This is a unique take on the justice system in which criminals convicted of their crimes must stay in a cell in the victim's house. While this is all good in theory making the criminal see the effects of their crime, I don't think its fair to put the responsibility of the criminal onto the victim who now has to see them everyday, feed them, wash their clothes etc.
This book revolves around Hannah, who's husband was a policeman murdered in an alley and the convicted murderer has been sentenced to 20 years in a cell in her kitchen. At first Hannah can't cope with seeing her husband's killer everyday but gradually secrets come to light and doubts begin to emerge as it seems that she didn't know John as well as she thought and there is more to the murder.
This is a refreshing thriller book that completely transforms the prison system and creates a tense plot about what secrets and grief can do to a person.

When I requested this book, I was totally expecting an abduction story told from the perspective of the female abductor. I was almost a little disappointed that it looked like I was going to be reading a sort of futuristic sci-fi story instead. I am so pleased that I stuck with this though. This book would be an amazing TV series. There's too much to make it a film. The storyline is so complex and clever, but not difficult to follow and I loved the characters and how none of them were perfect. There were many characters I'd love to know more about, starting with Kenzie, Laurie and Kiki!

A brilliant read and I am looking forward to reading the author's other work.

The premise of the book was actually quite intriguing. Imagine a crime has been committed against you. Instead of the culprit going to prison, he has to live in a cage in your home. For his whole sentence you are responsible for his care. I can imagine that a lot of people will let the convict die, but I can honestly not think I would like to see the person responsible for my child or husband's death every single day for 20 years or more.... Still an entertaining read, will try this author again in future.

Great plot to get yourself lost in. This book has everything. A real fast paced thriller. Will get your heart racing on more than one occasion. Very well written. Highly recommend this book

A very unique plot and one that makes you think a lot. It's somewhat dystopian, which is quite unnerving and very clever.

I dipped in and out of this as I couldn't really get into and it just wasn't for me. That is why it only has 2 stars !

With its unique and interesting plot, this is a book that I really enjoyed.

I haven't read anything by this author before but the blurb reeled me in. I can't even imagine the horror of having to look after a person who has been convicted of a crime against you. You have to look after that person in your own home - would I be able to do that? This book certainly makes you think about it but this is the reality for the main character in this book, Hannah.

Her husband was murdered and Jem has been found guilty; he is now housed in a cell in her kitchen and Hannah is having to face this man every day whilst trying to come to terms with her loss and grief. Hannah is desperate to keep the memories of her husband alive but as she discovers more, he doesn't appear to be the man she knew and loved and when Jem professes his innocence - well he would wouldn't he - more doubts creep in and Hannah finds herself in a very difficult position.

Written from the perspectives of Hannah and Jem, this is a story that just keeps giving. There are some great twists and you never really know what's going to happen until the end.

This is an author I will definitely look out for in the future and my thanks go to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

A slightly dystopian tale. If someone commits a crime they spend their sentence in the victim’s home. Hannah’s husband was murdered and cctv shows who did it. Or does it? Really clever tale.

A taut, compelling thriller that kept me turning the pages. Recommended! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC

wow
just wow

For a long time I didn't know what else to say about this book.

The topic is one which literally gives you goosebumps. It is such a horrific thought and yet is so utterly intriguing. It is clever.

Victims of crime housing offenders in their home and being responsible for them sounds like the stuff of nightmares. It is but it isn't

This book is best described as a rollercoaster read and all you can do is buckle in and enjoy the ride. It is a quick read due to being unputdownable and its a very very good read

I’d like to thank Bonnier Book UK/Zaffre and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.

The whole concept of this book was deeply disturbing but wonderfully original. Can you imagine living with someone who had hurt you or a member of your family? If that was the only way to see them punished would you still press charges? I think Hannah was very brave to bring Jem into her house. I can understand why but at the same time I don’t know if I could of done it.

