Prisoner is a tightly woven drama based on events that happen behind prison walls. It’s a terrifying look at the many dangers for both inmates and staff. It was an addictive read and I enjoyed it.

Very informative and enjoyable novel. A great insight in what goes on behind prison walls. And a scary one too.
Worth reading.
Recommended.

Really didn't know what to expect from this book. I liked the sound of it and really thought it would be an interesting read. I was right, very interesting. I love books like this, there is something about a stroy set in a prison the i find fascinating.
I just don't know what it is thats grabs me with these books, this one was a really interesting read. Not knowing just how things were going to turn out this is a really intreuging story. I think knowing is was based around truths and experiences helped with the thrill of this read.
Jm Dalton. Usually working on the male wings of the prison, is moved over to the female wings. His first thoughts of how easy his job has just become doesnt last very long. It doesn't take long for him to get to know the prisoners and some are getting to know him.
It would be far too easy to go into too much detail regarding this book and the story. I don't want to be spoiling this read for anyone who hasn't yet read it.
Its worth a read thats for sure.

I have really enjoyed reading books by Ross Greenwood, so when this one came out I just had to find some time to read it. This is totally different to his other books and he has based it on his past career.
Prisoner by Ross Greenwood was an excellent book, especially as its first hand experience I found it fascinating, disturbing in parts and uplifting in equal measures and with all three this makes it an excellent book. i was hooked and even got my Husband to read it and he enjoyed this book as well. (He never reads a book)

I highly recommend this book. 5 Star read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and was very realistic - I think because the author was a prison officer it read as more authentic even though it was written as a novel. I liked the torment of being thought to be a decent person who others should look up to when you are doing something really wrong. Looking after prisoners doesn't mean you don't feel sorry for them and other feelings can develop. I liked the back story of Jim Dalton's home life which gives an insight to some of the decisions he makes. The troubled girls within the story were very well written I found myself liking them and feeling sorry for them despite their actions. I want to read others by this author

I love watching programmes based in prisons so was super excited to see this author was writing a book based in a prison. As he worked in a prison by expectations were high and I’m delighted to say he exceeded my expectations. This was slow paced to start which I actually liked.

We get to know the main character Jim Dalton. Usually working in the male side of the prison he is moved to the female side. First impressions change when he gets to know the female inmates.

This is another superb well written story. I’d highly recommend this story and all of this authors previous stories.

What a gritty, raw, and realistic read!

It’s obvious prison is no bed of roses for inmates, but Prisoner tells how prison staff can have just as many issues!

Guard Jim Dalton is a good man who tries to do the right things for the right reasons. However, with a job that’s mentally and physically exhausting, young children, and an unhappy wife, even good men are tempted.

But he’s not the only one—though I’m not sure how good some of the others are— as most of Jim’s coworkers have it just as bad, if not worse, but as none of them are really friends, I learned of their fates after the fact.

An excellent read on the dynamics of a marriage, coworkers, tenuous friendships, and being at odds with one’s own conscience.

But it’s day-to-day prison life and the consequences of one’s actions that make this a stellar read.

I wasn’t always happy with some of the characters—I’m looking at you, Billie—and had very little sympathy for others—whatever, Lavinia—but this was still a great read I do recommend!

Enjoy!

A total change of pace from the author who has taken a leap away from his usual crime thrillers to tell the story of a prison officer. A story of one mans struggle to weigh up what the justice system has to offer to those it incarcerates. A sensitive telling of the vicious cycle that offenders suffer from being part of the justice system . A system we need yet can penalise those who might benefit from a bit more hope and understanding. A gritty and tense book that while it keeps the reader grasped in its pages as it follows Jim’s story there is a small ray of hope that starts to bloom. As the book progresses it starts to feel hopeful for some of its characters even in their darkest hours the tenacity of some of those he is in charge of who want to do more, be better and make a new life gives the book a lift. Yet we cant stray away from the fact that Jim is a man , looking after cooped up females that have Damaged, Ruined and Broken souls and who will do anything to achieve their goals either on the inside or later on the outside. A piece of wonderful fiction that has its roots in the authors own experiences of the life and trials of a prison officer, experiences that give the book wings to fly and achieve best seller status.

One thing I loved about reading Prisoner is the author’s note at the end. I’m always pleased when I see a book that pulls from real-life experiences. I want to keep my review vague because I don’t want to spoil things as I’ve seen other reviewers do.

Jim has worked hard to get where he is. He has the respect of his peers and prisoners alike. It’s taxing working in a prison, and it can be hard to separate yourself when your shift ends. Working on the male wing is taking a toll on his family life. Could life on the female side of the prison work in his favor?

