence that came out of Kate's mouth ended in "darling"! After having re-read books 1-3 you can see a huge difference in the style of writing and it all seemed rushed and not very well put together.
November 14, 2017
Woohoo! I am a MASSIVE Martina Cole fan, so I was really looking forward to this book when it came out! Kate Burrows is back! 🙌🏻
The reader is taken back to Kate Burrows’ stomping ground of Grantley and faced with the past; consequences; feelings of entitlement; the implications of the internet and how it can be used; lost innocence; greed; jealousy and a search for the truth to name a few of the themes throughout this novel.
Immediately the author delivered one blazing #BOOM after another and I was HOOKED! Short, sharp chapters packed with information had me flying through this book in no time. I found the storyline intriguing and full of suspense. I loved seeing characters from past novels and where they were at in the present time.
Now a former DCI, I was so excited to meet up with Kate Burrows again! LOVE her! Intelligent, fiesty and determined to always find the answers – Kate is pulled back into her old job/world of policing when DCI Annie Carter is stumped on a case. She is certainly a woman not to be messed with!
Thrilled to see Patrick Kelly again too! Kate’s real-life partner in crime, this couple just work! Patrick tries to stay on the right side of the law these days, but his blood is rich with badness, so he always has one hand in the dark side! We see a vulnerable side to Patrick as he is still grieving the death of his daughter, but life has thrown him a surprise and it may just be exactly what he needs…or is it?! *no spoilers* 😉
The job is taking its toll on DCI Annie Carter with a disturbing case she feels unable to get a break in! Annie is hardened by the job but also extremely frustrated with the lack of resources. When Kate returns to the team to help, a bit of the green-eyed monster shows. Will she be able to let go of those feelings and let Kate help solve the case? Read the book to find out!
Joseph/Bella and Christina – I am not going to say too much about these except I found Joseph to be a bit weak in his inability to be a man and make a choice. Bella is one crazy b*tch! Loved how that storyline panned out! 😱 and poor Christine – right place, wrong time in life….that is all I am going to say about that!
Wow! The killer is one messed up mofo! Nothing will sway the killer’s view that what they do is for all the right reasons- everyone else’s fault – the victim’s are “asking for it” SCARY!!
Would I recommend this book? Ab-so-friggin-lutely I would! Hard-hitting, edgy, intense and riveting – you will find it hard to put down once you start!!
The reader is taken back to Kate Burrows’ stomping ground of Grantley and faced with the past; consequences; feelings of entitlement; the implications of the internet and how it can be used; lost innocence; greed; jealousy and a search for the truth to name a few of the themes throughout this novel.
Immediately the author delivered one blazing #BOOM after another and I was HOOKED! Short, sharp chapters packed with information had me flying through this book in no time. I found the storyline intriguing and full of suspense. I loved seeing characters from past novels and where they were at in the present time.
Now a former DCI, I was so excited to meet up with Kate Burrows again! LOVE her! Intelligent, fiesty and determined to always find the answers – Kate is pulled back into her old job/world of policing when DCI Annie Carter is stumped on a case. She is certainly a woman not to be messed with!
Thrilled to see Patrick Kelly again too! Kate’s real-life partner in crime, this couple just work! Patrick tries to stay on the right side of the law these days, but his blood is rich with badness, so he always has one hand in the dark side! We see a vulnerable side to Patrick as he is still grieving the death of his daughter, but life has thrown him a surprise and it may just be exactly what he needs…or is it?! *no spoilers* 😉
The job is taking its toll on DCI Annie Carter with a disturbing case she feels unable to get a break in! Annie is hardened by the job but also extremely frustrated with the lack of resources. When Kate returns to the team to help, a bit of the green-eyed monster shows. Will she be able to let go of those feelings and let Kate help solve the case? Read the book to find out!
