Blood Brothers

Gallowburn #1

by Heather Atkinson

When you’re running the streets, loyalty is everything…

Gangs rule the streets of the rough Gallowburn Estate in Glasgow, but the deepest rivalry of all is between Jamie Gray and his friends, known as the Blood Brothers, and their enemies, the Lawsons.

The two gangs clash frequently, but when a phone containing incriminating evidence disappears after a particularly brutal run-in, the stakes are higher than ever.

Jamie’s mother Jackie is as hard as nails and is not going to let anyone hurt her boy – even if she has to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. What she wants more than anything though, is to see Jamie turn his back on the street life. And when he meets spoilt rich-girl Allegra, who has a penchant for shoplifting, Jackie thinks she could be Jamie’s way out.

But with the Lawsons closing in, and everyone taking sides, there is only one way out for Jamie, and to triumph he must take out his biggest enemy…

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 8, 2020

About the author

**MY NEXT TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED BOOK, A SAVAGE INHERITANCE (SAVAGE SISTERS SERIES #4) IS NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON PRICED £2.84. RELEASE DATE 7TH OCTOBER 2024**

**MY NEXT SELF PUBLISHED BOOK, DEADLY GAMES (BLAGGER'S CODE SERIES #6) WILL BE RELEASED ON 29TH SEPTEMBER 2024 ONLY ON AMAZON KINDLE**

Author of over seventy books so far. Living on the beautiful west coast of Scotland with my husband, twin daughters and a cat called Mavis, although I am originally from Lancashire in the north of England.

My tastes in all things are eclectic, which extends to my writing. Although I primarily write crime books - especially gangland thrillers - I also write gothic historical romance and fantasy. I publish on Amazon Kindle and some of my novels are available in paperback too. I also have a traditional publishing contract with Boldwood Books.

When I'm not writing - which isn't very often - I enjoy reading Daphne Du Maurier, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, MR James and the Brontes, among many others. I also enjoy swimming, walking and spending time with my family.

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆ Gritty, Tense, Thrilling....
A New Must Read Gang-Lit Series!

Blood Brothers is a thrilling new Gang-Lit series set in Glasgow.

Best friends Jamie, Logan, Digger and Gary are well known to the Gallowburn area as being the feared Blood Brothers.

But there is a new threat upon them....The Lawsons!  Although Blood Brothers run the streets and people feared them... The Lawsons have a larger group and are threatening to take over!

After many a run in with The Lawsons, trouble is brewing when a certain person swipes a mobile containing information that could ruin The Lawsons. But they want it back and will stop at nothing to get it!

But that might not be the only threat to The Blood Brothers...when Jamie meets the dangerously beautiful Allegra!

Blood Brothers is an Thrilling, Tense and Enthralling read, that is pacy, gritty and has just the right amount of danger and twists.
The Characters are superbly written and I can't wait to read more of their story!
If you love Gang-Lit crime fiction and looking for a new addictive series then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Blood Brothers!



Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.





You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/1...

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Brothers is the first of four prospective instalments in The Gallowburn series and is a gritty gangland thriller, set on the fictional Gallowburn housing estate in Glasgow. Life on the Gallowburn estate is tougher than many other places in the city and is a place where loyalty and family matter above all else. Four friends, who have called it their home for longer than they care to remember, become known by the local residents as the Blood Brothers. Leader Jamie Gray, and his friends Digger Barrie, Gary and bestie Logan McVitie have had many run-ins with their sworn enemies, The Lawsons, and the clashes begin to become more troublesome each time, so it's only a matter of time before things really turn nasty as the Blood Brothers consider The Lawsons to be muscling in on their turf and disturbing the peace. They seemingly have no respect for The Bloods. Tension turns into a violent territorial dispute as The Lawson’s don't care that the Bloods see, and have made it crystal clear, the North side of the estate belongs to them. When John Lawson’s mobile vanishes he will do anything to get it back and points the finger of blame squarely at Jamie’s gang.