He’s finally making friends outside of the prison, and he can finally see where his wife is coming from. But it took a mistake to get there. I don’t feel that this is a thriller as much as a well-told, captivating read. The story is engaging, and you get a feel of what life is like inside this prison. It stood out to me how they treat the prisoners; it feels more human than what we see in the states. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Prisoner is a fast-paced action packed story that is emotional and engaging. There is plenty of well written detail. Prisoner has an interesting and easy to follow plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I like how Greenwood has Shared his own experiences in a prison to created a uniquely realistic and interesting plot especially when he is giving the viewpoint of Prison Officer Jim Dalton. Greenwood shows a educational side of prison life when he highlights the working life and procedures of a prison.
The character development of Prisoner is good. The characters are very realistic, which added to the story and created a suspenseful edge throughout. Jim is a interesting character. The Reader can see how his personal and professional life effect him daily.
I would recommend reading Prisoner to lovers of Crime Thrillers based on true events, as it is a rollercoaster ride of compelling twists and turns eye opening account of the life of a prison officer behind the scenes as the work with both men and women.

Prisons are a difficult place to work. Prisoners are crude, rude, and manipulative. Those like Officer Jim Dalton who work the men side are used to the male population of prisoners being sneaky, but yet they usually use combative techniques to express themselves. When frustrations reach a certain level they strike out with fists and whatever else they can get hold of to harm not only other prisoners, but the guards as well.

When Jim Dalton is transferred to the women’s wing he has no clue he is walking into a vipers nest. He thinks he just waltzed into the cushiest assignment. One inmate intends to really mess with him and she uses the other girls to aid her in the scheme.

This book is very realistic and does happen all the time in these prison systems. Thank heavens there are always good honest guards.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

This is certainly a book that gets you thinking! Providing a revelatory insight into the workings inside both a men’s and women’s prison, the reader quickly gets drawn into the life of main character Jim Dalton and can only watch on as he allows the so-called ‘easier’ side of the prison to lure him into a situation he would never have dreamed of.

Dalton is certainly an interesting character; level-headed and seemingly one step ahead within the confines of the men’s prison, he becomes increasingly more frustrating to the reader as he allows himself to fall prey to the more subtle nature of demands within the women’s block. I found myself shaking my head in exasperation at times as you could see the path he was being led down and yet he seemed powerless to spot it for himself!

The repercussions of his actions come to the fore towards the end of the book and this was probably the part I found most intriguing as Jim was forced to wrestle with his conscience and re-evaluate his home life.

A really enjoyable read in which the author’s own experience as a prison officer lends added authority to the descriptions of the everyday goings-on within the prison walls and the effects of the institution, not only on the inmates, but those employed to guard them.

I have friends who work in the prison service and I can honestly say this story was tame compared to some I have heard but also on par with some I have heard as well! Ross Greenwood was previously a prison officer before becoming a writer, and that is evident with the amount of detail pertaining to the in's and out of prison life.

Jim Dalton is transferred to the female side of the prison when a relative is sent to the jail, and he soon learn just how different and dangerous in its own way the female side is compared to the male! I could see where the story was heading before Jim and found myself so engrossed at the car crash situation he was getting himself involved in -I found myself frustrated at him for being so stupid and risking everything!

Every inch of this book felt real - from the prison life to the very characters, you could see and feel Ross's knowledge of this particular career oozing off the pages. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read from Ross.

The author has drawn on personal experience when writing this book. Fictional Prison Officer Jim Dalton is moved to the female side of HMP Peterborough when his brother-in-law ends up inside. He thinks he is in for a cushy ride until he finds it's anything but! A gripping read which I enjoyed.

HMP Peterborough is unusual in that it has a male wing and a female wing. Author Ross Greenwood has drawn on personal experiences when writing Prisoner – the story of Prison Officer Jim Dalton. Dalton is an experienced Officer who has worked the male side of the prison for a number of years. He works long, challenging shifts and takes all the overtime available as his family badly need the money.

At home Dalton’s personal life is a mess. His wife is struggling badly to cope with their two young children and the constant financial pressures are making things difficult. As Dalton is working as many hours as he can at the prison he is not able to give his wife the support she needs at home and this only serves to put further strain on their relationship.

Although his job at the prison is challenging Dalton understands how the place works and knows how to treat prisoners and read the moods and tensions. But his familiarity with the role is about to change when a family member is sent to the prison and put under Dalton’s care. This is far from the ideal situation so Dalton is offered the opportunity to work on the young offenders wing on the female side of the prison. Now there are lots of new challenges to be faced and Dalton is going to find that the females may be more dangerous than the male prisoners.

Initially his new duties appear easy – a roar from him (a large angry man) was sufficient to quell a fight between two of the prisoners. But he soon learns that the girls under his care have lacked or feared father figures and while he may intimidate some of them, others will be drawn to him and want to earn his good favour.

As with any group there are dominent personalities and Dalton finds the most dominant to be Billie. She has had a challenging background but seems smart, sassy and full of confidence. Dalton is warned to be careful of getting too attached to Billie but these warnings may not be sufficient and any mistakes he makes could really create big problems, both inside the prison and outside.

I thoroughly enjoyed Prisoner and I put this entirely down to the detail brought by the author. It was clear Ross Greenwood had experienced working in a prison through the detail he brings to scenes and the situations he descibes. Interactions between the prisoners felt tense and edgy and as I reader I felt the wrong word at the wrong time by any of the characters could kick off a major incident. Dalton doesn’t come across as a saint and you can see mistakes he makes as they happen and long before he reaslises himself that he is creating a problem. This leaves you anticipating a crisis and you almost want to stop him and pull him back from digging a deeper hole for himself.

