A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce (Audiobook)

 

Three women, three separate stories.

Anna is spending her final night in prison when a new inmate is placed in her cell late at night. When Anna wakes the next morning her new cellmate is dead.

Lucy, a brilliant law student, is obsessed with her professor. She will do anything to get his attention.

Marie has lived in an isolated cabin on the edge of a remote loch for five years. Her only contact with the outside world is the weekly supply drop and the cameras that watch her every move.

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce is one of those stories that will initially have you wondering what you are reading/listening to. The first part focuses on Anna but every so often you get little snippets from other characters. An unknown character; lurking, watching, whispering and clearly obsessed with someone. We also hear from a pair of characters, Scylla and Charybdis, two women living together but the relationship is difficult.

Anna's story really draws you in. Initially, we don't know why she's in prison but we do know that she's filled with guilt and has decided that once she's released the only solution is to kill herself. When she is forced to share her cell on her last night in prison you can understand her reluctance to engage with her new cellmate, Kelly. All Anna wants to do is get through the night so she can be released and carry out her plan. Anna can hear that Kelly is distressed, she's talking to someone on a mobile phone. The following morning Anna discovers that Kelly has committed suicide and this puts Anna's release in jeopardy. When she is eventually released, Anna decides to change her plans and discover why Kelly was so upset.

Lucy is a law graduate, she's jumped at the chance to further her knowledge by studying under an eminent professor at Oxford. Lucy doesn't want anything to do with the rest of her cohort, all her attention is on getting closer to her professor. The closer she gets, the more she discovers about his home life but Lucy doesn't care, all she wants is him.

Marie shares a remote cabin on the edge of a loch with Janice. Their life is a difficult one, they rely on a weekly delivery of provisions but after five years they know that the actual contents can't always be relied on. It becomes clear that both women have committed terrible crimes and the remote cabin is their punishment. Over time Janice has become more and more disturbed, with Marie struggling to ensure their survival.

Eventually, you realise that the stories are connected and they begin to converge. The big question is what connects them? There is a lurking sense of dread about what will happen, you are filled with trepidation, worried about the fate of some of the characters as you realise that someone will stop at nothing to get what they want. 

There are twists galore as the fates of the three women are revealed. The narrator, Candida Gubbins, has done a fantastic job voicing the different characters but particularly "the watcher", Scylla and Charybdis. I could feel the hairs on my neck rising each time I listened to a section featuring these characters.

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce will be published on 11th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a review copy.

Author Details

Harriet Tyce grew up in Edinburgh and studied English at Oxford University before doing a law conversion course at City University. She practised as a criminal barrister in London for nearly a decade, and subsequently completed an MA in Creative Writing – Crime Fiction at the University of East Anglia. She lives in north London. Her first novel, Blood Orange, published in 2019 to huge critical acclaim and her second and third novels The Lies You Told and It Ends at Midnight have both been Sunday Times bestsellers. A Lesson in Cruelty is her fourth novel.

Profile K by Helen Fields

 

Midnight Jones analyses data for organisations as part of their employment process. When Midnight comes across a disturbing set of data hinting at sociopathic or psychopathic tendencies her employer tries to persuade her that it's just a glitch in the system. A brutal murder nearby convinces Midnight that the data and the murderer are linked. It becomes a cat-and-mouse race as Midnight tries to identify the murderer before he tracks her down.

The opening chapter of Profile K by Helen Fields is dark and disturbing, it sets the tone for this chilling thriller that has a dystopian element. I became a fan of the author back in 2022 when I read One For Sorrow, book 7 in the Luc Callanach and Ava Turner series. While this series features some dark and twisted elements it's the books that feature Dr Connie Woolwine, the psychological profiler, that are the darkest. Woolwine only plays a small part in Profile K but you know that her involvement points to something sinister.

At times it almost feels as if you are reading two different books as the story switches between the point of view of the killer and that of Midnight Jones. Seeing into the mind of the killer is chilling. As I was reading my brain was asking me if I'd locked the door and did I have enough lights on. It certainly makes you realise how vulnerable we all are, even in our own homes.

We have a less disturbing story when we switch to Midnight's point of view. Midnight is a likeable character. Frustrated by the constraints of her job at Necto but forced to comply as she's reliant on the above-average salary. Midnight has a twin sister, Dawn, who has severe special needs. Their parents have abandoned them to travel the world and Midnight is determined that her sister will not end up in residential care, hence her need for a well-paying job.

