Goodnight Lady P B Format

by Martina Cole

In the sixties, Briony Cavanagh ran a string of the most notorious brothels in London. Only Briony knew what went on behind those doors, and she never opened her mouth - unless she stood to benefit. Only Briony knew the painful road she'd travelled to get there. From an impoverished childhood that ended with shocking betrayal, she was determined to be mistress of her own fate. But along with success came risk and danger. And the Goodnight Lady had her own secret place that was always shadowed by loss.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Audiobook, Ebooks

832 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Martina Cole was born and brought up in Essex. She is the bestselling author of fourteen novels set in London's gangland, and her most recent three paperbacks have gone straight to No. 1 in the Sunday Times on first publication. Total sales of Martina's novels stand at over eight million copies.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

She may not be the most literary writer, but Martina Cole can sure weave a tale. Some say that all her characters are the same, but maybe even that in itself, is on purpose, as they mostly all have the same working class background. I am having a revisiting Cole's idealised East London-centric, dark, working class crime reality and am loving it. Goodnight Lady tells the the rags to riches story of the Cavanagh crime family from before the First World War to the 1990s! A wonderful epic spanning six(!) generations of one family. With an overall feel similar to The Godfather, but focusing on mostly female, Irish descendent doing whatever they have to, to survive 7 out of 12

2021 read; 2012 read

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one hell of a read. Unlike Martina's latest work her earlier books are epic reads often spanning many decades and containing many stories within one book. A lot of authors today in this genre are named as 'The Next Martina Cole' or 'As Good As Martina Cole' and whilst they write good books, they are often very short and usually only contain one or two major stories, Martina's earlier work contains much more. Her stories are full of rich history, detailed characters and you have no trouble losing yourself in the worlds she creates. Perhaps it is just modern publishing and the fact that not everybody enjoys long books (my version of this book was 821 pages long).

The story centers around Briony Cavanagh, sold to a rich man when she is thirteen by her family. When the pedophile that bought her impregnates her, his wife and himself take on the child giving Briony money which she then uses to become a madam and eventually one of the most feared women in the East End. That story alone and the years that follow would be enough for one book, but Martina doesn't do things by halves (pre-2008) and the story continues on and on until we meet 'The Twins', two brothers who become the two most feared people in the East End, sound familiar?

Martina always creates fantastic characters and despite many people saying she churns out the same old rubbish: she writes about similar things with each book so similarities are obviously going to be drawn but for me the characters she creates are always 'new' to me and I have no trouble separating them from other books and seeing them as completely new, different characters. I can see this being one of my favourite Martina novels, it is definitely one of her best. An absolutely epic read that the current authors of this genre would find hard to beat. The only one I reckon could come close is Jessie Keane, a fantastic author and in fact her book Nameless is one such book which spans many decades and encompasses many stories in one. Do not miss this if you are a fan of this genre.

[Kathryn_w_221185 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few of Martina Cole's novels and this one is probably the best.

Goodnight Lady is the telling of the life of Briony Cavanagh, going from her poverty stricken childhood to her adult life running brothels across London.

It is not an easy read in parts, racism and paedophilia are themes that run throughout.

If you have read MC novels before the language and character structure are similar to some, if not most, of her other novels however this one is one is a cut above the rest 4/5.

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an incredibly challenging read, and there were moments when I genuinely feared I might not be able to push through to the final page.

It deals with profoundly dark and emotive subjects, including child abuse, paedophilia, domestic violence, rape, murder, racial attacks, alcohol dependency, mental health struggles, and a general sense of pervasive violence.

The first few chapters were so harrowingly disturbing that it took me a long time to summon the courage to move past them.

That said, the characters were intricately developed and profoundly complex, drawing me into the story in a way I hadn't anticipated. Despite her tough exterior, I found myself deeply invested in Briony's journey, nurturing a heartfelt desire for her happiness amidst the chaos of her life.

This is my first encounter with a Martina Cole book, and I must say, she is a masterful storyteller. She weaves a vivid atmosphere so immersive that it felt as if I were truly part of the narrative.

I was particularly affected by the harrowing treatment of Evander, grappling with the sheer brutality of the racist actions he endured. His experiences serve as a painful reminder of the abhorrent behaviours that were all too common in our not-so-distant past.

Overall, this book is a weighty, intense read that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. At times, the content felt overwhelmingly heavy, yet the richness of the story and the vibrancy of the characters made it all worthwhile. They were so multidimensional and relatable that I could almost envision them strolling into my living room as I turned the pages. It was a gripping read that kept me yearning for more right up until the very end.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

LARGE.. that's Ms. Cole's favorite word..

Having said that, her first book I read irritated the hell out of me but because my fellow bookie Michelle assured she's good I picked this up. Am I complaining? Not at all. This is one of those books you can't put down.

Just love how the timelines are connected. The character development is massive. It's got few uncomfortable bits and pieces but, boy it's a hell of a story. Not everyone can do something that spans down generations and keep it together while making it interesting. It's not a bed of roses at all. All the darkness and grimness is there, just covered by a lot of glitter. There's not much of violence but when it was mentioned, they were as gruesome as it can get.