From the beginning this book grabbed my attention and the more I read the more I knew not everything was as it seemed. The alternating chapters between Hannah and Jem gave the book more pace and I really enjoyed learning about Jem’s childhood. I felt that his story represented so many and the author portrayed his upbringing in an honest and relatable way. The more I got to know Jem the more I liked him and understood his actions, I knew he was telling the truth but I also liked the air of mystery surrounding him. Many times I questioned what his involvement could be and really hoped he wasn’t going to go down in my estimation.

I felt that Hannah was very naïve, even I had worked out with the first few chapters why her best friend, Aisling, was avoiding her! As the book went on I warmed to her more and actually admired her determination and kindness. She had a good nature about her and I started to see why she hadn’t seen the signs earlier, she genuinely believed in the goodness of everyone. I loved the chapters that included her baking, the designs sounded sublime and had my taste buds tinging!

This was a thriller that delivered on all accounts. The writing was easy to follow and whilst I had guessed some of the revelations, the final chapters were packed with drama and tension!

The Captive is a standalone psychological thriller from bestseller author Deborah O'Connor and follows Hannah Cavey after her police officer husband, John was murdered. If I had to describe The The Captive in three words they would be harrowing, disturbing and frightening in more or less equal measures. It’s pretty much what I would expect from a thriller set in modern society. But wow, what a stunning, well-thought-out masterpiece!

The prison system that failed to curb crime has been closed down in favour of a more cost-effective restorative justice ideal that sees the criminal living in a cage in the victim's home for the period of their sentence. Overseen by visits from a Domestic Liaison Officer the perpetrator will learn the true cost of their crime, first-hand. Baker and widow, Hannah Cavey's police officer husband, John, was murdered by 28-year-old Jem Dahlin, sentenced to 2o years. Grieving Hannah cannot bear the torments of having Jem in her home, but nevertheless, a cage is installed for Jem in her grand, but shabby house in the kitchen. With just enough room for a single bed, a basin, a table and a chair, Hannah will be responsible for Jem's needs for the next 2 decades.

After having read The Captive, I feel that I am completely indebted to Deborah O’Connor! This book has all the components that make a really fantastic story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing not forgetting the feelings of fear, the control, and the powerlessness. Its superior plot and the author's intricate detailing made this a spine-chilling, impulsive read. The story is told from both Hannah's and Jem's viewpoints using different time periods and aspects. Deborah O’Connor has drawn a great character in Hannah and equally noteworthy is her portrayal of Jem, whose chapters also include flashbacks to his childhood. The writing is straightforward, it immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested emotionally.

There were instances where this was a tough read, and it was a little like being on a roller-coaster, with someone shouting “Do you want to go faster?” However, it was extremely worthwhile even though its theme was alien and unusual. Masterfully crafted and original, The Captive is fantastically compelling, all culminating in a thrilling and nerve-wracking ending.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough and Deborah O’Connor’s writing is so impressive she is becoming one of my favourite authors.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bonnier Books/ Zaffre via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the arc of The Captive by Deborah O'Connor.

5 star read- Met Detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway, since the prison system collapsed on itself any criminal now must be caged in their own homes for their whole sentence so this means they must clothe and feed them and over visits from the domestic liason officer.. Jem was the one who was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of the met detective John Cavey. Hannah whom is Jem's wife is very uncomfrtable with having her murderer of a husband in the house but he keeps stating that it had nothing to do with him and that he is innocent to the fact that Hannah actually starts to believe he is too. so she ends up confiding in Asling and Mickey whom is another police detective.. this is a really different, unique and wild thrilling story which had you hooked and gripped from the outset right up to the end

Totally recommend 5 Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

My favourite read from the author so far!
I was utterly hooked and completely intrigued from beginning to end!
Imagine a world where prisons don't exist, and instead the criminals have to be housed in a cell in their victim's family??? What?!? How did O'Connor think of this?? Gripping!!
I instantly sympathised with Hannah. Her husband is murdered, and she has to have his murderer living in her house??? I can't imagine... shocking!
Reading perspectives from both Hannah and the prisoner, this book had my full attention - so hard to put down!
The only complaint I have is that, in places, the story was so fast-paced that, at times, I found myself confused as to where the story was. I'd read one line where Hannah was at home, and the next she was somewhere else. I don't know if this is writing error or just a kindle/paragraphing error. But it annoyed me a little.
Either way... I really enjoyed this compelling unique read. Definitely recommend!

