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.

When I Was Ten, Fiona Cummins. 3.5/5

The Carter sisters live in a beautiful house on the hill, to the outside world, their life is perfect. Then one day ten year old Sara does something unforgivable. On the anniversary of the trial the sisters are forced to confront what really happened all those years ago....
What drives a child to do the unthinkable? And can you ever outrun your past?

My second Fiona Cummins read was an ARC thanks to #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan.

I mean, wow, honestly so often the genre is saturated with quick forgettable thrills so when a real, juicy story comes along that will actually hit the nerves and linger, it is exciting. When I Was Ten does just that.

The story here is dark, disturbing but impossible to put down. The three main female characters are flawed, damaged women with a lot to hide, navigating through their own personal hells.

There is a side story here just to add that extra layer of crackling to a story that already burns with tension.

This is a another strong, unputdownable read from Fiona Cummins who is establishing herself a must read in this genre.

I really enjoyed this book at first, probably for about 3/4 of it then it became a little bit contrived. Thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace and twists, felt that the sisters reappearance was a bit “plonked” with a side of murdering Brinley’s great aunt. I feel like it’s a really good topic to explore but it could have been a lot punchier, character development ok but I’d have been really interested in more in depth writing about the Carter sisters parents-why were they so awful etc. A different angle. A good read however, just lacking in certain areas.

A gripping, dark story of murder, child abuse and identity protection.

I was hooked from the very beginning. The story moves quite quickly, only lasting a few days I think, but with flashbacks to when they were 10/12 and the events that started the current situation.

The subplot of the MP is an interesting addition and highlights many current issues.

The book deals with so many complex issues, is murder ever acceptable or understandable? When does a victim become a perpetrator? How can someone you love become someone you are prepared to kill?

Interesting and atmospheric, the writer takes you on a journey of intrigue and secrets. A tragedy in the Distant past which haunts the future. The characters are well described and fill the story with richness. Recommended 5*.
ARC copy

In 1997 the infamous Hilltop Murders occurred. Well respected and liked in the community, Mr and Mrs Carter were murdered in their own home, each stabbed 14 times with a pair of scissors. Their youngest daughter, 10 year old Sara confesses and that is the last time her sister Shannon ever sees her. Fast forward to 2018 and Shannon wants the story to be told to the world. Sara is terrified of what this will mean for her new life and family. Reporter Brinley knows exactly what happened that night, she was the sisters next door neighbour and best friend - a fact that she doesn’t discuss either. Will the truth come out and what will happen if it does?

This book honestly gripped me from the very start and there were countless moments that blew me away, not only the reveals but also the the brilliance of the writing! This has earned a place in my top reads of the year as it was everything I love and could ever want from a crime thriller.

The pacing was amazing ; it was so well done! There are times you want to turn the page so quickly to find out what will happen next but you’re so on edge that you dare to. This is a book I cannot stop thinking about now that I’ve read it, it was so gripping, emotional and impactful and I think it will stick with me for life.

I can’t recommend this enough! It’s definitely a 5 star read.

Like previous books I have read by Fiona Cummins I knew I would be in for a literary treat.

When I Was Ten is a fast paced, tense, rollercoaster ride of a book that had me speed reading through it as I was so caught up in the plot. It hooked me in on the very first page and didn't let go until the very last.

If you like your psychological thrillers thrilling then this book is for you. Highly recommended!

When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins
This was my first book by this author, and certainly won't be my last.
I really enjoyed this book. The plot was great, and kept me second guessing everything right to the end.
The story is told in a then and now sequence, and the scenes from the past were particularly chilling. The author tells the story in such a way, that you feel you are right there on the fateful night.
Really well written, with well fleshed out characters, and a storyline that makes this book hard to put down, I recommend this book.

OMG this book is just so very twisted it’s amazing. I loved the book , the characters were believable and they way the book led you to believe one thing while in fact it was the total opposite made my jaw drop with awe. This will be in my top 5 of 2021 when it is finally released as it kept me in the dark to the end. The twist was so unexpected yet once revealed you knew the clues were there hidden amongst the red herrings. I cannot rave enough about how much I enjoyed it so will just leave you with the following: outstanding , brilliantly plotted and gobsmackingly unexpected.

When you know that this book was inspired by the true story of child killer Mary Bell, you know that what you are about to read will be both chilling and fascinating. What is it that drives a child to kill?
When I Was Ten follows the lives of Shannon and Sara Carter, and their friend Brindley Booth. Shannon and Sara’s parents, GP Richard Carter - much loved amongst the local community - and his wife Pamela, are brutally and frenziedly stabbed 14 times with a pair of scissors. One of the girls is accused of the double murder, is dubbed the “Angel of Death” and serves 8 years in a secure unit until her release under a false identity to rebuild her life and hide her secret. That is until a documentary about one of the girls sparks intense media interest and is the catalyst to exposing explosive revelations that have dark and destructive repercussions.
This book has jumped straight into my top reads of this year. It was superbly paced and I raced through it. So many OMG moments scattered throughout the book left me feeling so many emotions from anger to incredulity! The characters were very 3 dimensional and I felt invested in every single one of them. The “controlled viciousness” and evil manipulation that is described by the author made it, at times, deeply uncomfortable to read. That said, it is a book that I would highly recommend if you like a book that literally grabs you by the throat and won’t let you down until you’ve read the last page!!
This is was an ARC that I was lucky enough to be given to read in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan books for this copy. Due to be published in April 2021 - watch out for it and grab it when you see it!!

I really enjoyed this book
It is a run of the mill thriller that builds quite nicely with good character descriptions. The suspense builds nicely with a mysterious character talking at the end of most chapters. Has a good twist at the end which i did not expect

Wow - this was completely full of unexpected twists and turns.
I loved that the first part of the story provided you with the current situation and the second part of the novel gave you the background - which in turn gave you the complete picture.
'When I was Ten' tells of 3 young girls, their friendship and the horrendous event that changed them all.
There were times as the story unfolded that I had my hand over my mouth, it was hard to comprehend how anyone (and I know that it does happen) can maltreat children in the manner that was playing out on the page.

Incredibly well written, at times extremely suspenseful and the characters were richly described.

Great twist at the end and I will definitely search out Fiona's other novels.

This is the first Fiona Cummins book that I've read and I thought it was an excellent, immersive and compassionate read that I sped through in two sittings.
21 years ago Richard and Pamela Carter were murdered, their 10 year old daughter Sara was convicted of their murder and spent 8 years in a secure unit. Since her release she has been living under an assumed name and is now married with a child. Her elder sister Shannon is taking part in a documentary and this has brought the story back to the attention of the public.. Their childhood friend Brinley, now a journalist, is covering the story. The novel is set in the dual time frames of 1997 when the murder occurred and in 2018 when we hear the story from the points of view of Catherine and Brinley
. Cummins description of the lead up to the murders and the sisters treatment by their parents is terrifying, horrific and heart breaking . However Cummins deals with it sensitively and compassionately and it is never gratuitous.. The plot races along and I was completely caught up in the lives of Brinley and Catherine. I anticipated a twist but the ending still came as a surprise to me.
A gripping, engrossing read that I would highly recommend and look forward to the next novel by Fiona Cummins.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

When I Was Ten follows the story of two sisters and their friend who after the murder of the sister’s parents all keep a secret which starts to unravel.

I did enjoy the book, it was an interesting read and I liked the element of one character being a reporter. I also liked the characters and thought they were well written however I did not like how the book was structured. There is no build-up of suspense because everything gets revealed in parts and nothing revealed is surprising, it was quite predicable. Although, I did like the messages between two characters which were scattered throughout the book.

I also found the ending disappointing and a bit cheesy.



3/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an early copy.


Fiona Cummins, you say? The one that chilled me to my bones with Rattle and The Collector?
A story with a child murderer, you say?

That's it. I was hooked and overjoyed when I was approved for this title.

This is the thriller genre at its best: full of credible twists that you'll notice without really noticing them – the hints are so obvious once you know what's about to happen! Not only that, but it's also got a solid cast of characters that you'll quickly identify with and will come to love. Is that it, you ask? Well, no – it's also got the gory and creepy bits down to an art. The little details of the little girls covered in blood will totally chill you.

It's inspired from a true story, the one of Mary Bell, who had to wake up her daughter in the middle of the night and tell her she's a killer.
That scene and so many others are brilliantly written in the novel. It's full of raw emotions, brilliant dialogue and mysteries.

I truly loved this book, and it only took me a couple of hours to finish it – even though I usually get distracted by other books too easily, this one had me hooked and wanting to know how it was going to end.

It could have been a five star book, but... there was just this tiny little thing that was missing. It's hard to put my finger on what it is exactly, but it mostly feels like it's that tiny element of mystery that leaves you open-mouthed and completely shocked when you read that one twist.
Here, even though the twists were brilliant, they were just on the border of too predictable, which explains why there is one star missing!

A fascinating book that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the final page. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.