a brilliant thought provoking dystopian about the human condition and identity.

this works as both a recommendation for people who DID enjoy Never Let Me Go and for people who DIDN’T (as it’s a much more readable story overall in regards to plot pace & writing) !

Many thanks to the author, Catherine Chidgey, Netgalley, and the publisher, John Murray Press for an ARC of The Book of Guilt, which will be published on 22 May. It's one of the most brilliant books I've read in a long while, but also one of the most disturbing, and I think it will linger in my mind. It's a book that you really should consider reading for the questions that it poses.

We're in the south of England (Exmoor) in 1979. It's an England very similar to how ours was in the seventies: people watch The Generation Game, and play Spot-the-Ball and eat fondant fancies – but there are also subtle differences (the Second World War ended in the early 1940's with a rapprochement between the Allies and Germany, and the British government has ministries in Berlin and Bonn).

Triplets Vincent, William and Laurence are the sole remaining children in a Sycamore care home England where they're looked after by Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night. Care is lavished on them, and the boys feel loved. Their dreams are recorded by Mother Morning in the Book of Dreams; she teaches them from the Book of Knowledge; and their misdemeanors are recorded in the Book of Guilt.

An unnamed female Conservative politician wins the 1979 election, and embarks on a series of cost-cutting measures to stimulate the economy. Among the targets of the cuts is the network of Sycamore Homes. The newly-appointed Minister for Loneliness is charged with shutting down the homes and integrating the boys into the community.

The boys slowly discover the horrifying truth about their life in a way that parallels how prepubescents gradually come to reassess the decisions of adults around them as they reach adolescence. It's a perfect example of how to pace the gradual reveal of information. The first revelation comes about a third of the way through, and from then on, nuggets of information are dropped regularly (some of which you may guess, but not all, I think). There's just enough detail to keep you wanting to know what happens next: I read the final 70% in one sitting, staying up until 3am to finish it.

The writing is superb, and it made me think about the many people in our world who are dehumanised for our collective convenience, and how we largely ignore or don't know what happens to them. I don't normally think of any novels as essential reading, but I think that this one might be for the way it encourages the reader to open their heart and develop empathy for others.

I LOVE Catherine Chidgey - one of my absolute favourite authors, I’ll read anything she writes. If there’s a Chidgey authored shopping list out there, send it my way! Something I’m coming to admire beyond the books themselves is the sheer variety and scope of Chidgey’s writing. She’s written compellingly about the widest and wildest subject areas but I’m always in safe hands.

The Book of Guilt is completely different again, and sort of defies categorisation. Set in an alternate reality of 1970s England we predominantly follow the stories of triplet boys growing up in a care home. It is somehow concurrently a country pastoral coming of age story AND a dystopian parallel universe.

As I read an early review copy I went into this book knowing nothing and not having seen any other reviews. I think this probably provided the optimum reading experience as I was allowed to get swept along in Chidgey’s writing as the truth is gradually revealed. Super compelling! As such I won’t provide much more plot detail but themes include the ethics of progress, what it means to be human and if 1970’s Margate’s Dreamland was really as good as the book’s children imagined it to be!

A novel set in an alternative 70s Britain with a nature-versus-nurture theme.
This is quite a weird and disturbing story with the unreliable narrators knowing as little as the reader and the truth revealing itself only reluctantly.
The protagonists, triplet boys, live with their three carers in a dilapidated big house as the last occupants in a boys’ home about to be shut down. That is all I will reveal of the content since any more would spoil the cat-and-mouse game of information that makes this novel so engrossing.
Suffice it to say, this disturbingly plausible plotline will tickle your unease bone.

Thanks to Chidgey’s craft, an otherwise difficult to handle dystopian concept works well.
Three boys (triplets) live in a strange way minded by morning, afternoon and night mothers.
One of the boys and a girl called Nancy, who is crucial to the story, narrate it and we gradually understand what is happening.
This was a fresh breeze in the vast but mixed quality dystopian literature.
I highly recommend it. It has exceeded my expectations with its world-building, concept, and plot.

Set in England in 1979, Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt is a haunting exploration of control, identity, and belonging. Through the lens of three isolated brothers—Vincent, Lawrence, and William—Chidgey crafts a dark and unsettling narrative that lingers long after the final page.

The triplets reside in a secluded New Forest home, part of the government’s enigmatic Sycamore Scheme. Their lives are rigidly controlled by the ever-present “Mothers”—Morning, Afternoon, and Night—who enforce the rules of their existence. The boys’ nightmares, knowledge, and sins are meticulously documented in three eerie tomes: The Book of Dreams, The Book of Knowledge, and The Book of Guilt. These books form the backbone of their regimented lives, guiding their behaviour and shaping their understanding of the world.

