Product Description

A gritty tale of hard time, hard men and hard drugs for fans of Martina Cole.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19073 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Review
'Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel.' --Martina Cole on FORGET ME NOT

'Cracking page-turner . . . a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins.' --Manchester Evening News on FORGET ME NOT

'Alarming . . . beguiling . . . exhilarating.' --Scotsman on THE FRONT

Review
‘Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel.’ Martina Cole on FORGET ME NOT (Martina Cole on Forget Me Not )

‘Cracking page-turner ... a gritty compassionate account of life on the margins.’ (Manchester Evening News on FORGET ME NOT )

‘Gripping ... powerful writing.’ (Scotland on Sunday on FORGET ME NOT )

‘Alarming and beguiling ... curiously exhilarating.' (Scotsman on THE FRONT )

About the Author
Mandasue was born in Cheshire and moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Cresecents which have since become the background to her novels.
Not only is she a talented writer, but she has also sung in cabaret and rock groups, seventies soul cover bands and blues jam bands.

Customer Reviews

An all absorbing read by one of Britain's best new writers
Mandesue Heller's books are addicting. There is no other way to describe this all absorbing read about two friends caught up in the struggles of their lower class British life. Slowly and meticulously their stories are revealed by this truly superb storyteller.
Mary James is first introduced to us as a feisty and rebellious teen who rescues another girl, Jane Bates, from a group of bullies at their school. They soon become close mates but an unwanted pregnancy separates them as they each travel their own path- one on the way to a personal hell and one on the way to personal salvation. Along the way we meet a whole host of unsavory characters as the girls live a life on the edge.
I am not aware of any other author in which I have rated their first four books as excellent. Mandesue Heller is a name that needs to be known. Few authors have an innate knack for character- so real and so very fascinating. Dialogue is perfect and there are no weaknesses in the characterizations- not even secondary characters. Wooden secondary characters can be something even more experienced and famous writers might be guilty of. I think this shows Mandesue is anything but a lazy writer. A prologue at the beginning of the book sets up the eventual path the plot will take as it seemingly meanders along. In fact, the plot almost appears aimless. Just don't be fooled. This author knows just where she is going and the ride to get there is highly worthwhile. Highly recommended.

Brilliant !
This is the first book of Mandasue Heller's that I've read and it was fabulous. Very much in the style of Martina Cole but set in Manchester. The story was gripping and gritty from the start with strong lead characters. Very touching in parts and your heart goes out to both lead characters at various times in their lives. The story is entirely believable and gives an insight to the world of low-life criminals and vice.

Fantastic!
This book has you hooked from the second page. You feel sorry for Mary and then you dont..... she seems to know what she is doing, but does she?

The characters are truly believable and I would recommend this book. I have now read all of Mandasue's and cant wait for the next one .........