A very gritty thriller, which is exactly what we have come to expect from Heather Burnside. The first book in a trilogy about the Robinson family and siblings Peter and Adele being dragged up in Manchester in a dysfunction household. A true tale of blood is thicker than water.

Born bad by Heather Burnside.
Manchester Trilogy Book 1.
Brother and sister Peter and Adele Robinson never stood a chance. Dragged up by an alcoholic, violent father, and a weak, beaten mother, their childhood in Manchester only prepared them for a life of crime and struggle. But Adele is determined to break the mould. She studies hard at school and, inspired by her beloved grandmother Joyce, she finally makes a successful life for herself on her own.Peter is not so lucky. Getting more and more immersed in the murky world of crime and gangs, his close bonds with Adele gradually loosen until they look set to break altogether.But old habits die hard, and one devastating night, Adele is forced to confront her violent past. Dragged back into her worst nightmares, there's only one person she can turn to when her life is on the line – her brother Peter. After all, blood is thicker than water...
I really really enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

I kinda read these wrong and ended up reading book two Blood Ties before I read Born bad. As these are part of Manchester Trilogy I do recommend you do the opposite of me and read in order.

Having said that I absolutely loved this story. I now get Peter and Adele’s back story. Adele is working hard at school for her A levels. Her brother is the complete opposite and ends up turning to crime.

I’m not going to spoil it for you so I’ll leave it there. I really enjoyed this story and ended up reading it in a day. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

'Born Bad' is the first book in the 'Manchester Trilogy' series, a gritty gangland crime story set in Manchester. I have read this book after reading the other two later books, and so I knew what to expect. It was good to meet Adele and Peter in the early stages of their life, the abuse and lack of care they receive make the people they become in later life.

It's interesting that different personalities react in diverse ways to their nurturing, or lack of it and the events in this book pave the way for the further books in the series with some surprising twists.

This is a harrowing story. Domestic abuse, neglect and violence are prominent, this is hard to read, but an essential component of this genre. The story is good and well-paced. The characters are complex, flawed and realistic.

If you are looking for a British based, organised crime series, focused on the family, this is a book and series worth reading.

I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus - Aria in return for an honest review.

5☆ A Gritty & Enthralling New gang-lit series I couldn't put down!

Born Bad is the first part in a new gritty gang-lit series.
However I read Blood Ties first which is the second book. But I'm so glad I went back and read Born Bad as it really shaped the characters lives.
I really felt a bond with them in this book, as the second book I missed out.

Born Bad takes you on a journey of two siblings living in an abusive home and how they each coped differently.

Adele and her younger Brother Peter don't come from a loving or nurturing home.
Their Dad is a violent Alcoholic, who regularly beats his wife and Son Peter.
Their Mother is a victim who is so low and down trodden she relies heavily on medication to blot out the world around her.
The house is filthy, barely anything to eat, the children don't have new clothes or clothes that are suitable.
The only constant and loving family member is their Grandmother who does what she can, but her health is deteriorating fast.

Adele is studious and very clever, but she is bullied by the other kids, which in turn evokes her Anger she tries so hard to suppress.
Adele was courageous and strong even if she did get side tracked sometimes.
Peter is a wayward child, a lil bit of a rogue but his increasingly becoming more violent, warped, and sinister, it certainly made me shudder!

Peter gets in with the wrong crowd as he gets older and soon finds himself serving time.

What I loved was the bond between Adele and Peter. They relied on each other, to look out for one and other, even though they was so very different.
Even when she knew Peter was in the wrong she always tried to protect him.
Especially from getting severe beatings from their Father.
It was very clear that Peter was his Father's whipping boy and Adele always jumped into save him. 

There are some sensitive subjects such as domestic abuse, violence, depression and bullying and some reference to animal abuse, which some readers may find difficult to read, but Heather has handled them with the right amount of sensitivity to still make an impact.

Born Bad is a Gritty, Enthralling read that I couldn't put down.
For me reading the books out of sequence, meant that finally reading Born Bad was like the glue that merged the stories.
The Characters are perfectly developed for the story, they are strong, multi-layered, Complex and relatable.
The pace was gripping, tense and enticing.

Born Bad is the perfect start to another Gem of a series by Heather Burnside.
I can't recommend reading this new gang-lit series enough!

Thank you to Aria Fiction for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is the first book in the Manchester Trilogy. Adele Robinson and her brother, Peter are brought up in an abusive home by their alcoholic and violent father and their downtrodden mother. Destined for a life similar to their childhood, Adele vows to make sure that her life is different and by working hard at school her life turns out better. Peter, on the other hand, heads down the road leading to a life of crime. His relationship with Adele suffers because of this until it eventually breaks completely. One night, some years later, a violent incident leads to Adele seeking out her brother as he is the only one she can turn to….

Told over the course of several years from childhood to adulthood, this book had me drawn in hook, line and sinker from the first few pages. My heart broke for Adele and Peter’s childhood experiences and, whilst really well written, it was hard reading of their time at home with their abusive father and it brought tears to my eyes. I liked Adele’s character and admired her passion to do well in her education and be a success in life. I wasn’t surprised that Peter turned out the way he did, but his relationship with Adele when they were children was heart-warming at times, when Peter let the ‘tough boy’ attitude drop!

As the book moved on through their lives, I was completely mesmerised with their stories. I won’t ruin the story by telling you how Adele and Peter end up back together, but it was a shocking and violent incident and Adele obviously had no one else to turn to other than her criminal brother. Whilst this was a gritty, raw and hard hitting book with references to violence, crime, and emotional and physical abuse, it was all written in context to the storyline. All these things showed how the consequences of these actions sent ripples through Adele and Peter’s lives and how they struggled to have any sense of normality.

I really liked Adele and Peter’s characters, but the majority of the characters weren’t particularly likeable – but then again, I don’t suppose they were meant to be! I did love Adele and Peter’s Grandma – the one loving person in their childhood, providing them with treats, clothes and more importantly love. The location of the book, in the rougher areas of Manchester, was realistic and having parents from the Manchester area I was able to understand a lot of the Northern slang which was used in the book!

A completely gripping, shocking and sad story, but one which I couldn’t tear my eyes away from! The ending was left on a bit of a cliff-hanger so I’m now desperate to get started on the second book to continue with the story! Would definitely recommend!!

This book was really good I have never read a book by this quite but I defiantly will be reading more

Finally got my act together and re started this series, I read this the first book a good while back and then neglected to carry on with the series, not because of the series I just seemed to get lost reading everything else on my back list.
Rather than setting off again at book 2, I decided it would be better to re read book one and refresh my mind, i'm glad I did. It was as enjoyable the 2nd time as it was the first. I'm hoping this series is going to be as awesome as it seems and I'm really looking forward to catching up with the rest of the books.

The story set in Manchester is based around a family growing up, the evil of domestic violence and a crappy childhood and the impact it can have on young lives when growing up.

Its gritty, tense and a damn good read.

The story is well written no doubt however plot wise it's nothing new. The situations, backgrounds are very familiar in the way how a criminal is made and is written about in novels.

Bought up by a violent drunken father and a mother who is too weak to fight back Adele and her brother Peter have a shocking childhood.
The story is set in Manchester.
Whilst Peter turns to crime Adele with the support of her Grandmother excels at school and shows promise. But situations take a turn and Adele is thrown into a side of crime she has tried so hard to break from. She sides with her brother and they become a formidable team.
It was an ok book, a bit predictable and I have read better.

Ok, wow. I started reading this book, not expecting much, as it was a new author for me. I ended up polishing this book in one sitting. It ended in such a way, that I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the sequel as an ARC and could finish where book 1 ended. Very very good, and Ms Burnside can be considered on the same level as the queens of crime. Highly recommended!

A difficult upbringing with abusive parents who take drugs. The siblings have the same start in life but with two very different outcomes.
I love books set in cities that I haven’t visited yet as they make me want to visit soon.
The book is quite enjoyable although sometimes a little slow but overall well written. It’s book 1 of a trilogy and I look forward to the next book.
Fatima
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Apparently this is the first of a trilogy which I'm so pleased about as I bloody loved it! I'm new to the author Heather Burnside but I'm happy to say she is now firmly on my radar!

This book is painfully honest, gritty & tense and I cannot wait for book two!

If you like Casey Kelleher, Jacque Rose, Jessie Keane or Kimberley Chambers you need to add Heather Burnside to your list!

Thanks to Aria for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

this book was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this to friends

Adele and Peter Robinson have a really tough upbringing which is the subject of this book. Their father drinks too much and takes his anger out on those around him, especially his wife. Adele and Peter are used to seeing bruises on their mother and hearing excuses for the violence. I enjoyed this gritty book. I liked that it there was a lot of details in the book about the Robinson's lives and the way the story comes together. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

Oh my god, what a book!! Despite being siblings and bring brought up in the same home environment, Peter and Adele couldn't be more different if they tried. In his spare time, Peter enjoys doing anything that he SHOULDN'T do, aka, anything that's against the law. Whereas Adele is seen as the 'goody two shoes', a hard worker who is severely misunderstood. Well, if your father was beating you to a pulp as well, I reckon you might be a smudge misunderstood too. A mother is meant to protect her children; Adele and Peter's mother didn't, even though she too was used as a punchbag by her violent husband. 

Again, OH MY GOD, WHAT A BOOK!!!! I couldn't stop reading this book! From the very first page until the very last page, my eyes didn't move from the book in case I missed something important. The things which Peter got up to, shocked me to the core. The things which their father did, also shook me to the core. As for Adele's anger, did that shake me to my core? No. Why? Because she was hardly going to turn into a calm, anger free type of person considering the environment in which she was brought up! Just to clarify, I don't condone the results of her anger, but I can see WHY she was so angry.

Peter's choice of lifestyle didn't shock me at all, whereas the specifics did. I think that was because I had only watched Peter grow up in one way; the bad way, therefore it probably would have shocked me more if he had turned into a priest.

'Born Bad' has such a fast paced storyline which works well with the overall plot. If the pace had turned out to be a bit of a slow burner, I feel like that would have ruined the vibe. Luckily, the pace was spot on and so was the vibe. Heather Burnside has written about such chilling, devastating subjects, whilst still keeping them realistic. I'm not going to lie, the vivid imagery my mind conjured up thanks to the authors incredible descriptive story telling, gave me goosebumps and made me wince. I really was on the edge of my seat with this book as each and every situation seemed to get amplified as the story went on. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more cut throat; it did.

I am so pleased that 'Born Bad' is book one in a new series, as I cannot wait to find out how Adele's story unfolds in the next book. The only irk I have with this book is the conclusion being left severely hanging - annoying!! I just hope that we don't have too long to wait for book two.

A chilling, realistic, intense, and addictive storyline which will not only have you on the edge of your seat, it will also stay in your mind a long while after completing the book. Absolutely brilliant, highly recommended!
Thanks Aria.

Absolutely loved this book. As a huge fan of Martina Cole, Mandasue Heller etc., this book ticked all the boxes. Hugely addictive, I finished the book within a day and eagerly anticipate the next installment. This definitely has all the right ingredients to be a very successful series. Excellent.

A riveting story of family tragedy that will make you question everything you knew, and everyone you loved.

In the first of a trilogy we meet Adele and Peter a brother and sister brought up by an alcoholic, abusive father and a weak browbeaten mother
Peter is a troubled young lad beaten and thrown out one night by his father after getting into trouble. This leads to him moving into a squat with a gang of lads with rather dubious characters.
Adele decides she wants a better life and works hard for this, she studies hard, moves out as soon as she can.
Things don’t go to plan for either of them and their childhood closeness is fractures and they lose contact completely but when things spiral out of control for Adele she turns to the only one she can trust, Peter.

If you like Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Jessie Keane you will enjoy this and others written by Heather Burnside.

Read for an honest review. Thank you netgalley and Aria