Jamie currently works in Malcolm’s shop, and although he despises it, one day he meets a stunning, glamorous blonde who appeared to be wearing designer togs and shoes and was caught stealing vape refills when Jamie catches her stuffing them into her equally expensive-looking handbag. They soon realise through their strange encounter that they like each other despite him being a rough, dangerous guy from a council estate and her from an affluent background where she was spoiled rotten. They initially appear to be chalk and cheese but they are both gobby, ballsy and enjoy good banter. Having much more in common than it first seems could Allegra Abernethy be Jamie’s meal ticket to a better life? This is a riveting and compulsive gangland thriller with enough grit and edginess to keeping the pages turning well into the night. The characters are engaging, memorable and well-drawn with some you develop a soft spot for and some you despise almost immediately. With tonnes of drama, action and dangerous showdowns, this is a must-read for those who enjoy explosive gangland crime. Highly recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a little confession to make- yes yet another one. I have heard of Heather Atkinson but until now I hadn’t read anything that she has written. What a mistake to make as the saying goes. Having enjoyed reading ‘Blood Brothers’ as much as I did, I am now rather cross with myself that I left it this late to discover just how fabulous her books are. I loved reading ‘Blood Brothers’ but more about that in a bit.
I am a huge fan of any stories that involve ‘Gangland Britain’. That particular world fascinates me as much as it scares the crap out of me. So you can imagine why the synopsis of ‘Blood Brothers’ screamed ‘you need to read me’ at me. For once I did as the book told me and I grabbed a cup of tea before settling down for a darn good read. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and I also lost track of just how quickly I was getting through the story. It was only when I looked up at the time that I saw just how much I had read in one go- I had read a third of the story in one long reading binge, which is largely unheard of for me. I was intrigued by the story and by the characters and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for the individual characters and their loved ones. The pages turned over fairly quickly as I raced through to the end. Then all too quickly I reached the end of ‘Blood Brothers’ and I had to bid a temporary farewell to the characters of the story. I look forward to reading the second instalment of the ‘Gallowburn’ series. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait.
‘Blood Brothers’ is superbly written. Had I realised just how flipping good an author Heather Atkinson is, then I guarantee that I would have read her books long before now. She certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into an times scary story. Once she has your attention she reels you in and then you find that you just can’t put the book down. That’s what happened to me at any rate. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s down to Heather’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. Although I confess I would probably be hiding somewhere to keep out of the way of certain scary characters. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I was gripped by the story from start to finish and I was on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, ‘Blood Brothers’ is one seriously addictive and fabulous read. I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Heather’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a book
Gallowburn Glasgow on the estate.
Jamie Grey the leader of The Blood Brother's.
Best mate Logan McVitie they don't take no stick.
Jamie hates his day job at the shop he has to earn a crust.
Allegra Abernethy, busty blonde wants Jamie .
What a story, it had me gripped, so intense in part's, that will give you goose bumps.
It's a race against time for their love, her dangerous his princess with a slap bang ending.
LOVED IT.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first but certainly not my last read by this author. What a read!

Blood Brothers is the start of a great series. There is a great mix of characters to live and hate. Lots of action with a great storyline.

I can’t wait to read more from this author. If you enjoy gangland crime stories then I highly recommend you read this story.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Galloway ist das Viertel von Glasgow mit dem schlechtesten Ruf. Es wird von zwei Banden kontrolliert, den Lawsons und den Blood Brothers. Sie geraten immer wieder aneinander. Bei einer Auseinandersetzung stiehlt einer der Blood Brothers ein Handy, das für den Bestohlenen eine besondere Bedeutung hat.

Jamie ist der Kopf der Blood Brothers. Er lebt mit seiner Mutter und mit seinem kleinen Bruder im Herzen des Viertels. Durch die Verantwortung, die er für die Beiden trägt, ist er reifer als viele seiner Freunde und ist auch derjenige, der die endgültigen Entscheidungen bei den Blood Brothers trifft. Trotzdem ist der Diebstahl des Telefons hinter seinem Rücken passiert und gerade das bringt ihn und seine Freunde in Gefahr.

Für diesen Krimi war ich nicht die richtige Zielgruppe, die Autorin schreibt für eine deutlich jüngere Leserschaft. Es gibt neben dem Bandenkrieg die Romanze zwischen dem Bad Boy und dem Mädchen aus reichem Haus, das natürlich ein dunkles Geheimnis hat. Das Verhalten manchmal fast schon alberne Verhalten der Beiden fand ich unpassend, passt aber zur Zielgruppe.

Wenn ich das Verhalten der Protagonisten außen vor lasse, ist der Rest ein ordentlicher Krimi. Ein bisschen vorhersehbar, aber nicht schlecht geschrieben.

[Adam Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book!

I loved the characters the authentic language and how the book was written, the only negative imo is that I could tell something wasn’t going to happen. I just felt like I knew it wasn’t going to happen because if the way it had been hyped up. The ending was good and unexpected. There is also a couple intimate scenes which I was not aware of!

