It's been a very long time since I read a Mandasue Heller and chose this one from my very long to be read pile. We meet Frank Peters an ordinary man who lives on a farm in the Yorkshire moors. Following the death of his wife, he is managing okay but with his daughter now moving to Australia and his son who has his own problems he does feel the lonliness start to creep in. One night in the middle of winter he comes across a scared woman in the snow hiding behiond his farm. With the snow making it hard to get about he offers her a bed for the night and hopefully some relative safety.

What transpires is a rather unusual plot where Frank become unwittingly caught in the middle of an elaborate scheme involving sex trafficking. To be honest the book was definitely readable but for me the plot was kind of 'out there' and it instantly put me off. I loathed Franks son and daughter from the off and the fact that Frank was so niaive just felt a little too contrived for me.

I certainly finished this and it wasn't a bad book but for me I prefered MH older books with slightly different settings and storylines. For me this was just middle of the road

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

I have read all of this authors books and I still remember the first one of hers I read which was Forget Me Not, it was so good and sparked my interest in British crime fiction. Although I have enjoyed the last few of her books slightly less I have still be eager to get hold of a copy and won't put it down until I finished. This one was quite simply great. It was scary, it showed violence, hatred, kindness and how some people can do awful things to another person without seeming to have a problem. It also explores people- trafficking - It really is a book I recommend.

Thank you for the advance copy Netgalley

As usual a cracking read from Mandasue Heller

I love her books and this one comes highly recommended

The usual page turning blockbuster that she writes

On the day of Franks wife Maureen’s funeral daughter Jo tells him and her brother Evan she is moving to Australia for two years as he doesn’t see much of Evan and his nearest neighbour Yvonne is miles away he will be alone and slips into depression.
One night he hears a loud bang outside and as his house miles away from anywhere he goes to investigate.
That night changes his life forever nothing will ever be the same again.
As a huge Mandasue Heller fan I love all her books this one is particularly Brutal as the name suggests. It’s a definite must read.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
I read this in one Sunday and really enjoyed reading this book, I found it at times a brutal storyline, which is of course the title but totally engrossing. There were characters that I liked and admired and other characters who were the villains who were contemptible.
I have read other books by Mandasue Heller and enjoyed those but I think this could be one of my favourites.
Highly recommended.

I wait in anticipation each year for the release of a new Mandasue Heller book. This author for me is one of those authors whose books I don't even read the blurb for. If Mandasue has written it, I want to read it.
I was really looking forward to reading this book and I can safely say, it did not disappoint.
When Frank lost his lovely wife his life seemed broken and lonely. His daughter is emigrating and his son has his own life to live with his wife. Living on a farm makes him seem even more lonely. not having immediate neighbours and someone you can just chit chat to if you go out your front door, Frank seems to have sunken into a slump.
When hearing noises on the farm one night he goes to investigate and comes across a woman who seems to have been injured some how. It's only normal that frank would want to take her in and help her, you cant leave a young lady out in the cold with her injuries. Over the coming days Frank helps Irena get better, in turn she helps Frank and an unlikely bond develops.
But what is Irena hiding and what is Frank going to find out about her, what is going to end up getting involved with.
This was a brilliant read, it showed how loneliness can affect people and make them very vulnerable. How your quiet life can then seem the best life you could wish for.
This book deals with unpleasant issues, but issues that are also real, we sometimes believe that things only happen in fictional stories but this book covers some of life's real yet unpleasant stories.
I think the author has covered abuse, manipulation, gangs, drugs and prostitution in real light, highlighting that as much as we don't want to believe these things happen, it's a daily occurrence for some.
I look forward to the next book.

This book was ok but not half as good as other mandasue Heller books a bit disappointing hope her next book is better

This book will have you hooked from the very first chapter. With the passing of his beloved wife, poor Frank is left with a fractured family, then things take a sinister turn with the arrival of Irena, a beautiful but battered and bruised young lady desperately seeking help...

I have to say, I think Brutal is her best book yet! I will be recommending this to everyone

Thanks to Pan MacMillan for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Frank is newly widowed and leads a relatively quiet life on his farm. One day having heard a strange noise, he goes to investigate and comes across Irena, who has been badly beaten. As Frank helps her recover, they become involved in a relationship. As this relationship progresses some uninvited guests arrive at Frank’s farmhouse and he is soon involved in the world of human trafficking, drugs and prostitution. Frank’s life will never be the same again.
I am a long-time fan of Mandasue Heller, having read and loved all of her previous books. I found this one to be really well written, but this one just didn’t suck me in as much as her earlier work. If I am honest, this is the first book that has ever made me feel uncomfortable to read it as it deals with some unpleasant issues. Having invested so much time in the lead up to it, I found the ending a little too rushed. Overall, an interesting read which is very aptly named.

