Cover Image: Life of Crime

Life of Crime

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Member Reviews

I have read all of Kimberley Chambers books so was really looking forward to reading this one. I wasn’t disappointed, it was a brilliant book from start to finish. It gripped you from the first page and I couldn’t put it down, fast paced storyline and really believable characters made for an engrossing read. I only wish I hadn’t finished it so quick!!!! I highly recommend this book.

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Melissa is a young teenage girl with her little boy Donte, she has been a disappointment to her father Johnny becoming a single mum at such a young age.

Melissa's mum is dying and her main wish is for Melissa to be settled down and happy, then Mel meets Jason who works on the market but also has his fingers in lots of other pies and is a bit of a wheeler dealer.

Johnny pushes Jason to marry Mel and live happily together so that Mel's mum gets her dying wish, will it all be plain sailing or will Jason fight back from being pushed into a marriage he doesn't really want???

Great storyline with lots of twists and turns, some I hadn't guessed which makes a really nice change, well written and fast paced story with a huge mix of characters.

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Absolutely loved this book! I have read all of this authors books but found this one to have the strongest story line. Excellent characters that are larger than life without being unbelievable. Thoroughly recommend this book.

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My excitement when I recieved an ARC of this book was way off the scale. I have been a KC fan forever and a day. I was so excited to get stuck in and see what KC had to offer us this time.

Having followed the Butlers over the last few years, I have to say I was a little worried I would miss them when I started this book. It has to be difficult for an author to move away from a series of books that have been written so perfectly, and put them to bed and move on. 

I knew we wouldn't be having the Butlers, I knew I loved KC's writing so I was happy to embrace a whole new world. I really couldn't wait to read this book, yet I had told myself I was going to take it slowly and enjoy it. 

We all make wrong choices in life, some make them more than others. 
In this book we are introduced to Jason Rampling. Jason a bit of a ducker and diver, meets Melissa while she is out shopping with her bestie Tracey. 
Melissa and Jason seem to hit it off, much to Traceys annoyance as she only took Melissa along to keep her company so she could flirt with Jason.
They soon become an item, both having children of their own from previous partners, this could be a ready made, happy ever after family. (well it could if someone else had written the book).
No No that's not what we want, We need ups, downs, crime, cheating, killing, thieving, lies and deceit. Well we certainly get all that and more.
​Jason who lives on the Mardyke estate with his mother, daughter, sister and two brothers. He wants off the estate and a better life for him and his daughter Shay.
This book is Jason going on that very journey and doing exactly what is needed to achieve this. Starting off buying and selling he soon turns to a bigger Life of Crime.

​I loved most of the characters in the book and the way the story took them all on a journey of life. There are certainly a few cranks in here to, one of them being Jason's mother. I'm not sure mother is the correct term for her as it seems Jason and his siblings have been dragged up rather than brought up. This is one of the many reasons Jason wants out. Does he see marriage to Mel as his way out, his meal ticket to take on the world?
Mel loves the idea of marrying Jason, a good looking chancer on her arm, worried her friendship with her bestie Tracie will suffer, but best friends can over come anything, Can't they!
​A Brilliant read, although at the beginning I felt it seemed a little slower that what we are used to from KC, it's more because we are being introduced slowly to the characters, the book soon ramps up and with a super OMG ending, I have to say I really didn't see that coming.

​I'm looking forward to reading more in the future from KC and have just bought again some of her older books, to have another read of. KC is certainly the Queen of this genre. 

​This book gets the well deserved 5 stars from me for keeping me entertained.

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Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Kimberley Chambers at her best.
Melissa is a single mother living at home with her parents. Jason is a single dad also living at home with his mum and 3 siblings. Jason is trying to find a step mum for his young daughter Shay and knows he has struck gold when he meets Melissa especially when her father offers to buy them their first home once they are married.
The story is full of gangsters and tarty woman, some great characters. Jadon himself is a bit of a Del Boy, ducking and diving, his and Mels marriage is made up of lies and deceit.
There are lots of twists and turns in this fast paced criminal thriller with a wow ending. Brilliant book. If you are a Kimberley Chambers fan then this book is a must read.

