I am so sad to finally be finished with one of my favourite series, Sweetpea.
Book 4 had an ending that shocked me to my core so I was relieved to see book 5 wasn't too far in the future, and even more thrilled to have been invited to read it early. I adore the narrator Georgia Maguire, and she has embodied Rhiannon so well, I was disappointed she wasn't acting in the Sweetpea TV series that has just been released!
These books shouldn't be read as a standalone, they deserve to be fully appreciated in all their five-book glory.
What has truly made these books so much fun, has to be the list at the start of each chapter when our FMC Rhiannon lists the 'people she'd like to kill'. These have had me belly laughing in public places (The Daniel Radcliffe comment of Book 3, LOL) and I am gutted we won't be treated to these nuggets of genius again. I feel the Bad Seeds should launch a campaign for a monthly Rhiannon kill-list. C.J. Skuse, I hope you read this!
To endear the readers to a serial killer, takes some doing, but Skuse manages it. Rhiannon is honest, loyal, intelligent and utterly hysterical. I shall miss her.
I can't wait to see what wonderful characters Skuse dreams up next, and I hope it has some more of the author's fabulous humour through it. I'll read everything she writes.

The fifth instalment of Sweetpea and as strong as the others. Rhiannon is on the run again after a tug on her one heartstring from her sister Seren re her adopted daughter. Ivy. The most unlikely alliance with her police nemesis leads to road trip to rural Ireland.

CJSkuse has done it again with a great follow on and final book In the sweet pea series. I read the first one years ago and love the way it has developed and continued on ! Rhiannon is one of the best vigilante serial killers on paper and always recommend to other people ! I have always read cjskuse from very early days and her YA fiction ! Never been disappointed ! Can’t wait for more amazing characters and books !

A huge thank you to Netgalley for my advanced reading copy of this!

Rhiannon is hands down my favourite serial killer, so I was super excited to read this one and it didn't disapoint!!

Suske has done it again, another 5 🌟 read in the Sweetpea book series.

Although I didn't want it to end, this was the perfect ending to an incredible series! It was full of Rhiannon-isms which I adore, it was full of twists and turns that had me hooked.

I am gutted to say goodbye to #sweetpea but I have enjoyed the ride!

I didn’t realise that this was the latest in a series but everything is so well explained/ referenced that it didn’t matter.

Rhiannon is a serial killer who after escaping to and building a life in America has returned to Britain to see her daughter - or has she been lured?

Rhiannon is a vigilante but much like the TV character Dexter you find yourself rooting for her and becoming a member of “The Bad Seeds” fan club. Her characterisation is clear and consistent with the prose being easy to follow, even if the dialogue sometimes requires some additional reading as it’s written so naturally.

I’m definitely a Sweetpea fan!

Absolutely amazing read. The whole series is fantastic and certainly one of a kind. The Sweetpea series will be missed, but CJ is an outstanding author, and I look forward to her next brilliant book!

Absolutely loved #TheBadSeeds. It definitely doesn’t disappoint. Book #5 and sadly the final instalment in the sweetpea series.
It’s so chilling, thrilling, funny, dark and twisted. It’s just brilliant.
As usual we see things not going to plan for Rhiannon when she heads back to the UK to see Ivy.
With brilliant characters old and new, it’s fast paced, violent, tense and hilariously entertaining. I love the authors writing style, she brings the places and people to life on the page. It’s fun and easy to read. Loved the sarcastic one liners, so on point. And don’t forget the kill lists. I couldn’t put this book down. I loved every page.
A perfect ending to a brilliant series which I just loved and thoroughly enjoyed reading. I look forward to seeing what @ceejayismeeejay writes next. Highly recommend this book and previous books in the series.
With thanks to #NetGallery @HQ for an arc of #TheBadSeeds in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 24 October 2024.

