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Slur
How would it feel to be accused of a murder you didn’t commit? To believe your friends, family and colleagues had turned against you. Would you reach breaking point or fight to prove your innocence?
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?
- GenresFiction
238 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2014
290 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Heather Burnside
29 books121 followersHeather Burnside is a Manchester based author whose novels are set in her home city. She has published fifteen gritty urban crime novels to date most of which have become Amazon Category Bestsellers.
More recently Heather has written two psychological thrillers, which will be published in 2026. She is currently working on her third psychological thriller.
Before writing novels, Heather completed a creative writing course. During that time, she had various articles published in well-known UK magazines and went on to run a writing services business.
Her novels include: The Riverhill Trilogy, The Manchester Trilogy, The Working Girls Series of five novels, and four standalone novels.
You can find out more about Heather’s books by signing up to her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/CP6YP to receive regular updates, or by viewing her website: www.heatherburnside.com.
More recently Heather has written two psychological thrillers, which will be published in 2026. She is currently working on her third psychological thriller.
Before writing novels, Heather completed a creative writing course. During that time, she had various articles published in well-known UK magazines and went on to run a writing services business.
Her novels include: The Riverhill Trilogy, The Manchester Trilogy, The Working Girls Series of five novels, and four standalone novels.
You can find out more about Heather’s books by signing up to her mailing list at: http://eepurl.com/CP6YP to receive regular updates, or by viewing her website: www.heatherburnside.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 29, 2015
Slur is a wonderful debut crime thriller by British author Heather Burnside. It starts off with a bang when a lovely young woman named Julie Quinley and her clubbing buddy Rita get arrested for the murder of their friend Amanda. The story takes off from there, centering on Julie’s and Rita’s reactions to being accused as murderesses, and who else could have been responsible for Amanda’s death.
In terms of the characters, Julie is engaging and you really want her to be innocent of wrongdoing. Rita, on the other hand, is definitely a tart and a little too nonplussed by the drama of it all, making one wonder what she knows. Despite that, I couldn’t help but like Rita. Julie’s boyfriend, Vinny, is an underappreciated guy, and I found myself wanting to smack up Julie into realizing she should think more highly of him.
The plot is excellent. The police are focused on Julie and Rita despite the lack of definitive evidence against them. Julie is shunned and bullied at work, making me wonder how I would handle a similar situation if I were in Julie’s shoes. On the downside, I thought the story dragged just a bit early on when Julie is nearly incapacitated by the fallout of her arrest. Fortunately, the tempo soon picks up when the two women and Vinny decide they need to become involved in the investigation; at this point the pace picks up considerably. There are neat twists and turns and chills as the tale moves along. I was delighted to see courtroom drama towards the end. I must say I was not quite sure if Ms. Burnside was going to throw in one last zinger before the conclusion or not. I did like the way she wraps up the story.
I admire Ms. Burnside’s decision to have the characters speak authentically as natives of Manchester, England, where the story is set. This is so effective that as I read the novel, my mind was having the characters speak with a British accent. There is liberal use of British slang; but even if I was not familiar with a specific word, I could deduce the definition by the context. In addition, the author does have a glossary of British slang at the end of the book, which I found quite entertaining.
In conclusion, I had a good time with this book. I contacted the author to see when the sequel is coming out. She told me most likely by the end of summer 2015. I will definitely be on the lookout for it. Slur is a solid debut by Ms. Burnside. I recommend this book to all crime/mystery/thriller fans.
In terms of the characters, Julie is engaging and you really want her to be innocent of wrongdoing. Rita, on the other hand, is definitely a tart and a little too nonplussed by the drama of it all, making one wonder what she knows. Despite that, I couldn’t help but like Rita. Julie’s boyfriend, Vinny, is an underappreciated guy, and I found myself wanting to smack up Julie into realizing she should think more highly of him.
The plot is excellent. The police are focused on Julie and Rita despite the lack of definitive evidence against them. Julie is shunned and bullied at work, making me wonder how I would handle a similar situation if I were in Julie’s shoes. On the downside, I thought the story dragged just a bit early on when Julie is nearly incapacitated by the fallout of her arrest. Fortunately, the tempo soon picks up when the two women and Vinny decide they need to become involved in the investigation; at this point the pace picks up considerably. There are neat twists and turns and chills as the tale moves along. I was delighted to see courtroom drama towards the end. I must say I was not quite sure if Ms. Burnside was going to throw in one last zinger before the conclusion or not. I did like the way she wraps up the story.
I admire Ms. Burnside’s decision to have the characters speak authentically as natives of Manchester, England, where the story is set. This is so effective that as I read the novel, my mind was having the characters speak with a British accent. There is liberal use of British slang; but even if I was not familiar with a specific word, I could deduce the definition by the context. In addition, the author does have a glossary of British slang at the end of the book, which I found quite entertaining.
In conclusion, I had a good time with this book. I contacted the author to see when the sequel is coming out. She told me most likely by the end of summer 2015. I will definitely be on the lookout for it. Slur is a solid debut by Ms. Burnside. I recommend this book to all crime/mystery/thriller fans.
June 5, 2015
“Girls just wanna have fun,” right? When Julie Quinley, best friend Rita, and a few other gal pals take their friend Amanda out for her birthday, they get more than they bargain for. Sure, it seemed like fun to spike her rum and Cokes with vodka, but Amanda winds up more than a little tipsy, and the girls have to help her get home. The next day, they find themselves at the Manchester police station, accused of her murder.
