This book was fantastic I couldn't put it down disappointed know as it's going to be hard to find something as good to read

Of Kimberley Chambers published her shopping list I would buy it!! I cannot praise this book enough. Having read all of her books this one also gets 5 stars from me. Her books make you laugh, cry, and have you on the edge of your seat until the end. Love the characters of Tommy and Scratch in The Sting who as teenagers were very close and looked out for one another. Now adults they are on different sides of the law.
Loved the first part of the book where we learn about the characters early life and what makes them who they are in their adult life. Miss Chambers books are fast paced and most including The Sting have a shocking twist at the end.
A brilliant book and KC is definitely the Queen of Crime x

This book wasn't at all like I was expecting, I thought lots of violence and gangsters. It was partly that but it also had lots of emotion and an insight into the seedier side of living in a deprived area where children stole to survive. It is a while since I read anything by this author but I will certainly be reading lots more. Brilliant !!!

I knew from the opening pages that this was going to be an emotional roller coaster of a read and I wasn’t wrong. Now having finished it, I feel quite bereft after reading Tommy’s story.

Tommy from as soon as we meet him, I knew was a good lad. His home life isn’t the best and is about to get even worse. My heart broke for him and his sisters for what they have to go through, more so for Tommy.

The story centres on Tommy himself, his time growing up and to when he becomes part of the Darling family. There are so many highs and lows for Tommy but I couldn’t help having a feeling of dread throughout the novel as to how things were going to end.

The Sting totally absorbed me. I switched off to everything going on around me whilst I entered Tommy’s world. I enjoyed the friendships and relationships he had with certain characters. Actions are everything in this book and I have to say that some peoples really took me by surprise. An enthralling and heart wrenching read of which I devoured and absolutely loved.

Kimberley at her very best. An absolute cracker of a book that I could not put down. With action and mayhem from start to finish and more twists and turns than a country road, this story is fantastic.

I’ve only read 2 Kimberly Chambers novels, but I can see why she has such a huge following. I saw an interview that she did for the BBC a couple of months ago, and she’s just so down to earth, and that’s something that transfers to her writing with great success.

12 year old Tommy Boyle had a fairly happy home life until his mother was killed in a car accident. He’s sent to live with an uncle, but for reasons I won’t go into, it doesn’t work out well for Tommy. He then finds himself in a children's home, where he meets Scratch. They’ve both had let downs and trauma in their lives but their friendship is something that they cherish, they know that unlike previous relationships, they can totally rely on each other.

On his 16th birthday Tommy leaves the children’s home but he promises to come back for Scratch on her 16th. That doesn’t happen because Tommy is now part of the notorious Darling family ‘firm’, (think the Krays) and you won’t be far wrong. Scratch can’t believe that Tommy would let her down like that, but eventually she gets on with her life and becomes a copper, and she’s about to come face to face with Tommy, but not in a way that she could ever have predicted.

Scratch finds herself going undercover in an attempt to bring down the Darling gang, but it goes without saying that this puts her in a very dangerous situation. These really are the bad guys!

If you want to know the real meaning of gritty then you have to read Kimberly Chambers. The characters come fully fleshed, but you don’t necessarily have to like them, indeed they’re everything you hope you aren’t. In some strange way though, they aspire to exactly the same things that your average everyday person does - a nice house, car, good schools for the kids, it’s just that they achieve these things in an unacceptable and terrifying manner to say the least!

This was a terrific read, really gripping, and worth every one of those 5 stars!

Another fabulous read from Ms Chambers, how can this book possibly be any less than five stars? This book has a different feel to the previous ones by this author but I really enjoyed this style. A story of brutality, love and deceit all at once, these characters will go deep into your soul and remain in your thoughts for a long time.

