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Killing Kindness: It's cruel to be kind
The Six will never forget the horrific summer of 1992.
Every night, the teenagers partied in a disused mill. They thought the good times would never end. They were wrong.
The kindest member, Simon, disappeared. His backpack was found by a river, near a body. Simon was never seen again.
Fast forward to 2021. The estranged group attends a reunion at the mill, now a hotel owned by Simon’s sister. No one knows who organised the gathering. Everyone has a damning secret.
Truths about the events of 1992 are revealed as the death count rises.
Someone wants revenge. Their to kill kindness in others. After all, being kind was Simon’s downfall.
The Six-minus one must learn a deadly lesson…
It’s cruel to be kind.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers full of tension and revelations, Killing Kindness is for you.
Every night, the teenagers partied in a disused mill. They thought the good times would never end. They were wrong.
The kindest member, Simon, disappeared. His backpack was found by a river, near a body. Simon was never seen again.
Fast forward to 2021. The estranged group attends a reunion at the mill, now a hotel owned by Simon’s sister. No one knows who organised the gathering. Everyone has a damning secret.
Truths about the events of 1992 are revealed as the death count rises.
Someone wants revenge. Their to kill kindness in others. After all, being kind was Simon’s downfall.
The Six-minus one must learn a deadly lesson…
It’s cruel to be kind.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers full of tension and revelations, Killing Kindness is for you.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2022
35 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Sell
10 books85 followersLisa Sell is an author of mystery, thriller, and crime novels. Her novels can be dark, nostalgic, serious, and humorous.
A sense of place in her writing is important to Lisa. Her books are often set in Oxfordshire and Dorset.
When she's not writing, Lisa is usually cat wrangling, adding cheese to most dishes, or tackling her to-be-read pile of books.
Find out more about Lisa and her books in the following places:
Facebook: lisasellwriter
Instagram: lisasellwriter
A sense of place in her writing is important to Lisa. Her books are often set in Oxfordshire and Dorset.
When she's not writing, Lisa is usually cat wrangling, adding cheese to most dishes, or tackling her to-be-read pile of books.
Find out more about Lisa and her books in the following places:
Facebook: lisasellwriter
Instagram: lisasellwriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 19, 2022
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I was instantly engrossed in this thrilling mystery. Captivating secrets made this a juicy and enticing read! Perfect spooky read for October.
Summer of 1992…They called themselves The Six. A group of six teenagers that spent their summers together, hanging out at the creepy abandoned mill every evening. Until Simon disappeared.
Summer of 2021…Simon’s sister Charlotte has renovated the old mill as a memorial to her brother and invited the remaining five to join her for a reunion and celebration of life.
“An Invitation
You are invited to a celebration of our beloved
Simon Pritchard’s life.
Since his disappearance in 1992, we have cherished
our memories of Simon.
Now we want to celebrate the sixteen years we had with him. Please bring your photographs, stories, and love for Simon. Buffet and drinks provided.
Date: Friday 20 August 2021
Time: 2pm Location:
The Mill Bed and Breakfast, Trillhaven, Dorset.
No need to RSVP. You will come.”
#killingkindness #LisaSell #booktour #booktourhost #newrelease #howluckyami #honestreview #usbookreviewer #ireadbooks #ireviewbooks #ilovereading #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks#cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations
Summer of 1992…They called themselves The Six. A group of six teenagers that spent their summers together, hanging out at the creepy abandoned mill every evening. Until Simon disappeared.
Summer of 2021…Simon’s sister Charlotte has renovated the old mill as a memorial to her brother and invited the remaining five to join her for a reunion and celebration of life.
“An Invitation
You are invited to a celebration of our beloved
Simon Pritchard’s life.
Since his disappearance in 1992, we have cherished
our memories of Simon.
Now we want to celebrate the sixteen years we had with him. Please bring your photographs, stories, and love for Simon. Buffet and drinks provided.
Date: Friday 20 August 2021
Time: 2pm Location:
The Mill Bed and Breakfast, Trillhaven, Dorset.
No need to RSVP. You will come.”
#killingkindness #LisaSell #booktour #booktourhost #newrelease #howluckyami #honestreview #usbookreviewer #ireadbooks #ireviewbooks #ilovereading #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks#cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations
October 16, 2022
KILLING KINDNESS is a gripping crime/mystery thriller by Lisa Sell.
Sixteen-year-old Simon Pritchard disappeared in 1992. He disappeared by the river. A bloody corpse was found nearby.
Simon had been one of the Group of Six in the Summer of 1992: The Six, a group of teenagers, met in an abandoned mill every night. They thought they were invincible until Simon, a kind young man, disappeared.
The six comprised of six sixteen-year-old teenagers, who spent their summer holidays always together. The gang of 1992 included Alex, Kat, Joe, Stevie, Erin and Simon. Then on Aug 21, 1992 the group of six broke up.
