Book review - Dangerous Promises - Roberta Kray

Title: Dangerous Promises

Author: Roberta Kray

FICTION

Genre: Thriller

Ranking: 7.5 out of 10.0

Buy: Maybe

Borrow: Yes

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dangerous-Promises-Roberta-Kray/dp/0751553794/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Summary:  When Sadie Wise has an innocent conversation with Mona a stranger on a train, the only thing on her mind is finding her husband Eddie and making him sign their divorce papers. She tells Mona that Eddie has been avoiding her for years but now Sadie knows where he is, she can finally be free from him. In Sadie's mind, it's a throwaway moment. In Mona's mind, Sadie is asking Mona to do something very dangerous for her.

That one chance encounter sets off a chain of events involving murder, deception and danger and Sadie soon realises that Mona has taken their meeting very seriously. Because now Mona is everywhere and she won't leave Sadie alone until she's fulfilled her side of their 'deal' having stabbed Eddie to death on behalf of Sadie (in Mona's mind).

Main review: 

Sadie Wise is on her way by train from Liverpool where she lives to London. She has found that Eddie, her husband who disappeared five years ago with all her money, is living in the East End. She wants to find him and get him to sign the divorce papers. She has an innocent conversation with a stranger, Mona Farrell, on a train. She tells Mona that Eddie has been avoiding her for years but now she knows where he is, she can finally be free from him. In Sadie's mind, it's a throwaway moment. In Mona's mind, Sadie is asking Mona to do something very dangerous for her.

That one chance encounter sets off a train of events involving murder (by Mona of Eddie with a knife), deception (when Sadie fails to let her boyfriend Joel know what's actually going on); and danger (when Sadie is kidnapped by Eddie's girlfriend Kelly and brother Wayne who mistakenly believe she killed Eddie). Sadie realises that Mona had taken their meeting very seriously and killed Eddie on her behalf. Mona is everywhere and she won't leave Sadie alone until she's fulfilled her side of their 'bargain' (in Mona's mind).

Roberta writes with great conviction, especially when describing the shady characters in East London. But also shows a subtle sympathy towards some of them, such as Kelly's Mum who helps Sadie to escape; and Norman Stone, a mid-level criminal, who emerges to help Sadie.

Further reading suggestion: The Debt - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Debt-Roberta-Kray/dp/184529212X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=