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The Book Guild Ltd Fertile Ground.
‘Life never unbury a body. Granted, better advice might be don’t murder, but I guess technically I never did that. So I stand by my original statement.’Clementine Finch’s life just became complicated. Struggling with infertility in a society threatened by overpopulation, Clem returns to her childhood home to mourn the sudden death of her parents. Freedom from the extremist movement against pregnancy – #stopoverpopulation – is a welcome bonus. Reconnecting with figures from her past and chatting to the crows in her garden, Clem spends the winter months tending to her mother’s strangely thriving vegetable patch.But when her troubled brother Billy arrives, paranoid about the wellness brand he works for, Clem feels her quiet life slipping away. Then she discovers her mother’s hidden laboratory and her life is forever changed…Presenting a frighteningly believable version of our future, Fertile Ground examines one woman’s attempts to come to terms with the legacy her mother has left her. A legacy which has the potential to affect the future of every life she cares about – and those she doesn’t.
328 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 7, 2025
An interesting and surprising book that was genuinely hard to put down. Some of the descriptions were so vivid I felt like I was watching a horror film in my head. The main character was also incredibly easy to root for. Really enjoyed this one.
February 5, 2024
‘Life advice: never unbury a body. Granted, better advice might be don’t murder, but I guess technically I never did that. So I stand by my original statement.’
This is the line that got me hooked. Absolutely brilliant.
I loved Clementine from the start, and I felt for her through so much of the book. She has had to endure so much, and this book settles on topics that can be triggers. (Emotional/physical abuse, death of loved ones..)
The author portrayed it very well, and the book is very character oriented. Clem of course, and her brother Billy. They were my favourite.
It was quite an eerie plot, and there was a lot of suspense that kept me guessing. Everything intertwined and came together nicely. It was a book I struggled to put down, and finished far too soon.
I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the line that got me hooked. Absolutely brilliant.
I loved Clementine from the start, and I felt for her through so much of the book. She has had to endure so much, and this book settles on topics that can be triggers. (Emotional/physical abuse, death of loved ones..)
The author portrayed it very well, and the book is very character oriented. Clem of course, and her brother Billy. They were my favourite.
It was quite an eerie plot, and there was a lot of suspense that kept me guessing. Everything intertwined and came together nicely. It was a book I struggled to put down, and finished far too soon.
I gave this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Want to read
January 30, 2024‘Life advice: never unbury a body. Granted, better advice might be don’t murder, but I guess technically I never did that. So I stand by my original statement.’
sold
sold
March 25, 2024
This book had me hooked from start to finish - I couldn’t put it down.
The main character Clementine was intriguing, and the author showed the reader her flaws whilst keeping her as a character you were 100 per cent rooting for.
There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming (which is saying something given the number of murder mysteries/thrillers that I read!) and I just always wanted to find out what was going to happen next.
I could definitely sense the influence of Atwood in the handling of such themes as infertility and the dystopian near future setting. It was excellently done with the inclusion of messages and instagram comments which I haven’t seen done before and which I found very effective.
I can’t wait to see what Sally does next!
The main character Clementine was intriguing, and the author showed the reader her flaws whilst keeping her as a character you were 100 per cent rooting for.
There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming (which is saying something given the number of murder mysteries/thrillers that I read!) and I just always wanted to find out what was going to happen next.
I could definitely sense the influence of Atwood in the handling of such themes as infertility and the dystopian near future setting. It was excellently done with the inclusion of messages and instagram comments which I haven’t seen done before and which I found very effective.
I can’t wait to see what Sally does next!
February 2, 2024
Thanks to the bookguild for my arc copy of Fetilr Ground
This thriller really got me thinking and had me on edge at every part, as we are following Clementine, throughout her journey of being cheated on infidelity and moving into her parents old house after they have passed away due to an accident. Soon afterwards Billy Celemtine brother showed up and after some time Celemtine finds her mother Lab much to her own disguise. There is so much heartbreaking and underlying trauma 💔 with an eiree feeling below the surface in every chapter that letter thought broke me so much. I found this a hard read as it hits on some very sensitive topics.
This thriller really got me thinking and had me on edge at every part, as we are following Clementine, throughout her journey of being cheated on infidelity and moving into her parents old house after they have passed away due to an accident. Soon afterwards Billy Celemtine brother showed up and after some time Celemtine finds her mother Lab much to her own disguise. There is so much heartbreaking and underlying trauma 💔 with an eiree feeling below the surface in every chapter that letter thought broke me so much. I found this a hard read as it hits on some very sensitive topics.
October 20, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
July 1, 2024
This book is completely different to anything I have ever read before. The story is wild, the writing is quirky but serious and the characters are crazy. The writing and storytelling is so good and I could not put it down and was always questioning what was happening and trying to work out why things have happened a certain way.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and loved the opening few paragraphs, which completely grip you. I deduct a star because I am not sure about the ending, I think I wanted a bit more from it after our journey with Clementine. It seemed a little rushed. There were scenes that were quite vile and the sinister feel ran throughout the book and the pacing was fantastic.