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Honestly I thought kimberley Chambers couldn't get any better, I was wrong!! This book is awesome I felt honoured to read it before its release because I love Kimberley Chambers and have read everything she's wrote. The story has all the fabulous bits that draw you to her books, crime, love, money, cheating, deceit & characters you love to hate. I didn't think I could love a character as much as queenie and Vivian from the butlers books but I absolutely loved Jason's nan she's a hoot!! The story is fantastic from start to finish, I raced through it but didn't want it to end. It's a winner for me something I'd be more than happy to read again and although I received the free copy through netgalley.co.uk I'll be purchasing it when it's released to add to my bookshelf

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One of my Favourite Books I have read in 2017 Well Done Kimberley Chambers; for Life of Crime.
Meet Jason Rampling Lived on the Mardyke Estate with his so called mother, his younger sister and 2 younger brothers. Jason also had a young daughter called Shay. Jason felt it was his duty to protect his siblings and young daughter as his mother preferred to have a love affair with her booze and other men from the estate. His nan was the closest to him throughout Jason's life and had a good career in Shoplifting. She is a great character and pops up throughout the book.
Jason reminded me of Del Boy who ducked and dives throughout his life. He meets 2 young girls Melissa and Tracey whilst working on a Shoe store in the market. Tracey is the one who fancies him and drags Melissa with her to his market store. But things don't do Tracey's way when Melissa has to bring her young Son.
Jason has other plans, he wants to find a good mum for his daughter Shay. Is Melissa the one is he searching for? and to get far away from Mardyke Estate and have a better life for them both.
Jason plays a lot of attention to Melissa's son. Tracey tried her hardest to flirt with him but Jason was not interested. He gives Melissa his phone number. Does she? or Doesn't she Phone him?
Then the story begins. This book will keep you gripped from the beginning to the end and you will be hooked. You will meet lots of great characters in this book and you will find out more about Jason, Melissa and Tracey; this is where the life of crime begins.
The ending OMG WoW......did not expect that or did I??
I just loved this book. 10/10
Big fat 5* review from me.
Big Thank you for NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased review - A Brilliant book. Well Done Kimberley.

Review on Amazon UK and Goodreads. x

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Jason Rampling started a life of crime from an early age. He was just 13 the first time he got caught and arrested.
Dragged up on the Mardyke Est by his so called mother he felt it was his duty to protect and care for the rest of the family, including his daughter Shay.
Not only did he carry on with a life of crime but he was also on the lookout for a woman who could be a mother to Shay. The one woman he really did love was too old and although she taught him everything their affair had to be kept secret.
After he met and married Melissa his womanising and crime didn't stop, but it was about to catch up with him
This was a really good thriller with some great twists and turns,which not only did I not see coming but was really surprised by the outcome
I received this book via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased review

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This is a riveting story with many clever changes of direction and a refreshingly unexpected ending. Jason,the hero(well, that's not really the right word) is a believable, reluctant criminal. He calls himself a Dellboy but that is being too kind to himself. He is dangerous,just unsuccessful. The characters are well drawn,some intriguing. Few likeable. The writing is very good and carries the reader effortlessly through the ups and downs of Jason's family. This is book you want to end for all the right reasons!

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Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I like this author but I am afraid all her books are like the others and getting a bit samey for me.

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In my honest opinion, there is three queens of Crime, and Ms Chambers is without a doubt one of them. I was waiting in anticipation of this book's release in January, and when I found it on netgalley, I just had to pounce on it! That also meant I just had to finish it. Staying past bedtime, and ignoring my boss at work formed part of the equation.....
This was another brilliant brilliant offer by Kimberley, and it had me gripped from beginning to end. This was crime fiction by the master of crime, and worth every second I spend finishing it.
It is highly recommended, and do treat yourself to it!!!

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I really enjoyed this book the first I have read by Kimberley Chambers but it won't be the last! The story is gripping fast paced and a real page turned which is always a good thing!
This is a story about Jason Rampling,a handsome chancer who ducks and dives to earn a living then he meets Melissa and Tracey and his life of crime begins.I enjoyed all the twists and turns but the final chapters were exceptional with an unexpected ending that had me gasping! Just brilliant !

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I would like to thank HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Life Of Crime’ by Kimberley Chambers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Jason Rampling is a good-looking chancer who lives with his mother, sister and brothers on the renowned Mardyke Estate in East London. He meets Melissa whose father is the wealthy Johnny Brooks, owner of a big building company. Johnny offers Jason a house for himself and Melissa if they get married which he’s happy to accept as he’ll be able to move away from the Mardyke Estate. Jason joins forces with criminal Craig Thurston and when Craig is locked up for drugs offences Jason decides to work for himself and pull off one big job be-fore he goes straight.
‘Life Of Crime’ is the gritty story of Jason, his family, wife Melissa and mistresses Darlene and Charlotte, and the criminals he comes in contact with.
This novel is an exciting thriller with an involved storyline, lots of twists and turns especially in the final chapters, and an ending that that I was not expecting and caught me unawares.

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