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Manchester Trilogy #2
Blood Ties
From the bestselling author of BORN BAD.
Adele Robinson is locked up – convicted for the murder of her abusive father. She quickly realises that she'll have to play it tough if she's going to survive, and soon gains a reputation for standing her ground.
Meanwhile, her brother Peter is building his criminal empire on the outside – running protection rackets, seedy nightclubs and all manner of schemes to make a fast buck. He soon comes to the attention of, not only the police, but also Manchester's rival gangs, and a turf war breaks out.
And when things start to get bloody, only Adele can step in to protect the family business. Will she get out in time to save Peter? After all, blood is thicker than water, and when family's in trouble you can't look the other way.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2018
273 people are currently reading
98 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 42 reviews
March 14, 2018
4☆ A Gritty Crime Thriller
Blood Ties is a gripping Crime Thriller. It's very gritty and violent. Everything you would expect from a criminal underworld.
I love these kind of books where you see families take on the business stepping on other criminal gangs toes.
It submerged you into the life of crime!
Adele is in prison for killing her abusive father.
We get a good inside into her life inside and her need to survive.
Meanwhile we meet her brother Peter.
He is meant to be handling business whilst his sister is inside.
He is running a protection racket but whilst doing so he is ruffling a few feathers and not the good kind!
Adele is desperate to get out of prison to ensure Peter don't crumble their empire.
But can she get out before Peter ruins everything.
This is a nicely paced Thriller.
It's the second book in the series which although I would of loved to read more of Adele's story this one was easily read as a standalone.
I enjoyed Adele's story and how she manages to survive prision. She's strong and knows exactly what she wants!
If your looking for a gritty crime thriller that is nicely paced with a great storyline and exciting characters then Blood Ties is the book for you!
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Blood Ties is a gripping Crime Thriller. It's very gritty and violent. Everything you would expect from a criminal underworld.
I love these kind of books where you see families take on the business stepping on other criminal gangs toes.
It submerged you into the life of crime!
Adele is in prison for killing her abusive father.
We get a good inside into her life inside and her need to survive.
Meanwhile we meet her brother Peter.
He is meant to be handling business whilst his sister is inside.
He is running a protection racket but whilst doing so he is ruffling a few feathers and not the good kind!
Adele is desperate to get out of prison to ensure Peter don't crumble their empire.
But can she get out before Peter ruins everything.
This is a nicely paced Thriller.
It's the second book in the series which although I would of loved to read more of Adele's story this one was easily read as a standalone.
I enjoyed Adele's story and how she manages to survive prision. She's strong and knows exactly what she wants!
If your looking for a gritty crime thriller that is nicely paced with a great storyline and exciting characters then Blood Ties is the book for you!
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
March 7, 2018
I can’t believe I haven read anything by this author before as I really enjoyed this story. I didn’t realise this was book two and if I had have known I’d have read Born Bad before I read this.
Adele and Peter Robinson’s story continues and we find Adele in prison for the murder of her abusive father. While she’s trying to stay safe in prison her brother Peter is building his criminal empire. When things start going tits up for Peter can his sister Adele save him.
I think I’d have got more out of this story if I had have read Born Bad first. Having said that I still enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Adele and Peter Robinson’s story continues and we find Adele in prison for the murder of her abusive father. While she’s trying to stay safe in prison her brother Peter is building his criminal empire. When things start going tits up for Peter can his sister Adele save him.
I think I’d have got more out of this story if I had have read Born Bad first. Having said that I still enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading more from this author.
March 7, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written, it flowed very well and had some excellent characters! I really liked Adele’s character and I imagine she was really great to write.
The pace is spot on for the book, the descriptions of the area are great and it makes you feel as though you are living the story with the characters. It was a book that when I stopped reading and re-started it was like I was being completely immersed back in to the story at which ever point I picked it back up.
Another great book from this author – 4 stars from me!
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written, it flowed very well and had some excellent characters! I really liked Adele’s character and I imagine she was really great to write.
The pace is spot on for the book, the descriptions of the area are great and it makes you feel as though you are living the story with the characters. It was a book that when I stopped reading and re-started it was like I was being completely immersed back in to the story at which ever point I picked it back up.
Another great book from this author – 4 stars from me!
August 13, 2020
Another great read by Heather.
Can't wait to dive into Vendetta.
Can't wait to dive into Vendetta.
March 12, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This is the second book following the exploits of siblings Adele and Pete. Adele is serving a prison sentence for the manslaughter of their abusive father. Pete is building his criminal business on the outside.
