Extremely disturbing novel which is focussed on the insidiousness of domestic abuse, and the perpetuator as predator turned prey. Very well crafted novel which kept the momentum throughout.

Meeting Imogen and Philip at Philip's funeral, I was looking forward to the style of writing the book was going to offer. I enjoyed reading about how it's possible to come together in times of crisis with people you wouldn't;t have thought you would ever want to spend time with, let alone create a bond. I felt there were a couple of moments that small details were missed in the writing but I overlooked them as I enjoyed the book.

I normally leave my thanks to Netgalley for pre bublication copies in return for honest reviws to the end. Not this time as, once again, I was introduced to a stunning debut novel. Jo Jakeman has places to go and I intend to follow her all the way.
Sticks and Stones starts with the funeral of a police officer. A man with a spotless record, two ex wives, a girlfriend and a son.
Over the next few hundred pages we learn a lot about Pip, Phillip, Phil, daddy. You may like him and abhor the way in which he dies or, like me, he will fill you with disgust and fear and you will applaud his demise; wishing only that it could have been a bit more personal.
Jo Jakeman pulled me into the heart of this story. She turned me into a co conspirator alongside Ruby, Imogen, Naomi and Rachel. I wept for Iris.
Potentially there is a massive trigger point for victims of domestic abuse.

This was a page-turner and kept me reading right to the end.
However, I felt that much of the thriller was over-dramatic, and often a little bit cliché, meaning I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have done. I thought the set up was done well, and the writing was mostly good, but I was never fully entranced by it as I wanted to be.