Rivals follows on from events in the first Georgina Garrett book, Trickster, and in order to bring new readers up-to-date there are by necessity references to key events in the previous book. Therefore, although Rivals can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend readers who might want to follow the series to start with the first book. I haven't read Trickster and I'll confess it took me a bit of time to work out the different relationships and who did what to whom in the first book.
In Georgina Garrett the author has created a powerful woman who is ruthless towards her enemies and will do whatever it takes to protect her family. She's certainly not afraid to take on the men at their own game. In fact, at times she feels the need to go beyond what they might be prepared to do to counteract the prejudice she experiences.
The world Georgina inhabits contains some distinctly unsavoury characters and even some of the more likable characters have secrets they will protect at all costs. It's a world of rival gangs out to protect their patches and involved in activities such as extortion, prostitution, illegal gambling, drugs, alcohol and weapons smuggling...and more besides. Although Georgina reins in some of the more distasteful elements of the Wilcox operation, she's still up to her neck in some pretty nasty stuff. And she's not afraid to get her hands dirty when necessary.
With all the twists and turns of the plot and the action-packed confrontations between rival gangs, there isn't much space for the reader to get a sense of the period (the 1930s), aside from a few mentions of the depression, the rise of Hitler and German rearmament. However, I guess murder, extortion and protection rackets go on regardless of the political backdrop.
Described by the publishers as 'perfect for fans of Peaky Blinders, Martina Cole and Lesley Pearse', Rivals will appeal to readers who like their crime thrillers dark, violent and populated with ruthless individuals.