‘Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely’

INSIDE- is Anna Flynn who is leaving prison tomorrow with all her worldly goods packed in a clear plastic bag. It’s been ‘home’ for three years after a split second decision that leads to her world spinning out of control. She barely remembers the Anna of before as she has richly deserved harsh words constantly ringing in her ears and thoughts that haunt her, these will be a life sentence. As she leaves prison is it a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire?

OUTSIDE is Lucy who is studying for a Masters degree in law with an Oxford professor who it’s fair to say she’s obsessed with, as it’s his lectures she is most looking forward to. He’s married of course, not for the first time either. Also outside in reclusive isolation in Northern Scotland is Marie and her situation is unusual to say the least.

Three women, three storylines, do they connect? If so how and what will be the consequences?

I love the way Harriet Tyce writes, the way she draws you into intriguing plot webs, the way she gets you to ask multiple questions, the way she has you trying to observe the breadcrumbs dropped enticingly which of course leads to her delivery of a knockout psychological thriller. She is one of those authors who has you reflecting, for example in this book on characters current situations versus the old, also to weigh up the flaws in the legal system which gives her so much scope when creating a novel like this one. There are some very good descriptions that give different sensations such as a sense of unmooring or unreality, the fascinating vibes emanating from characters and as the novel progresses it becomes almost febrile, weird, distinctly messed up and increasingly dangerous. Whatever do these characters step into??? That would be telling!

The characterisation is very good, although you know Anna has done wrong, you root for her, Lucy’s obsession leaps off the pages ad as far r Marie, I’ll say little as therein lies the rub.

The settings in Oxford and Scotland are excellent choices as they not only give a great atmospheric backdrop but the beauty is such a contrast to the propulsive and well paced plot. The tension builds and builds and at times I feel as if I’m in a pressure cooker about to blow. I enjoy the way the connections reveal themselves, yes, a bit of suspension of belief is required but as I really enjoy the journey I’m more than happy to go with the flow. I like the ending, it’s satisfying, I do figure out one part of the jigsaw puzzle but not all of it by any means.

If you like well written and well constructed psychological thrillers then check out Harriet Tyce because she has mastered the genre and has produced yet another cracker.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Headline, Wildfire for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley,Headline and Harriet Tyce for my ARC of 'A Lesson in Cruelty' in return for an honest review.

The story is told from the aspect of three separate women who all have different tales to tell. Although they appear to have nothing to do with each other they are all brought together as the plot progresses.

At time I seemed to lose my way but it is an interesting plot.

Recommended

Thankyou to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This particular story is split into 3 different stories that slowly weave together. We have Anna, who has just left prison, Lucy who is a uni student totally in love with her Professor, and Marie, living with Janice off grid. When the stories start to collide, everything we’ve been building towards becomes very clear.

I did really enjoy this book but I only gave it 4 stars because it was a bit slow in the beginning. I loved the way the author brought all the stories together with catastrophic consequences. The characters were well written, and I found myself really rooting for Anna in particular. I enjoyed the way the author broached each subject within the stories, especially talking about the criminal system, and how failing it can be to people. I really enjoyed it.

Any book by Harriet Tyce is an automatic read for me and A Lesson in Cruelty was no different. The three women's stories all really intrigued me but I would have preferred that the three stories alternated rather than being told in blocks although I appreciate this is an entirely personal thing. I did like how the three plots eventually weaved together as it wasn't something I figured out and the common thread of prison that they all shared was an interesting, thought provoking one. I did find some of the connections we eventually learn about to be far-fetched but it's fairly easy to overlook these for the sake of the plot. I did guess where the story was going before it got there and things ended a little too neatly and quickly for my liking but overall this was a compelling thriller I'd be happy to recommend.

I requested this book purely on my enjoyment of Harriet Tyce's earlier novels - 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!