The Captive gripped me from the synopsis and didn't let go right until the very last word! Set in the near future where the prisons have become overcrowded and underfunded the solution system of having perpetrators kept in cages of their victims' homes Hannah finds herself with a very unwanted house guest, the man who murdered her Husband! Hannah not only has to live with the criminal, Jem, she is also responsible for feeding him and has to interact with him on a daily basis. The idea is that criminals are more likely to be rehabilitated if they have to live facing the consequences of their actions on a daily basis. Hannah's Husband was a hard working and dedicated police detective who had been off duty when Jem attempt to mug him went horribly wrong. However, Jem is adamant that he isn't the killer and is determined to convince Hannah he has been wrongly convicted. What Jem is saying starts to get into Hannah's head and she goes digging in to what happened in to the lead up to her Husband's murder. Is Jem innocent? And what secrets is he hiding?
The way the book was written it seemed like all of the main characters had secrets or something that meant they weren't totally reliable and this was one aspect I loved. It left me feeling like I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, which in turn made the twists really interesting. I loved the rollercoaster of emotions and thoughts the book had me riding. A really well written thriller with a unique concept.

Ridiculous, was really wanting to like this book from the premise but it was far fetched and unbelievable Not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for the advanced copy.

In a not too near future, over crowded prisons and a lack of public satisfaction with the course of justice,had led to the forming of a new system.Restorative justice is meted out in the form of a cell, built in the house of those who press charges against those who have committed crimes.

The hope is that by putting the criminal and victim in the same house,the criminal will face the consequences of their actions. In contrast, the victim gets the chance to face the worst moments of their lives over and over.In Hannah's case, her duty as host to Jem,the person found guilty of killing her husband, will last 20 long years.Her request to have Jem removed and put with alternative Hosts denied, she has to face her husband's killer as she goes about her daily business.

His cell is built in the basement of her house where her kitchen is. She cannot avoid him,and added to this,her neighbour is furious that this new 'guest' has driven the property prices down.But who in this game of cat and mouse, is actually the captive? As th3y begin to establish a new routine for daily cohabitation, Hannah digs deep to find more of her husband's belongings to keep his memory alive. But with Jem protesting his innocence,and certain inexplicable items coming to light in her searches, Hannah begins to suspect that someone close to her has been hiding the truth.

Who really was responsible for her husband, John's death?

Was it the last detective case he was working on?

Or something much more sinister?

As the threads of suspicion twine around her, Hannah looks for help in the most unlikely of places...The themes of this conceptual thriller are so interesting-how many of us would press charges against a criminal if it meant coming face to face with them for the length of their sentence?

Outside of Hannah's case,the wider implications are explored in the cases of those in her neighbourhood who have followed the law to different conclusions. Her helpful associate,Mr Dalgliesh who liases with her as a sort of social worker/prison officer tells her of cases gone wrong as cautionary tales.However, it raises so many questions that cross the lines of justice into gender based violence,culpability and criminal behaviour.

Surely someone who sets out to stalk and harrass a woman would want nothing more than to be ensconced within the confines of her home? Or, even worse,to avoid this fate they might avoid pressing charges to not suffer such a fate leaving a criminal free to strike again.There are so many aspects and angles to this set up that really gets you thinking about the concepts of justice and how well we, as a 21st century, still do not effectively deal with crimes in a way that truly punishes them.

And, in a week where one of outgoing president Trump's actions was to turn down the death row appeal of the first woman to be executed in decades,the impact and effect of justice is very much in my mind.I don't think there is a perfect notion of a punishment fitting the crime,however,taking the life of another definitively removes the potential for restorative justice. And in a patriarchal society where more women tend to be the victims of crimes than perpetrators,it seemed to me like another crime was being comitted against Hannah, and other women in the course of meeting the court mandated 'punishment' of hosting a criminal.

