Guilt: A totally addictive and gritty crime thriller (A Working Girls Series Spin-off)!

by Heather Burnside

Someone knows what she did... Businesswoman Laura Sharples owns a fashionable chain of clothing shops, but not so long ago she called herself Crystal and worked the streets of Manchester. Although she's moved on, she's never forgotten how far she had to go to beat her addictions and raise her daughter, Candice . But when Laura's business is repeatedly vandalised, she begins to fall back into old habits to cope with the stress. As the attacks escalate, the police have no leads. But Laura is someone must know the truth about who she used to be... And they won't stop until she loses everything. Perfect for fans of Martina Cole, Kimberley Chambers and Emma Tallon. Readers love Guilt : ' WOW LOVED THIS BOOK .' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Fab fab fab!!! Heather Burnside pulls another cracker out of the bag, I was totally engrossed throughout, who is it, who is it!... High five from me .' Lucysbooks26 , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' I LOVED IT!!! Clever, beautifully written and entertaining . And, what is unusual in the mass market of contemporary domestic noir/psychological thrillers, characters you actually care about.' NetGalley Reviewer , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Hooked me from the very beginning and kept me hooked the entire time .' Honey Dukes Books , ​​⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Wow ... Explosive ... Great to see some old characters making an appearance and the book's twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat .' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Brilliant , I read this book in 1 day and couldn't put it down . Just love how you see the characters from their life before. Loved it .' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Explosive, fast action story ... A perfect tale again of love, hate, revenge and secrets all wrapped up in 'real' life family drama ... Takes you on a journey they and you will never forget ... 10/10 .' NetGalley Reviewer , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' I did not want this to end from the first page, kept me gripped ... An absolute joy , cannot recommend highly enough absolutely brilliant read .' NetGalley Reviewer , ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Will have you on the edge of your seat with twists and turns galore . Allow yourself the time to read and take in every page. 5* all the way .' Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ' Read this book in a day I literally sucked up the story as I went . The end of each chapter had me wanting more . This series is very good but I truly found this book amazing .' NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller

384 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Heather 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.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the brilliant ‘Working Girl’s’ Series which can easily be read as a stand alone or as a continuation of the series
Heather Burnside is back with another explosive, fast action story, we meet Laura and Candice,Mum and Daughter,Laura runs a chain of designer clothes shops in well to do Cheshire…..but she has a past, a big past….Candice knows this but has never realised the full extent of the horrors her Mum went through….but life is good for them both now….nothing can change that, the past is the past…until it becomes the horrifying present
The author writes a perfect tale again of love,hate,revenge and secrets all wrapped up in ‘real’ life family drama….the characters grab you and keep you throughout the story and take you on a journey they and you will never forget
Guilt is real but is it always warranted…..only we as readers can decide.

10/10
5 Stars

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ Loved This Fast Paced, Gritty Gang-lit Thriller.

Heather Burnside is one of my favourite Gang-lit Authors and her books always deliver.
Guilt is fast-paced, kept me on the edge of my seat, and turning the pages eagerly.

You don't necessarily have to read the previous working girl series to enjoy this book, but it does help you delve into the nitty-gritty of the story. But the background is thoroughly explained along the way.

I kind of had an inkling of who might be behind terrorising Crystal, aka Laura, but it wasn't till the end,my suspicions were confirmed. But it was still nail-biting and I loved it!

I don't want to give anything away all I will say is if you loved the working girl series then this is a must read!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book I've read by Heather Burnside but this book is the 5th in the Working Girls series. I feel like it works just fine as a stand alone book but I definitely want to read the others.
This book is perfect for when I need something gritty and engaging but not too deep to read. It's somewhat predictable but does throw in some twists.

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always know I’m going to enjoy a book written by Heather Burnside
This is the 3rd book I’ve read from the working girls series
It was fast paced gritty crime thriller
It a 10 from me, but 5 stars for what I can give

[Lucy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab fab fab!!!

Heather Burnside pulls another cracker out of the bag, I was totally engaged and engrossed throughout, who is it, who is it!

