When I Was Ten is a perfectly plotted thriller, which makes for a superb read. The blend of characters is just wonderful, the storyline is compelling and it is written beautifully.
Ten year old Sara does something unthinkable. What has she done and why? What are the consequences for her and those who surround her? What will be the impact in the years to come? Can a child ever get over their past and become reformed? Should a child be given a second chance?
This was the first of the books I had read by Fiona Cummins, I was very impressed and will certainly look for more by her. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Allen lives a quiet life with her husband and daughter but the shadow of her past always lurks. No-one knows who she really is but when her sister appears on TV on the anniversary of their parents' murders that could all be about to change.

As soon as we meet Catherine in her small time idyll we know straight away her time as the person she has been for thirteen years is up. However how and when this will happen is not clear. I could not read quick enough to find out the truth about her dark past and how it was going to catch up with her. The story unravels in a hideous and twisted way that no-one could see coming. The glimpses into 'Catherine's' childhood were particularly illuminating and equally uncomfortable.Then an inspired addition was Brinley the childhood friend that grew up to be a journalist desperate not to be stuck with the fluff pieces. Both Brinley and Catherine know their lives are about to take a turn but for the better or the worse is still undecided. Fiona Cummins hands the reader intertwined threads of a story which you hold tight and get thoroughly tangled in until... she severs it when you are least expecting it!

Oh My Days... this book had me twisted in knots... It's best off going in as cold as you can as there are some things you really need to find out as the author intends...
So... Sara and Shannon Carter were the daughters of the local GP who was brutally killed along with his wife. One of the daughters was locked up in a secure children's unit for committing the crime. The other grew up in care. They were 10 and 12 at the time of the murders.
Fast forward several years and the anniversary is coming up and one of the sisters wants to talk. Talk about the events of that night, all those years ago, for the very first time...
As you can imagine this revelation rocks the media world and all the journalists are itching for an exclusive. For something to put them ahead of the pack. Good thing that Brinley, one such journalist, used to live next door to the girls, was the older one's best friend. Problem is, she knows a secret which could blow this all out of the water...
Oh My! My heart was in my mouth a lot during reading this book. It's dark, well it's about a violent crime committed by a child so it would be a bit hard hitting. But not sensationalised for effect. It had me on the edge of my seat as I really needed to know the truth. Sometimes as a reader I feel a bit cheated when the author hints and withholds but here it was done in a way that I Really Needed To Know! And, to cap that, when I found out - it was worth the wait!
As well as being played out in the present day, we are also privy to certain events in the time leading up to the day of the murders. These snippets of the past add context and colour to what is going on in the present and the two then lead up to the final denouement where it is all brought shockingly together. Phew...
All in all, a cracking read that I have no hesitation in recommending. I'm now off to check out the author's back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

There are very few authors who write within the psychological thriller genre that leave me feeling amazed about what I have just finished reading. Fiona Cummins has just joined that exclusive list. All the stars for this blinder of a story. A must read for fans of Alice Feeney and Samantha Downing.

Thank you to #Netgalley, #PanMacmillan and #FionaCummins for an ARC of #WhenIWasTen in exchange for an honest review.

UK Publication Date: 15th April 2021

I loved this dark and twisty thriller. A brilliantly crafted book with spectacular writing and a few twists squeezed in for good measure. Superior fiction at its best.

When Sara and Shannon were 10 and 12 years old, one of them murdered their parents. 13 years later, someone wants to make a documentary of what happened. Shannon, the eldest sister agrees and wants to meet back up where her sister (they haven't seen each other since that day). But Sara has a new identity and a new family that knows nothing about her past.

But all comes out in the open and Sara, now known as Catherine as to flee. But will her family go with her? And it also turns out that one of the reporters who is writing about the story, Brindley, was actually friends with the girls and lived next door when the murders took place.

This was a great read. I really loved all the twist and the writing was good. There were some letters written between the chapters and it took me a while to understand who was writing these letters, as I was a little confused at first.

The ending is really good. I did guess a few odd things, but not all of them

4/5 stars.

* I received an ebook of this from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4


Everyone remembered Sarah and 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. But everything shifted on that fateful day when Doctor Richard Carter and his wife Pamela were stabbed fourteen times with a pair of scissors. The girls were aged ten and twelve at the time. One, nicknamed the Angel of Death, spent eight years in a children's secure unit. accused of the brutal killings. Now, a documentary team have tracked down one of the sisters, persuading her to speak of the events of that night.

The book is slow to start with. It wasn't until the second part that it fully held my attention. There were some parts that were predictable, others were horrifying. The story has a duel timeline that jumps back and forth from the past to the present day. Nearly everyone has secrets and the story is told from Catherine and Brinley's points of view. I did feel some parts were drawn out. Overall, It's quite an enjoyable read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #PanMacmillan and the author #FionaCummings for my ARC of #WhenIWasTen in exchange for an honest review.

A well written edge of the seat read.

When Sara was 10 her parents are murdered and she ends up in a unit with the blame.

