A Ruthless Need

Passions and Ambition in the Heart of the North

A Ruthless Need by Catherine Cookson is a sweeping family saga set against the evocative backdrop of early twentieth-century Northumberland. In a world defined by class divisions and limited opportunities, two very different families find their destinies entwined by ambition, hardship, and the relentless pursuit of a better life. At the center is young Daniel Stewart, a man determined to escape the grip of poverty and build a future far removed from his humble beginnings. Driven by an unyielding need to prove himself, Daniel’s journey is marked by sacrifice, betrayal, and the deep, sometimes dangerous, desires that lie within every heart.

Love, Betrayal, and the Cost of Dreams

Daniel’s rise from the coal-mining community brings him into contact with the wealthy Carruthers family, setting in motion a chain of events that will test loyalties and unravel secrets long kept hidden. Cookson paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by working-class families and the price of ambition in a world slow to change. As Daniel’s passion for success collides with the realities of love, family, and class, the choices he makes carry consequences that ripple through generations. The women in his life—each shaped by their own hopes and disappointments—play pivotal roles in his journey, highlighting the complexity of relationships forged in adversity.

A Richly Drawn Tapestry of Northern Life

With her unmistakable warmth and insight, Catherine Cookson brings Northumberland and its people to life, capturing the grit, resilience, and humanity that define her best-loved novels. A Ruthless Need is a powerful exploration of what drives us, the bonds that hold us together, and the ambitions that can both elevate and destroy. Readers will find themselves swept along by the drama, rooting for characters whose flaws make them all the more real and compelling.

Catherine Cookson was a bestselling British author, renowned for her evocative historical novels that illuminate the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people in the North of England.