The Game

by Mandasue Heller

'One of the bad girls of gritty crime' Daily Mirror

A gritty tale of hard time, hard men and hard drugs for fans of Martina Cole, Dreda Say Mitchell and Kerry Barnes.

When Mary 's mother throws her out, the sassy teenager soon learns how tough life can be. Her new friend Lynne is older, more sophisticated. She has a taste for cocaine and isn't above walking the streets for extra cash to pay for it.

Mary sticks to a straighter path, until the night Lynne brings Ali and Raiz back to their flat. The women don't know that their sexy new friends are small-time criminals, desperate for alibis for a drug-dealer's murder.

All too soon, Mary is in more trouble than she can handle. Can her old friend Jane's risky scheme save Mary? Or has her fate been sealed by falling for the wrong man?

'A cracking read that will chill you to the bone' Sun on Two-Faced

'Mandasue has played a real blinder with this fantastic novel' Martina Cole on Forget-Me-Not

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Adventure

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Mandasue was born in Cheshire and moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Crescents which have since become the background to her novels. Not only is she a talented writer, but she has also sung in cabaret and rock groups, seventies soul cover bands and blues jam bands.

Reviews

[Shona]

A sad story following the life of a girl who ends up as a junkie and a prostitute after being kicked out by her mum when she was 16. Nothing would shock you more than how desperate someone can be when relying on drugs to get them through the day. From the cost of the drugs to the effect it has on your on your appearance to lowering your standards so you sell your body. It shows that when you are drugs noone is your friend and you are never safe.

Twists and turns throughout the book keep you on edge and shocked as yet another twist unfolds.

[Plum-crazy]

Basically, this is the tale of two friends who are separated due to events in their personal lives (I won't say what & spoil the story) When they are reunited years later, Mary's life has taken a downward turn & her old friend Jane wants to help her. Unfortunately, things don't go according to plan...

It was quite a good read (reminded me of Martina Cole in style) although the thing that puzzled me was the time period it was supposed to be set in. While the girls were younger it had a 60's/70's feel about it to me....for example talk of sending young mothers away to have babies in secret (does that still happen?) But then 4 or 5 years down the line mobile phones are mentioned....

Anyhow, despite that quite a good tale. Some of the language used is a bit crude (although it does seem in keeping with the characters) so if you don't like swearing then it's probably not a book for you :o)

[Sue Harris]

Really good book, gets you gripped from the first chapter and keeps you there until the end.

[June Dillow]

Well I read this in record time. I was first a bit put off with the likeness to Martina Cole which I read in a review, but it was so much better and I was really drawn into the world of Mary and Jane.

[Clare O'Beara]

My main issue with this book is that we are given insufficient information about the setting. I thought it must be set in London. I kept wondering why the girls stayed in such a grotty area and never saw any of the nicer parts of London, and never got on the Tube. At the end I asked a British person where Moss Side was, and he told me it was a suburb in Manchester. How is a non-British person supposed to know that? How is a British one for that matter?

The story involves two brainless girls who take up with immigrant men who use them as a source of income, including making them into prostitutes so they can all afford the drugs of their choice. The girls' idea of a good time is watching TV and planning what they will do when they are famous, although they never make any effort to do anything praiseworthy. I am sure that such people exist but for the sake of the future of humanity I hope they are few.

I did not find this a pleasant read, with the drugs, abuse and violence, but the writing style was fluid and I am sure others may like it more than I did.

[Ayny]

It's very dismal and grim story of two young women in Manchester UK. Their lives are interspersed with conflict, tragedy, and friends. Well written, with lots of cursing and vulgarities. Not too many likable characters, actually. good writing Ms Heller.

[Brian Springett]

Great book

[Abby]

This was a grim story, watching a group of drug addicts spiral repeatedly to the depths of despair. It was at times a bit too graphic. Not my cup of tea.

[cuckoo]

Not one of Manuasue's best books. It is sad how a young girl can become dependant on drugs and how easy a girl can turn to prostitution to pay for her habit. In addition the story looks at the relationships some positive though mostly negative and what people will do for love.

[June Jones]

o.k. not ass good as some of the others

[Jody Wheeler]

Not bad

I have only read3 books by this author but I really enjoying them. I have seen this author books so many a.c.now glad I have started to read them.

[Amber Worthen]

Dnf this book was not for me

[Amanda Little]

Loved this

[Kendal Berry]

Superb gritty drama. Mandasue is one of my favourite authors. I was hooked from the moment I started reading. Enjoyed visualizing each of the characters

[Taylor]

That was an incredibly heavy read with very little happy ending.

[Ricki]

This novel is full of unlikeable characters constantly making the wrong choices as it meanders through a few decades without the world advancing.

[Sanveer Puri]

Quick spicy read and a definite page turner... ok for a quick read, not so much good as far as a story is concerned.

[Maria Emery]

This was a really easy to read book, which I enjoyed. I’ll be happy to read more from Mandasue Heller!

[Grace]

Once again a superb book from Mandasue Heller.

I thought that the characters were very believable and the book had a gritty realism about it. I love reading this authors books because I know that no matter the subject matter, I will be entertained.
This had everything from sadness to hope for the future and if your a fan of this author, you won't be disappointed.

[Chromatic Cat]

Another great Mandasue Heller read.
This one is a gritty story of two friends, Mary and Jane, growing up in a rundown estate, where drugs and crime are rife, as the title tells you, it’s about drugs, prostitution, they both have big dreams, but teenage rebellion gets Mary kicked out of her family home…Jane walks a different path and they don’t see each other for years, then a chance meeting, finds Jane back in Mary’s life and she is shocked at what she finds out and she determines to help her friend…
I have read a number of Hellers books and they are all a good read.

[Kristi Priestley]

A pretty hard-hitting read! I have never read such a raw tale of a hard life shrouded in drugs, violence and prostitution. It's saddening to think that although this is fiction, it has got to be rooted in some element of truth! Yes, everyone knows drugs can devastate a life, but when it is the life of someone you are really rooting for due to masterful character development, it's pretty hard to take!

[Maria Daines]

Currently reading, brilliant and absorbing but I've taken an age to get half way through because I haven't had enough time to read this year. Mandasue is a fantastic writer and the plot is really engaging, looking forward to reading all of her books. Great storytelling and real life characters. Excellent!

[Heidi]

I found it a bit confusing in the beginning. But the more you read the more it makes sence, and you get the hole aha experince which i love!

I really like how you see the scenes from different characters. It gives you the feeling of knowing more then the characters, and get a bette idea about what is going on.

[Liane]

This is one of my all time favorite authors! A million times better than Martina Cole! She writes with genuine authenticity, keeps the story interesting and flowing without going overboard and filling up pages for the sake of it.
Just finished another one of her books, can't wait to read them all!

[Cassandra Lopez]

Great storyline!

[Wendy]

Loved this book could'nt put it down very simlar to Martina Cole

[Mel]

loved it

[Emma Clapperton]

Fantastic read which I read in a few days. An amazing author :)

[Victorvanr]

A perfect copy of the best of Martina Cole. Good story, entertaining and above all believable. Highly recommended in this genre.

[Amina]

Well-written and makes you think how lucky you are with everything that is available for us - most importantly love from the important people in our lives. A heart-wrenching story.