The main character Emma suffers with a silent disability that ensures she attends numerous Doctor and hospital appointments which she often goes to alone. She lives with her Mum, Stepdad Pete, her step sister Becky and her beloved daughter. Emma misses her own Dad who died and loathes Pete as he is often cruel and nasty to her, he even took her bedroom so he can use it as his office, this relegating Emma to sleeping on the sofa.
When Emma meets Adam at one of her hospital appointments they strike up a friendship that soon progresses with promises from Adam of a better life.
This story has twists and surprises with characters who are not who they appear to be.
My thanks to Net Galley and publishers for the advanced copy.

I wasn’t sure I would like this book or be able to get into it, but after a slow start it drew me in. I came to like Emma. Was always a little suspicious of someone else. I didn’t see much of it coming. I like it when a book surprises me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emma is 30 years old and lives in a council estate with her 11 year old daughter, mother, awful step father and ex-soap star step sister. She suffers from an diagnosed illness that causes weakness in her limbs and causes her to be unable to work as a nurse anymore. When she meets Adam, things start to turn around for her and she envisions a better life for her and her daughter with Adam. The only problem is that he is married to Celeste.

This was a good read overall. I thought it was a little slow to start and I also thought I knew where it was going and thought that would be sort of predictable and disappointing. Fortunately at about 50% some information was revealed that changed the whole situation and I became much more interested and started turning the pages much more quickly. I thought Emma was an interesting character. At times I felt for her and her struggle and at other times I thought she was awful. I am glad I read this one and would read more from this author.

She is sick just not in a way you could ever imagine!! So taught and twisted. This book messes with your mind and then some. The characters are incredibly mind altering and the plot is utterly electrifying.

Chris Bridges' *Sick to Death** delves into the psychological and suspenseful life of Emma, a character facing Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and dealing with its impact on her day-to-day, especially as a mother to her young daughter, Ava. After a stay in the hospital, Emma’s struggle with her health is compounded by the unexpected entrance of Adam, a seemingly helpful figure who turns out to have twisted motives.

The plot takes a dark and complex turn as Adam, a devious character with a dangerous agenda, pretends to be a doctor to gain Emma’s trust. His ultimate goal? To manipulate Emma into killing his wealthy wife, Celeste, with promises of a twisted happily-ever-after. However, nothing is as it seems. Adam’s relationship with Emma’s step-sister, Becky, adds layers of betrayal and scheming that will keep readers hooked.

Bridges skillfully builds a tense atmosphere, weaving in suspense and moral ambiguity as Emma unwittingly becomes entangled in Adam and Becky’s manipulative plans. The twists and unexpected turns create a satisfying yet chilling experience for readers, as it becomes clear that the plans of the conspirators won’t go smoothly. The story reaches a thrilling climax as the plotters themselves fall victim to the consequences of their own schemes.

While the ending leaves a lot to the imagination and might feel abrupt for some readers, *Sick to Death* is an engaging psychological thriller that explores the dark side of human nature, complex family dynamics, and the extent people will go for wealth and freedom. Thank you #Netgalley #AvonBooksUK for the advanced read

Sick to Death (kindle edition) a psychological debut thriller by Chris Bridges who was also selected as an awardee on the London Writers Award was amazing. Chris Bridges was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2020 and wrote this debut thriller what an achievement.

Emma has a hidden disability as she suffers from FND a neurological disorder lives in a council house with her mother Ann, stepfather Peter, stepsister Becky and young daughter. Ava. Emma's stepfather treats her like something on the back of his shoe because of her disability.

Emma feels trapped with no way of ever being able to afford to buy a home for herself and Ava as she is on disability benefits of which her stepfather takes half. Then one day she meets Adam who is married to Celeste and they live in an affluent house across the road and they have an affair.

Unbeknown to Emma Adam has a hidden agenda on his mind and Emma is not in the equation anytime soon. Emma is like Cinderella as she also has a wicked stepsister.

Emma has a great knowlege of all the wildlife around her and I love the way Chris Bridges depicts the beauty and savagery of the wildlife whch was quite educational.

This novel reminds me in part of Alfred Hitchock's 1951 movie called Strangers on a train.


READING PROGRESS
October 29, 2024 – Shelved as: to-read
October 29, 2024 – Shelved
November 8, 2024 – Started Reading

Sick to death was a five star read! A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

3.5 stars rounded down

Emma is sick – sick in health, sick of the cramped existence with her unwelcoming family who pay her scant regard. After yet another trip to A and E she meets Adam, a doctor there. He’s kind to her, they meet again and get on well, very well. There’s just one tiny fly in the ointment, Adam is married to Celeste. However, maybe Emma‘s debilitating neurological illness may not render her as helpless as people think. She has some new goals or maybe a better word would be targets.

I like reading debut novels, hoping to add to my list of must read authors. This one is promising especially if you like psychological thrillers. The first half is good, much stronger than the final part. It has a constantly changing tone and atmosphere that suits the circumstances. It swings from oppressive and aggressive which contrasts well with the lighter more optimistic tone, especially when Adam is around. In this part of the book, Emma‘s feelings are palpable and at times they can be pretty dark. There’s tension and some good suspenseful moments, there are plot twists and turns with some mask wearing and gameplay.

