Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "dolly-rawlins"

Widows by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The classic heist thriller from Lynda La Plante - her first novel, a novelisation of her first TV series, 'Widows'.

Set in 1984, when gangland is ruled by men, Harry Rawlins is the mastermind behind numerous successful robberies that have left the police with no trace of the perpetrators. But their latest plan goes horribly wrong - the hijack of a security van results in the deaths of Harry and two of his team, leaving their wives - Dolly, Linda and Shirley - widows.

Dolly Rawlins is an incredible character - strong, fierce, clever and resourceful, she becomes determined to finish what Harry started when she finds detailed plans included in his infamous ledgers. She recruits Linda and Shirley and later a fourth woman, Bella, to commit the same robbery that went so disastrously wrong. But the police are tracking Dolly wherever she goes, while local criminals are searching for Harry's ledgers and the fourth man of Harry's team still remains missing.

As the women rehearse the crime, their enemies are closing in, building to the incredibly tense perpetration of the crime and its aftermath. Gripping from beginning to end, the novel explores the complexity of the relationships between the four women and finds you willing them to succeed, despite operating on the wrong side of the law.

Of course, it's impossible to talk about the novel without also talking about the TV series and the author herself. Originally shown in 1983, the first series of 'Widows' was Lynda La Plante's first TV series, developed from a plot outline entitled 'The Women' and submitted alongside others. The words of encouragement written on that outline encouraged La Plante to create the series and its characters - most notably Dolly Rawlins, brought to life in a superb performance by Ann Mitchell.

Years before Jane Tennison became the iconic first female senior detective in 'Prime Suspect' in 1991, and before Martina Cole published her first novel in 1992, Lynda La Plante put women at the centre of the gangland and heist genre. Dolly and the other widows would return in a second series two years later and Dolly would return again in 'She's Out' a decade after the second series. Both series have also been novelised.

I first saw 'Widows' on its realise on VHS in 2002, already a fan of Lynda La Plante as a result of the brilliant 'Trial & Retribution' TV series (and novelisations). At the time, the 'Widows' novels were out of print, but I was lucky enough to find second-hand copies, much to my excitement. Now, years later, the original is back in print, revised and updated, ahead of a new movie adaption later this year (the second time the series has been adapted; La Plante herself produced an American TV remake in 2002).

Thrilling, detailed, with twisting plotting and endearing yet flawed characters, 'Widows' proves - alongside all her other work - why Lynda La Plante is and always will be a crime-writing legend. As a reader, her work is gripping and powerful; as a writer, she is an inspiration and a hero.



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Widows' Revenge by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lynda La Plante’s gripping sequel to her gangland thriller ‘Widows’.

Originally published in 1985 as ‘Widows 2’, ‘Widows’ Revenge’ is a novelisation of the second series of La Plante’s hugely successful ‘Widows’, the first series and novelisation of which had been broadcast and published two years before. As she did last year with the original novel, La Plante has revised and updated the ‘Widows 2’ novel, now available in a stunning hardcover edition.

(Warning: contains spoilers for 'Widows')

Dolly, Bella, Linda and Shirley return, months after their escape to Rio following the successful robbery that had originally been planned by Dolly’s husband, Harry, assisted by Linda and Shirley’s husbands, Joe and Terry, who both died in their attempt at committing the robbery. Unbeknownst to Dolly and the others, Harry survived and has now followed them to Rio. Meanwhile, Dolly has returned to London, making preparations to move on with her life following Harry’s betrayal. Hunting the women down to their villa, Harry attacks Linda and she reveals to him where Dolly has hidden the money they stole.

Alerted to the danger they are in, Dolly hurries to move the money, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game between the women and Harry. Tragedy strikes as they enact their plan to have him arrested and framed for the robbery they committed, further fuelling their desire for revenge. As Harry plans a new robbery and the police begin to close in on them all, can the widows hold on to their freedom and their new lives?