Very interesting and catchy. Ms. Cole redeemed herself with me through Goodnight Lady. I will read more of her work in the days to come

[ReaderSP · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a brilliant read if you like a heart-warming story with some gritty violence as well. I particularly like stories that span over a few years, you get to know the characters throughout their lives and you can understand their situations more as you really feel that you know them. The romance between the two main characters is something that we all hope to find in life and the strong family unit makes you appreciate your own family more. I have read 3 books by this author and this is the best one so far.

[Ceeceereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago and found it incredibly well researched and written, detailing the criminal underworld of old time London and a girl that survived it and became a powerhouse. Dark, gritty and tough as nails. This was again one of my favourites of hers. I don’t know how it holds up all these years later, I should probably re read to see.

[Emma Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in my Martina Cole, east end gangsta family saga era 😂 Epic story telling!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodnight Lady is an absolutely brilliant work of fiction. It reads like the memoirs of a gangland woman and her extended family, spanning over seven decades and is brutal and frank about the ways of eastenders during that time. I honestly couldn't put this book down and had a couple of really late nights because, I kept deciding I'd just read the next chapter...........then the next chapter..........and on and on until I became a 'nodding dog' lol.

[Aniqah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was enjoying myself until the white heroine got her workers to LYNCH a black man who was going out with her sister. I felt sick. The amount of anti-blackness all the characters were coming out with was disgusting. They beat the man and broke all his fingers.

Was I supposed to sympathise with any of these characters after that? I wanted to throw them all in the sea especially the heroine

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me into a fantasy world, had me wishing at times that I was Briony, at others I was crying with her.
The raw emotion that is displayed in this book is incredible and the writing style is easy to follow and somewhat light..
All in all a fantastic read that I would recommend.

[Tammi Ashbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from this lady

[Simone Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martina Cole's earlier work is said to be her best. But this one I wouldn't out in that category. The story was good enough but it wasn't exciting enough. Where was the hard hitting storylines. Where was the detail and gore? I found this book was too long. Longer than it needed to be. There was just alot of pointless description and little stories. Usually there is at least 1 big story that carries on through the book that you can't wait to find out answers too. This one didn't have it. I'm a big martina fan but this is so far the worst I've read.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the paper back version so 821 pages, took me 5 days but i finished it. The whole Cavanagh clan took me by storm and the love I developed for Briony is deep, such a strong character and always holding family at the top of her priorities. The similarities between Danny and Boysie to the Kray twins was impeccable, and withMartinas writing style i felt like i was in the thick of it with then all. Absolutely amazing writing.

[Xanxa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome multi-generational family saga revolving around old London gangs, protection rackets and prostitution.

It's full of gritty realism, lots of violence and some real heart-breaking moments.

Altogether a great read.

[Nigel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Struggled my way through the first 8 chapters of this but in the end enough was enough. As far as I could detect nothing in the way of a plot was discernible. The only thing that did happen was the paedophilia which occurs when Cavanaugh sells two of his daughters to what can best be described as dirty old man. Thankful these acts are not described in any great detail but still left a nasty taste in the mouth.
This was my third Martina Cole and have only really enjoyed one of them, so I think I will place this author on my ‘probably not again’ pile.

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read two of Martina Cole's books, this was the third one. I had to stop reading it because in all three of the books there was mention of some kind of child molestation. Now, I can understand that she's using it in order to build her characters but there is no need to go into so much detail. It's a shame because I think she is a good author but personally I can't read three books containing pedophilia

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread Goodnight Lady. It a fantastic book love that it takes you from Briony being a little girl till she in her ninetys. All about her life and that of her family. Worth so much more than 5 stars

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really brilliant story, with unforgettable characters and stories.
Briony Cavanagh is the second of five sisters born into extreme poverty in London's East End. Her father is a bully and a general layabout who sells Eileen, then Briony, consecutively, to Henry Dumas when both girls were not teenagers.
After a life changing event when thirteen, Briony joins forces with Tommy Lane. Together they become successful business people in the East End, which allows Briony to continue to help her four sisters and mother, Molly.
Any trouble that comes her way is dealt with, even to hiding the fact that Briony's sister Kerry, a singer in one of Briony's establishments, has a child by her black pianist. The band are persuaded to move back to the States.
Eileen, Briony's older sister, is mentally unstable after leaving Henry Dumas. She marries, but is unhappy. A pregnant Eileen moves home to Briony and has twin boys. Eileen dies, leaving the babies with Briony. The boys grow up to be two of the most hated and feared men in the East End. Everything they ever wanted they've taken, despite never wanting for anything.
The years go by and family members are born and some die. But Tommy Lane is the one constant in Briony's ever changing life.

[John Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl in a life of poverty willingly allows herself to be sold to "serve" a twisted wealthy man, goes onto saving an older boy from trouble in the streets as she lives her new wealthy life, but then her actions leads her into becoming the city's most feared gang leader.

Some reviews say it's like a gangster's memoir and it kind of is as it covers Briony's life from a young girl to her end of days.

It's gangster drama which starts out in the 1920s so obviously it's filled with crime where people rule by extreme violence and goes into some graphic detail too.