Laura, formally Crystal has turned around her life and is now business owner, her past catches up with her and someone is out to destruct.

This can totally be read as a stand alone but highly reccomend you read Crystal to get the background story of Laura and daughter Candice.

High five from me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Miss Dizzy Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I've been reading Heather's books for a long time now, I always know I'm going to get a good read when I pick up my kindle and read her books ❤

[Linda Boa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a big fan of gangland thrillers - I used to read some, but found many of them all blurred into one. However, as I review crime fiction, it seemed only fair I had another look at this genre of books. As I hadn't read Heather Burnside before, and because Head Of Zeus is one of my absolute favourite imprints, when the blog tour invitation landed in my inbox, it seemed like serendipity, and an ideal place to start!
Our two principal characters are Laura, an ex-prostitute who's got herself clean from alcohol and drugs, and finally owns a chain of designer clothes shops called Crystals (after her old nom de plume as a working girl) around Manchester, and her daughter Candice, who's just finished her first year at university. Laura is doing her best to make it up to Candice for the difficult early years of her life, and mother and daughter are very close. Candice has a nice boyfriend, Thomas, and it's quite a serious relationship. However, there's someone with a grudge against Laura - and it's escalating. It begins with grafitti on the shop shutters, then there are attacks on Laura's employees...but it goes on to get closer to home for Laura...
To be honest, I didn't find it hugely difficult to figure out who was ultimately behind the vendetta - but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book at all. The big question was, why did this person have such hatred for Laura? What did she do that caused her to suffer the "guilt" of the title?
Well, despite my initial misgivings (all my fault, for being presumptuous about the genre), Guilt proved a really compelling pageturner! It was absolutely packed with action, and Laura proved a great heroine - she was a three dimensional character, not always doing the smartest things. That only made her more realistic and sympathetic. All in all, Guilt was a lesson to me: to not always judge a book by the genre you perceive it to belong to. Also, that by giving something a wee bit different an opportunity, you may just discover a nugget of gold!
Heather Burnside has most certainly found a new fan!
Thoroughly enjoyable and action packed - definitely worth reading!

[Joe Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review - Guilt by Heather Burnside
(UK crime, Gritty crime, Psychological thriller, Working girls)

This is the sixth book in the Working Girls series but it reads great as a standalone. This is, I think, the third in the series that I have read and the author needs to be applauded as she uses everyday language to progress the story and she has a great way with the way she writes dialogue as you feel that you are in the room listening to a conversation. Check out all the releases by the author, if you like authors such as Martina Cole, you will love this. Not just gritty crime but also a great psychological thriller.
Obviously we are talking gritty crime about working girls here so the details have to be there but the author deals with them with compassion and understanding and there are a few twists and turns along the way. The characters grow on you and you begin to hope that things work out well.
Don't be afraid of the subject matter as this is an enjoyable book that is difficult to put down.
Many thanks to the author, and the publishers, Head Of Zeus, for providing me with an electronic advance review copy of the book in return for an honest, unbiased review.
The book will be released on the 4th August in electronic and paperback formats. Get you pre-orders in now so you will be ready for a great read.

[ACottageFullofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Sharples is a business woman with a chain of high-end fashion boutiques in the North of England. She has worked hard and has come a long way from her days working the streets as a prostitute called Crystal.

Laura has never forgotten those days and now her life revolves around her daughter Candice and her business. She knows that she can never slip back to her old days of drugs and addiction.

However, out of the blue one of her shops is vandalised and the perpetrator seems to be making a direct reference to Crystal. At first it seems like an isolated incident, but then another more violent one occurs.

Laura is terrified and before she knows it she begins to go back to some of her old habits. The issue that she is scared of is that someone must know who she used to be, but what do they want and why now?