Now only five members of the group of six, remain. They include:
Alex-the Farm Boy
Joe-the Leader
Kat-the Princess
Stevie-the Clown
Erin-the thinker
Charlette, Simon’s sister had bought the old flour mill and renovated it. The mill was a memorial to Simon, when the group of six claimed it in 1992.
Now in August 2021, his friends gather for a memorial weekend to celebrate Simon’s life. All the remaining five members felt responsible for Simon’s disappearance, and planned to hide
What follows is a deadly game of cat and mouse, with the body count rising. Someone is killing kindness.
This was a well written mystery/crime thriller that is sure to please.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Sixteen-year-old Simon Pritchard disappeared in 1992. He disappeared by the river. A bloody corpse was found nearby.
Simon had been one of the Group of Six in the Summer of 1992: The Six, a group of teenagers, met in an abandoned mill every night. They thought they were invincible until Simon, a kind young man, disappeared.
The six comprised of six sixteen-year-old teenagers, who spent their summer holidays always together. The gang of 1992 included Alex, Kat, Joe, Stevie, Erin and Simon. Then on Aug 21, 1992 the group of six broke up.
Now only five members of the group of six, remain. They include:
Alex-the Farm Boy
Joe-the Leader
Kat-the Princess
Stevie-the Clown
Erin-the thinker
Charlette, Simon’s sister had bought the old flour mill and renovated it. The mill was a memorial to Simon, when the group of six claimed it in 1992.
Now in August 2021, his friends gather for a memorial weekend to celebrate Simon’s life. All the remaining five members felt responsible for Simon’s disappearance, and planned to hide
What follows is a deadly game of cat and mouse, with the body count rising. Someone is killing kindness.
This was a well written mystery/crime thriller that is sure to please.
Many thanks to the author and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
October 18, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you @ZooloosBT, @LisaSellAuthor, and @RedDragonBooks for my #giftedbook!
Killing Kindness is an intriguing thriller that hooks you from page one! Told in a dual timeline, we learn the truth about the 1992 incident while understanding it through adult eyes in 2021. I love the characters. Their backstories and 90s cultural references give the story depth. I was a teenager in 1992 and I get why the six acted as they did. The descriptions definitely brought me back.
Filled with the drama only a group of 6 teens can bring, this book is well written and fast paced. The author brilliantly alternates between 1992 and 2021. I loved the suspense as the reunion neared and we learned more about why it was happening. All is definitely not as it seems and I found myself empathizing with the characters while suspecting each of them as we learned what they did and didn't do.
I highly recommend it! The change of perspective combined with the unique twist at the end will leave you flabbergasted as you won't see it coming! Yet it will all make sense.
Killing Kindness is an intriguing thriller that hooks you from page one! Told in a dual timeline, we learn the truth about the 1992 incident while understanding it through adult eyes in 2021. I love the characters. Their backstories and 90s cultural references give the story depth. I was a teenager in 1992 and I get why the six acted as they did. The descriptions definitely brought me back.
Filled with the drama only a group of 6 teens can bring, this book is well written and fast paced. The author brilliantly alternates between 1992 and 2021. I loved the suspense as the reunion neared and we learned more about why it was happening. All is definitely not as it seems and I found myself empathizing with the characters while suspecting each of them as we learned what they did and didn't do.
I highly recommend it! The change of perspective combined with the unique twist at the end will leave you flabbergasted as you won't see it coming! Yet it will all make sense.
October 8, 2022
WOW what a book i loved every minute of it and didn't want it to end but also wanted to get to the end to see what happens....
A thriller with a unique story line about teenagers called the six...it is a really different way of writing a book it worked really well....Lots of twists but i never guessed the ending.
My new favourite Author.
A thriller with a unique story line about teenagers called the six...it is a really different way of writing a book it worked really well....Lots of twists but i never guessed the ending.
My new favourite Author.
October 15, 2022
A group of teenagers call themselves ‘The Six’. It is Summer 1992 and they are all having fun at the disused mill every evening - and then Simon disappears.
In Summer 2021, the five remaining all gather again for a memorial to Simon at the renovated mill.
What really happened that night back in 1992?
This is a hard review to write as I don’t want to give anything away. What I will say is that you need to read this book, it is so good! It is different to anything else I have read, completely unique. I was gripped by the story and couldn’t put it down.
‘The Six’ are interesting characters and some are more complex than others. The story takes a twist and there are some superb red herrings to throw you completely!
A story that I can’t stop thinking about and definitely a firm favourite.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Red Dragon Publishing for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
In Summer 2021, the five remaining all gather again for a memorial to Simon at the renovated mill.
What really happened that night back in 1992?
This is a hard review to write as I don’t want to give anything away. What I will say is that you need to read this book, it is so good! It is different to anything else I have read, completely unique. I was gripped by the story and couldn’t put it down.
‘The Six’ are interesting characters and some are more complex than others. The story takes a twist and there are some superb red herrings to throw you completely!
