Martina Cole is celebrated for hard-edged crime thrillers set in London’s criminal underworld. Bestsellers such as The Take and Broken showcase her gift for intense drama, morally complex characters, and stories that never soften the truth.
If you enjoy Martina Cole’s brand of gritty, character-driven crime fiction, these authors are well worth adding to your reading list:
Kerry Barnes writes tough, fast-moving crime novels set in the darker corners of society, where loyalty and survival are always in conflict. Her book, The Hunted, follows Casey Edwards, a woman fleeing an abusive partner who is soon pulled into the dangerous world of London’s underworld.
When a feared enforcer named Nathan takes her under his wing, Casey gets a chance at safety—but the secrets she carries may destroy it. Readers who admire Martina Cole’s fierce characters and emotionally charged plots should find plenty to like here.
Kimberley Chambers is a natural pick for readers who love East End crime fiction packed with family conflict, betrayal, and ruthless ambition. Her novels capture the tension of close-knit communities where power comes at a high cost.
In The Feud, she introduces the Butler family, a formidable East End clan with a reputation that reaches far beyond their own streets. At the center is Vinny, a man hungry for control and respect, even if that drive tears his family apart.
Secrets, revenge, and simmering resentments keep the pressure high throughout. If Martina Cole’s mix of raw emotion and hard-edged characters appeals to you, Kimberley Chambers is an easy next step.
Mandasue Heller writes gritty crime fiction set against harsh urban backdrops, often focusing on vulnerable people forced into dangerous choices. In her book Lost Angel, a young girl named Lisa runs away from foster care and finds herself surviving on the unforgiving streets of Manchester.
As she struggles to stay afloat, she encounters people who might save her—or push her even deeper into trouble. Heller is especially good at capturing life on the edge, which gives her novels a sharp emotional pull as well as plenty of tension.
Jessie Keane knows how to grab a reader quickly and keep the stakes rising. Her book Dirty Game introduces Annie Bailey, a young, ambitious woman making her way through the brutal underworld of London’s East End.
Annie faces betrayal, dangerous alliances, and long-buried family secrets as she fights for both survival and status. The result is tense, dark, and full of characters who feel rough-edged and believable. If you enjoy Martina Cole’s uncompromising worlds, Jessie Keane is a strong match.
Mel Sherratt writes crime novels with a strong sense of place and believable characters under pressure. One of her best-known books, Taunting the Dead, follows Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton as she investigates the murder of a woman linked to a dangerous criminal world.
The case exposes a web of secrets and lies inside a small community where no one seems entirely innocent. Sherratt blends procedural detail with emotional drama, making her stories both immersive and difficult to put down.
Jacqui Rose is known for gritty crime dramas rooted in the underworld, making her a strong choice for Martina Cole fans. Her fiction is packed with tension, shifting loyalties, and characters trying to stay one step ahead of disaster.
In Toxic, Lou appears to have everything under control while working for gangsters in London’s criminal circles. But when buried secrets begin to surface, the life she has built starts to fracture.
As betrayal and survival take center stage, Lou must navigate a world where trust is scarce and mistakes are costly. Rose creates tangled relationships and high-stakes drama that pull you straight into the story.
Roberta Kray writes crime fiction steeped in London grit, full of danger, divided loyalties, and hidden motives. Her stories have the same tough, streetwise energy that draws many readers to Martina Cole.
In The Pact, a young woman named Eve sets out to uncover the truth behind her father’s murder. Unwilling to rely on the police, she turns instead to risky allies and enters an increasingly treacherous world.
With plenty of twists and a cast of morally shadowy characters, it’s a compelling read for anyone who enjoys dark tales of revenge, justice, and survival.
Anna Smith writes gritty crime novels that dig into the harsh realities of life on the streets, often centering on resilient women caught in dangerous situations.
One of her books, The Dead Don’t Boogie, follows Rosie Gilmour, a sharp-tongued investigative journalist digging into corruption and secrets that powerful people would rather keep buried.
Set against the dark backdrop of Glasgow, the story moves through violence, deception, and mounting danger. Rosie’s refusal to back down gives the novel real drive, and readers who like strong leads in hard-hitting crime dramas may find this an excellent fit.
Casey Kelleher writes intense crime fiction that drops readers straight into the emotional and physical danger facing her characters. Her book The Broken is a dark, gripping story about a woman named Daisy trying to break free from a controlling and dangerous man.
As she fights to protect her daughter, Daisy must navigate violence, secrets, and constant uncertainty. The novel is full of tension and sharp turns, with the same raw emotional force that Martina Cole readers often look for.
If you enjoy crime fiction that feels both brutal and personal, Casey Kelleher is well worth trying.
June Hampson writes gritty British crime novels, often featuring strong women forced to survive in male-dominated and often violent worlds.
Her book Trust Nobody follows Daisy Lane, a woman running a small business while secretly trying to navigate the criminal underworld of the 1960s. When her husband disappears, Daisy is left to protect herself and her vulnerable younger brother.
The novel brings together loyalty, betrayal, and hard choices in a vividly drawn setting. Readers who appreciate Martina Cole’s tough heroines and relentless tension may find this especially appealing.
Emma Tallon writes gripping crime thrillers set in London’s underworld, with a strong focus on survival, loyalty, and the weight of the past. That makes her a natural recommendation for Martina Cole readers.
Her book Runaway Girl follows Anna, a woman trying to leave her dangerous past behind while working for an East End crime family. But old secrets refuse to stay buried, and everything she has built begins to feel fragile.
Tense and emotionally charged, the story explores the blurred line between protection and control, as well as the cost of trying to outrun who you once were.
Caz Frear is a British crime writer known for smart, twist-filled detective fiction layered with family secrets and personal tension. Her book, Sweet Little Lies, introduces Cat Kinsella, a detective with a troubled history she can’t fully leave behind.
When a woman is found dead near a pub tied to Cat’s childhood memories, the investigation becomes uncomfortably personal. Murder, betrayal, and buried truths drive the story forward, while Cat’s complicated perspective adds depth.
Readers who enjoy Martina Cole’s character-focused crime fiction but want a more investigative angle may find Caz Frear especially rewarding.
Lynda La Plante is one of Britain’s most recognizable crime writers, known for sharp plotting, gritty settings, and memorable characters. Her book Widows opens with a disastrous heist that leaves three women widowed after their husbands are killed.
Rather than walk away, they decide to complete the job themselves and step into the dangerous criminal world their husbands left behind. The story is tense, suspenseful, and full of emotional strain as the women confront fear, betrayal, and their own limits.
If you like Martina Cole’s raw edge and strong female leads, La Plante is a great author to explore.
Martina Reilly is an Irish author whose novels lean more toward emotional, character-driven drama than outright crime, but readers who value strong personalities and layered personal struggles may still connect with her work.
In Something Borrowed, Roxy, a carefree young woman, inherits a bridal shop from her grandmother and suddenly finds herself responsible for a business she barely understands.
As she settles into this new life, she uncovers difficult truths about her family and herself. The novel explores love, forgiveness, and second chances, offering a softer but still compelling contrast to Martina Cole’s darker fiction.
Helen Durrant writes gritty police procedurals set in Northern England, combining solid investigations with personal stakes. Her work will appeal to readers who enjoy crime fiction with both atmosphere and momentum.
One of her books, Dead Wrong, follows Detective Rachel King as she investigates a brutal murder. The victim is discovered with poisoned wine and a chilling message, and the case soon takes an even darker turn when links to Rachel’s own past emerge.
Durrant draws readers into the pressure of police work while layering in secrets and emotional conflict. For fans of Martina Cole looking to branch into procedural crime, she is a strong choice.
