Rattled.
First of all I would like to thank Fiona Cummins for writing this book, and Net Galley for letting me read it. If you have not read Fiona's Bone Collector series then you are missing out, and if you have you will not be disappointed when you read this one.
Your two best friends,sisters live next door, and their parents, the local GP and his wife are strict disciplinarians. Their childhood is not a happy one, but your mother is terminally ill so neither is yours. Then early one morning your whole world is turned upside down as the two sisters are taken away by the police after their parents are brutally stabbed to death.
Twenty or so years on and the story is about to break again, you have moved away, making your own way in life with those events a distant memory, except you are now are journalist, and are sent to the village of your childhood to report on it.

Fiona was a journalist with the Daily Mirror before she started writing books, so you would expect her to know a good story when she sees one, and she has one here.
The story is told from one of the sisters prospective and also the journalist's. The sister is living under an assumed name, a new life given to her after her release from juvenile detention, which is about to collapse like a house of cards.
You feel for the characters.The story develops, being told in two time frames, then and now, allowing you to learn about them as children and also as adults.

Would I recommend you read this book? Absolutely, it is well written, totally believable and has characters you empathise with. Released in August 2020. Put a reminder on your calender.

Brilliantly written portrayal of a sensitive subject.

I could not stop turning the pages, I just had to know what was going on.

The relationship between the protagonist and her daughter was a nice frame for the story of her history and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

If you've read Fiona Cummins before then you know what you’re in for and it’s a brace yourself read. It’s a chin dropper, eye popper, heart beater, hand shaker, mind blowing, breath taking, goose bump inducing rollercoaster of a book. Is Fiona Cummins middle name ‘Twisty’??!!! The book opens dramatically in April 1997 when a young girl runs away from an horrific murder scene. We later learn this is twelve year old Brinley Booth whose best friends are Shannon and Sara Carter, the murder victims are their parents. This is the infamous ‘Hill Top Murders’ for which ten year old Sara is convicted. Fast forward twenty one years to December 2018 to Catherine and Edward Allen and their daughter Honor who are living a comfortable and happy life in rural Essex. A news item catches Catherine’s eye and yanks at her heart and soul and their precious family life will never be the same. The story is told in two times lines 1997 and 2018 and principally from the perspectives of Brinley and Catherine but there’s also the inclusion of Justice Minister, the smugly arrogant Geoffrey Heathcote.

There are many themes in this multifaceted, well written and thought provoking book. It examines what drives children to kill and is an insightful depiction of one case. We learn of cruelty and evil and there are several sources of that. The inclusion of the Justice Minister in the storytelling highlights the role of justice and rehabilitation in cases like these, although I’m not certain we entirely needed all the details of his sordid life! Fiona Cummins also pulls no punches in the role of journalism and newspapers who drive a story and the ensuing public reaction. We are reminded that they take a stance and that will not necessarily take account of all the facts. She clearly shows too how in today’s world this is further fuelled by social media where allegations and assumptions are made on zero personal knowledge and how stories can grow exponentially and in this case social media also puts lives at risk. It’s unsavoury and it leaves a bad taste because that’s exactly what it is.

The most powerful parts of the story and what makes this book hard to put down is the story of the girls. Shannon, Sara and Brinley have so many damaging secrets, there are lies told but not for the reasons you might expect because this is about love, sacrifice and ultimately much needed shedding of burdens which will hopefully lead to healing.

Overall, a truly fantastic, clever book which exposes flaws in the justice system, in media especially how stories are represented. It’s a story of bonds and how the shackles of those bonds are finally broken and a tragic and heart breaking story emerges. As a fan of Fiona Cummins I can do no less than highly recommend this book.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Pan McMillan for the privilege of the ARC.

When I Was Ten opens on a startlingly dramatic scene whereby a distraught young girl, running outside in fear, is struck by lightning. This arresting scene sets the tone for the book, which is dark and, at times, horrific - not in a horror movie sense but in the unfathomable damage humans are capable of inflicting on each other.

Respected local GP Richard Carter and his wife Pamela are people who should never have had children; their two daughters, Shannon and Sara, are subjected to harrowing emotional, psychological and physical abuse, while presenting a very different image to the outside world. Their only comfort comes from each other and from their friend and neighbour, Brinley, who has her own troubles to deal with. Ultimately, something snaps, resulting in the death of the doctor and his wife and the incarceration of one of their children.

Twenty-one years later, a woman named Catherine is living a quiet life with her husband and daughter. There are secrets in her past which Catherine has never told, but her carefully constructed life is about to be torn apart.

