I'll be honest, I was expecting more from this. Previous books I've read by Nicci French have been, while not beacons of outstanding literary genius, decent pageturners with a solid plot. This book was missing something and left me fairly underwhelmed.

I love a flawed protagonist, but they do need to be someone that the reader can sympathise with at least a little – and that is something that I struggled with with Tabitha. I just found her frustratingly unlikable as a main character.

While the book deals with issues of mental health, it doesn't do so in a particularly sensitive way. Instead, memory loss and sudden mood swings seem to just be for the convenience of the plot, of which there isn't much.

A lot of the book is taken up with a trial in court, and as such it gets a little monotonous after a while.

Overall, this book is... fine. But it's not brilliant. 2.5/5, rounded down.

(An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts are my own.)

Thanks for the early copy of Nicci French’s new title, House of Correction.

Both my mum and I are huge fans of her book and it’s always a go-to author that we both enjoy. This was something new and different from the others that I’d read, and liked that about it. Set somewhere new but everything great and familiar about her writing!

I haven't read a Nicci French for a long time and after reading this I will go back for the ones I have missed! An excellent book in two parts. In the first we see Tabitha arrested and imprisoned for a murder she is sure she didn't commit, but in her depressed and struggling state with blanks in her memory, she really isn't sure. Part two is the actual trial which is definitely faster paced than the initial build-up, but I really enjoyed seeing both sides. Set in a small English village, the characters are all very believable with human frailties and conflicting emotions and agendas. The clues to what really happened were very cleverly spread throughout the story and it had a very satisfying ending. Highly recommended for the crime/mystery lover.

A suspenseful court room drama which was well written and a story full of misdirection which kept me guessing. On the minus Tabitha was so annoying when she was in court. Surely she should have been charged with contempt or at least forcibly removed. The ending was another bone of contention the ending. It was so quick and left me with so many unanswered questions. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A game of two halves. A bit slower in the first half, Tabitha is a bit annoying and you wonder whether to keep going. However, the pace picks up in the second half but it is a courtroom trial focus so this may not be your area of interest. A satisfying ending rounds off the book.

Days in prison and court. Did not realise these could be so fascinating.
With Tabitha every step of the way. Nicci French has the knack of making her characters very human, showing their rough, frustrating side beside their basic moral character.
Insight into prison life, the harsh environment and corruption. The confusing aspects of appearing in court.
Tabitha is a mess, when she is accused of murder and imprisoned, she decides to defend herself in court. Her outrageous outbursts, bad language and grasp on the situation can make the reader comment out loud such is the involvement.
Novel shows people at their best and worse, surprising vindictiveness alongside unexpected kindness.
Thank you Nicci and NetGalley for another brilliant novel.

Okeham, a pretty little village by the sea. Not the sort of place you would expect a brutal murder to take place. Or is it?
The story starts with the only real suspect already in prison awaiting trial but even she doesn't know if she is innocent or guilty.
No-one writes this sort of thriller better than Nicci French. This is the most gripping story I have read in a long time but I wouldn't expect anything less from this author.

I have read and enjoyed many of this writing duo’s books so was looking forward to their new release. This was a suspenseful courtroom drama which was well written. A gripping story with plenty of twists to keep me guessing throughout. Would recommend. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

I’m a big fan of Nicci French books and this one didn’t disappoint. Couple of random niggly bits - didn’t understand why/how Tabitha & Michaela ended up so close and didn’t see the point of Vera. Liked how the story came together at the end

I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this, as I'd never read anything by Nicci French before. I was definitely expecting a thriller, and I was hoping for something I would be glued to, and House of Correction wasn't really either of those things for me. Halfway through, I was actually bored! I also found Tabitha such a deeply irritating character that it started to affect how I was reacting to the book - all those courtroom scenes where she's told to behave, not to swear, etc, etc. The repetitiveness of her rapping on the plexiglass divider almost drove me to distraction.

I would still probably recommend this one - people love Nicci French and objectively, it was a good book, just not one for me.

I really enjoyed this! It’s an intriguing mystery with courtroom drama and a gripping plot.

This was one of those books that has you up all night reading ‘one more chapter’. It begins with Tabitha, in prison on suspicion of murder and we soon find out that the case against her is compelling.

Tabitha wasn’t the usual heroine. She had an aggressive, spiky edge and was unpredictable which added to the drama.

I loved the courtroom scenes. They were pacy and interesting and very well written. The secondary characters were portrayed well and very believable.

The only reason I didn’t give five stars was that I was a bit dissatisfied with the reveal at the end. It was a bit abrupt and didn’t really fit comfortably with what came before.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Devilishly clever plot. Utterly compelling from start to finish. Brilliant!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for allowing me to read and review honestly.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the arc of house of correction by Nicci French.

Tabitha returns to her childhood home based in Okeham, Devon to help renovate a property. However, she is now on remand for the murder of a Stuart Rees who was in-fact her Math teacher when she was a teen.... Tabitha ultimately denies the murder and she is questioning by her solicitor which reveals a very complex and complicated and troubled past and a deeply complex personality in Tabitha. She ends up firing her solicitor as determines to defend herself without no help from a solicitor.

4 stars- a brillant thrilling book, amazingly written, love the whole plot, storyline, conclusion etc.- definitely recommend!!

