3 for neutral, will update at a later date if able to read the first book and get into this one. I could not get into this book, I tried on multiple occasions, but never grabbed me. Found out it was a sequel, which may be the issue or it could be my mood, but will update if able to read and finish at a later date!

DNF @ 40%.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, so I was a bit disappointed to see that it wasn't actually a new release but! I started it anyway and honestly, it just wasn't grabbing me. The story was intriguing - not only did this woman assist in a suicide, but she then ate the guy - and I was interested to hear more of the reasoning behind her choices but it got weird quickly. Also, Cate was boring and didn't feel like she had any dimension.

Will be scrolling for spoilers, but I don't plan to come back to this one!

Loved this. Not for the weak hearted and best read during the day. This is a sequel but I found it stood on its own.
Highly recommend.

This was a great psychological thriller. Some of it was disturbing as well which made it more enjoyable. It's definitely a book that is not for the faint of heart. Pretty amazing.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly this book just wasn’t for me which is unusual as it sounds both dark and rather warped which is right up my street.

I wasn’t able to engage with the characters. Also given the subject I didn’t even feel disgusted by the gruesome scenes.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this.

2.5 stars

This has got to be one of the most fast paced books I have ever read.

Being a huge fan of 'The Woman Before Me' i was so excited to be give the chance to read this book.

Going 0-60 within minutes, this is a proper suck you in and spit you out novel.

The characters are flawlessly written with such detail it is so easy to picture them. The setting is so well thought about as is the whole storyline.

Dark, gripping, unputdownable, unpredictable, twisted, original, disturbing... absolutely everything you could want from a psychological thriller.

I honestly can't credit this book enough! Easiest 5* I've given in a long time.

The biggest thanks to netgalley and Legend Press for the ARC.

This book will sink its teeth into you within the first chapter and does not relent until the last page. We're often treated to the detectives' point of view in novels, so having the insight of another part of the justice system is a unique lens on criminality and psychology. The plot and twists will intrigue any fan of suspense novels, and will leave us all anxiously awaiting her next offering.

This is well written and original book by Ruth Dugdall. The story is quite disturbing, especially the ending but this makes it even more intriguing.
It’s a great psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it.

Working for the Probation Service I am always intrigued to read Ruth Dugdall's books. This was certainly one with an interesting premise. I probably enjoyed Alice's back story more than the present day and would have been interested to hear more about this but overall a good read.

What I want to say is that suicide is my choice. No-one else is to blame. Man seeks beautiful woman for the journey of a lifetime: Will you help me to die?
Overall I did enjoy this book, but it definitely wasn’t an easy read, it felt heavy and a little bit laboured at times. That said, it was a good storyline and certainly unique to anything else I have read.
At first I thought that Cate Austin was too full and disengaged as a character, but on second thoughts, realised that as a probation officer she would have seen some strange things in her career. I do still think she should have been more affected by what she discovered though.
The sting in the tail of this story was interesting and testament to the human condition fostered by some of not wanting to suffer alone. I definitely didn’t see that one coming.
My thanks to Ruth Dugdall, Legend Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

I did not realise how cruel the story was until I finished the book. It is very well written with stories that make up a person and lead a person to destroy a human life. However the story doesn't end there.

Probation worker Cate has a tough job ahead of her - she has to recommend a sentence for Alice, who has just been convicted of assisted suicide. But all is not as it seems, and Cate will soon realise how thin of a line there is between euthanasia and murder...

I'm going to come right out and say it - this one wasn't for me. It's weird, as on paper, it is exactly my sort of book. But the reality was just incredibly underwhelming. Alice was unbearably pretentious, Cate was dull as dishwater, and the whole mystery element of the novel just didn't live up to its potential. Granted, I didn't know this was a sequel when I requested it, so maybe it's better if you've read the first novel? I don't know, I just didn't enjoy it, and it took me ages to read as I kept getting distracted and putting it down to do something else. So for me, not one I would recommend, but I do seem to be alone in that view, so maybe it's just me being difficult!

Wow! A great read, not for the faint hearted. The story begins with Cate, a probation officer being handed another odd case, a woman who has been charged with assisted suicide, all Cate has to do is provide the sentencing report. Not a straight forward case though, this is why Cate's boss handed it to her, he knew she was thorough, and would get to the bottom of this odd situation.
Alice tells the story from her point of view, of how 'Smith' has decided to die and has requested her help. She keeps her identity hidden so he only knows her as 'Robin' the woman who will save him from a lonely death.
Alice tells of the relationship between her and Smith up until his death, she also looks back to help give Cate all the information she needs to keep her from a prison sentence but will it be enough?
It's a very fast paced novel always reaching forward for the next instalment. The characters are well described and I felt empathy towards them, even when I didn't like them, which is often hard to do. I wouldn't call it a twisty novel, but if you read if fast there are plenty of hard hitting moments.
I'm off to find Ruth's other work, her writing style has me hooked!
Thanks to NetGalley and legend press for the ARC

An absolute whirl-win of shock, awe, and creepy reveals. Ruth Dugdall may have just set a new standard for this genre. Everything about this narrative, including the characters is chilling and unexpected. This is one of those books that impacts the reader on multiple levels based on the brutality and clever manifestation of words put forth by the author. Absolutely loved it. Kudos for originality and brilliance. 5 stars.

Thank you to #NetGalley and @LegendPress for the ARC of #TheSacrificalMan. It was read and reviewed voluntarily by Tarrah Marie (@wayward_readers).

From the author of the Woman Before me, Cate Austin is back and in full effect. Alice has been convicted the assisted suicide of David Jenkins aka Smith. The story is told from Cate and Alice's point of views with plenty of flashbacks so we can learn the story of Alice. This touches on the ethics of the right to die which is one that I am fully into and supportive of, so I liked the legal touches and the research that was done in this book. As the truth to what really happened comes out, we face some gruesome truths with Alice and some changes within Cate. It is deeply disturbing and touches more than just the surface of what the synopsis suggests. I recommend reading the first novel in this series and then moving to this one. You won't be disappointed. I am awaiting the next book in this series.

This was a very dark read that poses the question of whether nature or nurture have more of an impact on us. I found the twists to be plentiful and highly recommend this psychological thriller!

Probation Officer Cate Austin is handed a different care to analyze and recommend sentencing. The person charged is Alice ... she has been convicted of assisted suicide and cannibalism.

Alice has a story to tell ... but is it true? There's a fine line between euthanasia and murder. There's another fine line between love and obsession.

Man seeks beautiful woman for the journey of a lifetime: Will you help me to die?

Alice says she agreed to comply with her lover's final request. But he also had another agenda ... one that will make all the difference in the world.

Alice tells her story .... starting with her mother's death. Her lover's story is told through his journal.

This one has all the elements that drew me in and kept me riveted to the pages.... assisted suicide/murder, cannibalism. love, obsession, sacrifice. It's well written with deftly drawn characters and a unique story premise leading to a surprising ending.

Many thanks to the author / Legend Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Blimey. The start is 0-60 in 3 seconds, talk about high octane! Alice Mariani has been convicted of the assisted suicide of David Jenkins also known as Smith. She believes everyone has the right to die on their own terms. Cate Austin is a probation officer who assesses the convicted and their crimes and then recommends sentences to judges. The story is told from the perspectives of Cate and Alice and we learn Alice’s sad background as the storyline goes backwards and forwards in time emerging a bit at a time, in a very tantalising way. This is much more than a story about ethics and the right to die, although of course this is part of it and it does examine whether it’s a crime if the death is merciful and what the victim clearly wants. It’s also about love and sacrifice which is tied up with religious overtones although some would consider the characters ideas deranged.

What can I say about Alice? She’s very clever, becomes a lecturer in English Literature at a university and I love the references and quotes from Keats which resonate personally with Alice. She’s very complex, lonely, possibly narcissistic and apart from her friend Lee and her mother Matilde, who died when she was four, she’s unloved. Much of her motivation is to recreate the love she feels for her mother which is desperately sad. Cate is very likeable and tenacious and I’ll definitely read more of the series featuring her. Their interactions and encounters are tense at times and it’s horribly fascinating as the truth emerges. It’s a bit like watching cats and mice, only you have no idea who the cat actually is. The storyline is not for everyone and at times it is disturbing and if you are squeamish it’s probably not for you!

Overall, it’s well written, the storyline flows, it’s gripping, very dark, twisted, scary, disturbing and obviously it’s right up my street and I couldn’t put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press.

This was ok. I thought there would be more twists in the story but not really. I just felt like it was a character development story for Cate.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC

When Alice Mariani is charged with assisted suicide she knows that she will not survive a term in gaol. It will kill her. She sets about trying to prove the facts of what she did and that is where this story really starts. Alice is a university academic who teaches English Literature. Her job is her life. She is immediately suspended from her position of trust. She has plenty of time to think and work out a strategy to her best advantage.
Probation Officer Cate Austin is a single mother who daily juggles her work with her family life. At the moment she is really busy but nonetheless her boss insists that she takes on the Alice Mariani case. When she first meets Alice to introduce herself, Alice is guarded, icy cool and manipulative. She is clearly used to getting her own way and will stop at nothing to succeed. The story she tells Cate is chilling. She explains that she first met the victim after following up an advert that is concise yet powerful. She was intrigued: ‘Man seeks beautiful woman for the journey of a lifetime. Will you help me to die?’ There it was; a plea for support. Alice met all the criteria and she agreed to be there for him, his partner in death.
They meet and got on really well. They give themselves aliases ‘Smith’ for him and ’Robin’ for her. They do the usual dating things and as the time drew nearer to the chosen date of death their relationship develops into love. Soon the plans are laid bare. The suicide would include mood enhancing drugs, intimacy for the first time, before going out on a high. The drugs would eventually lead to a slow but certain death. The date is set for June 16th. Alice insists she carried out his plans to the letter ‘T’. It was not so much assisted suicide as loyalty, love and compassion. It couldn’t be seen as euthanasia because he was fit and healthy. Alice is persuasive and adamant. But is she telling the truth? Cate must discover what really happened and write her recommendations for Alice’s sentencing for the Judge’s perusal. This novel catalogues her meticulous work to ensure Alice received the correct and fair sentence.
I really enjoyed this tantalising story. It oozed with menace, deception, action and intrigue. I was unable to predict the outcome of Cate’s investigation and loved the rollercoaster of a ride steeped with mystery, misunderstandings, red herrings and shocking revelations. The background story of Alice’s sad past was heart-rending. Then there was the secret story of Smith, both shocking and tragic. Both of the main characters were marked by their traumas and past histories. The story telling is full of flair and her characters are captivating. I loved the way that Cate made her final revelations the day before the sentencing was due, after ramping up the tension with a shocking plot twist. Her ability to sequence her stories is quite awe-inspiring and the content both current and relevant.
Ruth Dugdall, the author of this novel, has an MA in Social Work. She has worked in the Criminal Justice System as a social worker then as a probation officer. At this time she was seconded to a prison housing serious offenders. She still works for the CJS and her intimate knowledge in these areas make her novels authentic and credible. Ruth is quoted as saying “Probation officers have more face-to-face contact with criminals than any other profession”
I am a huge fan of Ruth Dugdall. I was so excited when I saw this new novel and requested it for review. I quickly received a complimentary copy from publisher Legend Press through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you so much for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. It’s a 4.5* review from me, and a recommendation that this is a very good read.