The story follows Adele's time in prison and her subsequent release and re-adjustment into civilian life and it's struggles. Pete meanwhile is finding his position as head of his gang threatened.
The book is a gritty violent portrayal of the criminal world and the struggle for Adele to stay on the right side of the law.
This is the second book following the exploits of siblings Adele and Pete. Adele is serving a prison sentence for the manslaughter of their abusive father. Pete is building his criminal business on the outside.
The story follows Adele's time in prison and her subsequent release and re-adjustment into civilian life and it's struggles. Pete meanwhile is finding his position as head of his gang threatened.
The book is a gritty violent portrayal of the criminal world and the struggle for Adele to stay on the right side of the law.
March 6, 2018
Well what a splendid book . It starts of with Adele in prison then she gets out and stays with peter her brother .Then at the end of the book peter goes in prison . I am glad that Netgalley give me an arc copy
November 3, 2025
never read any by this author before but it had me gripped from page one. fans of Martina Cole would love it
April 19, 2020
Read the second book in the triology. So looking forward to read the last one, when it is released.
May 28, 2018
Book 2 featuring siblings Adele and Peter was a good read. Heather has all the ingredients to be a terrific writer and I look forward to her future books.
Thanks to Aria for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Aria for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2018
Every once in a while I discover a new author (well new to me anyways) and I can’t believe that I haven’t come across them before. Well Heather Burnside is one of those authors. I absolutely loved reading ‘Blood Ties’ but more about that in a bit
I really felt for the character of Adele Robinson. She is currently in prison for killing her father. By the sounds of it, I can’t say that I honestly blame her because he sounds like a tyrant and a bully. Adele’s life in prison is somewhat hampered by the fact that she is the sister of Peter Robinson, who has a hard man reputation and is making a name for himself. Adele wants to keep her head down and stay out of trouble but that isn’t easy when the top dog prisoner has it in for you. Adele also has a quick temper and when her cage is rattled, she just loses it. It’s almost as if a red mist has descended. To start with, Adele doesn’t exactly see eye to eye with her cell mate Anna, who has wandering hands and an attitude to match. Anna has a run in or several with top dog Shazza and Adele sees it as her duty to look out for Anna. Adele wants to use her time in prison constructively and is seeking to further her education to help the time pass. Adele doesn’t have any visitors apart from her brother, Peter, who sounds very scary. Peter is the leader of a gang, who demands loyalty at all times. If somebody crosses him, then it’s safe to say that he seeks his revenge. Peter warns his sister to keep her head down and stay out of trouble but he would do well to heed his own advice. He uses his status and imposing nature to threaten, bully, intimidate and dish out his twisted sense of justice. Peter commits several different and serious crimes but he seems quite brazen about it. I wondered at one point if he was becoming too careless. Will Adele survive her prison sentence? Will Shazza get her much needed comeuppance? Will Peter become the top dog in the gangland world? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you
‘Blood Ties’ is most definitely addictive reading and in a sense a terrifying insight into the gangland world. It’s safe to say that I could never be a gangster because I am too much of a wimp and I hope I am never in prison because I wouldn’t last five minutes. The descriptions of the violence dished out in prison and outside were so vivid that I even found myself wincing as if I was on the receiving end of whichever ‘punishment’ was being dished out at the time. I was hooked on ‘Blood Ties’ from the moment I opened the cover of the book and I was under the book’s spell until the moment I closed the back cover so to speak. I found that I just could not put the book down and it came everywhere with me. I even begrudged taking my two Labradors out which didn’t go down very well at all. I was addicted to reading ‘Blood Ties’ and I constantly needed to get my next fix of one more page, one more chapter and so on and so forth. I was so into the story that I didn’t realise how quickly the page numbers were flying by and before I knew it I had cleared a fair chunk of the book. It didn’t take that long for me to finish the book, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but at the same time I was disappointed to finish because I was enjoying the writing style and the story so much that I just wanted it to continue. Reading ‘Blood Ties’ is very much like riding blindfolded on a very unpredictable rollercoaster ride where you can’t see the ups and the downs and you have no idea in which direction the story/ ride will take you. There were also times when I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next.
