This is a gritty gangland thriller. All the characters are back from book one. Not all the characters are likeable. There is lots of action.

This book where do I start , from the first page it was all I ask in a book , twisty dark mysterious, family drama, only think I am angry is that I never picked this book up sooner as I read it in one sitting .
I was in a bit of a reading slump and this definitely got me out of it . I have downloaded the authors other books as this is the books I need to be reading.
5 star plus for me.

Gillian Godden is back with a heart-pounding gangland thriller about strong women, high stakes and dangerous deceptions: Rough Diamonds.

Patsy Diamond’s husband has just been brutally murdered and she wants answers. Patsy isn’t going to rest until she finds out what really happened to Nick and she knows just where to start digging for the truth: her husband’s pregnant mistress, Natasha. Patsy is sure that Natasha could lead her to uncovering all of Nick’s secrets, but she knows that she must be careful and tread carefully because although her late husband’s mistress is young, she is far from innocent!

Patsy can tell from the very second she sees her that Natasha is hiding something from her. Patsy has got enough enemies to contend with and she needs Natasha to stay in her corner – even if it means keeping her close and welcoming her into the family. As an unlikely bond between the two women is formed, they begin to dig deeper into the life of the one man who united them and what they discover chills them to the bone. Just who was Nick Diamond? What was he mixed up in? And will his dodgy schemes end up putting both Patsy and Natasha in danger?

The two women want payback and they will stop at nothing to get it, but they are not going to let any man call the shots because this time around, they are going to play by their own rules.

Gillian Godden’s exhilarating gangland thrillers make every single hair at the back of your neck stand on end. High octane, brilliantly atmospheric and full of twists and turns, her thrillers keep readers hooked from beginning to end and Rough Diamonds is certainly no different. Bursting with menace, jeopardy and foreboding, Rough Diamonds is a top-notch chiller with characters that leap off the pages, non-stop action and shocks and surprises aplenty.

Gritty, gripping and so entertaining, gangland thriller fans will love Gillian Godden’s latest Rough Diamonds.

Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden.
In the aftermath of her husband’s shocking murder, Patsy Diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Where is all his money? And who killed the man she once loved? Patsy knows exactly who to go to first - Nick’s pregnant mistress, Natasha. Natasha might seem young and innocent, but Patsy’s certain the girl is hiding something. And the only way to find out what is to keep Natasha close and make her part of the Diamond family. With the two women forming an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick’s secret life and discover things that shock…and terrify them. Because Nick Diamond played a deadly game and if the women in his life want payback, then they are going to have to follow his rules – or break them and make their own. But the strongest diamonds are created under pressure and these women are no exception...
A brilliant read. I love this series. Can't wait for more from this author. 5*.

WoW Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden was another Excellent book, this was just brilliant from start to finish with great twists and turns throughout. All the characters were excellent and worked well within this book. Looking forward to Gillian's next book.

I highly recommend all of this lovely ladies books I loved it.

Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden is an action-packed, gripping and intense gangland thriller. Strong and independent female characters, a story that keeps you hooked on until the end and of course, a bit of oomph and naughtiness.

The story begins with Patsy visiting Natasha at prison. Patsy is up to something and Natasha wants nothing to do with her lover's disgruntled wife. Natasha is carrying Patsy's late husband's child.

Patsy has a plan. She wonders if Natasha knows about Nick's money laundering scheme. She's also looking for answers involving Nick's secret life. Natasha goes into premature labor and a child is born. Victoria, Nick's mother, writes to the judge handling Natasha's case - she says she will provide shelter for the newborn baby and mother. Natasha is released into Victoria's custody and efforts are made to bring Jimmy (Natasha's firstborn).

Sheila, widow of the man who was accidentally shot and killed by Jimmy, knows of Nick's secret life. Patsy and Natasha go over to meet her. On their first meet, they do not get along. But when Sheila calls Patsy and says her life is in danger, Patsy helps her out. Meanwhile, an Albanian goon has threatened Patsy - he was in her house when she came back from the salon one evening. He's physically harmed her and threatens to kill if she does not stop interfering.

The story went a tad off-track halfway through. There's more emphasis on Patsy and Sheila's love life, as well as Beryl (Nick's grandmother) and her role in this whole mess. At times, it did feel like a long read but definitely worth it.

The character portrayal is excellent and the story leaves you guessing for more. This isn't your usual murder mystery. A bit of gore and oomph - after all, this is a gangland thriller. There is a twist at the end - something to do with the person responsible for killing Nick. Nick Diamond's killer gets justice alright - in gangland style.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an advanced review.

I am a massive fan of Gillian Godden. She is quickly becoming Queen of Gangland. Another great book from her. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

This book is a follow up to Diamond Geezer.

I loved both of these books and the authors style of writing, is exactly what I like to read.

Look forward to
Reading more of this authors books!

Great story, lots of secrets to unfold throughout the book, gritty, violent, and full of crime.