What? Imagine being accused of killing someone and having no way to prove your innocence. Julie is frantic. The police don’t believe her. Her own dad doesn’t seem to believe her. Co-workers whisper. Some even condemn her to her face. Her friends and relatives gossip and shun her too. Despite the support of her mom, her little sister, and her boss Norma, and her boyfriend Vinnie, Julie becomes more distressed and more depressed. Rita, on the other hand, seems unfazed. She gets laid off from her job, but she travels, meets a new guy, and continues to act like a tart. She is quite a different personality from Julie, and while others don’t seem to see what Julie likes about her, they are the best of friends. Through it all, Vinnie remains steadfastly loyal. What a peach of a guy!
I felt that the plot was somewhat weak, but it did pick up about two-thirds of the way through the book when Julie’s friends think they know who the killer is, and they conspire to expose him. Some of their plans seemed a little corny and immature to me, but this was the 1980s, and these are 20-something-year-olds, so perhaps it is not so unrealistic.
This is Ms. Burnside’s debut thriller novel, and her strength, I feel, is in her characters. At first, I thought that they seemed rather stereotypical, but as the story moves along, they develop a life of their own. The dialogue is terrific. I am an American Midwesterner, but I barely noticed the dialect because it seemed so natural. There is an abundance of dialogue, and that’s what gives this story its life. Julie, Rita, and Vinnie are all believable as young adults; they start out as superficial party animals and mature right before our eyes. I liked Julie’s parents, and Norma, who supported Julie from the get-go. The character development of Leslie Stevens is well done too.
Overall, I felt this was quite a good start to Heather Burnside’s fiction writing career. Initially, I thought I might only give this book three stars, but because of the compelling dialogue and characters, plus the fact that the plot came together nicely at the end, I am giving Slur four stars. I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
What? Imagine being accused of killing someone and having no way to prove your innocence. Julie is frantic. The police don’t believe her. Her own dad doesn’t seem to believe her. Co-workers whisper. Some even condemn her to her face. Her friends and relatives gossip and shun her too. Despite the support of her mom, her little sister, and her boss Norma, and her boyfriend Vinnie, Julie becomes more distressed and more depressed. Rita, on the other hand, seems unfazed. She gets laid off from her job, but she travels, meets a new guy, and continues to act like a tart. She is quite a different personality from Julie, and while others don’t seem to see what Julie likes about her, they are the best of friends. Through it all, Vinnie remains steadfastly loyal. What a peach of a guy!
I felt that the plot was somewhat weak, but it did pick up about two-thirds of the way through the book when Julie’s friends think they know who the killer is, and they conspire to expose him. Some of their plans seemed a little corny and immature to me, but this was the 1980s, and these are 20-something-year-olds, so perhaps it is not so unrealistic.
This is Ms. Burnside’s debut thriller novel, and her strength, I feel, is in her characters. At first, I thought that they seemed rather stereotypical, but as the story moves along, they develop a life of their own. The dialogue is terrific. I am an American Midwesterner, but I barely noticed the dialect because it seemed so natural. There is an abundance of dialogue, and that’s what gives this story its life. Julie, Rita, and Vinnie are all believable as young adults; they start out as superficial party animals and mature right before our eyes. I liked Julie’s parents, and Norma, who supported Julie from the get-go. The character development of Leslie Stevens is well done too.
Overall, I felt this was quite a good start to Heather Burnside’s fiction writing career. Initially, I thought I might only give this book three stars, but because of the compelling dialogue and characters, plus the fact that the plot came together nicely at the end, I am giving Slur four stars. I wish to thank the author for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
July 19, 2015
I have had to give this my 5 stars. Its a debut novel from Heather Burnside and as a first book it is excellent in my humble opinion
It has everything, it has intrigue, it has mystery, it keeps you wondering, it keeps you digging further and further between its pages.
Just to think of you ladies, all the time we have been out in a nice little group, having fun at a club, drop one of your mates back home. Only to find the next morning you are suspected of her murder.
That is how the book starts. Then it takes you back to that night and everything about it and what happened.
It then nicely goes into the present time when Julie is remembering her thoughts of that night and then is jaunted back to the present as she arrives outside the Police Station.
I don't live in Manchester but I have been there, so picturing this in my mind was great.
I don't know how other readers feel but for me I get all goose bumps when I know the places that are written about in the book and near [ish] to where I live, at least in my home Country.
The jargon and slang was brilliant.
I am a great believer in writing as close to an accent as possible in a novel. It seems so false to speak the Queens English without some slang from certain areas.
Take for instance London. They have slang like "apples and pairs" meaning "stairs"
To take that away would be live taking away its character so I embraced this within the book.
I so love it when its like that.
Going back to the storyline.
Police have no evidence whatsoever but they assume a lot of things within this story.
Its a faced paced book I thought with a lot of things to think about.
Well done to this author for writing such a page turner.
I can't wait for another book from her.
November 21, 2015
Heather Burnside has an easy flowing writing style that allows Slur to unfold without unnecessary complications. The characters are interesting, though I found the principle, Julie, a little irritating and found myself warming more to her friend, Rita. I would have liked a little more complexity in the narrative, and a little less telling and more showing. Most of the way through, I was thinking 3.5*, but it kept me interested through to the end and the characters grew as the story progressed, therein I’m left leaning more towards a 4* rating.
Well worth a read, and I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up A Gangster's Grip
Well worth a read, and I’m looking forward to reading the follow-up A Gangster's Grip
November 3, 2015
I didn't really enjoy this book, but I don't hate it, either. Dialogue didn't seem to flow naturally, and I wonder if that's due to the local vernacular.
February 13, 2018
I was excited to read Slur because I’ve had Heather Burnside’s most recent book on my TBR since its release. Unfortunately it was a very disappointing read, incredibly lacklustre and so boring. I was hoping it’d be a bit similar to Mandasue Heller given that it was set in Manchester but honestly, this book could have been set anywhere in the UK. There was noting whatsoever distinguishing about, nor would you have any idea that it was set in the 80s because there’s little to no mention of TV shows, music, fashion, anything that would help the reader envision the 80s setting.