All in all, I loved this book and would absolutely recommend to anyone who loves a sinister, creepy novel that is completely different to anything else you will have read before. I loved the premise and the idea of overpopulation and infidelity, the heartbreak and the trauma. Thankyou to Sally Grey for gifting me a copy of her book.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and loved the opening few paragraphs, which completely grip you. I deduct a star because I am not sure about the ending, I think I wanted a bit more from it after our journey with Clementine. It seemed a little rushed. There were scenes that were quite vile and the sinister feel ran throughout the book and the pacing was fantastic.
All in all, I loved this book and would absolutely recommend to anyone who loves a sinister, creepy novel that is completely different to anything else you will have read before. I loved the premise and the idea of overpopulation and infidelity, the heartbreak and the trauma. Thankyou to Sally Grey for gifting me a copy of her book.
January 24, 2025
Fertile Ground by Sally Grey sees Clementine Finch return to her childhood home shortly before Christmas.
But this isn’t a chocolate box, family singing carols around a roast turkey with all the trimmings. This is a frighteningly believable dystopian future. In fact, it’s so believable that you could easily get a fair way through Fertile Ground and thinks it’s set in a modern day English village where things are far from normal.
First up is Clementine’s turbulent relationship with her younger brother and then the particularly unsettling bond with her recently deceased mother. And that’s before you even get to the highly productive kitchen garden in the dead of winter. Something weird is definitely going on.
Sally Grey’s writing is exquisite. With her highly descriptive and emotive language you’re transported right inside the crumbling Finch cottage. Not that you’d want to spend much time amongst its rats, mice, dead crows and life-taking garden shears. There is a wonderfully sinister atmosphere to this novel which pricks at the back of your neck.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fertile Ground and the ending is great. It’s a thumbs up from me. I’d certainly recommend Fertile Ground and I hope to see more from the highly talented Sally Grey. Enjoy.
But this isn’t a chocolate box, family singing carols around a roast turkey with all the trimmings. This is a frighteningly believable dystopian future. In fact, it’s so believable that you could easily get a fair way through Fertile Ground and thinks it’s set in a modern day English village where things are far from normal.
First up is Clementine’s turbulent relationship with her younger brother and then the particularly unsettling bond with her recently deceased mother. And that’s before you even get to the highly productive kitchen garden in the dead of winter. Something weird is definitely going on.
Sally Grey’s writing is exquisite. With her highly descriptive and emotive language you’re transported right inside the crumbling Finch cottage. Not that you’d want to spend much time amongst its rats, mice, dead crows and life-taking garden shears. There is a wonderfully sinister atmosphere to this novel which pricks at the back of your neck.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fertile Ground and the ending is great. It’s a thumbs up from me. I’d certainly recommend Fertile Ground and I hope to see more from the highly talented Sally Grey. Enjoy.
June 16, 2024
Firstly Clems dad’s letter to her… 💔
I was invested from part one, this book addressed a very prevalent issue amongst women today and in the most creative way no doubt. Aside from touching on other issues including childhood trauma and emotional abuse within relationships; my heart absolutely shattered for Clementine in every stage of her story.
Along with the heartbreak and trauma there was an underlying sense of suspense throughout the plot which brought the entire plot as well as subplots together so well. The character development was superb and I really felt connected to Clementine, her brother Billy and their neighbour Dorrie.
I was invested from part one, this book addressed a very prevalent issue amongst women today and in the most creative way no doubt. Aside from touching on other issues including childhood trauma and emotional abuse within relationships; my heart absolutely shattered for Clementine in every stage of her story.
Along with the heartbreak and trauma there was an underlying sense of suspense throughout the plot which brought the entire plot as well as subplots together so well. The character development was superb and I really felt connected to Clementine, her brother Billy and their neighbour Dorrie.
August 17, 2025
10/10 - everyone must read this.
February 25, 2024
I still can’t believe this book is a debut novel, I honestly loved it and there’s nothing I can fault. I was really invested in the characters, particularly Clem, whose character definitely came alive and developed. I enjoyed the prose, the plot is told from Clem’s point of view and the atmosphere was full of energy. The plot was so fast paced with so many unexpected twists and I liked how the different plot points all pulled together seamlessly.
The topics within the book definitely add to the plots intensity and darkness. Grey has addressed and explores themes of fertility and addiction really well, which felt both raw and sensitive.
I raced through this book and didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend and even though it’s only the start of the year, I know this will be a contender for one of my favourite books of 2024!
The topics within the book definitely add to the plots intensity and darkness. Grey has addressed and explores themes of fertility and addiction really well, which felt both raw and sensitive.
I raced through this book and didn’t want to put it down. I highly recommend and even though it’s only the start of the year, I know this will be a contender for one of my favourite books of 2024!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews