Mum's Monday: The Cover Up by Marnie Riches Part one

At the start of this book it very quickly describes the business dealings of Sheila O’Brien. I had to read this part carefully,  pay attention and concentrate on what I was reading as it was a very busy chapter with a lot going on in it. It builds a strong start to this story. 

The next chapter goes off in a different direction, you have to read on to see the connection to Sheila, which is, I feel, a good/nice one.

Now in the third chapter we meet/read about Mr Bancroft. It is good to see that Sheila is a good, strong and independent woman and can hold her own. I like this kind of woman and reading about them and what they can and do achieve.

This book describes and captures the ‘Gangster’  world, it is well written so you can clearly picture it as you would if you were watching a movie. Watching a movie you would see the scenes play out on the screen, in this book there is just enough of a description to set the scenes really well so that you can also fill in the images as if, as I have said, you were watching it.

Before when I bought this book I read the paragraphs on the back of it. Now I am actually reading the story/book, I realise that you shouldn’t have believed everything I/you read in the first paragraph. This makes the book interesting and unexpected.

It is shocking yet expected that this book is gruesome because of the nature of this story. It is sad that, it seems, the wrong person was blamed, as now, it would make sense as to who, although I don’t think they are the only one to speak out. I do believe two people are talking. 

It is different, as in, in the parts about Gloria it interweaves her quotes from the Bible into the story. This reminds me of the Dot Cotton/Branning (June Brown) character in the BBC Soap EastEnders when she used to quote chapter and verse from the Bible as part of her script. 

I like how this book goes into so much detail when describing Sheila. What is not nice to read is what has happened to her. Sheila is a strong woman but I feel there is still room for character development further on in this story, for Sheila to become more of a stronger person and I hope she does and this book shows her full potential I believe can be achieved. However, Sheila still should watch her step as we know someone is out there to get her. Now I don’t want to put this book down, as I would love to read, well I hope, about a reunion later on.

As I read this book, it may just be me, but, I still don’t know where the title of the book ‘The Cover Up’ fits in with the story. Some books I have read the title has been perfect and fitting in more ways than one. With this one I cannot see the connection, as yet, or I could just be missing something.

This book is really good as in how it describes two characters being out and about in two separate chapters. One out to get an ‘Update’ and the other out to meet a friend. It is clever how it comes together in the form of a ‘Photo’. I feel this book is getting closer to a/the I hope again reunion.

I am glad Sheila is alright and Gloria will be. Although Sheila should have gone to hospital. I know Sheila has a message for Bancroft and she wants to wait until the next day, but this part makes me feel on edge as I know as in my nature wanting to say something, wording it would play on my mind and I wouldn’t be able to sleep. Now again I don’t want to put this book down as I want to know who is in the car. If it is who I think it is then I may be able to sleep after all?

It seems there is a hole in this story, yes, I have found out who is in the car but, the reason he is there is, as yet, not explained in detail. It is only written as to the after the event/situation. I want to say some cliche sayings to this part ‘Sleeping with the enemy’ also a film with Julia Roberts, or ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ As these now apply in this story but all I can think of is ‘Poor Conky’ and luckily it seems thank goodness for Lev as well. I also hope Tariq finds who he is looking for. This part was not nice to read before it got steamy.

I am glad Gloria is going to be ok, however, may be not with her new romantic partner Bob, who I do not exactly trust. He is a secretive character but asks a lot of what is known as probing questions. Now if the authorities get hold of Sheila’s mobile phone. Although I do not condone criminal activities, the fact I am reading this book and enjoying it, I accept that what is happening is fictional in this story. I do like the deal Sheila made with Gloria’s son Lev. The phone SIM is a dangerous source of a life of criminal information. You know what they say ‘My phone contains my life’ and so on and so on, Sheila needs her SIM back and fast.

Well I now know where Youssuf is as chapter 25 is an interesting and , to me, an overly detailed chapter. Youssuf is, it seems, on a mission.

This book it seems is becoming like, and he is mentioned, ‘James Bond’  by Ian Fleming and others where it seems all is lost, there seems no hope and no escape, but all of a sudden it all works out, so far in this book with Lev failing in his mission and Conky having been arrested, it seems all is lost, until, well I hope, it all comes good in the end. Now again I don’t want to put this book down.

This book is becoming sinister and it is a shock to read about how a child is treated, this part is ruthless and it is not at all nice to read. I don’t want to put this book down until I read that the characters are all ok and I also feel that this book should come with a warning about the treatment of a child.

Well the secret is out. What next? Well people are finding out. I am not sure about how innocent a nun is and Bob and Gloria take the pleasure out of ‘Pleasure Beach’ I feel there is more to come. A lot more.

After a very busy few chapters the ending is a surprise as it seems a person can seem to be dead twice although once for real but interestingly not by the usual gangster hand as in the nature of this book but by, as in a murder mystery, the least expected person. This book went from gangster to Agatha Christie surprisingly very quickly. An eye opening good book and ending to it.

To be continued...