Necto, the company Midnight works for, is almost as disturbing as the killer. Initially, it sounds as if it is an ideal place to work with its stunning buildings, beautiful environment and enhanced pay. However, working for Necto isn't all fun and games, there are strict policies in place to ensure time isn't wasted and secrets aren't stolen. NDA's and the threat of litigation hang over everyone's head.

When Midnight comes across the disturbing profile Necto tries to downplay the data, passing it off as an anomaly and promoting Midnight in an attempt to buy her off. The idea of psychometric testing and it's results raises some interesting questions. Will someone who displays sociopathic or psychopathic tendencies always act on them? Should you incarcerate someone simply because of a psychological profile?

A game of cat and mouse ensues, with Midnight and the killer spiraling closer and closer. Everyone comes under suspicion, particularly with Necto playing a "Big Brother" role. You'll find yourself holding your breath as Midnight fights to protect those she loves. And when you're finished, you'll probably double-check you've locked the door.

Profile K by Helen Fields will be published on 25th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Helen Fields’ first love was drama and music. From a very young age she spent all her free time acting and singing until law captured her attention as a career path. She studied law at the University of East Anglia, then went on to the Inns of Court School of Law in London.

After completing her pupillage, she joined chambers in Middle Temple where she practised criminal and family law for thirteen years. Undertaking cases that ranged from Children Act proceedings and domestic violence injunctions, to large scale drug importation and murder, Helen spent years working with the police, CPS, Social Services, expert witnesses and in Courts Martials.

After her second child was born, Helen left the Bar. Together with her husband David, she went on to run Wailing Banshee Ltd, a film production company, acting as script writer and producer.

Helen self-published two fantasy books as a way of testing herself and her writing abilities. She enjoyed the creative process so much that she began writing in a much more disciplined way, and decided to move into the traditional publishing arena through an agent.

Perfect Remains is set in Scotland, where Helen feels most at one with the world. Edinburgh and San Francisco are her two favourite cities, and she travels whenever she can.

Beyond writing, she has a passion for theatre and cinema, often boring friends and family with lengthy reviews and critiques. Taking her cue from her children, she has recently taken up karate and indoor sky diving. Helen and her husband now live in Hampshire with their three children and two dogs.

Seven Days by Robert Rutherford

 

Alice Logan hasn’t had contact with her father for fourteen years. Not only is he on a different continent but he’s also on death row for a brutal murder. Her father has always maintained his innocence and when the family receives the news that his execution date has been set for seven days time Alice’s sister begs her to investigate.

Seven Days by Robert Rutherford is an adrenaline-fuelled mix of legal thriller and murder mystery. Protagonist Alice Logan is a solicitor in north-east England. Having lived in the States for a number of years she has recently returned to England to be with her mother and sister who had returned following her parent’s divorce.

Alice has never had the best relationship with her father. She feels she’s responsible for her parent’s divorce having been the one that told her mother about his cheating. Her sister Fiona is much younger and still has a relationship, having been too young to fully understand her father's behaviour. It is Fiona that breaks the news regarding their father’s execution date and puts pressure on Alice.

Having practiced law in America gives Alice the connections and understanding of the legal system she needs when she caves into her sister’s request to help. Rather than waste time on transatlantic flights, the author has placed one of the police officers involved in her father’s arrest in France. I felt that all of this kept the story grounded and well within the realms of possibility. Upon arriving in Paris, Alice forms an uneasy alliance with the police officer concerned, Luc Boudreaux, but it is obvious he’s not going to change his opinion that the right man was arrested.

Digging through past crimes brings up a case almost identical to her father’s. This puts Alice and Luc at loggerheads, with neither willing to give an inch or accept that there may be some merit in what the other person is saying. Trying to find out more about the new case puts Alice at risk in a strange city where she knows no one. You can feel her fear as she begins to wonder if she is being watched constantly. Can she trust anyone, even Luc? This also raises a number of moral issues. Firstly, how do you defend someone you know is guilty? Secondly, if someone is acquitted or released from prison (on appeal or conviction overturned) and they go on to commit a worse crime, how do you square that with your conscience? I do enjoy it when a book makes you think and question events.

Eventually, the investigation means that Alice has to head to New York. It’s in this last quarter of the book that the action really ramps up. I was holding my breath as we got closer and closer to answers. Robert Rutherford plays his cards close to his chest, giving nothing away, as we race to the nail-biting conclusion.

