Incredibly addictive and excellently written.

Tabitha is a character I really got along with and she is portrayed in a way that gets stuck in your head. Did she or didn’t she?

Nicci French will always be a go-to author for me!

What a cracking good read!

This is the first Nicci French book I have read and certainly won’t be the last.

Had me gripped from the first page to that shocking ending! It was one of those books I looked forward to picking up and then couldn’t put down.

Tabitha finds herself on remand in prison after a body is found in her shed and she is the prime - and only - suspect. It turns out there is history between her and the deceased.

Having mental health issues, she is unable to remember the full details of what happened that day.

She believes her solicitor thinks she is guilty, so she fires her and decides to represent herself. With no experience in law!

She is sent piles of evidence to wade through, plus CCTV footage from the village shop. She demands somewhere to work in prison on her own and is given access to a tiny cupboard.

I really liked Tamsin and loved her little outbursts in court, and her ‘sorry I don’t know how I should act’ excuses.

I just had to read it until I finished it today!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for a free copy of this brilliant book in return for an honest review.

The House of Correction marks the return of the husband and wife writing partnership in a new pulse-poundiing stand-alone thriller penned under the Nicci French pseudonym. When a body is discovered in Okeham, England, Tabitha is shocked to find herself being placed in handcuffs. It must be a mistake. She’d only recently moved back to her childhood hometown, not even getting a chance to reacquaint herself with the neighbors. How could she possibly be a murder suspect? As Tabitha is shepherded through the system, her entire life is picked apart and scrutinised — her history of depression and medications, her decision to move back to a town she supposedly hated and of course, her past relationship with the victim, her former teacher. But most unsettling, Tabitha’s own memories of that day are a complete blur. From the isolation of the correctional facility, Tabitha dissects every piece of evidence, every testimony she can get her hands on, matching them against her own recollections. But as dark, long-buried memories from her childhood come to light, Tabatha begins to question if she knows what kind of person she is after all. The world is convinced she’s a killer. Tabatha needs to prove them all wrong.

This is a compulsive and highly addictive story from the get-go and I found the concept of a woman accused of murder attempting to solve her own case from the confines of a prison cell totally enthralling. Needless to say I was gripped pretty quickly, especially due to the fact that it seems Tabitha isn't sure of her own actions which makes it all the more compelling as you really have no idea who is trustworthy throughout the plot or whose recollections are genuine. As she unravels the truth, everything is called into question, including her own certainty that she is innocent. I love books that get under your skin and into your psyche and tear up your preconceptions and this fits the bill perfectly. The mystery and intrigue, which fill these pages, are handled expertly, and although I have read all of the Nicci French books, this is one that is special due to the potent mix of razor sharp observations, social commentary, enough tension and suspense to have your nerves jittering and characters you really begin to care about. A real intelligent page-turner and a must read for all crime connoisseurs. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for an ARC.

Anything by Nicci French is a ‘go to’ in my book and this is no exception. Granted it’s not the usual Nicci French fare and is more a one woman prison diary cum courtroom drama and the one woman is prickly, behaves badly and struggles with her mental health. So, not easy to like, at least not at first glance.

But Tabitha, she grows on you, she struggles with life. Some days (in her words) are bad days and you just have to survive them. She’s been accused of murder and as the prosecution says it’s pretty much a ‘slam dunk’, the village was cut off by a tree falling in the road so no one could come in (or out), she had motive and was caught, quite literally, with blood on her hands. The police are sure she did it, the other villagers are sure she did it and as it was a ‘bad day’ Tabitha isn’t absolutely sure she didn’t do it. But Tabitha is a fighter and armed with the belief that she’s not capable of murder, a sketchy memory, and an unlikely friend in her cell mate she fights like she has never fought before.

House of Correction is tightly written and so well drawn I found it completely engrossing. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest

A literary masterpiece! Do not miss out on this outstanding, compelling thriller!

If I could give this book more than five stars, then I absolutely would. Tightly plotted and superbly written with a jaw-dropping end!

The beginning of this book jumps straight to the action when Tabitha and her friend Andy discover the body of Stuart Rees in her garden shed! Before she even has time to process what has happened, Tabitha finds herself arrested and held on remand for murder.

With the evidence stacked against her, everyone from the village is convinced that Tabitha is the killer. The police think she’s the only possible suspect and even her solicitor thinks she should plead guilty to manslaughter.

Poor Tabitha struggles with severe depression and her bad days can leave her living in a bit of a fog. Unfortunately, the day of the murder wasn’t a good day, but even with her limited memory of the events in the run-up to discovering Stuart’s body, she is sure that she is not capable of murder.

We follow the court case as Tabitha tries to prove her innocence and work out exactly what happened on that fateful day in December.

I am a massive fan of Nicci French books and I’ve loved everything they have ever written. Their books are always so suspenseful and this one is no exception.

