Well what can i say....... absolutely brilliant. Jamie and his friends run one part of the gallowburns estate and the lawsons the other. .Allegra a blonde bombshell comes into their lives like a whirlwind. They are from 2 very different worlds allegras father owns most of glasgow and he wont let allegra leave him for anything or anyone. Does it have a happy ending????. This is gritty, fast paced throw a few gang fights into the mix and collides 2 conpletely different worlds together cant wait for the next one.

This book is the first in the series .I thought this book was brilliant from start to finish, It was full of action and i really liked the characters. I loved the fact it was set in Glasgow and recognised some parts of it . A gritty page turning story line that i couldn't put down. I recommend this book to read

I am a big fan of Heather Atkinson. As with others in this genre all books follow a similar thread but non the less entertaining. This is the start of a new family and I cant wait to see what happens next.

This book was interesting
Full of characters
I thoroughly enjoyed the story
It was good that Jamie’s mother was thinking about him
And he meets Allegra who was a shop lifter
I had an ARC

Another thrilling read by a very talented author! This book grips you from the beginning and leaves you gasping for air at the very end. Recommended for anyone who loves a good read that doesn't let you down!
TB

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.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood for the opportunity to read and review this book. xx

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.

A high-octane Scottish gangland thriller that will chill readers to the bone, Heather Atkinson’s Blood Brothers is a hair-raising rollercoaster ride perfect for Martina Cole fans.

The Gallowburn Estate in Glasgow is ruled with an iron fist by two ruthless gangs: the Blood Brothers and their enemies, the Lawsons. The streets of Glasgow and their estate is simply not big enough for the two of them and they never lose an opportunity to assert their standing in the community and to try their utmost to diminish and eviscerate their rivals. The Blood Brothers and the Lawsons clash on a regular basis and in order to assert their standing on the Glaswegian streets, violence, cruelty and sadism have pretty much become the order of the day – but things are kicked up several notches when a phone is found full of incriminating evidence that could have serious consequences for both of them.

Jamie Gray, leader of the Blood Brothers, has inherited his mother’s tenacity, doggedness and resolve. Jackie is tough as nails and one of the hardest women on the streets of Glasgow and there is simply nothing she will not do to protect her boy. Yet, Jackie wants more for her son than a life on the streets and it is her greatest wish that Jamie leaves gang life behind for good. Could Jamie’s girlfriend, spoilt rich girl Allegra be the answer to all of Jackie’s prayers?

With the Lawsons closing in on the Blood Brothers, the stakes have never been higher – or more deadly. The net is tightening round Jamie’s neck and if he doesn’t act fast than he risks losing not just his dominance, but also his life! If Jamie wants to stay on top, then he needs to strike now – even if it means sullying his hands with his enemy’s blood.

In a ruthless game of gangland violence, will Jamie emerge victorious? Will Jackie’s dearest wish to see her son leave this violent world behind ever come true? Or will Jamie end up being a victim of his own greed and ambition?

Heather Atkinson ramps up the tension and suspense in Blood Brothers. Dark, twisted and bristling with violence and menace, Blood Brothers is a fast-paced and nerve-twisting page-turner full of larger than life characters where the pace never flags, the action doesn’t stop and the shocks and surprises come thick and fast building to a stunning crescendo that will leave readers with their jaws on the floor.

Gangland thriller fans who like their books full of danger, action and intrigue need to add Heather Atkinson’s name to their auto-buy list.

If you are a fan of gangland thrillers, you are going to enjoy this first instalment in Heather Atkinson's new series, based on lives of four friends, four Blood Brothers from a fictional scheme/ housing estate on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Jamie Gray's life has never been easy- he lives in one of the poorest areas imaginable. His Dad left their family when Jamie's little brother was just two. Guess what, their close-knit family of three, Jamie, Charlie, and their awesome mother Jackie have actually been better off without the abusive alcoholic of their father. Jackie has instilled a great sense of loyalty in Jamie and a few other important values e.g. treating women with respect. Jamie's also grateful for his best friends- Logan, Gary and Digger. They are well-known and feared locally, because their undisputed control of the northern part of their scheme has been won in violent fights. Their archenemies, the Lawsons, may give them hassle from time to time, but the Blood Brothers won't let them take over what they see as their rightful territory. Well, Jackie keeps reminding Jamie that he shouldn't be getting in al these fights, but secretly she knows the only way to survive n these streets is to hold your own. One day Jamie meets a well-dressed, feisty, clearly rich girl who likes shoplifting and dangerous driving and seems to be inexplicably attracted to him. Their love story is intense and full of dangerous twists and turns, because Allegra's father is notoriously powerful Cameron Abernethy who does think himself above the law.