Yearning for escape, the boys dream of a better life at the “Big House” in Margate—a place they envision as a haven of freedom, filled with sunshine, sea, and joy. Yet as the Sycamore Homes face closure, the brothers begin to unravel the web of lies and secrets surrounding their upbringing. What emerges is a chilling revelation of a system that values some lives over others, questioning the ethics of societal structures and the manipulation of innocence.

Chidgey masterfully builds tension, revealing the story’s dark secrets in a slow, deliberate manner. The claustrophobic setting, combined with the oppressive presence of the Mothers, creates an atmosphere of dread and unease. The triplets’ perspectives are poignant and heart-wrenching, capturing both their childlike hope and the growing awareness of their grim reality.

The Book of Guilt is an intricately woven tale that challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about control, dehumanisation, and the concept of worth. With its evocative prose and profound themes, this book is both a deeply disturbing and thought-provoking read. Fans of literary fiction that delves into moral ambiguity and psychological depth will find this a compelling addition to their shelves.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is a tense book. I could guess the secret from about 50% of the way in. I enjoyed my experience. The atmosphere of this story kept me gripped.

A dark story which explores many questions about humanity.
Victor, Lawrence and William are triplets, living in what we perceive to be a children’s home. Nancy lives with her parents. All the children are shielded from society but why?? Are they in danger or a danger to others??
The story builds to a heart stopping climax and will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.

I have to admit that I have only read one previous book by Catherine Chidgey, but – on looking back – found I gave that five stars, so I have no idea why I have not read more by her. Like, ‘Remote Sympathy,’ the other novel by her which I have read, I received a review copy via NetGalley and, having also loved this novel, I feel I really must explore her other books as she is a very special author.

It is 1979 in an alternate England, where the war had a different ending and the world has taken a similar, but slightly changed, turn. Vincent, William and Laurence are identical triplets living in Scott House, part of the Sycamore project, a government funded scheme, overseen by Dr Roach. The triplets have three carers, Morning, Afternoon and Night Mother, who care for them and administer their medicine. For the boys suffer from minor ailments and only by becoming healthy do they have any hope of following their fellow residents to Margate, a seaside resort where children visit the funfair and have undreamed of freedom. Having visited Margate myself as a child, I feel their enthusiasm was misplaced but the triplets are currently the only children left at Scott House and long for change.

Before long, the reader realises things are not quite as they seem. The boy’s dreams are recorded, as are minor misdemeanors in the titled, ‘Book of Guilt.’ The boys all begin to dream of a girl running through the wood and we learn of her life, as her story is gradually revealed alongside the boys. For change is coming to Scott House. The Minister of Loneliness has been charged with closing down the Sycamore project.

It is difficult to write too much without giving away plot spoilers and I do not wish to do that. It is enough to say that Chidgey gradually discloses the story, and we learn why the locals are so nervous about the triplets, and how they are linked to Nancy, the girl of their dreams. What makes this such a wonderful read are the characters. The author not only makes the boys, and their mothers come alive, but also Nancy and the Minister, as well as other, more minor characters. You hear the distant clang of the funfair, smell the candy floss, look beyond the gloss to the reality beyond and, throughout this book, feel a nervous disquiet which keeps you reading. Highly recommended.

Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt is a gripping and unsettling story that explores identity, belonging, and the ethical boundaries of scientific research. Set in an alternate 1970s Britain, the novel follows triplet brothers Vincent, William, and Lawrence, who are raised in a secluded mansion called Sycamore House. Controlled by their caretakers and subjected to constant observation, their lives begin to unravel as secrets about their upbringing and the sinister “Sycamore Project” emerge.

The characters in The Book of Guilt are vividly drawn, each contributing to the novel’s unsettling atmosphere. The triplets—Vincent, William, and Lawrence—are the heart of the story, their bond both endearing and heartbreaking as they grapple with the constraints of their confined existence. Each brother has a distinct personality: Vincent is curious and reflective, William is more obedient and cautious, while Lawrence is the most rebellious, pushing the boundaries of their world.

Chidgey’s writing is elegant and atmospheric, drawing readers into the eerie isolation of the triplets’ world. The slow build of tension keeps you hooked, and the revelations are both shocking and thought-provoking. Themes of morality, experimentation, and human value are explored with depth and sensitivity. This is a haunting and powerful read that fans of dystopian and psychological fiction will love. Highly recommended.

Set in post-WWII England we meet Vincent, a triplet, who lives in a residential care home under the Sycamore Scheme with his brothers Laurence and William. They are cared for by Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Night. Their dreams are recorded, the errors of their ways are recorded, and they take daily meds to help them with The Bug. The boys dream of nothing more than being sent to the Big House in Margate where they can live by the sea and spend their time in the fairground.

This is all relatively ok, until we start to see that everything is not quite as it seems. The boys are shunned by local residents, their entire education comes from a children’s encyclopaedia that has missing pages, and they have socialisation days. When a visiting resident tells them that Margate isn’t Margate, and that the pills are making them sick, Vincent starts to question the world around him. All is curated by Alastair Roach, a well respected doctor who established the Sycamore Scheme. He is uber-confident and his curious mind knows no bounds… or boundaries for that matter.


The Book of Guilt explores an alternative ending to WWII and the implications it had on Britain - if that doesn’t set the premise for an uncomfortable read I don’t know what will. From the beginning this book feels eerie. There’s an air of foreboding and you just know that something is not right. I found this to be a compelling read and I loved how invested I was in the cast of characters and their stories; my jaw dropped on a few occasions! I love how Chidgey writes and I absolutely adore how she takes moral dilemmas and pushes us outside our comfort zones. A fantastic book that will sit with you for a long time after reading it.

This review will be posted on Instagram @getting.back.to.books and anotherchapterpodcast.ie - with sincere thanks to NetGalley andJohn Murray Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Guilt is a dystopian novel set in an alternate 1970s Britain. It follows triplets Vincent, William, and Lawrence, who live in Sycamore House, cared for by three “Mothers”. Their lives are controlled by strict rules and mysterious medicine, As the government begins to wind down the Sycamore Project, unsettling truths about their upbringing and purpose come to light..

The book raises questions about what it means to be human and the ethics of medical research A real must-read for lovers of dystopian fiction.

This book is so skilfully written. The drip feeding of information about the boys and the real purpose of the Sycamore homes is perfectly timed as the details of their lives are slowly revealed. Highly recommended.

I wasn't a fan of Chidgey's last release, but since this one sounded so different, I thought my opinion might change. I don't think I like her style of writing; she's just not an author that I think is for me. Again, a fab synopsis that I wasn't a fan of its execution.

This was a strange read for me it was very odd and I found it hard to get engaged with it at all.
I actually felt like I was wading through treacle plodding on from chapter to chapter, I dislike not finishing a book so did read till the end but it just wasn’t for me.
Hopefully other readers will enjoy more
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the Arc.

Reminiscent of some of the themes In Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" the children of the Sycamore homes are shunned for reasons the reader is not made aware of initially and live very strange, sheltered lives due to their illnesses.
The situation in the homes is well described and the various books, of knowledge, of guilt and of dreams are pivotal to the children's daily lives.
However all is not as it seems nad as the homes are wound down and the children are sought places in society to live the clarity this brings to the central characters is heartbreaking.
A thought provoking read.

After all the incredible reviews, I was enormously excited to read this. Sadly, I really didn't love it at all. Reminded me of Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go' but no where near as good.

It is an odd story. Neither the characters, nor the plot engaged me at all. Read to the end because it was a quick easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC

This book is a hybrid of dystopia and thriller and I felt it to be slightly ill at ease with both genres.

It is based on the premise of a fictitious post-war government scheme that used research conducted in the camps during the war in order to advance the countries medical knowledge to benefit its citizens. Most of them anyway -unless you were unfortunate enough to be living in one of the Sycamore Homes, like Vincent, William and Lawrence, triplets who are the last residents in one of these homes isolated from the public and being looked after by Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night.

Right from the beginning the reader has a feeling of unease and foreboding, there are too many things that don’t seem to be quite right. This feeling becomes certainty as the story evolves and more of the lives of the boys as well as the machinations of powerful political drivers behind the scheme are revealed.

The story explores themes of gene technology and the ethics of medical research as well as the fundamental questions of what is a life, what is it worth and are there lives more worthy than others? This exploration remains very much at surface level but it does invite the reader to ponder their own answers to these questions.

I am grateful to NetGalley and John Murray Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s rare to come across a novel so flawlessly crafted in every aspect. This is nothing short of a masterclass in writing! Read it, and be sure to spread the word.

Vincent, William and Lawrence are triplets and the last remaining children at Sycamore House, a secluded home in the New Forest in England in 1979. The children’s dreams, their behaviour, their sins are recorded in various books and they are watched over by mother morning, mother afternoon, mother night. When the government decides to close down Sycamore House, the boys lives begin to unravel. Bit by bit they begin to suspect that something else is at play. When they are allowed to socialise with girls from another home, one of the girls, Jane, tells Vincent that the medicine they are given everyday is actually what makes them sick. Vincent doesn’t take his pills and starts to feel better, better than he has in a long time, then Jane disappears, gone to the utopia that is Margate where all the children seem to end up and where the boys fervently hope to go too.

I loved this book, a dystopian novel, the really asks are some lives worth more than others? Catherine is such a wonderful storyteller and each book is different and unique.

#TheBookOfGuilt. #NetGalley