Absolutely brilliant, I devoured this book in one sitting, had me hooked from the first page, the twists were amazing, I'll certainly be recommending this one to everyone.

I've heard so many great things about this book, so I was super keen to pick it up. We are introduced to the framed, imprisoned, pregnant Jenna, who is in prison for killing her stepdaughter and potentially her fiancé, who is missing. Did she do it? Can she find out who did? And can she and her unborn baby survive the terrors of the prison where she's being held?

On My Life is not just a brilliant crime thriller, which throws curveballs and twists at you at every turn, but it is also a poignant discussion of current affairs. There are mentions of Grenfell, Porridge, and the role the media plays in influencing people's judgements. An excellent read.

A great read. Interesting and a very different sort of plot.
Jenna has the perfect life until she comes home and her stepdaughter is murdered and she gets arrested for it

Really enjoyed it

This is a gripping story even though I did feel that some of it was very unfair. I did not expect that ending !!!

Framed………in prison……….pregnant.

Jennifer Burns is charged with the murder of her fourteen-year-old stepdaughter and sent to HMP Fallenbrook to await her trial. Her stepdaughter is dead, her fiancé is missing, and all the evidence points to her. Jenna swears that she is innocent, but nobody is listening because all the prisoners claim innocence. She now has to adapt to the fragile ecosystem of prison life, cut off from everything and everyone she knows. It is like stepping back in time, no mobile, no Internet, no privileges, no privacy, male guards in a female prison, locked up for 23 out of 24 hours – the tiny, cold room is now her home. And then she finds out that she is pregnant.

The book vividly explores the issues expectant and new mothers face in prisons and shows how all the movies made about prisons are nothing like reality. There are many misconceptions as to the type of people who are in jail, the types of crimes they have committed and exactly what the prisons are like. In reality, eighty-four percent of women are in prison for non-violent offences. There are fewer staff looking after more prisoners in jails that are poorly maintained in ageing buildings. The officers are human, half of them barely out of school, and most of them not staying for long. If you are in prison you are dead to those on the outside, they are embarrassed by you because you have tainted everyone's lives. The treatment of the prisoners by the prison authorities is deplorable, and the treatment of expectant and new mothers is inhumane – how can you take a baby from a mother and offer her no counselling, no support?

The book is gripping and has a shocking ending that I definitely did not expect. It shows prison life in its naked, visceral state, and I do NOT ever want to end up there! This book is about the prison system in England, but I think the conditions are the same in most other countries and worse in many others. Governments should all review their policies about prisons, the treatment of inmates and especially the provision of facilities for mothers and pregnant women.

Saphira

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

‘On my Life’ has a particularly claustrophobic feel to it, but there is an exuberant lively pace to the writing,

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Mulholland Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this story and it has taken me a few weeks to read it, which makes writing a review a little tricky. Sometimes when I take a while to read a book I find it difficult to keep track of the story, but that wasn't the case here. It was easy to pick up and put down accordingly.
I didn't find the story gripping, hence maybe why I was able to take my time to read it. However it was compelling and extremely thought provoking. I found myself regularly mulling over what I'd read once I'd put it down.

The twist revealing the perpetrator was well crafted. As I read, I kept deliberating who had the missing piece of jigsaw, but the outcome was not one I had imagined at all.

Usually once I've read a book, I quickly move on to the next one, but I think I'll be mulling over the ramifications from this story for a while.

An absolutely amazing book! This was utterly thought provoking and compelling. It was sad too and my heart was just racing through out. I love Angela Clarke books and this was the best yet.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I was hooked from the very beginning. It was well written and the end of each chapter really made you want to continue on to the next. I do have to say that I also found it incredibly frustrating. So many parts just felt so unfair and it really affected me, I would have liked to see more justice.

Thrilling pageturner this book! And well paced with thoughts that will stay at the back of your head for a while...: 'Which begs the question, which one is the closest to the real Kelly? [..] We all reveal different sides of ourselves to different people.'

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

4.5 stars. A difficult to put down thriller , fast paced, cleverly written with its alternating past and present chapters - kept me gripped. Yet this was so much more than just a thriller.
Jenna, the central character, has been sent to a Women's prison accused of the murder of her teenage step-daughter. Her fiancé has disappeared and she finds herself alone to prove her innocence with the complication of a pregnancy she needs to hide.
The scenes in the prison were harrowing - I was drawn in and felt as if I was there with her as it all seemed so believable and I just had to keep reading.
Well done Angela Clarke for such great writing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

Absolutely loved this book and devoured it in 2 days. Did NOT see the end coming - but when it came - wow! Highly recommend

*4.5 STARS*

I have the sweats just thinking about how horrific it must be, to be wrongly accused of the most heinous act, knowing that you’re completely innocent. This is the situation that Jenna finds herself in. Her liberty, which she took very much for granted, is gone, and whilst awaiting trial in prison, her every movement is monitored, she’s told what to do and when she can do it. In addition, there are prisoners who would happily hurt her if they knew what she’s been accused of. Her 14 year old stepdaughter Emma (who she loved dearly), is dead - brutally murdered, and Jenna’s the prime suspect - oh and Jenna’s fiancé is missing too!