There is an excellent drama about Prisoner and reading about the various girls on the young offenders wing opens your eyes to a world many of us will not have known or want to experience first hand.

Not many books set in prisons so it was interesting to be reading something which felt new – I really enjoyed it.

Gritty, hard-hitting and disturbing, Ross Greenwood’s Prisoner is a high stakes thriller that will leave readers with their jaws on to the floor.

Life in prison is tough – on both sides of the bars. Prison Officer Jim Dalton works at HMP Peterborough on the male side and his job is certainly no walk in the park. He needs to keep his eyes and ears open and watch his step. Violence is something which he has grown used to in his line of work and although his job is challenging at the best of times, Dalton has the respect of the prisoners. When he is transferred to the female section of the prison, Dalton is shocked – in all the time spent as a prison officer he has never had an easier shift. He cannot believe that prison officers earn the same money as working in a female prison is so easy. But Dalton quickly realises that first appearances can be very deceptive…and deadly!

Billie hasn’t earned the nickname Damage for nothing. Life has never been easy for her and ending up in prison was something which everyone was expecting – including herself! Billie might be down, but she is certainly not out. She has absolutely no intention of spending a second more in prison than she has to – and if she can get out earlier so much the better. Billie will do whatever it takes to get out jail faster and she is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her objective. Nothing and nobody is going to stand in her way – not even Prison Officer Jim Dalton…

If Dalton had thought that dealing with female prisoners was easy, then he certainly ended up changing his mind when he crossed paths with Billie. Billie is more than a match for him and her cold-hearted ruthlessness could end up costing Dalton everything. As the two adversaries square up, Dalton and Billie find themselves engaged in a chilling game of survival where there can only be one winner.

A change of pace from his usual police procedurals, in Prisoner Ross Greenwood lifts the lid on life in a female prison and has penned a shocking, chilling and terrifying page-turner I couldn’t put down. Having worked in a women’s prison himself, Ross Greenwood spares no punches and has written a brutal, unflinching and complex thriller that will make readers glad that they’ve always kept on the right side on the law.

Tense, harrowing and absorbing, Ross Greenwood’s Prisoner will chill readers to the bone.

A unique thriller set in a prison. The characters were all believable, narration by a male prison officer which at times felt like I was reading a real diary.
Having read some of the authors other books this was a nice change from his brilliant DI Barton books and written just as well.

5☆ A Gritty and Compulsive, Tangled Web of Deceit, Temptation and Secrets!

Prisoner is a Twisty Web of Secrets, Hidden Agendas, Temptations and Turmoil as one Prison Officer Jim Dalton, Enters the unknown and right into the Lioness Den!

Jim Dalton has worked the men's side of the HMP Peterborough Prison for years! Until a surprise inmate rocks up, he has no choice but to be moved to the Women’s Side.

Piece of Cake, or so he thought!
The Women’s Side, particularly the Young Offenders is nothing like he expected. Hormones flying about, temptress advances, shock abortions, horrific back stories, Dalton is on Way Over Is Head! But he just can't help getting involved... in more ways than one!
But can Dalton save his marriage and his life before it's all too late?

Dalton is the type of character you love at the beginning and completely want to shake the rest of the way through, but you can't help rooting for him!

Oh Wow I loved this Gritty Crime Thriller. It was right up my street...Authentic, Plenty of Twists, A very Gripping Storyline, Complex & Endearing, yet likeable Characters and the setting just made it all the better!
It makes a change to read a Crime Thriller set in a Prison. Especially a Women’s Prison.
I also liked that the story, still kept going with the Men's side too, so you still got to keep up with some of the dramas and Characters.

Overall Prisoner is an Authentic, Gritty and Compulsive Read that will have you turning the pages right from the start.
I do hope that there will be more to come from HMP Peterborough and it's Officers!

This is the first of Ross Greenwood's books that I have read but I will most definitely read more. The main character, Dalton, gets sucked into relationships within the prison that as a prison officer can only go wrong for him and he has to juggle this with an unhappy home life too. At times I felt sorry for him and at other times I wanted him to pay for what he had done. The other complex characters in the story are the prisoners. The distinction between the life and crimes of male and female prisoners was stark, thought provoking and really well written which seems unsurprising when you look into the background of the author and see that he was himself a prison officer for five years,.
I look forward to reading more of Greenwood's work.

I really enjoy books based in Prisons and this was no exception. It’s cleverly written so that it’s a bit like a memoir, rather than a page-turning thriller, you can definitely tell it is inspired by true stories of a Prison Officer.

The story is gripping and shocking, but I felt like I quite liked the prisoners in their own ways! Although I don’t agree with a lot of the decisions Jim made, I imagine that in such a pressured environment it’s very easy to happen.

I definitely recommend this book, it gives a good insight into the Prison Service within the UK.