A story that I can’t stop thinking about and definitely a firm favourite.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Red Dragon Publishing for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2025
I honestly thought I'd made more notes for 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠. Its author presents a fairly basic, familiar set-up: five adults reunite at a summer camp location to face the sins of their teenage recklessness. In this case, the culmination of said sins was the loss of one of their own back in the day, the kindly 'centre' of their unruly circle of six. The author even gives "The Six" nicknames: Joe The Leader, Stevie The Clown, Kat The Princess, Alex The Farm Boy, and Erin The Thinker. The lost one for whom they've gathered in memorial, Simon, is simply referred to as kindness.
So far, so okay. We've got a bit of "IT" going on with the back and forth between the tension of Now and the intensity of Then (2021 and 1992), some "Skins" in the way these rough and very British kids (mis)behave, and perhaps a little less obvious but still notable, a structure reminiscent of "The Waves", which also focused on a group of kids struggling to reclaim their orbit around one another after the loss of their group's sun. This is a potent combination of influences, and I was glad to see both King and Woolf name-dropped later in the text.
𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 proceeds compellingly enough: the reunion turns into a reckoning. Bodies start to pile up and secrets start to seep out. But it's not all entirely smooth: the author of 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 has a sketchy relationship with semicolons, dangles participles far too often, occasionally leans too hard on stereotypes, and sometimes gets too eager in her desire to tell her readers what she perhaps doesn't think they're smart enough to get. Her dialogue flits from naturalistic teen banter to wooden character reactions depending on the nature of the scene. There are convenient coincidences that almost gave me pause: this character just happens to be in the right place to find the next victim, or that mysterious local happens to be looking out the window to see precisely what the plot needs her to see. But I dismissed these as genre tropes and kept ploughing on, because the overarching story is definitely a page-turner.
𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 captures the 90s with the authenticity of someone who was indeed there, and the present day plot is full of intrigue and juicy melodrama. It is interesting to watch The Six (minus one, always) both embody and try to escape the bondage of their designated roles, although it would be too generous to say any of them really succeed. Only Erin The Thinker has found success as a thriller writer while the rest languish in mid-life mediocrity. If there's any depth to 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 it's in the multiple interpretations of the title itself. The author spends quite a lot of time setting up the paradoxical concept, dismantling it, pondering it, and then mocking it. Her wordplay ranges from smirk-worthy to uninspired. It is...supremely average, despite her clearly thinking it all very clever.
Unfortunately, this bare adequacy extends to the plot itself: things come to a head quite messily and far too quickly. I could see the author, who has happily been offing her cast in a number of ironic ways that indicate the unknown killer knows pretty much everything about everyone, running out of pieces to move around. Barely halfway into "Killing Kindness", the story charges headlong towards a climax and we still have no real answers regarding the mysteries of either the past or the present.
Ah, shit, I thought. Here we go again. Duped by a four-star story into a two-star trainwreck ending. Fuck me.
But...if that's true, what's with the remaining page count?
Okay, let's see then...oh. OH. OH FUCK ME.
The second half of the book is just one revelation after another, and it's kinda brilliant. Deeply satisfying denouement.
So now I have given "Killing Kindness" five stars -- and read it twice.
So far, so okay. We've got a bit of "IT" going on with the back and forth between the tension of Now and the intensity of Then (2021 and 1992), some "Skins" in the way these rough and very British kids (mis)behave, and perhaps a little less obvious but still notable, a structure reminiscent of "The Waves", which also focused on a group of kids struggling to reclaim their orbit around one another after the loss of their group's sun. This is a potent combination of influences, and I was glad to see both King and Woolf name-dropped later in the text.
𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 proceeds compellingly enough: the reunion turns into a reckoning. Bodies start to pile up and secrets start to seep out. But it's not all entirely smooth: the author of 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 has a sketchy relationship with semicolons, dangles participles far too often, occasionally leans too hard on stereotypes, and sometimes gets too eager in her desire to tell her readers what she perhaps doesn't think they're smart enough to get. Her dialogue flits from naturalistic teen banter to wooden character reactions depending on the nature of the scene. There are convenient coincidences that almost gave me pause: this character just happens to be in the right place to find the next victim, or that mysterious local happens to be looking out the window to see precisely what the plot needs her to see. But I dismissed these as genre tropes and kept ploughing on, because the overarching story is definitely a page-turner.
𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 captures the 90s with the authenticity of someone who was indeed there, and the present day plot is full of intrigue and juicy melodrama. It is interesting to watch The Six (minus one, always) both embody and try to escape the bondage of their designated roles, although it would be too generous to say any of them really succeed. Only Erin The Thinker has found success as a thriller writer while the rest languish in mid-life mediocrity. If there's any depth to 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 it's in the multiple interpretations of the title itself. The author spends quite a lot of time setting up the paradoxical concept, dismantling it, pondering it, and then mocking it. Her wordplay ranges from smirk-worthy to uninspired. It is...supremely average, despite her clearly thinking it all very clever.
Unfortunately, this bare adequacy extends to the plot itself: things come to a head quite messily and far too quickly. I could see the author, who has happily been offing her cast in a number of ironic ways that indicate the unknown killer knows pretty much everything about everyone, running out of pieces to move around. Barely halfway into "Killing Kindness", the story charges headlong towards a climax and we still have no real answers regarding the mysteries of either the past or the present.