I was instantly hooked in the first part of the book but then predictability set in. Not as good as previous books by this author. The book is fast paced and deals with gangs and human trafficking. It is well written and filled with some very unlikeable characters! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. Reviews on Goodreads, Facebook and Amazon.

I have read all of mandasue Heller’s books but if I’m honest I prefer her earlier books, Brutal had an intriguing premise and I thought the first few chapters were interesting but unfortunately I found the book took ages to actually go any where, and by the time I did I found my interested had waned. I also thought the hero of the book was unconvincing, but neverless it was an enjoyable read but not her best I much prefer her crime thrillers when they are based on gangland feeds or London estates they are far more grittier. In the author’s defence I do think my enjoyment of this read may have been hindered by mood as the reviews for this book are positive, so I do feel it’s one you need to read for yourself and make up your own mind.

So I was excited to read this latest Mandasue Heller book as she is one of my favourite authors but I had to keep checking........was this really Mandasue??? So unlike her normal books to start with. Then!!! Bam it really takes off edge of the seat stuff kept you thinking all the time, how will this end will they all die.......you have to read this brilliant new novel about a man called Frank who isn’t stupid or dumb but just kind and how his good nature endangers himself and his family. Such a good plot really enjoyed it.

This book was wonderful right from the start .
It starts off when he heard a noise and when he went out he saw a girl and brought her into a room .
It’s very juicy from this point and also very Brutal
I had an ARC

I have read every single one of this authors books and loved them all. This book was no exception and kept me hooked from first page to last. You never know what to expect from her books as they are all unique but fantastically written. I devoured this in a couple of sittings and would highly recommend it

Brutal certainly lives up to its title here and is yet another brilliantly gripping thriller from Ms Heller. I've read every one of her novels and can say with certainty that this is one of her best to date. It has all of the grit we've come to expect from her and the plot is tense and exciting from the get-go. Once again we enter the harsh gangland underworld which is impeccably described in chilling detail and along with a supply of stellar characters who will illicit ferocious responses in readers in terms of emotion, we are dealt an unpredictable story. Some characters you love, some you hate, and some you love to hate.

The author grabs you from the first chapter and stubbornly refuses to let go. Difficult subjects are dealt with compassionately and sensitively, and I must admit I raced through it. If you enjoy grit lit, gangland tales with plenty of panache, breakneck pace and superb, immersive writing then look no further. Captivating with edge of your seat suspense, Heller is one of the best at creating an ominous atmosphere. An explosive and shocking conclusion adds the cherry on top of a truly delicious crime cake. I look forward to whatever she decides to publish next.

Many thanks to Macmillan for an ARC.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoy this authors books and this one was no exception. I devoured this in one sitting. 5 stars

Another great read from Mandasue. I was drawn in from page one and didn’t want to put it down, Frank had just lost his beloved wife. On hearing a noise he went out and found a young girl, beaten and in a bad way Frank took her into his home. Little did he know that this act of kindness was about to change the lives of him and his family forever. A gripping read that I highly recommend

This is a fantastic story that had me hooked from the first few chapters.
The book starts off as a family drama but soon takes a more sinister turn.
I need to be careful how I review this as I don’t want to spoil it for you as I was surprised how the story turned out.
I can say that upon discovering Irena on his property, Frank’s life changes dramatically.
His relationship with his son and daughter becomes strained and even the old lady next door is affected.
This is a gripping thriller which had me on the edge of my seat.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this brilliant book.

Frank has recently lost his beloved wife Maureen to cancer, his daughter and her family are moving to Australia, and his son is having marriage problems. Frank is feeling lonely and drinking more than is good for him. On a cold winter night, he finds a bruised and beaten woman hiding in his yard. She tells him she is fleeing from the people who brought her into the country and forced her into prostitution. Frank offers her shelter but his act of kindness brings nightmare consequences of which Frank is unsure he will survive.

Another excellent book by Mandasue Heller. A gritty and gripping storyline with shocks and surprises until the very end.