The Forgotten_An absolutely gripping, gritty thriller novel
Page 31
Her father must have had her in his bed, instead of sending her into school that day.
Marie had run then, towards the chaos and smoke. Towards the paramedics, towards her little sister. Desperate to bring Cassie back. To make things right again.
But it was too late. Her father and Cassie had gone forever and Marie was left all on her own.
Blinking away fresh tears, Marie looked down at Robert then and forced herself to smile.
She wasn’t alone any more though. She had Robert now.
Beautiful, perfect Robert.
She’d known that from the very second she’d set eyes on him.
How caring for Robert would be her way of making up for what she’d done to her beautiful Cassie.
How this was her chance to make everything all right again.
She smiled as she began running the comb through the small patch of hair that remained on the right side of Robert’s head.
Then she used a warm flannel, gently placing it over his skin, ever so lightly so that she could wash his face, before slathering on all his special lotions and potions. All the creams that he liked to use, to stop his skin from splitting and getting sore.
She loved these moments. When her hands roamed freely across his body. Touching him, caressing him lovingly.
‘I’ve missed you, darling.’ Leaning down, Marie Huston kissed Daniel Byrne gently on the lips.
And he didn’t dare tell her not to now.
He didn’t dare complain.
He was compliant now. Just as he’d been when she’d first laid eyes on him.
‘But don’t you worry. I won’t let anyone take you now. You’re safe now. You’re home.’
THE END
If you were gripped by the Byrne gangster family in The Forgotten, read more about their life of crime, their feuds and family loyalty in The Betrayed and The Broken.
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The Betrayed
A shocking, gritty thriller that will hook you from the first page
If you can’t trust your family, who can you trust?
Colleen Byrne is wife to one of the biggest faces on the streets of Soho, Jimmy Byrne. He promised her the life of luxury, but behind the diamonds and fur coats is a dangerous world of violence and lies. With her two children, Nancy and Daniel, Colleen is in too deep, bound to Jimmy forever.
TWENTY YEARS LATER
Nancy has grown into her father’s daughter, strong, calculated – and ruthless, while Colleen blots out the pain of her marriage any way she can. When Jimmy is found brutally murdered, Nancy is hell bent on finding the culprit. She’s going to make them pay for what they did.
Only the perpetrator is someone close to home. Someone who betrayed them all. To catch a killer, mother and daughter must find the secrets tearing their family apart…
A totally gripping and gritty thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for fans of Kimberly Chambers, Martina Cole and Jessie Keane.
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Read what everyone is saying about The Betrayed:
‘Move over Martina Cole, Casey Kelleher is fast becoming one of the top female authors of this genre! You really do not want to miss this one!’ Chapter in my Life(5*)
A ‘brilliantly dark read that had me well and truly hooked.’ By the Letter Book Reviews (5*)
‘This is a story of lies, secrets and betrayal, with some brilliant characterisation.’ Novel Deelight(4*)
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Also by Casey Kelleher
The Broken
The Betrayed
The Promise
The Taken
Rotten to the Core
Rise and Fall
Heartless
Bad Blood
A Letter from Casey
Thank You for taking the time to read The Forgotten. I’ve loved writing about the dysfunctional, feisty family that is The Byrnes and I really hope you’ve loved reading their story too.
To keep up to date with the latest news on my new releases, just click on the link below to sign up for a newsletter. I promise to only contact you when I have a new book out and I’ll never share your email with anyone else.
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If you fancy leaving me a review, I’d really appreciate it. Not only is it great to have your feedback (I love reading each and every one of them!), but adding a review can really help to gain the attention of new readers too. So, if you would kind enough to leave a short, honest review, it would be very much appreciated!
If you enjoyed reading about Nancy and the rest of the Byrne family – a twisted family if ever there was one! – and you want to read more about Jimmy and Colleen, and where it all began, please check out The Betrayed and The Broken.
I’m currently working on the next book so if you’d like to stay in touch and find out about the next release, or you just want to drop by and say ‘Hello’, I’d love to hear from you!
Casey x
http://www.caseykelleher.co.uk/
The Taken
A twisted, gripping crime thriller - not for the faint-hearted
When you’ve lost everything, you’ll do anything to survive.
Saskia Frost’s world is blown apart when her dad dies. Without any family, she’s on her own now and up to her eyeballs in her father’s debts. He owed a lot of money to some very dangerous men – Joshua and Vincent Harper. Before long, aspiring ballerina Saskia finds herself lap-dancing in a London club to survive. A club run by the infamous Harper brothers. Saskia is now their property and they’re going to make her pay every penny back.
Teenager Lena Cona has fled a cruel and controlling marriage. She arrives in England with her newborn daughter, desperately relying on strangers for help. But she soon learns that not everyone can be trusted as she finds herself caught in the clutches of Colin Jefferies, a twisted individual obsessed by his own sinister secrets. As the sickening truth is revealed, Lena is forced to fight for her life - and her baby’s.
When their worlds collide, Lena and Saskia form an unlikely friendship. But with the terrifying Harper brothers on their tail, as well as Lena’s vengeful and violent husband, can they escape with their lives?
Fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers will lose themselves in this brilliantly tense and gripping story.
