The Know

A Descent into East London’s Underworld

The Know by Martina Cole (2003, Headline) drags you into a gritty landscape where family loyalty and betrayal collide. Against the backdrop of East London’s neon-lit streets and smoky clubs, Cole introduces us to Char, a woman born into a world of violence and vice. As she navigates the razor-sharp alliances of gangsters and thieves, every shadow hides a threat, and every promise can turn lethal.

Char’s Journey of Survival and Vengeance

Raised in the heart of The Know—a maze of illicit betting shops and back-street rackets—Char learns early that power belongs to those willing to seize it. When tragedy strikes her family, her fierce determination ignites a path of retribution. With every choice, she balances on a knife-edge between justice and downfall. Cole’s visceral prose captures the pulse of desperation and the fierce pride that fuels Char’s unrelenting quest.

The Price of Blood and Redemption

In Martina Cole’s signature style, The Know weaves a tale of love, loss, and survival where the bonds of blood are both armor and prison. As rival factions close in and loyalties crumble, Char must decide whether vengeance will heal her wounds—or consume what remains of her soul. A thrilling, emotionally charged masterpiece, this is crime fiction at its most compelling.