A gangland thriller set in Glasgow on an estate that is controlled from afar. Known only as The Undertaker, they are an emigma to all. Everyone knows that you don't mess with this person, or you could be six feet under before you know it.
Another fast-paced read from Gillian Godden, I am always hooked as soon as I begin one of her books. She definitely knows how to keep the reader engaged. It's a compelling story that wastes no time in setting the scene and what a scene to set.
The estate in the book is described perfectly. The rundown council estate with the gangs,crime, and community. A lot of estates I know are similar, although I have never come across an Undertaker type of person yet.
Her characters are very believable; I could see these people and this estate. Gillian Godden has almost recreated the estate of my youth. I lived on the worst estate in my town growing up; we had everything this estate has, gangs, drugs, crime, and even the sense of danger that emanated from the pages. Community is massive and we see this throughout the book.
Another addictive read with a great twist that I didn't expect. I almost had to pick my jaw up from the floor! A story packed with intrigue and secrets that guarantees you won't be able to put this book down.
A dark gangland thriller with all the ingredients needed to make it a perfect read for any gangland thriller lover.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook in order to write my honest review.

This was a delightfully fun book to read when you are in the mood for something with a bit of danger and intrigue. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I haven’t read many books with a different setting apart from London when it comes to gangsters and dealers of all kinds, so this one was quite refreshing in a way. Obviously nothing can be refreshing when it comes to crimes and people who dedicate their life to those lows practices.
It was quite an intriguing story with characters from kind of social class, some very scary and unlikeable, but also with some more reliable and interesting overall.
While this was one of my first books by the author, I’m looking forward to read more in the near future

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

At various times on this blog, I have praised the work that Boldwood Books are doing. Authors like Alison Knight, Heather Atkinson and Caro Savage are really doing a good job of ploughing the furrow laid by authors like Martina Cole before them.

A new, at least to me, addition to the Boldwood stable is Gillan Godden, a writer with the sort of colourful biography which makes me want to reader her life story and a sense of character and plotting which makes me keen to revisit her back catalogue.

Here we have a scenario which begins in the meaner tower blocks of the East End of Glasgow and there is no let up from the diamond hard (geddit?) action as low level drug dealers meet sticky ends and we are given insights into the striations of the various criminal activities we are exposed to.

A fascinating tale which oscillates between locations and social classes with the crispness of a well timed punch, this is an excellent guns and gangsters rollercoaster.

Gillian Godden certainly knows how to spin a twisted and terrifying yarn that will have readers jumping out of their skin and she is on superb form with her latest gangland thriller, Diamond Geezer.

Nick Diamond is a man with the Midas touch. Handsome, wealthy and successful, the charismatic lawyer seems to have the world at his feet. Admired, envied and feared in equal measure, Nick is a man who commands and demands respect from every single person he meets. Intelligent, shrewd and somebody who is at the very top of his profession, Nick certainly has no problem attracting clients – who are willing to pay top dollar to secure his services. His clients trust him with their lives, but Nick Diamond is the very last man anyone should trust because the Chelsea address, designer suits and charming smile belie the darkness within…

Nick is a man with a dark and twisted secret. A secret which would horrify his friends and neighbours in West London. Nick has another life in the slums of Glasgow that is far removed from the one he leads in Chelsea. He will do whatever it takes and go to any lengths to ensure that nobody ever discovers his secret. If anyone ever discovers the truth about his Glaswegian life, the consequences simply do not bear thinking about. But Nick is about to learn that running from the truth is simply impossible and that everything he’s suppressed and hidden is about to come rushing to the fore…

Gillian Godden pens chilling gangland thrillers that are impossible to put down and in Diamond Geezer she proves that she is at the top of her game. Creepy, terrifying and heart-stopping, Diamond Geezer is a gripping tale of secrets, vengeance and power full of twists and turns that will leave readers reeling.

Gillian Godden’s Diamond Geezer is an action-packed gangland thriller that will leave readers wanting more.

I adore Gillian Godden books. This one definitely hasn’t disappointed.

Nick and Patsy are used to the upper class lifestyle. Although this is a little slow paced to start, the author is really able to set the scene and give the reader the perfect glimpse into this world.

This is filled with realistic characters and some truly shocking parts. I can safely say that I have devoured this book in just one sitting.

I have loved the drama, the relationships and the as always the author transported me with this book. I absolutely need more and I have loved this one.

I absolutely loved this! What a fantastic plot, beautifully written, intertwining the relationships between the characters in such an ingenious and realistic way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has everything you want from a gritty gangland crime thriller. You will not be dissapointed when reading this book. I really did race through Well written, with a plot and characters that haunt you long after you've finished.

