Blood Sister by Dreda Say Mitchell

Blood Sister by Dreda Say Mitchell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - <1 day

Pages - 400

Publisher - Hodder

The first in a trilogy following one family over forty years on an East London estate, BLOOD SISTER is non-stop drama, perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers and Mandasue Heller.

There are two ways out of Essex Lane Estate, better known as The Devil. You make good, or you turn bad.

Jen Miller is determined not to make the same mistakes her mother did. She's waiting to find herself a good job and a decent man.

Her younger sister Tiff is running errands for a gangster and looking for any opportunity for fun and profit. But she might just be in over her head...

The choices you make and the plans you have don't always turn out like you expect. Especially when you live on The Devil's Estate. Jen and Tiff are about to learn that the hard way.

At least they can rely on each other.

Can't they?


My Review

Jen & Tiff Miller are sisters living and doing what they can to get through life on Essex Lane Estate, locally known as The Devil's Estate. Jen wants a better life than what their mother has managed, Tiff just wants to have fun and not be bored. Each sister makes choices that will shape their life and time on the estate & learn that with all choices come consequences.

Oooh this is a fabulous start to what is to be a trilogy, Jen is the smart one who won't lower herself to settling for any of the boys going nowhere on the estate. Tiff is bored, known to the police and not adverse to getting inebriated down at the graveyard. When an opportunity to get involved with some known faces arises Tiff grabs it with both hands. Both sisters are drawn into the world that keeps places like The Devil's Estate going, corruption, violence, death & money are just the beginning. The time span of this novel is over ten years, 1993 to 2003, setting the stage and introducing some of the key characters who are guaranteed to keep the readers on their toes. An explosive beginning to what I am sure will be a great trilogy although I am not sure what the next novel will hold, I cannot wait until it is out 4/5 for me this time. Thanks to BookBridgr for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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The Driver by Mandasue Heller

The Driver by Mandasue Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Publisher - Hodder

Pages - 320

Blurb from Goodreads

When you play with fire, everyone gets burned... Joe Weeks is new to the Grange Estate. Tolerant, doesn't mind a bit of weed, doesn't try to pull other men's women. Live and let live is his motto... Eddie Quinn is the hardest man on the estate. Everyone knows that it's a bad idea to cross him, or his pit bull. But everyone also knows he's honest, as drug dealers go. Joe's pleased when Eddie offers him a job. But then he meets Katya. A prostitute. A slave. And desperate to escape from Eddie.


My Review

Joe Weeks has just moved to the Grange Estate. It is rife with drugs, prostitution, violence and a tight leash on it all - held by Eddie Quinn. Joe just wants an easy life after breaking up with his girl. Eddie is hardcore, he will let loose his dog or his temper if pushed and Joe best watch his step. However, once he befriends some of the neighbours and is in need of a job, he finds himself working for Eddie and catching the eye of Katya. Katya works for Eddie, no one messes with Eddie or his business, Joe can't help himself and gets caught up in a tangled web that threatens not only him, but all involved.

Ooooh this was a good read, I love small estate style stories as there is always gossip, nosy neighbours and scandal. Throw in some thugs ruling a small empire, affairs and murder and you would have just some of the things covered in The Driver. This book draws you in fairly quickly, you meet the residents as the main character Joe does, how quickly he gets drawn in and follow him down a slippery slope. The story flows well as Heller always manages, nearing the end we are flung a curve ball which I did not see coming and even now I am finished I am not sure how I feel about it. There is also quite a brutal violent scene in this story and a few issues that reflect the reality of drug addiction, particularly in relation to a dependent child, just a heads up.

Well done, good charactisation and she really brings to life and lifts the estate from the page. 4/5 for me, if you follow my reviews you know I am a huge Heller fan so this won't be my last. I have another on my tbr and look forward to the one she is currently penning. If you haven't read Heller before, you don't mind swearing, gritty crime and some harsh issues then definitely give her a go.

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