Ah, shit, I thought. Here we go again. Duped by a four-star story into a two-star trainwreck ending. Fuck me.
But...if that's true, what's with the remaining page count?
Okay, let's see then...oh. OH. OH FUCK ME.
The second half of the book is just one revelation after another, and it's kinda brilliant. Deeply satisfying denouement.
So now I have given "Killing Kindness" five stars -- and read it twice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2022
I have been a fan of Lisa's work for a while now. I haven't read everything that she has written but those books of hers that I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed. When I was offered the chance to take part in the blog tour for 'Killing Kindness', I didn't hesitate to volunteer as I knew that I would be in for a treat and then some. I wasn't to be disappointed as I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Killing Kindness' but more about that in a bit.
The synopsis of 'Killing Kindness' really caught my eye and drew me to the book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading but it didn't take me long to realise that this was a book that I would find nigh on impossible to put to one side for any length of time. I was spot on too. I had initially picked up the book only intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story that I was still sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. From then on I seemed to race through the story. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and which characters were keeping secret so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth. The pages ended up turning so quickly that it was almost as if there were turning themselves and the page numbers became a blur. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Killing Kindness'. I found 'Killing Kindness' to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
'Killing Kindness' is extremely well written and then some. Lisa certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. For me, this story initially was a bit of a slow burn type of story but as the book continued the pace of the story gathered momentum before ending in a tense and dramatic conclusion. I can't say that I really took to the characters as such because I got the distinct impression that each characters was keeping something hidden. Lisa made the characters seem just as real as you and I. The story is written using different timelines. One timeline describes what happens in the present day whilst the other timeline details events that happened in 1992, which culminated in the disappearance of Simon. The two timelines interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I really enjoyed reading 'Killing Kindness' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading of Lisa's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
The synopsis of 'Killing Kindness' really caught my eye and drew me to the book. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading but it didn't take me long to realise that this was a book that I would find nigh on impossible to put to one side for any length of time. I was spot on too. I had initially picked up the book only intending to read a chapter or two but I became so wrapped up in the story that I was still sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. From then on I seemed to race through the story. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen and which characters were keeping secret so of course I had to keep reading to see if I was anywhere near the truth. The pages ended up turning so quickly that it was almost as if there were turning themselves and the page numbers became a blur. All too quickly I reached the end of 'Killing Kindness'. I found 'Killing Kindness' to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which certainly kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat.
'Killing Kindness' is extremely well written and then some. Lisa certainly knows how to grab the reader's attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story and then some. For me, this story initially was a bit of a slow burn type of story but as the book continued the pace of the story gathered momentum before ending in a tense and dramatic conclusion. I can't say that I really took to the characters as such because I got the distinct impression that each characters was keeping something hidden. Lisa made the characters seem just as real as you and I. The story is written using different timelines. One timeline describes what happens in the present day whilst the other timeline details events that happened in 1992, which culminated in the disappearance of Simon. The two timelines interlink well and the story flows seamlessly as a result. I love the way in which the author makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I really enjoyed reading 'Killing Kindness' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading of Lisa's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
October 23, 2022
A psychological thriller with a dual timeline by an author who is definitely at the top of my list of favourites. Killing Kindness is a book I have been waiting for, and impatiently at that! The cover reveal made me want it even more and the blurb just absolutely hammered it home.
We meet the 'The Six', a group of friends who meet every night at a disused mill every evening to mess about and have a laugh and then Simon, one of 'The Six' disappears. Fast forward to 2021 and they are all meeting up at the mill that's now all renovated for a memorial for Simon.
The question is what happened back on that night in 1992?
Such a clever, unique and oh so intriguing book. I always expect a superbly written book by Lisa Sell but Killing Kindness has to be her best book yet! The setting is so vividly detailed it took me back to the 1990s easily. The characters themselves have been created so realistically, I felt I could have been with by their sides as the story played out.
The setting, the characters and the original way this story has been written created a depth to the plot that held me in one spot, reading. I found it such an addictive read. The way the tension builds and the anticipation of what will happen next had me wishing I could read a book backwards, just to know!
Lisa Sell has written this in such a different way that it surprised me in its ingenuity. The build up to the twists, turns was exceptional and, omg the big plot twist that surprised the heck out of me too. Such a riveting and stunning read which has now highered my expectations of psychological thrillers! I have even even more boxes to tick now. I can't recommend Killing Kindness enough!
Thanks to Zoo Loos Book Tours for my invite to the tour and the ARC.
We meet the 'The Six', a group of friends who meet every night at a disused mill every evening to mess about and have a laugh and then Simon, one of 'The Six' disappears. Fast forward to 2021 and they are all meeting up at the mill that's now all renovated for a memorial for Simon.
The question is what happened back on that night in 1992?