This book is the second in the series, the rough diamonds being four women their lives and how some of them live on a crime drug-filled estate in Scotland.
Two of them were married/ in a relationship with the now-dead Nick Diamond, who was murdered by nobody knows. But as the book unfolds we discover he led two lives.
Some great characters, full of grit and sassy, and some (Beryl) with a wicked tongue.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book. xx

This was a great story. I read it all in one day. It was a thrilling story line with some unexpected twists. The story was easy to follow and had a great medium pace. I really liked most of the characters who developed well throughout the book. A couple of moments in the book was a little far fetched for me but that was the authors poetic license. I did enjoy reading it and connected well enough with the story and characters. It just didn't blow my mind or make me engrossed in this novel. I think this book would be really good for die hard crime fans who like lots of female characters. 

Many thanks to the author and publishers for creating an enjoyable book. That I am sure others will love more than I did.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/rough-diamonds-by-gillian-godden-boldwood-books-3-stars either under my name or ladyreading365

Despite being an installment of a well established and engaging series, there is adequate back story provided in each book to ensure that they can be read as standalone if desired.

I loved that it was the women who took centre stage in this story. Natasha, Patsy, Beryl and Victoria are all strong women who value loyalty, honesty and women that you do not want to mess with! I have had a great soft spot for Beryl from previous installments, and she continues to show her ruthless side here.

The women unite, with the help of some friends, to uncover more about Nick’s past and this is an enthralling and exciting journey that takes all over the UK: from Glasgow to Dorset and some places in between. This, along with the complexities of their situation has sent my head spinning but ultimately had me hooked.

There is a wider cast of characters who threaten their plans and further keep them on their toes. It is very clear that the gang war has not died with Nick and the fight for power and leadership will not be an easy one.

This book answers a lot of questions about Nick’s death eventually, but it also digs up some new queries about Nick’s identity. This leaves the book open to another installment, which definitely left me wanting more.

This book is not for the faint-hearted but much of it is focused on solving the mystery of Nick’s murder and the secrets he left to uncover, so this book and series would be a great starting point for any crime thriller fans thinking about going over to the sometimes darker genre of gangland!

I highly recommend this series to fans of Kerry Kaya, Heather Atkinson and Alex Kane.

I would recommend reading the first book in the Diamond series, Diamond Geezer to understand the character and setting. Eventhough, each book in the series can be read as a stand-alone...

Rough Diamonds is a detailed slow paced story that entices the reader from the start...

Godden has created a entertaining plot by using vivid imagery. The writing style is ok. There is a good mixture of description and dialogues. I found some points were repeated...

The character development of Rough Diamonds is good. The characters are relatable and interesting. It was good to catch up with previous characters. There is a strong sense of female enpowerment as the characters come together with a common goal.

I sympathised the most with Patsy's character. After fifteen years of marriage to her husband, Nick...The relationship had ended in an affair and his murder. Patsy is angry, her actions come across as jealous, petty and bitter. The police investigation has slowed due to the lack of answers. Patsy believe that by following the money it will lead to killers identity. Especially when anyone could be next in the killer's sights...Patsy takes charge of things, including Nick's child. I admire the fact that she offers to help the Natasha with work and accommodation...

I would recommend reading Rough Diamonds to people who enjoy thrillers featuring gangland crime, as it is a character driven that follows the drama and secrets as they try to discovery what happened on the night of Nick's murder...

Gritty Gangland really sums this book up to a T. Its starts off strong and just doesn’t stop until the last breath taking page. Patsy is one feisty woman who perhaps has bitten off more than she can chew. She was totally in the dark about her dead husbands links to the gangland underworld. She needs to find his missing money and fast before she becomes the next victim. She wants to get to the bottom of it all and doesn’t care who she uses or upsets along the way. She is just brilliant. unfortunately for her, the bad guys think she knows everything which places her in great danger.

Natasha, Nick’s pregnant mistress gets herself embroiled in everything without realising that Patsy is more than likely just using her as a means to an end. She can cry at the drop of a hat and gets the sympathy that makes her appear weak and that she knows nothing. But what does she know? Will Patsy get anything from her? Who will win in the end?

Gillian Godden has a great style that creates brilliant characters. As the pace began to pick up I found myself reading faster as though the book was just encouraging me to read quickly and find out who does what to whom. An utterly compelling read that leaves no stone unturned. There is violence a plenty and raw emotions that have you on the edge of your seat. The perfect Gangland thriller.

Gillian Godden has become one of my favourite authors in this genre and she's back with #RoughDiamonds which is the second instalment in the trials and tribulations of Patsy Diamonds life. In my humble opinion this was equally as good a read as the first #DiamindGeezer in fact it probably pips it a little, the duplicity of Patsy is shocking, she's absolutely determined to get to the bottom of everything.