I really loved the main character Tabitha in this story, although she is quite damaged, she is a very stubborn, fiery and determined woman. She is also funny without meaning to be, some of the courtroom scenes had me giggling away.

This book is fast-paced and will keep your interest throughout. I didn’t trust anyone and suspected everyone. I had absolutely no idea what the outcome would be, and I’d be incredibly surprised if anybody guessed the ending.

If you’ve never read a book by Nicci French, then you’re in for a treat. I highly recommend their entire back catalogue. I will never forget the day many many years ago when I got a copy of Land of the Living free with a magazine. At the time I didn’t read that often but this book turned me into an avid reader. I own all of their books and it is a collection that takes pride of place on my bookshelf.

Published on September 3rd 2020, do not miss out on this phenomenal courtroom drama.

Thank you so much to Nicci French, Simon & Schuster UK & NetGalley for my ARC.

I love books by Nicci French and this one was absolutely brilliant.
Tabitha is in prison awaiting trial for murder but she knows she’s innocent. The only problem is she can’t remember much about the day of the murder due to her depression, as it was one of her bad days.
The evidence seems to be stacked against her but somehow she has to find the strength to fight this.
The story starts with Tabitha awaiting the trial and then it goes into the courtroom where she has to defend herself against those that are called to testify against her.
I loved Tabitha and found her character grew on me as the book progressed. Some of the events in the courtroom made me laugh and others really made my heart go out to her.
This is a great crime drama that well and truly had me glued to the book.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

For her life. Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. I dont think ive read any of this authors book which is outrageous!A excellent thought provoking read about justice,revenge and punishment. Fantastic charactars especially Tabitha whos clearly not had it easy and part of me as a mum wanted to help her. Despite her troubles and her past she is a strong female prepared to fight for justice and freedom.Plot and pace was excellent and a enjoyable thriller which shifts from prison to courtroom.I will definitely be reading more from Nicci.Published 3rd September

I’d like to thank Simon and Schuster UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘House Of Correction’ by Nicci French in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Tabitha Hardy is on remand in prison for the murder of Stuart Rees after his body is found in her garden shed. Her solicitor advises her to plead guilt of manslaughter but although Tabitha can’t remember what happened on the 21st December she knows she couldn’t have killed him, and decides to represent herself when her case gets to Court. Her problem is that if she didn’t kill him then someone else in the village did – but who?

This psychological thriller is told from the perspective of Tabitha as she prepares to defend herself in Court, questioning the witnesses by asking them to visit her in prison. With help from ex-prisoner Michaela as her ‘McKenzie friend’, Tabitha works her way through the evidence given to her by the prosecutor as she catalogues the details of the case against her and the need to convince the jury of her innocence.

I’ve read and enjoyed every novel written by Nicci French but ‘House Of Correction’ has been absolutely amazing and is definitely the best one yet. Even when I wasn’t reading it my mind was buzzing with trying to work out what could have happened on that fateful day in December. I was drawn into the story as Tabitha does everything in her power to get to the truth, through the evidence given in Court by the villagers any one of whom could have been the murderer, to the twists and turns as she comes across more details not properly investigated by the police. So as I finally reached the conclusion there was no intake of breath, just a sigh of relief that the truth had finally come to light. This thriller proves how talented the duo of Nicci French are and deserves every one of the five stars I’ve given it.

It's been several years since I last read a Nicci French book and this one reminds me why I loved them so much.

Tabitha is accused of murdering her old high school teacher, a murder she can't remember if she committed or not but that the evidence is piling up against her. We follow Tabitha through the initial disorientation of life on remand for murder and then her own investigation from behind bars as she looks to discover the truth of her innocence or guilt.

I really enjoyed seeing the time in prison before the trial and found the descriptions enlightening. Although Tabitha was nor a very likeable character I couldn't help but empathise with her throughout the various scenes in both the prison and the courtroom.

A fast paced book that has made me want to revisit some of my favourites by this author duo.

When the body of her neighbor is found in her garden shed, Tabitha is instantly suspected of and charged with murder. Her memories from the day of the murder are hazy at best, but when she fires her lawyer and decides to defend herself, she has to rely on the statements of villagers and CCTV footage to piece together her movements. How will she prove her innocence when she can't be sure of it herself?

I have read and enjoyed books by this duo before but this one just didn't do it for me. It fell flat the whole way through. The ending was disappointing and Tabitha's story felt unfinished. I thought that we might have been given a better explanation for her memory loss and sudden outbursts. At the end of the day it wasn't terrible, it was just forgettable.

Thank you #NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A modern take on a whodunnit! Told from the perspective of the already accused, desperately trying to work out if she actually did it or not. This is an enjoyable read; the main character sassy and disagreeable, is nonetheless likeable and witty in her behaviour at times. I’m not sure how believable the prison life or courtroom behaviour is, however it didn’t affect the enjoyment of the book. A good weekend rainy day read.

