Member Reviews

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

What can I say. My favourite serial killer is back with a bang. But is she?

Due to the pandemic, settling down with her wonderful Rafael and being embraced by his loving family Rhiannon hasn't killed anyone for 800 days. The Sweetpea killer is definitely in the past but can she stay there?
A troublesome family member sets off a terrible chain of events ending with an oh my god!!! ending. Set with the usual dark humour undertone I have to say this is the best one yet. I look forward to the next instalment as I don't know how she will get out of this one.

Brilliant five star read.

Was this review helpful?

The Sweetpea books are still an auto read for me. Rhiannon's bluntness is still there but I remember her being more blunt in the earlier books. Rhiannon is a lot softer since she got pregnant, which is a bit of a shame, but she still has a such great, dark humour and I'd love to see this as it was in earlier books. Minor complaints aside, I still enjoy her as a character and I'm looking forward to seeing what the TV adaptation looks like!

Was this review helpful?

Sweetpea is back!!!! Change of scenery away from the UK and she's sworn off killing (Pandemic made it tricky!)....but can it be true? Is a new life and a new name to make Rhiannon into a new person?

The first sweetpea book was great and her character has grown immeasurably since then.

Was this review helpful?

Funny and brilliant, love having Rhiannon back!
She is up to her old tricks again but she is older and wiser.... well! So glad this has been released and can't wait for another installment
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

Wow Rhiannon is back with a bang!

I must admit I was a bit apprehensive when I saw that there was a fourth sweet pea novel. But having been slightly obsessed with Rhiannon since the original book came out I couldn’t not request it. And oh my God, I’m so glad I did!

This book is so good!! Granted not as epic as the first book but CJ Skuse is certainly is coming into her own stride. Now that Rhiannon has become Ophelia.

If you’re new to the series, then you don’t necessarily need to have read the previous two books, but I would seriously consider getting the first book just to ensure that you fully understand who Rhiannon is and what makes her tick.

This book is so dark and so gruesome, but also so horrifically funny And not in the laugh out loud kind of funny it’s the kind of funny that makes you think. Should I really be laughing at this? Her quips and her insight into daily life and her opinions of people are brilliant. I love her take on life and other people.

I just can’t believe that the book ended the way that it did. I honestly felt that this might of been the finale of the whole series but clearly now I’m going to have to wait very patiently for book 5 because the ending of this book is an almighty cliffhanger. In fact, it’s a cliffhanger on top of a cliffhanger on top of a cliffhanger! Absolutely brilliant, fun and frolics all around… Kidding, this is Rhiannon after all!

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

OMG that ending!! I have read all of the Sweet Pea books and I have loved them all. I didn't think I had a favorite but this one might be it. I loved that she found Raf and after he found out she wasn't really Ophelia he loved her anyway. Please, oh please do not let that man die!!! Rhiannon needs him! Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this. I just love Rhiannon and her smart ass mouth!

Was this review helpful?

I first chose this book because of the amazing cover art, title, and because the reviews said you did not need to read the other three to know what was going on. Wow was that wrong. If I meant to go back and read the other three there were many spoilers in the first couple chapters that had me questioning how this was a standalone. But, mainly because of the trigger warnings I will not be going back to read the others. I definitely take some of the blame jumping into a fourth book like that, but I really did not enjoy this book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately I was disappointed in this fourth outing for unlikely serial killer Rhiannon. I found some of the developments in this book quite out of character and didn't enjoy the focus on her relationship and desire for children, which suddenly seems to have become the main focus here where it wasn't really in evidence before. I'd still recommend the first three books and would still read more from Skuse but I'm no longer finding the Sweetpea series as entertaining as I once did.

Was this review helpful?

I'm sorry I was completely confused when reading this book. I do believe this has more to do with me (the reader) than anything.

First up, the cover, the synopsis, love and LOVE.
Secondly the opening few chapters, I loved the writing and the humour, it was funny and I really enjoyed the inner monology.

Unfortunately though, this book wasn't for me. As I stated, I think this is more about me than the book itself, because I didn't realise this was a series and therefore felt completely lost at time, also there are A LOT of characters. If I read the previous books I probably would have felt a lot differently because the sense of humour in this book was hilarious.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I've been waiting so long for this book and it did not disappoint. I adored the domesticity of Ophelia and Raf's life all the while Rhiannon hovered in the background. I love the way their relationship developed as he found out more and more about her and how his family became hers. Bianca and the others love her so fiercely and I love what that does for her. I missed some of the humour that has been in the other books as there weren't as many laugh out loud moments but I also feel like this matched the change in Rhiannon/Ophelia's story and life. All in all, a fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one. Please tell me this series is going to end with a happy ending?

