Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc

I have read other books by this author in the past so when I seen this one I requested it as I thought I would love it.

From the beginning I couldn’t get into the book and was around 20% in when I decided to put the book down as I couldn’t connect with it.

I think this was more a me thing and if I was maybe more in a thriller/mystery mood I would’ve enjoyed the book more.

Following the lives of three very different women, A Lesson in Cruelty is a captivating read that you wont want to put down.

I really enjoyed Harriet Tyce's other books but found this one a little underwhelming. I can see how it would appeal to some, and that it was generally more-ish and a good page turner but not quite my cup of tea this time I'm afraid!

Initially I found the three separate plotlines a little confusing and jarring which I found made it difficult to get into. The story was quite good in the end but I did have a bit of a hard time with it.

Brilliant! A gripping tale that will keep you guessing. A dark tale of love, infidelity, friendship, family and heart break.

I adored this book, a real page turner that kept the twists coming right to the end.

Brilliantly told, an excellent read.

A powerful opening to a complex, pacy story about three different women. Each is guilty of making a mistake with serious consequences but also the three of them have a vulnerability too.

Although not clear how the women's stories are connected initially, they all have some relevance to the legal system. The first woman has just completed a prison sentence, the second studies criminology at university and has a crush on her lecturer and the third lives in isolation with another woman who has a criminal past. The chapters are from their different points of view.

There is plenty to think about besides the plot. There are themes surrounding rehabilitation, forgiveness, revenge and punishment, as well as a brief insight into the academic side of criminology. Fascinating stuff. Although the story slows a little towards the end as all the loose ends are tied up and drawn together, this is a fast moving tale that looks at what it means to be free. Clever and an excellent read.

I loved Harriet Tyce’s previous books and was excited to read this one. It got off to a great start and I powered through the first third of the book, but I felt it slightly ran out of steam in the final act, though I can’t quite put my finger on why!

The characters were complex and well-drawn and the pace was generally propulsive, but as I say I found I somewhat lost interest in the characters’ fate towards the end of the book.

Overall I enjoyed the book and feel it’s a solid 4 star read. Looking forward to more from Harriet!

I've read and loved all of Harriet Tyce's previous novels so I was eagerly anticipating this new one and I'm so happy to say that I loved it. It follows three women: Lucy - a post-grad student who is in love with her professor and will do anything to get him to notice her; Anna who has been in prison for drink driving and just wants to get on with her life now; and Marie who is living a very isolated life on an island with just one woman for company. We get each woman's perspective so you really get to know them, which I really enjoyed. I was trying to work out how they might all connect with each other but never did manage to quite figure it out. As the bigger picture of the story unfolds it is really dark at times and the twists and turns kept me on my toes. I loved this book and definitely recommend it!

Ive enjoyed the previous books I've read by this author. A Lesson 8n Cruelty is very different to the previous books. That's not a problem but I didnt enjoy it as much. I became so confused at ones stage I thought I would not finish it. I persevered and it came together in the end Terrific writing

Wow what a book ! I have been contemplating how that I review this twisty and complex story.

Anna is in prison she has served her sentence for drink driving and has lost her family and her career. Can she start again on the ourside.

Lucy is a Post Graduate student and is in love with her professor and will do anything to get into his good books and his bed.

Marie is living in the Highlands isolated from everyone with Janice.

The story of these three woman and how the book is plotted is extraordinary. Each of the women have a story and as you read you are absorbing each of their lives and I was trying to put together what the connection was there if any.

I am not giving any spoilers but I definitely did not see the twists approaching and I am in awe of how the author entwines all the stories into a compulsive narrative. So clever!

I absolutely loved this book as it was never predictable and always kept me thinking !

5 stars *****

A Lesson in Cruelty - Harriet Tyce

I have loved all of Harriet Tyce's previous books, and although I did enjoy this one it was not as good as the others (for me). I found the story a little difficult to get into and struggled between the characters. I liked the pace of the story. Thanks so much Netgalley, Headline and Wildfire for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

A slow burn legal thriller with many twists and turns. In some parts the narrative was rushed and other sections drawn out. As a reader, I was not engaged with the characters despite the terrible circumstances. I have read other novels by the author and will do so again.