Dark and dangerous, fast-paced action-packed book

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story, easy to follow, with some interesting characters.

Crime was the name of the game and it came in bucketfuls.

Split between wealthy Chelsea and the slums of Scotland. the story sails along pulling the reader in further and further with its twists and turns until the shock end.
Very well written and worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent book. xxx

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

I like reading Gillian's books. This one is a great read. The Gangland queens best watch out. This author is going to take over.

Fin, Maggie and Steve are just a few characters that live on a slum estate in Scotland where the criminal activities are run by someone called the undertaker. People live in fear of him too but no one knows who he is. Nick Diamond is an upper class london lawyer with roots in the Glasgow and when their paths meet it brings drama. Thus book was so easy to read and such a good plot and storyline. It finished on a cliffhanger so I can't wait until the next one!

It took me several chapters to become invested in Diamond Geezer. It’s a gangland novel and there are no characters to really like, which makes sense, they’re almost all up to their necks in drugs and the crime world. That being said, it turned out to be an engrossing story.

Nick is living a double life. He’s a successful lawyer with all the privileges and tokens of upper-class life. At the same time, he’s deeply involved in the Glasgow crime world. The book is mostly set on an estate in Glasgow, where Nick’s grandma lives. The estate is more or less ruled by a mysterious character known as “The Undertaker,” who provides drugs, food, jobs. The people of the estate, most of whom are living in poverty and addicted to one thing or another, rely on him, even if they don’t know who he is. It’s interesting, though. They have to look out for themselves, but there is also a sense of community and respect.

It’s a story of family, secrets, crime, and suspicion. And violence. It is a gripping story and there are a couple of surprising twists. I didn’t love the ending though. It was shocking, but it leads too much into the next in the series. I like books, even the first in a series, to be a little more self-contained.

Book Review “Diamond Geezer” by Gillian Godden
FEBRUARY 8, 2022 ~ NIKIPRESTON

SYNOPSIS/BOOK BLURB

Diamond Geezer

Diamond by name…

Handsome, wealthy and successful, lawyer Nick Diamond is a man who commands and expects respect from everyone he meets. People think he is a man to be trusted. They are wrong.

Deadly by nature.

Because away from his glittering life in upper-class Chelsea, Nick is keeping a dark and dangerous secret. One that takes him to the slum estates of Glasgow and a very different world.

Nick will do anything to keep his secret under wraps, because if it’s ever revealed it would be his downfall.

Don’t miss this brilliant new gangland story from Gillian Godden – guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Heather Atkinson and Caz Finlay.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3crRhSM

REVIEW ~ NIKI PRESTON ~ 5 STARS

Well would you believe it? Gillian Godden has gone and done it again! A whopper of a Gangland based thriller. It’s a fabulously fast paced read that totally has you on the edge of your seat. As ever with Gillian’s books, the characters are super strong. Some you like, some you really wouldn’t want to bump into. There are secrets abound, mistrust and even great comedic moments especially with Nick’s nan. I think this is why I loved this book. It’s not all doom and gloom, violence and anger. You really get to worm your way into each characters flaws and they become more realistic because of this.

What more do you need to know? Not much. Read the blurb, be ready for a book that you won’t want to put down. Characters you’ll love to hate. Drama with a shocking beginning, full of suspense and action packed. Shall I stop now? yep I think you get the picture, An all round awesome and gripping Thriller.


Gillian Godden
Author Bio –

Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories. She has signed a six-book contract with Boldwood for a new series. In addition, Boldwood will be reissuing her five backlist titles.

Social Media Links –

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gilliangoddenauthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/GGodden

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/GillianGoddenNewsletter

With Thanks for this advance copy for the #Blogtour to……

Rachel Gilby

Gillian Godden

Boldwood Books

Diamond Geezer is a detailed fast paced story that is well written with a good flow. The plot is very engrossing and captures the reader from the first page!
I like how Godden has created a interesting plot with tense moments and has a good mixture of wit, dialogue and desciption. The writting style is easy to follow.
The charater development of Diamond Geezer is good. The characters are realistic and realtable. Nick is a person that commands those around hom and expects respect. Nick's nan was a lovely woman who had me in stitches!
I would recommend reading Diamond Geezer to lovers of thriller and gangland crime, as it is a suspense driven story with added surprises as the characters take the reader of on journey of dark secrets, drama, suprises and a good sense of community...
I am looking forward to the next book in the series....

My favourite authors in this genre (to date) are Heather Atkinson and Emma Tallon, so it was a big ask for me to feel anywhere close to that, about this book.

