Blackmail: A completely unputdownable gripping and gritty crime thriller (The Manchester Thrillers)

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I am a sufferer of depression and found this was covered well in the novel, it can be hard to portray in a book but I think the author has given the character more depth and made Julie more believable in her situation. Burnside is also good at this, and is so skilled in creating relatable characters and believable dialogue. That same colour scheme was picked up in the expensive rug, which adorned the polished wooden flooring, and in the heavy navy-blue textured curtains. Another exciting read from this author… brilliant can't wait to see if there's another one in the series.

Heather Burnside spent her teenage years on one of the toughest estates in Manchester and she draws heavily on this background as the setting for many of her novels. But when Laura’s business is repeatedly vandalised, she begins to fall back into old habits to cope with the stress.

Out of the corner of her eye, Beth noticed the manager watching her, but before he had a chance to comment, she rushed away from the bar, feeling flustered. You may miss the characters being introduced, but the stories are not intertwined and you’d miss very little by reading this as a stand-alone book.

In addition to vibrant and vivacious protagonist Rita and her dependable friend Julie, the book boasts an array of new colourful, contrasting and convincing characters. As much as I liked Slur, you can tell that Gangster’s Grip is Burnside’s second novel as it feels a little more polished and well-paced. The moral right of Heather Burnside to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988. By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. The sofa was also grey but darker and covered with scatter cushions in various shades of greys, blues and a mustard colour.

Then Beth looked down, shocked to discover that he was clutching a blood-drenched knife, which was rubbing against her clothing and staining her coat. The piece of furniture had been carefully selected by both of them to give the place a cool retro vibe. Heather now works full-time as an author from her home in Manchester which she shares with her two grown-up children. She turned her head to the side to get a better look and noticed a distinguished, good-looking man of about forty sitting on a stool at the end of the bar. As their relationship progressed, they decided to pool their resources and upgrade to a three-bedroom detached home in the more affluent area of Marple.

Frantic now, Beth carried on battling her way towards Rex till she had almost reached the end of the clump of bushes.So if you haven’t read Slur, (although I do recommend it), you will not be missing out by diving straight into this one. As Beth smiled at his enthusiasm, he nodded at a table for two with plush chairs covered in a fawn-coloured fabric. When Julie is accused of a crime she doesn’t commit, even her nearest and dearest do not believe her! Although this is number two in the series, I do believe Gangster’s Grip would easily work as a separate story.