My biggest problem though was with the story. I felt that it started off well. Julie and her friends are on a night out and the next morning Julie finds herself arrested for the murder of one of those friends. Julie’s fear and confusion was palpable, but I didn’t feel any empathy for Julie and felt that she was a selfish and unlikeable character. I didn’t care about her, and wasn’t especially interested in her life and so given that we follow her for most of the story, that was hugely disappointing. Her friend Rita was perhaps the most interesting character, she herself had traits that were unlikeable but was the person I could imagine myself being friends with in real life.
The problem with the story is, nothing happens. The police investigation is laughable with the most cliched and unrealistic police force I’ve ever read about and up until the 60% mark the book is essentially just Julie going to work and getting abuse from colleagues, dick teasing her boyfriend, going home and crying and basically just making everything about herself. Then the story actually picks up the pace a little bit and becomes exciting but by this point I was past caring, already annoyed at the time I’d invested in the story and I just skim read the rest of it to reach the end and move on. I will keep Heather’s books on my TBR (the next one in this series focuses on Rita so I may give it a go), but I cannot recommend Slur unless anybody is struggling to sleep at night then this might help with that. A disappointing read that just left me wondering what the point of the whole story was, very tame and very boring.
My biggest problem though was with the story. I felt that it started off well. Julie and her friends are on a night out and the next morning Julie finds herself arrested for the murder of one of those friends. Julie’s fear and confusion was palpable, but I didn’t feel any empathy for Julie and felt that she was a selfish and unlikeable character. I didn’t care about her, and wasn’t especially interested in her life and so given that we follow her for most of the story, that was hugely disappointing. Her friend Rita was perhaps the most interesting character, she herself had traits that were unlikeable but was the person I could imagine myself being friends with in real life.
The problem with the story is, nothing happens. The police investigation is laughable with the most cliched and unrealistic police force I’ve ever read about and up until the 60% mark the book is essentially just Julie going to work and getting abuse from colleagues, dick teasing her boyfriend, going home and crying and basically just making everything about herself. Then the story actually picks up the pace a little bit and becomes exciting but by this point I was past caring, already annoyed at the time I’d invested in the story and I just skim read the rest of it to reach the end and move on. I will keep Heather’s books on my TBR (the next one in this series focuses on Rita so I may give it a go), but I cannot recommend Slur unless anybody is struggling to sleep at night then this might help with that. A disappointing read that just left me wondering what the point of the whole story was, very tame and very boring.
November 9, 2015
Slur is set in Manchester in the 1980s. Except for an occasional jibe @ Mrs Thatcher, I didn’t really spot anything peculiar to the decade in the story. But with the ubiquity today of mobile phone & CCTV cameras, the internet, & texting & IM, a contemporary version of this story would be much harder to make successful. It was almost nostalgic to revisit a period when harassment was limited to rude messages painted in lavatory cubicles.
The 20 y/o Julie goes out to the bars with her BF Rita & their friend Amanda. Rita is what a few years later would be labelled a ‘ladette’ & her idea of a good time is to get Mandy drunk as a skunk & ‘have a laugh’ as she makes a fool of herself. (As some of us survivors of college parties can vaguely but painfully recall even after a good many years, abuse mistaken for humour is by no means confined to English working-class culture.) Unfortunately Amanda dies as the result of excessive partying & the police believe drugs were involved & Julie was responsible. The story opens with a crash, the cops literally banging on Julie’s door. The rest of the story is comprised of the efforts of Julie, Rita, & Julie’s boyfriend Vinny to clear Julie’s name, & find out what really happened to Amanda & who was responsible. Their efforts are hindered rather than furthered by the police, led by DI Bowden, who now replaces Tana French’s ‘Scorcher’ Kennedy as the thickest & most incompetent detective I’ve encountered in recent fiction. Imagine an English Inspector Clouseau who’s nasty, not funny.
I’ve mixed feelings about Slur. The principal characters, along with Julie’s mother Betty, father Bill, & younger sister Claire, are attractive tho’ it takes Bill a while to come around to Julie’s side after he sees her treated like a pariah. I liked how the local culture was depicted tho’ saddened by their lack of aspiration. (Bill thinks @ age 20 Julie should be married & having children & Rita’s horizons seem to be limited to working in a factory, getting tarted-up & going out drinking, & cheap flights to Greece to be with her boyfriend.) Vinny tho’ I expect to succeed as a building contractor & now 30 years later has pots of money but still drives an old Land Rover to visit his building sites. As this is a continuous series, maybe I’ll find out.
But I would have liked more dialogue & action with less summary & description by the narrator of what the characters were thinking & feeling. Given that these characters are not highly articulate, I suspect that Slur would make a better film script than novel, because the performers' actions & expressions could convey the inner selves that they cannot express in words. I also felt that the new character introduced about 2/3 into the book to help solve the mystery was rather pulled out of a hat & that even in the ‘80s more sophisticated spyware was easily available & would have been more convincing even to the benighted DI Bowden.
I may follow up with the sequels to find out what happens to my favourite characters but it may be a while. Yet I am a bit haunted by outcome for the principal villain because I thought it thoroughly appropriate & yet all my ‘better instincts’ should have wished a different fate. Fortunately, characters in story books don’t have souls, so we needn’t care whether or not we like what becomes of them.
