Set inside a Scottish prison HMP Forth Valley; attacks, organised crime, drugs and death aren’t far away.

Kennedy, an intelligence analyst keeps prisoners and staff under surveillance. She’s under the illusion that the prisoners don’t know she exist.

Who is Scout? Are they a prisoner? Or an inside man?

Perfect read for those who enjoy:
- Prison fiction with an intelligence element
- Corruption
- Police series

I highly anticipate there is another book to come due to the cliffhanger ending of this one!

With thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review. #FivebyFive

This book offers a good story but a disappointing ending which is reflected in my 3 star rating, I didn't feel that it was concluded yet not in a good way where I want the next instalment. It just fell flat.

this book is perfect for true crime fans as if it’s a different take, it’s based inside the prison and you get to hear the thoughts of the prison workers, themselves.

the story follows kennedy as she monitors a scottish prison, but is she harbouring her own secrets just like the people locked up ….

the recurring theme through out the book is, who is scout? are they closer than kennedy thinks or is it someone she least expects

the writing is sharp and quickly snaps you into wanting to read more more about the fast pace of a prison environment.


however, i am disappointed i didn’t love this more, sometimes the plot fell really flat and the characters choices didn’t make sense to me. i felt the relationship between molly and kennedy moved a bit to fast.

if you are a fan if netflix tv show, orange is the new black, then this book would be a perfect book for you to read.

Kennedy Allardyce works for the Scottish prison service as an intelligence officer having failed to make it on the prison floor. She is ambicious but convinced that no one likes her - neither the criminals nor the prison officers - because of her role in monitoring all of them.
This book provides an interesting insight into prisons, how they operate and what it is like to be inside. When Kennedy is attacked she has a mystery to solve and returns to work in order to find out who has her in their sights.
Kennedy is a resolute character when it comes to her work but in her social and emotional life she is in turmoil and makes some unimpressive decisions. I have to say I began to the book by liking her, but by the end I was cross with her decisions.
I would have given the book a higher score however if the it hadn't ended so abruptly. There was no real resolution or explanation and seems to have been left hanging ready for a second installment. This, however, is just annoying, Books that have sequels still need to be a whole story in themselves and this was no. It had no proper ending or resolution.
Up until the final chapter I'd happily have read more from this author but I felt sadly let down as a reader.
With thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph and Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

HMP Forth Valley in Scotland holds 850 high security male prisoners and intelligence analyst Kennedy Allardyce monitors not just them but also the staff. A successful operation has serious consequences for Kennedy and it’s apparent that it’s an inside job. Who can Kennedy trust? In this hostile environment trust is everything, but she wants to know who has set her up and she finds the courage to start fighting back. It becomes imperative that she finds who the corrupt string puller is, known as ‘Scout’. Is she able to trust her new friend in prison officer Molly Rana? is her company something she can enjoy or must she keep her wits about her? The story is narrated principally by Kennedy.

I really enjoy the prison setting of this novel, which makes it a bit different from other mystery/thrillers, and if you enjoy prison based TV series, such as the recent one on British television or Prisoner Cell Block H then you might enjoy this debut novel. It pulls absolutely no punches about prison life, the overriding presence of organised crime, the gang hatreds, the hierarchy of the prisoners, and the inevitable violence as a consequence. This feels very authentically portrayed in this fast-paced plot, and some of the characters make your blood run cold as they try to disrupt the system. It’s dark, hard hitting especially as violence on the various wings escalates. The plot is suspenseful throughout, and there are some scenes where the tension is palpable.

I really like the central character of Kennedy and the Intel gathering techniques (the Five by Five of the title) that the IMU (Intelligence Management Unit) deploy to try to stay one step ahead. Kennedy is well portrayed, she’s ambitious, tenacious and very brave. Her inner most thoughts are pertinent and revealing on both prison officers and inmates. She has a very dangerous anonymous foe and her attempts to unmask them as they manipulate situations takes the storytelling through many twists and turns.

Although the ending is dramatically good, it does end on a cliffhanger, so clearly another book is in the pipeline and I will definitely want to read it as hopefully we’ll learn what we need to know!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed this book so much. But when i got to the end I felt a little deflated. I feel a little lost And confused.