Years later her older sister Shannon is looking for her. What will this unearth.

This is quite a dark book that keeps you gripped with all the twists and turns.

This book certainly packed a punch with its tense and real storylines.
The Carter sisters live in a lovely big house with their mother and GP father. One morning the village wake to a double murder which the sister confess in doing.
Years later the sisters secrets are unearthed when one decides to tell their story.
This book is written so well and at times the tension and impact with what the girls go through really had me holding my breath. It’s definitely not for the faint hearted as it covers the subject of abuse.

I really enjoyed this book. Having only read The Neighbour by this author, which I really enjoyed, I was open minded about When I Was Ten.
In this story two sisters, Shannon and Sara, are irreversibly scared by their controlling and abusive parents leading to devastating consequences. Their relationship with each other along with their best friend and neighbour, Brinley, is tested across the years. Each woman holds their own secrets from the past which years later are gradually uncovered bringing about further tragedy for the people closest to them. The scars run deep.... but who is really telling the truth?
The author takes you from the present day, to the characters childhoods and then back again. For me I only really became gripped during that second part. But that was enough to invest me into the story and my goodness I felt plenty of emotions regarding the experiences of each of the girls. Then I just couldn't wait to find out how it was all going to end. Great read!
Thankyou to Netgalley and the authors publisher for this arc and the chance to read and review this book.

When I Was Ten quickly had me hooked and it kept my attention right until the most satisfying last page.

The most gruesome of murders came to visit Hilltop House, home of Dr and Mrs Carter and early in the morning their daughters were led away by the police. What happened, why it happened and what happened next are all covered within this riveting novel.

I did guess elements of the storyline but that in no way eclipsed the inspired plotting with multiple sub-plots, the sheer realism to some of the most awful scenes which caused my stomach to clench in sympathy and the well-drawn characters flawed as they may be.

The story concentrates in the present day with the focus being an unfolding tale of a media storm looking back over twenty years to the crime and the subsequent trial. One journalist has an edge on the others, Brinley Booth was a childhood friend of the Carter sisters, is it time for her revelations to be opened up to an eager audience?

This story of how one decision can change the course of many lives was superbly executed and I now will be checking out the previous novels written by this author. for sure.

Wow! Just wow! I’m ashamed to admit that this was my first time ever reading work by Fiona Cummins. The great thing about that is I now have four other novels of hers to read!

This novel grabbed me right away and I finished it feeling as though I’d been trapped in a whirlwind and dropped.

The subject matter was oftentimes very dark. Those who cannot bear to read of children who are abused should stay well clear.

The repercussions of the withholding of love, humiliation, and physical and mental cruelty on a child’s psyche will follow them until their dying day. The book explored how this factor impacted the two abused sisters and their best friend.

The descriptions were expertly wrought. The characterization compelling. This book examines some serious issues such as parricide. It highlights how abusers are expert at keeping their crimes hidden.

The pace felt breakneck, but was not really. With flashbacks to that fateful day when she was ten, interspersed with scenes from one of the sisters’ lives and the life of their friend kept me mesmerized throughout.

Dark and twisty. Highly, highly recommended to all those who enjoy a well-written crime thriller which feels authentic and will keep you riveted to your reading chair.

I found When I Was Ten an OK read. I was really looking forward to it as the subject matter is fascinating but I found it was a little drawn out and confusing in places.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is based around two sisters, Shannon and Sara Carter, and their best friend who lives next door, Brinley Booth. When Sara was ten her two parents, Dr and Mrs Carter, we’re stabbed to death in bed, resulting in Sara spending years in a unit for their murders. After her release she changed her name and moved on with her life, and she’s now married with a daughter. One day, while listening to the news, she is shocked to hear her older sister on the news trying to find Sara, and this is the worst possible thing for Sara. Brinley is now a journalist and cottons onto this story, and also tries to find Sara. When Brinley arrives at Sara’s address, which had been leaked on the internet, there’s lots of journalists there, all trying to get the scoop. Sara and her family manage to get away and move to another secret address, but it doesn’t end there.

This story was excellent. There were lots of twists and turns, and everything you think you know is a lie. The writing was flawless, and the story seamlessly wove together to make a page turner. The characters were all relatable in their own way, and I really like Brinley, who was the typical underdog you wanted to root for. I can’t wait to read what this author comes up with next.

📚 BOK REVIEW 📚

When I Was Ten By Fiona Cummins. Publication Date - 15th April 2021

This is a story of 3 childhood friends - 2 of them sisters. The sister stay in a big fancy but it’s all a show...... the family has dark secrets - but they put a show on for everyone, making out they are the perfect parents. But they are far from it. Something happens one night..... something that will change all their lives forever!

Absolutely loved this book!! Gripping and full of twists and turns - fantastic! 5 stars from me.

#wheniwasten #netgalley #fionacummins
#thriller #panmacmillan

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Fiona Cummins first two books were excellent so I looked forward to the third and boy was I disappointed. I picked this book with some trepidation, hoping beyond hope that this one couldn't be as poor. What a turnaround, this book was both gripping and drew you in, I found myself needing to find more time to squeeze in another couple of chapters.

