The past comes back to haunt her. Will it destroy her family?
Only two people know what’s happened to the gold stolen in an underworld bullion heist. That’s East End gangster’s widow Babs Miller and her best friend Pearl. So when the gold vanishes from its hiding place that means there can only be two suspects.
Neither can believe they’ve been betrayed by the other. Neither wants a war. But honour, pride and tit for tat revenge drag them and their families towards a cliff edge of brutal gangland violence. And as they try and stay alive, what other dirty secrets are going to be dug up while these two women duel to the death?
Her Majesty, The Queen appointed Dreda an MBE in her 2020 New Year’s Honours’ List. Dreda scooped the CWA’s John Creasey Dagger in 2004, the first time a Black British author has received this honour. Dreda and Ryan write across the crime and mystery genre – psychological thrillers, gritty gangland crime and fast-paced action books Spare Room, their first psychological thriller was a #1 UK and US Amazon Bestseller. Dreda is one of twelve acclaimed and bestselling international female writers contributing to a new Miss Marple anthology. Dreda is a passionate campaigner and speaker on social issues and the arts. She has been a frequent guest on television and radio including BBC Breakfast,, Celebrity Pointless and Celebrity Eggheads, The Stephen Nolan Show, Front Row and Woman’s Hour. She has presented Radio 4’s flagship books programme, Open Book. Dreda was named one of Britain’s 50 Remarkable Women by Lady Geek in association with Nokia. She was the 2011 chair of the Theakston Harrogate Crime Fiction Festival. Dreda was born and raised in the East End of London where she continues to live. Dreda’s family are from the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada and her name is pronounced with a long ‘ee’ sound in the middle.
First off, if you haven't read the previous books you really do need to. I mean technically you don't but...well...why wouldn't you? I read the first three which was originally though of as a trilogy however by the end of book 3 it was imperitive that a book 4 was produced and thank goodness it was.
For those that want a general overview, these books feature an absolutely blinding family called the Millers. Babs Miller is the Mum and overall 'Head Honcho' of the family. As expected the family are a bunch of loveable crazy's with Tiff, Jen and Dee being the most mixed up bunch I have read about in a long while. If you do plan on reading the books in order maybe go away now and read no more because inevitably this review will contain spoliers.
So when we left the Millers in book 3 Babs was hiding a rather large stash of gold. The only other person who knows about the gold is Bab's friend Pearl. When the gold goes missing it seems both women blame the other as they were the only two people who knew where it was stashed. As you can imagine what follows is a nightmare for all concerned. We get to see appearances from all the girls, as well as Flo, and of course Kieran Scott. This element of the storyline was another part I loved as I had so many questions about this part of the story!
I absolutely loved everything about this book and it answered so many questions I had at the end of book 3. It is of course littered with violence, family feuds and shenanigans a'plenty...just what you want in a book like this. It was an absolute pleasure to read and took me just two sittings to finish it off. If you haven't read these books, or in fact this author I really think you need to get yourselves over to Amazon pronto...I promise you will NOT be disappointed. I for one will be eagerly waiting to see what Dreda comes out with next and I will definitely be first in the queue to read it. An absolutely first class read!
Having read book one Blood Sister, book 2 Blood Mother and book three Blood Daughter it meant that I knew all of the characters and so when I dived head first into book 4 it was because I couldn't wait to reacquaint myself with all of the characters as I really felt like I'd gotten to know them and of course given that this is the final book, I couldn't wait to see how it all ends for the Miller family.
Just like the previous three books, this book was full of action, drama, arguments, and shocking revelations. I literally whizzed through the pages of this book as I was pretty much glued to my kindle from start to finish. It was absolutely brilliant, you experience so many emotions with this story, I mean when something terrible happens to one of the daughters, I was like no no, please let her be okay and then on another occurrence, was the shocking part that little Bea (Jen's very young daughter) plays in the story involving a hand grenade, I was like wow, did not see that coming. Those two events are just the tip of the ice berg as to what goes on in this story.
So if you haven't discovered Dreda's books yet, then I highly recommend them, oh and make sure you read them all in series order to get the full and I mean full benefit, they are sooooo goooood. Her books are definitely on par with those of Martina Cole and Casey Kelleher.
The past comes back to haunt her. Will it destroy her family?
Only two people know what’s happened to the gold stolen in an underworld bullion heist. That’s East End gangster’s widow Babs Miller and her best friend Pearl. So when the gold vanishes from its hiding place that means there can only be two suspects.
Neither can believe they’ve been betrayed by the other. Neither wants a war. But honour, pride and tit for tat revenge drag them and their families towards a cliff edge of brutal gangland violence. And as they try and stay alive, what other dirty secrets are going to be dug up while these two women duel to the death?
Blood Secrets is the fourth book in what started out to be a trilogy….which I absolutely loved. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out there was a fourth book…. I was beyond excited. Infact so excited that this book jumped straight to the top of my pile. Just when I thought this trilogy/ series couldn't get any better. We catch up with the Milers where we left off to find out what happens after Blood Daughter which left the reader with a few unanswered questions.
I am happy to report that Dreda has totally nailed it, and once again and tells us a story that will have you turning the pages from start to finish in a race to find out what happens next….talk about unputdownable.
I loved every single page of this story the Millers are a family that jump out at the pages. Having followed them from the start I really got to know them more in this story when secrets are revealed...yes this story is full of OMG moments and even some OMFG one’s too. Dreda certainly knows how to bring the characters to life.Each one of them has personality which shines through. You can feel the tension, emotion and even humour throughout the story, which for me is a winner.