Despite having seen the television series (multiple times) and previously read the novel in its incarnation as ‘Widows 2’, I was nevertheless hooked from the first to the final page, on tenterhooks throughout. Much like the first novel, the plot is engrossing and fast-paced; the characters well-written, their stories captivating. Dolly is without a doubt my favourite character, the first of the strong women La Plante became famous for creating. Her conflicting emotions for Harry are hidden beneath a steely exterior. She still drives the plot despite Bella taking a lead in their plans against Harry. The novel hurtles towards its conclusion, neatly tying the loose ends and concluding the story arcs of many of the characters that continued from the first novel.

Most of the cast of characters return in the sequel, which was also matched on screen, apart from Bella being recast after Eva Mottley left the production, tragically passing away shortly afterwards.

Coupled with La Plante’s writing, Ann Mitchell’s superb performance as Dolly and the performances of the rest of the cast continued to thrill audiences. It was no surprise that Dolly would return ten years later in ‘She’s Out’, nor that even thirty-five years later the novel would top bestseller lists and a brand-new movie adaptation be produced.

With ‘Widows’ Revenge’, Lynda La Plante once again proves why she is the Queen of modern crime fiction.



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She's Out by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dolly Rawlins returns in Lynda La Plante’s final instalment in the trilogy, following ‘Widows’ and ‘Widows’ Revenge’.

‘She’s Out’ was originally published in 1995, a novelisation of the TV series of the same name, which served as a sequel and conclusion to the TV series ‘Widows’, which aired two seasons in 1983 and 1985. Much like the two novels before it, ‘She’s Out’ was out-of-print for many years, though was reprinted recently and thus not as rare as copies of the first two books, prior to the publication of this newly revised version to follow the republication of the first two novels.

(Warning: contains spoilers for ‘Widows’ and ‘Widows’ Revenge’)

After spending nine years in prison for the murder of her husband, Dolly is soon to be released. Her dreams of starting afresh and opening a home for disadvantaged children have kept her going throughout her sentence, with the proceeds of the diamond heist safely hidden away awaiting her release.

But Dolly isn’t the only one awaiting her release. Ester Freeman is busy gathering a group of women together on the outside, women who served time with Dolly and have all heard the rumours about the diamonds that the police were never able to recover. Also waiting for Dolly is DS Mike Withey, who holds her responsible for death of his sister, Shirley Miller. Unbeknownst to him, his mother, Audrey, is complicit in the disappearance of the stolen diamonds.

On her release, Dolly finds that Ester has made arrangements for her. Chauffeured to a remote manor house, Dolly is immediately suspicious. But Ester assures her she and the other women only have Dolly’s best interests at heart and that the manor house will be perfect for Dolly’s plans. On the spur of the moment, Dolly purchases the property, only afterwards discovering the amount of work that will be required. Ester has cleaned her out; now she must retrieve the diamonds. As the women continue their elaborate con and Mike persuades his superiors they should be paying close attention to Dolly Rawlins, Dolly begins the process of pursuing her dream of opening the manor to help children.

But the cracks soon begin to appear. Dolly’s criminal record, the presence of the other women and continued police harassment threaten to bring her dreams crashing down, while the risks she takes to retrieve the diamonds may prove fruitless. Backed into a corner, unsure who she can trust, Dolly begins making a different plan – to commit a dangerous and audacious robbery of a mail train transporting millions of pounds. But with so much mistrust and double-crossing, Dolly’s carefully laid plans threaten to unravel with tragic, violent consequences.

Full of flawed and intriguing characters, the novel explores the often-tragic stories of women pulled into a life of crime, continuing a theme firmly established in the first series/novel. The characters and their stories are at the novel’s heart, which asks both how many of them are ‘real’ criminals; and how possible is it for someone to truly be able to rehabilitate themselves? Both questions are as significant to our society twenty-five years later as they were at the time of original broadcast/publication, if not more so.

After her time inside, Dolly is colder, harder, less trusting, and still wracked with guilt. Despite his betrayal and her subsequent revenge against him, Dolly still misses Harry dreadfully. Her memories of him and the other widows allow us brief glimpses beneath her exterior and we are rooting for her throughout. On TV, Ann Mitchell returned as Dolly, showcasing the quality that the right mix of writing and acting can bring to the performance of a character.

