‘Rivals’ Sam Michaels

Published by Head of Zeus,
9 January 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-8389 3062-2 (PB) 

Georgina Garrett was born in Battersea 1914, her mother Sissy died giving birth to her. She was brought up by her father Jack and gran Dulcie. The family are very poor, to make ‘ends meet’ Jack steals and Dulcie is a prostitute.

Rivals begins in 1934, Georgina is sitting with four women, Fanny Mipple, Dulcie, Jane Wilcox and Molly, who is Janes’ daughter in law and Georgina’s best friend.   

Georgina needs to get away from her rough beginnings, she wants to become the new boss of the Willcox gang. Billy Wilcox, husband of Molly has been killed, he was a “madman, an evil bully who’d left pain and destruction in his wake.” Georgina intends to be ruthless, but of course not everyone is pleased with a female taking over, even some of those closest to her. 

Rival gangs try to muscle in, there are devious men around her and her dad is lost to alcohol. Her friends and family are in constant danger. Georgina will begin to change the face of Battersea forever. Finally, her man, Lash, comes back into her life, he may make her heart melt, but Georgina won’t be softening up.

‘Rivals’ is well written, the plot, characters and storylines are good.  Recommended.

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Reviewer: Sue Lord

Sam Michaels writes gritty historical crime sagas set in Battersea, South London, which is where she was born and bred, the council estates being her playground.  After leaving school at sixteen with no qualifications, Sam married soon after and had a son. The marriage ended quickly, and as a single mother, she worked in various retail positions until undertaking an Open University degree. This led to Sam becoming an analytical scientist and then into technical sales where she met her husband.  A few years later, they moved from Hampshire to Spain. It was then that her mother, the Sunday Times best-selling author, Kitty Neale, inspired Sam to put pen to paper. She now writes her novels in sunnier climates with the company of her husband, four dogs and six cats.

 

Sue Lord originally studied Fine Art and Art History. Her MA is in Creative Writing. She now, revues, teaches, mentors and script doctors. She lives in central London and Cornwall. Her favourite pastime is gardening.