Book description

Those closest to you don’t stab you in the back. Do they?

Jimmy Byrne is one of the biggest faces on the Soho scene. Equally feared and respected, he’s clawed his way to the top. Money is his game, and he’ll make it by any means necessary.

When Jimmy sets his sights on shy young Colleen Walsh, she is quickly seduced by his sweet words and the life of luxury he offers her. But behind the diamonds and fur coats lies the reality of gangland violence – and by the time she realises the truth, she’s already in too deep.

Like her father, Jimmy Byrne, Nancy Byrne is strong, opinionated – and ruthless. But when Jimmy is murdered. Nancy vows to find the killer and make them pay for their actions.

Only the perpetrator is someone close to home. Someone she trusted. Someone who betrayed them all.

Blood is thicker than water – but Nancy is not afraid to spill some to get the truth.

Hells bells Casey Kelleher certainly knows how to drag the reader in with a shocker of a first chapter,  this pretty much sets the tone for this gripping book. Spattered with choice language The Betrayed isn’t one I would recommend to the faint hearted there’s lots of swearing and I mean lots! but it’s very much in keeping with the plot and characters. If you enjoy what I personally call “Grit lit”, a story full of violence, treachery and family ties then look no further, this book has all this and so much more.

A lot of the characters in this novel could be seen as your typical stereotypes In a novel of this genre, fortunately for the reader Casey Kelleher has the ability to make her characters standout, love them or hate you certainly won’t forget them! From the ruthless gangster Jimmy, the shy and innocent Colleen who isn’t prepared for the life of a gangsters wife, to the sharp witted Edel who made me laugh out loud with her “one liners” you can’t help but become immersed in their gritty story.

I love a dysfunctional family and the Byrne’s certainly fit the description perfectly, they are a family whose life’s are built on lies, violence and betrayal which you know is going to lead to a whole host of trouble, what follows is a brutal and explosive story, one that I found impossible to put down even for a few minutes.

The Betrayed is a novel that pulls no punches, the authors ability to portray the viciousness of the criminal world made for a gripping read. I would have loved this book to have been longer because it really was so good, I’m really hoping there is going to be a sequel to The Betrayed and if not there really should be. Would I recommend this book? It’s a huge “yes” from me, this is Casey Kelleher best book yet without a shadow of a  doubt.

Pre-order links:     Amazon UK 🇬🇧        Amazon US 🇺🇸

Print Length: 328 pages
Publisher: Bookouture (June 21, 2017)