Deceived

by Roberta Kray

THE NEW GRITTY CRIME THRILLER
NO ONE KNOWS CRIME LIKE KRAY

'A cracking good read' Jessie Keane
'Well into Martina Cole territory' Independent
'Great writing, gripping story, loved it' Mandasue Heller

SHE'S BEEN BETRAYED. SHE WANTS REVENGE.

Judith Jonson has been a widow for five years. At first, she hoped Dan would return, but her dream turned to a nightmare as the war ended, and she had to accept her beloved husband was never coming home.

Then one day she sees a picture in the paper - the aftermath of a dramatic robbery in London's West End - and Judith can't believe her eyes. It's Dan, she'd stake her life on it, or rather his life, the traitor.

Betrayed and desperate for answers Judith begins a hunt for the man she thought she married. And in amongst the lowlifes of the East End's gangland underworld she finds more than she bargained for.

But Judith had better be careful whose business she meddles in. The rule of law doesn't apply in Kellston. She had been deceived, but she doesn't want to end up dead...

Praise for Roberta Kray:

'Action, intrigue and a character-driven plot . . . sure to please any crime fiction fans'
Woman

'Gripping'
Daily Express

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Roberta Kray, and I really enjoyed it.
Judith has accepted that her husband is dead but then she sees a photo of him in a national newspaper.
She heads to London to try and find him but is faced with a brick wall. No-one wants to help her and those that she thinks show a glimmer of recognition when she shows them the photo, are on the wrong side of the law.
Judith then meets Elsa who puts her in touch with Saul who is in the Police, but does quite a lot off the record.
Judith comes face to face with some nasty characters and wonders what she’s walked into. Soon things get much worse and she’s told to leave London. However, she won’t go until she finds answers.
This book is set in the late 1940s and is a great insight into crime in London at the time.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK, Sphere and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Roberta kray so looking forward to her next one

[~ Cariad ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of June Hampson and Lesley Pearse will probably love this book more than Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole's fans will.

It's a bit of a departure from Kray's usual awesome reads. It's still fully awesome, but with a post WW2 setting and not quite her usual grit. It'll probably divide her reviews - but honestly, give it a go, I for one absolutely loved it.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good East End Crime Thriller which keeps you guessing throughout. I have to admit I've read better books by Roberta Kray but still a good read.

[pamela carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deceived

Not up to Roberta's usual standard's found this book a real hard trawl stuck with it as I had paid full price but not an easy read I found it boring

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read, transporting you to an atmospheric post-war London, crime families and an undercover detective waging his own war on their activities. Insert the character of an apparently naïve young woman in search of her once-believed-dead husband and, quite frankly chaos rains down on them all. The storyline is well thought-out, the book well-written and contains twists and turns and really unexpected surprises. I particularly liked the epilogue which tied up loose-ends nicely.
A gripping crime thriller.

[Steph Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceived – Roberta Kray

Fans of Kimberley Chambers, Mandasue Heller and Kevin Lewis should enjoy this. Normally I race through the authors books but I struggled with this and I’m sad to say that I don’t think it’s one of her best.

This is predominantly set in the nineteen forties London with the destruction and devastation left behind following the Second World War. Times were different, people were different but one thing from then to now is the gang fighting.

Judith and Dan Johnson met and married within a month following a whirlwind romance before he went off to war. The war office notifies Judith that Dan is missing presumed dead leaving her a war widow. By pure chance a few years later she sees a picture in a newspaper of Dan, her DEAD Dan outside a shop where a robbery has happened. Taking the bull by the horns she heads to Kellstone in London to find him and demand an explanation.

Judith has more jam than Hartley’s as after being met with a wall of silence she then somehow manages to meet the exact type of people to help her unravel the mystery, the mystery of why he was there and not dead. She is an almost innocent but somewhat stubborn woman who finds herself in the midst of the murkier side of life and people, the violence and deceit and she doesn’t like it.