Captivating throughout, ‘She’s Out’ hurtles relentlessly towards its devastating denouement, the final chapters full of action, tension and emotion, concluding the trilogy in a satisfying, intense and ultimately fitting way.

Having now revisited the entire trilogy, I thoroughly enjoyed reacquainting myself with every character and every twist and turn. Both the original TV series and the three novels, now reworked and republished with matching cover art, standout for their gripping storytelling and strong characterisation, both as separate pieces of work and as a whole. It certainly won’t be the last time I revisit the story of Dolly Rawlins.

Of course, if you look hard enough, as in life, there are always some threads left to pull if you so choose. Lynda’s new novel, ‘Buried’ (which will be out next week) promises that some of these threads may linger in the background of new character DC Jack Warr’s life and a case he becomes involved with. Some stories may always leave a final surprise for us. I cannot wait to read it.

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Buried by Lynda La Plante

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The gripping first novel in a brand-new police thriller series from the queen of modern crime fiction, Lynda La Plante.

Fire investigators and police are called to the scene of a burnt-out cottage. Inside, they find a body and the remnants of bank notes, stolen in the most audacious train robbery of the nineties; a crime which remains unsolved, the perpetrators seemingly having disappeared without trace – undoubtedly the work of a criminal mastermind.

‘Buried’ introduces us to Jack Warr, a young DC recently transferred to the Met, having moved to London with his girlfriend, Maggie, to allow her to pursue her own career. Jack, however, is not similarly driven or ambitious with regard to his own career in the police force. He feels that something is missing. But he worships Maggie; more enthusiastic about her desire to pursue her career than he is of his own. Jack receives devastating news from his adoptive parents that knocks him entirely off-balance, but leads him to seek answers to questions he’s never asked before and find the identity of his birth father.

Part of the team called in to investigate the murder and possible connection to the unsolved robbery, Jack begins to feel an enthusiasm he has never felt before in relation to his job – something about this investigation may present the piece that has been missing so far. His personal and professional investigations into the criminal underworld become ever more entangled. The deeper he digs, the more he finds there may perhaps be no turning back from what he finds.

‘Buried’ is fantastic! As I was reading, I was reminded of how I felt when I read ‘Above Suspicion’ and ‘Tennison’, both first novels in series (Anna Travis and Jane Tennison respectively), newly released when I first read them. There is something special about the beginning of a series that Lynda captures so perfectly – by the end of ‘Buried’ I had no doubt that, much like those other two books, this one will evoke similar feelings of nostalgia in the future.

Jack is an incredibly endearing character – his relationship with Maggie is beautiful; you can feel it in their every interaction. There are also some deeply emotional moments between Jack and his adoptive parents. ‘Buried’ is telling the story of a period of intense upheaval for Jack – as well as finding himself, he is in danger of losing himself too.

‘Buried’ is deeply rooted in another of Lynda La Plante’s series – the murky criminal underworld of ‘Widows’ – featuring returning characters that it is a joy to become reacquainted with. While it isn’t necessary to have read the ‘Widows’ trilogy to enjoy ‘Buried’, there are many moments that feel so much more fulfilling having read those three incredible books and become acquainted with the characters and the twists of the series. Even now, Dolly Rawlins poses a powerful presence; her legacy continues and it is quite heart-warming to find that, in some ways, her dreams of opening a home for disadvantaged children have been realised. ‘Buried’ is as much a fond farewell to one series as it is the beginning of another.

After closing the book on the dramatic and poignant final chapters, I wished I could dive straight back in and experience it all over again. ‘Buried’ is the perfect blend of new and nostalgic that makes for pure enjoyment. Lynda is planning a television adaptation and I very much hope that comes to fruition. In the meantime, Jack will return in book two next year, which I will no doubt devour as eagerly as I did this first novel. I absolutely loved it.



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