[Alyson Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the start of a brand new gangland series set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow. The scheme as it is referred to is rough, poverty stricken and has spread to cover a huge area, but essentially it contains good people who still know what it is like to live in a community and look out for their neighbours. Living on the north side of the estate, Jamie Gray and his three friends Gary, Digger and Logan form a gang called the Blood Brothers and have been together since their school days. Their sworn enemies are the Lawson gang from the south. They are all aged around twenty one now but this is not organized crime by any means. They’re not drug dealers or pimps, this is more about protecting their own and hanging on to their own territory. They fight one night and then the next they are drinking in the same pub, only to be refereed by the pub landlady with a broom if there is any trouble, plus most of them go home to their parents at night. They are not exactly hardened criminals, they don’t carry knives or guns, and two have day jobs too, one in a shop and one in a call centre. Even Jamie’s mum, Jackie, poses more of a threat, attacking one rival gang member with a frying pan! Only John’s older brother, the psychotic Craig, is more dangerous, having recently been released after serving five years in prison on a GBH charge. This coincides with the theft of John's phone whilst the gangs are having a ruck one night. Stolen on the order of Logan’s father who wants to get his hands on John’s contacts for a forthcoming planned robbery, the phone contains far more than anyone expected and Craig is determined to get it back at any cost. The Blood Brothers suddenly find they will have to grow up fast as their world has just become a lot more serious. Added to Jamie’s problems is the arrival of Allegra, a wild and out of control posh girl who is intent on snaring him despite knowing she will incur the wrath of her very rich and powerful controlling father. She might be able to stand up for herself and gives as good as she gets fight-wise, but there is something a little unhinged and unpredictable about her. This may cause problems for the brothers, especially when she confides in Jamie that her father has done some terrible things in the past. When a dead body is discovered events start to spiral out of control for everyone involved and a plan is required to shut down all the threats and bloodshed for good. Can that ever happen on the Gallowburn? In an explosive and shocking ending we’re just about to find out. There is a lot of humour in the story, as well as the obvious warmth and loyalty which is so important to the people involved, and there is lots of action and gritty language as might be expected. Some of the characters, like Jackie and Ephraim, were great and easy to imagine, but I found a few, like Allegra, not quite so credible or convincing. Overall it was an enjoyable read, not horrific or purely out to shock like a lot of gang stories, but more about love, life and loyalty. I am looking forward to the next instalment in this series already. 4*

[Lucy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one of a new series set in Glasgow on the Gallowburn estate.

We meet the Blood Brothers Jamie and his friends when they clash with rival enemies the Lawsons.

Jamie meets Allegra who is from a rich family, can he turn his life around.

This is a great storyline and the characters are very well written, left nicely set up for the next installment.

If you like gangland crime then this is for you.

[joan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood brothers

This was my first book in is series it won’t be my last it was gripping until the end great resd

[mrs christine hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Really enjoyed this book great story line and good characters now I can’t wait for the next one in the series

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Brothers by Heather Atkinson sees the start of a new series called The Gallowburn series. A gangland thriller set in Gallowburn Housing estate, a fictional place within Glasgow. A housing estate of the type we see all round the U.K where the people have to fight everyday just to get through. An estate where family and loyalty are king above all.
Best friends Jamie, Logan, Digger and Gary have lived here forever and are known as the Blood Brothers. Everyone on their estate knows and fears them until a threat appears to over throw them. The Lawsons are a bigger group and are on the path to take over from the Blood Brothers. The two gangs have run-ins after run-ins until the fateful day a mobile phone is stolen with important information on it. The Lawsons want it back and nothing will stand in their way!
This is just the beginning of big trouble for the Blood Brothers as Jamie meets Allegra, beautiful but she maybe dangerous for the four friends? Only time will tell.
An enthralling read that I found fast-paced, gritty and rather tense throughout. I enjoyed the twists and the feeling of danger I got from the story as well, there was always something to anticipate as I read. The characters really fitted well into the book. They all brought a good sense of realism for me, which is great with a gangland story as I can easily picture this life being from a rough council estate myself. I could easily see these things happening on a street near me!
Beilliant beginning to a new series can't wait for the next instalment.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy of the book for my review today.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set on the fictional Gallowburn housing estate this is the first of four installments of a gangland intense thriller and what a corker it is.

Jamie Grey is the leader of the Blood brothers the other 4 members being digger, Barrie, Gary, and Logan.