This is a nail-biting thriller that is dark and full of suspense, I didn’t want to put it down. I really loved the structure of shorter chapters as it kept me hooked and wanting to know who had committed all of the crimes against Laura.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re a fan of psychological thrillers. It is the first book that I have read by Heather Burnside and I can’t wait to read more by this author.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know who you are
I know what you did
I'm coming for you
Working girls book six
And wow it's a cracker.
Laura Sharples running her five fashion boutiques and trade is blooming with her daughter Candice at university and living in a new four bed house things could not be better for her since her days a s working girl Crystal.
But then things start to happen graffiti starts appearing on her shops and they are nasty and clothes stock is ripped she doesn't like it her past is that she wants to be forgotten, so who is out there that knows it all and wants her ruined?
Candice's boyfriend Thomas Foster's dad offers her a job during the term time as her mother doesn't think its safe for her to work the boutiques.
Laura has so much going on and wants to be left alone and turns to drink again
will she see happiness ever again in her life, there's just no holding back and her guilt just gets worse .
As always the author has delivered once again, and this is one of the best in the working girls for me to date, so much going on as you read, and so many are guilty as you read on then tou see the twists, fantastic read right through.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not an author I was previously familiar with (that will soon be rectified) and whilst this is the sixth in the Working Girls series, I can testify that is easily reads as a standalone. Also this not necessarily my normal read, however, I am grateful that I was given the chance because this is a wonderfully crafted drama, and thanks to the quality of the writing, I found myself falling straight into story and the characters lives from the opening pages.

The plot is wonderfully constructed, given Lauras past, a past she thought was behind her and one which only her closest family and friends were aware of, now a succesful business woman, someone is out to bring her shatteringly back down. The plot centres around this premis, however, is is the way that it is drawn out on the page which gives it a real depth, you get little reveals into Lauras past again adding an extra dimension and layer to the story, the pacing of the story is spot on, not rushed and allows for the story to build and for a sense of realism, that said it is packed with plenty of suspense, with a real dramatic feel throughout, the author cleverly injects and heightens the tension at just the right moments, which keeps you turning the pages

Another point where the book shines, the characters, you can believe in these people, written in a way that you can sense the emotion and feel the fear, each showing a human side. The interplay between Laura and her daughter Candice will resonate with many especially as the story unfolds and races to its dramatic conclusion, in someways it is refreshing to read a story where telling the truth rather than going of gung ho has its rewards again it give the whole book that air of believability. A story where you can invest sometime into the characters life’s. In someways the author puts the reader at the heart of the story.

This was a hugely enjoyable read, a book with heart and a vibrancy to the writing, where family life and its values count, where freindships and loyalties are tested.

Clearly an author who knows how to keep the reader entertained, and that is why I read, someone who knows how to draw out the suspense

A story where I was hooked and drawn into the characters world from the opening pages, one which is hard to out down, the writing shines throughout

Would definitley recommend 5*

[Vikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin with this book? This is a bit of a gem and should immediately be added to the TBR.

Burnside has written a complete masterpiece with this one. I have been pulled into the pages of this very early on. The characters have been interesting and intriguing, I have enjoyed the journey through this one with them.

Laura has been an intriguing character and I definitely want to delve into her past. I think from this one it would be equally as intriguing and addictive.

This is a book that moves at the perfect pace, there are enough twists to keep you guessing. Guilt is an unpredictable read with some interesting character relationships. I have loved the tension as I’ve read this one. I found myself completely caught up in events playing out on the pages.

I have loved Candice, she has been the innocent character who unfortunately gets caught up in this. Guilt is full of secrets, betrayal and lies. It’s everything I love in a visit to the darker side.

This is definitely a book which needs to be read. A must for the TBR and I absolutely cannot wait to read more by this author.

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sat down and just thought I’ll have a little peek at the first couple of chapters and low and behold I got totally sucked in and read the whole thing!

Businesswoman Laura Sharples owns a high end chain of clothing shops, but not so long ago she called herself Crystal and worked the streets of Manchester.
But when her business is repeatedly vandalised, and staff are threatened she begins to fall back into old habits to cope with the stress. As the attacks escalate, the police have no leads. It seems that someone knows about her past life and will stop at nothing to let everyone know.

This is a spin off from another series so some of the characters may be familiar to some readers but I came to this fresh and it works well as a standalone. This is one gripping story and has a really great flow to it. I liked Laura but I loved her daughter Candice more. They both are gutsy women with sass and as the plot twisted and turned, my gaze was led from one suspect to another until the reveal and it wasn’t what I thought, which is always a bonus!