Harriet Tyce is an amazing writer. This book had be gripped from the very first page, and I was unable to put it down. The plot is so clever, and all the characters are well developed and credible, I think and know that this book will be a massive success and it a brilliant read and not to be missed!

Anna has been in prison for 3 years after a drunk driving incident.
The night before her release an unexpected event threatens to derail her being let out.
The story has 3 main plot lines and I loved the way the seemingly unconnected stories wove together.
The characters were all richly developed and the plot was twisty and cleverly told. The pacing was excellent.
This is an intriguing, complex and compelling story. A real captivating page turner.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

A compelling and highly complex story.

I loved the structure of this book, told in parts, focusing purely on each female character, their scenario, their problems, and what hurdles they face.

it’s entirely impossible to understand how each character is connected, and how the story will come together or what it is even about until you’ve read each characters situation.

When they do eventually collide and the story becomes apparent, it is highly complex, but very compelling to read. some of the situations were a little bit outlandish and unbelievable and didn’t entirely fit the full narrative, but I loved it!

Harriet Tryce really is a force to be reckoned with. She consistently writes excellent novels! If you loved her previous novels, then you’ll definitely love this book. A very different style to the rest but an excellent read

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

I love Harriet Tyce and A Lesson in Cruelty might be my favorite of her books yet! I loved how the multiple threads came together and the moral questions at the heart of this book - I recommend!

I have loved all of Harriet Tyce’s books and this was no exception. It was a very gripping read which had me up late into the night reading once I started I couldn’t put it down. It was such a well written book with interesting and well developed characters. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone fantastic book. Thanks to netgallery and the publisher.

‘A Lesson in Cruelty’ focuses on three different women, all of whom have had experience of, or interest in, the prison system, whether it be intellectual, emotional or through actual incarceration. Harriet Tyce introduces us to her main characters through three seemingly separate tales and, yet, we know that at some point in the narrative they will segue into a single focus.
Anna, a woman very soon released from prison, is a sympathetic portrayal. Certainly, her drink-drive crime has caused tragedy but she is her own harshest critic. Can she ever make things better with her family? Will she ever return to the middle-class world in which she was so successful? It seems as if this might be a possibility until her rehabilitator meets his end in a house fire. Lucy is a student whose fantasy life tips over into reality until she meets Rachel, supportive wife and devoted mother. And who are the half-feral women co-existing on a remote island off the west of Scotland?
Harriet Tyce sets up plenty of questions in the first half of the novel and gradually reveals the women’s connections in the second half. Some of the revelations are a little too bizarre to feel credible, in particular details of the Scottish link. Whilst there is some discussion on the place of imprisonment for crimes – when it is acceptable, when counterproductive – readers are encouraged to become emotionally involved in the characters’ predicaments rather than respond at an intellectual level. Although the ending of the novel left me feeling as if everything came together a little too neatly, ‘A Place of Cruelty’ will certainly please fans of crime fiction who enjoy working their way through a complex maze of clues.
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline, Wildfire for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

A lesson in cruelty is a lesson that not everything is what it seems in this story!

Intensely well written and with fantastic characters. I highly recommend reading this!

What a story this was.

Anna is due to be released from prison when a series of events occur that are seemingly unrelated.

Lucy has a crush on her professor and is determined to curry favour with him with her life story, including her personal experiences of prisons.

Rachel is a loving mother who works with people in need, including those who are homeless.

Three different women, whose lives are about to cross.

I did enjoy this book and couldn’t wait to find out what happened at the end.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was definitely something a bit different in the genre, and it had some good twists and turns to it. The characters were well fleshed out and interesting to read about. The ending was satisfying and there weren't any loose ends.

This wasn't quite a 5 star read for me as I didn't love the structure - I think the opening sections to introduce each of the three characters went on for too long. It would be ok if you read the book in one sitting but as I read it over a few days, I'd almost forgotten Anna's section by the time we got back to her. The last third of the book when all the characters came together was by far the best part in my opinion.

