Brutal

by Mandasue Heller

Frank Peters’ peaceful life on his farm in the isolated Yorkshire Moors comes to an abrupt end when his beloved wife, Maureen, dies. Depressed when his daughter emigrates to Australia two weeks after the funeral, and that his son rarely visits or calls, Frank believes he is destined for a bleak and lonely future. Then one night, disturbed by a noise at the back of the house, he fnds a badly injured young woman called Irena, and he’s shocked when she reveals that she was brought into the country by a man who then imprisoned her and forced her into prostitution. Frank offers her a bed for the night, but it’s the middle of winter, and when heavy snowfall prevents her from leaving the next day, he’s forced to extend the invitation – which causes problems with his daughter who, when she fnds out, accuses him of betraying her mother. With his daughter not talking to him, Frank is horrifed when, during a storm one night, he agrees to sleep in Irena’s bed and wakes to fnd himself on the verge of having sex with her. Wracked with guilt, because he had been dreaming that he was with his wife, Frank is surethat Irena is just being kind when she confesses that she is developing feelings for him.  But as time goes on, and he fnds himself becoming increasingly attracted to her, he’s forced to make a choice between the past and the future . . .
 

Genres: Crime, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2019

About the author

Mandasue 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.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Peters' lives on a farm in the isolated Yorkshire Moors. His beloved wife, Maureen has passed away. He's depressed when his daughter emigrates to Australia just two weeks after the funeral and his son rarely visits or calls. One night, he is disturbed by a noise outsider he back of his house. He finds a badly beaten young woman called Irena. He is shocked when Irena tells him that she was brought to this country by a man who then imprisoned her and forced her into prostitution. Frank says she can stay the night but then a heavy snowfall prevents her from leaving the next day.

I get so excited when I get my hands on a copy of one of Mandasue's new books, I'm a big fan. In this storyline there is a lot going on. Franks daughter has emigrated to Australia, his son and daughter- in - law are not getting along and he discovers Irena hiding in a barn. This is only the tip of the iceberg on what else happens in the book. I don't want to spoil what happens for potential readers as I would give away too many spoilers if I was to continue writing about the book. Mandasue Heller never disappoints. Do yourself a favour, pick up,a copy of this fabulous book. I highly recommend it.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and the author Mandasue Heller for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every one of Mandasue’s books and can honestly say you never know what to expect...yes the elements of crime, gangs are there but every book is so different and unlike you sometimes find yourself thinking with prolific and successful authors books ‘mmmmm this seems familiar’, I never have with this author
Brutal is, again, very different....it is a very apt title for the book as the story deals with subjects that are dark and the story is at times gruesome!!
As always ( some things you dont mind being unchanged, this is one ) the story is littered with characters that are instant, instant to love AND instant to hate and of course the odd one like Big Shirl that you cant help but want to see ( even though shes vile!! )
The story revolves around newly widowed Frank and what happens when he gets involved with a woman he really shouldn’t....more than that I am not going to give anything away but the consequences for Frank and his family are far fetching, cruel and BRUTAL
Difficult subjects are handled as they are in reality, raw and to the mark, bad things happen in life and they are not shied away from in this book BUT also approached quite touchingly at times ( Franks neighbour and her illness ) and this book made me stop and think about the subject matter and how horrendous the characters involved life’s must be and how easy shocking things happen to innocent people once a chain of events starts
The writing starts and finishes with you, the reader, in the centre of this story and holds you there through every line
Mandasue holds no punches, thats why her books are so so good, she remains with this book at the top of her game and an author that writes an outstanding book every time
So yes I loved it 😎
10/10 5 Stars

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal certainly lives up to its title here and is yet another brilliantly gripping thriller from Ms Heller. I've read every one of her novels and can say with certainty that this is one of her best to date. It has all of the grit we've come to expect from her and the plot is tense and exciting from the get-go. Once again we enter the harsh gangland underworld which is impeccably described in chilling detail and along with a supply of stellar characters who will illicit ferocious responses in readers in terms of emotion, we are dealt an unpredictable story. Some characters you love, some you hate, and some you love to hate.

The author grabs you from the first chapter and stubbornly refuses to let go. Difficult subjects are dealt with compassionately and sensitively, and I must admit I raced through it. If you enjoy grit lit, gangland tales with plenty of panache, breakneck pace and superb, immersive writing then look no further. Captivating with edge of your seat suspense, Heller is one of the best at creating an ominous atmosphere. An explosive and shocking conclusion adds the cherry on top of a truly delicious crime cake. I look forward to whatever she decides to publish next.

Many thanks to Macmillan for an ARC.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank lives alone after his wife dies hes lonely,he has two older children jo and Evan.a neighbour Yvonne who Frank tries to avoid helps him after his wife's death.His daughter jo moves to Australia and Evan never sees his father,one evening a knock on his door a woman named Irena had a bruised face and said a man had beaten her and imprisoned her,Frank let's her stay the night she wants to live in London but she doesn't go.The second half of this book are the thugs and its turns for the worse.I enjoyed the first half more than the second as felt abit rushed.I do enjoy this authors books my favourite so far is Broke.looking forward to reading more of her books.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that that I have only read one other book from Mandasue Heller but, after reading Brutal, I will make sure I will read other books from her. Because this is a five-star read. I loved it.
Frank Peters lived with his wife on a farm in the Yorkshire Moors until his rewife Maureen died. He wants to be left alone but, his neighbour Yvonne comes with food with he later bins. He is then enjoying his peaceful life. When one night he hears a sound outside. A woman badly bruised woman is hiding outside. Her name is Irena and she is hiding from a bad man. The gentleman that Frank is, invites her in and tell her she can stay the night, But, the with the bad weather of snow comes she extends her stay. Irena talks of a man who she says he loves her but beats her up and of her brother.
Frank comes home after buying few bits from the shop to find the man that Irena is being hiding from. He arrives with another two burly men in toe. Then a van brings young women that have come from abroad to start a new life in this country only they realise that it is not all that it seems.
I really enjoyed this. I couldn’t put it down. The story flowed easily but, also gripped it though out. It was realistic and It had great characters and a good plot. I highly recommend.
Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a copy of this book

[Natalie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, which I know is against the rating tide of four and five star reviews. However, the only thing ‘Brutal’ about this novel was reading it.
The trafficking of humans for whatever reason is an excellent background for a story but the sheer lack of engagement with the characters made me disinterested in their fate.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read all of mandasue Heller’s books but if I’m honest I prefer her earlier books, Brutal had an intriguing premise and I thought the first few chapters were interesting but unfortunately I found the book took ages to actually go any where, and by the time it did I found my interested had waned. I also thought the hero of the book was unconvincing, but neverless it was an enjoyable read but not her best. I much prefer her crime thrillers when they are based on gangland or London estates they are far more grittier. In the author’s defence I do think my enjoyment of this read may have been hindered by mood as the reviews for this book are positive, so I do feel it’s one you need to read for yourself and make up your own mind.

[Stephen Robert Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This about the dark side of the white sex slave trade that lot of 'men' blame the females for the taboo subject that is like rape "we all know that the bitch asked for it"
This about been 60 & been treat as if your dually by your family. Do not pass go your passed it. I am 60 so this book is very much just for me. I am luck I have no one to say "he has lost it"
This about wanting to help. No good turn goes unpunished .Heller is female writer that has the style of early Jo Brand let's have good "kick men in the goggles " because sum men do need fuckn good kicking.
This also about the useless male police ,we are still living in population of horny men ruled by their meat & two Veg. This about a darker Manchester at Christmas time, this about Frank's special Christmas dinner party. Most of all this about family lives & seeing people you know .
I am not popular I was brought up by equality officer for NUJ my mother I always end up taking the woman's side & that is what Heller does in her books brilliant gripping crime Thrillar

[Best Crime Books & More · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a very long time since I read a Mandasue Heller and chose this one from my very long to be read pile. We meet Frank Peters an ordinary man who lives on a farm in the Yorkshire moors. Following the death of his wife, he is managing okay but with his daughter now moving to Australia and his son who has his own problems he does feel the loneliness start to creep in. One night in the middle of winter he comes across a scared woman in the snow hiding behind his farm. With the snow making it hard to get about he offers her a bed for the night and hopefully some relative safety.

What transpires is a rather unusual plot where Frank become unwittingly caught in the middle of an elaborate scheme involving sex trafficking. To be honest the book was definitely readable but for me the plot was kind of 'out there' and it instantly put me off. I loathed Franks son and daughter from the off and the fact that Frank was so naïve just felt a little too contrived for me.

I certainly finished this and it wasn't a bad book but for me I preferred MH older books with slightly different settings and storylines. For me this was just middle of the road

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio version of this book 📚- Quite disappointed with this one as I normally love her books, but found the storyline a little bit unbelievable. I don’t think the narrator helped as she was dreadful really wooden

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Mandasue's best book yet and I have read and loved all her earlier books. She is one of the top writers in this genre and this latest book Brutal is a dark gritty story and a roller coaster ride into the unknown.
This book had me gripped from the start, the characters are all so believable, I literally stayed up into the early hours of the night to finish as I just needed to know what happened.
This book is completely unpredictable and shocking, I cannot recommend it enough.
If you enjoy gritty true to life crime fiction and if you haven't tried a Mandasue Heller book before, please give this one a go. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed and will want to read more of her books.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story that had me hooked from the first few chapters.
The book starts off as a family drama but soon takes a more sinister turn.
I need to be careful how I review this as I don’t want to spoil it for you as I was surprised how the story turned out.
I can say that upon discovering Irena on his property, Frank’s life changes dramatically.
His relationship with his son and daughter becomes strained and even the old lady next door is affected.
This is a gripping thriller which had me on the edge of my seat.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FANTASTIC book Brutal is and i am so happy Mandasue Heller is back on form.I was drawn in from the start the story is believable as these things do happen,poor Frank having just lost his wife finds a strange young woman hiding by his barn but when he see's her he is shocked at the state of her.Having taken the woman inside to get warm Frank studies her and she tells him how she got to the farm.I won't spoil it by saying what happens but i can highly recommend you read BRUTAL worth far more than 5*.

[BookwormCatLady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have you hooked from the very first chapter. With the passing of his beloved wife, poor Frank is left with a fractured family, then things take a sinister turn with the arrival of Irena, a beautiful but battered and bruised young lady desperately seeking help...

I have to say, I think Brutal is her best book yet! I will be recommending this to everyone

Thanks to Pan MacMillan for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Peters wife Maureen dies leaving the farmer and his two grown up kids Jo and Evan. They both have their own lives to sort out and so does Frank. Then along comes Irena, a frightened woman from Praque needing help, so Frank takes her in. Bad idea. This book all starts to kick off, I just couldn't put it down. Trafficking plays a big part. If you want a captivating read, you get it in Brutal. Gritty novel I loved it.

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kepted me gripped from page 1. Fantastic read. Another great book by mandasue Heller, her books just get better, worth so much more than the 5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book

[Sophie Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing loved the book

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Dawn Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cracking book. Not for the faint hearted though but I loved it was gripping from start to finish

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank is newly widowed and leads a relatively quiet life on his farm. One day having heard a strange noise, he goes to investigate and comes across Irena, who has been badly beaten. As Frank helps her recover, they become involved in a relationship. As this relationship progresses some uninvited guests arrive at Frank’s farmhouse and he is soon involved in the world of human trafficking, drugs and prostitution. Frank’s life will never be the same again.
I am a long-time fan of Mandasue Heller, having read and loved all of her previous books. I found this one to be really well written, but this one just didn’t suck me in as much as her earlier work. If I am honest, this is the first book that has ever made me feel uncomfortable to read it as it deals with some unpleasant issues. Having invested so much time in the lead up to it, I found the ending a little too rushed. Overall, an interesting read which is very aptly named.

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wait in anticipation each year for the release of a new Mandasue Heller book. This author for me is one of those authors whose books I don't even read the blurb for. If Mandasue has written it, I want to read it.
I was really looking forward to reading this book and I can safely say, it did not disappoint.
When Frank lost his lovely wife his life seemed broken and lonely. His daughter is emigrating and his son has his own life to live with his wife. Living on a farm makes him seem even more lonely. not having immediate neighbours and someone you can just chit chat to if you go out your front door, Frank seems to have sunken into a slump.
When hearing noises on the farm one night he goes to investigate and comes across a woman who seems to have been injured some how. It's only normal that frank would want to take her in and help her, you cant leave a young lady out in the cold with her injuries. Over the coming days Frank helps Irena get better, in turn she helps Frank and an unlikely bond develops.
But what is Irena hiding and what is Frank going to find out about her, what is going to end up getting involved with.
This was a brilliant read, it showed how loneliness can affect people and make them very vulnerable. How your quiet life can then seem the best life you could wish for.
This book deals with unpleasant issues, but issues that are also real, we sometimes believe that things only happen in fictional stories but this book covers some of life's real yet unpleasant stories.
I think the author has covered abuse, manipulation, gangs, drugs and prostitution in real light, highlighting that as much as we don't want to believe these things happen, it's a daily occurrence for some.
I look forward to the next book.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I read this in one Sunday and really enjoyed reading this book, I found it at times a brutal storyline, which is of course the title but totally engrossing. There were characters that I liked and admired and other characters who were the villains who were contemptible.
I have read other books by Mandasue Heller and enjoyed those but I think this could be one of my favourites.
Highly recommended.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

As usual this was a thoroughly engrossing book. The characters were superbly drawn and you hated the bad guys and empathised with the victims.
What I love about this author is that all of her books are very different. Yes they all have a criminal element in them but they all entertaining.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a brilliant storyline and sadly this does go on it pulls you in from page 1 I don't want to spoil it for other readers so all I will say is you in for a treat and Mandasue heller I cried so highly recommend this author never disappoints her readers so highly recommend

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read every one of this authors books and loved them all. This book was no exception and kept me hooked from start to finish. You never know what to expect from her books as they are all unique and fantastically written. I devoured this in a couple of sittings and would highly recommend it.