A gutsy gripping thriller that will capture your attention! A perfect holiday read

[Bookstagramshaz Sharon Logue · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚📖 Book Review 📖📚

📖 Book - Guilt
✍️ Author - Heather Burnside
📕 Publisher - Head of Zeus
🗓 Publication Date - 4th Aug 2022


Laura has a few shows in which she sells fashionable clothes. Her shops are call crystal and one day, she gets a call to say there has been some graffiti in the front of her first shop. It has to be done by someone who knows her, someone who knows her Strip Name was Crystal!!

What will she tell her daughter?!

I’m going to be honest here….. I enjoyed this book but I guessed how the ending was going to pan out from the start, for me this kind of ruined my reading this book. I get annoyed at myself for this at times !!

I have enjoyed other books by the author and really enjoyed them.

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[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a lover of gangland thrillers, you will love 'Guilt' by Heather Burnside!

This gripping, absorbing, fast-paced thriller captivates throughout, resulting in a quick read. The plot twists are excellently executed, and the storyline is full of action and drama.

It takes talent and fantastic writing skills to make a gangland thriller realistic and not over the top, and I am delighted to say Heather Burnside has managed just this! She has created some convincing characters, and I was particularly compelled to Laura for the entirety.

However, there are sensitive topics within this storyline (sex workers and domestic abuse, as well as others), but these are written well and provide depth and emotion where needed. Some readers may find parts of this upsetting, and comprehensive research is advisable.

I highly recommend this newly released read to fans of this genre, and I will pick up future releases from this author without hesitation!

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook. This is book 6 of The Working Girls Series. But all books can be read as standalone. The benefit of reading in series order, is that you get to know the characters so much better as they feature from one book to the next.

This story was full on entertaining, gritty, lots of action and so very well written. It really keeps you on your toes in anticipation as to what might happen next and how things will pan out. The characters were all very well developed, strong and portrayed, pretty believable too.

I think this has probably been my favourite book of the whole series, was a great storyline, well written and loved getting to be reacquainted with Crystal, aka now Laura and that her her daughter who is now older also has a major part to play in this book.

The narrator, was great, she read the story well, gave each character their own unique voice and the story just flowed well.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th episode in the working girls series and it's brilliant.
I loved every page I turned.

After being a working girl on the streets and a drug addict a long time ago Laura whose street name was (Crystal) has done good. She's got a string of highly successful clothes shops all named after her street name. Then things start to go wrong when one of her shops is vandalised with graffiti, then clothes are sprayed with paint. She is terrified that her past is coming back to haunt her. But by who and why?
Here the story unfolds and becomes a fast-paced thriller that grips you to the bone.

A greatly written book with a good description of the characters and the surrounding area which really helped the reader to visualise the story.
This is a very addictive book and well worth a read.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th episode in the working girls series and it's brilliant.
I loved every page I turned.

After being a working girl on the streets and a drug addict a long time ago Laura whose street name was (Crystal) has done good. She's got a string of highly successful clothes shops all named after her street name. Then things start to go wrong when one of her shops is vandalised with graffiti, then clothes are sprayed with paint. She is terrified that her past is coming back to haunt her. But by who and why?
Here the story unfolds and becomes a fast-paced thriller that grips you to the bone.

A greatly written book with a good description of the characters and the surrounding area which really helped the reader to visualise the story.
This is a very addictive book and well worth a read.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent book. xxx

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After giving up working the street in search of a better life, Laura Sharples (aka Crystal, former prostitute) had no idea a ghost from her past would reappear in search of revenge.

This is a fantastic read with an excellent storyline. Highly unsettling and oh so tense, I found myself devouring Guilt at every given moment. I have to say, I guessed the perpetrator from rather very early on but that certainly didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book.

I believe this is the sixth book in the Working Girls series however it can most definitely be read and appreciated as a standalone given I haven't read the previous in the series.

I'll be on the look out for future reads from Heather Burnside!