The 20 y/o Julie goes out to the bars with her BF Rita & their friend Amanda. Rita is what a few years later would be labelled a ‘ladette’ & her idea of a good time is to get Mandy drunk as a skunk & ‘have a laugh’ as she makes a fool of herself. (As some of us survivors of college parties can vaguely but painfully recall even after a good many years, abuse mistaken for humour is by no means confined to English working-class culture.) Unfortunately Amanda dies as the result of excessive partying & the police believe drugs were involved & Julie was responsible. The story opens with a crash, the cops literally banging on Julie’s door. The rest of the story is comprised of the efforts of Julie, Rita, & Julie’s boyfriend Vinny to clear Julie’s name, & find out what really happened to Amanda & who was responsible. Their efforts are hindered rather than furthered by the police, led by DI Bowden, who now replaces Tana French’s ‘Scorcher’ Kennedy as the thickest & most incompetent detective I’ve encountered in recent fiction. Imagine an English Inspector Clouseau who’s nasty, not funny.
I’ve mixed feelings about Slur. The principal characters, along with Julie’s mother Betty, father Bill, & younger sister Claire, are attractive tho’ it takes Bill a while to come around to Julie’s side after he sees her treated like a pariah. I liked how the local culture was depicted tho’ saddened by their lack of aspiration. (Bill thinks @ age 20 Julie should be married & having children & Rita’s horizons seem to be limited to working in a factory, getting tarted-up & going out drinking, & cheap flights to Greece to be with her boyfriend.) Vinny tho’ I expect to succeed as a building contractor & now 30 years later has pots of money but still drives an old Land Rover to visit his building sites. As this is a continuous series, maybe I’ll find out.
But I would have liked more dialogue & action with less summary & description by the narrator of what the characters were thinking & feeling. Given that these characters are not highly articulate, I suspect that Slur would make a better film script than novel, because the performers' actions & expressions could convey the inner selves that they cannot express in words. I also felt that the new character introduced about 2/3 into the book to help solve the mystery was rather pulled out of a hat & that even in the ‘80s more sophisticated spyware was easily available & would have been more convincing even to the benighted DI Bowden.
I may follow up with the sequels to find out what happens to my favourite characters but it may be a while. Yet I am a bit haunted by outcome for the principal villain because I thought it thoroughly appropriate & yet all my ‘better instincts’ should have wished a different fate. Fortunately, characters in story books don’t have souls, so we needn’t care whether or not we like what becomes of them.
May 16, 2015
This story, set in Manchester in the 1980s, sees Julie and her friend Rita in a police cell being questioned for the murder of their friend Amanda. The girls had been on a night out to celebrate Amanda’s birthday and, to have a bit of fun as they saw it, they had spiked her drinks with shorts. Juvenile behaviour but surely not murder? They delivered her home to the flat she shared with her boyfriend and they thought she was coming round. The police accuse the girls of slipping drugs into Amanda’s drink. Her family’s and colleagues’ reactions stun Julie and she can’t believe they think she’s capable of murder.
Initially I found Julie and Rita shallow and unlikeable characters but with the realisation that spending all her free time getting drunk is dangerous, Julie grows up. She is in danger from the person who really gave Amanda the drugs, but can she see justice done? It’s as mix of a crime and murder mystery and a coming of age novel. A good read – especially if you’re a Mancunian!
Initially I found Julie and Rita shallow and unlikeable characters but with the realisation that spending all her free time getting drunk is dangerous, Julie grows up. She is in danger from the person who really gave Amanda the drugs, but can she see justice done? It’s as mix of a crime and murder mystery and a coming of age novel. A good read – especially if you’re a Mancunian!
November 10, 2015
When I started to read this book I didn't know what to expect since the local was England but in the end I quite enjoyed the book. Julie, Rita and Vinny are the main characters in the book and of course you have the supporting ones. It is a story about 2 twentysomething working girls taking a friend out for drinks on her birthday. All the girls are having a good time and of course they want their friend Amanda have a better time so they put a little more alcohol in her drink. Amanda gets ripped so Julie and Rita do the right thing and take her home and this is when the problems begin. The next day police arrest Julie for Amanda's murder. No one believes her story and even her co-workers think she's guilty. We have an unlikable police detective that will not look at anyone else and has his mind set that both Julie and Rita gave Amanda drugs which caused her death. The book has a few twists in it which include drug dealers, police, gangsters and private eyes.
November 11, 2015
Firstly, thank you to Heather Burnside for making this book available for my group " A Good Thriller", free for our group read for November.
First in a series of books called the Riverhill Trilogy, and a strong start. A 3.5 - 4 review from me.
How would it feel to be accused of a murder you didn’t commit? To believe your friends, family and colleagues had turned against you. Would you reach breaking point or fight to prove your innocence?
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?
With some great characters, a very un-likable Inspector, an old fashioned idiot, but I did take a liking to the main character Julie, and also to her boyfriend Vinny, and also to her friend Rita, mouthy, a little rough, but you cannot help but admire her "spunk", her toughness and lied-back attitude.
Easy reading style, and the plot is easy to follow, and keeps to a nice pace without too many suprises, twists or shocks.
A strength in this book is the different characters, especially Julia and Rita, and how they cope with the difficulties of their situation.
I am sure the second book will be even more interesting.
Thanks again Heather
First in a series of books called the Riverhill Trilogy, and a strong start. A 3.5 - 4 review from me.
How would it feel to be accused of a murder you didn’t commit? To believe your friends, family and colleagues had turned against you. Would you reach breaking point or fight to prove your innocence?
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?
With some great characters, a very un-likable Inspector, an old fashioned idiot, but I did take a liking to the main character Julie, and also to her boyfriend Vinny, and also to her friend Rita, mouthy, a little rough, but you cannot help but admire her "spunk", her toughness and lied-back attitude.
Easy reading style, and the plot is easy to follow, and keeps to a nice pace without too many suprises, twists or shocks.
