The Graft

A Queenpin’s Rise and Fall

In the gritty underworld of London’s East End, The Graft follows Sandra “Sandy” Balcombe as she claws her way from the margins of poverty to become one of the most feared and revered crime bosses of her generation. Set in the volatile 1980s and ’90s, this hard-hitting saga charts Sandy’s ascent through a world of backstreet deals, corrupt cops, and rival gangs, where every alliance is bought with blood and every betrayal met with ruthless retribution. As Sandy consolidates power, she must balance her fierce ambition with the codes of loyalty that bind her family of misfits.

Violence, Loyalty, and the Price of Power

Martina Cole masterfully explores the brutal realities of life on the fringes of society: the crack dens, the clandestine bookies, and the shattered tenement flats where secrets fester. Sandy’s closest confidantes—a devoted childhood friend turned enforcer, a conflicted detective who admires her grit, and a charismatic rival with a vendetta—provide both unwavering support and deadly competition. When an intricate heist goes horribly wrong, Sandy’s empire teeters, and she must decide whether to trust her hardened crew or strike out on her own.

Shadows of the Past, Crossroads of Fate

As old grudges resurface and betrayals cut deeper than any knife, Sandy confronts the ghosts of her upbringing: a violent father who taught her to fight, a mother lost to despair, and a world that seemed determined to crush her spirit. With police closing in and enemies at every turn, Sandy faces the ultimate test of her survival instinct: can she maintain her grip on an empire built on lies and fear, or will the very graft that elevated her become her undoing?

.Martina Cole is Britain’s bestselling queen of crime fiction, renowned for her unflinching portrayals of tough heroines, razor-sharp dialogue, and stories that pulse with raw authenticity and relentless suspense.