Such a clever, unique and oh so intriguing book. I always expect a superbly written book by Lisa Sell but Killing Kindness has to be her best book yet! The setting is so vividly detailed it took me back to the 1990s easily. The characters themselves have been created so realistically, I felt I could have been with by their sides as the story played out.
The setting, the characters and the original way this story has been written created a depth to the plot that held me in one spot, reading. I found it such an addictive read. The way the tension builds and the anticipation of what will happen next had me wishing I could read a book backwards, just to know!
Lisa Sell has written this in such a different way that it surprised me in its ingenuity. The build up to the twists, turns was exceptional and, omg the big plot twist that surprised the heck out of me too. Such a riveting and stunning read which has now highered my expectations of psychological thrillers! I have even even more boxes to tick now. I can't recommend Killing Kindness enough!
Thanks to Zoo Loos Book Tours for my invite to the tour and the ARC.
September 28, 2022
An interesting concept for a book and an interesting way of writing the story. The plot revolves around a group of teenagers, the six, who enrol to work at a summer school and so live, work and socialise together for a number of weeks. This, in itself is a voyage of discovery and new freedoms so makes for some interesting dynamics. One of the six then dies, mysteriously so brings a dark and tragic edge to an otherwise idyllic summer.
The story then flips to the modern day and a reunion for the remainder of the group as a memorial event for the deceased friend. This is all very well and good and a fascinating insight into how everyone’s lives have since panned out until the friends, one by one start to die in mysterious circumstances with hints alluding to the death of the original victim.
I love these mysteries which centre on previous misdeeds and in an enclosed environment where any one person could be the perpetrator. The narrative is written interestingly enough in the form of a book by one of the characters and with input from all of the participants. The whole thing, however, didn’t quite grab my interest entirely and I wasn’t quite as compelled as I thought I might be. One to try though and a great premise.
The story then flips to the modern day and a reunion for the remainder of the group as a memorial event for the deceased friend. This is all very well and good and a fascinating insight into how everyone’s lives have since panned out until the friends, one by one start to die in mysterious circumstances with hints alluding to the death of the original victim.
I love these mysteries which centre on previous misdeeds and in an enclosed environment where any one person could be the perpetrator. The narrative is written interestingly enough in the form of a book by one of the characters and with input from all of the participants. The whole thing, however, didn’t quite grab my interest entirely and I wasn’t quite as compelled as I thought I might be. One to try though and a great premise.
October 18, 2022
It is not often I ask myself this question but it is incredibly apparent for Killing Kindness… why can I not give more than just 5 stars!!!
Killing Kindness is the new release by author Lisa Sell and it is one hell of an incredible unique novel. It is actually genius!
Following the story of The Six in 92 and the Six minus one in 21.
The chapters alternate between the six best friends enjoying the summer of 92 until one of them disappears and the memorial week of the six minus one being reunited to celebrate the life of their missing friend.
Both parts of the story of the six were filled with life, friendship, troubles and deceit. this was one intense storyline that will keep you turning those pages and just as the story has you completely hooked BAM there is one hell of a twist!!
But, as you keep reading, you become more and more shocked and horrified by what you have read and what you are still reading and then, then there is the ending and WHAT a bloody ending that was!!
This is definitely going to be a book of the month for me, and a serious contender for the book of the year.
When I say this book was the work of a genius I am not exaggerating… and you must order and read this book. Absolutely incredible!!!
Killing Kindness is the new release by author Lisa Sell and it is one hell of an incredible unique novel. It is actually genius!
Following the story of The Six in 92 and the Six minus one in 21.
The chapters alternate between the six best friends enjoying the summer of 92 until one of them disappears and the memorial week of the six minus one being reunited to celebrate the life of their missing friend.
Both parts of the story of the six were filled with life, friendship, troubles and deceit. this was one intense storyline that will keep you turning those pages and just as the story has you completely hooked BAM there is one hell of a twist!!
But, as you keep reading, you become more and more shocked and horrified by what you have read and what you are still reading and then, then there is the ending and WHAT a bloody ending that was!!
This is definitely going to be a book of the month for me, and a serious contender for the book of the year.
When I say this book was the work of a genius I am not exaggerating… and you must order and read this book. Absolutely incredible!!!
October 16, 2022
First, I want to thank Lisa Sell, Red Dragon Books, and Zooloo Book Tours for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
Killing Kindness written by Lisa Sell was a quick fast paced read that will keep you entertained. However, It reminded me of another book I had read a while ago.
Lisa opens the book in a very unique way by inviting her readers to a celebration of life for the late Simon Pritchard. This is not just any invite though! Oh no you are expected to come and not requested! It was there and then that I knew this celebration of life would be different.
The Killing Kindness is referenced in the book many times and you will understand the meaning behind the title.
If you like reunion books with a lot of mystery and suspense this is the read for you.
As the next few chapters go on we are introduced to each of the 6 that are invited to celebrate Simon. We get a glimpse into their backstory as well. However, it was odd that they were all hiding their guilt for what really happened that night.
Lisa incorporates some topics that may be sensitive to readers such as suicide, alcoholism, etc.