Seven Days by Robert Rutherford will be published on 25^th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Robert Rutherford had a random mix of jobs before taking the dive into crime writing; he's been a bookseller, pizza deliverer, karate instructor, football coach, and HR Manager. He lives on the North East Coast with his wife, children & overly-needy dog, and is a founding member of the Northern Crime Syndicate crime-writers group.

He also writes as Robert Scragg, with "What Falls Between The Cracks", the first in his Porter & Styles series, written under Robert Scragg, being chose as a New Writing North pick as one of the 2019 Read Regional books of the year. Rob’s work has also seen him win the Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction in 2021, as well as being shortlisted for a CWA Dagger in 2021 and 2022.

Mother Of The Bride by Samantha Hayes (Audiobook)

 

Lizzie Holmes wants as little contact with her mother, Sylvia, as possible. On a visit to introduce her new fiance circumstances conspire to make Lizzie have to rely on her mother's hospitality until she can find somewhere to live. Sylvia's overbearing nature is the reason Lizzie left home as soon as she could. It becomes clear very quickly that Sylvia hasn't changed.

Although the author Samantha Hayes seems familiar to me, looking at her back catalogue I don't think I've read anything by her. Mother Of The Bride is a good introduction and worked perfectly as an audiobook, I'll certainly look out for more by the author.

You are into the action almost immediately. Having recently returned from Dubai, Lizzie and her fiance, Owen, are living in a friend's flat. Knowing that she has to bite the bullet and introduce Owen to her family she plans a weekend visit. As soon as we meet Sylvia we discover how nasty she is. Sylvia is intelligent and well-off but comes across as bitter, resentful and controlling. She wants to control every aspect of her children's lives and she doesn't hide the fact. This is one of those characters that you immediately hate.

During the visit, Lizzie receives the unexpected news that their friend wants them out of his flat immediately. Since they are waiting on payment for Owen's last piece of contract work to come through they are forced to accept Sylvia's hospitality. A battle of wills ensues as Sylvia tries to force the couple to have their wedding almost immediately.

Returning home brings back a lot of unpleasant memories for Lizzie so you can understand her reluctance to acquiesce. It also raises lots of questions for the reader/listener. Where is Lizzie's father? What was the scandal that forced Sylvia to quit her job as a teacher? What happened at her sister's wedding a year ago? All these unanswered questions, and more, keep you gripped. There is not a moment in the book where the pace of the story drops. With every new revelation, you despise Sylvia more and more.

There are times when you begin to question the motives of some of the support characters, simply because you doubt that someone can be as spiteful and manipulative as Sylvia and get away with it unchallenged. All of this leads to a conclusion that is shocking and twisty.

Mother Of The Bride by Samantha Hayes will be published on 26th March 2024 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a review copy.

Author Details

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eighteen thrillers in total, including the bestselling titles DATE NIGHT and UNTIL YOU’RE MINE. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count. In her free time, Sam loves painting watercolours, going to the gym, and swimming. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher

 

Florence Butterfield, a perky 87-year-old, lives at Babbington Hall Residential Home and Assisted Living. When the manager, Renata, falls from a third-floor window everyone is convinced it was a suicide attempt. Florence isn't so convinced and decides to dig into Renata's background.

Susan Fletcher is a well-established author, however, I must admit I've never read any of her previous novels. Twitter is abuzz with people singing the praise of The Night In Question and I was suffering from a little bit of FOMO, so I decided to see what all the fuss is about.

The novel hangs on the question of whether the manager of Babbington Hall attempted suicide or if there is a more sinister answer. Renata is quiet and self-contained. The staff and residents know very little about her background or what she does when she's not on duty. It is easy to see how people would assume she was struggling with her mental health. Florrie, as everyone calls Florence, has other ideas. Earlier in the day Renata and Florrie had spent time together and it was clear that Renata was in love and making plans for the future, there was no way she was considering ending her life. Thus Florrie, aided by another resident of Babbington Hall, investigates, with the spotlight falling on staff and residents alike.