In short, I absolutely LOVED reading ‘Blood Ties’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from Heather Burnside. Whilst I am waiting, I will just content myself with reading her other books. In my honest opinion, Heather deserves to be as popular as Martina Cole, Kimberly Chambers and Mandsue Heller and Heather Burnside is definitely on my must read and favourite authors list. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I really felt for the character of Adele Robinson. She is currently in prison for killing her father. By the sounds of it, I can’t say that I honestly blame her because he sounds like a tyrant and a bully. Adele’s life in prison is somewhat hampered by the fact that she is the sister of Peter Robinson, who has a hard man reputation and is making a name for himself. Adele wants to keep her head down and stay out of trouble but that isn’t easy when the top dog prisoner has it in for you. Adele also has a quick temper and when her cage is rattled, she just loses it. It’s almost as if a red mist has descended. To start with, Adele doesn’t exactly see eye to eye with her cell mate Anna, who has wandering hands and an attitude to match. Anna has a run in or several with top dog Shazza and Adele sees it as her duty to look out for Anna. Adele wants to use her time in prison constructively and is seeking to further her education to help the time pass. Adele doesn’t have any visitors apart from her brother, Peter, who sounds very scary. Peter is the leader of a gang, who demands loyalty at all times. If somebody crosses him, then it’s safe to say that he seeks his revenge. Peter warns his sister to keep her head down and stay out of trouble but he would do well to heed his own advice. He uses his status and imposing nature to threaten, bully, intimidate and dish out his twisted sense of justice. Peter commits several different and serious crimes but he seems quite brazen about it. I wondered at one point if he was becoming too careless. Will Adele survive her prison sentence? Will Shazza get her much needed comeuppance? Will Peter become the top dog in the gangland world? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you
‘Blood Ties’ is most definitely addictive reading and in a sense a terrifying insight into the gangland world. It’s safe to say that I could never be a gangster because I am too much of a wimp and I hope I am never in prison because I wouldn’t last five minutes. The descriptions of the violence dished out in prison and outside were so vivid that I even found myself wincing as if I was on the receiving end of whichever ‘punishment’ was being dished out at the time. I was hooked on ‘Blood Ties’ from the moment I opened the cover of the book and I was under the book’s spell until the moment I closed the back cover so to speak. I found that I just could not put the book down and it came everywhere with me. I even begrudged taking my two Labradors out which didn’t go down very well at all. I was addicted to reading ‘Blood Ties’ and I constantly needed to get my next fix of one more page, one more chapter and so on and so forth. I was so into the story that I didn’t realise how quickly the page numbers were flying by and before I knew it I had cleared a fair chunk of the book. It didn’t take that long for me to finish the book, which I had mixed feelings about. Don’t get me wrong I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but at the same time I was disappointed to finish because I was enjoying the writing style and the story so much that I just wanted it to continue. Reading ‘Blood Ties’ is very much like riding blindfolded on a very unpredictable rollercoaster ride where you can’t see the ups and the downs and you have no idea in which direction the story/ ride will take you. There were also times when I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next.
In short, I absolutely LOVED reading ‘Blood Ties’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from Heather Burnside. Whilst I am waiting, I will just content myself with reading her other books. In my honest opinion, Heather deserves to be as popular as Martina Cole, Kimberly Chambers and Mandsue Heller and Heather Burnside is definitely on my must read and favourite authors list. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 1, 2020
As the eighties gradually gave up their cultural hold, Manchester was a city in flux. Fast gaining a reputation as a party capital, its bars and clubs, for so long hidden away, were at last emerging from the shadows. Great change was coming with the dawn of the Twentieth Century's last decade.
Today, a first time visitor to the city, with its year-round booming nightlife and towers of steel and glass that reach to touch the sky, would never guess what once took place. But those who were there, in those heady, pre-corporate days, might just remember the dark netherworld that lay behind a hastily-erected facade of respectability. A world in which improbably flash cars prowled hard estates, money was lavished with no visible means of support and absolutely no questions were asked – ever. A world in which actions would always have consequences.
In Blood Ties, Heather Burnside immerses the reader into that world. Against a beautifully described backdrop that perfectly captures the essence of Manchester at that time, she has crafted a tale of shifting loyalties, violence and retribution. Her characters are well-imagined, believable and often conflicted – in short, absolutely lifelike. The pace of the story is fast; this is a difficult book to put down. Be warned: it may well be the cause of a few bleary-eyed mornings and poorly concealed yawns.
Like all the best stories, Blood Ties leaves the reader wanting to know more. It's the first book I've read by Ms Burnside. It won't be the last.
