Bad Blood by Heather Atkinson

If you can’t trust your family, who can you trust…?

Glasgow gangster Jamie Gray and his fellow Blood Brothers rule the Gallowburn Estate with an iron fist. No one messes around on their turf without consequences. 

But when Jamie’s erstwhile dad, Jason Gray, reappears after many years away – some of them spent behind bars – the Blood Brothers are drawn into the murky and dangerous world of the toughest gangster of them all – The Queen of Glasgow, Toni McVay.  

Toni is the head of the most powerful organised crime family in Scotland and, as the psychotic leader enjoys scooping out the eyeballs of those who displease her, Jamie has no option but to do her bidding.
 
With the love of his life Allegra still missing, his enemies closing in, and his family’s safety at risk, Jamie Gray faces the battle of his life.  But with his father’s bad blood running through his veins, and the bravery and brains he has inherited from his mother Jackie, Jamie has all the tools he needs to survive.

My Thoughts

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bad Blood is the second book in the Gallowburn series, following on from Blood Brothers. This is definitely a series you need to follow from the beginning to get a full understanding of who the characters are and what has happened in their story so far.

In this latest instalment, we find ourselves back on the Gallowburn Estate in Glasgow. Jamie Gray alongside his friends who make up the notorious ‘Blood Brothers’ are back doing what they do best, keeping the estate in which they call home under control from any shady business that may take place. Their rein as the enforcers in this estate is threatened soon enough by a new, far more brutal gang who are determined to make Gallowburn their territory.

Following several assaults and muggings, as well as attempted rape, the residents turn to Jamie to try and sort out these ever growing problems and bring them some sense of normality once again. Jamie gives them a firm reminder of who is in charge around here, and how he is willing to deal with them if they refuse to listen.

Meanwhile, Cameron’s trial is well and truly under way for the murder of his daughter Allegra, alongside the attempted murder of Jamie. Now, as us readers and Jamie are fully aware, Allegra is in fact safe and well, following a well concocted plan by herself and Jamie to set up her heartless father. After having to exile Allegra for her own safety and to convince everyone that she is in fact dead is something that Jamie knows is necessary, but he is still struggling with being separated from the woman he loves. As all of this drama plays out, we are taken in to the high speed drama that I have come to expect from Heather Atkinson

This is a fabulous addition to this gripping series so far. Heather Atkinson has once again brought the Gallowburn Estate to life for the reader, whilst reacquainting us with a cast of familiar characters we first encounter in Blood Brothers. I loved the ever growing tension that amounted between the two rival gangs as they battled to gain control over the estate.

The characters are well fleshed out and have their own individual flaws and complex personalities too. Each person you encounter throughout the book has their own tales to tell, and adds a new depth to this captivating read. With a fast paced storyline full of suspense and extreme levels of tension throughout, this is one of those books that has you chomping at the bit to find out how it is all going to play out.

You can purchase a copy of this book by following the link below

https://amzn.to/3bT43dH

About the Author

*Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Heather Atkinson for providing me with a gifted copy of this book in return for my honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own and not influenced in any way.*