Was this review helpful?

A huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy. I had no idea it was a series when I got it so I had to read the 3 before it and I’m SO glad I did! These books are amazing and this one was my favorite by far. The plots are so good! Tho is great!!! She gets better and better each book!!! I love the lists. I love her one liners! I love Raf! There is not much I didn’t love… except maybe that freakin cliffhanger!!! What. The. Hell. Now I know why everyone was dying waiting for this one because I’m going to be going crazy til the next one!!!

Was this review helpful?

These books are a complete riot! I have never found murder so darkly funny before, but this series is absolutely spot on. I enjoyed the characters, the setting in current times and the twists as the story developed. This was excellent.

Was this review helpful?

This is an entertaining read.
Sweetpea has had her killing spree put on hold. Mainly due to a global pandemic. It's now been over 800 days without a kill. She's settling into a family life. Living with her fiancé Rafael and his family.
However, it doesn't take much for her killer tendencies to come back to the fore. But is she willing to risk her future happiness over a kill or two!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an ARC

Was this review helpful?

4/5 stars! This is the fourth entry in the Sweetpea series, and shame on me for not going back and reading the first three first. I will be going back and rectifying that immediately because this book was equal parts hilarious and entertaining. This is a female serial killer story, which I always tend to find fascinating. This book feels like the embodiment of Taylor Swift's "No Body No Crime" and carries strong women-helping-women vibes that I fully approve of.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Was this review helpful?

I have enjoyed this book series for a while and eagerly awaited the latest installment. Finally, it's here, and I can't express the excitement I felt as I turned each page. This book exceeded all my expectations, and I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish.

One of the reasons I love this series is because of the lead character, Rhiannon. In this book, her character is developed even more, and I felt like I got to know her on a deeper level.

I must say the plot was exceptional without giving away any spoilers. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and the twists and turns left me guessing until the very end. Speaking of the end, I was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. It was a satisfying conclusion, but it also left me wanting more.

Overall, I cannot praise this book enough. I eagerly await the next one and hope the author continues producing such exceptional works.

I highly recommend this book and the rest of the 'Sweet Pea' series to anyone who loves a captivating and thrilling read!

Was this review helpful?

She’s Back…
With a vengeance. Or is she? It seems that Rhiannon Lewis might just have settled down. Really? Has she turned over a new leaf to live a quiet and peaceful existence under the radar? Umm, probably not - look out, things are about to change. Another dark and deeply humorous instalment in this very entertaining series with a rather special protagonist, a deftly drawn cast and a narrative heavily laced with dark wit. Tongue in cheek and most enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

This series swiftly became one of my favourites from the very first book, and I had been eagerly awaiting this fourth installment - and it doesn't disappoint!
A slower start as we get to know the new "Rhiannon" and her current circumstances, but it's soon full of all the things that make this series so great - the funny, foul-mouthed serial killer out to seek revenge. And those last few chapters just completely blew me away - I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S NEXT!!!! To say I can't wait for that last installment is an understatement!

Was this review helpful?

A disappointingly weak fourth entry in the otherwise excellent “Sweetpea” series. After the last book, I was excited to spend more time with this character but “Thorn in My Side” left me disappointed. Some of the developments in Rhiannon’s character are hard to swallow – her sudden obsession with children has come out of nowhere and seems out of character based on what we know of her before this. And her relationship is now so unbelievable that it almost takes the book into the realm of some sort of romantic fantasy rather than a dark comedy.

I still recommend “Sweetpea” all the time and will continue to do so, but I agree with some of the other reviews I’ve seen saying the series has probably run its course now and should end here.

Was this review helpful?

Thorn in my side

The SweetPea series of books is one I recommend to everyone - my Nanna has even read them. I genuinely think they are just so bloody (pun intended) fantastic.
All that to say, I’ve been desperately counting down until Rhiannon (don’t call her Rhianna!) returned since the end of book 3 and this sequel did not disappoint. We catch up with our favourite serial killer, living happily ever after with her handsome fiancé Rafael and finally being part of a real family. Luckily for the reader, even after 800 days clean of killing, Rhiannon is the same witty, catty, terrifying yet loyal killer that we’ve grown to know and love over the past few books. I read this book revoltingly fast & my heart still aches when I think of how it ended. Chefs kiss.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved being back with Rhiannon!
Thorn in my Side is a brilliantly dark and funny installment in the sweetpea series.

There's twists and turns galore, all of the wit and caustic humour fans of Rhiannon will expect!

I raced through this brilliant book, as i could not put it down.

The story line was brilliant and had me absolutely hooked. Really fast paced and entertaining.

The ending ... superb if only because I think that this has to mean there is going to be another installment!!! It can't come quick enough!

Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?