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The Debt
Johnny Frank has just been released from prison, and intends to have his payback. After convincing his betrayer, ruthless Jim Buckley, that he’s on the up-and-up, the incentive of an imaginary haul of diamonds—along with a more immediate cash sweetener—is enough to secure an invitation to his home. Once there, Johnny subtly begins to spread suspicion.
Johnny plays the first of his hands; he makes the Buckleys an offer they’ve been waiting for—a cut of the proceeds if they help him recover his stash. What the Buckleys don’t know is that this is part of Johnny’s plan to destroy their family. But plans go awry when Buckley’s son, Marc, is taken hostage, and his ransom is the same bogus stash. Pretending to be moved by their pleas, Johnny goes to London—accompanied, despite his protests, by Marc’s wife, the confident Simone—to meet the kidnappers’ demands.
At first, Simone is appalled by the cold-blooded gangster Johnny Frank. But when the two grow unexpectedly close, Johnny feels obligated to break the bad news to Simone: he can’t find Marc. Johnny and Simone put the pieces together and set out together for some dual payback in this endlessly entertaining tale from London’s mean streets.
Johnny plays the first of his hands; he makes the Buckleys an offer they’ve been waiting for—a cut of the proceeds if they help him recover his stash. What the Buckleys don’t know is that this is part of Johnny’s plan to destroy their family. But plans go awry when Buckley’s son, Marc, is taken hostage, and his ransom is the same bogus stash. Pretending to be moved by their pleas, Johnny goes to London—accompanied, despite his protests, by Marc’s wife, the confident Simone—to meet the kidnappers’ demands.
At first, Simone is appalled by the cold-blooded gangster Johnny Frank. But when the two grow unexpectedly close, Johnny feels obligated to break the bad news to Simone: he can’t find Marc. Johnny and Simone put the pieces together and set out together for some dual payback in this endlessly entertaining tale from London’s mean streets.
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First published February 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 12, 2018
SETTING: London
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Johnny Frank served 18 years in prison for a robbery and has long plotted his revenge on the man who squealed on him, Jim Buckley. Buckley is unaware that Johnny knows what he did. Johnny forces him to take him into his home while he figures out how to get the diamonds from the robbery. The Buckley family is very dysfunctional. One of their sons, Marc, lives in a flat upstairs with his wife, Simone. The novel alternates points of view between Johnny and Simone. They are constantly playing mind games with each other but are placed in an uneasy alliance. The book started well, but the interplay between Johnny and Simone goes on for far too long. There’s a promising thread at the conclusion, but ultimately, the book ends with a sputter.
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Johnny Frank served 18 years in prison for a robbery and has long plotted his revenge on the man who squealed on him, Jim Buckley. Buckley is unaware that Johnny knows what he did. Johnny forces him to take him into his home while he figures out how to get the diamonds from the robbery. The Buckley family is very dysfunctional. One of their sons, Marc, lives in a flat upstairs with his wife, Simone. The novel alternates points of view between Johnny and Simone. They are constantly playing mind games with each other but are placed in an uneasy alliance. The book started well, but the interplay between Johnny and Simone goes on for far too long. There’s a promising thread at the conclusion, but ultimately, the book ends with a sputter.
April 22, 2021
After many of Roberta Krays fabulous reads I thought I would go back to where it all started, with her first novel. What a talented writer she is!
A story of a man with an interesting past who spent 18 years of his life inside a prison. Now he's out he teams up with a young woman in order to help her save her husband, or is he trying to save himself?
I was hooked from the beginning, but I always am with Krays novels. Characters are relatable, some loveable some not so, but all have unique personalities. The book had a few small twist which builds up to the grand finale! She really does know how to write good crime!
A story of a man with an interesting past who spent 18 years of his life inside a prison. Now he's out he teams up with a young woman in order to help her save her husband, or is he trying to save himself?
I was hooked from the beginning, but I always am with Krays novels. Characters are relatable, some loveable some not so, but all have unique personalities. The book had a few small twist which builds up to the grand finale! She really does know how to write good crime!
July 7, 2025
Waste of my life. OCD compels me to finish books, but this one was tough. Boring.
May 11, 2016
Meh !!
December 24, 2021
100 pages in and I decided to quit. Disappointing, difficult to follow and nothing to remember from the first 100 pages. The style of writing from a third person point of view is what ultimately ruined it for me. Nothing was straight forward, it felt like every thought, every action was far too descriptive and not enough time spent on the plot.
April 29, 2023
This was my first roberta kray book....and while it hasnt put me off reading another one it wasnt exactly a thrilling read....not an awful one either but could have been better......as the book went on it just seems to continuosly go over the same things which sometimes left me bored and the ending was quite flat when the build up to it had me expecting more
June 3, 2023
Slow
Although I enjoyed Roberta's other two books immensely I fount the Debt, slow to get off the ground. I had worked out who was responsible at the same time a light bulb went off in Johnny's head. A good read but to slow going for me.
