Set in London during the mid 80s, this novel spans 3 decades.The story centres around young sociopathic Freddie Jackson, who has just served his time in prison, but while in there he was taken under the wing of mega infamous gangster Ozzy. It is unlikely Ozzy will ever get out so he needs someone to run his organised criminal empire while he is inside. He believes Frankie is up to the job and entrusts him with the operations of his underhand businesses on the outside.Frankie has a younger cousin, Jimmy, who idolises and loves him like a blood brother. Frankie thinks Jimmy would be the perfect partner to help him run Ozzy's dealings. Jimmy accepts and get's half of all revenue.However, though the two of them are both involved in crime, they are both very different characters. Frankie gets things done by using violence without thinking, whereas Jimmy is intelligent and only relies on physical force as a last resort.Frankie is a bastard. He degrades and makes a laughing stock of his wife, with his blatant promiscuity and physical disregard for her. He shows no interest in his daughters and barely comes home to his hovel of a council house, of which he blames it's untidy state on his alcoholic, drug abusing wife, Jackie. He spends his huge earnings on ostentatious cars, gambling, women, drugs and drink. Next to no financial support is given to his wife and children.Jimmy on the other hand, falls in love with Jackie's younger sister, Maggie. Marries her and invests his money in buying themselves a nice house. A few years down the line he sells the house, makes a profit and purchases an even bigger home. He gives his wife money to start up her own beauty salon business which she runs and soon expands. Jimmy and Maggie's life go from strength to strength.All this, via his spies, gets back to Ozzy in prison and he thinks that Jimmy should be the one running the operations and gradually puts Jimmy in the driving seat.All the while Jackie is becoming increasingly jealous of her sister's life. Frankie is gradually realising that he has been put in the passenger seat of running things which does not go down well. Fractiousness soon starts between the cousins and two sisters of which could be of such serious proportions that the entire family and Ozzy's realm could implode.I enjoyed this book. Though the premise of the book is on organised crime I think it focuses more on behind the scenes, such as the family life and what occurs in the homes of Frankie and Jimmy.For instance, the shockingly brutal character that is Frankie, his behaviour towards his wife has shaped her into the hard faced alcoholic bitch she has become, this in turn has caused a total lack of respect from her daughters, which sends her into an ever increasing spiral of bitterness and self loathing.Whereas Maggie who is loved dearly by Jimmy is a caring and gentle woman who's nieces often come to her home when their mother becomes out of control. She runs her own businesses which gives her a feeling of independence and even employs her nieces to ensure they stay out of trouble. She cares for them as if they are her own. None of this does anything to placate the seething, bubbling hatred that is just under, sister, Jackie's skin.As you expect from Cole's novels, there is going to be violence. But I would say in this story, family features more predominantly , interspersed with acts of brutality relating to criminal business operations.If you are looking for a book about organised crime that also revolves around family ties and relationships and the respect demanded by gangsters and those that are in their orbit, then this makes for an intriguing read.
A good read about sibling rivalry set in the criminal underclass of East London. Freddie Jackson leaves prison having made contact with a major criminal Ozzy who runs his empire from within the gaol. Acting as Ozzy's lieutenant Freddie chooses his young cousin Jimmy to act as a go-between because Jimmy has no criminal record. But over time Jimmy gains Ozzy's respect and trust. The two gangsters are married to sisters. Freddie's wife is dependant upon drink and drugs and very jealous of her sister. While the world they live in has a strong moral code - loyalty - care for families - honesty in dealings with superiors (not the general public), retribution is swift and violent. Jealousy and betrayal erode the family bonds with severe consequences.This is a violent world and the language is authentic - the rhyming slang is used appriately and naturally. I only wish I had used a notebook at the start to collect all the phrases.Reading an interview with Martina Cole in the Guardian, this is a culture she knows well.
What do You think about The Take (2006)?
the book is amazing. one of these catching novels that you can't put it down.I love it even more because I watched the series first and what blows my mind is the different ending. both Ends are perfect for the storyline. Also I'd like to thank whoever do the casting for the series. they really did great work, casting tom hardy, charlotte riley and Kierston Wareing as freddie, maggie and jackie. every single description for their characters totally fits them and they did perfect work portraying these complex and rich characters. Martina cole did a great masterpiece and each description and detail was perfectly written as if you see them before you
—Wesam Hamdy
I have read all of Martina Cole's novels. There is no point reviewing them all because they follow a similar plot. However The Take is with out doubt my favourite. As gritty as grit could ever be. Characters you despise. Characters you should despise. Women you love, Women you pity. Women you recognise. But the men are always responsible for the carnage. Freddy and Jimmy Jackson are two of Cole's best characters. Tom Hardy played Freddy to a tea in Sky One's version. However son't watch it before you read the book as they change the ending.
—Donna
I actually had a really hard time getting into this novel. I'd seen the BBC film version starring Tom Hardy and was intrigued with the characters so I picked up the book. Despite taking awhile to get into once I did I couldn't put this book down. The film and book couldn't have been more different and I actually preferred the novels ending. Freddie Jackson is that quintessential character that you love to hate. He's a drug snorting beer guzzling philandering murdered but you can't help turning the page to see what he'll do next. Jimmy is sort of the stereotypical straight man to begin with but of all the characters I think he has the largest change in the novel. The rest of the assorted characters Maggie, Jackie, Ozzy, Pat, little Freddie are all such large personalities themselves it makes for a very engaging book that I would highly recommend.
—Nora Beaman