Joseph/Bella and Christina – I am not going to say too much about these except I found Joseph to be a bit weak in his inability to be a man and make a choice. Bella is one crazy b*tch! Loved how that storyline panned out! 😱 and poor Christine – right place, wrong time in life….that is all I am going to say about that!
Wow! The killer is one messed up mofo! Nothing will sway the killer’s view that what they do is for all the right reasons- everyone else’s fault – the victim’s are “asking for it” SCARY!!
Would I recommend this book? Ab-so-friggin-lutely I would! Hard-hitting, edgy, intense and riveting – you will find it hard to put down once you start!!
May 17, 2018
I am in agreement with some other reviewers on here. How anyone can read this book and give it 5 stars is beyond me. I like a good thriller/crime story and this is none of the above.
Martina could have done her bit for climate change and saved half the pages from this book if she hadn't repeated herself so many times. In one paragraph she said the same thing ten times, just in slightly different prose. Awful and something that would have got an English Lit student a fail in their exams.
As for the story itself, ludicrous with a back story about Kate and her hubby Patrick that added nothing to the actual story, add to that the most incompetent detective leading the investigation, who should have been sacked on the spot.
Not sure what anyone else has been reading, but there was no suspense, no drama, and anyone should be able to work out who the perpetrator is by about half way through the book.
The actual reveal is comical beyond belief and it simply felt as though Martina had run out of any ideas on how to actually finish the book.
This is all such a shame from such a well respected author and I have read Martina Cole books previously and enjoyed them.
This one is forgettable and in all honesty unforgiveable. Personally, I blame her agent or publisher, as they just saw a money machine.
Martina could have done her bit for climate change and saved half the pages from this book if she hadn't repeated herself so many times. In one paragraph she said the same thing ten times, just in slightly different prose. Awful and something that would have got an English Lit student a fail in their exams.
As for the story itself, ludicrous with a back story about Kate and her hubby Patrick that added nothing to the actual story, add to that the most incompetent detective leading the investigation, who should have been sacked on the spot.
Not sure what anyone else has been reading, but there was no suspense, no drama, and anyone should be able to work out who the perpetrator is by about half way through the book.
The actual reveal is comical beyond belief and it simply felt as though Martina had run out of any ideas on how to actually finish the book.
This is all such a shame from such a well respected author and I have read Martina Cole books previously and enjoyed them.
This one is forgettable and in all honesty unforgiveable. Personally, I blame her agent or publisher, as they just saw a money machine.
October 18, 2017
What can I say...?
It was... BRILLIANT!!
Or I could say...
STUNNING!!
Or perhaps just...
TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME!!
*sighs more than happily*
Still the Queen, Martina, still the Queen...
@officialmartinacole - I want the next one, as soon as humanly possible please!! ...And don't even think about changing narrators!!!
ANNIE 'The Dog's Bollocks of Narration' ALDINGTON
is ABSOLUTELY VITAL
It was... BRILLIANT!!
Or I could say...
STUNNING!!
Or perhaps just...
TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME!!
*sighs more than happily*
Still the Queen, Martina, still the Queen...
@officialmartinacole - I want the next one, as soon as humanly possible please!! ...And don't even think about changing narrators!!!
ANNIE 'The Dog's Bollocks of Narration' ALDINGTON
is ABSOLUTELY VITAL
February 26, 2018
This is just on the verge of being unreadable. While the start was promising, it all just devolves into a repetitive and predictable tract. Who the killer is hardly a mystery...they are the only suspect.
The side plot is as uninspired as it is meaningless. It's obvious who the author wants you to feel sorry for in the affair...but, I'm not buying it. It just comes across like misandry dressed up as drama.
As I understand it, Cole wrote great crime fiction. Not in this outting, I'm afraid.
The side plot is as uninspired as it is meaningless. It's obvious who the author wants you to feel sorry for in the affair...but, I'm not buying it. It just comes across like misandry dressed up as drama.
As I understand it, Cole wrote great crime fiction. Not in this outting, I'm afraid.