I have mixed emotions about the characters especially Emma which I’m sure is the authors intention. The impact of her neurological illness is conveyed well. Emma really likes birds and I enjoy those references especially as they have the freedom that she doesn’t. However, I think it gets a bit over done.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the second half doesn’t match up to the strength of the first. There’s a lot of going back-and-forth due to the changing character narratives and it leads to some repetition. In this half the style of writing feels more simplistic and there’s more telling me rather than making me feel. The promising strong plot weakens, there are some cringy dialogue exchanges and the necessity to strap on those disbelief suspenders.

Overall though, I will definitely read this author again as there is plenty here to suggest the promise of a good future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Emma is sick and not getting better. Because she’s ill she and her daughter live with her mother, her abusive stepfather and his daughter. She meets Adan- perfect in every way— but is he? Adam is married to Celeste but he wants out- but she has the money, can he concubines Emma to. Be part of his plan or does she have her own agenda? A wild read that will keep you guessing!

Sick to Death by Chris Bridges

A riveting first book by this author , hopefully they will have a few up their sleeve as I'm a fab of their work.
I really enjoyed how the story slowly unfolded and gently drew me in .
I felt sorry for Emma and her debilitating illness and the lack of care & understanding from those around her .
The book picked up space as we found out more and a few twists were thrown in to get us guessing.
Really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Sick to Death was a little unconventional and that gave it an edge amongst books with a similar overarching plot. I’d best describe this as a unique take on Strangers on a Train with the understanding that this isn’t hard to guess from the blurb or the heart of what’s happening at the book (so no spoiler). What is at the heart of this is a woman who is ill with a sickness not revealed until the end, with a lack of support or belief from those who should be advocating for her and helping her. When she meets a charismatic man who does believe her, what unfolds is wildly different that most other thrillers and mysteries and won’t be guessed at.

I loved the second part of this book when the perspectives moved away from Emma, our sick main character, to others. While I have nothing against Emma (except her obsession with birds, though it did serve the plot) and she was a great way for the reader to feel as isolated and lonely in per perspective as she was in life, the inclusion of others added to the tension and really moved the action along as well. The culmination of our main mystery was done quickly and perhaps a little too neatly but since that wasn’t the real ending, I felt this finished strongly in the true endings and left me feeling unsettled. A great book if you want a slow creeper that is more of a psychological thriller. I’d also recommend reading the author’s note to understand some context begin the idea for the book and to gain some education if you’ve not experienced, personally or through those close to you, the absolute horrendous journey a person can take in figuring out why they’re sick when it’s not obvious in the traditionally found ways.

"Sick to Death" is a compelling and emotional novel that follows the journey of Emma, a woman dealing with a severe neurological illness. Confined to her home, she struggles with the reality of being unable to care for her daughter, relying heavily on her mother and stepfather for support. Life seems bleak and stagnant until she meets a compassionate doctor who brings a new sense of hope and possibility.

Emma's relationship with the doctor becomes a central focus of the story, offering her a glimpse of a brighter future. However, their budding romance is complicated by the doctor's marriage, adding layers of tension and moral conflict. The novel deftly explores the lengths to which Emma will go to pursue the life she dreams of, raising questions about the true nature of happiness and the sacrifices required to achieve it.

The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Trust is broken, friendships are forged and tested, and moments of heartbreak are balanced by glimmers of hope. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their struggles and triumphs deeply affecting.

This was one of the bets thrillers I've read. I couldn't put it down and it left me with questions and got me thinking. It's a wild ride and I don't know how to explain it without giving too much away. If you like thrillers you should give this one a go.

This is a slightly different psychological thriller than I usually read. A thought provoking storyline with plenty of twists and turns but also things happened that I didn’t expect. It’s a very good portrayal of the isolation and frustration that someone with a chronic illness experiences. It felt a bit like marmite with the characters,you either loved or hated them. All in all a great debut novel.

Pretty cool thriller! you can pretty much guess what will happen but not quite how it will happen, and the how is VERY interestingly done. cool protags too. 4 stars. would recommend.

This is absolutely brilliant, an excellent psychological thriller which is disturbing, gripping and scary. It's quite sinister because the reader has no idea what it's all building up to. I found it thought provoking as it gives a unique insight into what it might be like to live with a disabilitating illness. I liked the bird anecdotes. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

As someone who suffers from chronic pain I was intrigued by this book. I think the author portrayed Emma really well, I really related to her and could feel her desperation to escape her situation. It was a great thriller, with plenty of twists and turns.

I really enjoyed it and would happily read other books by the same author in the future.

A really interesting depiction of a protagonist with a chronic illness. At the beginning, none of the characters are particularly likeable but they grow on you as you discover more about them. There are a lot of twists and turns which keep you intrigued until the end. A really good read.

Thanks Netgalley for the free ARC! This novel was very well written and engaging. However, I thought the denouement was unbelievable with many bits and pieces that would not have been conceivable. All in all, I enjoyed reading and I do recommend this book. This is my honest opinion and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

A different type of thriller with a unique plot. Emma suffers from an invisible illness, and the author did a wonderful job with making me feel empathy for Emma’s struggle and isolation; that exceptional character development helped explain how she made the choices, and made the plot more believable. Suspenseful, thought-provoking, with a satisfying end, this is a five star thriller!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!