Today, a first time visitor to the city, with its year-round booming nightlife and towers of steel and glass that reach to touch the sky, would never guess what once took place. But those who were there, in those heady, pre-corporate days, might just remember the dark netherworld that lay behind a hastily-erected facade of respectability. A world in which improbably flash cars prowled hard estates, money was lavished with no visible means of support and absolutely no questions were asked – ever. A world in which actions would always have consequences.
In Blood Ties, Heather Burnside immerses the reader into that world. Against a beautifully described backdrop that perfectly captures the essence of Manchester at that time, she has crafted a tale of shifting loyalties, violence and retribution. Her characters are well-imagined, believable and often conflicted – in short, absolutely lifelike. The pace of the story is fast; this is a difficult book to put down. Be warned: it may well be the cause of a few bleary-eyed mornings and poorly concealed yawns.
Like all the best stories, Blood Ties leaves the reader wanting to know more. It's the first book I've read by Ms Burnside. It won't be the last.
March 8, 2018
'Blood Ties' isn't a sophisticated thriller, it's base, gritty and often violent. It focuses on a crime family based in Manchester, one sibling Adele, is imprisoned for brutally killing her abusive father and on the outside, her younger brother Peter is furthering his organised crime empire. Part one focuses on Adele's time in prison, and how she copes, I'm not keen on prison drama, but this did show Adele's character development and possibly introduced other characters that she may meet in a future book perhaps?Peter's empire building makes him fall out with old friends as he forms new alliances. Protection and revenge dominate Peter's life, and he discovers how ruthless his new business associates are. Part two focuses on Adele's life immediately after her release, and with the limited choices left to her with a prison record, she is obligated to work for her brother. She finds life on the outside is challenging and just as dangerous as imprisonment. This story is easy to read if a little stereotypical in parts. The pacing is good, and it doesn't rely on graphic violence. I think it would be more exciting written in predominately active tense, rather than relying on passive descriptions. I received a copy of this book from Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
March 5, 2018
It is hard to stay at the top of the game.
Adele is locked up for the murder of her abusive father. She has to learn to fight for a place in the prison hierarchy, but meanwhile staying safe.
Her brother, Peter, is an up and coming gangster but people are waiting to topple him and take his lucrative business from him. Adele must try to ensure she is released in time to help her brother and become a part of his growing empire.
Can she keep out of trouble in order to be let free?
I am afraid this book was a big chore to read as it was so boring. I have read Martina Cole and I think this author has tried to emulate her but not successfully. The characters are all predictable and clichéd. The bad guy was obvious from the beginning and it was all a bit blah.
I can not fault the writing - just the story. I honestly do not think I could read another of these books for a while.
Shesat
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Adele is locked up for the murder of her abusive father. She has to learn to fight for a place in the prison hierarchy, but meanwhile staying safe.
Her brother, Peter, is an up and coming gangster but people are waiting to topple him and take his lucrative business from him. Adele must try to ensure she is released in time to help her brother and become a part of his growing empire.
Can she keep out of trouble in order to be let free?
I am afraid this book was a big chore to read as it was so boring. I have read Martina Cole and I think this author has tried to emulate her but not successfully. The characters are all predictable and clichéd. The bad guy was obvious from the beginning and it was all a bit blah.
I can not fault the writing - just the story. I honestly do not think I could read another of these books for a while.
Shesat
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
February 28, 2018
Wow yet again another great read by Heather. This book follows on from Born Bad telling the lives of brother and sister Adele and Peter Robinson. This book starts with Adele in prison for the murder of her abusive Dad and from page one you are immediately drawn back into their lives. A great read and I look forward to reading more of their troubled lives. I highly recommend this book to all my book loving friends.
June 19, 2018
This book was ok. It appears to be number two in a trilogy. I haven't read number one. Adele is in prison for murdering her father. Her brother Peter is a criminal who is building his, empire. When Adele gets out of prison she tries to get a job and eventually goes to work as a bookkeeper for Peter. It's not long before she discovers how deep in the gang world he is and how mixed up in his criminal life she has become.
February 2, 2019
Good
While I enjoyed reading the second book of the life’s of Adele and her brother Peter I found it a bit long drawn out at times so was losing interest. Despite this I did finish the book and am excited to find out what happens next to them. The tables are now turned with Adele out of prison after serving 7yrs for murdering her dad and now Peter in prison for GBH after being set up by his no2 Glynn
While I enjoyed reading the second book of the life’s of Adele and her brother Peter I found it a bit long drawn out at times so was losing interest. Despite this I did finish the book and am excited to find out what happens next to them. The tables are now turned with Adele out of prison after serving 7yrs for murdering her dad and now Peter in prison for GBH after being set up by his no2 Glynn
March 28, 2020
Bitterly disappointed after reading Born Bad - the 1st in the trilogy. This one tended to be repetitive and cliched. Adele is hard to relate to In this book as she is portrayed as a bad tempered and arrogant idiot who refuses to listen while trying to say how intelligent she is. The story is obvious with cliched good looking bad boy, the sex and the weasel looking enemy. I hear Vendetta is better and I hope so as I downloaded both after reading Born Bad
February 14, 2018
I liked the pace at which this book progressed.
