Another fabulous read from one of my favorite author's. Love how she gets into the nitty gritty of real life definitely a great read

OMG I just love Casey Kelleher books which seem to get darker, grittier and more compulsive with each one that she writes. This one is just dripping awesome. Absolutely loved it as she took me into the heart of the Bryne family, headed by Jimmy. Now there is only one woman that Jimmy will only ever feel anything for at all, in fact I will go as far as to say worship and that woman is his mum Joanie. It is a mutual sort of thing because Jimmy is the sweetest man to walk the earth in her eyes. It sort of reminded me of the Krays and how they treated their mum. Fur coats, a new house and nothing was too good for her. Jimmy was the same with his mum. His dad on the other hand was despised by Jimmy, not that I can blame him he is a loathsome man but bloody hell I was speechless, I mean frozen on the spot speechless talk about scary!
The book begins in 1980 Soho where Jimmy could have any girl he wanted but circumstances and fate throw Jimmy and Colleen together and what began as a fairy story romance for Colleen turns into a living nightmare from the day they marry. Colleen lost her innocence that night in more ways than you could ever dream possible. It was literally like take a bite out of the apple in the garden of Eden and really opening her eyes to the real world. She would never really recover.
This book is pure gangland brutality so if you are at all squirmish and are easily offended by strong language then this book is probably not for you. There are graphic scenes of violence from the very beginning and throughout this book but what a brilliant story. There is no way that it could be written any other way. There are characters in this book that really got under my skin and even hours after finishing the book I would still get that chill that goes from top to toe just by remember a snippet.
Casey Kelleher captured the essence of this charismatic gangland madman that could shock even his hardened partner Alex with the extremes of violence that he reached. Greed, dodgy dealings and murder had built him his empire that by 2003 was at its peak but a moment of carelessness and it soon became a game of Jenga.
I would love to see this made into a series so fingers crossed. A superb book!

Once again I have gone straight into this book not reading the blurb purely because I am a fan of Casey and the fact that she is a grit lit/gangland author so I always know what I am getting. But Casey has pulled out all the punches with this story there I was thinking Jimmy Byrne same old gangland character. But wowsers the story took twists and turns that I totally wasn't expecting and I ended up freaking loving it!!


The story starts off very fast paced OMG opening. Where we meet Jimmy he isn't your normal lovable rogue. He is just the bad guy...plain and simple. Who I didn't like at all.

The author weaves a story written in three parts. in part one we learn how he meets Colleen, who becomes his wife and mother of his children. Jimmy showers her with gifts and promises her the world. And everyone knows what he is really like apart from Colleen. So there I am saying are you that stupid because she really cannot see the real Jimmy. This is where I thought it was going to be the same old. But then has the story develops I found myself feeling sorry for her. Casey is a very talented writer she has a gift of making you connect with the characters, whether they are good or bad people and taking you through a whirlwind of emotions making you happy or angry has the tension builds up. I even found myself laughing out loud in parts.

But just when I thought I had it worked out and knew what was going to happen BOOM the author throws in another shocking revelation keeping me on the edge of my sit. Yes there are plenty of OMG moments in this story and a NO WAY ending the author leaves you wanting more. This book is without a doubt a winner.

What more can I say, but this is one truly gritty read that you won't be able to put down. Which I highly recommend giving it 5 stars.

Massive thank you to Noelle for inviting me to take part in this blog tour.

In the past year or so I’ve become a huge fan of Kelleher’s books, I loved both The Taken and The Promise and have become addicted to her style. What does her style entail? Well to me it’s raw and gritty plot lines that explore the dark depths of humanity coupled with well drawn, realistic characters that you love to hate and the added bonus of twists and turns that never fail to shock me. What more could you want when you pick up a thriller?!

One of Kelleher’s signature moves is to grab the reader with a gripping first chapter and hold tight until the bitter end and The Betrayed didn’t stray from her usual. It begins in the early eighties right before Jimmy and Colleen meet and begin dating and really sets the stage for their entire relationship. At about the halfway point, it jumps to 2003 when they’ve been married for years and have two children together. I was equally hooked by both timelines as they were both chock full of dark, dangerous scenarios and some high octane action.

Kelleher is a bold author who isn’t afraid to get down and dirty, both in the issues she writes about and the characters she creates. She crafts some truly deplorable individuals that mix in the seedy underbelly of society and the things they get up to are shocking and violent. This definitely isn’t a read for a sensitive person, the language is harsh and brash and the descriptions of violence are graphic. BUT if that doesn’t faze you, give this awesome book a try!