Killing Kindness written by Lisa Sell was a quick fast paced read that will keep you entertained. However, It reminded me of another book I had read a while ago.
Lisa opens the book in a very unique way by inviting her readers to a celebration of life for the late Simon Pritchard. This is not just any invite though! Oh no you are expected to come and not requested! It was there and then that I knew this celebration of life would be different.
The Killing Kindness is referenced in the book many times and you will understand the meaning behind the title.
If you like reunion books with a lot of mystery and suspense this is the read for you.
As the next few chapters go on we are introduced to each of the 6 that are invited to celebrate Simon. We get a glimpse into their backstory as well. However, it was odd that they were all hiding their guilt for what really happened that night.
Lisa incorporates some topics that may be sensitive to readers such as suicide, alcoholism, etc.
October 22, 2022
What a unique and original book. Written in dual timeline, 1992 and 2021 and in two parts, the first part show the incident as it happened in 1992 before the truth of the matter is told by the adults in 2021. This is brilliantly written and constructed and well paced throughout, a good closed room mystery.
Briefly, 5 people are attending a celebration in memory of one of their number Simon, who disappeared in 1992. The venue is the same place he disappeared, an old mill that his sister has renovated. All five of them are hiding secrets but someone else knows!
Five very different and complex characters and it was interesting to see how each of the five reacted to the events of that day and how their future lives were affected. Some good red herrings made it hard to figure out who the killer is but it all comes together with a very satisfying conclusion. At times dark and disturbing this was an unusually put together book and worth a read.
Briefly, 5 people are attending a celebration in memory of one of their number Simon, who disappeared in 1992. The venue is the same place he disappeared, an old mill that his sister has renovated. All five of them are hiding secrets but someone else knows!
Five very different and complex characters and it was interesting to see how each of the five reacted to the events of that day and how their future lives were affected. Some good red herrings made it hard to figure out who the killer is but it all comes together with a very satisfying conclusion. At times dark and disturbing this was an unusually put together book and worth a read.
October 23, 2022
In 1992 there are The Six, but on the final day of the holiday club, things will never be the same again. It's now nearly 30 years later and each remainder of The Six receives an invitation. This is an invitation they cannot ignore, they each have a secret and all individually had a hand in the disappearance of when Simon went missing. They now all need to face their past, keep their secrets a secret; and try not to die.
This is a great novel that is very fast-paced and will keep you guessing until the end.
Sell writes with the chapters switching between the past and present allowing the reader to have more depth into the characters, this is something I really enjoyed as well as the short chapters which switched between the characters POV's; which added to the reader keeping engaged.
This was my first read by this author and it won't be my last, such an exciting thriller I didn't want to put down.
This is a great novel that is very fast-paced and will keep you guessing until the end.
Sell writes with the chapters switching between the past and present allowing the reader to have more depth into the characters, this is something I really enjoyed as well as the short chapters which switched between the characters POV's; which added to the reader keeping engaged.
This was my first read by this author and it won't be my last, such an exciting thriller I didn't want to put down.
June 30, 2025
Wow, this totally blew me away. The original group are invited to a memorial for a friend who died years earlier. When they arrive, all harbour guilt about events from that time and it is clear that someone is out for revenge.
The story is told from the POV of each of the group and the timeline alternates also between the past and the present day. It really worked for me as we got to know the group closely and discover what happened and what secrets they are harbouring. As the murders occur, I was totally clueless as to who the killer was. I was edging in one direction and then totally thrown. There were many twists in this quite devious tale and I loved trying to figure out who the unreliable narrator was. The story veered off into a tale of fiction versus real events, which was a surprising and very clever action and took me totally by surprise and ensured I had to keep reading to read what actually was the truth.
There was still time for a further wild twist that left me reeling. What a book.
The story is told from the POV of each of the group and the timeline alternates also between the past and the present day. It really worked for me as we got to know the group closely and discover what happened and what secrets they are harbouring. As the murders occur, I was totally clueless as to who the killer was. I was edging in one direction and then totally thrown. There were many twists in this quite devious tale and I loved trying to figure out who the unreliable narrator was. The story veered off into a tale of fiction versus real events, which was a surprising and very clever action and took me totally by surprise and ensured I had to keep reading to read what actually was the truth.
There was still time for a further wild twist that left me reeling. What a book.
October 24, 2022
Goodness, what an absolute page turner, Killing Kindness is definitely a stand out read, if has a plot line so cleverly woven it flows smoothly connecting the decades , we follow the lives of The Six, a group of teenagers who met up every evening in the summer of 1992, then one evening, Simon one of the group disappears. Forward to the present day and the remaining 5 friends meet up for a celebration in the memory of their friend back at The Old Mill, their regular haunt of a carefree youth.
Things start to take a sinister turn and life’s are in danger as past and present are about to collide, secrets are revealed and friendships are about to implode, a celebration and get together between friends becomes a nightmare and fight for survival.
A thrilling murder mystery that will keep you guessing, and actually has an ending where you can say, wow, I didn’t see that coming.