Kimberley Chambers is an absolute legend. She's smashed it again!! I literally did not put this book down once I started it I absolutely loved it. Once again you immediately take to the characters makes you chuckle, gasp, hold your breath. It blew me away. I love her style of writing, it amazing the way the books draw you in and don't let go until long after the last page. Definitely the kind of book I could read again and again. Already been recommending it to friends and family

The Another unputdownable masterpiece by Kimberly Chambers. The Sting had me hooked from start to finish and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it, which is a true sign of a fantastic book!
The novel starts in 1972 with Tommy Boyle living at home with his mother and two sisters. It then proceeds to follow his journey with the Darling family which is where life becomes gruelling as he ends up intertwined in their criminal activities. Not long after this point ‘scratch’ is introduced and attributable to Kimberly Chambers profound character development skills, I was quickly drawn in by her and found her to be very likeable. Kimberly Chambers has a unique way of covering arduous subjects with such comprehensive flair that it feels as though you are truly there with the characters and I was fully able to connect with both Tommy and Scratch. I honestly cannot recommend this novel enough and if I could give it more than 5 stars I undoubtably would.

Another cracking read by Kimberley chambers who is now one of my favourite authors. Her books never disappoint and this one was no exception. Kept me hooked from start to finish with some fantastic characters and a brilliant storyline.

i’ve heard so many good things about this book and i wasn’t disappointed. a definite summer read recommendation.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve only recently discovered Kimberley Chambers and she’s now one of my favourite authors.
The Sting is a gritty crime thriller which tells the story of Tommy.
Tommy’s mum dies in a car accident so he’s sent to live with his uncle but life is not good for him. The only thing that keeps him going is his friendship with Danny Darling. Danny’s family take Tommy under their wing, but soon events take over and Tommy goes to live at a children’s home.
He makes some great friends here including Scratch, a vulnerable skin head.
When he’s sixteen, Tommy leaves the home and moves in with Danny and his family and soon forgets about those he was close to in the home.
Life for Tommy is great and he’s earning a living with the notorious Darling family but Scratch is heartbroken when he doesn’t turn up to collect her when she gets out of the home.
She eventually moves on with her life but their paths were always destined to cross again.
This is a brilliant read and I loved Tommy throughout the book.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Tara Lyons new book, Just WOW! I hqve read all of Tara's books and love her characters from them, wasn't too sure what to expect this time but, I really shouldn't have worried!! On point story, just what you expect from a psychological suspense story. I was left on the edge of my seat plenty of times throughout and the twists kept me turning my pages, I really didn't want to put it down! Well Tara, you pushed all the buttons and have created an excellent book! Recommended to anyone who loves this type of story....be prepared to lose your days! Five stars plus!

Tommy and Scratch are likable characters, with such sad lives. Kimberley really made me feel as though I knew them they were so believable of many children that have been pushed from pillar to post.

After his mum is killed in a tragic car accident and a violent father who isn't interested in him Tommy ends up in care where he makes friends with 3 boys and a girl (scratch) all in a similar situation to him.

Outside of the care home, he makes friends and eventually becomes one of the crime Darling family.

After feeling let down by him after he promises to return and see her Scratch, feels betrayed by him and trains to become a police officer and changing her name to Kim Regan.

Her boss finds out she knows Tommy and wants her to go undercover to trap him and the Darling family because she is feeling hurt by Tommy she agrees. The case becomes known as "The Sting"
Such a great story i couldn't put it down.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity xx

I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Sting’ by Kimberley Chambers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

‘The Sting’ is the harrowing story of twelve-year-old Tommy Boyle’s life from 1972 living at home with his mum and two sisters, to when at sixteen he becomes part of the Darlings, the East-End family of gangsters, and gets involved in their criminal activities. Scratch, the tough skin-head girl Tommy meets at Maylands care home, wants to make something of her life and after changing her name to Kim Regan she joins the police force. But despite sharing a past no-one else could possibly understand, they’re now on opposite sides of the law and Kim’s been told to lead Operation Sting!

Every novel Kimberley Chambers writes is crammed full of excitement and suspense and ‘The Sting’ is no exception. It’s extremely well-written, gritty, fast-paced, blood-thirsty, and not afraid to cover gruelling and difficult subjects. I was gripped from page one and unable to stop reading until I’d reached the shocking and unexpected conclusion. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Just been approved for this book, but I brought and read it a while back and it was brilliant as usual. Kimberly is my favourite author and she's one talented writer. I just wish she could write quicker. 5 *****

