I am really excited to bring to you an exclusive excerpt today from The Mark by Heather Burnside. I am looking forward to reading something new and checking this one out! Well, let us check out what the book is about..
The Mark by Heather BurnsideSeries: The Working Girls #1
Published by Aria on June 13 2019
Amazon UK, , iBooks, Kobo
Goodreads
The queen of urban crime is back with a shocking, brilliant new series – The Working Girls...
A TRIP TO THE DARK SIDE. When respected journalist, Maddy, goes to interview prostitutes in a rundown Manchester pub, she doesn't reckon on attracting the attention of their ruthless pimp, Gilly. He quickly decides to use Maddy for his own gains; he just needs to work out how.
A TOXIC AFFAIR. In the weeks that follow, Maddy is oblivious to Gilly's growing obsession with her, particularly when she begins a romance with successful businessman, Aaron. Their passionate love affair starts to dominate her life, and she finds herself losing control and alienating the people around her.
A TARGET ON HER BACK. As Maddy's safe and successful life starts to crumble around her, she must quickly work out who has it in for her, before it's too late...
Heather Burnside is back with this breath-taking, heart-racing new series, perfect for all fans of Kimberley Chambers and Martina Cole.
Phew! Exciting ah!
What has been said so far on tour?
Bookish Jottings says
The Mark is an outstanding thriller that is more than a match for the books written by gangland crime queen Martina Cole. Shocking, sinister and packed with plenty of jaw dropping twists and turns, The Mark is a first-rate tale of obsession, vengeance and power from a writer who is at the heights of her storytelling powers. Heather Burnside certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats chewing their nails to the elbow and The Mark is no exception.
Bakers Not So Secret Blog says
Holly S**t I just fell up the stairs reading this! who said reading wasn’t a dangerous hobby?! This book had me totally gripped to the stage that I couldn’t put it down, just another chapter I kept telling myself. Well that went on from the start of the book to the finish!
Cheekypee Reads and reviews says
Like the previous books I read by this author I really enjoyed this story. I’m so looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Check out the Q&A over at Book Addict Rambles
Check out another exclusive excerpt at Grace J Reviewer Lady
✮ Excerpt ✮
Gilly was standing at the bar of The Rose and Crown, sporting a black eye, which he’d recently acquired following a disagreement with a rival pimp. He was deep in conversation with Finn the Fence, a guy who could get hold of anything, from knocked-off cigs to expensive artwork.
‘What the fuck’s happened to you anyway?’ asked Finn, once he had exhausted all conversation relating to the stolen items he had for sale.
‘What?’ asked Gilly, suddenly becoming aware of his black eye and subconsciously pulling the peak of his baseball cap down further in a vain attempt to cover it.
‘Did someone give you a good beating?’ asked Finn.
‘Like fuck!’ snapped Gilly. ‘You wanna see the fuckin’ state of his ugly mug.’
‘Trouble brewing?’ asked Finn.
‘Nah, it was all over in a few punches,’ said Gilly. ‘I doubt the bastard will try it on again.’
Finn sniffed. Momentarily silenced by Gilly’s hostile words, he glanced round the pub, his eyes reluctant to settle on Gilly’s swollen and discoloured face. ‘What’s going on with them lot?’ he asked.
Gilly followed his gaze till he spotted a bunch of working girls gathered round a corner table. He recognised one or two of them straight away, even from this distance. They were his girls and, like Finn, he wondered what the hell was going on.
‘Dunno,’ he said. ‘But there’s only one way to fuckin’ find out.’
Gilly finished the last dregs of his beer and slammed the glass down on the bar, then made his way over to the corner table. He was just in time to spot a classy-looking piece walking away from his girls and muttering something about seeing them again soon, before she made her way to the exit. God, what a looker! he thought to himself. She spoke well too, more Cheshire set than the mean backstreets of Manchester. Just what the bloody hell was she doing in this dive.
He was soon standing next to his girls. ‘What the fuck’s going on?’ he demanded of Crystal as the other girls quickly dispersed.
Although Crystal was of average height, the tall skinny frame of Gilly towered above her and she visibly flinched as he got up close. ‘Nothing,’ she said, pulling away as she tried to create some distance between them. ‘She was just asking us a few questions, that’s all.’
‘What kind of fuckin’ questions?’
‘Just about what we do, y’know.’
‘What is she, a fuckin’ copper or summat?’ demanded Gilly.
‘No, she’s a journalist. She’s doing an exposé about us,’ said Crystal, emphasising the word exposé, hoping it made her sound sophisticated.
‘Are you fuckin’ stupid?’ roared Gilly. ‘You don’t tell the press fuck all!’
‘It’s all anonymous,’ pleaded Crystal.
‘I don’t give a toss! I don’t fuckin’ pay you to waste time chatting with no fuckin’ journalist. Now get back to work!’
As he hollered the last words, he slapped Crystal on the back of the head. Then he watched with wry amusement as she legged it out of the pub, trying to run as quickly as possible on her tottering high heels. That was the thing he liked about Crystal: she knew who was boss. He only had to say the word and she’d do anything to please him, anything at all.
Crystal was the first girl he’d recruited, several years previously when he’d started out in his present line of business. She was all right as working girls went, and attractive in her own way even if she was a bit rough around the edges. Crystal had always remained loyal to him too; she knew better than to cross him. But she could be fuckin’ clingy at times.
As he stared into the space that had been left by the group of women, he couldn’t help but wonder about the journalist. She was a stunning-looking woman, that was for sure, and streets ahead of any of his girls. She also had a certain way about her.
He had noticed that, although she had obviously left the pub on his account, she didn’t seem frightened or timid. Instead she held her head high as though she was sure of herself. She was different in every way from the women he was used to dealing with, and he was intrigued.
I need to go and get cracking on this book now!!
Until next time xxx
heatherbwriter says
Thank you so much for taking part in the blog tour for The Mark. I hope you enjoy the book. 🙂
Zoé says
You are so welcome! I’m just sorry I didn’t get to read the book in time x