Brutal

A bereaved husband is faced with a devastating choice in Brutal, an engrossing, gritty thriller from Mandasue Heller. When Frank Peters wife dies, he feels that his once-idyllic life on the Yorkshire Moors is over. When he finds a frightened young woman hiding at the back of his farmhouse, he offers her a bed for the night, but it's the middle of winter. When heavy snowfall prevents her from leaving the next day, he is forced to extend the invitation. But the longer Irena stays, the easier it becomes for the men she's trying to escape from to find her. People-trafficking could just be the tip of the iceberg, and Frank has no idea what these people are really capable of.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 19 September 2019
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

A bereaved husband, Frank Peters, is confronted with a heartbreaking decision in Brutal, a gripping thriller penned by Mandasue Heller, a top-ten bestselling author of Running Scared. When Frank's wife passes away, he feels that his once-idyllic existence on the Yorkshire Moors is forever altered. With his daughter emigrating to Australia and his son grappling with marital difficulties, Frank resigns himself to a life of solitude. However, one fateful night, he discovers a frightened young woman, Irena, hiding at the back of his farmhouse. Irena reveals that she was lured to this country by a man who promised her a better life but instead forced her into prostitution. Frank offers her a bed for the night, but the harsh winter weather forces him to extend his hospitality. As the days pass, Frank becomes increasingly aware of the dangers that Irena faces, as people-trafficking may only be the tip of the iceberg. Frank is unaware of the true extent of these individuals' capabilities. Praise for Mandasue Heller: Martina Cole, author of the DI Kate Burrows series, hails Heller's work as a "real blinder." Jeffrey Deaver, author of The Never Game, describes Heller's writing as "captivating from first page to last." Peterborough Evening Telegraph praises Heller's straightforward style, stating, "Heller doesn't mince words." Readers have expressed their admiration for Brutal, with one reader stating, "I literally couldn't stop reading it." Another reader commends the book's numerous twists and turns, describing it as "brilliant from start to finish."

Weight: 266g
Dimension: 178 x 139 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781447288428