Toni McVay and Valerie Brown are cousins on the infamous Gallowburn estate. Gang leader Frankie is Toni’s brother and wants both women to support his criminal dealings. But can Valerie find happiness and leave the estate forever…?
Wicked Girls is a prequel to Heather Atkinson’s Gallowburn gang crime series which has often featured Toni (I have previously reviewed Bad Bloodand Blood Pact from the series).
Toni is a character that I have met in previous books. Her dauntless behaviour and strength have always been clear but this book allows us the opportunity to see how these characteristics developed. However, it is her cousin Valerie that leads the developments of this book.
Valerie is a gentler soul than Toni and yearns to escape the life of crime and violence that she seems destined for. Toni introduces her to Seb and they have a meeting of minds over literaure. But will scary Frankie ever let her go and will Seb’s family ever accept her?
Of course, I say gentler but she certainly packs a punch when needed! As you would expect from this genre, there is a lot of swearing, violence and death. But the gritty feel to the content and writing lends a wonderful realism that had me completely enthralled with the plot developments.
I enjoyed the plot twists and the dilemma that Valerie faces as she considers her future. The characters are easy to understand and empathise with despite their shocking choices and behaviour.
Wicked Girls is full of engaging characters and fascinating scenarios.
Wicked Girls book blurb
Cousins Valerie and Toni McVay have been best friends forever, and when you’re a McVay you need all the friends you can get.
When Toni’s twelfth birthday is marred by a terrible crime, the wicked path of the girls looks set. A decade later, the McVay family aren’t the unstoppable force they once were in the Glaswegian criminal underworld but Frankie McVay, the up-and-coming prince, is determined to restore the family to its former glory by whatever means necessary. And the whole family are expected to help.
His sister Toni shares her brother’s blood lust but Valerie dreams of a quieter life, and when she meets and falls in love with Seb, as straight as Frankie is bent, as kind as Frankie is wicked, Val sees her way out.
Can she escape a family that is determined to own the city, and to keep Valerie firmly in their violent grasp? And will Toni ever let her best friend Val turn her back on the bloody secret they have shared for all these years…
Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre. Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland. Her gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow begins with the title Blood Brothers.
Toni McVay and Valerie Brown are cousins on the infamous Gallowburn estate. Gang leader Frankie is Toni’s brother and wants both women to support his criminal dealings. But can Valerie find happiness and leave the estate forever…?