They rule the north side of the Gallowburn, but their arch-rivals the Lawsons are trying to take over. They have a run-in and in the fight, John Lawson's mobile phone goes missing with important and incriminating information on it. Immediately the Blood brothers are blamed and The Lawsons want it back.
Designer clad Allegra Abernethy sets her sights on Jamie after seeing him whilst he is working in a shop. She sees Jamie as a rough diamond and wants him.

Such a brilliant fast pacing book. It has violence, grit, and gasping moments. Well worth 5* and more.
Well done Heather Atkinson

[Joanne Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a fantastic read start to finish.

Jamie is the rough lad on the estage with his 3 blood brothers who are also fighting the Lawsons

Jamie meets Allerge, and then all the twists, turns, and excitement start.

Allerge dad, a ruthless evil businessesman that has been closed doors, hurts people and his own daughter. He employs people to hurt and kill others.

I love Jamie mam and her frying pan, she such a good character with a loving bond for her sons and his friends.

Once I started reading, I didn't want to put this storybook down.

[Biff meechan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood Brothers ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have been waiting to read this since I seen it advertised. It was as good as I hoped & I didn't want to finish it.Heather Atkinson is my favourite author,I enjoy the storylines & the latter between the characters,if you like this author you'll love this book & it's the first of a new series & there's plenty of characters who we can get to know better throughout the series ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Patricia Hornsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very very disappointing

I just cannot believe that Heather Atkinson wrote this terrible book. I have a lot of her stories but I think her writing has gone downhill these last few years. It's full of bad language and the characters are just saying words with no particular meaning to them . How she got this rubbish published i,'ll never know . You have disappointed me Heather. Nothing more to be said other than I read up to 16% on my Kindle then gave up on it in disgust.

[Crooked Eye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather silly but entertaining romp through the poverty stricken estate of Gallowburn, where the hard-men are unashamedly boys. The silly bit comes in around the climax of the story where everything pans out far too neatly before the predictable epilogue. Still an entertaining read. I'll definitely read the next book in the series.

[Mohamed Zaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how the writer incorporates gang war with romance....plus there's several Scottish slangs in this book as the story is set in Scotland and the protagonist Jamie Gray is quite interesting and vulnerable at the same and the characters like Allegra, Jackie and more also leaves some impact for this story.....overall, worthy read and apparently there's sequels for this book.....

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gritty gangland thriller, set in Glasgow, a feud between Blood brothers and the Lawsons. It is fast paced and an easy and quick read. There is certainly plenty action in this book, excellent characters, an interesting storyline and it is full of twists. I loved the twist at the end! Perfect for fans of Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a book! One of my best books of 2020. Had me completely gripped from start to finish. Heather has done a brilliant job with this book! I've read other by Heather and I will continue to read her books!

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather does it yet again

Loved this book and the characters, a real page Turner that gets you hooked from the first chapter.
Kept me guessing right to the end . A must read. Looking forward to the next Blood Brothers.

[Shane Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Found this author via kindle unlimited and thought I give this a read and so glad I did a excellent gripping read that kept me hooked from the start and right upto the finish. Looking forward to reading the next one coming out this year.

[johnanimalantics.net, Margaret G Conlan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me

The very first page had swearing on it so unfortunately this is not for me as I feel its unnecessary. I do appreciate that other people find it acceptable so I’ll leave it there.

[James Kennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing change

A so carefully written novel. Not a run of the mill gungho male dominated gangland thriller. Comical in places, sad in others but a definite series I shall be following, Thank you Heather for a wonderful read 😉👍

[Jenny Lampitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing!😊

Wow wow wow! This 1st book of the series the blood brothers, had me up till 3am I just could not out It down! Gritty, exciting,dangerous and Helen is a fantastic writer 👍 can't wait to read no.2 now 😍

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable Glasgow gang read. Great characters who are shaped by their circumstances and in essence trapped in some way. Some particularly strong female characters who I hope we hear more of in the rest of the series.

[elizabeth lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Best author

I love Alleges and Jamie. love the ice cream man too. Great story great characters. Can't wait for the next edition

[sue pensom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Another page Turner could not put down read in two sleepless nights. Ending leaves open for a sequel ..can't wait . X



two sleepless nights

[Lisa Thewlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

What a fantastic storyline, jamie is dangerous and intriguing. Can't wait for the next book to come out. Enjoy guys

[Mrs.Catherine Round-Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this storyline. Great characters. Just got to wait till June for next in series.

Highly Recommend