Thank you net galley and Bookouture for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Jimmy Byrne us an up and coming gangster who makes naïve, innocent Coleen fall for him. Swept away by love and charm she soon marries him. Their life is soon ruined by Jimmy's antics. Coleen soon finds out how her own family are turned against her. This spans their ups and downs. I don't want to spoil this but its brilliant!

This is the first book I have read by Casey and it certainly won't be the last. Reminiscent if the East End Queen Martina Cole this book is simply brilliant.

I'm definitely a fan of Casey Kelleher. I have rated the other two books I've read written by her five stars and found them to be super engrossing. I had a hard time connecting or sympathizing with any of the characters in this one, and predicted all of the twists the story took along the way. Does this mean I'm done with the author? Absolutely not. There was just something missing in this one for me. I look forward to her next release. I still found this one to be a decent read, just not quite as absorbing as the other standalones and would rate it a 3.5.

Jimmy Bryne has slowly become one of the most ruthless and respected criminals of the Soho area. Like many others before him, he has legitimate business ventures that bring in a good amount of money. Others are significantly seedier. He has a mother that worships the ground he walks on, and a hapless father under his thumb. Partially due to his mother's nagging, he decides to find a woman to settle down with. This woman has to be different than the usual bimbos he surrounds himself with. She has to be someone who he can father children with. It doesn't take long for him to settle on a suitable candidate: innocent and naive Colleen Walsh. He immediately charms her mother, and it isn't long before he has Colleen wrapped around his little finger as well. It's not long before they're married, and not long at all before their family grows.

Having found out the man she fell in love with was a facade not long after they were wed, Colleen is stuck. Terrified of Jimmy and traumatized from what she's seen and what she knows. She's barely a mother, content to drink and sleep her days away and move around their impressive home like a zombie.

This story is filled with sex, betrayal, violence, and murder. Most of the story takes place in the 1980s and then continues twenty years later, and it's interesting to see what changes and what stays the same. As the synopsis mentions, Jimmy is murdered while still is his prime... and the perpetrator may be closer to the family than anyone suspects.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

This is what I love to read.
Jimmy Byrne is on the up, he's the face in town .... with his clubs, girls, he's the sort of man that will get whatever he wants and nothing will get in his way.

Edel Walsh is a stubborn woman who isn't scared of anyone.
When a project of Jimmy's runs into problems he knows he will have to use all his charm on Edel because she is a problem for him.... but then he meets her daughter and it throws a spanner in the works.
Colleen Walsh is a shy and reserved girl.
She has reservations about Jimmy but his smooth talking sweeps her along and its only a matter of time before she is totally consumed by his kindness to her and her mother.
Jimmy has secrets and people close to him know those secrets.
Someone will be ready to betray him and that person maybe closer to them than you think.
The story spans over 20 years and introduces us to some great characters some more unsavoury than others.

Casey Kelleher is always an author that I will automatically read.
She is really getting up there with the best in this genre.
Once again this is another great gritty gangster crime story.

If your fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers this will be for you.

This is the first book that I have read by Casey kelleher.I was very pleased with the book and enjoyed reading it.I find it so interesting to read about the East End.I look forward to reading more books by Casey

This was my first book by Casey Kelleher and I absolutely loved it. Great characters and storylines. I cannot wait for the follow up book! She reminds me of a young Martina Cole.

Jimmy Byrne, is one of the biggest faces in London who is a self-made man. His mother Joanie has always been there for him and will do anything for him. She's not so happy when he decides to marry quiet and shy Colleen and tries to get him to change his mind. Something happens on Colleen's wedding night which changes her life and peace of mind forever but by now she's in too deep...

A fast paced story which I loved with interesting characters. Nancy, Jimmy's daughter is a chip off the old block. Her brother Daniel is more like his mother. When her beloved dad Jimmy is murdered in cold blood Nancy decides she will do all she can to find out who. did it.... The story ends where we know who is responsible but not why they did it. Cannot wait for book 2!