I read the first book in this series years ago when it first came out, but I don't think it made any difference jumping to this one. ( I might have to go back and start from the beginning after I watch the TV series). It's hard not to sympathise with the main character, despite her being a serial killer. She seems to go through a lot. The dynamics between her and the police officer could be amusing at times as she awaited news about her injured husband. A book I read in one sitting

Well.. here we are at book 5 and, if you haven't already met Sweetpea, or Rhiannon as she is more formally known, I'd go back and meet her properly in book one and get to know her and how she got to where we find her at this book's opening properly by playing catch-up with the rest of the books.
There's a TV show too but, as I haven't started it yet, I have no idea how good/bad it is or even if it follows the books...
Right so... if you recall, Rhiannon found herself in a bit of a dilemma at the end of the last book. Her daughter needs her, and only her, blood relation and all that. Or it could all be a trick to tempt her back home to face the music, walk in to a trap? She is settled where she is, as Ophelia. And safe. Or actually, possibly not as safe as she could be as someone is about to spill the beans which will open up a world of pain. So it's sht or bust time. But it's her daughter and if there is even the slightest chance of it being true she has to, doesn't she...? And, speaking from a reader's perspective, it's the only choice that makes for an absolutely cracking finale for Sweetpea so yeah, she did the right thing...
Oh and yes, you read me right, this is rumoured to be the last in series. I know boooo and all that, but also it makes sense... You'll see when you finish it.
Anyway... as per what has gone before we follow her as she faces down her sister, gets aided by her fan club The Bad Seeds, teams up with a very unlikely ally, and madness and mayhem definitely ensue. It's high on gore and violence - yay - but also balanced with softer moments. And so very funny in places too. I'm a big fan of observational humour, especially when delivered by someone on the same wavelength as myself, which is definitely what I get from these books. Not always for the faint hearted but hey, if you've got to book 5...! And as always, with a storyline that is definitely larger than life but just short of incredible, and wonderfully brilliant.
So yeah.. if it really is the end, then goodbye to Rhiannon, it's been a blast! I'll miss you. But, on the other hand, her story ending does make me wonder what's next for the author... I think more exciting days are to come...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is such a great series and I have loved following Rhiannon through the different stages of her life.
I didn’t realise this was the final book in this series (according to Google) and am a bit sad that this is the end.
I really enjoyed this book though and as usual with Rhiannon, things don’t quite go to plan when she heads back to the UK.
This is a great read and there’s some brilliant one liners, as always, from Rhiannon.
I really want to make more comments but it will spoil it all for you, and then I might end up on someone’s list ;)
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.

Rhiannon's back - and it seems like everything is finally turning up roses...of course nothing could be that straightforward! Her husband's been shot, her daughter back in the UK is seriously ill, and soon the authorities are right behind my favourite serial killer.

I did enjoy The Bad Seeds but it's not the highlight of the series. The character of Rhiannon kept me engrossed, but the plot and pacing were a bit drawn out. Fun and entertaining.

The 6th and final installment of the Sweetpea series! I enjoyed this book (although didn't feel it was as strong as the others) but sad that it's now come to an end. Without giving any spoilers, this was a satisfactory end to the serial-killer's story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book.

I've enjoyed all the books in this series and this one is no exception. I love that Rhiannon does have a heart, even if it doesn't quite work like most people's.
If this really is the last in the series, at least we can watch it from the start.

I have loved Sweetpea for years so this book has been on my radar for a while and it lived up to the hype for me. It was such a great read with the progression of Rhiannon's story and life, still dangerously intense with great humour sprinkled throughout, sad that were are at the end but what a great way to end!

I was so excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint, although I am now gutted to have come to the end of the series!

I absolutely adored the Sweetpea stories and although I am sad it’s the end I am happy with the way CJ Skuse has decided to finish Rhiannon’s story.

This story picks up where the last one finished with serial killer Rhiannon trying to stop her husband Raf from dying after he is hit by bullets meant for her. We quickly see her leave America for the UK to try and help her sick daughter Ivy and she is soon on the run from the police again, this time with a surprising sidekick in tow.

