For one thing, she likes to discipline disappointing employees by scooping out their eyeballs and keeping them as souvenirs. Jamie Gray and his gang the Blood Brothers are happy to do her dirty work in return for lessons in the ways of the local underworld, but are in no doubt that they need to keep Toni sweet to keep themselves safe. Rival families The Gordons and The Thompsons are ready for a turf war, keen to take over the lucrative Gallowburn estate, and weaken Toni’s grip on the city. But can the old enemies really trust each other enough to join forces? And will their assumption that the Blood Brothers are the weak link in the McVay empire, prove to be their greatest mistake? Meanwhile Jamie’s past refuses to stay hidden, and as his biggest secret looks set to be revealed with explosive consequences, Jamie faces the battle of his life. To keep his family safe, to keep his friends safe, to keep himself safe, and to keep the woman he loves alive. If you love Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers, and Jessie Keane, you’ll love Heather Atkinson. Discover the bestselling gangland author Heather Atkinson and you'll never look back... What readers are saying about Heather 'Another brilliant book from Heather...she really is one the best in the business. ' 'I have read ALL Heather Atkinson's books. They are all fantastic.' 'All Heather's books are action packed and have you on edge.' 'I stumbled upon Heather's books and I'm so glad I did, characters excellent and storylines are great , I find myself searching the book stores for more of them to read the minute I finish one.'
**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.
Danger lurks everywhere for the Blood Brothers on the Gallowburn estate. 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. However, no one goes to the police – they rely on the Blood Brothers instead to sort out their problems. 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. In their early twenties they have grown up fast, particularly since falling under the employ of the notorious Toni McVay, aka the Queen of Glasgow and head one of the most feared families in Scotland, anxious to please her and keep their eyeballs intact. The Brothers are all about protecting their own and hanging on to their territory and their sworn enemies are the Lawson gang from the south side. With the psychotic Craig Lawson now in Barlinnie for murdering Cameron Abernethy’s accountant, younger brother John is less than up to the job and Craig relies on his cousin Nick for help on the outside. Also in the same prison is Cameron, set up by his daughter Allegra and convicted for her murder. Only Jamie, Jackie and the private investigator Gavin Mullen know that she is still alive living under an alias in Europe. Cameron is convinced that Allegra is alive and plots with Craig to bring about Jamie’s downfall by setting an investigator on her trail. Meanwhile on the Gallowburn, the Gordon family from Maryhill pose a threat to the Brothers as they are looking to target Toni’s business there. With the Gordons constantly feuding with their arch rivals the Thompsons from Possilpark, both of these families know only one of them can take over the estate and standing in their way are the Brothers who will really need to rally their troops and step up their game to protect their turf. Just who can be trusted? Will Jamie be able to keep everyone safe from harm? Will Jackie and Mullen ever be reunited? Just who will come out victorious in the second Battle of Gallowburn? I really love this series!! Most of the brilliant characters from books one and two are still there, including my absolute favourite, the psychotic ice-cream man Ephraim, ferocious weapon wielding pub landlady Deirdre and husband Eric, the superb Reverend Valerie Brown who in the previous book actually turned out to be a McVay herself and of course Jamie’s fiercely protective and loyal mother Jackie. There is masses of thrilling action in this excellent story and I have a great affection for the boys and their families who, with their obvious loyalty and humorous banter, have really grown me in the three books so far. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next for them! 5*
I have been a fan of Heather’s work for a little while now.. It was the first book in the ‘Gallowburn’ series called ‘Blood Brothers’ that introduced me to Heather’s work and I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t believe I had left it this long to realise just how fantastic an author Heather is. Since then I have tried to read one of her earlier books when I have the spare time and I keep up with every new book that she releases. The third book in the ‘Gallowburn’ series is called ‘Blood Ties’ and it is another corker of a read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Blood Ties’ but more about that in a bit. As soon as I started reading ‘Blood Ties’, I knew that I was going to find it rather difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. I was drawn in by the storylines, the intriguing characters and the violence. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wanted down the wrong path entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. The more of the book that I read, the more that I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. This was one of those stories that really got under my skin and stayed on my mind for quite a while after I finished reading it. I found ‘Blood Ties’ to be an unputdownable page turner of a read and then some. The storylines were gritty, the characters were ever so slightly scary and the violence made me wince at times as if I was on the receiving end. ‘Blood Ties’ certainly kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. ‘Blood Ties’ is superbly written but then that is also true of Heather’s books in general. Heather certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a read. For me, the story hits the ground running and maintains a fairly fast and scary pace throughout. Reading ‘Blood Ties’ felt like being on a rather scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could take a moment to reclaim your stomach, gather your thoughts and take a breather, then off the action would go again. At certain times I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next. I love the fact that the series is mostly set in Glasgow and I even read the dialogue between the characters in a Glaswegian accent. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that’s thanks to Heather’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Blood Ties’ and I would recommend it 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*.