Much better work from Nicci French. I enjoyed the pace and plot to this story but towards the end I found it weakened a little and it was very predictable. Thank you to Netgalley for this preview.

Yay! They're back! After being disappointed by my last Nicci French read, I was trepidatious about this one. I needn't have been. It's a really well written rollercoaster of a read.

Tabitha is accused of murder and the trouble is, she can't remember whether she did it or not. She's a frustrating character at times and it's so believable how folk get irritated by her. But, she's a survivor and the story of her journey, from prison and then into the courtroom is a riveting one. Particularly, when Tabitha decides to represent herself in court and she's no clue what she's doing. This makes the courtroom scenes stressful, frustrating, exciting and at times electrifying.

The book is written in short chapters and it really works in pulling you along. I pretty much read in one sitting. The characters are so well rounded and interesting and the plot is excellent.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the opportunity to preview.

Another very well written suspense from Nicci French. I love their books. I especially loved the premise of this book being a courtroom drama.
Really suspenseful, well-built characters and good entertainment.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

We meet Tabitha as she arrives in prison on remand for murder – a crime she claims she didn’t commit, although her memory of the day in question is hazy. Very early on, Tabitha starts preparing herself for her upcoming trial and the following story is very much a book of two halves. The first half sees Tabitha attempting to investigate the crime from within prison. I found this section a bit frustrating, since her attempts are continually thwarted and the repetition of going over the same evidence with the mantra “I must have missed something; what have I missed” got a little grating. However, I appreciate that this would well reflect how Tabitha was feeling, so may well have been deliberate on the part of the author.

The second half, though, once the trial got underway, was great! The supporting cast of characters really came into their own, and the protagonist’s character traits (which had previously irked me) made me really start to like her and enjoy the story. There were some twists and turns along the way, plus an ultimately satisfying conclusion. If you enjoy a courtroom drama, and can stick out a slow build before the real action begins, then this book will be for you. All in all, I rather enjoyed this one!

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

House of Correction, Nicci French. 4/5

Tabitha is accused of murder. She is in prison awaiting trial. There is a strong case against her and she can’t remember what happened on December 21st. She is alone, frightened and confused. But somehow, from the confines of her cell, she needs to prove everyone wrong.

I’m going to start this review with a confession, I am a longtime Nicci French reader, not just their incredible Freida Klein series, I was reading the standalones before that. When it comes to British crime writers Nicci French for me are #1.

This standalone, House of Correction, is a little different to what they usually do. I’ve said this before but I love a female lead who is generally unlikeable, one who would be considered angry or difficult. They are the leads I root for. Tabitha is all of those things and so much more, gritty and determined. Flawed but honest and hopeful. Tabitha is one of my favourite crime leads in a long time. The bond between her and cellmate Michaela was an intriguing addition to the story

House of Correction gave me a storyline I love to see played out, courtroom drama, the gradual unfolding and breaking down of a trial is such a gripping medium and it was excellent here.

I have to say there are a lot of potential murder suspects here but for once, I couldn’t guess who it was. My guess was way off the mark. Which again is something that is difficult to do when you have long time fans and crime/thrill fans in general, we get pretty good at working out the twists and the murderers but not this time.

A gripping story, savour every moment of this slow burning thriller.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #Simon&SchusterUK & #NicciFrench for my ARC of this book.

Tabitha finds herself on remand for the murder of her ex teacher when his body is found on her property. She needs to find a way to prove she didn't do it. The evidence is against her. She is locked away and has no memory of the day in question. I haven't read any Nikki French for a few years and had forgotten what a great writing team this is. The characters spring off the page and the plot keeps you turning the pages. I loved that the "heroine" of the story wasn't the perfect little innocent and the mental health references were well written. One of those books will still remember months after reading.

Tabitha Hardy returns to her childhood home in Okeham, Devon to renovate a property. However, now she is on remand for the murder of Stuart Rees who was her maths teacher as a teenager. Tabitha denies the murder and questioning by her solicitor reveals a complicated and troubled past and a deeply complex personality in Tabitha. She fires her solicitor as determines to defend herself.

Well, the Nicci French duo have done it again, drawing me into the storytelling hook, line and sinker. It starts with the depiction of prison life, the House of Correction which is well portrayed as a dismal place but there are redeeming aspects especially cellmate Michaela who stands by Tabitha so admirably. The story of Tabitha and her courtroom fight is very well written and unfolds extremely well and the whole concept of the novel hanging around the court case is really intriguing. Tabitha is not the easiest protagonist to like as she’s difficult, spikey, easy to anger and can be foul mouthed but I have to say as time goes on I warm to her. Her courtroom battle is admirable and shall we say, unconventional and I have a tendency to like the unconventional! The trial is gripping reading, at times the atmosphere is electric and you have no idea which way it’s going but she fights in doggedly and occasionally explosively. I like the character of the judge who despite Tabitha trying her patience more than once, treated her fairly. There are some interjections of wry and dark humour throughout the book which I enjoy and the way the novel ends is extremely apt.

Overall, this is a fascinating premise, I love the courtroom drama and the characters are interesting and you find yourself rooting for Tabitha despite some of her less likeable personality traits. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated ARC.