Jimmy Byrne is front and centre with this latest release by Casey Kelleher. Jimmy is a well known gangster who has his fingers in a lot of pies. When his paths cross with Edel Walsh, he discovers her daughter Collen who will change his life plan. The beginning of the book wastes no time in getting to the nitty gritty and the stroy unfolds fast and furiously. Before long Jimmy has his own way and Colleen Walsh goeso n to become hiw wife. The reader is already aware of the betrayals and underhand dealings Jimmy is involved in and it seems the only person who isn't is Nancy. Jimmy is a character you can love to hate and is certainly very readable, alongside his business partner Alex Costa. Although Colleen is likeable there was something too naive about her which stopped me from feeling too sorry for her.

The book is seperated into parts and as such it spans many years which actually works and although there were a couple of sections I felt were rushed to get to the next part of their lives by the end of the story it all made sense as to why the author had written in this way. Alongside Jimmy we also meet his Mother Joanie who plays a large part in Jimmy's life and it's clear that she is the woman thast rules the Byrne family and will always be the 'go-to' woman. With Coleen around, Joanie realises that things may not always be the same. However, nobody could guess what woul pan out and I have to be honest and say I certainly wasn't expecting the story to unfold as it did.

The last part of the book was certainly more of a pull for me where we get to really see the characters for what they are and all the secrets start to be uncovered. The added bonus of the latter parts of the book were the addition of Jimm's children Nancy and Daniel both of whom were great characters that have left the way wide open for a follow up to this book! Another cracking read by Casey Kelleher and I will as always wait for the next book knowing that I am going to get a great read.

I just love Casey Kelleher books! I came upon them by chance one day when they was recommended for fans of Martin's Cole and I haven't looked back since (she may even have overtaken the fabulous Martina in my eyes!) Every book just gets better and better so I'm always desperate to get my hands on her next slice of gritty, homegrown crime drama. Be warned though, her books are not for the faint hearted with scenes of graphic violence and very strong language but they have a strong realism that radiates throughout them so it always seems appropriate to the storyline.

This gangland thriller features characters you will love to hate! What a family! There is the mother-in-law from hell, a father-in-law who's a bit of a chancer plus a husband and wife who are never quite the same again after a wedding night they will never forget. I loved the surprising pairing of Colleen and Jimmy. I wasn't surprised that she fell for the charms of this powerful and attractive bad boy, he played a blinder in his pursuit of the shy and introverted Colleen and it was fascinating watching their relationship develop, just waiting for the dramatic blowout that we could see coming a mile off. Characterwise, this book really did have it all and a personal favourite was Colleens mother Edel, especially watching her almost comedic moments when she was with her best friend Nellie.

Most of the action takes place in the 1980s and I found it to be an authentic look into this time period. I did have a sly giggle at the wedding fashion of the time but as an 80s bride myself I do have to admit that it's probably the decade that fashion forgot (just remember all those shoulder pads in the soaps of the time!) so I could tell that Casey had done her research there! 

This is a compelling and sometimes shocking gangland thriller that drew gasps of astonishment at the unexpected twists when they came and I couldn't put it down for the last few chapters even though I was desperate to go to sleep! What an ending! This is one family I would be VERY happy to meet again but on paper only.......they are a scary bunch!!

Wow ! Another fantastic book by Casey Kelleher. i'm absolutely loving her books at
the moment . In my opinion Casey is
the best when it comes to writing gritty crime thrillers . The Betrayed was a book that I couldn't put down . it's one that you just want to read one more chapter. I really do hope there will be a sequel to this book.

Reviews left on Amazon UK , Amazon.com and Goodreads

My thanks to Bookouture for the advanced digital copy. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

How does one start ones review about a book like this?

Wait, one knows exactly how....

OH MY FREAKING GOD. OH MY FREAKING GOD. OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!!! This book is like a never-ending head funk of intense brilliance! 

I must admit, the whole Colleen situation - I saw it coming to begin with! It was pretty clear that Jimmy Byrne was amazing at acting, I even found myself falling under his spell a couple of times; giving him the benefit of the doubt. What completely threw me off guard were all of the events that happened after Nancy was born. Oh my god! Just when I thought I feeling steady with the storyline, something completely out of the blue happened which shocked me to the core. I felt extremely on edge, I had no idea which character I could trust or which one was telling the truth; I couldn't turn the pages of the book quick enough!

It seemed as though every chapter contained a brand new shocker, something else to sink our teeth into; 'The Betrayed' really is a book that keeps on giving! Funnily enough, it didn't betray me either!