March 22, 2018
I am not feeling this book. I have read Martina Cole before and I loved it. I had high hopes for this one. I guess I set myself up for disappointment. I did not connect with the characters at all. Bella was too villainous with absolutely no redeeming qualities. The mistress Christine was completely blinded by love to the point of naivety. It was at odds with her supposed go-getter personality. The killer was obvious from the get go. C'mon Annie, noone is that perfect! And the need to constantly validate Kate and Patrick Kelly is driving me insane! Yes, we get it. Kate is a legend. Patrick is still a badass. Using nearly every character to drum that point in makes me start to wonder if it is all a conspiracy. End of rant.
June 19, 2018
An abrupt ending!
So read this after having given up on MC some time ago. I find her books repetitive and each book identical to the last. I downloaded this as I loved her earlier work and in particular liked both Kate and Patrick. I found the beginning and middle great and then i got to the very abrupt end. I was extremely disappointed and felt that MC had simply run out of steam! If I read so many times about Kate Burrow and her creds I wanted to scream! Does MC get paid per word??? Again very repetitive. Also didn't like Kate at the end, she rocked up and saved the day and that was the end of it. Kate's attitude towards her friend and colleague was pretty awful considering her knowledge of Pats nefarious and criminality, I felt she was in no position to take the moral high ground. Disappointed and I think the so called queen of crime needs to step aside, far better authors deserving of the title.
So read this after having given up on MC some time ago. I find her books repetitive and each book identical to the last. I downloaded this as I loved her earlier work and in particular liked both Kate and Patrick. I found the beginning and middle great and then i got to the very abrupt end. I was extremely disappointed and felt that MC had simply run out of steam! If I read so many times about Kate Burrow and her creds I wanted to scream! Does MC get paid per word??? Again very repetitive. Also didn't like Kate at the end, she rocked up and saved the day and that was the end of it. Kate's attitude towards her friend and colleague was pretty awful considering her knowledge of Pats nefarious and criminality, I felt she was in no position to take the moral high ground. Disappointed and I think the so called queen of crime needs to step aside, far better authors deserving of the title.
September 20, 2019
I can’t say that this is the best book I’ve read recently, Many years ago I was a great fan of Martina Cole, but maybe I’ve grown out of them a little. Don’t get me wrong the story line was ok but I had guessed ‘whodunnit ‘ towards the beginning and it’s only at the last 10-20 pages that it’s revealed. So in
my opinion the ending seemed a bit rushed through therefore it’s a 2 1/2 stars from me. I can see however that fans of this author would give it more.
my opinion the ending seemed a bit rushed through therefore it’s a 2 1/2 stars from me. I can see however that fans of this author would give it more.
July 15, 2018
Absolute drivel.
I feel annoyed that I wasted my time and money on this apology for crime fiction. Oh the temptation of the station bookshop with a long train journey ahead.
The book started well and initially I was interested and feeling hooked as Cole set up her plot. I hadn't read any of her earlier books and found the relationship between Kate and Patrick interesting and really thought the story was going somewhere. Then the repetition, the overuse of the f word, the complete plot failure and the resorting to cheap fixes of problems began to jump out at me more and more.
The plot holes are numerous and huge. Overall this feels like very lazy and careless writing by an author whose reputation has allowed her to stop caring about actual narrative or reality. No serious analysis or rationale is given for the perpetrator either starting his crime spree or the reasons behind it. Just his convenient grandma's view that he was "not right in the head" . Since Cole decides that this grandma is also going to manage her grandson's suicide that conveniently gets her out of needing to make any other explanations. The subplots are equally poorly developed and do not link together nor make sense with the characters who act like the author's puppets rather than real people. Cole's knowledge and understanding of police behaviour when conducting enquiries and procedures also seems woefully inadequate.
I feel annoyed that I wasted my time and money on this apology for crime fiction. Oh the temptation of the station bookshop with a long train journey ahead.