I found that I wanted to know what happened next.
This is the first book by Heather Burnside that I have read, I wouldn't rule out Reading other books on the strength of this novel.
Some interesting characters. The narrative is better than the quality of the writing.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Aria for a copy in exchange for this review.
I found that I wanted to know what happened next.
This is the first book by Heather Burnside that I have read, I wouldn't rule out Reading other books on the strength of this novel.
Some interesting characters. The narrative is better than the quality of the writing.
My thanks go to Netgalley and Aria for a copy in exchange for this review.
March 21, 2018
This book follows on from Born Bad but it was disappointing. Adele is in prison for the murder of her dad and her brother Peter is running the business. The book is gritty and violent but lacked a good storyline. I felt it was all a bit familiar with predictable characters but on the plus side, the writing was good. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
April 30, 2018
Gripping
Heather has come back with a vengeance on her new book, it has you taken in and captured from the start. Adele having to live with the guilt of killing her father is sweeped in to the gangster world. Can she handle it is the question. Hope there is a sequel to this as it definitely finishes in a cliff hanger.
Heather has come back with a vengeance on her new book, it has you taken in and captured from the start. Adele having to live with the guilt of killing her father is sweeped in to the gangster world. Can she handle it is the question. Hope there is a sequel to this as it definitely finishes in a cliff hanger.
June 8, 2018
Fantastic read by Kerry Barnes.
This is a brilliant read from start to finish virally got into this author I will most certainly buy her books . Writes like Martina Cole .Kimberly chambers. And jessie Keane well worth buying . This novel is a must and deserves 5 stars .
This is a brilliant read from start to finish virally got into this author I will most certainly buy her books . Writes like Martina Cole .Kimberly chambers. And jessie Keane well worth buying . This novel is a must and deserves 5 stars .
September 23, 2018
Couldn't put it down i hope there is a following book to see what happens a next
Brilliant book can th wait for the following book to see what happens s
Next ,I hope there is a sequal
Brilliant book can th wait for the following book to see what happens s
Next ,I hope there is a sequal
December 11, 2018
Blood Ties
The book is a interesting story, the author tell us the story in a very interesting way, when you read and close your eyes for a moment and you’re feeling almost inside the story, at list is how I feel and I liked is very interesting...
The book is a interesting story, the author tell us the story in a very interesting way, when you read and close your eyes for a moment and you’re feeling almost inside the story, at list is how I feel and I liked is very interesting...
April 16, 2019
Great
After reading the first book twice (as I had forgotten i had read it) I couldn't wait till start this one and it did not disappoint. It was great and very packed. Now starting the next one
After reading the first book twice (as I had forgotten i had read it) I couldn't wait till start this one and it did not disappoint. It was great and very packed. Now starting the next one
March 17, 2018
Absolutely love this book. Fast paced love the role of Adele and her brother Pete. So looking forward to the next instalment. Well written recommend
April 15, 2018
Looking forward to the next instalment
April 27, 2018
Good read
Enjoyed this book like the others........a really good read! Can't wait to read my next book! Definatley recommend this writer
Enjoyed this book like the others........a really good read! Can't wait to read my next book! Definatley recommend this writer
February 15, 2019
Great
Really good trilogy, can't wait to read the final instalment. Would recommend to fans of Martina Cole and the like.
Really good trilogy, can't wait to read the final instalment. Would recommend to fans of Martina Cole and the like.
April 6, 2019
Riveting
The second instalment of Adeles turbulent life! I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Now I'm off to buy the final in this rather gritty trilogy
The second instalment of Adeles turbulent life! I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Now I'm off to buy the final in this rather gritty trilogy
March 29, 2020
Great read.
Really enjoyed this book. I Found it hard to put down. I could visualise all the character so clearly in my mind.
A great read. Looking forward to the next.
Really enjoyed this book. I Found it hard to put down. I could visualise all the character so clearly in my mind.
A great read. Looking forward to the next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews