Hugely enjoyable read from start to finish.

It is a surprise as well as it doesn’t end the way you’d think or hope.

Highly recommended

I loved this book, gangland London with all the twists, turns and a few red herrings! Author reminds me of Gilda O'Neill. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Great dramatic book with twists and turns, it seems everybody has their secrets.
This is a standalone book, but it could so easily be a series there is scope here for more.

The story is about the Darby family Rex a strong man who has built himself an empire. The twists and turns of the story will keep you guessing. Cleverly written great characters and mystery right to the end.

Cheated by Roberta Kray is the brand new gritty and unputdownable gangland crime novel and it was another excellent book by Roberta. Once I opened my kindle and read the first few pages I just knew it will be a late one - mainly hard to put this book down and get some sleep. So glad I am on holiday.....Cheated is a Standalone book which was full of family drama and the main character is Carmen Darby and has lived under the thumb of her father Rex, who is a brutal criminal businessman, all her whole life. When Rex announces his retirement and plans to leave all his vast wealth to his three daughters, Carmen doesn't thank her father as effusively as he'd like, which enraged him.

Carman is now casted out from her home, and she assumes a new identity when she moves to a place that she remembered she had visited when she was younger, and starts her life over again. With only a few pounds in her purse she stops by in a greasy cafe for a cup of tea and finds a notice up "Help wanted Apply within" and applies, but deep down she knows she can't outrun the sins of her family for ever.

Meanwhile her two sisters, who are disappointed by the terms of their inheritance, formulate a vicious plan to get their money in full. They will kill whoever stands in their way, even their own father. But, they aren't the only ones who'd love to see Rex dead.

But, can Carmen survive on her own living in a strange place with no one to turn to for help or advice? She can't ever phone her sisters, they are a lot older to her and she was not close to them when she was growing up.

This book was a page turner and I loved it. I highly recommend this book and all of Roberta Kray's books. They have all been a 5 star read.

A great gangland read with a good story lime and great characters. Another great book by Roberta that had me rurning the pages

This was an enjoyable gangland crime thriller with plenty of twists to keep you entertained. I look forward to reading more by this author

Fab read again from Roberta Kray!!

Carmen Darby has 2 sisters but she is a daddy's girl. Until there is a family argument. |
Over …... money/the will!
Can Carmen survive on her own?

4 STARS

title: Cheated
author: Roberta Kray genre:
Crime
Published 16/11/23

I’d like to thank Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Cheated’ written by Roberta Kray in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When London gangster Rex Darby celebrates his 70th birthday with friends and family he tells everyone that he’s retiring and his business and wealth will be shared equally between his three daughters Marian, Hazel and Carmen. Marian and Hazel are obsequious with their thanks but Carmen doesn’t give Rex the gratitude he feels he deserves and banishes her from the home he shares with her. Carmen finds herself totally alone in the London suburb of Kellston where she changes her name to avoid her father from finding her and starts to make a life for herself without the support of her family.

‘Cheated’ is a gripping gangland thriller set in London in 1974 and tells of Rex Darby and the family that he commands. It has excellent characterisations and a simple but believable plot that hasn’t relied purely on bloodshed and gratuitous violence to keep me involved. From page one I’ve been hooked and unable to put it down until I’ve read just another chapter, and the further I’ve got into the story the more involved I’ve become as the character start to show their true selves. I don’t know why this is the first I’ve read by this amazing author but I’ve enjoyed it so much I’m going to be looking for more of her thriller.

It’s great to read a stand alone novel by Roberta Kray. I have previously read all her books and this one does not disappoint!
I love the whole gangland era books and t hoo a novel is set in that world in the 50’s-70’s East end of London.
Carmen is a great main protagonist, and this book has all the boxes rocked with family rivalry, backstabbing, deceit and vengeance!
Highly recommend this book and if you haven’t, defiantly read Kray’s other books.

Good Book to read it has a very good story with characters you could slap around or kill Roberta Kray writes fab books that hook the reader excellent.

Another masterpiece from Roberta Kray, they just keep getting better and better, loves it from the first page

Have read most of Roberta Kray’s previous books and enjoyed them….’Cheated’, a stand alone, really draws you in to some deep and complex ( not complicated! ) storylines and characters all revolving around a historic baby kidnapping and what happened to all involved after
A kind of a ganglandish, whodunit, family drama all rolled into 1, set in the 50’s-70’s it had that authentic feel set mainly around a housing estate in East London through to a very nice Kent Country pile
Loved the main character, Lolly and pretty much enjoyed all the others aside from one busybody housekeeper who couldn’t resist sticking her oar in ( she was fab mind 🙃)
Great writing, pretty much a perfect read tbh which kept me with it all the way through

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

I am a big fan of this author, the gangland genre can often be overcrowded,. This one is near the top of the pile. A recommended read.

Carmen has been cosseted by her father and is very naive about life, but Rex Carmen’s father is a ruthless and bullish type of man who expects total respect loyalty from his family.

So when Rex announces his retirement he expects his 3 daughters to grovel and say how grateful they are to their dad for the businesses and money he is about to bestow on them, Hazel and Marian do just this ( even though they can’t stand their own father) as they realise they will be sorted for life. But Carmen just realises with sudden clarity what a bully her father is and can’t gush and lie to him!!!

So Carmen is disinherited from her family and has to stand on her own! She needs to find her own way in life, but in doing so she also finds out how her father’s reputation follows her across the East End of London.

This is a great story with more than a couple of twists that keep you engaged and enthralled in this story.

Haven't read a Roberta kray book for a while . I forgot how good they are. Really hope there is a follow up to this book it was so good I couldn't put it down .

Cheated....... Roberta kray
I seem to have fallen in love again with roberta krays books, her last book hunted was brilliant and the same goes for this one cheated.. when gangster Rex Darby holds a dinner party, he has a big announcement to make, what could it be? Carmen his youngest daughter is the only one who will stand up to him, they have a big row and carmen leaves. Carmen moves to kellston and re invents herself with a new name and a job. Carmens 2 sisters are all about their inheritance but rex has put in place some stipulations on them getting their hands on his money , which doesnt go down well. When rex is murdered, they are all suspects, they all have motive, who killed rex darby?? If you like your gangland crime, this book has it all, lies, deceit, murder, a family at loggerheads ......highley recommend

Set in the 70s with a real east end vibe, this story started off a bit slowly but soon oicked up into another gangland hit from the author.
The ending wasn't predictable. I never guessed the culprit even after tooing and throwing between a few suspects (always a plus to a good book)
I d love to read more about the character Terry Street. I'm sure there's more to explore.
Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set in the mid 1970s so real old school which just added to the quality. Authentic characters with many wrong 'uns lurking in every corner. Quite a slow burner but an engaging read nonetheless.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant gangland book by this brilliant author

Great east end underworld written as only Roberta Kray can.
Carmen Darby had never had it easy with her domineering father and her two spiteful sisters. As the youngest she’s always felt responsible for her mothers suicide after her birth.
When a birthday party for her dad goes wrong she finds herself alone with no money or home.
Can she find herself in a new place or has she bitten off more than she can chew.
Great read