Broken

More Volatile Than Eastenders on Acid

Broken by Martina Cole is the second of her D.I. Burrows police procedurals. It is unusual for her to write as “Old Bill”; her protagonists are usually on the other side of the law.

Abandoned children, Russian gangsters and a good cop meets a hunky rogue subplot. Page turning, stylised drama.

Synopsis

D.I. Kate Burrows is a woman with problems. Mothers are murdering their children, and her boyfriend — a local villain — has been shot by the Russian mafia. If that isn’t enough, her boss is inept and, at worst, a crook.

Fortunately, help is at hand. D.I. Burrows’ partner — a lesbian detective on a crusade against child pornography — and the flamboyant head of a child protection unit help her track down a serial killer and bust a paedophile ring. As for her boyfriend’s survival, I will leave you to imagine how far D.I. Burrows strays over the line to protect him.

Review

In Broken, Martina Cole’s depiction of the events in Essex and East London is an orgy of soap opera excess and tabloid sensationalism. When her heroine isn’t having great sex with her tall, handsome, villainous boyfriend, she is busy telling her boss where to stick his opinions. Neither of these activities strikes me as sane or clever. I have never had sex with a crime lord, and I find it best to let my boss keep his opinions and collect my paycheck. But then, I am an oppressed middle-aged man, not a sexy female detective inspector.

Cole’s writing is like tabloid journalism, flamboyant and extravagant, but short on realism and believability. However, if you are looking for fast-paced escapism, spread liberally with nonces, tarts and villains, all ducking and diving under the protection of bent old bill, this is the book for you.

Martina Cole’s book sales suggest that you are not alone.

Excerpt

Jason Harper was sitting in his brand new BMW looking through his Filofax. He had fucked up two meetings in an hour. He knew he should be more organised but it was hard. The glare of the sun was blinding him through his windscreen and he slipped on his Ray-Bans. A bin van was parked in front of him; it had been there for about five minutes. He watched as a woman with a small child walked across the road. She was nothing spectacular and he only glanced out of habit. She was tallish with blonde hair, but a very average face.

It was only when she stopped and glanced up and down the road that he looked again. Then, in pure disbelief, he saw her pick up the small child and tip him quickly into the crusher. For a few seconds Jason wondered if he was going mad. As he saw the woman striding off alone he catapulted himself from the driver’s seat.

Broken by Martina Cole