The book started well and initially I was interested and feeling hooked as Cole set up her plot. I hadn't read any of her earlier books and found the relationship between Kate and Patrick interesting and really thought the story was going somewhere. Then the repetition, the overuse of the f word, the complete plot failure and the resorting to cheap fixes of problems began to jump out at me more and more.
The plot holes are numerous and huge. Overall this feels like very lazy and careless writing by an author whose reputation has allowed her to stop caring about actual narrative or reality. No serious analysis or rationale is given for the perpetrator either starting his crime spree or the reasons behind it. Just his convenient grandma's view that he was "not right in the head" . Since Cole decides that this grandma is also going to manage her grandson's suicide that conveniently gets her out of needing to make any other explanations. The subplots are equally poorly developed and do not link together nor make sense with the characters who act like the author's puppets rather than real people. Cole's knowledge and understanding of police behaviour when conducting enquiries and procedures also seems woefully inadequate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2017
I have been a fan of Martina Cole's since her very first book. Unfortunately, I feel that her last two books have been seriously missing something. I don't feel that this particular book was gritty or thrilling, nor did it hold my attention. The serial killer was obvious and I worked out their identity long before the professionals. I wish Martina would go back and take a look at some of her earlier work to remind herself that she has written some absolutely fantastic books. The way that she wrote these books was a recipe for success and if used again would hopefully put her back in the top 5 UK crime writers.
September 25, 2017
Very disappointing
The worst Martina Cole book I have ever read . The story was to predictable. Two to three pages in each chapter is ridiculous. Very repetitive. Really disappointed.
The worst Martina Cole book I have ever read . The story was to predictable. Two to three pages in each chapter is ridiculous. Very repetitive. Really disappointed.
September 2, 2021
This is the 3rd time I’ve read it and I still stand by the fact that I figured it out within about 100 pages the first time. Its a decent book but toward the end its just really obvious who the killer is
August 26, 2019
This is the first novel I have read from Martina cole and I have been looking forward to getting round to her! .. The story itself was really good! I loved the plot, I loved that it was a detective Nov because they are my go to reads,. I loved that i had no idea who the serial killer was throughout. Which I why I gave it 4 stars!!
However, I found that it was very repetitive, I found that I was reading the same lines over and over, which is why I didn't give it 5.
And the ending also contributed to 4 stars because I felt a huge buildup to this ending, and it was over in 1 page .. practically 1 paragraph 🙈 I was like WHAT! .. but not a surprised what ... Like angry what? and is that it .. 😂😂
The chapters are really short making it an easy read! And hard to put down too.
I'll read some more from her anyhow!!
However, I found that it was very repetitive, I found that I was reading the same lines over and over, which is why I didn't give it 5.
And the ending also contributed to 4 stars because I felt a huge buildup to this ending, and it was over in 1 page .. practically 1 paragraph 🙈 I was like WHAT! .. but not a surprised what ... Like angry what? and is that it .. 😂😂
The chapters are really short making it an easy read! And hard to put down too.
I'll read some more from her anyhow!!
August 4, 2021
I would have given more stars but unfortunately I guessed the killer
August 4, 2018
This book was extremely poor in many respects. The writing was very repetitive, and not in an effectual way. I didn't know how many times someone could 'sigh ruefully' in one short piece of dialogue. I finished the book because I really thought it must lead to something, the intensity and specificity of hatred that the killer had for young girls due to their sexuality was really strong, I thought this must be explained in the end by some facts about the killers life, past or psychopathology. But we never even get that, spoiler alert, in the end we do not get the typical mad speech of the villain who has finally been caught explaining himself, instead in a cop-out the killer has killed himself before questioning. This leaves me to believe that the misogyny expressed by the killer is in fact the opinions of the author. Which leads me to the bigger problem with this book, which goes beyond the writing and story construction.
