A gritty, emotional, no-holds-barred memoir that lays bare the reality of a county lines insider and reveals the truth about life on the frontline of Britain’s biggest drug threat for a generation. Her honesty and her no holds barred account, from barely a teenager to her life to date is to be commended. Danielle’s is nothing of the sort and right from the off she is upfront and takes responsibility for her actions.

Instead of trying to straighten out and get him back ASAP, she continued with the life of crime which would likely mean she’d never see him again…….Top Girl is a non-fiction, candid account of Danielle Marin, a grammar school girl turned county lines drug dealer. I think every school-age child should read this book as it’s a lesson in the consequences of making bad choices. She took a frontline role in county line drug dealing with a well-known London ‘gang’, which lasted for around 5 years, during which she witnessed serious gun and knife crime, as well as the more glamorous side of organised crime. For me the defining moment in Danielle’s story is the appalling lack of response by the authorities who effectively sold her down the river after a sustained and violent gang rape. She graduated from university with a first class honours degree and is currently studying for her Masters degree.

She takes full responsibility for some of the things that she has done but when you read the unfathomable trauma that she has endured you cannot help but feel a deep level of empathy for her. Danielle had a safe and happy childhood growing up in West London and looked to have a bright future, but this soon faded as she turned her back on academics for a life of crime and gangs.The book itself hits a bit of rinse and repeat stage, of her traveling out of London to deal drugs, spending money on designer gear and then back to the grind.

It stops dealers been dehumanised because it’s told from a place of truth and you get to understand some of what this amazing woman has been through.

Despite the dark side to this tale, there is also a lighter side, where Danielle spreads the message that no matter what mistakes are made, there is always a way out, and there can be sunshine after the rain. They aren’t always the people you are warned about, the ones in cars who want you to see their puppies or offering you a ride home ‘because your mother sent me’.