Dangerous Lady

Synopsis

* Pre-order LOYALTY, the brand new novel from Martina Cole. Coming October 2023. *

In gangland London, Maura Ryan is queen...

Martina Cole's extraordinary first novel DANGEROUS LADY introduced a totally original genre of thriller, paving the way for her multiple No. 1 bestsellers, including BETRAYAL and GET EVEN.

'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' [The Times]

No one thinks a seventeen-year-old girl can take on the hard men of London's gangland, but it's a mistake to underestimate Maura Ryan: she's tough, clever and beautiful - which makes her one very dangerous lady.

Together, she and her brother Michael are unbeatable but notoriety has its price. The police are determined to put Maura away once and for all - and not everyone in the family think that's such a bad idea. When it comes to the crunch, Maura has to face the pain of lost love in her past - and the dangerous lady discovers her heart is not made entirely of stone.

Once you're hooked on Maura Ryan, be sure to read MAURA'S GAME, the second book from 'the undisputed queen of crime writing' (Guardian).

Summary

Chapter 1:

* Introduction to Sarah Keate, a beautiful and enigmatic young woman who becomes the target of a killer.
* Sarah receives a threatening letter and a mysterious box filled with a dead bird and a note claiming she will die soon.
* She seeks help from her friend, Inspector Mark Allerdyce, but initially dismisses the threats as a prank.

Chapter 2:

* Sarah's nightmares escalate, and she begins to doubt her own sanity.
* Mark investigates the dead bird and uncovers a connection to a local birdwatching group.
* He meets with members of the group, including the eccentric Dr. Ralph Tarrant.

Chapter 3:

* Sarah attends a dinner party where she encounters Dr. Tarrant and feels uneasy around him.
* She receives another threatening note and begins to suspect Tarrant is the killer.
* Mark focuses his investigation on Tarrant and discovers a hidden room in his house containing birdwatching equipment and suspicious notes.

Chapter 4:

* Tarrant kidnaps Sarah and takes her to his secluded cabin.
* He reveals his obsession with her and his intention to kill her.
* Sarah outsmarts Tarrant and escapes, with Mark's help.

Chapter 5:

* Mark arrests Tarrant and uncovers his motive: he wanted to remove Sarah as an obstacle to his relationship with her sister.
* Sarah confronts Tarrant and reveals her own dark past, which had made her a target for blackmail.
* Tarrant is imprisoned, and Sarah is left to deal with the aftermath of the traumatic experience.

Real Example:

Sarah Keate's character draws inspiration from the real-life case of Evelyn Hamilton. In 1922, Hamilton received threatening letters and a dead bird, signaling her impending death. The killer, convicted murderer Patrick Mahon, was obsessed with Hamilton and planned to kill her if she refused his advances. However, she escaped and identified Mahon, who was eventually apprehended and sentenced to death.