Product Description

Danger and violence have always been part of Sue Dalston’s East End upbringing. Unloved by her mother, abused by her father, and brutalised throughout her entire marriage, she smashed her husband's skull in a final act of desperation. All that keeps her sane is knowing that she’s done it to protect her four children. At last, they are safe from harm. When she is celled up with murderess Matilda Enderby, their fates become inextricably linked. And no one - least of all Sue - could have predicted the consequences...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13776 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 640 pages

Express
'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about'

Review
'The story will grip you from the first pages' (Best )

'Gritty novel from an author who knows intimately the world she writes about' (Express )

About the Author
Martina Cole is the No. 1 bestselling author of fourteen hugely successful novels. Her most recent novel, FACES, went straight to No. 1 in both hardback and paperback. CLOSE went straight to No. 1 hardback and paperback for a record-breaking number of weeks. THE TAKE won the British Book Award for Crime Thriller of the Year and was a No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller in hardback as well as a No. 1 bestseller in paperback. THE TAKE and THE GRAFT are currently being adapted for Sky One. THE KNOW was selected by Channel 4`s Richard & Judy as one of the Top Ten Best Reads of 2003. MAURA`S GAME, FACELESS and THE GRAFT shot straight to No. 1 on the Sunday Times bestseller lists, and total sales of Martina`s novels are now at nearly ten million copies. Martina Cole has a son and daughter and lives in Kent.

Customer Reviews

Gripping, Deadly, Horrific .....Wow !
.. From the begining of the book, you felt that there were parts you could relate to, although some of the incidents were just so horific, you pittied Susan right from the start, yet also held a torch for her and others who in real life had been treated that way. The more you read, the more hostile your feelings got to her Husband, Father and Mother and like another reviewer had written, you were willing Susan not to stay. This is the first Martina Cole book I have ever read, or heard of, and it would certainly not be one that I would have chosen as I prefer Science Fiction - but in reading this..., I found myself transported into the underbelly of Londons East End, and believe me, Ian Beale and Dot Cotton were nowhere to be found! Read it, Weep and promise yourself it would never happen to you! This book is one that you pick up and read from start to finish in one go - you will not be able to put it down!

A gripping and realistic read.
A fantastic book with a great twist in plot towards the end. However, just one criticism - the title "Two Women" is really misleading as is the synopsis which states "when Sue Dalston is celled up with murderess Matilda Enderby their fates become inextricably linked". Actually, their fates do not become inextricably linked. The protaganist, Sue Dalston, doesn't meet Matilda Enderby until two thirds of the way through the book, and even then the only way their lives interlink is that they briefly share a prison cell and also share the same barrister for a while - hardly "inextricably" linked.

Sue Dalston is a fantastic characterisation - I don't doubt there are plenty of real life Sue Dalston's out there. Martina writes about her with such clarity and realism that I really feel she must personally know a Sue Dalston. You get drawn into Sue's life and realise how she is trapped. You really end up understanding why she behaves as she does.

One more slight criticism of this otherwise five star read is that all through the book Sue's mother is a total scumbag, yet towards the end of the book she miraculously discovers maternal feelings. It's as though Martina wants to tie up all the loose ends nicely and provide a nice happy ending. The family party towards the end of the book - with all the family members getting along and enjoying themselves together just seems unreal and spoils it a bit. Memo to Martina : your books are based on realism, real life doesn't have happy endings all the time.

The book is definately a page turner and Martina knows how to work the reader. Agripping read to the end and you won't be disapointed by the twist in the tale as you really feel that it could happen. Very cleverly written.

Read inbetween the lines
This was one of the first Martina Cole novels that I read-all of which since I have not been able to put down with exception to The graft.
If you have read Martina's work you will be prepared for what's in store. The novels are gritty and sometimes rutheless. They are not a work of literary genius, but the do challenge you to step out of your comfort zone into the world of the character. This novel is no different, full of abuse both sexual and psychological, twists and turns at every corner and a chemistry so strong that it compells you to read more and more untill all the words are gone. For a change two women has a happy-ish ending.
Please do not read if you are of a delicate nature, you will not enjoy. Here is a fantastic story line which forces you to delve deeper into Susan's life and read inbetween the lines. Cole's characters are well rounded and empathy comes easily for the main character.
All in all a very enjoyable read-keep that pen busy Martina!!