Not my favourite Roberta Kray novel. For some reason I can’t quite put my finger on it didn’t pique my interest. Hopefully her next book will be back on track as she is one of my favourite authors.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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

Roberta Kray has always been one of my favourite crime authors and she has always been up there with Martina Cole.

Unfortunately, I found this book quite disappointing and not up to her usual standard of writing.

I found that there wasnt much of a storyline and not much really going on in the novel.

I found it hard to concentrate on this novel and found myself quite bored.

Hopefully, I will come back to her work one day, but for now, I will stick to Martina!

Excellent thriller! Roberta Kray never disappoints! This book keeps you enthralled and guessing until the last pages. Involves a woman called Judith Jonson who sees a photo in the paper depicting her believed dead husband Dan and goes to London to try and find him.

I really enjoyed this book and the writing. It was a bit slow at times but overall it was good.

Thanks To Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

This is a good enough thriller. I have read most of this author's books and this one didn't quite hit the mark. It was very different to the usual storylines she writes. However I did read it to the end and didn't give up.

An East End of London crime story. Set in the 1940’s in the aftermath of World War 2, devastation everywhere. Judith meets and marries a handsome charmer during the war and is heartbroken when she hears he’s missing, presumed dead. Several years later she by chance spots a photo of his doppelgänger which sets her on the adventure of her life. Gritty with plenty of violence which is to be expected if you get in the way of villains! A mix of kindhearted and not so kindhearted characters. A gripping tale which makes the reader carry on turning the pages to see if Judith finally finds the happiness she deserves. Also an interesting look into bygone London of ruined streets and buildings.

Deceived – Roberta Kray

Fans of Kimberley Chambers, Mandasue Heller and Kevin Lewis should enjoy this. Normally I race through the authors books but I struggled with this and I’m sad to say that I don’t think it’s one of her best.

This is predominantly set in the nineteen forties London with the destruction and devastation left behind following the Second World War. Times were different, people were different but one thing from then to now is the gang fighting.

Judith and Dan Johnson met and married within a month following a whirlwind romance before he went off to war. The war office notifies Judith that Dan is missing presumed dead leaving her a war widow. By pure chance a few years later she sees a picture in a newspaper of Dan, her DEAD Dan outside a shop where a robbery has happened. Taking the bull by the horns she heads to Kellstone in London to find him and demand an explanation.

Judith has more jam than Hartley’s as after being met with a wall of silence she then somehow manages to meet the exact type of people to help her unravel the mystery, the mystery of why he was there and not dead. She is an almost innocent but somewhat stubborn woman who finds herself in the midst of the murkier side of life and people, the violence and deceit and she doesn’t like it.


Read for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group and Sphere Publishers.

This was an exciting triller that I will not soon forget. Had some difficulty falling asleep having read it. The writer depicts some super stressful situations that have a significant impact on the lives of the characters. I highly recommend this amazing book.

After a month of meeting, Judith marries Dan Jonson before he goes off to war. Judith soon becomes a war widow as she is informed her husband Dan is missing presumed dead.
Years later on her way to work someone has left a newspaper on a seat it shows a picture from Kellston of non-other than Dan standing outside a shop, where a crime has been committed. This provokes Judith to travel from her hometown Westport to London to chase the man down to see if it really is Dan.

She comes across many characters. in her search. Elsa who works in a cafe befriends her and invites her to live with her. Jimmy a locksmith who after being shown the picture of Dan denies knowing him but acts very suspiciously. Saul a friend of Elsa's who is a cop and crime boss Alfie Tombs whom Saul wants to bring down.
There are many other characters to mention.

Not one of Robertas better books. I found it hard work and hard to understand the story it seemed all over the place. I did finish it but didn't enjoy it.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity x

This is the first book I’ve read by Roberta Kray, and I really enjoyed it.
Judith has accepted that her husband is dead but then she sees a photo of him in a national newspaper.
She heads to London to try and find him but is faced with a brick wall. No-one wants to help her and those that she thinks show a glimmer of recognition when she shows them the photo, are on the wrong side of the law.
Judith then meets Elsa who puts her in touch with Saul who is in the Police, but does quite a lot off the record.
Judith comes face to face with some nasty characters and wonders what she’s walked into. Soon things get much worse and she’s told to leave London. However, she won’t go until she finds answers.
This book is set in the late 1940s and is a great insight into crime in London at the time.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK, Sphere and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed this book once I got into it. I found it a bit slow going at first, but it’s worth sticking with it as it does get better. Set after the war Judith was she thought a war widow, until one day she spots a photo of her dead husband in the paper. It follows the ups and downs of Judith’s journey to London to find out the truth. Judith finds out a lot more then what happened to her so called dead husband.

Totally unexpected but totally enthralling. The journey of Judith and Dan is so real that it feels like you are there watching their lives unravel. The twists and turns that their story takes is gripping and emotive. Well done on another great book Roberta.

This is the first book I have read by Roberta Kray but it defiantly will not be the last. Set in post-war England the book transported me to an era I wouldn’t have otherwise found myself engrossed in. Coming from a small town Judith finds herself in situations she would have never expected when she goes to London to find the husband she had believed was dead. The characters really came to life and I found myself wanting the same answers Judith did and getting mad for her when she wasn’t getting them and when she was being thrown off the trail. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. I would also like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK, NetGalley, and Roberta Kray for the opportunity to read a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a huge fan of East End crime, and once again Ms Kray doesn't disappoint. The way she describes the city, the "faces", is done so well, I feel as if I'm also there! Another killer read, highly recommended.

Entirely enjoyable!

Generally I do not choose books in which the storyline is from the past. However, I am glad that I did! Roberta Kray sure packed a wallop of a book - the characters came to life. A truly wonderful read.


Two warring gang factions in the 1940's (mainly set in postwar Great Britain) vie to get any goods that can be stolen. Post-war Britain is a different place and there is vast devastation throughout much of it.

After a whirlwind courtship of one month, Judith and Dan are married. Presently, Judith continues to miss her husband as he has been reported as MIA. Since it has been 5 years, most of her friends suggest she realize that Dan is probably dead. Judith sees a newspaper article with a picture of London and she KNOWS that Dan is in the background of the picture. She goes to London to "find" her husband. But why hasn't he come back to their home? Why hasn't he even contacted her? So many questions..

Once in London, Judith finds herself in the midst of warring "gang" factions; times are still hard and tempers still high. She only came to London (and for the first time) from her small town home to find Dan. She becomes mixed up in gang action as she befriends Elsa and Saul (a policeman with interesting duties).

A great read - do not let this one pass you by!

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group, UK and NetGalley for an incredible read!

I was really disappointed with this book.
I've loved all of robertas previous books.
This book was strange.
Had no get up and go.
Sorry hate giving rubbish review

I love Roberta Tray as an author and although I enjoyed this book I found it a little slow compared to her other books. A really good ending but a bit of a trek to get there

i quite enjoyed this latest offering from this author. her books are well written and make a good read.