Things start to take a sinister turn and life’s are in danger as past and present are about to collide, secrets are revealed and friendships are about to implode, a celebration and get together between friends becomes a nightmare and fight for survival.
A thrilling murder mystery that will keep you guessing, and actually has an ending where you can say, wow, I didn’t see that coming.
September 20, 2022
In the summer of 1992, six teenagers are at a summer club , by day they are tasked with helping in the running of the club , at night they roam free and get together at a disused mill ..' The six ' as they call themselves each have their own idiosyncrasies..and each have their own reasons to be there ...but that summer one of the six , Simon vanishes and is never found ..In 2021 ..nineteen years later , the five remaining friends are invited back to the refurbished mill for a memorial for Simon ..At a time of remembrance..will come a tsunami of events that will stay with the residents of Trillhaven and beyond ....an unimaginable darkness ...Killing Kindness is my third read by Lisa Sell ...What a Cold Clever Stunning read with one of the best plot twists I have ever read ....
September 27, 2022
Killing Kindness is a very unusually structured book.
Five old friends reunite for a remembrance gathering of Simon, 29 years since his mysterious disappearance. It is being hosted by Simon’s sister Charlotte, who now runs the beautiful venue, where the sad events happened all those years ago.
What is planned as a celebration of life, turns rather macabre, but who is responsible?
It is quite tricky to review, as it would be extremely easy to give away some of the plot/story structure unintentionally.
I genuinely haven’t read anything similar, which is quite an achievement for the author, considering how much of this genre I read.
Five old friends reunite for a remembrance gathering of Simon, 29 years since his mysterious disappearance. It is being hosted by Simon’s sister Charlotte, who now runs the beautiful venue, where the sad events happened all those years ago.
What is planned as a celebration of life, turns rather macabre, but who is responsible?
It is quite tricky to review, as it would be extremely easy to give away some of the plot/story structure unintentionally.
I genuinely haven’t read anything similar, which is quite an achievement for the author, considering how much of this genre I read.
October 21, 2022
I've been looking forward to reading this for ages, when Lisa first revealed the idea, I was hooked.
A group of teenagers are at a camp in the Summer of 1992, they call themselves the six and each have a nickname, such as the Thinker and Leader. However one of them doesn't survive the summer, Simon disappears.
When those remaining get a call demanding their presence at a memorial, the story starts to unravel what happened. Its impossible to say more. My feelings towards each character changed throughout, there are many red herrings, and the story is so cleverly written, paced and told its a true breath of fresh air to read.
I wish I could find the words to do it more justice, but can't.
A group of teenagers are at a camp in the Summer of 1992, they call themselves the six and each have a nickname, such as the Thinker and Leader. However one of them doesn't survive the summer, Simon disappears.
When those remaining get a call demanding their presence at a memorial, the story starts to unravel what happened. Its impossible to say more. My feelings towards each character changed throughout, there are many red herrings, and the story is so cleverly written, paced and told its a true breath of fresh air to read.
I wish I could find the words to do it more justice, but can't.
October 24, 2022
Killing kindness by Lisa Sell.
Summer 1992: The Six, a group of teenagers, met in a disused mill every night. They thought they were invincible until Simon, a kind young man, disappeared.
Summer 2021: The Six - minus Simon - gather at the renovated mill for his memorial. The reunion begins and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. The body count rises. Someone is killing kindness. It's cruel to be kind...
I did enjoy this book but the 2nd half did surprise me. That was a twist I didn't expect. I liked most of the characters although Erin I wasn't sure about. The 2nd part was different. Very clever. 4*.
Summer 1992: The Six, a group of teenagers, met in a disused mill every night. They thought they were invincible until Simon, a kind young man, disappeared.
Summer 2021: The Six - minus Simon - gather at the renovated mill for his memorial. The reunion begins and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. The body count rises. Someone is killing kindness. It's cruel to be kind...
I did enjoy this book but the 2nd half did surprise me. That was a twist I didn't expect. I liked most of the characters although Erin I wasn't sure about. The 2nd part was different. Very clever. 4*.
November 6, 2022
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by Lisa and the concept of it really appealed to me.
Each chapter is told by alternating between the six friends who all themselves The Six.
In the summer of 1992 they would meet every night in an unused mill. They thought they were invincible until one of them died.
When they meet nineteen years later for his memorial…a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues…
I LOVED this book! I’ve been in a bit of a book slump recently and this has definitely given me my mojo back! There were so many twists and turns it made me dizzy, but kept me guessing till the end! I would highly recommend this gripping and addictive book, five shiny stars!
Each chapter is told by alternating between the six friends who all themselves The Six.
In the summer of 1992 they would meet every night in an unused mill. They thought they were invincible until one of them died.
When they meet nineteen years later for his memorial…a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues…
I LOVED this book! I’ve been in a bit of a book slump recently and this has definitely given me my mojo back! There were so many twists and turns it made me dizzy, but kept me guessing till the end! I would highly recommend this gripping and addictive book, five shiny stars!