While there is a mystery element to this novel it's the character of Florrie that makes it. From the very beginning, you realise that Florrie Butterfield is someone very special. At first glance Florrie is unassuming; 87 years old, well-padded and in a wheelchair as a result of having only one leg. It's when you listen to Florrie speaking that you realise how wonderful she is and the extraordinary life she's lived. Florrie has a sunny disposition, she's one of those people who always looks for the positive, despite some of the tragic events that have had devastating effects on her life. Florrie has spent a lifetime seeking adventure and as a result, finding love. I didn't need a mystery story, I would have been happy to read all about Florrie's adventures around the globe.

Alongside Florrie, there are some other amazing characters in the story. Aunt Pip, who has just the right level of disdain for society that a young girl needs to discover. Jack, who I fell in love with, makes Florrie realise she's beautiful. It is, however, Pinky that captivates. What a wonderful friend she was, another one of those who was filled with nonchalance regarding society's expectations.

Florrie's life, and loves, are introduced gradually, this was one of the reasons I couldn't put the book down. Susan Fletcher teases the reader with little snippets and then the story pivots to something completely different. Throughout you're aware that there is something dark lurking in Florrie's background, a secret she doesn't share with anyone. When the secret was finally revealed I was filled with sadness but also admiration that the phenomenal Florrie had not allowed it to change her outlook on life.

The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher will be published on 18th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Publishers for a review copy.

Author Details

Susan Fletcher was born in Birmingham and studied English Literature at the University of York. Whilst taking the MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, she began her first novel, Eve Green, which won the Whitbread First Novel Award (2004) and Betty Trask Prize (2005). Since then, she has written seven novels, supplementing her writing through various roles including as a cheesemonger and a warden for an archaeological excavation site near Hadrian’s Wall. She has also been the Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Worcester. She lives in Warwickshire.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor

 

Colonies of vampyrs exist on the outskirts of some towns. When a teenage boy is murdered in a small Alaskan town the inhabitants immediately assume it's a vampyr attack and want to cull the colony. Detective Barbara Atkins has to investigate if this was a vampyr attack or not.

I wouldn't describe myself as a fan of horror fiction. I'm not against it, I've read my fair share of Stephen King (Gerald's Game is the scariest book I've ever read), Dean Koontz and Joe Hill to name a few, but it wouldn't be my go-to genre. Having read a couple of C. J. Tudor's earlier novels, I was immediately drawn to The Gathering. I would categorise this as more of a thriller than a horror story. The fact that vampyrs exist gives the story its unique twist, however they could easily be seen as any marginalised group, living on the edges of society.

The premise of the story is well thought through and has its own spin on the vampire myth. Vampyrs and humans co-exist, to a degree. Vampyrs live on the margins of society, they aren't allowed access to schools, medication or employment. As a result, they live in colonies where they take care of their own, surviving by drinking the blood of animals. There are strict laws governing both humans and vampyrs, for each others protection.

Deadhart, a remote Alaskan town, has a vampyr colony on its outskirts. When a teenage boy is murdered in an apparent vampyr attack the residents want to cull the colony. A cull is only permitted if the vampyrs are seen as a threat, a decision that can only be made by a specialist.

Barbara Atkins, a detective and a Doctor of Forensic Vampyr Anthropology, is sent to the town to investigate the killing. The inhabitants of the town are hostile towards Atkins, not only is she an outsider but they perceive her to be sympathetic towards the vampyrs. As Atkins investigates she discovers that there is an old murder case that connects the town and the colony, a case that still causes hostility.

This is a story filled with anticipation, as the investigation digs deeper and deeper into past events you can feel the tension rising. It is impossible to know who can be trusted and who is hiding a dark secret. There was certainly one point, late at night, where my heart was racing and I wasn't sure if I could read on until morning. I really liked the characters of Detective Barbara Atkins and ex-police chief Tucker. I hope that the ending of the novel is a hint towards a possible sequel.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor will be published on 11th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for a review copy.

Author Details

C. J. Tudor’s love of writing, especially the dark and macabre, started young. When her peers were reading Judy Blume, she was devouring Stephen King and James Herbert. Over the years she has had a variety of jobs, including trainee reporter, radio scriptwriter, dog walker, voiceover, television presenter and copywriter.

She is now the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalk Man, The Taking of Annie Thorne, The Other People, The Burning Girls and The Drift. All of her books are in development or optioned for TV, and The Burning Girls debuted on Paramount Plus in 2023. She is also the author of a short story collection, A Sliver of Darkness.