A strength in this book is the different characters, especially Julia and Rita, and how they cope with the difficulties of their situation.
I am sure the second book will be even more interesting.
Thanks again Heather
November 6, 2015
"How would it feel to be accused of a murder you didn’t commit? To believe your friends, family and colleagues had turned against you. Would you reach breaking point or fight to prove your innocence?
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?"
Wow this novel was great. So great, in fact, that I read it in one sitting. It was written well and at some points I wanted to throw my Kindle against a wall because of the feelings it was giving me. I think eliciting such strong emotions shows the sign of a great book. Even if it did make me want to commit murder sometimes ;)
The characters were really well written. I grew to deeply care for Julie and Vinny. Vinny probably more than Julie. I never warmed to Ruth, but I think that's because she's supposed to be a bit brash and I just don't gel with those types of people. But I really grew to care about how Julie was being treated and what was happening to her, and the way Vinny was under appreciated made me want to scream. He's a lovely character and I grew very fond of him.
Plot wise this book is great. It was very suspenseful and tense, and for the whole way through the novel I was on edge. I even had to put the book down once or twice to clear my feelings and calm down a little. I think being in that sort of situation would be absolutely crushing and I honestly don't know how Julie coped with it. I'd have gone mad. Being accused of such a crime and everyone believing you did it must create heartbreak beyond my understanding, so I think reading that and being in the scene in my mind really played tricks with me. Great premise, great plot, even though nothing much really happened. This is very much a book where there's no action or danger, and yet it manages to keep you engaged throughout. It's more about what goes on inside her mind and her situation than a proper story line, and I really enjoyed that format.
It was written very well. Obviously the characters were well developed and I stayed engaged throughout the whole thing. It was such a quick read so the words flowed well together and I don't think it was too long. Even in the slower parts of the novel, it was an enjoyable read. However. The ending was so rushed and convenient. I sort of wanted to scream. The whole novel was taken at the perfect pace and then BAM, it was over. So instead of it being a really satisfying ending, like it could have been, it was just super convenient and over so quickly that it didn't satisfy my soul. It didn't feel right. That's why the star was docked.
It's a shame because the whole way through I was certain it'd be a five star read. Was just as if the whole novel was like "tensetensetensetensetensetensetense oh it's over..." and you didn't get that feeling of calm and relief because it just ended at a sudden stop. So yes, docked star.
Despite its flaws, Burnside writes a really cracking novel. It was absolutely brilliant and I am definitely going to pick up more from her in the future. 4/5 stars.
Julie Quinley finds herself in this position following the events of one fateful night. She has to bear the slights and accusations of colleagues and acquaintances, and life becomes unbearable. Eventually, thinking that she has lost the respect of everyone around her, Julie plunges into a deep depression.
However, unknown to Julie, those closest to her are rallying support. She reaches a turning point when her friends reveal that they may have found the real killer. Realising she must act in order to clear her name, Julie joins them in trying to find evidence.
But proving a vicious murderer guilty is never going to be easy, especially when the police remain unconvinced. Will Julie and her friends succeed? And is their suspect really responsible for the crime?"
Wow this novel was great. So great, in fact, that I read it in one sitting. It was written well and at some points I wanted to throw my Kindle against a wall because of the feelings it was giving me. I think eliciting such strong emotions shows the sign of a great book. Even if it did make me want to commit murder sometimes ;)
The characters were really well written. I grew to deeply care for Julie and Vinny. Vinny probably more than Julie. I never warmed to Ruth, but I think that's because she's supposed to be a bit brash and I just don't gel with those types of people. But I really grew to care about how Julie was being treated and what was happening to her, and the way Vinny was under appreciated made me want to scream. He's a lovely character and I grew very fond of him.
Plot wise this book is great. It was very suspenseful and tense, and for the whole way through the novel I was on edge. I even had to put the book down once or twice to clear my feelings and calm down a little. I think being in that sort of situation would be absolutely crushing and I honestly don't know how Julie coped with it. I'd have gone mad. Being accused of such a crime and everyone believing you did it must create heartbreak beyond my understanding, so I think reading that and being in the scene in my mind really played tricks with me. Great premise, great plot, even though nothing much really happened. This is very much a book where there's no action or danger, and yet it manages to keep you engaged throughout. It's more about what goes on inside her mind and her situation than a proper story line, and I really enjoyed that format.
It was written very well. Obviously the characters were well developed and I stayed engaged throughout the whole thing. It was such a quick read so the words flowed well together and I don't think it was too long. Even in the slower parts of the novel, it was an enjoyable read. However. The ending was so rushed and convenient. I sort of wanted to scream. The whole novel was taken at the perfect pace and then BAM, it was over. So instead of it being a really satisfying ending, like it could have been, it was just super convenient and over so quickly that it didn't satisfy my soul. It didn't feel right. That's why the star was docked.
It's a shame because the whole way through I was certain it'd be a five star read. Was just as if the whole novel was like "tensetensetensetensetensetensetense oh it's over..." and you didn't get that feeling of calm and relief because it just ended at a sudden stop. So yes, docked star.
Despite its flaws, Burnside writes a really cracking novel. It was absolutely brilliant and I am definitely going to pick up more from her in the future. 4/5 stars.
December 3, 2014
Attractive and vivacious twenty-something Julie Quinley’s carefree existence comes to an abrupt halt when a night out culminates in her and best friend Rita being accused of a murder they did not commit. Snubbed by colleagues at work and cold-shouldered by her neighbours, Julie’s life descends into turmoil, as she finds herself nearing despair.
However, with the support of family and friends, including the plucky Rita, Julie resolves to prove her innocence by finding the real perpetrator of the crime and bringing them to justice.