October 11, 2022
I really liked the idea of the book. Six friends, one disappears and years later, the other five meet up.
I found some of the clues a bit obvious. When Stevie revealed herself as a vicar, I’d already guessed that.
I preferred the ending and hearing from the other characters involved. Though I found the comments to each other a bit strange to read. For me, a chapter on each character would have answered any questions.
This was an enjoyable read all in all, and I would read more by the same author.
I found some of the clues a bit obvious. When Stevie revealed herself as a vicar, I’d already guessed that.
I preferred the ending and hearing from the other characters involved. Though I found the comments to each other a bit strange to read. For me, a chapter on each character would have answered any questions.
This was an enjoyable read all in all, and I would read more by the same author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2022
Not your regular murder mystery, it portrays the savage and dark side of the teenagers with such elegance that you will be spellbound.
YA crime thriller, story revolves around six friends also known as "The Six". Plotline is like a pretzel with twists and turns, crisp and soft, sweet and salty. Interesting and complex characters which I admire the most. Very engaging and nail biting work by the author. Once started reading, it will be difficult to put it down, I read it a one go last night. Still in a trance about what I read. It's gruesome yet beautiful.
YA crime thriller, story revolves around six friends also known as "The Six". Plotline is like a pretzel with twists and turns, crisp and soft, sweet and salty. Interesting and complex characters which I admire the most. Very engaging and nail biting work by the author. Once started reading, it will be difficult to put it down, I read it a one go last night. Still in a trance about what I read. It's gruesome yet beautiful.
September 22, 2022
Well, this book really blew me away!
The format and structure were a pleasing surprise and I just loved how it all panned out. I love an unreliable narrator but this book gives you that and much more. The writing is just so different.
The character development was interesting and with each turn of the page I was left readjusting my feelings on each character, which I love.
I think this must be Lisa’s best book yet!
The format and structure were a pleasing surprise and I just loved how it all panned out. I love an unreliable narrator but this book gives you that and much more. The writing is just so different.
The character development was interesting and with each turn of the page I was left readjusting my feelings on each character, which I love.
I think this must be Lisa’s best book yet!
September 29, 2022
A group of teens, the six, spend a summer working at an activity centre. At the end of the summer one of their group disappears and its thought he took his own life. Fast forward in time, all our now adults and they are invited to a memorial weekend for their friend. This book is set out in an intriguing way, part story of their summer written by one of the group, the meet up as adults and then the actual truth comes out following a series of brutal murders. Absolutely gripping.
October 4, 2022
With a dual timeline of 1992 and 2021, Killing Kindness keeps its secrets to the very end, keeping the reader hooked. No spoilers from me but Lisa Sell has spun a clever tale here with an unusual "split" format that works really well. The Six reminded me of another group of school friends who had a reunion years down the line in the hope of putting the past to rest. No "Pennywise" here but this tale will keep you guessing til the last.
October 17, 2022
The way the author present this storyline using dual timelines will grip you from the start and the continued buildup of tension and secrets will keep you wanting to turn the pages and finish it while at the same time wanting to savior the journey. The journey that this six characters are on is one of new freedoms and discoveries that lead to quite the unexpected ending. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reading copy of this book.
October 17, 2022
This is an incredible read that I couldn't put down and I didn't want to end.
The writing was engaging and kept me gripped all the way through, the characters were well developed and so multilayeredand I LOVED the style/format of the book, it was so interesting and original I dont think I have read anything like it before.
The pacing is fast, it is compelling and full of twists. I would highly recommend reading this book, I am still thinking about it and will be for a while to come I think.
The writing was engaging and kept me gripped all the way through, the characters were well developed and so multilayeredand I LOVED the style/format of the book, it was so interesting and original I dont think I have read anything like it before.
The pacing is fast, it is compelling and full of twists. I would highly recommend reading this book, I am still thinking about it and will be for a while to come I think.
September 22, 2022
A stunning thriller with a unique story line that will keep you guessing to the end! I loved the twists, and the change in pace about halfway through was... surprising (in a good way!). It added an extra edge to everything I'd just read, and took the story to another level. Brilliant, well thought out, and interspersed with 1990s nostalgia, it's a great read I highly recommend.
September 24, 2022
Wow. This book was amazing. My favourite book by Lisa, so far. Loved the format, was very clever. Enjoyed going back and too from 1992 to 2021. Her characters are well written and she knows how to being them to life. The plot was just perfect and I was kept guessing. I would give this book 10 stars if I could. Next book soon, please, Lisa.
November 12, 2022
What an interesting read! I loved the unique writing style and felt like the characters were well written and helped develop the story.
As the story changed, the twists and turns just kept coming. So much more information with every page and I just didn't see what was coming, kept me gripped til the last page. I enjoyed the change in writing style , it was unexpected and unique.
As the story changed, the twists and turns just kept coming. So much more information with every page and I just didn't see what was coming, kept me gripped til the last page. I enjoyed the change in writing style , it was unexpected and unique.
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