Rhiannon Lewis is such a complex character and I love how the dark humour comes across. For a serial killer she is very likeable!

I don’t want to give anything else away but would highly recommend you read this book (along with the previous four).

I have been obsessed with CJ Skuse for a long time and have read the rest of the series twice. This didn’t disappoint, I love the dark humour that comes with Rhiannon. It’s such a shame that the series has come to an end, I hope CJ Skuse brings us a story all about Ivy, that would be my dream. I enjoyed the one-liners that Rhiannon brings and to see who is on her kill list, some of them crack me up. It’s great to see that with the other books the next one always starts start after the previous one and this continued that streak. If you haven’t read the Sweetpea series, then you need to as you will not be disappointed!

The Bad Seeds by C J Skuse
I give this book 4.5 stars.

Sweetpea is coming home at last…
With a series of bad choices in front of her, and the authorities right behind, Rhiannon's in a hell of a hole and she needs to dig herself out of it pronto. But help can come from the most unlikely places.

This was a bittersweet read for me as I have absolutely loved all 5 of the books in this addictive series. CJ Skuse is a brilliant author and this was a satisfying all be it sad conclusion, I’m now looking forward to consoling myself with the tv adaptation out this month!
These books really need to be read as a series in order, and they may not appeal to everyone.
Rhiannon is my all time favourite and the original twisted,deadly and foul mouthed no.1 female serial She’s back for the final time, coming full circle heading to the UK and her daughter Ivy. Billy and his one leg and her arch nemesis DI Gericault are also along for the ride on her final escapade.Told in the same diary style format with the iconic kill lists we enter into the psychopath we all know and loves murderous world. I can’t recommend this dark but witty series enough and I’m looking forward to where the author takes us next.
With thanks to Netgalley,CJ Skuse and HQ Digital for my chance to read and review this book.

Another brilliant Rhiannon installation! Is this really the last one??!!! I think so, but I also hope not. There's not much to review, I would never not like a book in the SweetPea series and am delighted to hear it is going to become a tv series! If you like this series by CJ Skuse then you won't miss The Bad Seeds, and if you've not read any, then start at the beginning please, and allow yourself to get drawn in to the hilariously dark world of Rhiannon! Enjoy!

The final book in a really great series that I'm sad to see end. Rhiannon is the ultimate female serial killer and I really don't think any one could come close.

We didn't seem anywhere near a resolution when my kindle was showing that the book was 95% done so I found the ending a little bit abrupt. But otherwise another great instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and C.J Skuse for the advanced copy.

Rhiannon Lewis is back for the fifth and final instalment in the Sweetpea series, picking up right where the last book left off. I read Sweetpea about a year after it came out and I was hooked by Rhiannon's dark humour and the hilarious kill lists, and In Bloom hooked me the same way. Since book Dead Head, the series has changed and has a completely different feel, which isn't a negative but it took me some adjusting. Rhiannon starts out unhinged and unhappy, and her kill lists had me laughing out loud in public. Whereas, the Rhiannon in the final book is so mature and yes, she still has a bit of sass, but her tongue isn't as sharp as it used to be (and I miss that), but her priorities are now very different.

Rhiannon makes the decision to leave Raf to recuperate in hospital, to go to her little girl, Ivy, who Rhiannon has been told is critically ill. We see her sister, Seren and Detective Nnedi Géricault again, and Rhiannon's interactions with Nnedi are somewhat unexpected, yet it did play out in a satisfying way. I also loved the mention of the PICSOs again - that always made me chuckle.

I have to suspend disbelief a little bit whenever the Bad Seeds are mentioned, because I don't know if a serial killer would have such a dedicated following in real life...that said, TikTok can do very strange things for a person's reputation, so never say never. The ending feels fitting for the last book in the series, but you can't help but feel that Rhiannon and Raf may not be able to sustain the lifestyle they have chosen. The series has come full circle, giving me similar feels to when I read the first book, and I enjoyed the return to the dark humour.