I really don’t need to do a review for this book as KC has many many legions of fans and they, when they buy her latest book know exactly what is in store and ‘The Sting’ does not disappoint!
Very easy to read and some of the chapters had a small intro ( in different font ) from Tommy ( the main character ) this helped to set the upcoming scenes and gave a hint of what else was to come
As always a huge array of characters, all larger than life and all make a mark immediately!
The story races from past to present ( the present keeps moving forward as the book progresses and ends up late 1980’s ) and involves many sub stories and plots, pretty much anything you can imagine being in this book is in it from the gangland family who have fierce loyalty to each other to revenge for past wrongs and secrets being discovered....and acted on
The ‘Sting’ itself is the ultimate in betrayal.....from one of their own kind!
Child/teenage sexual abuse and revenge for this are dealt with exactly the same as any other subject ie not glossed over and told in a ‘real life’ and harrowing way
The last quarter of the book steams
ahead and is action packed and led to a surprisingly emotional ending imo
KC has such raw talent for writing these books and ’The Sting’ just adds to her reputation as being good, very good at what she does
9/10 5 Stars

The muchly anticipated new book from Kimberley Chambers I am pretty sure that I am not the only person that eagerly awaits publication dates of Kimberley’s books

This will not disappoint you

What an absolutely fantastic book, fantastic plot, fast paced and a complete page turner when I had finished I had to stop to catch my breath

This is a change of pace from the usual Butler/Mitchell families and it works perfectly

Please read this book it needs to be on your TBR pile right up the top

If I had to choose only one author’s books to read if I ever got stranded on a desert island, without hesitation I would choose Kimberley Chambers. The author writes what I consider to be the most gritty crime thrillers out there; they pull no punches, their raw, authentic and gripping. It’s obvious that the author puts her heart and soul into writing each book, and it shines through in her writing. The Sting is no different, in fact this has to be one of my favourite books so far. It’s exciting, fast-paced and features an array of characters, some you will love, others you will hate but each and everyone of them added to my enjoyment of this book. The Sting is a sometimes shocking but outstanding tale of betrayal,love,and belonging.

Tommy Boyle’s life may not be perfect, but as long as he has his mother and sisters, it’s a life he’s happy with, then one day everything changes as Tommy finds himself taken into care. It’s here he meets Scratch, and they become inseparable, after being cruelly betrayed by everyone they ever trusted, they make a pact to make a better future for themselves once they reach sixteen. Unfortunately for the pair circumstances change and Tommy joins the notorious Darlings firm and Scratch joins the police, as you can imagine this doesn’t bode well. Neither knows the devastating consequences of their actions that lie ahead.



Yet again Kimberley Chamber has created characters that are vibrant and larger than life, the characters are so well developed you can’t help but invest in their life’s. I loved Tommy’s character from a young boy he suffers the worse kind of abuse, he’s betrayed by his own family members and my heart went out to him. Although Tommy was a “bad boy” I found myself making excuses for his behaviour, and as the author revealed the full of horror Tommy’s story, I found myself in tears, which surprised me, and that’s a testament to the author’s writing skills. The Sting is set in the 1970s through to the 1980s and the author’s attention to detail is incredible and well researched, the songs, the clothes the trends all add a sense of authenticity to the story and also made me nostalgic for the era I grew up in!

The Sting felt very different to her previous reads; the emphasis is on Tommy and Scratch’s relationship, and their own difficult past, with the gangland crime element being secondary to the plot. This book deals with some tough subjects childhood abuse and domestic abuse, and although the author isn’t afraid to tackle them head on she does so with sensitivity, the abuse is fundamental to the plot, and the abuse the two main characters suffer very much defines the adults that they become. The Sting didn’t end the way I was hoping, but never-less it was the more authentic conclusion. Once again the queen of gritty crime thrillers Kimberley Chambers has written a blinder of a book which I know will reach the top of the book charts. Highly recommended by me.

Review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

I’ve read all of Kimberley Chambers books and this lives up to her previous novels.
Tommy Boyle’s life implodes one day, after the death of his mother he finds himself dumped into care and away from his two sisters. It’s hear he meets Scratch and the Darling family. It’s only a matter of time before his life implodes again.
The story was gripping and as you follow Tommy as he grows into a man you are left guessing about what and who will lead to his downfall. The story is narrated in parts by Tommy himself.
I loved the story and was hooked from the first page until the last.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an ARC.