Jenna knows she has to somehow prove her innocence, but how can she do that from the confines of a prison cell? She’s a dogged determined individual, who has had to overcome a difficult childhood to achieve the success she has today - a successful career that she loves, a fiancé who adores her, and a beautiful home into the bargain. Life looked decidedly rosy until the day that Jenna arrived home early to discover the most horrific and bloody murder scene.

‘On my Life’ has a particularly claustrophobic feel to it, but there is an exuberant lively pace to the writing, with the protagonist involved in some difficult, if not life threatening situations whilst awaiting trial. The author’s descriptive powers are such that one can almost feel those prison walls closing in and the panic of incarceration is palpable. In addition, this is a great whodunnit, which compels the reader ever onwards towards a thrilling climax.

I really enjoyed this. I was really rooting for Jenna and i felt ill when she was in prison. It was well written and the characters were well rounded. I did not know who had killed Emily and it kept me guessing the whole way through. Not sure how I feel about who really did kill her and the ending felt a little rushed. I really liked the flashbacks and would have liked to see more of them all the way through. Overall though definitely going to read more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Mulholland Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

On My Life is a punchy whodunnit that was impossible to put down.

The premise drew me in straight away, along with compelling writing and a tense race against the clock, with Jenna determined to clear her name to save herself and her baby. The snappy chapters switch between Now and Then, contrasting Jenna's seemingly great life in the past with her current situation.

As well as being a fast-paced psychological thriller, this is a shocking portrayal of pregnant women (and young vulnerable women) in prison and their lack of rights and access to information. Descriptions of prison life were harrowing at times and so realistic that I felt as though I was there too - hearing every slam of a cell door and experiencing the women's claustrophobia and fear.

Another well-researched crime novel that's taught me something, as well as entertained me, and left me musing over a system that's clearly in desperate need of reform.

Definitely Angela Clarke's best book yet! Can't wait to see what's next!

This was a great read, pulled you in right from the start and never stopped until the very end.

Jenna is on remand after her step daughter was murdered, Jenna is the chief suspect and her fiancé has gone missing...

Jenna knows she didn't do it, she's been set up, trouble is, that seems to be the story of everyone locked up, she's fighting a losing battle and time is of the essence, she discovers she's pregnant. Once the other inmates discover her crime (even in prison there's some totally unacceptable crimes) she has a target on her back...BUT....she didn't do it....

Jenna tries to uncover the truth from her small cell, but the truth will hurt her more than she could ever have imagined.

Fantastic read, thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title, this is my honest opinion. Off to download her other titles now.

Another great Angela Clarke book, didn't guess the ending at all, highly recommend
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was gripped from start to finish by this compelling thriller. Such a good storyline which kept me totally absorbed - I found it so difficult to put down. Excellent characterisations and descriptions. I could imagine how scary it must be to be in these circumstances in prison. The descriptions of prison life were shocking and the treatment of pregnant women is troubling.
I thought I had it figured out who did it but what a shock - the twist at the end was brilliant and I didn't see it coming.

Fantastic - I can't recommend this highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story from start to finish!

All the characters were excellent, there was such a wide range of differing personalities too and the interaction was perfect, I had my mouth open in parts nervous in anticipation about what would happen and it was a story that really got under my skin.

The whole book was superbly researched and believable, the whole prison experience was brought life and I can only imagine how terrifying it must be for someone in Jenna’s position, it was hard enough for me being pregnant towards the end never mind all the other things that Jenna has to deal with on top!

Jenna was a brilliant character, she was very well developed, had a great personality and the author really made me feel for her. The book is very well written and I loved the flow of the story. There were bit of suspense and everything in the story was needed, it had the right amount of detail and is an excellent story and OMG that ending – just brilliant!!

It is definitely five stars from me for this one, I have read a few of this author’s books so far and this one was exceptional, certainly her best to date!! Very highly recommended and I know it will be in my top books at the end of the year for 2019.

I really enjoyed this book this book was a different read for me I really like the storyline it kept me hooked couldn't put it down. The writing just flowed and the description was brilliant could picture characters and setting clearly.