An story of a mother and a missing child, but because it is written by Roberta Kray, there is more depth to the story than that.

A really gritty thriller, with crime, secrets, lies and a tense undertone that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

I do enjoy this authors work and this is definitely one of my favourite genres to read. It's set in the Eastend of London in during the 50's and 60's. Within Survivor the main story is about a young girl called Lolly who sadly lost her mother aged 13 but there's a 2nd story about a couple who had a child abducted and the was brutally Nanny killed.

If you enjoy reading the Criminal Underworld genre of books, authors like Edie Bayliss, Emmy Ellis and Linda Cole grab a Roberta Kray book and dive right in.

Thanks to the author Ms Kray, Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

Set in East End London this book is based around Lolly. A young girl who has a hard upbringing. Its certainly not the upbringing you'd want. But Lolly is a Survivor and this book shows that.
I really got behind the character of Lolly and really felt for her. Lollys mother is found dead and Lolly's childhood changes from that moment. Not having any other family it's down to Lolly to survive what is thrown her way.
A good number of twists through this book along with the storyline of an abducted child. This book kept my attention and I will certainly be catching up on my back log of Roberta Kray books.

Really different read for me, but I enjoyed the change. I love Roberta's writing, but thought it was a little farfetched in places

I used to be a huge fan of Roberta Kray. Her earlier work used to have such great storylines and really pull the reader in.

However, with this one, and as with her other books that I have read recently, there seems to be something lacking in her novels.

The storyline is okay and the character development is okay, but it just does not grip me like her previous work used to.

Excellent crime book. Have read many books by this author and she never fails to please. Would recommend this to all.

Lolly who is only thirteen witnesses her mothers suicide but believes it isn't suicide and there is more to it. In Londons East End Lolly now has to fend for herself and everything she has ever known is thrown in to turmoil further when a private investigator links her to an unsolved case.
I really enjoyed this book, the characterisation was great and the gritty setting made the story come alive. Although I guessed the ending I really enjoyed the twists and turns to get there.
My thanks go the publisher, author and Nertgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.

Poor Lolly has a hard life in a rough London estate with a mother who isn't much of a parent, but she's the only one she's got so has to make the most of it. Things then take a turn for the worse, much worse. Meanwhile a far more affluent couple are still searching for their baby who vanished whilst out with the nanny. A page turner indeed as Lolly tried to cope with everything life has thrown at her. Lolly was a bit wishy washy though and didn't have too much get up and go and tended to do what she was told. A gritty, inner city tale with some goodies and lots of baddies. A great read for those who enjoy down to earth books with plenty going on!

4.5 out of 5 stars

I received this book via Netgally for an honest review .

I requested this book as I was interested in the author, I have to admit I didn't read the blurb for this book and requested it thinking it was a book about gangland culture in London however I was wrong, this is a book marketed as a thriller but which is really a mystery.

This is a book set in the East End of London during the 50's and 60's, it is a story about a young girl called Lolly, Lolly has had a tough up bringing and her mother has always suffered from mental health issues quite often rambling things that don't make sense and thinking she is being watched, one fateful day Lolly is looking for her mother and finds her dead having jumped from a balcony of a high rise building......secrets and lies come to light and Lolly starts to discover who she really is and that she really is a survivor.

We also have a plot line of a couple who's baby was kidnapped and the nanny was murdered during the attempt, nothing has been seen or heard of this child in 12 years but Mal Fury is determined to find his daughter and has a private investigator on the case, soon Mal and Lolly's lives collide and it becomes clear that there is a link between Lolly and Mal's missing child.

I had no idea how this story would come together, I was kept guessing the whole way through and totally thrown off track by twist after twist. I really got sucked into the story and really felt for Lolly and just wanted everything to be ok for her, the writing style in this book is very simplex but it doesn't really matter as the author still manages to craft an engaging story. It's fast paced, full of emotion and really is a page turner.

This novel was a little different from what I usually read but I will be seeking out more books like this in future.

This is a brilliant 5 star book. You always know what kind of story you are getting with a Roberta Kray book: drugs, murder, poverty, violence and gangs, to name a few. This is the story of Lolly a girl who is loved by her mother but terribly neglected. When her mother kills herself, she has to find the strength to survive in a cruel world.

This was my first Roberta Kray book and it won’t be my last. The writing reminds me a lot of Martina Cole

Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Set in the east end in the world of gangsters and want to be gangsters it follows a young girl trying to find out her parentage. There was a good mix of characters some good and some bad and lots of twists along the way. I did find some bits predictable but it was still an enjoyable read. I would like to have followed on Lolly/Lita's story and also Mal's for a bit longer. You never know maybe a follow on book might be coming.

First book I’ve read by Roberta kray. Certainly won’t be the last. This book had me gripped from the first chapter. Poor lolly, life just never gave her a break. Couldn’t wait to finish it, couldn’t guess that was what as the twists kept coming nd so hope there’s a sequel. Would highly recommend and an absolute page turner from start to finish

This is a new author for me and I was really impressed. I will now have a downloading marathon of more of her books.

Oh my god this book is brilliant.

I love all of Roberta Krays books and this one did not let me down.

Lolly has been through so much and had to learn very quickly how to look after herself.

Lolly is a great character and you want her life to be easier for her.

What is the connection between Mals daughter Kay who disappeared years ago and Lolly? Plus will Lolly be able to cope with it, as her world is thrown into chaos?

The thing with this book is you actually feel that you are in the East End and get the feel for the good, bad and the deaths in the East End, where the book takes place. I am from the East End originally and it felt like I was back there.

She makes the book come alive and I was sad to finish it.


I can not wait for the next one a great book, a great story and great description, great plot, great characters.

What more can I say it is one brilliant book I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

This is the first book i’ve read by this author and won’t be the last. I had expected a Martina Cole/gangland type of storyline and was pleasantly surprised when it wasnt.

The book starts with a botched abduction of an infant child, belonging to a famous celebrity couple, whilst out with her nanny on her morning stroll around a local lake. the nanny puts up a unexpected fight to save the child which results in her murder. The crimes goes unsolved and it is not known if the child drowned or was abducted.

the father of the child never loses hope of finding out what happened to his baby and hires a private investigator. the story unfolds over a number of years and crosses over into a rough housing estate in london.

i loved the style of writing and enjoyed the storyline although i felt the ending was abit rushed.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book, the author kept you guessing right till the end! Twists and turns kept me reading constantly.

Absolutely loved this book.
I really felt for lolly who is great kid.. shoved through social services care and awful foster parents. It all came down to love again. When you put your whole belief in someone and they let you down so badly. But she's strong feisty chick who got there in the end. Read whole book in one sitting brilliant

This is the first Roberta Kray, that I have read and I wasn't disappointed, great storyline, well written with a great mix of characters.

Lolly the main character does suffer with having a very hard life and it's great to read the ups and downs that she goes through, and Lita or Lolly does end up being someone different by the end.

Lolly's story was really good, I did expect more on the East End gangster side but then the main character is only 13 at the start.

Is this a series as the story could follow nicely into a book two??

Fast paced storyline with lots of twists and turns (some you don't expect) would like to see what happens to the characters in the future