The Savage Sisters Books in Order

The Savage Sisters series is one of Heather Atkinson’s boldest gangland creations, centred on three sisters who live up to their surname. Jane, Carly and Rose Savage grew up in a cramped flat in the tough Glasgow district of Haghill, losing their mother too young and caring for a bedridden father. They learned early that no one was coming to save them and that they would have to fight for everything they wanted.

In the first book, The Savage Sisters, trouble arrives in the shape of Carly’s ex-boyfriend Cole Alexander, freshly released from prison. The Alexanders already have serious beef with the Savages, and Cole’s return threatens to spark a full-blown turf war. The sisters call in backup from Uncle Eddie and his sons, Harry and Dean, two glamorous but dangerous cousins who are more than ready to get stuck in.

Jane brings her own complicated history to the mix. She used to lead a vicious girl gang called the Unbeatable Bitches, and pulling those old allies – and enemies – back into her life is risky. Still, when push comes to shove, the Savages know that sometimes you need every weapon you can get. The question becomes whether they can keep control of the violence they unleash.

The series follows the sisters as they navigate feuds, romances and hard choices about what kind of future they want. Some are tempted by the straight and narrow, others by the quick money and respect that comes with crime, and their decisions never affect only themselves. Atkinson uses their story to explore female anger, solidarity and ambition in a world where most gangland power brokers are men.

With its focus on working class women, family loyalty and the thin line between survival and brutality, The Savage Sisters series is perfect if you want a fresh angle on Glasgow gangland fiction and protagonists who are as dangerous as any of the men around them.