The Runaway

When Cathy Connor and Eamonn Docherty are thrown together as children in the East End their fate is sealed. Cathy’s miserable life as a prostitute’s child changes forever when she’s forced into care. The ordeal that follows leaves her with no choice but to run away to Soho, and she learns to survive in the violent heart of London’s underworld. Meanwhile, Eamonn, who fled to New York, has gained a reputation as a ruthless villain. But when their paths cross again, Cathy’s an equal match for Eamonn - and nothing's going to make her run away this time ...

As always with Martina Cole you know what you are going to get. Her books are very gritty, and show the underworld of East End London.

This book however has all of that plus a show more strong romantic connection between Cathy and Eamonn. This relationship to me was very much like Cathy and Heathcliffe in Wuthering Hieghts. It may sound strange to compare Martian Cole with Emliy Bronte, but take away the setting and time period and the characters are very much a like. Both Cathy and Eamonn love each other and have been raised together just like Cathy and Heathcliffe. As time goes on they are apart but always ineach others minds, hearts and souls. Thrown together again in the future is it going to work out ?

A very gritty, violent book, maybe a little over long but an Ok read. Not one of Martina Cole’s best but if you are a fan you won’t be disappointed.

Looking forward to the tv adaptation next week. show less

I really enjoyed this book.
The charcater development was great with most of the characters being well fleshed-out and no shying away from flaws. The plot was gripping throughout and I felt immersed in this sometimes over-exaggerated world. It was very violent in places and sometimes this causes the book to waiver on the line of realism/ridicule, but the engaging story pushes you on beyond these points.

For all the violence and grittiness, interlarded through this book are paragraphs sappy enough to be in the slimmest romance. Still a good read, and the Transvestites were wonderful.

Review: The Runaway by Martina Cole.

This is such a powerful novel with so much diversity to read on for eternity. The story explores the shady criminal acts of the street gangs and drugs addicts, thieves, prostitution, the lives of Drag queens and the gay community. Plus, the author didn’t forget the shifty underworld of the Mafia leaders, their money laundering, drug smuggling and the shifty ruthless villains who work for underworld killing and maiming people for greed.

There are short sexual contents but the author doesn’t draw them out to stand viciously overdone. She writes with strong intent, no different then everyday life we hear about. There are two incidents involving child sexual contact (mild) but its there. I don’t show more usually read the intense versions of a story like this but it’s written to flow along rapidly that you’re unable to put the book down. It has a great story. Well written, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Always something happening around the corner…..Otherwise I wouldn’t recommend the novel.

It’s a mesmerizing story of a young boy and girl growing up in an environment that sets them up to take different paths in their lives. The novel is about their lives and environment as they grew older. Their paths were different but they still held on to a bond that stated as children….. show less

I think I like Martina Cole's earlier books the best. This is a great book, kept me up very late following Cathy. While there a couple of flat points, the plot soon twists and has you gripped again.

This is the fifth book by this author that I have read and I have enjoyed everyone of them. Her books are probably for the English audience unless you know a lot of English slang expressions but if you can get by these then they are a good, fast read. They can be quite graphic and the language is very raw. I enjoy them as they remind me of my childhood as I grew up in the areas described in the books.

Back Cover Blurb:
When Cathy Connor and Eamonn Docherty are thrown together as children in the sleazy streets of London's East End their fate is sealed.
Cathy's miserable life as a prostitute's child changes forever when she is forced into care. The terrifying ordeal that follows leaves her with no choice....Entering the twilight world of show more London's Soho as a runaway, she is rescued by Desrae, who teaches her how to survive in the violent heart of London's criminal underworld. Meanwhile, Eamonn, who fled to America with his father, has gained a reputation as one of the most ruthless villains in New York.
It's only a matter of time before their paths cross and, when they do, Cathy's an equal match for Eamonn. She's beautiful, clever and tough. And nothing's going to make her run away again.... show less

One of my favourite authors.