Baby's Breath: A Gripping Psychological Thriller with a Killer Twist

by Russell Jones

She survived the massacre. Now the real trouble begins.One minute, Erin Callahan is a hero—the teacher's aide who miraculously survived the Cedar Ridge Elementary massacre. The next, she's a pariah. The police are digging into her past. The media is turning her into a villain. The town has turned against her.

But only Erin knows why she's truly afraid.

Someone left a bouquet on her doorstep.

Tucked a plain white card with five words, neatly

I killed them for you.

Caught between a police force that sees her as a suspect and a killer who sees her as his prize, Erin must plunge into the dark past she fought to escape. Because the real monster is still out there...

398 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Jo Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Baby’s Breath by Russell Jones. A fan of his political satire books, I worried he might not pull off a thriller - I needn’t have. Twists and turns, believable characters you warmed to and some you instantly disliked, a touch of humour and most importantly a good story. Cleverly written in the first person, the book quickly ‘grabbed’ me and was a hard-to-put-down read.

[Diane 🌻 Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

What a book! Starts with a bang (no pun intended) and the adrenaline rush never slows down. Interesting characters, though not much character development which is why I deduced points.

Lots of red herrings which were handled quite well. The story had a lot of characters but just enough that I was easily able to keep track without having to go back and figuring out who someone was.

The story itself was quite good. Lots of twists and turns. Very short - I almost finished it in one sitting but was interrupted with just a couple of pages left 🙄

Am I glad I read it? For sure. Addictive from the very first page. Interesting characters, if not fully fleshed out.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with trigger warning - school shooting in first chapter. Not graphic, but unsettling nonetheless. Great twist that came out of nowhere and was executed perfectly.

[Patrick Daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan tasting read. Great author

[Paul Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's almost a "stream of consciousness" journey through the lives of some very broken people trying to deal with tragic and horrifying events both past and present. Full of twists - I do enjoy a twisty story - and with a truly shocking opening chapter that had me turning the pages to see what happens next and to find out why. It was very difficult to put this book down and I read it cover to cover in just over a day. Well known for his political books, this is Russell Jones' first novel and I sincerely hope he writes more because it is excellent. Highly recommended.

[John Spry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent psychological thriller. Set in the USA, it follows the aftermath of school shooting and the teacher of the children involved.

[Jane Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great page turner of a thriller. Unexpected twists and turns at every stage.

[Mrs S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure what to expect - I enjoy authors political satire - was a tad surprised it was set in USA but thoroughly enjoyed the book, very well paced, lots of twists and turns.

[Lucy Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was decent. Didnt see the twist coming but the signs were there. There were a few places where the characters intentions made no real sense. Felt overwritten in places. Otherwise a great debut novel

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

First novel from arch political satirist Russ Jones. No jokes, no weirdly accurate epithets for incompetent members of the British cabinet, no carefully documented panoply of end-notes to prove that what he's writing is accurate and actually happened, even if it sounds preposterous.

Instead, a headlong first-person thriller set in the US that starts with a school shooting and accelerates from there.

It's the sort of book that tempts you to swallow it in a single gulp, desperate to know what happens next. Take it a bit slower, though, and it doesn't feel quite so tightly put together. There were several points where I found myself saying 'hang on a minute' and finding it on the edge of implausibility. Glad to have read it, but I prefer his political stuff

[Ellie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this novel, but in PDF form which I struggled to read. This may have had an impact on my score. For me it's a 3.5, rounded up.

Having previously known Russ Jones for the Week in Tory content he's been posting on social media for a good while, I had no idea what to expect from this book. The first page, in which it became clear that this was a very 'American' novel, felt very jarring for me because Mr Jones has always seemed particularly British. It quickly became clear that the subject-matter, the aftermath of a high school shooting, would definitely not have been plausible in a British setting.

Erin's in her 30s and was closely involved in the shooting. Only when she has a bouquet delivered with a card that reads "I killed them for you" does she realise how closely involved she is. Erin's life turns out to be more complicated than at first it had appeared and there are a few suspects, some of whom Erin decides to follow up on herself. Sometimes things don't go so well.

The reveal towards the end was a total surprise to me, despite a few clues being seeded along the way. All in all the book was an easy and entertaining read which kept me engaged throughout.

[Alice Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby's Breath is a great read: fast-paced, well-written, with a complex protagonist and some unexpected twists and turns.

The initial premise is intriguing: a teacher survives a school shooting only to receive flowers with a card saying "I did it for you".

However Erin isn't quite the character she seems to be. Despite her caring persona at school, she soon reveals a much darker - and potentially self-destructive - streak. As she tries to find out who carried out the shooting, and why, we see her lying, cheating and carelessly ignoring the likely consequences of her actions. Yet we're still rooting for her and, as her family history is gradually revealed, we begin to understand her better.

Reading this back, I realise that this makes it sound like a slow-moving character study which it is absolutely not: it's an action-packed thriller with lots of excitement and imminent peril. But for me, it's the character of Erin and her unpredictable behaviour that really make the book stand out.

I received a free advance copy of this book but the opinions here are all my own.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be chosen to read an advance copy of this thriller and I highly recommend it.

