The Front [Paperback]

Mandasue Heller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2002

When four old school friends decide to make some easy money, they pick the wrong target. Robbing a small supermarket on a Manchester estate looks easy—but with one of them wounded and a dead body on their hands, could things get worse? They could—the supermarket is merely the front for something bigger, and the friends are small fish who have unwittingly plunged into a very big pond.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A remarkable debut . . well worth reading.' -- Deadly Pleasures

About the Author

Mandasue was born in Cheshire and moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Cresecents which have since become the background to her novels. Not only is she a talented writer, but she has also sung in cabaret and rock groups, seventies soul cover bands and blues jam bands. This is her first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (July 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340820241
• ISBN-13: 978-0340820247
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,140,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an original and engaging character study, March 9, 2004

By 

Larry Gandle (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Front (Hardcover)

Lee, Mal, Ged and Sam are old friends and are all miscreants of one degree or another. They decide to hold up a grocery store. Their plan appears to be relatively solid with the chance of few complications. Little could they have known how many problems would be unleashed upon them. They have women problems, drug dealer problems, fighting among themselves and, of course, the law always one step behind them. As we get to know these hapless anti-heroes, we soon note that they don't appear to be able to anything right. The question is, not only how long can they stay ahead of the law but also how long can they stay alive.

Mandasue Heller has written an original and engaging character study with an element of crime. All the characters are unsympathetic figures, yet Ms. Heller imbues them strongly with the breath of life. Their trials and tribulations have a strong sense of immediacy to the reader. The plot, itself, does get a bit bogged down as the various subplots, at first disjointed, begin to come together for the confrontational climax. Nonetheless, the plot remains quite clever. This is a remarkable debut and well worth reading for the character portrayals alone.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous !, August 12, 2011

By 

Alison Cooke "A." (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Front (Paperback)

I loved this book, the story was gripping, the characters well written and believable, I just couldn't put it down - can't wait for my next Manda Sue Heller to arrive !