The story revolves around a brutal gang war aimed at taking over the Ryan family´s turf. Maura Ryan, the former head of the gang, is retired and living with her lover, a former police detective. Cole filmed an investigative documentary, Martina Cole Girl Gangs: Los Angeles for Sky1 in 2009. This focused on the role of girls in these gangs, which have been responsible for crimes ranging from drug dealing and car theft to robbery and murder. [10] Dowell, Ben (17 April 2008). "Sky to air Cole novel adaptations". The Guardian . Retrieved 5 November 2015.

Maura Ryan has left her life of crime behind her after a big score, and fondly imagines that she can settle down with the man she loves. But the life she has left behind is full of enemies who have plans to make things very tough for her, unless she can make things tough for them first. The proceeds from her last gold-bullion robbery can't help her: she needs all her wit and sinew to survive. then there's Maura's nephew, Benny, the image of his Uncle Michael, but so similar in character to his Uncle Garry. Benny is an uncertified nutcase, who enjoys inflicting pain and death on those he perceives to be his enemies. He enjoys torturing people for information and making them beg for death or mercy. She married for the first time aged 16, but the marriage only lasted a year. She had her first child at the age of 18. [3] Her parents both died when she was in her early 20s. [1]

No Mercy

The Ryan family are being set up to take a big fall from underworld grace and their enemies are circling like sharks to come in for the kill (literally) when that happens. The Ryan's main rival is Vic Joliff, who escapes from jail and goes on the run. Vic is the proverbial invisible man, as he scuppers the Ryan family plans at every turn, but nobody can locate him when Maura Ryan wants to meet him.

Not a bad novel - I don´t mean to suggest that it is - but simply not as good as "Ladykiller" in terms of plot, character development, or narrative style. Martina Cole - Sky Arts: The Book Show". Archived from the original on 17 May 2011 . Retrieved 21 October 2011.In 2011 Cole founded her own record label, Hostage Music. The London-based band Alabama3 has signed up to the label. [12] Personal life [ edit ]

In "Ladykiller" Cole did what I think is a remarkable job in developing three major characters. In "Maura´s Game," however, I did not feel that she did a particularly good job of fleshing out any of the characters. Again, in "Ladykiller" Cole wrote in a strong narrative voice, so strong, in fact, that what is a long novel fairly flew by. By contrast, "Maura´s Game" tended to plod rather than sprint.I had previously read author Martina Cole´s excellent novel "Ladykiller" and decided to give "Maura´s Game" a try in hopes that it would rise to the same level. Three of Cole's novels have been adapted for the stage by the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London: Two Women in 2010; The Graft in 2011, and Cole's first novel, Dangerous Lady in 2012. [11] Other interests [ edit ] a b Shepherd, Robert. "The Broadcast interview: Martina Cole, crime author". www.broadcastnow.co.uk. Media Business Insight . Retrieved 5 November 2015. She remarried in the 1990s, but the marriage ended in divorce. [14] She had her second child when she was 39. [4] In December 2011, readers using madaboutbooks.co.uk voted their favourite Martina Cole book. The Take won by 780 votes and was put at the top of the list of Martina Cole novels. Goodnight Lady came second, followed in third by Maura's Game.