There is a lot of action and violence, something that I guess comes with the territory if you choose to read this genre. There is also young love, fierce loyalty and friendship. My favourite character is probably Jackie with her formidable weapon of a frying pan. Just proves that there is nothing that will stop a loving and dedicated mother from coming to rescue her cubs , and if this mother's temper is on a short side, beware: somebody is going to get seriously hurt.

Although this is my first book by Heather Atkinson, she has many loyal fans, who undoubtfully will be waiting impatiently to find out what happens with the rest of Blood Brothers- Gary, Digger, and Logan, who already proved to be unique characters in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the review copy. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

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*.

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☆ 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.

I’ve lived in Scotland over 20 years now. It is a country which has changed immensely in the near quarter of a century since I first arrived.

Additionally, I have lived in isolated rural splendour of tourist trap mountains and charming wee fishing villages as well as in crowded, post-industrial towns where men are hard and drugs rife.

It is a country of contrasts.

The area Heather Atkinson is writing about here – Gallowburn – is fictional. Except, it isn’t. it’s an amalgamation of a whole bunch of places most Scottish readers can piece together without too much difficulty.

Atkinson clearly has an unpatronising affection for her street level protagonists. The characters are rendered as fully rounded humans with clear motivations and driving ambitions.

She also is an accomplished writer of dialogue. Having published over 50 novels, it would appear that she is well attuned to her surroundings, picking up the language of the Scheme and playing it back to readers to create an atmosphere of intense verisimilitude.

Even as her protagonists are sucked further into their worlds of violence and chaos, Heather Atkinson keeps them grounded as the plot runs away outwith their control to the natural end of violence. It is a climax moving, horrifying, engaging and entertaining.

Boldwood Books are an interesting independent publisher who have selected some exciting authors to work with (Alex Coombs, who I enjoyed immeasurably for one) http://pajnewman.com/2020/09/24/missing-for-good-by-alex-coombs/

With authors of the quality of coombs and Atkinson, they will be well worth following in future.

I was drawn to this one by the cover and blurb. I enjoy a gangland thriller style novel, and was looking forward to reading one set in Glasgow.

The female characters in this book are probably my favourite aspect. Jackie, who is the mum of the main character, Jamie, is just brilliant. She is witty, clever, loyal, sensible and she is a character which I have absolutely loved getting to know.

There are layers of tension within the book. You have the tension within the main group; Jamie and his friends and family, as we discover that secrets andi lies threaten to tear them apart. Then you have the tension between them and the notorious Lawson family. Finally, you have the sexual tension between Jamie and the vibrant, brave and unique character of Allegra!

The ending of the book was shocking and nail-biting. It was completely unpredictable, and I loved it!

All in all, this makes for a fast paced and exciting read which I have thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to fans of gangland crime fiction. I look forward to checking out Heather’s other books.

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.

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.

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.

Blood Brothers is the start of a new series by Heather. If gangland crime is your genre then this is a series that if this first book is anything to go by it will blow you away. It is a real page turner I was hooked from page one. There are characters to love and also ones you will love to hate. I for one can’t wait to find out what else Heather has planned for the Blood Brothers. I give this book a well deserved 5 stars and I hope that Heather is busy writing book two so I don’t have too long to wait to read what’s happening with the boys and their friends and family.

I have really enjoyed reading this one and this is a new author for me. I have enjoyed this one. I wouldn't agree that this is on the same wave length as Martina Cole but is definitely gangland crime.
I have been kept engaged in this one and found this hard to put down. This has definitely kept me guessing, I couldn't predict where the author was taking this one.
I have liked the characters in this book and found them unpredictable. I will definitely be looking up other books by this author. This is a strong four star read for me.

Love all Heather's books. Gangland set in Glasgow brilliant gritty edge of seat but brilliant story line