House of Correction
By Nicci French
Rated: 5 stars *****

Published in September, it also makes a great read leading up to and beyond Christmas as some of the plot line focuses around that period of time, but not soley as it is is an enthralling book that takes readers from prison to the court to witness prison life, preparing for court and entering the court itself and what happens next in this standalone book.

It was to my absolute delight and excitement that Jess Barratt at Simon & Schuster had some proof copies of this book and whatsmore, sent one to me.
Thank you very much to Jess Barratt at Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy.
Read further for the blurb and full review.

Blurb

Everyone knows she killed Stuart Rees – why else would his dead body be found in her shed?
So now Tabitha is in prison, awaiting trial.

Coming back to the remote coastal village where she grew up was a mistake. She didn’t fit in then, and she doesn’t fit in now.

That day is such a blur, she can’t remember clearly what happened. There is something she is missing, something important… She only knows one thing. She is not capable of murder.

And the only one she can trust to help her out of this situation is herself.
So she must fight. Against the odds.

For her life.

Review

House of Correction is an all encompassing, absorbing book from prison to court!
The murder of Stuart Rees was brutal as Mora Piozza reads out how the fatal day played out to her client – Tabatha, who is in the House of Correction. What makes the book so fascinating is that it takes place, in part, in the lead-up to the court case and Tabitha is in prison and being questioned by officials like a doctor and solicitor. It works so well and adds to the compelling nature of the read of the book and adds to the intrigue of Tabatha and her life history and present. It’s also interesting reading her story in being prepared by her solicitor for court. Readers are then taken to the court with her to hear the case unfold further and a certain strength of character is shown mixed with some desperation to clear her name.

The story moves onto the Prosecution process and is still as enthralling as it is when it all starts. It’s great getting to know Tabitha a bit more in a court environment, but also the people she meets like Simon Brocklebank, acting for the Crown and Dr. Garner, the pathologist and others. It is all so well detailed, not heavily so, more authentically so. Every inch of this book kept me curious and keen to read on and on. It is all so fascinating as it progresses onto the Defence. It’s a whole look from prison to court. It’s a wonderful take on the crime fiction genre and it’s good and insightful and interesting with some twists in each of the four parts within the book, that create a whole, rounded story of Tabitha’s life at this period of time, which is created so well.