Before I get started, a quick disclaimer. I am grateful to have received this novel as an ARC, courtesy of netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Now with the formalities aside, let me tell you what I thought.

I'll cut to the chase, this book is a page-turning 5/5 stars, and the best read I have had in a long time.

So the book is a past and current account of the three main characters in the book and each chapter is told from one of their perspectives. You have Shannon Carter, Catherine Allen and Brindley Booth whose lives were entwined and separated in childhood only to become entangled once again when a deadly secret is exposed. Not everyone will live to tell the tale and that's after the deaths of Dr and Mrs Carter and the unveiling of the truth surrounding their murders.

This book had everything. It had action from the get-go, an unsteady rhythm to match the twists and turns in the plot, unreliable narrators. It's everything you could want in a thriller.

The writing style is a lesson in writing itself. Cummins starts off with longer chapters but by chapter 40, they get considerably shorter as the drama really starts to unfold.

There is little character development throughout the novel because each one is already fully rounded with a complete backstory. You instantly knew who everyone was and how they fit within the narrative. You could also second guess their next move and motivations, making you feel like you are living their experiences too.

I also loved that Cummins was confident to open a scene with a description of a location and without naming the woman, you knew which character was commanding the chapter. I found her unfolding of the story, and the jump from current to past and back was skilful and well balanced.

Overall, this book was a great plot, executed in the most perfect way, and in my eyes, absolutely flawless.

This book is for a mature audience and would suit lovers of murder mysteries and thrillers. It's for readers that like the unexpected. The pace of the book picks up quite quickly so it's a pretty good quick read.


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This is a fantastic psychological thriller, very well written and gripping from the start!
Great characters and a solid storyline saw me finishing this in one sitting.
A great read and a definite recommendation from me!
4 stars 🌟

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 enjoyable stars

This was a dark story of abusive parents & murder, however it’s written well, keeps you guessing as you learn the truth of what happened.

The first third sets the context of why what happened happened and the descriptive nature of the humiliation they girls experienced really hits home.

The rest of the book is about what happens next as the girls are now adults and the truth of the events unfolds.

Easy to read, enjoyable crime drama.

What an amazing, thrilling read! I haven’t read a huge amount of mystery books previously but I absolutely loved this one and never wanted to put it down once I started. When I Was Ten was so gripping right from the very start, easily a 4 star read and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know who loves reading too once it comes out.

The characters were wonderfully written with so many layers and it was so evident in many of them how much their childhood experiences had shaped them as adults. I found it slightly confusing at first to figure out who’s perspective we were hearing from but this became a lot easier to understand as the book progressed and I guess it added to that feeling of just being thrown into the story. Especially by the end I felt so attached especially to Brinley and her added detail about the murders at the end. I did really enjoy the element of the story behind the political side of things however it didn’t seem 100% relevant to the rest of the story other than the location of where Catherine was living. Geoffrey’s death felt very sudden and the lack of his character being mentioned for the rest of the book felt a little like he wasn’t particularly necessary.

I really hoped right at the end that there wouldn’t be another huge twist like the author was hinting at with Brinley’s line admitting her guilt, so I’m glad it was only a minor detail given that I’m sure Mrs Carter would have died anyway. The way this was handled by Cummins was appreciated.

The overall takeaway of the book really made me consider the age old question of whether killers are born or made by their environment, especially given the harsh upbringing of both sisters yet them being so closely genetically related. It is such an interesting subject matter and I really felt that Shannon being revealed as still possessing these abilities to murder later in life was a great twist.

There was one point I questioned where as a child, Sara consciously realised her and her sister weren’t to blame for their treatment instead of their parents. I am unsure that she would be able to consciously realise this at such a young age, especially given that it had been happening since they were born, but it enabled the story to progress and for her to live a relatively normal, unaffected life so I can forgive this as a story progressing device.

I really did enjoy this read and am just being overly critical as usual, so have no doubt that this story is absolutely worth a read. Definitely recommend to any lovers of mystery or thriller, or anyone else who just loves a wonderful, engaging story.

Thank you to NetGalley for very kindly sending me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The main characters, Sara and Shannon Carter, are two sisters who have awful parents, with different types of abuse being a matter of routine in their home.

One day, one of the sisters flips and kills both their parents.

Being such a remarkable crime, the press lap up the story of the child killer. Several years later her new identity is revealed.

I received a digital proof copy in exchange for an honest review.

Taut anticipation as decades old secrets teeter on the brink of being revealed.

Switches between 2018, 1997 & with further intrigue added by an unknown timeline of what could to be letters, emails or perhaps an online chat from or between an unknown person or persons.

The second part of the novel is entitled ‘Why?’ and we slowly discover the causes of the catastrophic event revealed in part one.

As the veil of darkness is lifted Cummins shows us the insidious real nature of humanity and how frightening and vengeful we can be.

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars for this, after sitting on it I decided on 3 stars. It was really good, a page turner the whole way through but the ending brought up some questions about why some characters did some things. Some parts of the plot also just fell flat for me, with some of these written in a way you knew a "twist" was coming. I think there were too many side characters and side stories that didn't really add to the plot for me in a way that couldn't have been done in a different way.

