The Life

Echoes of the East End

Born into poverty on the rough streets of London’s East End, Saffron “Saffy” Kane has fought tooth and nail for every scrap of respect she holds. In The Life, Martina Cole plunges readers into a world where loyalty is bought with blood and ambition can cost you everything. From back-alley bar brawls to whispered deals in smoke-filled clubs, Saffy’s ascent through the ranks of a ruthless criminal dynasty is as mesmerising as it is merciless. When she first steps into her late father’s abandoned office—once a den of backroom gambling and clandestine deals—she knows the ghosts of his empire will demand their pound of flesh.

Web of Blood and Loyalty

Surrounded by enemies in tailored suits and armed thugs who pledge their allegiance only to the highest bidder, Saffy must navigate a treacherous underworld ruled by men who both fear and underestimate her. As she brokers a dangerous partnership with charismatic gang lord Sal “The Serpent” Marino, alliances shift like desert sands and old wounds reopen. Every handshake could conceal a knife, and every promise might shatter under the weight of betrayal. With her brother Liam spiralling into addiction and her best friend Ruby caught in the crossfire of a turf war, Saffy must decide how far she will go to protect those she loves—and whether winning is worth the ultimate price.

A Queen’s Reckoning

When a daring heist goes catastrophically wrong, Saffy finds herself at the mercy of both law enforcement and vengeful rivals. In a final, heart-pounding showdown beneath the flickering lights of an abandoned warehouse, she must confront the darkest facets of her past and reckon with the legacy she will leave behind. Will she seize control of her destiny, or will the very life she’s built become her undoing? The Life is a gripping tale of power, passion, and the unbreakable bonds of family—where the only certainty is that fortune favors the fearless. · Author’s description.