I'm trying not to delve too deep with this review as I obviously don't wish to give away any parts of the storyline, but, it's quite hard not to scream about a book that nearly tipped you over the edge. No, wait, it actually did. Three quarters of the way into Casey Kelleher's novel, I was far too engrossed with yet another Byrne catastrophe to notice how far on the edge of the sofa my butt was. Let's just say it didn't stay on the edge for long as I fell off the sofa. I'm not even ashamed! It just goes to show how much 'The Betrayed' held my attention and kept me hanging, literally.

Even though the storyline contains a lot of characters, each individual person has their own place in the book and isn't added to make up numbers. I'm not saying that I liked all of the characters, because I didn't. A couple of them aggravated me a lot more than the rest, but as for who they are, I'm keeping my mouth firmly shut!

'The Betrayed' had me hooked from page one, and continued to own my attention until the very last page. There were intense moments, shocking moments, gritty moments, eye-opening moments, stomach churning moments; you name it, Casey Kelleher has included it. This book took me by surprise on more than one occasion, and I am in awe at how the author has managed to include multiple diversions within the storyline, whilst also maintaining the suspense level, yet upping the level of intensity.

Personally, 'The Betrayed' start off good...

.....and it ended with me thinking 'holy shizzles, this book!'. Aka, BRILLIANT.

It really is no wonder that readers love Casey Kelleher's novels with a storyline like this! I am completely addicted to Kelleher's fantastic, vibrant, black and white style of writing, and I am also addicted to her books as of now. 

Absolutely phenomenal. Helloooo new favourite author!

Thanks Bookouture!

The betrayed by casey Kelleher.
Those closest to you don’t stab you in the back. Do they?

Jimmy Byrne is one of the biggest faces on the Soho scene. Equally feared and respected, he’s clawed his way to the top. Money is his game, and he’ll make it by any means necessary.

When Jimmy sets his sights on shy young Colleen Walsh, she is quickly seduced by his sweet words and the life of luxury he offers her. But behind the diamonds and fur coats lies the reality of gangland violence – and by the time she realises the truth, she’s already in too deep.

Like her father, Jimmy Byrne, Nancy Byrne is strong, opinionated - and ruthless. But when Jimmy is murdered. Nancy vows to find the killer and make them pay for their actions.

Only the perpetrator is someone close to home. Someone she trusted. Someone who betrayed them all.

Blood is thicker than water – but Nancy is not afraid to spill some to get the truth.
Wow. A absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. Intense and shocking read. Read in two settings. 5*. Netgalley and bookouture

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance of reviewing this book.

As again Casey Kelleher hasn't disappointed with this storyline, with an all out London Crime, gritty story. Based around Jimmy Bryne and his story, he has an over protective mother who would do anything for her son, an alcoholic gambling father who wants to be anywhere other than with his wife.

But Jimmy has plans to be one of the biggest Crime Lords of London, will he get his way or will his future wife Colleen put a stop to his plans?

Well written with a dramatic storyline that took me to a surprising ending that I wasn't expecting, so that was a pleasant surprise.

This is the first book I have read from this author and it won't be my last!! It was a very gritty storyline that had me hooked from the beginning. You can really understand and warm to the characters very much and they are what any family can relate to. For fans of Martina Cole and MandaSue Heller this is a must read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book, I read it in a day and found myself hooked on the rollercoaster ride that the author created as the plot flowed through to the exciting ending.  I loved the characters and how the story built up gradually to the end with the plot picking up pace at an excellent rate to give you the suspense needed for a gritty book like this.  Definitely one I would recommend and I have some of the others older books ready to read through - can't wait to get started!!  If they are anything like this one I'm going to love them - 5 stars from me for The Betrayed.

This is another great read by Casey Kelleher. If you like your London gangsters, you will enjoy this book. gritty and full of interesting characters, well written and a great ending. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

Wow, absolutely triple wow, another fantastic gripping read from Casey. She really does know how to keep her readers entertained.

I loved the story, found it to be a real page turner right from the get go. Absolutely gripping and fast paced, plus great characters that are so well written that you forget they are not real as you inmurst yourself truly into the story.

It had me guessing throughout as to what would happen next and in some places I was very much on the edge of my seat in anticipation of how it would all end.

Given how the book ended, and what an ending it was, loved it, I am hoping though that there will be a follow up/sequel book.

This book had me breathless so many times. Can't wait for the next one