There is so much to think about when reading this novel but it never gets tied down in intricacies which distract from the essential humanity at its heart. The need for honesty,love and justice for the harm done to Hannah,is the cornerstone of the story. However,Jem's alternate chapters tell of how he ended up behind bars. The victim of a childhood no one wants to remember, was he a convenient scapegoat for the murder of a cop or did he really do it? And if so why?Another breathless and compulsive thriller which makes you feel like you are in the hands of a master storyteller,who will let you go when she is finished with you,I am a confirmed and committed fan of Deborah O'Connor!

Imagine if you will, a crime is committed against you. It can be non-violent such as petty theft, or as horrible as rape. The perpetrator is found guilty, but the prisons are over-crowded and costing the government too much money to maintain. So, an alternative is put into place. Instead of sending the guilty person to live their sentence in prison, a cage is installed in the victim’s home where they will spend every day of their sentence. The victim is in charge of feeding them. A couple of times a week, a government worker will visit for showers and outside time. You hold the key. And if something were to happen an alarm around your neck is for emergencies. This is the story of The Captive.

Hannah’s husband, John, is murdered. The criminal (Jem) is found guilty and sentenced to live in a cage in Hannah’s kitchen. When I first started the book, I found the idea so far fetched that I didn’t know if I could continue. I decided to keep at it to see if it held my interest. It held my interest al the way until the last page. There were plot twists at every turn, which kept me guessing until the very end. While some aspects were somewhat predictable, the overall concept and outcome kept me Kongs’ my toes.

I recommend this book for the uniqueness and originality of the story. The author brought an idea she had to paper, and did a wonderful job in doing so.

I have a little confession to make. Although I have Deborah’s other books on my ever increasing to be read mountain, I haven’t actually got round to reading one……until now that is. I read the synopsis for ‘The Captive and it certainly sounded like an interesting read. So without further ado, I grabbed my copy, I grabbed a cup of tea and I settled down for what I hoped would be a thrilling read. Oh I was spot on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Captive’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started to read that was it and I was away. I found it extremely difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. The book travelled everywhere with me as I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I had my own theories as what was going to happen and I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. The pages couldn’t turn themselves quickly enough as I seemed to race through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of the story. I was gripped by this story from start to finish and I was on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Captive’ is superbly written. I have to admit that at first, I thought that ‘The Captive’ was a little too far out of my comfort zone because there was an element that was almost science fiction/ futuristic like and I am not usually a fan of sci-fi/ futuristic books. The fact that convicted criminals could be housed in cages in the homes of their victims and their families seemed a little too out there. I needn’t have worried though because Deborah writes in such a way that makes the impossible seem possible. She certainly knows to grab your attention and draw you into the story from the first word on the first page. Once Deborah has your attention then she will not let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page. This was a tense, dramatic, rollercoaster ride of a read with several twists and turns along the way. Deborah certainly knows how to keep the reader guessing.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Captive’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from Deborah in the not too distant future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I don’t know why I kept this one for so long on my Netgalley list, it was so intense!! 10% in and I was freaking out, didn’t want to go to sleep! I had lay in bed, in the dark reading that first 10% and if I hadn’t started to fall asleep I may have stayed awake reading more and being scared.

The idea behind the toy is amazing, can you imagine having to have someone live with you who had damaged your family in some way, murdered a loved one, caused harm to your children? Well for Hannah she has to do just this, her husbands murderer is placed in a cell built in her kitchen, to live out his prison sentence. I mean it’s crazy right! But wow does this book grip you!

The first half of the book was getting used to the characters, finding out all sorts of new information and becoming a detective yourself trying to work out the clues. The second half was so full of twists I honestly never knew what was going on.

I’d definitely recommend this one, and its made me want to check out Deborah’s other books!

Thanks again to Bonnier Zaffre and of course, as always, the author Deborah O’Connor