Despite all that, I think it does well building up a strong cast of characters. There's a strong theme of friendship and family despite their lifestyles and that's probably how they survive through the harsher moments of their lives. Romance is a big part of the story too as the small family in poverty grows in wealth, finds partners and we see how each of their lives pan out; all watched over by our unstoppable and dominating Briony of course.

A gruesome read but character driven tale.

[Amethyst Kinnair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never have a bad word to say about Martina Coles books and Goodnight Lady was exceptional.
I absolutley fell head over heels in love with Briony and Tommy, I loved being a part of their chaotic upbringings and life. I love how Briony looked after everybody in her Family, she did everything for them.
I don't want to spoil anything by writing too much but it is a gripping read and I fell in love with the Story and the characters.
Elaine will always hold a special place in my Heart too.
I honestly cannot recommend this Book enough, I was really sad when it ended and I can't wait to read the other book in the series.
I am currently in the process of completing my Martina Cole collection and one by one reading every Book she has wrote, if you love Crime/Gangster Crime I cannot recommend this Book enough or any of her other Books for that matter. I have read and reread them all and I cannot wait to reread Goodnight Lady again next year.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

oops.Was waiting for folks to come out of swimming. Saw some books on a shelf in the holidaycamp's launderette. The attendant said I could have any I liked. So I picked up this Martina Cole... seemed a bit full of sex-with-kids, but, nothing-else2read so I read on. It was a mistake. Gave up after the gruesome details of a knifing where a bloke was holding onto his guts to stop them falling out, but the knifeman made another cut crossways across the first cut and he died whilst greedily gulping whisky...
Lots of grinning. I hate grinning.
Thomas Hardy is a great antidote to this all-action no-time4description sex and violence. Started Under the Greenwood Tree. Loved the way he compares the silhouettes of the men walking in single file against the starry sky to the profiles on an Etruscan urn.
But if you like superspicy period melodrama, then Martina Cole is a darn good read

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what a big old book this was all 821 pages of it.

It is so powerfully written as is all of Martina Coles books and she pulls no punches.

⚠️ This book needs trigger warnings as it writes about child exploitation, violence, gangland activity. ⚠️

It is written about the Cavanagh Family, starts with Briony Cavanaghs young life, to all the way to her old age, and what a life her and her family lead. From an impoverished childhood that ended abruptly with shocking betrayal, from her brothels, to gangland hits, to police corruption, this story has it all.

I would recommend this book to anyone that doesn't mind a good, gritty, violent story because this is not for the faint hearted.

[Cass Glaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other Martina Cole’s historically but decided to start again at the beginning….this is the second one and I preferred it to the first. She’s a fantastic story teller but I’m not sure I like the extreme violence. I’ve had them both on audibles and even though it was the same reader, I think she did a far better job this time. I hate readers who can’t do accents and this one ruined the first book for me, so I was a bit worried, but she’s clearly got better and so I enjoyed it far more. A historical saga of the Kavanagh family stretching over decades. Really well written. Now on to book 3….

[Gabby Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of this is very heavy and hard to read. A good start to the book that is instantly gripping however....was the plot in the room with us? What was the plot? It felt more like a memoir than anything.

I was hoping for an explosive reunion between her and Henry Dumas, one where he would meet his end in a disgustingly gruesome and bloody way....but no.

I'm giving the first part of this book 5 stars however the second half fell flat for me and I'd rate that half a 3 stars. So I'll leave it at 4.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must’ve read this book at least five times now. Every time I go back to it, I feel like it’s a new novel over again. The great ways that Martina Cole integrate generations of characters into one novel and tells the tales of each generation is absolutely mind blowing and keeps the reader glued to what will come up next. Briony Kavanagh is probably one of my favourite characters. Brutalised as a child, she grows up to be a hard woman in the East End of London, but she still has a moral compass. And has heartaches and struggles despite her riches. Highly recommend this book.

[Kev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best book I’ll ever read. If I never read a book again, I will be happy for reading this one. The story grips you from the first page and it wasn’t long before I really started to care about these characters. Martina writes without dragging the reader into irrelevant and over detailed scenes. I felt the joys, the desperation and the sadness of all the main characters. This story would make a fantastic 6 part drama.

[Bob Eastwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great characters but Martina Cole needs to do a little more research. She had characters in the 1920s using expressions that have only been in use during the last ten or twenty years. She also has them using American words that no-one in this country ever uses.
I am also concerned about the fact that many of the people portrayed in the story as violent criminals literally get away with murder. I would like to have seen the entire Cavanagh family put away for a long time....!

[Lisa Keeble · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is one of Martina Cole's best novels. The character of Briony Cavanagh is extremely well developed and she makes a strong, believable, female lead. It is considerably less graphically and gratuitously violent than some of Cole's other books which, for me, made it a far more pleasurable read.

[Fionnz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal reality look at Irish poverty in London. It paints a startling picture with no holds barred about how children were commodities.
The twisted fate that brings horror then wealth to Briony and her family.
However, a surprising lack of story
developments. Sets them up but often just fades away at the end of a chapter. Bit frustrating.

Wonderful word pictures and a nice long read.