Gritty, gutsy and jaw-dropping, gangland chiller fans are going to lap up Heather Atkinson’s latest Glasgow-set novel, Blood Ties.
Toni McVay rules the Glaswegian underworld with an iron fist. Nobody dares disappoint the Queen of Glasgow and should anyone incur her wrath, Jamie Gray and his gang are immediately informed and they exact her blood-thirsty instructions to the letter. While Jamie and his gang get their hands very dirty, Toni instructs them in the nefarious methods of the criminal underworld. Jamie and the Blood Brothers know that Toni relies on them, however, they daren’t put a foot wrong because they know that if they displease her, then it will be their eyeballs the Queen of Glasgow will be keeping as souvenirs! Toni’s word might be law on the mean streets of Glasgow, but could her reign be threatened by two rival families keen to weaken her grip on the city?
The Gordon and Thompson clans are itching for a turf war. They are keen to knock Toni off her pedestal and they will use any means necessary to achieve their objectives. Could Jamie Gray and the Blood Brothers hold the key to making their plans for total domination a reality? The two families assume that the Blood Brothers are the weak links in the operation Toni McVay is running. But just how correct are their assumptions?
The stakes for Jamie Gray have never been higher. With past secrets threatening to be revealed, Jamie has the fight of his life on his hands. With his future in jeopardy, Jamie needs to stay out of trouble and keep himself, his family and the woman he loves safe – and failure is definitely not an option! With everything to lose, will Jamie manage to keep the people he loves safe from harm? Or is he doomed to fail?
My heart was in my throat the whole time I was reading Heather Atkinson’s Blood Ties! The criminal underworld of Glasgow is brought to vivid and terrifying life in Blood Ties and readers will not be able to stop themselves from turning the pages desperate to find out what is going to happen next.
Action-packed, hard-hitting and nail-biting, Blood Ties is another must-read chiller by Heather Atkinson.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the third book in the Gallowburn series. I have read and reviewed the two previous books, and they were brilliant reads. I love a gritty, gangland thriller, and Heather Atkinson brings just that with every book I have read from her. The Blood Brothers are back! Jamie Gray and his three friends Gary, Digger, and Logan formed Blood Brothers when they were in school. Now, in their twenties, they have grown up rather quickly,especially since they started working for the notorious Toni McVay. A woman who is known as the Queen of Glasgow and head one of the most feared families in Scotland. Then there is Cameron Abernathy, who is in Barlinnie Prison for killing Allegra, his daughter, and Jamie's girlfriend. The biggest issue is that Allegra is not dead, and Cameron knows this. He has plans for Jamie upon his release. The added pressure of rival gangs attempting to take over the Blood Brothers turf Jamie knows they have to up their game. The problem is that they don't know who to trust or which way to turn. Will Jamie manage to keep everyone safe, and who will come out on top? I won't tell you, go read it! A story that easily rivals those from Kimberley Chambers or Mandasue Heller. The quality of Heather Atkinsons writing really places you right in the Gallowburn Estate with the Blood Brothers. The authors' characters are still second to none, with so many from the previous two books still playing their own unique part within this series. I do have a soft spot for Jamie's mum, Jackie. She just reminds me of those parents who stand by their kids through thick and thin. Her loyalty or protectiveness of Jamie never wavers. The banter is still present, and along with that and their loyalty to each other, the Blood Brothers made me feel a part of the gang, and yet again, I loved it! Three books later, I am still eager to read more!