The story is based around Kennedy Allardyce, who works as an intelligence analyst in a prison in Scotland. As well as keeping her eye on the prisoners, she’s also keeping an eye on the staff. There are rumours of a corrupt and very dangerous guard working in the prison, but it appears that they might have already realised that Kennedy is on to then. Add to this Kennedy starting to fall for a woman who may not be all she seems.

A very good debut novel from this author, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book to start with, I thought it was interesting and different. Unfortunately it started to get repetitive and the characters weren’t very likeable.

I would describe this as a good rainy afternoon book, it didn’t blow me away but it was alright.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for my advanced reading copy.

A really gripping thriller that took me by surprise. This book was a fun and exciting read that kept me on my toes the entire time. I find thrillers can be really hit or miss but this was fantastic and I really recommend it!

It follows a unique story and the plot flows so nicely I truly don’t have a bad word to say about it! I would recommend this for anyone who is a fan of the works of fredia mcdaden or any other thriller author! I will 100% be checking out the authors other works

This was an interesting read by an author that I was not familiar with having never read their work before. I always enjoy a new to me author and I wasn’t disappointed.
I found the characters interesting and really had a depth to them with lots of details described for me to portray them in my mind and really get inside them.
The story line took me to a place I wasn’t expecting and kept me intrigued right until the end.
I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre and will be reading more.

Rounding up to 3 stars


I enjoyed the setting of this book, I don't think I've read one based in an intelligence unit of a prison before, along with corrupt officers, that kept me going.
At times though, it was hard. Just not a book I rushed back to.
It's very much a mixed bag for me.

Story overall was great, just what I like reading but the ending was a but disappointing and wasn't wrapped up really. It was sometimes hard to know who was talking with the way it was written but it was the first book from this author that I had read, so maybe that could be me not use to the style

Thank you for asking me to read this book in advance of its release date. It was different to books I am used to reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was gripping and it made me want to keep on reading. I’d be interested about reading other books by the author as well.

I really really enjoyed this !
I’ve not really read anything like it so it was nice to read something different that I also loved.
Set in a prison it was fast paced gripping and intense.
Loved the characters
Over all an amazing thriller that I couldn’t put down !

We meet Kennedy Allardyce, an intelligence analyst, working in a Scottish prison. Not only does Kennedy monitor the prisoners, but she is also there to keep a close eye on the staff.
Rumours of a corrupt guard with deadly influence might just be aware that Kennedy is on their tail.

The book had me hooked, until the end, where it just stops, and I felt like it wasn't as wrapped up as I'd of liked. Unless there is a sequel in the works?
This was an uncorrected copy, so mistakes throughout should be fixed in time for publication date on 29th August 2024!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredible book. The characters are believable and relatable. I loved the setting, I haven’t read many set in a prison. The action hit from the first page and kept me gripped throughout. Nothing was quite what it seemed and the twists and turns kept me on my toes.

Five by Five is a solid debut crime novel set in a Scottish prison, following intelligence analyst Kennedy Allardyce. It offers a captivating glimpse into the world of prison intelligence which has never been in any other book I’ve read. There are some engaging twists and turns, so this will definitely appeal to fans of crime fiction reads

Book review: Five by FIve, by @byclairewilson .
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Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail..
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What a cracking first book to write . I really enjoyed this book was such a fast paced read . I loved the main character Kennedy such a fiesty character.
This is one book I will recommend for readers who are looking for a fast paced book.
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I would like to thank @michaeljbooks for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
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#bookworm #crime #prisoner #booklover #bookaddict #glasgow #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookcommunity

This book definitely surprised me and had me questioning who to trust, kept me on edge throughout, definitely recommended.

It needs a good editing! That was my main takeaway form this lol. I loved the premise, it sounded very Prisoner cell block H and it isn't a setting I've ever read about before so was really looking forward to it. I wouldn't say it's a thriller but it was certainly entertaining and kept me turning tbe pages. A lot of it seemed a bit far fetched but it's a fiction story so who cares about reality and just appreciate the story for what it is! And it was a really good story!!! As I said the continuity errors n such were a bit annoying but that'll be sorted before release anyways and I'd definitely say go for it of you want something really different to captivate you for a bit.