Set in the Manchester of the 1980s, Slur, author Diane Mannion’s debut novel, has a dramatic opening that utilises an effective non-linear use of time, and a fast-paced, action-filled plot. Replete with authentic cultural references, realistic characters and believable dialogue, Slur will no doubt prove to be popular with crime fiction aficionados.
However, with the support of family and friends, including the plucky Rita, Julie resolves to prove her innocence by finding the real perpetrator of the crime and bringing them to justice.
Set in the Manchester of the 1980s, Slur, author Diane Mannion’s debut novel, has a dramatic opening that utilises an effective non-linear use of time, and a fast-paced, action-filled plot. Replete with authentic cultural references, realistic characters and believable dialogue, Slur will no doubt prove to be popular with crime fiction aficionados.
September 15, 2015
This book was similar to mandasues earlier books . But not as gritty . It was quite a good book . Looking forward to follow up . I give this book 4 stars
October 8, 2014
I really enjoyed the attention to detail in this well put together story. Set in 80’s Manchester you could clearly imagine the life these characters were living. It took me a while to feel much empathy for Julie Quinley, I found her a bit cold at the beginning and I felt she thought she was better than everyone else but as the story developed so did she and I felt myself warming to her. I particularly liked how her relationship progressed with Vinny, who is a lovely steadying soul, and she became a much better person because of it.
It was interesting how differently Julie and Rita react to what happened and I’m sure no one knows how they would deal with this sort of situation until they found themselves in it. However you can easily imagine the hostility of those they’d thought were their friends as well as similar reactions from neighbours and work colleagues and how difficult life can become, particularly for Julie.
I became more drawn into this story as it progressed and without giving any spoilers Mannion doesn’t hold back when the guilty start trying to cover their tracks and I do love it when someone gets their just desserts especially when you’re not expecting it. A good job well done on this debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.
It was interesting how differently Julie and Rita react to what happened and I’m sure no one knows how they would deal with this sort of situation until they found themselves in it. However you can easily imagine the hostility of those they’d thought were their friends as well as similar reactions from neighbours and work colleagues and how difficult life can become, particularly for Julie.
I became more drawn into this story as it progressed and without giving any spoilers Mannion doesn’t hold back when the guilty start trying to cover their tracks and I do love it when someone gets their just desserts especially when you’re not expecting it. A good job well done on this debut novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 30, 2015
I was lucky to be introduced to this book by Dead Good website and I am very glad I was. It's a debut novel from Dianne Mannion and is set in 1980's Manchester.
Julie and her friend Rita enjoy going out for a drink and a dance and one morning Julie was surprised to find the police wanting to talk to her. Her father wasn't best pleased about that and her mother was worried. Another friend and work mate Amanda had died during the night and the last person to see her was Rita and Julie who had to take her home very drunk. This sets off an investigation and even though there is no evidence the police and her work colleagues are convinced that Julie and Rita are guilty. Julies boyfriend Vinnie decides if the police will not help then they have to investigate themselves. I loved the northern dialogue which the authour used and the twists and turns that are in the way. I found myself liking Julie and wanted the outcome to be the right one. Was it? you will have to read and see. I do hope there will be more books to come from Diane Mannion and will definately be looking out for them.
Julie and her friend Rita enjoy going out for a drink and a dance and one morning Julie was surprised to find the police wanting to talk to her. Her father wasn't best pleased about that and her mother was worried. Another friend and work mate Amanda had died during the night and the last person to see her was Rita and Julie who had to take her home very drunk. This sets off an investigation and even though there is no evidence the police and her work colleagues are convinced that Julie and Rita are guilty. Julies boyfriend Vinnie decides if the police will not help then they have to investigate themselves. I loved the northern dialogue which the authour used and the twists and turns that are in the way. I found myself liking Julie and wanted the outcome to be the right one. Was it? you will have to read and see. I do hope there will be more books to come from Diane Mannion and will definately be looking out for them.
January 26, 2023
What a debut from a totally brilliant author.
It is Amanda‘s birthday night out and she is out with friends including Rita and Julie. As the night goes on Amanda gets more and more drunk with a little bit of help from her friends. Rita and Julie make sure that Amanda gets home but the next day Julie and Rita are accused of a Manders murder.
The police only seem to have their site set on Julie and Rita and are hellbent on charging them but there is no concrete evidence.
As the police are not listening it is up to Julie and Rita to find out what really happened and with a little bit of help from Vinny, friend of julie
, they will stop at nothing to find out the truth as their freedom depends on it no matter how much danger they may face.
Brilliant storyline with wonderful characterisation, Heather Burnside can do no wrong in my eyes.
Audio book narration was absolutely amazingly brilliant!!!
It is Amanda‘s birthday night out and she is out with friends including Rita and Julie. As the night goes on Amanda gets more and more drunk with a little bit of help from her friends. Rita and Julie make sure that Amanda gets home but the next day Julie and Rita are accused of a Manders murder.
The police only seem to have their site set on Julie and Rita and are hellbent on charging them but there is no concrete evidence.
As the police are not listening it is up to Julie and Rita to find out what really happened and with a little bit of help from Vinny, friend of julie
, they will stop at nothing to find out the truth as their freedom depends on it no matter how much danger they may face.
Brilliant storyline with wonderful characterisation, Heather Burnside can do no wrong in my eyes.
Audio book narration was absolutely amazingly brilliant!!!
June 28, 2015
Title: Murder in Manchester
“Slur” by Heather Burnside
Reviewed by A. Anthony
06/20/2015
7:47 p.m.