However, Gillian Godden and this story has completely blown me away. The opening is shocking, gripping and sensational and I was completely addicted to this book from this point onwards.

There is a great cast of vibrant and lively characters from a mix of generations and walks of life, all upholding those traditional gangland values of protection and loyalty. Nick Diamond was the stand out character for me, and his backstory and family circumstances added to the intrigue.

This was also quite an epic story in terms of the geographical range it covers, and through this you really manage to get a distinct sense of place, especially in the descriptions of the “slum” estates of Glasgow.

There is a big mystery at the centre of the story and the plot was carefully crafted in order to unravel it in good time, meanwhile enthralling us with a huge range of dramatic scenes and touching upon some really important subjects, such as the lack of safe community spaces, the use of medicinal marijuna and the issues of rape and prostitution.

Overall, there is quite a lot packed into this brilliant book and Gillian is an absolute star for managing it all without making the book feel packed or overwhelming. On the contrary, this book is quite an easy read, and definitely one that is hard to put down. A definite go-to author for fans of this genre!

A fast paced, action packed book which kept me engrossed and turning the pages, eager to see where the story took me next. A complex web of interwoven back stories aid in adding depth to the characters while moving the story forward and developing the gangland world in which the characters exist.

Godden expertly builds the diametrically opposing worlds of the lavish millionaire lifestyle of the criminal lawyer and the Glasgow slums, cleverly highlighting the black and white differences before smashing both together in a roller-coaster of crime and deceit. The story is heightened with sub-plots of people trying to escape hardship and the underworld whilst becoming more embroiled in the deepening plot line.

I both loved and hated Nick, and not just because of his name; on one hand he appears the ideal man with the perfect life and noble intent but beneath the surface lies a dark side whose boundaries know no end. I really enjoyed the unexpected surprises as plot lines opened and the story progresses although a very minor criticism is that the book seemed to end too quickly, with plot lines rapidly closed down, just as it was getting really juicy. That said, at no point was I bored - the pace of the narrative was just right to keep my attention whilst I whiled away the hours.

Disclosure: The Pursuit Of Bookiness received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are our own.

Diamond geezer by Gillian Godden.
Diamond by name…
Handsome, wealthy and successful, lawyer Nick Diamond is a man who commands and expects respect from everyone he meets. People think he is a man to be trusted. They are wrong. Deadly by nature. Because away from his glittering life in upper-class Chelsea, Nick is keeping a dark and dangerous secret. One that takes him to the slum estates of Glasgow and a very different world. Nick will do anything to keep his secret under wraps, because if it’s ever revealed it would be his downfall.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. I wasn't sure how I felt about Nick. I hope there is more to come. 5*.

Diamond Geezer by Gillian Godden is a fast-paced, gangland thriller that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. This is not my first read from Gillian Godden, and I really enjoy her writing style. She knows how to write engaging and compelling stories that make you want to keep reading rather than setting the book down.

I really liked the characters. They were well-developed and there were a few I wouldn’t want to cross paths with. I love when I forget I’m reading fictional characters because they feel so realistic and that was the case here.

The twists and turns had me constantly second guessing what I thought the answers were. I absolutely loved Diamond Geezer. I highly recommend giving this one a read.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

Gillian Godden has done it again - Another breathtaking, raw, gangland thriller that had me gripped till the very end!

I am writing my review at midnight, as I was unable to sleep without finishing and finding out how it was all going to end! A feisty, compelling story, introducing the reader to a new character Nick Diamond, who I have definitely taken a liking to, despite his dishonorable way of life.

The atmosphere is chilling, tense, and dramatic throughout, and the suspense that this author creates is becoming signature work for her. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors of this genre. The writing style is remarkable and flawless.

Definitely worth the read if dark, violent, crime thrillers are your thing! Loved it!

Diamond Geezer by Gillian Godden

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Diamond by name…

Handsome, wealthy and successful, lawyer Nick Diamond is a man who commands and expects respect from everyone he meets. People think he is a man to be trusted. They are wrong.

Deadly by nature.

Because away from his glittering life in upper-class Chelsea, Nick is keeping a dark and dangerous secret. One that takes him to the slum estates of Glasgow and a very different world.

Gillian has been on my radar since I first started reviewing, but this is the first book I have read. I have read two gangland thrillers in quick succession now - I should point out that this a new genre to me. This was definitely an addictive read, I read over 40% during my lunch break and then spent th4e afternoon wanting to get back to the book.

This book has it all - suspense, passion, drama. A well-written book and has definitely highlighted that I should give some of Gillian's other books a read.

Rating: 4/5