The House of Correction is an interesting read. It was a book that I read over a weekend and it had me hooked. The main character Tabitha is an absolute mess of a woman and you can't help but admire her. She is damaged, stronger than she thinks and very determined. Her honesty made me laugh and warm to her. I enjoyed the way the story was split into 2 parts, the initial part of the arrest and incarceration and then the court case. An enjoyable read.

Tabitha is trying to get her life back on track after several setbacks. She has returned to the village that she grew up in for her new start. But that all comes crashing down when she is arrested for murder - the body of her former teacher Stuart Rees is found wrapped in plastic in her shed. Tabitha is convinced that she is innocent but all those around her believe she killed him, including her lawyer who tells her to plead guilty. So what does she do - she sacks the lawyer and defends herself. This is where the fun begins, with her limited resources she sets out to prove her innocence. While at times the storyline is little hard to believe I really enjoyed Tabitha's journey.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for my advanced copy of this book to read.

I feel like I've had a string of books that aren't bad, but are just okay 🤷🏻‍♀️

House of Correction is a fairly slow moving novel with a pretty unlikeable protagonist. It was one of those books that felt longer than it needed to be and was padded out with unnecessary details of places/people/things.

It still managed to hold my attention and most definitely improved in the second half. I didn't see the ending coming, but it wasn't mind-blowing either.

Not entirely convinced I'm going to try another Nicci French novel!

This book is complex, both heart breaking and funny.

Tabitha has returned to the village she used to live in, she is a troubled character who has a dark history with the village. However she thinks she is making a home for herself....until she is arrested for murder!

We follow Tabitha on remand, her decision to defend herself and how her fellow prisoners help and hinder her..

It is a story of heart breaking secrets being uncovered yet at times the story is comically funny as Tabitha tries to find her way through the complicated theatre of court.

A good read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this entertaining book

a man is murdered
and the perp is arrested....

but did she do it...the whole village thinks she did...but tabitha is adamant that she is innocent...

and after her lawyer tell tabitha to admit her guilt to get a more lenient sentence, tabitha sacks her and so begins the biggest fight of her life as she represents herself

what follows next is sheer entertainment and one of the best books i have read in a long time...kept me hooked right up to the last page

I have read all of Nicci French’s books , so was looking forward to this one. In this novel we meet Tabitha who is accused of murder. She decides to represent herself in court, to prove she is innocent. I enjoyed the character of Tabitha, and the description of the village and the people who live there. However, for me, this novel is too long. Most of the book is about the trial and this could have been a good 100 pages shorter. It is still a good read, and worth reading, but for me, not the best book by this husband and wife team.

I’m a huge Nicki French fan so I was excited to read this new book.

The main character Tabitha has been charged with the murder of Stuart Rees. His body was found in her garden shed but she cannot remember anything about the incident and although she is advised to plead guilty she is adamant she didn’t do it.

While in remand she decides to are search any available evidence that will prove her innocence. The trial which proceeds is suspenseful and includes a few twists I didn’t see coming .

Overall this was an enjoyable read for me but I did find it a little slow paced and I didn’t really connect with the main character. On saying that I was engaged to the end of the book and thought the ending was brilliant. Definitely one for anyone who enjoys a courtroom drama.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read and review this novel .

Tabitha is on remand for murder but she's hazy on the details. Her solicitor advises her to plead guilty but Tabitha is pretty sure she didn't do it.
With the limited resources available to her in prison she tries to piece the puzzle together before her trial date.
Tabitha is spiky, prone to outbursts and isn't a 'likeable' character. I'm pretty sick of 'likeable' or 'relatable' women as it's a standard that isn't often applied to male protagonists, so I liked that a lot. For me, this novel didn't seem to have the depth of characterisation of supporting cast and sense of place as I would want, and the plot plodded along. The repetition inherent in the prison days and the lack of new information meant I lost interest in places.
Without spoilers, it's hard to say just why I wasn't as satisfied with the denouement of the trial as the preparation for it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy.

This book is more of a prison tale meets courtroom crime drama than a thriller. The writing, as usual with Nicci French, is punchy, with short chapters. The characters are interesting & Tabitha a compelling enough lead. However, I was hoping for more from this novel. It's a quick read, but I had been hoping for more drama, more suspense & more oomph. It left me a bit flat.

Tabitha has been charged with the murder of Stuart Rees following the discovery of his dead body in her shed. She is in prison awaiting trial with no recollection of chunks of the day on which he was killed. All the evidence points towards her as the murderer and her lawyer tries to explain the benefits of pleading guilty to manslaughter with diminished responsibility. Tabitha ultimately believes she is not guilty so fires her representation and seeks to defend herself. The novel follows how she seeks to do this and her search for the truth. This is an easy read that kept me fairly engaged throughout and guessing about who killed Stuart Rees until the end.