There are events faced by everyone eventually that are traumatic enough to brand themselves on the mind indelibly. For Julie Quinley, this event is the death of Amanda Morris; because a deadly mix of drugs and alcohol were found in Amanda’s system, and Julie was with her shortly before it happened, Julie is arrested as suspect for her murder. Entirely innocent, Julie is ultimately released due to a lack of evidence, but is punished mentally and socially through intense chastisement by her peers (though she tells them of her innocence), who do their best to make Julie feel alienated.
Luckily, Julie is not alone in Heather Burnside’s Slur, for she has Rita, who also is under suspicion for being there with Amanda that fateful night, and was thankfully released from arrest like Julie. In time, they concern themselves not only with proving their own innocence, but with finding out who the real murderer is—enlisting the help of Julie’s boyfriend Vinny—to finally gain some peace. Burnside takes us on this travailed quest for justice while demonstrating her ability to expertly depict psychological turmoil along the way.
Throughout, the reader is provided with a thrilling and well-written contribution to the popular murder mystery genre; the characters are also of depth, and interact with each other so finely. The multiple perspectives that are presented tell us of the flaws and interiors of the characters, helping to push the narrative into the third dimension.
There was only one thing that was lacking slightly—descriptions of the novel’s setting, Manchester, England. The use of local dialect helped to establish it somewhat, but the novel would have felt more complete if greater detail about the city itself was provided, so that the reader could get to know it.
I give “Slur” 4 out of 5 stars.
Until Next Time,
A. Anthony
www.mcwpub.blogspot.com
“Slur” by Heather Burnside
Reviewed by A. Anthony
06/20/2015
7:47 p.m.
There are events faced by everyone eventually that are traumatic enough to brand themselves on the mind indelibly. For Julie Quinley, this event is the death of Amanda Morris; because a deadly mix of drugs and alcohol were found in Amanda’s system, and Julie was with her shortly before it happened, Julie is arrested as suspect for her murder. Entirely innocent, Julie is ultimately released due to a lack of evidence, but is punished mentally and socially through intense chastisement by her peers (though she tells them of her innocence), who do their best to make Julie feel alienated.
Luckily, Julie is not alone in Heather Burnside’s Slur, for she has Rita, who also is under suspicion for being there with Amanda that fateful night, and was thankfully released from arrest like Julie. In time, they concern themselves not only with proving their own innocence, but with finding out who the real murderer is—enlisting the help of Julie’s boyfriend Vinny—to finally gain some peace. Burnside takes us on this travailed quest for justice while demonstrating her ability to expertly depict psychological turmoil along the way.
Throughout, the reader is provided with a thrilling and well-written contribution to the popular murder mystery genre; the characters are also of depth, and interact with each other so finely. The multiple perspectives that are presented tell us of the flaws and interiors of the characters, helping to push the narrative into the third dimension.
There was only one thing that was lacking slightly—descriptions of the novel’s setting, Manchester, England. The use of local dialect helped to establish it somewhat, but the novel would have felt more complete if greater detail about the city itself was provided, so that the reader could get to know it.
I give “Slur” 4 out of 5 stars.
Until Next Time,
A. Anthony
www.mcwpub.blogspot.com
October 10, 2014
This is an accomplished debut novel from Diane Mannion.
Right from the book’s dramatic opening, the reader is swept along by Julie’s story. The authentic Northern dialogue is superb and Mannion paints a colourful and accurate picture of the characters and the attitudes of1980s Manchester.
Julie’s character is very believable – the ‘ordinary’ girl caught in a miscarriage of justice and cracking under the pressure as friends and colleagues make their own harsh judgements.
Rita is also a recognisable type – good time party girl – less thoughtful than Julie and a bit puzzled as to why Julie’s in such a state over everything. She’s a good contrast to Julie.
And the there’s steadfast Vinny, exemplary in his loyalty and kindness to Julie.
The pace really hots up when Julie’s friends begin to suspect who may be the real killer and have to convince the police. Without giving anything away, this proves to be no easy task …
I like a satisfying conclusion, and was not disappointed. Not only is justice done, but all the main characters are changed as a result of their experiences. In addition, Mannion also does a good job in explaining the motivations of the villain.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and very much look forward to Mannion’s next novel.
Right from the book’s dramatic opening, the reader is swept along by Julie’s story. The authentic Northern dialogue is superb and Mannion paints a colourful and accurate picture of the characters and the attitudes of1980s Manchester.
Julie’s character is very believable – the ‘ordinary’ girl caught in a miscarriage of justice and cracking under the pressure as friends and colleagues make their own harsh judgements.
Rita is also a recognisable type – good time party girl – less thoughtful than Julie and a bit puzzled as to why Julie’s in such a state over everything. She’s a good contrast to Julie.
And the there’s steadfast Vinny, exemplary in his loyalty and kindness to Julie.
The pace really hots up when Julie’s friends begin to suspect who may be the real killer and have to convince the police. Without giving anything away, this proves to be no easy task …
I like a satisfying conclusion, and was not disappointed. Not only is justice done, but all the main characters are changed as a result of their experiences. In addition, Mannion also does a good job in explaining the motivations of the villain.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and very much look forward to Mannion’s next novel.
May 6, 2015
I have never been to Manchester, but after reading this book I feel like I know this city fairly well now, or at least I can imagine what it would have looked like in the 1980's. As someone who was a teenager back then, I felt that the author was extremely accurate in the rendition of that decade, from the fashion, to the language, the music, I really felt transported back to that period.
It took me a while to 'warm' to the characters of the book, in particular to the heroine, Julie. At first I found her detached, at times really cold and uncaring, especially towards her boyfriend Vinny, but as we read through, we discover she's not that bad, really. Her best friend Rita would be judged by mostly as a bit of a tart, but I find her likeable and what is mostly appealing is the powerful friendship that exists between the protagonist and her.
