Kimberley Chambers

Tainted Love – A Brilliant Gritty Thriller.

I have to disagree with many reviewers who say that you need to read the two books prior to Tainted Love by Kimberley Chambers. While having a more detailed knowledge of the characters in this book may be required by some, I do not think it is needed for others. This is a well written, well plotted, crime thriller, whose characters stand out, and there is plenty of background to them within the book.

The prologue opens with Queenie Butler packing show more her things up and finally leaving Whitechapel, her home over the years. Long time neighbour Stan asks Queenie where it all went wrong, which then takes us back to 1986, and the East End and its mean streets ruled by her two sons Vinny and Michael.

Michael and Vinny were not just ‘faces’ around the East End they were the East End as far as the locals were concerned, it was their manor. Nothing happened there without them knowing, nobody crossed them without being brought up before them, they ruled with a rod of steel and pure fear. Queenie and her sister Viv were the matriarchs of the family, loved by the family and also equally feared.

From 1986 to 2001 we are taken on a high speed tour of the family and how it could grow apart and then once again come together. We see both Vinny and Michael’s children also take their rightful place in the East End society. Dan and Lee were Michael’s boys, with Little Vinny and Ava, Vinny’s children. We see them get older and develop their own character; Ava cared for by Queenie with Fred her dog, who has a thing for Viv’s leg.

As the years pass we are able to see the very complicated relationship of brothers and cousins develop in interesting and competing ways. Dan the growing presence of the family while Little Vinny is the businessman of the next generation, and how the women of the family can see through all the men and get to the heart of the matter. If one was looking for marriage or relationship advice the last people you would be the Butler family.

The great thing about Tainted Love that it is hard to write a review and not reveal the plot, hence why I am unwilling to even give a guide to what happens between 1986 and 2001. One thing I will say that it is completely gripping, realistic and believable, especially when dealing with Whitechapel and the changes that came to the East End in the 80s and 90s. Those changes are also part of the problem for the Butler’s.

Undoubtedly Vinny is a nasty piece of work who you would not want to cross for any price and this screams from the pages, where his brother Michael is different but can get just as nasty if required. Watching the younger Butler’s develop is interesting and will no doubt carry on the Butler name in to the future.

Tainted Love is a fantastic book and I made me smile when I saw where the title came from, but that would spoil the plot. Anyone who has had a run in with Her Majesty’s finest and been near the type of circles the Butlers move in will recognise the characterisation of many they have come across in the Butlers. This might be set in the East End, but could easily be Salford, Moss Side in Greater Manchester or Northfield in Birmingham, St Paul’s Bristol, amongst many.

Kimberley Chambers really is a master of gritty crime fiction, she knows how to draw you in and like her villains grab you by the throat and only release you when she is ready to finish the book. Her writing is crisp and clear with no wasted bulking out of the story; her words are like bullets hitting the target every time. show less

Life of Crime – A Low Life Gritty Thriller

Kimberley Chambers is a bestselling crime writer, who knows how to keep her public in her grip, before pulling off an unexpected twist at the end, like death you know its coming, just not when. Life of Crime is her latest thriller that grabs you from beginning to end, this is the inglorious underbelly of crime. Showing you, it doesn’t matter how glamourous the life may look, the foundations are built on sand and do not complain when Mrs show more Windsor’s boys are knocking on your door with a warrant.

Jason Rampling is one of life’s chancers, a modern day Del boy wheeling and dealing living life large. Having been brought up by a mother who is nothing more than a drunken bum, two younger brothers and a sister along with his own daughter live in a flat in a high rise flat. The estate they live on is the boil on the backside of the world, to call it rough would be a compliment.

One thing he knows he needs to find a woman who has the ability to take on his daughter, Shay, be a mother to her and a wife to him. That would not be to hard with his good looks, but he has trouble keeping his pants on and other women have been known to take care of him in ways others can only dream of.

Melissa, a single mum, walks into Jason’s life, and she falls in love with Jason and is willing to take him and his daughter on. She is just happy someone is interested in her, and he has fallen on his feet when he finds out who her father is. Johnny Brookes a well known local businessman with money falling all around him. Who does give Jason a warning never to break his beloved daughters heart.

Jason is part narrator of the story and we see his viewpoint on his mother, his wife, children and family. This is a story about relationships, secrets, lies, women (lots of), a painting, planning and standing by your man.

Some may view crime thrillers as lowbrow compared to a lot of high-brow, anal retentive literature. The difference being that people actually love reading Kimberley Chambers work as she knows how to entertain, keep a reader, and not bore them to death. Chambers gives you a rollercoaster ride of a thriller that is gripping, breath-taking and a guide to the low life of Essex.

The only thing wrong about Kimberley Chambers, is she is a Spurs fan, but we all have our crosses to bare. show less

Chancer Jason meets dim but nice, single mother, Melissa and decides she would be perfect to bring up his young daughter. Her best friend Tracey who saw him first isn’t best pleased. Loved this, the cast of characters, funny dialogue, twists and turns. Gritty, edgy and comical too, you can’t help turning the pages faster and faster to see how it all plays out. Although this book was a bit on the long side, I didn’t want it to end as I immersed myself in the story - I do enjoy reading show more about villains and their antics - more please! show less

The Sting – With a punch like Mohammed Ali

With ever book that Kimberley Chambers writes, is yet further evidence of why she is known as the Queen of Gangland Crime Fiction. The Sting her latest does not let the reader down in any way. The ending may come as a surprise, but does add to it, and even made this cynic smile.

Tommy Boyle has had a tough life and he has not reached puberty yet. His dad is violent, especially towards his mother calling her many names as well as hitting her. Things show more are even worse when he is drunk. Tommy loves his two sisters Hazel and Linda as well as his trusted dog Rex.

When one night his mother goes out, little do Tommy and his sisters know that is the last time they will ever see her. From then on, events over take him and his sisters, especially when Hazel is sent away and he finds out his dad is not actually his father. He is then sent to live with an Uncle, who at best can be described as weird, and in a different part of London.

When Danny Darling comes to Tommy little does, he realises a lifelong friendship has been born, even when removed to a children’s home. At Maylands there is a small group of them, and Tommy gets especially close to Scratch, a tomboy who hates her life, but knows and understands what Tommy has been through.

As they fight there way out of the gutter, they make a pack to stick together, but once Tommy leaves care, he becomes distant. He throws his lot in with the Darlings and leaves everyone else to the Wolves. Scratch is broken hearted, but eventually moves on and to the opposite side of the street when she becomes a police officer.

Tommy has created a reputation on the streets of East and South London and is a noted face that the police want. When Scratch’s boss hears she knows Tommy her life takes a turn, she is being sent undercover to take down Tommy and the Darlings. On opposite sides of the law little does she know what changes in her life to come, for her and Tommy.

Such a fantastic book, that grabs you from the beginning, this is gangland crime fiction at its best. show less