[Jackie White · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book because other books by Mandasue Heller have been brilliant.....but I’m afraid I was disappointed.

It felt like I was wading through. None of the ‘bad guys’ were particularly believable & it was all quite predictable.

Weak ending too ☹️

[Laura Wooding · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I like Mandasue Heller’s books, I really do, but I feel like this one was written purely for shock factor. And boy did it deliver! The title is very fitting, as ‘brutal’ is the only word I can think of to describe this book.

The whole basis of this book just made me feel yucky, like I need a wash after reading it. The only reason I would usually carry on with a book like this is for the (usually obvious) retribution at the end. I felt like there was no retribution in this book. So Nick died and Karel gets arrested, wow, as if that’s going to stop Karel, it hasn’t before!

The last quarter of the book felt so rushed, no loose ends were tied up at all. Were the boys who found Evan’s body supposed to be heartwarming or something? Coming to his funeral? It just made me mad. So Karel gets arrested, and Irena is just allowed to swan around visiting whoever she wants until the trial? Okay hun whatever. Frank was held hostage in his own home and just lives there happily ever after when it’s over? I don’t think so! I’m still fuming now about Yvonne’s cats. And her niece turning up and living with Frank? First of all, where was she when the cats were starving to death, secondly, WHY, FRANK, WHY??? Her moving in is like a carbon copy of Irena from the beginning.

We never find out what sort of sentence Karel and the others get. The whole way through were told Gaz is a good guy who just got caught up in the wrong crowd. Retribution for Gaz? Nah, chuck him in jail with an unknown fate like the rest. The two girls who got sent to work the night the house got raided. What happened to them? Obviously no one came to pick them up so they’re probably still living a life of hell somewhere but we wouldn’t know because no one tells us nothin’.

Seriously, in case you can’t already tell, this book made me really angry. Like Heller has a word count to stick to and sod the rest. Usually a big fan of her work but this was shocking and unnecessary.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noticed that this author has spent her life living in the same geography as me and that the novel was set in and around this geography so I was expecting to be engaged in a "spot the location" game. Alas, no. The action is all set in a remote farmhouse, which could be anywhere with a passing mention to a suburb of Manchester, again which could have been anywheresville. So that didn't work. I was a bit nervous of investing in the book due to the vast number of similar books in the back catalogue - I don't like formulaic, churn it out, books (unless I'm on a beach and don't want to have to think too much).
So, for all that, it is a very engaging and entertaining novel which moves along quite quickly. The premise of a newly widowed wealthy bloke having his head turned by a young beauty to the annoyance of his grown up children is a good one, as is the attempts of the nosey neighbour to try to get his attention. The way the novel turns was unexpected (I did sort of expect something like this to happen) and very well done. The feeling of hoplesness and the removal of control, the complete change in positions of the characters is written very well.
The way the story unfolds then felt a bit like a low budget American made for tv series, it lost its depth to make way for the action but it was okay for that. There were not many twists and turns, it was all pretty predictable until we get the last "scene" I didn't see that coming and it all ended very quickly which left me going over it in my head and finding a number of unexplained and loose ends.
I guess the novel had to be written to a specific page count (356 in this paperback) and that prevented the author spending the time needed to explore, explain and reflect on a lot of the story lines and the characters which is a shame as the topics it explores deserve more depth. But if you want that sort of book, you don't read a novel like this - its all about the action and the body count.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Mandasue Hellers books but for me, this one has something missing and it was up to its usual skullduggery and jaw dropping violence and backstreet crime.

That said, I managed to read it in less than 24 hours and it was a great escape from the world.

When Frank Peter’s wife Maureen dies, he feels that his life is over, his daughter Jo is emigrating to Australia and his son, Evan, has his own marital problems that Frank doesn’t want to be part of. Then one night he finds a frightened young woman hiding at the back of his farmhouse, battered, bruised and bloody, she introduces herself as Irene and confides in Frank that she was brought to this country by a man who promised her the world and then forced her into prostitution, but has now escaped.

Frank, doing what he claims his late wife would do, offers Irene a bed, but heavy snow and a turn in the weather means Irene can’t leave for London as planned and Frank invites her to stay longer, the problem is, the longer she hangs around, the easier it gets for the men she’s trying to escape from to find her. When they do find her, all hell breaks lose and with it comes a whole bee plot twist and endless tragedy.