This book speaks about people in a way that shows either a striking ignorance to the social context in which the book is set, or I suspect strong prejudice and bigotry against various groups. Whether or not the writer holds concordant beliefs personally, they are certainly expressed in a problematic, damaging and damning way by characters in this book, with no explanation, expansion or check of any kind. They are simply left there, make of it what you will, which is concerning.
Firstly, the protagonist has very negative views and behaviour towards the only people of colour in this book: the two mixed race brothers. These are the only characters who are expressly described as being of non-white ethnicity (which is strange considering the 'gangland' setting Cole is described as using), and (coincidence?) these are drug dealers, who live on a council estate. The protagonist describes the estate as a 'shithole', and believes people who live there also are 'shithole[s]'. Furthermore, in her direct interactions with the brothers she is very heavy handed with them, calling one 'boy' which is a racial slur. Finally, the only other character who is specified to be black, is a young girl the protagonist finds in bed with one of the brothers. The character is naked, and covers herself when the protagonist enters the room without knocking. In fact, both these underaged teenagers are mostly unclothed. But it is not recognised that it is in any way inappropriate for the adult protagonist to be looking at these minors in this way, rather it is portrayed as a triumph on the part of the detective. This is a really, for want of a better word, gross scene, particularly because the detectives' profile of the killer at this point in the book is an adult male resembling a paedophile, however the fact that this interaction is not in the least bit appropriate is never acknowledged.
This brings me on to my final point. The misogyny. This book is rife with it. Women in this book are only written as respectable on the condition that they do not wear makeup, are not sexually active beyond a rigid set of perimeters, and definitely do not have a facebook account. The vast majority of young women in this book are slated as disgusting wrongdoers who have made a huge mistake that will tarnish their name for the rest of their lives if, god forbid, they have consensual sexual involvement with a boy of the same age. The protagonist is disgusted with these girls' application of makeup as if these two are even correlated? It makes no sense what is inferred from these and related aspects in the girls lives, the views (along with the language) were archaic and did not fit; useless in the present day and the present book.
An unbelievably slut-shaming, victim-blaming and overall misogynistic view of both men and women throughout.
This book speaks about people in a way that shows either a striking ignorance to the social context in which the book is set, or I suspect strong prejudice and bigotry against various groups. Whether or not the writer holds concordant beliefs personally, they are certainly expressed in a problematic, damaging and damning way by characters in this book, with no explanation, expansion or check of any kind. They are simply left there, make of it what you will, which is concerning.
Firstly, the protagonist has very negative views and behaviour towards the only people of colour in this book: the two mixed race brothers. These are the only characters who are expressly described as being of non-white ethnicity (which is strange considering the 'gangland' setting Cole is described as using), and (coincidence?) these are drug dealers, who live on a council estate. The protagonist describes the estate as a 'shithole', and believes people who live there also are 'shithole[s]'. Furthermore, in her direct interactions with the brothers she is very heavy handed with them, calling one 'boy' which is a racial slur. Finally, the only other character who is specified to be black, is a young girl the protagonist finds in bed with one of the brothers. The character is naked, and covers herself when the protagonist enters the room without knocking. In fact, both these underaged teenagers are mostly unclothed. But it is not recognised that it is in any way inappropriate for the adult protagonist to be looking at these minors in this way, rather it is portrayed as a triumph on the part of the detective. This is a really, for want of a better word, gross scene, particularly because the detectives' profile of the killer at this point in the book is an adult male resembling a paedophile, however the fact that this interaction is not in the least bit appropriate is never acknowledged.
This brings me on to my final point. The misogyny. This book is rife with it. Women in this book are only written as respectable on the condition that they do not wear makeup, are not sexually active beyond a rigid set of perimeters, and definitely do not have a facebook account. The vast majority of young women in this book are slated as disgusting wrongdoers who have made a huge mistake that will tarnish their name for the rest of their lives if, god forbid, they have consensual sexual involvement with a boy of the same age. The protagonist is disgusted with these girls' application of makeup as if these two are even correlated? It makes no sense what is inferred from these and related aspects in the girls lives, the views (along with the language) were archaic and did not fit; useless in the present day and the present book.
An unbelievably slut-shaming, victim-blaming and overall misogynistic view of both men and women throughout.
April 23, 2018
I used to think Martina Cole was a genius, her books would blow me away ! I’m quite speechless over this book, what a disaster. Everything irritated me throughout the book, from only having 1 page in a chapter, on some cases only half a page, to repeating the same lines over and over and over again !!
Example - every time Pat Kelly meets up with Danny “boy” we’re told how much Danny looks up to Pat an how he’s old school, around 10 times maybe more. The same with Margaret, yes ok we get it she’s a computer whizz kid but why does it have to be talked about 20 times ?!?
It’s like she ran out of words or was stuck for sentences so she thought “hmmmm I’ll just mention this again ...”
This will be my last Martina Cole book I will ever read.
Absolutely shocking !!
Example - every time Pat Kelly meets up with Danny “boy” we’re told how much Danny looks up to Pat an how he’s old school, around 10 times maybe more. The same with Margaret, yes ok we get it she’s a computer whizz kid but why does it have to be talked about 20 times ?!?
It’s like she ran out of words or was stuck for sentences so she thought “hmmmm I’ll just mention this again ...”
This will be my last Martina Cole book I will ever read.
Absolutely shocking !!
December 2, 2020
שוב אני מתרעמת שמתרגמים סדרה עלילתית בהמשכים מאמצע העלילה. וכך הקוראים נאלצים להשלים את החוסרים מרסיסי המידע שנמסרים להם בספר, שבין היתר מתאר את גדולתה של הבלשית שבדיוק יצאה לפנסיה, ואיזו בלשית תותחית היא היתה בספרים הקודמים שלצערנו לא תורגמו לעברית.
אז למה? למה? למה?
הספר דווקא לא רע בכלל. לדעת המבקרים בגודרידס הוא נופל מעלילות הבלשית בתקופה בה היא היתה בלשית במשרה מלאה, לפני שיצאה לפנסיה ובילתה בבית, רגל על רגל. אבל עדיין הכתיבה היתה מעניינת ולא הצלחתי לנחש מי הרוצח עד שלב די מאוחר בספר.
אז למה? למה? למה?
הספר דווקא לא רע בכלל. לדעת המבקרים בגודרידס הוא נופל מעלילות הבלשית בתקופה בה היא היתה בלשית במשרה מלאה, לפני שיצאה לפנסיה ובילתה בבית, רגל על רגל. אבל עדיין הכתיבה היתה מעניינת ולא הצלחתי לנחש מי הרוצח עד שלב די מאוחר בספר.
March 22, 2018
I hate to say this but I didn't love this book like normal. I'm gutted to not enjoy it as much because I love Martina, but something just didn't work for me here. I liked the characters and I thought the plot was interesting but in my opinion, there was a spark missing.
In all, for me, it is an okay read. I still love Martina. I look forward to more work from her.
In all, for me, it is an okay read. I still love Martina. I look forward to more work from her.
March 4, 2018
I’m a huge Martina fan and have read them all but this is the worst yet. Took me ages to read as it held zero interest for me. Martina needs to up her game. Her repetitiveness in this book was highly noticeable and some of the side plots seemed pointless after reading the rushed ending. All in all a big disappointment. Won’t be in such a rush to get the next one.
July 13, 2018
Predictable, repetitive (in terms of describing what the characters are thinking or feeling), huge issues with how believable any of the policing part was, far too much unnecessary swearing which made the speech parts difficult to read. The teenagers were mostly far too maturely spoken, the older characters spoke like a weird mix of something from the 1960s and Danny Dyer. Did not enjoy.
December 21, 2021
The main detectives were the most judgemental people ever. They would have literally judged a window for being too transparent. 60% of this book is about this new family no one cares about and you can guess who the murderer is in the first 100 pages.
December 11, 2017
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 357
Publisher - Headline
Source - Borrowed from a friend
Blurb from Goodreads
A serial killer is in town and the race is on for DCI Kate Burrows. Stop the killer before more innocent girls die...
Damaged is the explosive new novel from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller, Martina Cole, and sees the return of her iconic heroine DCI Kate Burrows. The 'undisputed queen of crime writing' (Guardian) and the biggest selling female crime writer in the UK, Martina's unique, powerful storytelling includes Dangerous Lady, The Ladykiller, Betrayal and many more.
When the bodies of missing schoolgirls start turning up, former DCI Kate Burrows is dragged out of retirement.
A new Grantley serial killer is in town and DCI Annie Carr turns to Kate for help. She welcomes the distraction from her home life with former gangster, Patrick Kelly, whose long lost son has turned up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him.
It soon becomes clear the killer is on their doorstep and as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock.
But they have no real leads ... and there's more to these murders than meets the eye. Can Kate take the killer down before another schoolgirl dies?
My Review
DCI Kate Burrows is back! Well she is retired but agrees to come in and help with a serial killer who is targeting school girls, torturing them horrifically before murdering them. Kate is happy to have a distraction as things at home have been royally shaken up when Patrick gets a blast from the past that shakes up his and Kate's happy wee home.
I loved Cole's earlier books, particularly Burrows and the whole taboo of a copper hooking up with a criminal. Now Burrows is out of the police business and Pat is mostly retired things are going well when Pat has a chap claiming to be his son. Pat is shrewd and suspicious of course but the idea of a family brings it's own happiness and problems.
The book is really split into three, the investigation such as it is, the dilemma of the new family showing up and the nightmare wife who comes with it and of course wee bits from the killer. I did enjoy catching up with Kate and Patrick and seeing how they are now after so many years. The whole dynamics of their lives changing and how they cope with it, particularly Kate. There are a few surprises along the way and I have always found Cole's writing easy to slide into. I did notice Kate used darling a lot, I think four times in the space of a handful of sentences but that is just a wee gripe. I would have liked two aspects of the story to have a lot more exploration but I cannot go into them without potential spoilers and I never do spoiler reviews.
Overall I did enjoy it, I have read plenty of her books before and will read her again. I still find her older books to be much stronger that the newer ones seem to have a little something missing from. However I do enjoy her writing, 3.5 for me this time. If you enjoy Cole's writing I think you will enjoy this and for hardcore fans you will enjoy catching up with Kate and Patrick!
Pages - 357
Publisher - Headline
Source - Borrowed from a friend
Blurb from Goodreads
A serial killer is in town and the race is on for DCI Kate Burrows. Stop the killer before more innocent girls die...
Damaged is the explosive new novel from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller, Martina Cole, and sees the return of her iconic heroine DCI Kate Burrows. The 'undisputed queen of crime writing' (Guardian) and the biggest selling female crime writer in the UK, Martina's unique, powerful storytelling includes Dangerous Lady, The Ladykiller, Betrayal and many more.
When the bodies of missing schoolgirls start turning up, former DCI Kate Burrows is dragged out of retirement.
A new Grantley serial killer is in town and DCI Annie Carr turns to Kate for help. She welcomes the distraction from her home life with former gangster, Patrick Kelly, whose long lost son has turned up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him.
It soon becomes clear the killer is on their doorstep and as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock.
But they have no real leads ... and there's more to these murders than meets the eye. Can Kate take the killer down before another schoolgirl dies?
My Review
DCI Kate Burrows is back! Well she is retired but agrees to come in and help with a serial killer who is targeting school girls, torturing them horrifically before murdering them. Kate is happy to have a distraction as things at home have been royally shaken up when Patrick gets a blast from the past that shakes up his and Kate's happy wee home.