Written from multiple points of view and with some pretty gruesome narrative in places, this book is both convincing and compelling. A pleasing return to form for Cummins.

#WhenIWasTen #NetGalley

This is a clever thriller that had me hooked from page one.
Sara and Catherine are being mentally and physically abused by their parents. One night they take matters into their own hands, and brutally stab both parents with a pair of scissors.
Which one of the sisters did it is part of the story and there’s also their friend Brinley, who witnesses the aftermath.
Years later one of the sisters goes to the press and soon the story is front page news again.
We follow Catherine and her family in the present day and see how this affects her and her family as she has been hiding a massive secret from them.
Brinley is now a journalist but can she bring herself to tell her story?
The stories of Shannon, Sara and Brinley are cleverly constructed as the events from years ago have affected them each in different ways, and we learn how they have coped with the consequences of that terrible night and their secret pact.
This is a great read that will definitely have you racing through the pages.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Everyone remembers the case, everyone remembers the pictures of the two sisters being escorted from their house where their parents lay murdered. After living a lie for the last thirteen years, the truth is finally about to come out and Sara Carter cannot hide for much longer.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for approving my review request for this on NetGalley! 'When I Was Ten' is being published 15th April 2021 in hardback and you can get a signed-copy through Waterstones!

Nothing entices me more than a book described as "Deliciously sinister and genuinely disturbing", how perfect does that sound?! Disturbing thrillers really excite me as a fan of the psychological cause of crime, getting behind the reasons for why someone would commit a crime is so interesting to me. I knew immediately that I'd enjoy this, the different narratives create a back-and-forth that leads the reader to establish each character's voice from the first page. It also misbalances the reader and makes it difficult to get a clear picture, usually I'd hate this, being confused and having an unclear narrative throws me off but gradually the points start connecting up at the perfect pace to keep me engaged. It was the drip, drip, drip of hints and clues to the truth that made me actually love the initially confusing plot, it meant as it became clearer I was revelling in the skills Cummins used to hide and then reveal the truth.

The characters themselves were well-rounded and made for easy reading, once we establish their voice it becomes easy to see their goals and get an intuition toward their next move. Catherine in particular produced a level of sympathy from me, her 'perfect life' is at risk and her approach to everything is always in the view of protecting it and her family. Similarly, the relationships between the characters are established without having to deep-dive into their feelings, their actions and small descriptions in each interaction describe a fuller picture than what was just written on the page. However, the relationship between Brinley and her colleague seemed added for a bit of tension relief, there wasn't much to it that actually felt necessary to the story, it would have been just as effective as a friendship.

Cummins drops memories of their childhood throughout the novel that depict one version of events, picked specifically to give us some ideas as to what happened but in true thriller style the big reveal completely turned it around. I thought I was certain of one thing but was completely shocked to read the conclusion, you know a twist is coming (because let's be honest, it's a staple of the genre) but you don't expect this one and it makes for a very satisfying ending! You definitely need to be paying attention to every page of this novel, whilst it is very captivating there are a lot of different leads that need to be followed before they join up and explain the full picture.

This is enjoyable, it lives up to the description of "sinister and disturbing" in every way! If you want a really gripping psychological thriller you will want to pick this one up.

When I Was Ten focuses on a gruesome murder of a couple committed by their 10-year-old daughter. The book alternates between narration from Sara in the present, who has tried to start a new life after being found guilty of the crime and her childhood neighbour Brinley who is now a journalist. The book also has a section which is told in flashback, but this is contained and doesn’t alternate which alleviates potential confusion which can occur from using this technique.

I was excited to read When I Was Ten but I came away from it feeling a little disappointed. I didn’t feel that connected to either of the characters and I don’t think their individual voices shined through enough in the text. In the flashback sections we feel a lot of sympathy for the sisters who actually had an abusive childhood. However, this is then contradicted with the latter half of the book and I really struggled to understand the ‘villains’ motivations and why they had chosen to act at this point in time. Surely as the people involved were just moving on with their lives there was no need to stir everything up again? We also got no insight into the villain’s train of thought and so the ending just seemed to appear from nowhere.

There were also quite a few chapters from the point of view of a politician who is in charge of the prison system throughout the book. It’s quite an interesting side plot and it was great to see him get his comeuppance in the end as he is truly dislikeable, however it has absolutely no relevance to the main plot whatsoever apart from one off-hand remark he made about the case. I kept expecting his narrative to be interwoven with the sisters but in the end this did not happen and felt very jarring and a bit pointless.

Overall, When I Was Ten is a great premise but falls down in the execution which is a real shame. Thank you to NetGalley & Pan Macmillan for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!!! I've never read anything by Fiona Cummins before, but I won't hesitate to pick up more of her work after this.

I was hooked from the off. Full of twists and turns and dare I say it bombshells, and a scandalous subplot to boot! Fast-paced but not lacking in detail. Just an all round thrilling read.