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review 📖

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Working Girls Series Spin-off

Manchester Thrillers
1. Guilt (2022)
2. Blackmail (2023)
3. Redemption (2023)

Guilt is the first book in The Manchester Thrillers series. Published in 2022. I'm finally getting around to reading some of the books on my huge TBR and I have to say I'm glad I chose this one to read today. I have enjoyed it so much I've downloaded the 2nd book = Blackmail, so I can read it right away.

Laura - The owner of 5 high end boutiques. All called Crystal. When graffiti and damage to her stock starts to happen around her stores, Laura knows someone from her past is trying to scare her. They seem to be succeeding.
This book is filled with lies, deceit and crime. It's full of twists. As the truth from the past starts to unravel the story just ramps up it's pace. An excellent read.

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilt, a spin off to the brillant Working Girls series, reunites the reader with Crystal (now going by the name Laura). I always had a soft spot and rooted for her, so I was thrilled for this book and couldn’t wait to dive in.

Against all odds Laura has survived her tumultuous past and has built a successful business and raised her daughter Candice. But someone is out to get her and the progress she has made to better herself is under threat of being destroyed. Will this force her to return to life she struggled so hard to leave behind?

Burnside does what she does best and has created another gritty and explosive read. The pace is fast, the characters are flawed and believable and I could not put it down! It is the whole package and another perfect example of Burnside’s skilful storytelling.

[Dleech · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest offering from heather atkinson has the reader transported back to a character from the working girls series namely crystal. Nowadays crystal is known as Laura Sharples and owns a successful chain of high fashion women’s clothes shops. Life is good until the shops start being targeted on what seems to be a hate campaign with each attack getting worse and more ferocious. Laura suspects someone from her past but who?

I’ve always enjoyed this series of books and this latest offering to a good addition.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura has a successful businesses designer shops in cheshire .she has a great relationship with her beautiful daughter. Someone from her past is trying to destroy all this .her shop manager rings her to tell her that graffiti saying crystal is a whore is sprayed on shop shutter this only the beginning .is this a campaign to destroy all that laura has worked for. A brilliant read from beginning to the last page absolutely brilliant . This is a follow up book in the working girls series

[Gail Marchant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Burnside all the Working Girls books, this being number 6 are fabulous, they tell of these girls the things they have put up with when working the streets
The friendships they make, the heart ache & violence
Crystal has turned her life round and is now Laura owner of a chain of fashionable shops has a nice home
But the past comes to revenge her, her shops are vandalised
Who is it & how will her life be changed

[Caroline O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sixth book in the Working Girls series but you can read it as a standalone. This book focuses on Crystal who was also featured in book three of the series. Who is targeting Laura's businesses and family and will the harassment and damage push her over the edge and tip her back into her old ways?

You will most definitely enjoy this book and it may well tempt you to go back and read the whole series and Burnside's back catalogue too!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilt by Heather Burnside was another excellent book and this one is the 6th book in the brilliant ‘Working Girl’s’ Series. However, it can be read as a standalone book but I so recommend you go back and read all the other five books They will not disappoint. Heather has a way of writing to bring you into the book from the very first few pages till the very end. Just brilliant!

5 BIG ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another superb book from heather burnside. I like the look into family dynamics and how people treat victims of a crime, and why people commit crimes. No one is ever perfect in these books and that makes the characters feel so much More human, you can tell the author has a real interest in psychology and sociology. I’ll definitely be reading more in the series 5* from me

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Heather that I couldn’t put down. Laura was a working girl who drank too much and took drugs. With a young daughter she was determined to change and she did. Now with a chain of shops her life couldn’t be more different. Suddenly after some graffiti and vandalism at her shops Laura wonders if her past has come back to haunt her.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilt by Heather Burnside.
I know who you are...
I know what you did...
I'm coming to get you...
Someone knows what Laura did...
Someone who won't stop until she loses everything...
Really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover. Twisty and tense. 4*.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilt by Heather Burnside.
I know who you are...
I know what you did...
I'm coming to get you...
Someone knows what Laura did...
Someone who won't stop until she loses everything...
Really enjoyed this book. I loved the cover. Twisty and tense. 4*.