The only thing I’m not sure quite worked was the inclusion of scenes charting the downfall of a Tory Justice Secretary, which were enjoyable enough to read but did seem rather to have dropped in from another novel.

Although it did, at times, feel unremittingly bleak, When I Was Ten is a compelling and powerful read.

This book covers a very difficult subject. It was well written but because of the subject matter I can't really say that I enjoyed it

The writing and treatment of a difficult topic were, as always, up to Fiona's brilliant and masterly style. This being a book about child abuse and torture and the murder of one child of another however, it was very tough to read at times and ultimately wasn't a book I can say I 'enjoyed' but I do admire the author for writing it and dealing with the subject so well.

The author says she was 'inspired' to write the novel to get inside the head of a child who kills another. She looked at the case of Mary Bell who was only ten when she murdered two boys in Newcastle. I immediately also though of Jamie Bulger who was only two when murdered by two ten year old boys. Shocking in the extreme and this book looks at the repercussions of this, how someone lives with a false identity and what happens when that big big secret comes to light.

Involving and detailed but not my cup of tea personally.

I’m going to be frank the first couple of chapters do nothing to pull you in.
I thought I’d started the wrong book. It gets better though and not just better.... it gets marvellous!

The subject is interesting, the written is brilliant and it all comes together to form the perfect book. We all know I can’t comment on a plot without giving spoilers so I’ll leave it here. When I Was Ten is a must-read!

Firstly as always thank you to Fiona Cummins, Pan Macmillan Publishers and Netgalley for sending me this to read and review.  This book is available to pre-order now and the publication date is 6th August 2020.

Okay so the description of this book caught my attention straight away, it sounded like exactly the kind of books I go for.  I hadn’t read anything by this Author previously and if I’m being honest, initially it didn’t grab me. I was thinking ‘hmmm should I persevere’ (I’m generally rubbish at doing so.)  Well I did and it was the right decision, about 3 chapters in and I couldn’t put it down!! I was desperately trying to stay awake in bed so I could read more.

The 2 main characters are sisters Sara and Shannon, despite the circumstances their captivating natures shine through. I could feel their need to protect each other. Brinkley their next door neighbour and Shannon’s best friend is also an interesting character, she can see what is happening in the girls lives but really is unable to protect them.

As I got further into the story and learned of the girls childhood, I became more invested. At certain points I felt like my heart was genuinely breaking for them. The 3 girls grow up and go their separate ways, only to be brought back together years later, when journalists track down Sara, who is now known as Catherine.

However all is not as it seems and there is a twist at the end which I did not expect. There is something about the way the story is written that I really appreciate. Although the nature of the story is a difficult one, it is written delicately and with sensitivity.

This made me think about children who commit murder. Do they deserve a second chance? Do they deserve anonymity? How does what they have done in their childhood affect their future as an adult?

I would definitely recommend this book and will definitely be reading her other ones.

I enjoyed this well paced read.

This book is split into 3 sections. Firstly, we are in the present where Catherine is trying desperately to keep the past in the past.

In the second segment, we meet Shannon, Sara and Brinley as children. We find out what happens in the run up to the dreadful murder.

Finally, we are back in the present as Catherine tries to rebuild her life and regain the trust of her daughter and husband.

I haven’t really touched on the politician as I do t feel he added much to the story. I also wasn’t totally on board with the letter writer. If we weren’t supposed to know who was writing, it needed to be more subtle. And if we were supposed to know then I’m not sure of the point!

All this said, it’s a great story, well written and paced. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I’ll look for further books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

huge thank you to pan Macmillan and #NetGalley for giving me the chance to read This amazing book, I loved the concept and the story the way it's written and the subject matter. I would recommend it and think it's worth the read.

The idea of what would you do to protect a sibling or a friend is relatable.
Sara and Brinleys stories are so well told although at times I felt it jumped a wee bit too much I definitely feel Fiona Cummins has smashed it with this book. I read this in two days I couldn’t put it down!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This kept me hooked on a very long at journey. This is probably one of the best books I have read in a while

This is the first novel I have read by Fiona Cumnins and I will definitely be looking for more.
This sinister thriller follows the story of 2 sisters aged 12 and 10 years respectively. The younger one was supposed to have brutally killed the parents in a savage attack.
Follow the twists and turns of this novel and hold your breath.
It's gripping!

This is the second book I have read by Fiona Cummins and I loved it just as much as the first one. From the first page I was hooked and had to get to the end very quickly. From the descriptive detail to the twists and turns, I just couldn’t get enough. I will definitely be looking for more books written by this author. It didn’t end the way I thought it would, which to me is the sign of a five star novel. Be sure to look out for this book, for your next read.