Shannon and Sara Carter are sisters estranged for over 20 years. As young girls and very close sisters, they are culpable for the brutal ‘Angel of Death’ murder of their parents. Observed by their close friend and neighbour Brinley, the girls are walked away by the police, When I Was Ten follows Sara (now Catherine) and Brinley through the days surrounding the anniversary of the murder and Shannon’s public plea to reacquaint with her sister.

Fiona Cummins captured me completely with the title and the blurb - let alone the very first page. The human morbid curiosity which drives us to understand why a child could possibly commit such a heinous crime makes for a very compelling read. The storyline, however hard to endure at times, is brilliantly executed with such detail and compassion. Without giving any spoilers away, the book very quickly cuts to the chase of the why, even if not the how, the who or the when.

I was very quickly drawn into reading When I Was Ten and by a quarter of the way through, I was hooked. By a third of the way through, my world around me had become mere white noise.

The adult vs child perspectives both in the first and third person is so very powerful. Although as a soppy parent myself it doesn’t take much to set me off, I would challenge even the hardest of hearts not to be moved by this story.

My only gripe, if you could call it that, was I felt that Shannon’s adult behaviour didn’t make enough sense. It may be that by re-reading the text, all will become clear or that the story lacked enough convincing detail to support her behaviours. For a (very) short spell, I felt it lacked conviction. That said, the writing and the overall story line more than made up for this very forgiving shortfall.

In summary, I would highly recommend When I Was Ten. Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC.

Sara and Shannon Carter are two sisters with terrible parents. Both physical and verbal abuse are the norm until eventually one of them flips and kills both their parents. The press devour the story of the child killer and years later, her new identity is exposed and the hidden secrets of the past are illuminated with every flash of the journalists cameras.

I found the first few chapters of this book confusing and slow going, but stick with it. The brilliant complexity of the plot is slowly revealed, I suddenly realised I was engrossed in the story and was reading well into the night to see what happened next. Excellent.

I absolutely loved this book! Had me engrossed from page one! Would make a great movie! Loved the twists and turns! Brilliant storytelling! Story will stay with me! Already recommending to friends! Looking forward to more from Fiona Cummings!

The little Carter sisters, Sara and Shannon, live in a beautiful house on the hill. To the outside world, their childhood is perfect. Then one day, ten-year-old Sara does something unforgivable.

Sara after facing the consequences for her actions starts a new life under a new name, Catherine, but fails to mention her past to her husband and daughter.

On the anniversary of the trial, when Shannon gives an interview with a request to reach out to Sara, both the sisters are forced to confront what really happened for the first time – with devastating consequences for them both.

This book was amazing right from start to finish. I was immediately attracted to the book due the cover as well as it's premise and it did not disappoint.

The way this plot has been written is so good. It covers the life of the sisters as kids- being constantly abused both physically and emotionally by their parents and the incidents that lead to the night of the murder.

Brinley, their neighbour and best friend during childhood, now a journalist is another important character in this story. Being forced to cover the story on the anniversary of the trial, she recalls her own sorrow of that night, when her mother succumbed to death due to cancer. Also, Brinley has another secret, which she hasn't told anyone yet and which forced her to lie.

The twists in the book were completely unexpected and it keeps you hooked on right till the end.

The only bit in the book that I didn't quite understand was the sub plot involving the politician Geoffrey Heathcote I couldn't figure out the relevance of that to the overall plot.

Overall, such a twisted thriller that is addictive. Highly recommended.

Thank You to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this ARC!!

On a bitterly cold, wet night 21 years ago, an esteemed local GP and his upstanding wife were murdered in their bed by one of their young daughters. Their childhood best friend lived right next door and watched as both girls were led away from their home, never to be seen again. Until now. One of the sisters has decided to tell her side of the story to a documentary maker. And with only 3 people alive who know the truth of that night, the lives of these 3 women are about to be thrown into chaos.

There is *so* much I liked and enjoyed about this book so I'll try and briefly go through a few:

The characters. Brinley (childhood best friend of Shannon and Sara Carter) was my favourite. She's our trusted narrative. The friend who knew the truth and tried to protect her friends despite the effect it had on her own life growing up. She is a refreshing character. Her own story line was desperately sad and I really felt the childhood emotions going through her. Honor's messaging buddy is also an interesting character. It's scary to think this is how it starts sometimes with online grooming and shows how easy it can be. It added an interesting element to the book and obviously helped reach the climactic ending.

The timing. The book throws us in straight away telling us that Catherine has less than 2 minutes left to live. From here we go back and forward over a matter of days to get to the point of Catherine's death.
At the start of the book, we don't know what drove the girl to murder her parents or how it fits in to Catherine's story but events begin to unfold between the different accounts. We learn about the characters as they are now, before we learn the truth of their childhood and the events of that night. This meant the twists were delivered perfectly and were a genuine surprise.

The pacing was again, really good. The book plods along nicely all the way through giving us little twists and bits of information that help put the clues together. The ending begins to ramp up to a typical frantic but surprising ending that gave the book a whole new level!

And finally, the writing. Fiona Cummins writing is brilliant. Her ability to perfectly describe a scene had me there, stood by that tree with Brinley, soaked through to the skin. I was in the girls bedroom eating pizza and watching them get ready. I was in the girls changing room watching them tease and bully. I was at that Year 8 disco with the awkward teenage dancing, the excitement, the clothes and the anticipation. A picture painted perfectly with words that made the book a joy to read. Coupled with the brilliant plot line and excellent development, When I Was Ten is memorable for all the right reasons.

I originally decided on a 4 star rating, thinking it was "more like 4.5, but hey ho!" This morning, after working through my book hangover and coming to write this review, I've decided it was actually a 5! Some thrillers out there are a little predictable or stereotypical, but When I Was Ten was able to throw in the shocks and twists with perfect timing and delivery which I'm happy to recommend... highly!

Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Cummins and Pan Macmillan for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I Was Ten, was one of those books that drew me in from the get go. It grabbed my attention, and I wanted to keep reading to find out more! It builds up slowly, into an intense and powerful story.

Following the majority of the story from 2 characters perspective, you get to see the how two separate people where effected by the same trauma they faced, and how that trauma sticks with them well into their adult years.
There are twist and turns throughout the story, which keep you guessing, and always wondering how the story is really going to unfold.

I could not put this put book down, and got through it rather quickly. I was sad I had finished, but felt satisfied with the ending, as though I could really turn the page on Catherine and Brimley's lives.

This is definitely not a book for the lighthearted who want to read about wonderful childhoods spent laughing with friends, however if you like stories that delve into the nitty gritty of what really happens behind closed doors in some families (and then to the extreme), then When I Was Ten, is definitely for you!

Prior to reading ‘When I Was Ten’ I had never heard of Cummins - I have now purchased several of her novels and can’t wait to read more of her work!

The brutal 1977 murders of Dr and Mrs Carter set the scene for the rest of the story and (through the perspectives of Brinley and Catherine) readers come to realise that their perfect lives were not at all what they seemed. Their daughter, Sara, admitting to murdering her parents gives a frightening psychological depth to the story and the complex relationships between Sara and Shannon are revealed later on.
The perfect mix of interesting characters and plot twists, Cummins drew me right into the plot from the very first page. Brinley and Catherine were so well written that I felt I actually knew them and was really rooting for them in the final chapters (no spoilers!).

Other reviewers have called this novel ‘addictive’ and I totally agree! Once I started I struggled to put it down and the plot twists were totally unexpected. I have no choice but to give this book 5 stars - I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley and PanMacmillan for the eARC in exchanged for my unbiased review.

.This book had me hooked from page 1... I finished it in 24 hours!
I really recommend this book - it is dark, twisted and really well researched.
Cummins tells the story of the Hilltop Murders and what lead to events of that night. Then onto the lives of the girls involved in adulthood and the people around them who are affected by the lies they have told.
An absolute must read and a future TV mini-series surely!

This book wasnt for me, I found it very confusing and the POVs had me checking who was who the entire time as they were not well differentiated at all.
The plot of the book was very predictable and therefore enjoyable and a basic thriller. A real shame as I really wanted to like this book.

‘When I was ten’ by Fiona Cummins has to be the ‘it read’ of 2021. It had me hooked from the title page until the last and the twists never stopped coming!
It tells the story of the Carter sisters and the horrific murder of their parents. At the ages of ten and twelve; one was named ‘Angel of death’ by the media and stood accused of the most famous murders in recent history, the other sister was placed in foster care hidden away. Now years later one sister wants to reunite but as the media revisits the story new information begins to arise about that fateful night.
The pace and detail in this book were impeccable and I loved the way little clues were dropped throughout the narrative but there were always surprises in store. This book has a devastating backstory for both of the sisters which definitely lends itself to the reader questioning what is good and evil, almost as if this were a true story played out in the media. The characters are so well rounded and I enjoyed the inclusion of the best friend turned journalist, Brinley, who balances her first hand experiences with the way in which journalism depicts these crimes and their consequences.
A stunning thriller that I cannot wait to recommend over and over again in 2021!

Fiona Cummins is a new author for me. I enjoyed this book. I have another of her book, The Family Next Door, that I am looking forward to reading next.

The story is mostly told by two narrators, Catherine who lives with her husband and daughter and is hiding a secret from her past, and Brinley, a journalist about to take on a story that will delve into the secrets from her past.
A book based loosely on the true story of Mary Bell, a child who killed, means a book that takes you on a rollercoaster journey of working out who is telling the truth and who still has something to hide...
Thank you to NetGalley for this edition on When I Was Ten and I would recommend it when it is published in April 2021.

First, an admission that this is the first book I have read by Fiona Cummins despite the fact that Rattle, her first book, has been sitting on my shelf for some time waiting to be read!
I was totally hooked from the first page!
They say there are two sides to every story .... but in this story there are so many more than that! It is written with both sympathy and empathy
This tale is dark, twisted, compelling, emotionally charged, so well written and packs a punch right to the last page.
I will definitely be reading Fiona Cummins' previous titles.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Fiona Cummins/Pan Macmillan for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.