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Read what everyone is saying about Casey Kelleher:
‘To describe it in one word I would say “outstanding” and you would be an absolute fool not to pick it up.’ Book Addict Shaun
‘Casey is firmly embedding herself in the list of “must read” female British Crime Authors.’ Best Crime Books
The Promise
A gripping thriller you won't be able to put down
Two sisters. One murder. And an unbreakable bond.
Growing up in squalor with their drug-addicted prostitute mother, sisters Georgie and Marnie Parker have had to endure the very darkest side of life.
When their mother is sentenced for brutally murdering a client, Georgie and Marnie’s already precarious lives are blown apart and they now share a terrible secret. Sent to a children’s home, the sisters hope this might finally be their safe haven after years of neglect. But they soon discover they’re in real danger.
Desperate to find a place of safety, Georgie and Marnie run for their lives, but end up in the hands of Delray Anderton. A violent London gangster and notorious pimp, Delray has big plans for beautiful teenager Georgie, seeing her as a chance to make some serious money.
Fiercely protective of each other, Georgie and Marnie must escape the clutches of a man who will do anything to keep the sisters for himself. And, they must keep the promise they made to each other – no one can ever know the truth.
A gritty, shocking and grip
ping thriller that will engross fans of Kimberly Chambers, Martina Cole and Jessie Keane.
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Read what everyone is saying about Casey Kelleher:
‘Sooooo good … did not put it down until I had read the very last page … impossible to ever forget … An outstanding novel by one extremely talented lady who though likened to some other pretty amazing authors, I think she is well and truly in a league of her own.’ By the Letter Book Reviews
‘All I can say is... BRILLIANT! I demolished this standalone novel in a day! The very first chapter completely sucked me in, I literally couldn't put it down! Before I knew it I was at 76% and I happily lost precious sleep last night in order to finish it.’ Booklover Catlady
‘An outstanding book that I devoured in just two sittings … nothing could stop me reading …I was captivated … truly enjoyed every page. I think the biggest surprise for me was how the story unfolded … A blinder of a book which I would hugely recommend to everybody reading this genre.’ Best Crime Books and More
The Broken
A gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat
They took her dad, but she won’t let them take her.
Nancy Byrne was the apple of her daddy’s eye. He might have been one of the most-feared gangsters in London, yet Jimmy Byrne idolised his little Nancy. But now Jimmy is dead, gunned down in cold blood - and Nancy vows to avenge his death.
She’s only twenty years old, but as the new head of the ruthless Byrne gang, running a lucrative world of drugs, sex and violence, she’s in over her head. Keeping her family together all while Joanie, her beloved grandma, falls apart, and her brother Daniel goes off the rails forces Nancy to grow up - fast.
But while Nancy takes the men on at their own game, there’s a greater danger hiding on the dark streets. Jimmy’s killer is on her trail - and will stop at nothing to shut her up.
Blood might be thicker than water, but soon, Nancy realises she can't trust anyone. Not even her own family.
Especially her own family.
A gritty, gripping read full of shocking thrills and suspense – readers of Mandasue Heller, Martina Cole and Jessie Keane will be addicted until the very last page.
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Readers are raving about Casey Kelleher:
‘Hells bells…an explosive story, one that I found impossible to put down even for a few minutes…a gripping read.’ (5 Stars) The Book Review Café
‘Wow what a story…fantastic, I was hooked from the beginning and the story just got better and better.’ (5 Stars) Goodreads Reviewer
‘I actually think I read this book without breathing!…The plot will have you twisting, turning and screaming stop as your brain registers what is going on but there is no way out – you are hooked and you will not be able to put this book down until you have finished it!’ Chapter in my Life
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to my fantastic editor, Keshini Naidoo. Your brilliant ideas, suggestions and editorial skills have really helped to make The Forgotten into the book that it is today.
Thank you so much for everything! As always, it’s been an absolute pleasure working alongside you!
Special thanks to Noelle Holten. Social media superstar and one of the nicest, supportive women in the industry. I can’t wait to read your book, Noelle! Thanks also to the rest of the Bookouture team Oliver Rhodes, Kim Nash, Lauren Finger and Leodora Darlington for all their continued help and support. Biggest shout out to the Bookouture authors too, that I’ve been so lucky to meet along the way. For all the giggles, and for keeping me sane!
Huge thanks also to all of those at the scene of the crime. You guys are the best :)
Special mention to Lucy, my bestie, who this book is dedicated to. For everything, (but especially for holding my gin at festivals ;) Also to Laura – wish I could write as fast as you read!
Thank you to Peter David Hodkin for all your help and advice on the legalities of constructing a new Identity. Special mention also to fellow author and Staff Nurse, C. Leslie. For all your information and advice on burns patients, care and procedures. You were a great help!
To all my fantastic readers, thank you so much for all your kind words about my books. You are the very reason I write, without you, none of this would have been possible. I love receiving your feedback and messages, so please do keep them coming!
As always, I’d like to thank my extremely supportive friends and family for all the encouragement that they give me along the way. The Coopers, The Kellehers, The Ellis’s.
My Bestie, and all my girlies.
Finally, a big thank you to my husband Danny.
Our three children Ben, Danny and Kyle.
Not forgetting our two little fur-babies (Princess) Sassy and Miska (Boy).
x x
Published by Bookouture
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Casey Kelleher 2018
Casey Kelleher has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-78681-577-4