Read for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group and Sphere Publishers.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An East End of London crime story. Set in the 1940’s in the aftermath of World War 2, devastation everywhere. Judith meets and marries a handsome charmer during the war and is heartbroken when she hears he’s missing, presumed dead. Several years later she by chance spots a photo of his doppelgänger which sets her on the adventure of her life. Gritty with plenty of violence which is to be expected if you get in the way of villains! A mix of kindhearted and not so kindhearted characters. A gripping tale which makes the reader carry on turning the pages to see if Judith finally finds the happiness she deserves. Also an interesting look into bygone London of ruined streets and buildings. I was given this ARC by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

i love roberta s books but its not her best i never give up on a book but story was not her best i hope next one will be so much better not for me

[Ravenclaw Library Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the writing. It was a bit slow at times but overall it was good.

Thanks To Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a ok book fast moving story. Not the best book ive read of hers. Not very exciting i was glad when it was over so i can read something good

[Marisa Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw that Roberta Kray was married to one of the Kray brothers, and I immediately assumed she'd used a ghost writer, so I didn't expect much. Boy, was I surprised! It turns out Roberta met her husband while he was in jail, not during his life of crime, and she writes her own stuff - much of it based on listening to his stories.

I really liked this. Although it's about crime, it's a marked contrast to Gary Disher's lean style, with a lot of internal reflection and description of place, but it was done well. The only niggle I had was that I struggled to believe Judith would really persist with her inquiries in the face of such danger, because she had very little to gain. If she'd had higher stakes to play for, I would have believed it - but as it stood, it showed an astonishing degree of stubbornness for no good reason.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't turn around .

I wasn't to impressed with this new novel Deceived by Roberta kray that's why I only gave her 5 stars sorry Roberta . The start of the chapters was quite good then it started to get boring but I carried on reading it .The last few chapters had me intrigued Oswego actually murdered who but this new novel was not for me So Roberta unless you start writing more good books then I will not be buying them .Sorry .

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book once I got into it. I found it a bit slow going at first, but it’s worth sticking with it as it does get better. Set after the war Judith was she thought a war widow, until one day she spots a photo of her dead husband in the paper. It follows the ups and downs of Judith’s journey to London to find out the truth. Judith finds out a lot more then what happened to her so called dead husband.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy books by Roberta Kray but this left me disappointed. Not the usual standard of writing and just a bit slow in parts. I have the impression the book was rushed to the publisher and I just felt a bit bored reading this one until the last few chapters. Thank you Net Galley for my ARC.

[Susan Duthie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good enough thriller. I have read most of this author's books and this one didn't quite hit the mark. It was very different to the usual storylines she writes. However I did read it to the end and didn't give up.

[sue pensom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok?

Disappointed not to to usual standard, skipped quite a few pages ......felt as though the author couldn't be bothered with this one , sorry but as previously said very disappointed. Usually enjoy Roberta krays books but not this one.

[Jody Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Line off the best books i have read this year. So much going on but very easy to keep up with.

[Paula Lawrance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very disappointed in this book wasn't Roberta's usual standard. Carried on reading the whole book as I was on holiday but wouldn't recommend to read quite boring. Hense only 3 stars.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like Martina Cole, Jesse Keane or Mel Sherratt, then you’ll like Roberta Kray. A big difference this story as although still set in the East End, the timeline is just after WW2.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good gangstyle crime thriller by a woman who knows best about the east end of London

[sharon hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

Was good from start to finish. Lots of twists. Highly recommend. Much better than the last book. Can't wait for the next one.

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book by Roberta but not as gripping as others. The ending was interesting and unexpected! Always nice!

[A E MACHIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read

This book really you on a journey you didn't know who was the persons you could trust and who would be deceiving and leading you downgrading path

[Sharon MacNaught · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slight slow to begin with maybe a bit more action in it.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to read. I loved it 😀

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked from the beginning all the way to the end. I thought the characters were easy to form a relationship with and they all had their own history behind them.

[Delia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great twist

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it not as good as some others but well worth a read

[Elizabeth Culverhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crime fiction found in a holiday rental.