Each book has got better and better and now I am gutted it is over again! Or is it? I thought is was over when I finished the third one LOL
This is one of my favourite all time series and is a must read for for fans of Kimberly Chambers, Martina Cole, Mandasue Heller and Kerry Barnes. Which I cannot recommend enough giving it all the freaking stars.
Fast paced and authentic dialogue combined with a great sense of place meant that I was soon sucked into their lives and the hunt for the missing gold!
Pearl and Babs were brilliant characters, I got a real visual sense of them as I read and could almost hear their voices from the pages. Strong East End women with tragic pasts that brought them to where they are today. The characters were raw and realistic and each of them had a story that made me want to listen! At times it felt as though I was sitting with them in the midst of their lives!
There were a few points throughout the book where you have to suspend your belief with elements of the plot; this is fiction remember, but it is fiction laced with authenticity through characterisation and narrative and the author has created a little cracker with this book!
At times gritty and violent as you would expect from a gangland thriller, yet laced with a dark but warm sense of humour giving a real sense of family and community loyalty. I got a very real sense of being caught up in the community and the lives of the characters within the book. The scenes at the care home were at times heartbreaking yet at others hysterical.
Blood Secrets is full of drama, twists and turns. Dysfunctional yet loyal family ties are the main theme of the book and combined with some tough and hard-hitting gangland violence this would make a perfect TV series.
WOW,WOW,WOW.What a fantastic book Babs and Pearl have regretted taking the gold as nothing but bad things seem to happen.I have loved reading this series about the Miller family,Babs,Dee,Jen and Tiff are getting ready for the opening of Dee's club.Babs friend from prison Pearl returns to her retirement home to find Police swarming about and and then she see's her sofa and knows the gold has gone.What follows is a story i wasn't expecting and i won't spoil it for you but i have to say it is a dam good book and well worth 5*
Babs Miller and her best friend Pearl . The gold was hidden well in the settee but suddenly it was got away . Babs daughters were called Dee the second was Jenni and lastly last Tiffany . Later Jenni was shot in the arm and spine . Tricky Dicky had an affair with Deb,s . The commander wants his gold back from Flo who was half sister to Tiffany .Fred the red hidden some gold in the cellar . Next was Richard or tricky Dickie got married . I got an ARC .
Dreda never fails to deliver! Another fantastic gritty part of the Mitchell saga. This is a story full of mistaken betrayal which nearly rips the whole family apart, with a few old faces thrown in the mix. This is 100% one of my favourite series I have read. Full of suspense it will make you laugh one minute then distraught the next. Absolutely brilliant! I am praying there will be another installment of this binge worthy series. A must read!
Another superb book from Dreda from book 1 through to this one, Gripping from page one characters jump to life and being book 4 it’s like reading about old friends some sad bits and funny bits I wish I hadn’t read it so quick I miss them already. Make sure you read books in order I promise you won’t be disappointed.
What a fantastic book! Great to have Babs and her family back with all the problems and all the secrets. I defy anyone to find a better story beautifully written over four books. This one is very special though, everyone’s secrets finally come out into the open and we get answers to a lot of questions. The way this book is written truly makes you feel you know all of the characters and you feel their pain and anguish but then their absolute joy. Could not possibly recommend this book enough, fantastic series.
I have throughly enjoyed reading the whole of this set of books, I couldn’t wait to read next book and now this one being the last. I you want to read a good book pick these you will I’m sure be like me itching to read the next part of the story... thank you to authors Iv loved your style of writing..
This series off books are fantastic, so well written, read the four books in 5 days that's how much i loved reading them, loved the plots and twist in every book, just when you thought you had guessed who done it, you find out you are so wrong, can't recommend this author enough
Wow the Blood series just got better and better with every book. I absolutely loved following the lives of Babs Miller and her daughters. A real page turner with so many twists a totally gripping read that draws you in from page one.
So disappointed when I finished it as I wanted it to go and on. Had a bit of humor, romance, family life and proper bit of crime and punishment. Can't wait for your next book . BRILLIANT
I absolutely loved this book as well as all the others. Five stars is not enough! Well done Dreda and Tony, you both deserve all the success that is coming your way! I highly recommend this to EVERYONE . #Pearl&Babs.
This is book 4 and I haven't read any of the others. Not normally a fan of gang books I enjoyed this and think it's better than your usual Martina Cole fayre. The characters are very believable and well written. I'm going to investigate more from this author
It was like visiting old friends.popping round for a cuppa, listening watching everything in full HD lol. Bab Miller is like an old friend...! Well enjoyed the book. You got to read the series.
Wow, top rating given to this story which continues on from the 3 previous stories in the "Blood" series by Dress Say Mitchell.Definitely a top author and well worth reading her books if you into gangland books.
Really enjoyed this book,loved the characters they were so believable,read this book in two evenings.would love to see this made into film..who would play pearl n babs I wonder
Having read the full series of this story would highly recommend it . A gripping story spanning generations of an east end family with enough twist & turns to keep the reader hooked
I really enjoyed this last book in the blood series really didn’t want it to end couldn’t put it down this is the first time of reading this author and all four books one after the other as you really wanted to know what happens next will look out for more of this author
Brilliant! I couldn't put it down. I didn't figure the twist out. Dreda I need more from the Devil's! Thank you for bringing these characters to life x
dreda has done it again she just gets better and better this series so adictive the girls are a nightmare loads of twists and turns recomend all her books very adictive
Dreda is a fantastic writer who draws you in with every page. You feel a realconnection with the characters in her book and feel every emotion they do. Another fantastic read. Well done dreda.