I could not put this down, it was thrilling, fast-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Congrats to the author on their debut novel - another incredible Scottish writer to keep eyes on!

I had the pleasure of meeting Clare Wilson at the Harrogate Crime Festival in July, where in addition to the NetGalley ARC I won a signed proof.
This is a great debut novel from Clare, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had me wanting to turn the page again and again. You could tell she was writing about a subject she knew well.
I was thankful for the table at the beginning of the book which gave the meaning of some of the Scottish terminology used however, there were still a couple of words I didn’t know the meaning of.
I look forward to reading Clare’s future novels.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

You’re hunting a killer, you’re falling in love.

Kennedy works for prison intelligence, she is the eyes and ears of every day life inside the prison and even though criminals are being monitored daily it doesn’t stop them committing crimes. Even more worrying Kennedy also monitors the staff and she discovers rules are being broken and lines are being crossed…even by her.

I enjoyed this book and although a novel I felt like I got a taste of prison life which is great testament to the setting. Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#FiveByFive
#ClaireWilson

A bit of a slow starter for me and a little flat in places, however picked up fairly quickly.

I really enjoyed the premise of the plot being set in a prison, and the dual points of view of an Intelligence Analyst and a prisoner. A very interesting and perceptive capture of the prison service processes.

There was some good character development throughout the book and I look forward to reading about them in further imstalments.

A gritty medium paced prison thriller which kept me engaged and certainly wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher and the Author for this ARC.

What a unique book this is. Told form the point of view of a prison analyst in a Scottish prison, whose life is under threat, it is quite a different take on your normal run of the mill crime novel.
Intriguing and offering real insight into the prison service, I found this a compelling read.
A great balance between the characters personal lives and the plot. I found the dual narrative - from the POV of the analyst and a prisoner to work really well.
There were enough sub plots and misdirects to keep me on my toes. All in all a very well executed debut novel.

A fascinating debut novel set in a prison and full of authentic detail, as befits the writer's career as a prison officer. The story and characters are well developed but the novel was slightly disappointing to me because of the number of grammar and spelling errors.

I loved this book at times but was frustrated as well. Set in a prison with a lot of unpleasant characters who obviously are not deterred from still committing crime even though they are locked up and with the help of bent screws. Our main character, Kennedy,a prison intelligence officer is intent on discovering the identity of Scout, the person behind her own stabbing in the prison that has left her mentally frail. When she begins a relationship with Molly, another officer, she starts to doubt her intentions and has suspicions that Molly may know or even be Scout. Some fast action towards the end of the book which ends with frustration that we are left day going as we still.don't know the identity of Scout so.can only assume there will be a second book

A story based in a Scottish prison. Kennedy works there in an intelligence unit. Unfortunately, she is hated by prisoners and officers alike. With only her boss, Victor who she can trust life is difficult and when she is stabbed by a prisoner’s mother her hard exterior is shattered. Feeling vulnerable she returns to work but finds herself falling for a pretty officer called Molly. Allowing her guard to be dropped, Kennedy allows her professionalism to be compromised. Knowing a person called Scout is behind her stabbing, she is prepared to do anything to discover their true identity. A promising debut story with plenty of gritty moments but is somewhat confusing in places and finished in a rather inconclusive and rushed way. I’m not sure if this is the start of a series, if so it explains the unanswered questions.

I really liked the different take on this book with the story being from the perspective of IAU within a prison.
It had very detailed descriptions of the brutal life within a men's prison from the prisoners POV, but I felt like this was over done and was maybe more filler.
Some of the main characters decisions were questionable and I also didn't like the some of the other side characters actions
A unique storyline and even though it was open ended I'm not sure I'm in a rush to read the next book.
Seemed like a lot of a build up for what felt to me like a rushed ending that didn't amount to much.

This is a cracking & feisty debut.

Intelligence Officer Kennedy Allardyce works in a male prison & has just returned to work following a brutal attack (whilst shopping not at work). Immediately, she is tasked with watching someone in the prison who is making inmate life difficult & for her too.

Told in alternating chapters from Kennedy & a prisoner’s POV, there are no holds barred & some of the descriptions of prison life are brutal. The Prison Intelligence Service is laid bare in its workings, as is Kennedy’s life - warts & all. A cliffhanger ending & I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Five By Five was a really good read, this is a debut by this author and as they were a prison officer previously this definitely shows in this book with the knowledge and descriptions of events that happen.
Kennedy works at a high security prison as a Intelligence Analyst, she listens into phone calls and intercepts mail trying to stop drugs etc coming into the prison, she isn’t popular and knows this as she sometimes has to reveal evidence against prison officers. She manages to stop a drugs run coming in but is later attacked by the prisoners family member in a supermarket. She returns to work with one thing on her mind, to find her attacker and that means she can trust no one including Molly whom she’s not sure if she’s genuine or not. Alongside Kennedys story we have Adrian Maddox, a prisoner trying to be top dog and what he does to try and get and stay there.
This was a well paced read and although brutal at times it didn’t deter me from reading on, the prison officers are shown as real as I think they are and was a relatable read from start to finish. A really good debut.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for this ARC I received in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I liked that it was a prison setting. It was a good thriller with plenty going on. I feel that the pace picked up with every chapter. I enjoyed the dual timelines and found it easy to get in to and follow. There was plenty of suspense and it feels like it was left for a second book?

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book.

What a fantastic debut, this was such an exciting read.

I loved how we got to see the prisons from both sides, the interactions between the prisoners seemed realistic and so violent! Even I was shocked at one of the fights 😳.

The staff of the prison were at times more unsavoury than the prisons, which no doubt is a regular occurrence in real life.

Kennedy was a brilliant character, endearing, vulnerable and brave, I enjoyed learning about her job and following her as she tries to find out who was responsible.

Molly was who I expected, after that ending, a sequel is a must need to find out what happens next!

've been looking forward to reading this ever since I first heard about it and it didnt disappoint. The story of Kennedy, who works in a high security prison as an Intelligence Analyst, listening into prisoners' phone calls and CCTV to catch any untoward behaviours or plans. Kennedy is good at her job, spotting clues and body language that might give indications of what is going on. She is aware that she's not always popular with other prison staff as she has to report on corrupt prison officers as well as the prisoners. She's happy that she's largely anonymous though, and prisoners' family and friends dont know who she is.

When she helps to thwart a drugs delivery to the prison however, it turns out that she's more known than she thought. She is violently attacked in a supermarket by one of the prisoner's family members. Returning to work, Kennedy doesnt know who to trust or who may be involved in arranging the attack on her. The heightened suspicions mean that she can't trust anyone including her ex-girlfriend and flatmate Ellie. When she meets gorgeous prison officer Molly at a night out, Kennedy doesn't know what to do - its clear there's a spark there but she is so wary of being hurt again.

Alongside Kennedy's storyline we also have Adrian Maddox, wannabe top dog - he is aiming to take out the other contenders and run the show but just needs one more delivery in order to cement his position. He'll stop at nothing to get where he wants to be but knows that one false step could cost him everything.

The scenes inside the prison were hard to read at times, so violent and instant, there's no room for hesitation. The Prison Service doesn't come off lightly at all- officers are shown as overworked, worn down, underpaid and trying to cope with all that life throws at them. The author has worked in the Prison Service and has taken her personal knowledge and experience and woven it into something vicious and mesmerising.

Kennedy Allardyce is an Intelligence Officer working at men's prison HMP Forth Valley in Scotland, due to the nature of her role she stays under the radar as much as she can. After an attack in a supermarket she returns to work determined to find her attacker and is certain that she is working in the midst of a corrupt officer. She begins to get close to new guard Molly Rana and their relationship blossoms, but information that becomes known to Kennedy gives her cause for concern, can Molly be trusted or is she the officer that Kennedy is seeking out?