It has a fast-paced, punchy style and the way in which the main protagonist's life skitters out of control after a sudden, tragic event is horrifyingly believable.

It's a fairly fast read but, fair warning, don't start it if you have anything pressing to do, because you absolutely won't want to put it down!

You can read the first chapter here - https://babysbreath.co.uk/chapterone....- and if you like it (which you will!) pre-order on Kindle for a discount
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Babys-Breath...

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book and couldn't put it down.

Starting with a heartbreaking tragedy, there are enough twists and turns to make a ride at Alton Towers jealous, with characters you can't help love/hate/feel sorry for (sometimes all three at the same time).

This is a far cry from Russell Jones' previous non-fiction, political satires charting the Tories' disastrous time in power and their eventual disintegration, but he still manages to slide some of his usual wit in there, a touch of light relief amongst the drama.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I did!

The writing is fast paced, plot of the book was alright, and the twist, good, but it was just missing something in the writing for me, perhaps detail that could have added to the sense of anticipation.

What really let it down, though, was the unnecessary reference (after the twist) to a certain something we hear about a lot these days, and not-so-veiled references to certain public figures, which did everything but name them. This felt silly, to me, and ruined the book somewhat, pointing to the authors political bias.

[Justin Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I must have missed something, as there seems to a lot of high reviews for something that felt a bit average.

At the start of the book it grabbed me instantly, and for the first 20 percent I was thinking where on earth is this going while my knuckles went white from the ride.

However,for me it then changed and became a much more straightforward and average thriller, and while it was enjoyable it never really managed to get back to the heights it had started on.

It's a 3.5 from me but I'd be intrigued to read something else by this author in future.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I follow Russ and love his political commentary. I'm glad I read this book and liked it enough to want to read Russ' second book.

I really want to like the main character Erin but am still not so keen on her.

Some of the events didnt feel plausible & a flawed, unreliable narrator worked up to point but I am not sure she would physically survive in the real world after what she went through.

Also in terms of her past, a lot of cards are now on the table so hope the next book is less about her story.

[Ruth Pringle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read! I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect having only known the author through his catalogues of Tory misdeeds, and I was initially surprised to have an American setting to the novel. The plot romps along with enough twists and turns to entertain the reader without becoming implausible. A likeable protagonist you can sympathise with. Definitely recommended and I look forward to more from this author.

[Kate Edgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin Callahan is unlikeable. Rude. Drunk. A smartarse, slutty, a homewrecker, a coward. Some combination of all the worst characters in White Lotus and Fleabag. And yet ... there's something unknowable, to understand how she is that way. Mother issues aside. Thankfully as the story unfolds, Erin becomes someone you want to invest in. The story around her unravels, the plots twists keep you guessing. This is a great read in the spirit of Harlan Coben, but spikier.

[Karen Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book. I was hooked from the opening chapter. Must admit that I found it difficult to like the main character, Erin, as her life is absolutely shambolic, almost ridiculous, but the story telling was superb. Did find the wrapping up of loose ends towards the end of the book a little rushed (father mentioned numerous times in the story but packed away a little too neatly at the end) perhaps.
Look forward to reading the next book from this author.

[David Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very, very good book. Absolutely not what I expected, and with wild twists and turns, and filled with some seriously broken people. I know Russ's writing from his hilarious takes on British politics, but this is a million miles from all this. Really, run, don't walk to your browser, and order this book now.

[Ciarán · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a pre-publication reader and have bought five copies of the actual book to share with friends and family.

I read this in one go and I couldn't put it down. "I did it for you" was the first tug of the carpet to keep the reader off balance as Erin's world falls apart and she realises she has to find out the truth.

Highly recommend.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting this …

I know Russell’s meanderings from social media & happily grabbed the opportunity to read his first novel. I knew he could write !
Not having read the blurb it came as some surprise to read that Cheshire Man had set his novel firmly in the States, but I loved it.
It’s a real page turner with a twist .
Give it a go, you won’t regret it .

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the real pleasure of reading an Advance Reader's copy of "Baby’s Breath" by Russell Jones. A real page turner of a thriller, with a pack of twists and turns. Also, some of the silliest and best lines I have ever read!

[Brigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant novel, first or otherwise. Didn’t quite know what to expect but ended up reading it in one sitting! Tight plot wise th completely unforeseen twists and turns and this carries on right to the last page. I am looking forward to more.

[Christine Stormont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. I don’t normally read thrillers but this one is a real page turner and is also extremely topical. The characterisation is very good and there’s a rather satisfying love story too. I recommend it.

[Pauline Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book. I couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to more novels from Russell.

[Rachel Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanted to like this. I love the author’s political satire, but couldn’t get on with this at all. Lacked credulity. Just couldn’t wait to finish it.

[Robin Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dont believe the 1 stars, it's a concerted down vote campaign by losers. It's a top quality read, twisty turning thriller.

[Nicky Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - twists and turns all the way

[Keith Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

We knew he could write satire, but could he write fiction? Absolutely! An enjoyable read that keeps you page turning to the end. Go Erin!