Having read and loved all of Tyce’s previous books, I was looking forward to this one and it didn’t disappoint. It is a story that will keep you on your toes as you try and figure out how the seemingly unconnected strands of the story will come together - and makes you marvel at the skill of the aithor when they do.

It is the story of three women - Anna, a former solicitor who we meet on the eve of her release from prison; Lucy, a law student obsessed with one of her professors, and Marie, living in an isolated spot in Scotland.

Having been introduced to all three woman, at this point you will be scratching your head wondering what connects them - but without wishing to give too much away, just trust me when I tell you it all comes together in devastating fashion. The story gathers pace as it goes and the surprises keep coming as their shocking story unfolds.

Tyce uses her knowledge of the British penal system to great effect, raising some interesting issues around its flaws and around societal judgement, whilst at the same time keeping you on the edge of your seat in a complex and twisty story that kept me hooked. Once again Tyce has confirmed why she is an auto-buy author for me.

You always know you're in for a dark, mysterious, unpredictable story with her books. I think I enjoyed this book so much due to not knowing anything about the plot - the whole story and structure was unexpected for me.

A Lesson in Cruelty features three main different points of view - all are distinct and convincing, part of what always make Harriet Tyce's books so enjoyable. There were some early parts I found a little confusing (the CCTV chapters) however this did not detract from my enjoyment of reading this book as you know that you are in safe hands with this author and that the storylines will come together and be explained.

As for the storylines coming together, for the most part of this book, I had no idea how the plot was going to be resolved. This is the kind of book where you want to keep reading - be warned, it will keep you up at night!

Having read Harriet Tyce's previous three novels, I would say this is her best yet! Totally gripping, very dark and an unpredictable mystery!

With 3 main characters with very different lives that all collide together. Told from the 3 characters pov I enjoyed the mystery and twists in this book. Abit far fetched and unbelievable at times but entertaining non the less.

This was a really exciting read, featuring female protagonists, looking at the role of the prison service and justice and how people involved in all areas of the law, be they inmates, professors or law students use their power and influence over others.

This is a great story with lots of twist and turns that I as a reader found very unexpected. This is the first book that I have read by this author, although I have enjoyed a short story written by them.

The strength of the characters, especially the women, was a huge part of the success of the book and the unfolding of the story of what the successful and handsome professor had done and was doing interwove the stories of them all. There are some real human injustices done and some righted by those doing their best for others.

A very enjoyable read and in some ways reminded me of The Shawshank Redemption. Well worth a read and I shall certainly be recommending and looking to read more books by the author.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Harriet Tyce is one of my favourite authors so when I got the chance to read A Lesson in Cruelty I was so excited.

In this novel we follow three very different and complex women Anna who is about to be released from serving a prison sentence; Lucy who is slightly in love with her professor and then Marie who is lonely and isolated.

The question in the novel is how do these women become entwined within the novel and at times, I did have to re-read some parts but it does make sense eventually and I was really invested in the characters.

The story is quite strong and moving and I really think the characters were well rounded and interesting.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great opening! This made me devour this story in a couple of evenings but not want it to end at the same time.
The story follows three women with lots of twists along the way so you don't want to put the book down

Well this was bloody brilliant. A masterful tale of revenge and redemption. Very cleverly structured and written by a woman who really understands human psychology. More please.

A Lesson in Cruelty follows three different women, each with their challenges. There's Anna, who is due to be released the next morning from prison when something awful happens... then we meet Lucy, obsessed with her (married) university professor. We also see short excerpts from Maria, living in a rural area of Scotland with a convicted child killer.

From the beginning, Harriet Tyce's writing is engaging. Anna's storyline grabbed me from the very first chapter, creating a creeping sense of dread. I liked how the chapters switched between perspectives and Tyce's writing prompted the reader to consider the other factors in why people behave the way they do. Even if someone has done wrong, it's not a black-and-white case of someone being 'bad' or 'good'; this book highlighted that.

I enjoyed that we were given time to get to know Anna and Lucy as characters a little better before we switched perspectives. I felt for Anna throughout the book – one mistake can ruin so many people's lives. Only Maria remained more of an enigma because we spent less time in her head.

As we read on, we slowly uncover more about how these women may or may not be connected, and I enjoyed this slow teasing of clues – something I've come to expect from this author! Of course, there were some parts you needed to slightly suspend your disbelief for, but none that were too unbelievable, and plenty of twists and tension resulting in a satisfying ending!