Sara and Shannon are sisters and Brin is their next door neighbour and best friend. Sara and Shannon’s parents are the respectable village doctor and his wife but inside their house they are abusive evil parents that make their daughters lives a misery.

.

One day the village wakes up to the parents dead, the kids covered in blood. But what is the story behind the story?!

.

The book has two time periods running through it. Catherine is watching the news when her life comes to a halt - her sister is on the news talking about when their parents were brutally killed by being stabbed 14 times with a pair of scissors. Brin is now a journalist and is hoping to break the story but she really is the story. There are also flashbacks to the night when the parents were killed and the real circumstances surrounding it.

.

Some of the passages may be triggering for some readers as it involves emotional and physical abuse against children. However, I think it needs to be brutal and shocking as it allows the reader to understand the reasons behind the killings. The topic of child killers is an emotive one and Fiona writes with empathy in relation to the victims.

.

The characters of the three children are extremely well written - complex, multilayered and leave you asking questions!

.

The only part I didn’t get was the inclusion of the politician as part of the narrative. It’s seem redundant to me, it definitely wasn’t necessary and there was enough in the other characters to explore.

.

This is a great read with amazing twists! I really didn’t see the final one coming! It is brilliantly written, show empathy while dealing with a difficult subject and is so compelling that you can easily devour it in one sitting!

I did really like this story and the way that Cummins portrayed how cruel parents can be. Even those who appear to be the most wonderful. How they can manipulate a child. I especially enjoyed the characterisation of Sara. However I found some parts unnecessary to keep. I.e. the politician aspect of the story, Brinley's final confession at the end, (she already was an unreliable narrator, this felt very uneeded), and also the night that all these horrible things happened. It felt like doomsday. I also did not really understand the reason why Shannon reemerged all those years later. Nevertheless, it was a thrill ride.

When I Was Ten takes place in two different time settings and from several peoples perspective. Twenty plus years ago two little girls were found with their parent's dead bodies and 10-year-old Sara was charged with their murder. The media and public called for her execution but she was given a new identity after being held in a young offenders institution until she was eighteen. Now it seems like the public have found out who she is and exposed her to her new family, but it seems there was more to the story than people thought. I found this book really enjoyable and the writing and story hooked me in from the start. It was certainly a page-turner and I flew through it in a couple of days- I would definitely recommend it to fans of the genre!

this author is a fabulous writer one sister is living a lie married and a daughter and never told her husband her past the other sister was punished for the murder of there parent s and a journalist who knows more than she letting on what a story very twisty and addictive you wont want to stop reading so recommend

As soon as I read the blurb for "When I Was Ten", I knew that I wanted to read it. I am a huge fan of crime/thrillers, and there is something fascinating about the idea of children who kill. 

I'll say outright that I loved this book. It was well-paced from the start, with characters I was rooting for. The story follows two sisters, Sara and Shannon, who lived in a beautiful house with model parents. Until the night one of the girls stabbed their parents to death with a pair of blunt scissors, a crime that meant one sister was incarcerated in a secure unit for the rest of her childhood and the other was given a new identity. Now, thirteen years later, on the anniversary of the trial, a documentary airs featuring one of the sisters, leading to explosive news headlines. Brinley Booth, the girls' childhood friend and now a budding reporter, is forced to cover the story. But everyone is hiding something, and when the whole truth is revealed, nothing will ever be the same...

I loved the twists and turns the story takes, and I really liked how the reader's assumptions were constantly challenged. I also loved how the two sides of the story were presented: the side told by the girls who were actually involved in the crime, and the side reported by the press. I know that headlines and news stories are manipulated for maximum impact, but it was interesting to see that play out here, with a bird's eye view of what had actually happened and the circumstances surrounding the crime. 

I saw a couple of twists coming, but was totally blindsided by others. If I had one complaint, it would be that the villain of the piece is a little too black-and-white villain for me, I'd have liked to see a little more depth to that character. But on the whole, this was a brilliant read, and I will absolutely be recommending it. An easy five stars from me!

Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

a fantastic book great story line throughout .keeps you enthralled right up to the last page .i think its her best book so far .highly recommend .

#WhenIWasTen #NetGalley
A fun read.
Shannon Carter, the little blonde haired sisters. Their Dad was the local GP and they lived in the beautiful house on the hill. Their best friend, Brinley Booth, lived next door. They would do anything for each other but everything shifted on that fateful day when Dr Richard Carter and his wife Pamela were stabbed fourteen times with a pair of scissors in what has become the most talked about double murder of the modern age. But an incident changed everything.
A clever thriller with a flawless narration and creepy characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for giving me an advanced copy of this suspense thriller.