Five by Five is the debut novel of Claire Wilson and told from the perspectives of Kennedy and prisoner Adrian Maddox, it's a gritty crime thriller highlighting the every day events that occur within prison walls, including drugs, assault and the odd murder of two with the author's descriptions being rather graphic at times, so this is definitely not one for the faint hearted readers out there. This is an intriguing read, with a very realistic setting that really stretches the imagination and, judging by the rather abrupt ending, I would say that a sequel is on the horizon to clear up the loose ends.

I'd like to thank Michael Joseph, Random House UK and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

After being attacked whilst out shopping, Intelligence Officer Kennedy Allardyce is determined to get to the bottom of who has attacked her.

Knowing this stems from her job, she goes back to work sooner than she really should to find out why she was attacked, and which one of the prison guards is the mysterious ‘Scout’.

This is a great debut that packs a punch. An interesting story involving violent criminals, and also dodgy prison officers.

In a game of cat and mouse, Kennedy needs to find out who is after her, before they kill her this time.

A gritty and intense story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

My thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This would be a great book for someone who has experience of working in a prison or potentially someone from the LGBTQ community.

I’ve had this book on my list for a long time and was excited to read it. I’m not really sure I would call this a thriller as I didn’t get any suspense from it. I’d say it was more of a gritty drama.

As said previously, this book really wasn’t for me. However the prison and LGBTQ themes might appeal more to others who have experience of this.

The book definitely needs a sequel as we were left hanging right at the end. It would be a good way to round-up all the themes from this book.

Thank you to the Publisher for sending me this ARC!

Kennedy works in the Intelligence Unit at a Scottish male prison. As she investigates corruption and contraband being distributed, she comes across her most dangerous case yet. Not knowing who the main perpetrators are, she is at risk. When new Prison Guard, Molly starts, Kennedy finds herself falling for her but what if this is who she is hunting for?

I really liked the premise of this one as it sounded intriguing and original. This was certainly a fresh, gritty and brutal thriller, focusing on what goes on in prison. I found the character of Kennedy slightly frustrating, however she was well written and her personality came across easily. I enjoyed that the main character was different from the usual trope of police officer, etc.

I liked the way the author told the story and really enjoyed the setting, however I did find phrases repetitive, e.g. licking my lips. I think this is definitely a worthwhile read and I would have rounded it up to 4 stars, however I am rounding it down to 3 stars due to the very abrupt ending and unanswered questions. I would like to read a second book in this series to hopefully get more understanding and closure. 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Prisons, by definition, are full of acknowledged criminals. But there are also staff, some of whom can be manipulated, coerced, corrupted; not many but always likely to be a few. Prisons are also hives of violence and rife with drugs, contraband smuggled in by all possible routes. Monitoring of everyone is necessary and expected, but “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes” has always been a concern. Kennedy Allardyce is the main Information Analyst at HMP Forth Valley, observing CCTV, looking at profiles of inmates and staff, listening to legal phone calls and scanning for illegal mobile phones. She is isolated in her special room because she will also be a potential target for prisoners and, to some extent, for staff. Now she has become an actual target of a crime gang, and her position is compromised because she has fallen for Molly, one of the custodians, but Molly increasingly looks like a suspect.
The author has worked within the prison system and the whole ambience of that, inside and outside, is clearly and viscerally exposed in the background in which this story unfolds. The writing is a bit raw, partly because this is the author’s debut, but mainly because it is hard-core (some might call it ‘nitty-gritty’ but it’s really the gritty -even grotty – aspects that predominate. It’s a difficult read for that reason. The characters are all well drawn, but Kennedy is a bit more erratic than one might believe, but she had returned to work after being stabbed so I think it’s excusable. The ending is scrappy but I think it might be setting up for a sequel. Difficult to categorise overall, but I think 4 stars is fair.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.