I am over the moon to be part of the recent book tour arranged by Rachel's Random Resources for this amazingly dangerous and intense gangland thriller. I think this is the best one from the series that I have read so far. This had me engrossed from the first few pages and could very easily be a one-sitting read.
Getting reacquainted with the female boss, Toni and the Blood Brothers on the grimy council estate of Gallowburn was everything I have come to expect from this author. Although I am not sure if we are truly supposed to like these characters, their dark and gruesome ways of life are nothing less than sinister, but I can't help it! They always intrigue me and they left me a little deflated when the story came to an end, thinking I just wanted it to go on for a little longer. I wasn't ready to leave Gallowburn when this concluded.
Blood Ties is a fantastic page-turner and would be perfect for any fans of Martina Cole, Karen Rose, and Caro Savage. I can not wait to see what Heather produces next. She's definitely someone to look out for if you are a fan of this genre.
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources for a gifted copy of this book, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. All opinions are my own.
Blood Ties is the third book in the Gallowburn series. I admit I am a new fan of the author after reading the first two books in the series. Just when I think it couldn’t get any better it just did!
From start to finish I am tearing through the pages to get to the end. This book is bloody brilliant! I love everything about it….. the characters, the relationships, the good guys, the bad guys, the setting and of course the plot. I can hear the characters accents when they jump out of the pages who are brought to life with humour and personality.
It is gritty, twisty and action packed just what you would expect to find in a gangland thriller. If you’re a fan of gangland like myself this book/series is a must read.
Thank you to Rachel Gilby for inviting me to take part on this epic tour.
I love a good gangland crime book and this author really knows how to write fantastic ones. In my opinion it's a gift when you are able to create such fantastic stories where the readers do not feel like reading a book anymore but they become viewers of a gritty movie.
The characters have to be fierce, feisty, without fear and always watch their backs. Someone they trusted yesterday can have become their worst nightmare they next day, but on the other hand when there is a bond between them, there is nothing or nobody who can break it and they will fight for each other until their last breath.
A good gangland boss is respected by their 'family', but they also show respect to their loyal members. If you follow orders, you will be rewarded, but if you don't, you might not live long enough to tell the tale.
So yes, this kind of books contain a lot of violence, but that's not all they are about. They also are about loyalty, love and respect.
I had a great time reading this story. I felt lost once I finished the last page. Looking forward to more books by this amazing author. 5 stars
Oh boy, what a brilliant book. The third in the series.
We're back on the Gallowburn Estate with the blood brothers. I love this series and the characters in it, from Jackie Gray and her frying pain to Gangland boss Toni McVay who takes out people's eyes that cross her and keeps them in jars. With Allegra, Jamie Gray's supposedly dead girlfriend, living in Italy for putting her vicious father in prison accused of murdering her, Jamie and his gang are now facing the fight of their lives to protect "the scheme" two rival gangs are trying to muscle in on their territory and with Toni's backing they prepare to go to war.
This book is very gritty and violent, but on the flip side, there are tight bonds and protection of each other. A cracking read,
Toni Mcvay is the queen of Glasgow feared by many.Jamie Gray and his gang the Blood Brothers are learning all they can from Toni by doing her dirty work,to keep safe they need to keep her happy. The Gordon's and the Thompsons are rival families,they want to take over the Gallowburn estate and take Toni down,but can they trust each over to join forces. Thinking the Blood Brothers are the weak link could be their downfall before they have even started. Jamie has problems in his private life he needs to keep his biggest secret hidden but at what cost. Another great read from Heather Atkinson I could'nt put it down. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for the ARC
I’ve been reading books by Heather Atkinson for a while now so it was a no brainer when the blog tour request for Blood Ties came into my inbox. I’m so happy I read this because as usual, this author does not disappoint. Action packed, never dull, it’s easy to speed through this book. If you’re looking for a perfect crime read, this is the author you should be checking out. Blood Ties has all the elements for a gangland read and I absolutely loved it. Great writing, great characters, great plot…overall, just great. Don’t miss out! Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
This is book three in the blood brothers series and what a read it is. Heather has done it again. A fast paced gritty gangland gangster read. Cameron is now in prison for the death of his daughter Allegra and is desperate to prove she’s alive to regain his freedom. There is a full on gangland war with people turning against each other and other’s ganging up together to try and bring down the blood brothers and also Toni McVey. Who can Jamie trust and will he and his family and friends get out of this war in one piece. I can’t wait for book four. If this is your genre then I highly recommend this book a five star read.