I loved Cole's earlier books, particularly Burrows and the whole taboo of a copper hooking up with a criminal. Now Burrows is out of the police business and Pat is mostly retired things are going well when Pat has a chap claiming to be his son. Pat is shrewd and suspicious of course but the idea of a family brings it's own happiness and problems.
The book is really split into three, the investigation such as it is, the dilemma of the new family showing up and the nightmare wife who comes with it and of course wee bits from the killer. I did enjoy catching up with Kate and Patrick and seeing how they are now after so many years. The whole dynamics of their lives changing and how they cope with it, particularly Kate. There are a few surprises along the way and I have always found Cole's writing easy to slide into. I did notice Kate used darling a lot, I think four times in the space of a handful of sentences but that is just a wee gripe. I would have liked two aspects of the story to have a lot more exploration but I cannot go into them without potential spoilers and I never do spoiler reviews.
Overall I did enjoy it, I have read plenty of her books before and will read her again. I still find her older books to be much stronger that the newer ones seem to have a little something missing from. However I do enjoy her writing, 3.5 for me this time. If you enjoy Cole's writing I think you will enjoy this and for hardcore fans you will enjoy catching up with Kate and Patrick!
May 5, 2019
Another gritty page-turner that had me hooked from start to finish! I just love Martina Cole books and I highly recommend them to all who love a great crime read!
DCI Kate Burrows might be retired, but when the bodies of missing schoolgirls start turning up in Grantley, she's the first person DCI Annie Carr calls for help. Life for Kate and ex-gangster Patrick Kelly is thrown into chaos when his long lost son turns up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him. This new case could be just what Kate needs. But as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock. Without any clear leads, can they stop the killer before another schoolgirl dies?
Martina Cole is, hands down, the queen of crime! I have yet to read a book of hers yet that I haven't completely loved! Being the 4th book focusing around DCI Kate Burrows, Damaged is another read that had my undivided attention throughout. With brilliantly-written characters, a terrible disturbing story that is brutally compelling, and plenty of twists and turns with an unpredictable ending; I can't wait to see what's next from Martina.
DCI Kate Burrows might be retired, but when the bodies of missing schoolgirls start turning up in Grantley, she's the first person DCI Annie Carr calls for help. Life for Kate and ex-gangster Patrick Kelly is thrown into chaos when his long lost son turns up out of the blue, bringing trouble with him. This new case could be just what Kate needs. But as the body count grows, Kate and Annie face a race against the clock. Without any clear leads, can they stop the killer before another schoolgirl dies?
Martina Cole is, hands down, the queen of crime! I have yet to read a book of hers yet that I haven't completely loved! Being the 4th book focusing around DCI Kate Burrows, Damaged is another read that had my undivided attention throughout. With brilliantly-written characters, a terrible disturbing story that is brutally compelling, and plenty of twists and turns with an unpredictable ending; I can't wait to see what's next from Martina.
May 9, 2020
The good thing about this book was it’s short chapters - literally a couple of pages long. With a changing person being the focus of each sequentially. A perplexing story which was perplexing until it was solved- just like that - the denouement happens on a single page then it ended. A gripping read as a serial killer continued unnoticed wiping out young kids. The police stumbled around and the plot was thickened by their own personal stories and chaos was complete... enjoyable and a page turner but not that fulfilling- though 3.5 .. better than the rating given but not the depth for a 4. Would read more of author though .
September 28, 2017
Martina cole is one of my favourite Authors. Even thou I enjoyed this book, and love reading about Kate and Patrick. it is not has good has martina coles earlier books. some of the chapters are so short and wish that she would write like she used to, when she wrote Two women, Goodnight lady, Faceless, The jump. Just a few of martina cole,s earlier ones. Oh how fanastic they were. Hopefully her next one will be has good has her they have been in the past.
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