Finding herself a widow after the murder of her husband Nick she discovers that in actual fact after all their years together she barely knew Nick. It seems like he had a whole other life, one that didn't include Patsy. Nick had seemingly been having an affair with a young girl Natasha, and to make matters worse they were going to have a baby. As if that wasn't enough on its own it appears as if all of the money has gone too.

Now I knew from the offset that Patsy would have a plan, but the cunningness left me shocked. Splitting her time between Glasgow and London becomes a steep learning curve when she learned that he had rather more dealings with the criminal underworld than she had ever realised and she needed to find it. It began with Patsy sweet talking Natasha into moving in with her, telling her that Patsy and Victoria (mother in law) will look after her and the baby when it was born.

There's a plethora of characters in #RoughDiamonds but they all have a rightful place within the story. Patsy really doesn't come across as a particularly lovable character but I have to admit that there were parts in the book where I felt sorry for her, Nick was a Solicitor with a side hustle of money laundering and that ended badly with him being shot. Natasha seemed so young and vulnerable to me, but honestly don't let that fool you she has a core of steel. You've just got to love Beryl with the knitting club, even the thought of their antics makes me smile. I have to admit the person that surprised me the most was Larry the Solicitor, watch out for that one!

I can honestly say that if you enjoy authors such as Heather Burnside, Emmy Ellis and Caz Finlay then Gillian Godden should be on you TBR list. Now I just need to wait for the next instalment in the Diamond family life.

Thanks to the author Gillian Godden, #Netgalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Whenever I hear Gillian Godden has brought out a new gangland thriller, I clear my diary and prepare to lose myself in her habitual writing style's dark, intense atmosphere.

'Rough Diamonds' is the sequel to 'Diamond Geezer' but can still be read as a standalone. As with all follow-ons, it is always helpful to read the previous instalments to get the history and relevance of the characters' dynamics, but it's not essential - which is another reason why I am a massive fan of this author.

The early chapters are gripping, and I inhaled the new connections between Pasty and Natasha. The captivating, fascinating and powerful bond between these main characters makes this fast-paced read hard to put down. When the wife and the mistress collide, you already know it will explode; however, when they work together, the absolute truth about Nick Diamond is finally exposed.

Pages of plot twists, revelations of secrets and hidden deceit make for an exciting, dramatic and entertaining conclusion.

'Rough Diamonds' is highly recommended and is available now!

I absolutely adore Gillian Godden. This is another absolute gem and I do love a trip to the dark side with these books. This is another perfect read for lovers of a good gangster thriller.

I have devoured page after page of this gem in just one sitting . I found myself completely unable and unwilling to put this one down once I had delved in.

This has been an intriguing read, I loved patsy she is just a brilliant character. I can’t imagine meeting a partner’s mistress- so this has been a real interesting part of this one for me. I have devoured this completely craving information.

Godden is able to transport me to the pages and I have wanted to stay in this one. The characters are realistic and it’s been a fun journey through this one.

I adore Godden, I’m always pulled in and never want to leave. I have absolutely nothing negative I can say about this book. I am already eagerly anticipating what may come next.

A fantastic read and a definite for the TBR.

Rough Diamonds is part of a series so if you've read the other books it's great to see some of your favourite characters back. But if you've never read one of Gillian's books, this would be the one to start with. It's fast-paced and taut with tension that keeps you turning the pages as secret after secret is revealed.

This book showcases why Gillain Godden is one of the best Gangland authors out there.

The kind of twisty, jet-fueled thriller that explodes on page one and has you happily abandoning work, sleep, and life as you race to the stunning end. Don't miss it!

Another awesome book in this series.
Patsy Diamond is determined to find out who shot her husband and, Nick. She uncovers a whole lot more than just a simple name. It appears Nick was not at all what she thought. He had a whole other life filled with drugs, weapons, and lots of shady characters. Once Patsy and her crew of women start asking question and raising suspicions, things get dangerous for them. She has no idea who she can trust, and how deep into the underworld Nick was in. Finding justice won't be as easy as she had hoped.
Great book, kept me reading to get to the "who done it" part. Loved seeing the characters in a different light in this book. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this. book in exchange for my honest review.

In the aftermath of her husband's shocking murder, Patsy diamond wants answers. Who was Nick really? Natasha might be young and innocent, but Patsy is certain the girl is hiding something. The two women form an unlikely bond, they begin to dig deeper into Nick's secret life. But Nick Diamond played a deadly game and the women in his life want payback.

This is the second book featuring the Diamond family, and what a fantastic read this book is. Now that Nick is dead, the women in his life want answers and they will stop at nothing until they get them. There is some evil characters and they are well portrayed. This is one gripping, gritty, well written edge of your seat read. I was pulled in by the first page. All the previous characters from the previous book, Diamond Geezer, are back and they all have their own part to play. I never knew what was going to happen next, This is just the second book that I've read by the author, but they won't be my last.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #GillianGodden for my ARC of #RoughDiamonds in exchange for an honest review.