The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary (Audiobook)

 

Following the breakdown of her relationship, Tiffy desperately needs somewhere to live and it needs to be cheap. An advert to share a one-bedroom flat looks promising, even if there is only one bed. The other person works completely opposite hours to Tiffy so they'll never be in the flat at the same time. What could go wrong?

I fancied something a little bit lighter from all my crime fiction and I've seen Beth O'Leary mentioned quite a lot on Twitter recently. When I checked out the BorrowBox library app I found all of the author's audiobooks so decided to start with the first one, The Flat Share.

The audiobook was exactly what I needed, an easy listen with engaging characters. It was obvious from the beginning how the story would end, it's the journey that made the story. Tiffy and flatmate Leon are complete opposites so shouldn't work together, added to this is the fact that they will never be in the flat at the same time. I loved the way that all their communication was through little notes they left each other.

I enjoyed the scenes in the castle as they took a number of rom-com tropes and shattered our illusions. The author could easily have played the scenes out as a fairy tale but did the complete opposite. Similarly, the author didn't over-sentimentalise Leon's vocation. 

A number of serious issues were covered within the story; consent, trauma and mental health, and were handled sensitively. The light touch worked well within the story and didn't bog it down.

Overall, The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary was an enjoyable listen and I'll certainly be heading back for more from the author in the near future.

Author Details

Beth O’Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare, sold over a million copies and is now a major TV series. Her subsequent novels, The Switch, The Road Trip and The No-Show, were all instant bestsellers, and The Switch has been optioned by Amblin Partners, Steven Spielberg’s production company. Beth writes her books in the Hampshire countryside with a very badly behaved Golden Retriever for company. If she’s not at her desk, you’ll usually find her curled up somewhere with a book, a cup of tea and several woolly jumpers (whatever the weather).

The Four by Ellie Keel

 

Four bright students, Rose, Marta, Sami and Lloyd, join an exclusive boarding school as sixth-formers. As outsiders, they form a tight-knit group, united against everything the school throws at them. Their friendship is put to the test following a tragic event.

The Four by Ellie Keel is a dark and disturbing story. Rose is the narrator and from the very beginning, there are hints of sinister events to come. These hints reel you in instantly and have you hooked.

The setting is the type of place many of us with a love of reading have probably dreamed of since childhood, an exclusive boarding school. However, High Realms isn’t a modern-day version of Malory Towers or Hogwarts, it’s a pressure cooker full of teenage angst. The sixth form students are elitist, intimidating and mature beyond their years. Into this mix are dropped Rose, Marta, Sami and Lloyd, four exceptionally bright but naïve young people. The four have been given scholarships because of their academic prowess, it is hoped that they will raise the academic profile of the school. This immediately leads to friction.

The sixth-form students, led mainly by IT girl, Genevieve, take an instant dislike to the newcomers and make their lives unbearable. Marta is the main target for their cruel and evil treatment. You immediately side with the group of four as there is no reason for the persecution they suffer. None of the established sixth-formers seem to have any redeeming qualities. They see things as a game, an amusement, and don’t care about the impact their actions may have on others.

You can feel Rose’s conflict. She wants to make the best of the opportunities the school offers, however, she is also protective of the fledgling friendship she has with Marta. Any normal person would be protective of Marta; she’s tiny and cares only about learning. Added to this mix is the fact that she’s been home-schooled so is missing most of the social etiquette children acquire from mixing with others. Marta is also fierce, another reason the reader is supportive of her, she refuses to back down no matter what tortures she faces.

As the feud between Marta and Genevieve escalates events take a tragic turn and the loyalty of the friends is put to the test, especially when disturbing secrets are revealed. At this point in the story, I could feel the anger welling up inside me. We see how the school is only interested in its own reputation, it’s not interested in the students in its care. We also witness social inequality as the school sides more with the fee-paying students than those it has enticed by means of a scholarship.

It was at this point that my interest in the story started to wane. Things started to go around in circles, with no real progress being made in the storyline. I was also stunned by the sexual assaults and casual violence. The conclusion is heart-breaking and I can easily see how this novel will be huge, but I don’t think I’m the target audience.

The Four by Ellie Keel will be published on 11^th April 2024 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Author Details

Ellie Keel is an award-winning producer and campaigner. She is the Founder Director of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, a literary prize and campaign for gender equality among writers for the stage in the UK and Ireland. In 2022 she was the youngest producer ever to be shortlisted for Producer of the Year in The Stage Awards. She is based in London.