A Lesson in Cruelty starts with Anna, who has reached the end of her prison sentence but still feels that she deserves to be punished. While Anna tries to make a fresh start, her story is interspersed with brief snippets from two other plots. In one, a woman watches as the man she feels she ought to be with chooses another woman over her. In the other, two women fight and struggle against themselves as much as each other. Three distinctive storylines gradually begin to emerge, and when they finally come together the consequences will be devastating.

This is a difficult book to summarise without giving too much away, and I loved trying to work out how the different plots fit together. Each of the book's three main plots are worthy of a story of their own, as each not only forms a thrilling mystery, but also deals incisively with some incredibly important issues. A Lesson in Cruelty is particularly interested in the failings of the British prison system, and I loved the way Harriet Tyce writes about this, in a way that feels true to life but also crucial to the story. But I was also impressed with how Tyce writes about a relationship between a student and her professor in a way that felt fresh and real.

A Lesson in Cruelty wasn't quite a five-star read for me, because it took me a little while to get into the story. I personally would have preferred the book to alternate between its three main plots, rather than initially dealing with each in turn and at length, but that's my personal preference. And as much as I loved the way the plots came together at the end - and I really did love this part of the book - I was a little unconvinced by how reliant on coincidences the story becomes as a result. But I couldn't put this one down once I'd reached the last third, and I found the ending incredibly satisfying. Harriet Tyce remains one of my go-to authors, especially for page-turning thrillers with a legal twist.

This was another great read from Harriet Tyce.I was intrigued to know where the story was going and when all the plot lines emerged into one it lead to a very clever storyline with an interesting collection of characters..
This pulled me in from the first page and kept me in its hold till the end.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Thanks to netgalley and Headline Books for the ARC.

Ever since Blood Orange, one of my favourite thrillers, I've eagerly read every new book by Harriet Tyce.

A Lesson In Cruelty starts with three different strands, each with it own characters and different settings. I say 'starts' but it's a good way into the book before any connections are drawn. Each of the three strands starts with one lengthy chunk. I didn't really like this structure.

The strand starting with Anna spending her last night in prison before her release was definitely my favourite.

When the strands finally start to weave together it captured my interest, 'Here we go!', I thought...but my interest wavered again.

An interesting structure, but I wasn't really captivated by most of the characters or events.
Sorry to say this wasn't really one for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline

This is a difficult book to review without spoilers, so I will start by saying that the author is unusually gifted at keeping multiple balls up in the air.

There are three storylines covered here, and it is quite some time before the linkages between them become clear. For me, that was one of the few criticisms I would make of this dark and compelling novel.

Having said that, I am well aware that other readers may in fact love the apparent randomness of these three stories which - after a long, slow burn - fuse together with shocking suddenness.

So, we start with Anna, who is being released from prison after serving a sentence for drunk driving and reckless endangerment which nearly cost a child his life. She almost finds her sentence extended after her new (overnight) cellmate is found dead, and Anna is under suspicion for her murder.

Meanwhile, young Lucy is on the verge of having an affair with her college professor at Oxford, who is her academic idol and considered to be a cutting edge thinker in terms of prison reform. Unfortunately, Lucy would not be the first student to lose her mind over this particular teacher...

And then there are the two nameless women imprisoned at an isolated location and continuously monitored by CCTV. But who is responsible for their incarceration, and why are they being watched?

Harriet Tyce has once again delivered an intriguing, complex, and above all compelling story that includes some interesting social commentary on the treatment of prisoners and the nature of imprisonment, as well as weaving together three diverse narratives to create a truly thrilling novel, which is also a novel type of thriller. It gets 4.5 stars.

A terrific read from Harriet Tyce. A twisty revenge story that kept me engrossed throughout. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy. Easy five stars from me.

I have read many other books by Harriet Tyce and as always she manages to get me hooked and immersed in the book immediately.. Definitely recommended!