But let's not forget that there is a crime that has been committed, and it's not clear until the end who has killed Julie's friend, and in the meantime, two more people are assassinated, in a unexpected turn of events. There are plenty of twists in this novel and you wonder if the bad guy gets found and punished in the end. There is only one way to find out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to all lovers of crime fiction.
It took me a while to 'warm' to the characters of the book, in particular to the heroine, Julie. At first I found her detached, at times really cold and uncaring, especially towards her boyfriend Vinny, but as we read through, we discover she's not that bad, really. Her best friend Rita would be judged by mostly as a bit of a tart, but I find her likeable and what is mostly appealing is the powerful friendship that exists between the protagonist and her.
But let's not forget that there is a crime that has been committed, and it's not clear until the end who has killed Julie's friend, and in the meantime, two more people are assassinated, in a unexpected turn of events. There are plenty of twists in this novel and you wonder if the bad guy gets found and punished in the end. There is only one way to find out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to all lovers of crime fiction.
May 13, 2015
Originally posted on my blog: http://wp.me/p4Dssh-my
This is the first book that I have read by Heather Burnside and I enjoyed reading it. Slur was gritty and engaging, leaving me wanting to know whether Julie was ever going to clear her name. I thought that the way that the book switched from present events to the memories of Julie was greatly effective and gave me the information I needed to piece the story together without being overwhelming or boring.
I felt that the descriptions were effective and the characters seemed realistic. I was familiar with the dialogue used (as I live in the UK) and felt that it fitted with the story well. I also thought that the glossary included at the back of the book was a nice touch. The story left me guessing throughout. I greatly enjoyed the two very different personalities of Julie and her friend Rita and though that the ending fitted well.
This is the first book that I have read by Heather Burnside and I enjoyed reading it. Slur was gritty and engaging, leaving me wanting to know whether Julie was ever going to clear her name. I thought that the way that the book switched from present events to the memories of Julie was greatly effective and gave me the information I needed to piece the story together without being overwhelming or boring.
I felt that the descriptions were effective and the characters seemed realistic. I was familiar with the dialogue used (as I live in the UK) and felt that it fitted with the story well. I also thought that the glossary included at the back of the book was a nice touch. The story left me guessing throughout. I greatly enjoyed the two very different personalities of Julie and her friend Rita and though that the ending fitted well.
August 30, 2014
Martina Cole-esque gritty read - Having read Mannion's excellent non fiction reads, I was very interested to see how this debut fiction novel would turn out, and I was not let down. Believable characters, great dialogue, and a tale that unfurled as the characters came into their own. Great 'Northern' read, but with the helpful glossary, this book will translate to any audience easily. Well edited and formatted, I read the whole thing in a few hours and loved it. Another string to the author's bow.
I received a Kindle copy of this book for an honest, impartial review. All opinions are entirely my own.
I received a Kindle copy of this book for an honest, impartial review. All opinions are entirely my own.
November 8, 2015
Not only does this book have all the hallmarks of a great crime thriller e.g. intrigue, danger and suspense, but the characterisation is just as important. There is a strong interplay of characters throughout and a heavy focus on the marked differences between the personalities of the two main characters. This leads to a strong contrast in the way in which they handle the dire situation that surrounds them. The warmth and depth of the characters is what gives this book an added dimension.
September 30, 2014
Did enjoy this book, it was a nice easy read, was written like an essay in parts though and probably only read it as it was set in the eighties, not sure how believable some parts were either but like I said was a good story, I liked the main characters and the emotion of some of it, took off a star as the glossary was not needed, as they are common words that everyone knows and thought it was a daft, sorry!
February 20, 2022
This is a tale about a couple of young women wrongly accused of murder after a wild night out on the town. The novel describes how the accusations affect their families and their general well-being when no one appears to believe their innocence. The novel later goes on to describe the lengths that they go to (supported by one of the girl’s boyfriends) to try and get evidence to frame the real culprit.
The style of writing was not my cup of tea; I generally prefer long, detailed and descriptive paragraphs, but this novel relied mainly on dialogue. To me, the writing had no real depth to it. The characterisation was ok; adequate enough to get to know who everyone was, and what they were about. The plot line was fine to begin with, and this was what kept me reading on. However, the ending was underwhelming; there were no twists or surprises.
The style of writing was not my cup of tea; I generally prefer long, detailed and descriptive paragraphs, but this novel relied mainly on dialogue. To me, the writing had no real depth to it. The characterisation was ok; adequate enough to get to know who everyone was, and what they were about. The plot line was fine to begin with, and this was what kept me reading on. However, the ending was underwhelming; there were no twists or surprises.
March 9, 2019
Great read
I started this book this morning and couldn’t put it down! I ended up reading the whole book in a day! Haven’t done that for years. Now on to book 2 in the trilogy. Well done Heather!!!
I started this book this morning and couldn’t put it down! I ended up reading the whole book in a day! Haven’t done that for years. Now on to book 2 in the trilogy. Well done Heather!!!
August 7, 2017
Really could not put this book down waiting now for her new book to come out. Worth more than 5 stars
March 4, 2018
Good northern read
Enjoyed this is first book ive read by this author will definitely read the next would recommend if you loke a good northern read
Enjoyed this is first book ive read by this author will definitely read the next would recommend if you loke a good northern read
March 4, 2018
Good story, good ending and would read more of this authors works.
December 22, 2018
Slur
I give this novel 4 stars I found the first few chapters a bit boring but once I actually got into it I found it quite good and funny in some chapters .
I give this novel 4 stars I found the first few chapters a bit boring but once I actually got into it I found it quite good and funny in some chapters .
July 7, 2024
A great debut novel from Heather Burnside. Suspensful, well-written, engaging plot, great and compelling cast of characters, I really enjoyed it.
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