Although I enjoyed Roberta's other two books immensely I fount the Debt, slow to get off the ground. I had worked out who was responsible at the same time a light bulb went off in Johnny's head. A good read but to slow going for me.
May 4, 2017
This has to be one of the most boring books I have ever read.
August 7, 2019
found this difficult to get into tried with first 150 pages and still not gripping me so gave up. I have read others by Roberta Kray and found them enjoyable unfortunately not this one
May 9, 2020
A good read, I did guess the outcome about half way through, it stalled in parts but overall a decent read.
October 7, 2022
Did not finish.
The concept and the whole plot just felt forced, unrealistic and the whole style felt ridiculous.
This is one of the worst by Roberta
The concept and the whole plot just felt forced, unrealistic and the whole style felt ridiculous.
This is one of the worst by Roberta
March 28, 2024
Couldn't wait to see the end, awfully boring. The story is so good but the end-plot, could've thought of something better
December 9, 2024
Didn't grip me straight away but got a lot better as it went on but the end came up a bit short for me 📖
May 11, 2025
I love this author but I found this book really hard to get j to
May 27, 2025
It was ok, not the best storyline if I'm honest.
I read another book at the same time quicker than I finished this....what does that say!
I read another book at the same time quicker than I finished this....what does that say!
December 30, 2020
I love Roberta Kray, seriously, I do.
But I don't love the debut novel. I am so glad that this was not the first book of Roberta's I bought, because if it was, I would have missed out on truely fabulous author.
All I can say is, it read like a first novel, and that's it. I have nothing else to say. I got to chapter 4 and thought "Anna, you have read far better books by this lady, you don't need this book, it's not part of a series, fgs put it down!"
If someone asked me "is it worth reading?" my true answer would be, swerve it if you can. But....read dangerous promises, or streetwise, anything but this. They say never judge a book by it's cover, I say also never judge an author by their first book. Roberta is a truely wonderful writer, not quite Martina Cole. But still good.
But I don't love the debut novel. I am so glad that this was not the first book of Roberta's I bought, because if it was, I would have missed out on truely fabulous author.
All I can say is, it read like a first novel, and that's it. I have nothing else to say. I got to chapter 4 and thought "Anna, you have read far better books by this lady, you don't need this book, it's not part of a series, fgs put it down!"
If someone asked me "is it worth reading?" my true answer would be, swerve it if you can. But....read dangerous promises, or streetwise, anything but this. They say never judge a book by it's cover, I say also never judge an author by their first book. Roberta is a truely wonderful writer, not quite Martina Cole. But still good.
December 12, 2008
Why does a woman all in love with a criminal? Why does she stay with him even after finding out he's an inept criminal? Why does a newly released criminal invest so much in payback? For him, revenge is a dish served cold - nearly 20 years cold. I thoroughly enjoyed this book told through two characters with its crime, passion, and humor. Even though you think you know how the human element will turn out, still there's suspense in just seeing who will be left alive at the end. Recommended.
October 6, 2016
I had great hopes for this book and was quite excited about it. Unfortunately I found it rather boring and predicatable. It was slow and never really went anyway. Most of the time was spent travelling around in a car to somewhere or other. I also felt that the characters lacked any character! Sometimes you felt the main man was suppossed to be a proper gangster but to be honest he was just a petty criminal. Sleep seemed more exciting than reading this and often won, thus taking me twice as long to finish the book. I won't be rushing to buy anymore.
July 2, 2012
I've enjoyed other books by Roberta Kray but this one was a struggle - I gave up. I really couldn't be bothered and didn't care either. As this was her first book I think she has definately improved with writing!
January 3, 2011
It sucked. I finished it as a matter of hope, faith and OCD. Don't bother.
February 27, 2013
Struggled a bit with this book. Took me a long time to read it but was determined to finish it. Did not captivate me at all
March 23, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took a bit of getting into due to the way it has been written, but once you get into the juicy parts there is no putting it down!
February 16, 2015
The format of the book is unusual. The story consists of alternate chapters of two people’s Soliloquy’s. The plot is reasonable but fairly predictable.
December 16, 2015
loses its way in the middle but good ending
October 10, 2017
This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was pretty gripping, although I did guess the ending. Will I be reading more of this authors books, yes I think so.
July 11, 2016
good book
August 17, 2016
I ended up skimming most of this because it was kind of dull.
January 4, 2011
fantastic
March 29, 2015
Liked the way the chapters were from each characters point of view. Another great storyline!!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews