Absolutely Superb – Down The Rabbit Hole

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce is a superb contemporary psychological suspense that I just could not put down.

The author has created a marvellous plotline that is extremely well executed. We witness lives that intersect. People in the wrong places at the wrong time become embroiled in a story that is not of their own making.

We witness a broken criminal justice system. A character, guilty of hubris, believes he knows better.

Like moths to the flame, women are drawn to a weak-willed man who ultimately loves no one but himself.

A character is drowning in guilt. She does not believe that she deserves kindness. “She remembers his words in the cell, that’s tough, a kinder judge than she’s ever been to herself.” It is hard for her to trust anyone, especially those who are kind.

Guilt is the bed fellow of loss. “The past is a different country… All those hours spent in pursuit of her career, time robbed from her family, from everything that really mattered.” Only when everything is gone, does a character realise what was really important.

We join a community of women who live on the street. “It’s a small, tight-knit community… these women brought together by poverty and addiction, falling through the same cracks.” Life has dealt some a poor hand. Others have made poor choices. A helping hand is offered in the hostels.

All the characters were well drawn and believable. We follow three main protagonists who appear to be living separate lives that quickly become living nightmares.

Harriet Tyce is a new author to me (I discovered her due to watching Traitors season 4) – I intend to read more books by her. I was engrossed and entertained from the start.

A Lesson In Cruelty was psychological suspense out of the top drawer.

JULIA WILSON