O WOW, i love this set of books, the characters are fantastic. The blood brotbers run the gallowburn estate and are working with the mcvays the most fearsome family, Allegras dad cameran abernethy is convinced his daughter is still alive. ....... he is in prison for her murder but a body hasn't been found. Jackie gets happiness with mullen and is very handy with tackling people out to cauise the blood brothers harm with her trusty frying pan, BRILLIANT . .... couldnt put this down. Twists turns highley recommend
I only started reading this tonight, but it's so bloody good I'm well over halfway through already.
I love a good gangland thriller, they're so gritty, brutal & unputdownable. Although this was the third in the Gallowburn series it can easily be read as a standalone, but I will be going back to the start & reading the others in the series.
Very well written, with fantastic characterisations, a compelling plotline & strong family bonds.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot & gifted copy.
Blood Ties by Heather Atkinson is the third book in the Gallowburn’ series and the first book I have read by Heather. All the characters were brilliant and played good parts within this book. I may of not read the other 2 book but it did not ruin this book. So, If you love a gritty, gangland thriller this is a book for you. I will be going back to read the other two books,
Big Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for a gifted copy of this book, in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Another chance to catch up with Jamie and the blood brothers from the Gallowburn estate. This time family's are trying to takeover the estate and power from Toni mcVey. This will not happen easily. So buckle up for a fast paced read that will have you on the edge of your seat from chapter one. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loved the modern day gangs and gangsters books.
i so love this authors books and so enjoyed . the blood brothers have there hands full this time two family s want to take everything from Toni MCVAY , and Cameron Abernethy gets Natalie to look for Allegra as he wants out of prison and he will not stop at nothing the characters in this book are so funny i so can not wait for next book in series
I do enjoy this series of books, set in fictional Gallowburn in Glasgow. This is another good read by Heather Atkinson as Jamie battles with two rival gangs in the latest episode. Jackie's character is very amusing, especially when she wields her frying pan! I love the humour and the banter between the Blood Brothers, the characterisation is excellent. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
Blood Ties,: A Brand New gritty gangland thriller from Heather Atkinson⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This series is so good & as always with Heather Atkinson I never want the book to end ,she is definitely such a good author & I love all her books.I would definitely recommend this series so if you want to read them definitely start from the first book.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this series. I’m totally invested in the blood brothers! I normally only listen to audiobooks when walking the dog but this series has had me listening constantly! Housework flies by!
The story is violent at times, funny & touching at others. The blood brothers are loveable & I just wish everyone would leave them alone. Hell, even Caesar & Toni mcvey have grown on me!
Blood ties by Heather Atkinson. Gallowburn Series Book 3. The queen of Glasgow Toni McVay is back but this is no ordinary crime boss you do not want to cross. A brilliant read. Great story and characters. Although I was a little afraid of Toni myself. Love this series. 5*.
I've read all of Heather's books, and there hasn't been a bad one yet, but the Gallowburn series is my favourite of them all. You get flung in to the fast paced lives of all the interweaving characters and don't want the story to end. Another gripping tale
Book 3 on the Gallowburn Estate and what another great read. Heather Atkinson has smash it again with this one. Can wait to read book 4 in this brilliant series . Worth more than the 5 stars ✨ I can give
All the books so far have had me awake until late ,brilliant yet again from this author,I hope j and a get the ending I want ,amazing story not dragged out like some books