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On My Life
Framed. Imprisoned. Pregnant.
Jenna thought she had the perfect life: a loving fiancé, a great job, a beautiful home. Then she finds her stepdaughter murdered; her partner missing.
And the police think she did it...
Locked up to await trial, surrounded by prisoners who'd hurt her if they knew what she's accused of, certain someone close to her has framed her, Jenna knows what she needs to do:
Clear her name
Save her baby
Find the killer
But can she do it in time?
'An angry, powerful read - one of those rare crime novels with more to deliver than routine thrills.' Mick Herron, author of London Rules
'A compelling, vividly realised prison drama with a mystery at its heart. Hugely enjoyed it.' Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen
'This is an eye-opening, jaw-dropping read that will keep you up to the wee small hours.' Liz Nugent, author of Skin Deep
'Intelligent, pacy thriller... Taut, claustrophobic, fast-paced, moving. An incredibly gripping read.'Will Dean, author of Dark Pines
Jenna thought she had the perfect life: a loving fiancé, a great job, a beautiful home. Then she finds her stepdaughter murdered; her partner missing.
And the police think she did it...
Locked up to await trial, surrounded by prisoners who'd hurt her if they knew what she's accused of, certain someone close to her has framed her, Jenna knows what she needs to do:
Clear her name
Save her baby
Find the killer
But can she do it in time?
'An angry, powerful read - one of those rare crime novels with more to deliver than routine thrills.' Mick Herron, author of London Rules
'A compelling, vividly realised prison drama with a mystery at its heart. Hugely enjoyed it.' Steve Cavanagh, author of Thirteen
'This is an eye-opening, jaw-dropping read that will keep you up to the wee small hours.' Liz Nugent, author of Skin Deep
'Intelligent, pacy thriller... Taut, claustrophobic, fast-paced, moving. An incredibly gripping read.'Will Dean, author of Dark Pines
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2019
371 people are currently reading
1139 people want to read
About the author
Angela Clarke
11 books254 followersAngela Clarke is an author, playwright, columnist, screenwriter and broadcaster. Her debut crime thriller Follow Me was named Amazon’s Rising Star Debut of the Month January 2016, longlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger in the Library 2016, and shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Page Turner Award 2016. Watch Me is the second instalment in the Social Media Murder Series. Angela’s memoir Confessions of a Fashionista is an Amazon Fashion Chart bestseller. Her play, The Legacy, enjoyed its first run and rave reviews at The Hope Theatre in June 2015. She hosted the current affairs show Outspoken on Radio Verulam for six months in 2014, and has appeared on the BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, BBC Three Counties and more. Her journalist contributions include: The Guardian, Independent Magazine, The Daily Mail, Cosmopolitan, and Writing magazine. In 2015 Angela was awarded the Young Stationers' Prize for achievement and promise in writing and publishing. She volunteers with Womentoring, and the RSA Meet a Mentor scheme, and others, to help encourage and support marginalised artists into the industry. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Angela lives with her husband and far too many books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
April 14, 2019
*4.5 STARS *
I have the sweats just thinking about how horrific it must be, to be wrongly accused of the most heinous act, knowing that you’re completely innocent. This is the situation that Jenna finds herself in. Her liberty, which she took very much for granted, is gone, and whilst awaiting trial in prison, her every movement is monitored, she’s told what to do and when she can do it. In addition, there are prisoners who would happily hurt her if they knew what she’s been accused of. Her 14 year old stepdaughter Emma (who she loved dearly), is dead - brutally murdered, and Jenna’s the prime suspect - oh and Jenna’s fiancé is missing too!
Jenna knows she has to somehow prove her innocence, but how can she do that from the confines of a prison cell? She’s a dogged determined individual, who has had to overcome a difficult childhood to achieve the success she has today - a successful career that she loves, a fiancé who adores her, and a beautiful home into the bargain. Life looked decidedly rosy until the day that Jenna arrived home early to discover the most horrific and bloody murder scene.
‘On my Life’ has a particularly claustrophobic feel to it, but there is an exuberant lively pace to the writing, with the protagonist involved in some difficult, if not life threatening situations whilst awaiting trial. The author’s descriptive powers are such that one can almost feel those prison walls closing in and the panic of incarceration is palpable. In addition, this is a great whodunnit, which compels the reader ever onwards towards a thrilling climax.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Mulholland Books for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
I have the sweats just thinking about how horrific it must be, to be wrongly accused of the most heinous act, knowing that you’re completely innocent. This is the situation that Jenna finds herself in. Her liberty, which she took very much for granted, is gone, and whilst awaiting trial in prison, her every movement is monitored, she’s told what to do and when she can do it. In addition, there are prisoners who would happily hurt her if they knew what she’s been accused of. Her 14 year old stepdaughter Emma (who she loved dearly), is dead - brutally murdered, and Jenna’s the prime suspect - oh and Jenna’s fiancé is missing too!
Jenna knows she has to somehow prove her innocence, but how can she do that from the confines of a prison cell? She’s a dogged determined individual, who has had to overcome a difficult childhood to achieve the success she has today - a successful career that she loves, a fiancé who adores her, and a beautiful home into the bargain. Life looked decidedly rosy until the day that Jenna arrived home early to discover the most horrific and bloody murder scene.
‘On my Life’ has a particularly claustrophobic feel to it, but there is an exuberant lively pace to the writing, with the protagonist involved in some difficult, if not life threatening situations whilst awaiting trial. The author’s descriptive powers are such that one can almost feel those prison walls closing in and the panic of incarceration is palpable. In addition, this is a great whodunnit, which compels the reader ever onwards towards a thrilling climax.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton Mulholland Books for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
March 8, 2019
My thoughts in a nutshell
Wow, I enjoyed it! I haven't read such spine-chilling book as this one for a long time.
The story is about…
Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek.
Jenna has a happy life. She is a member of a loving family, and she has a perfect fiance. Then Jenna was arrested for what she didn't commit. She has to survive in prison and found out what happened that day.
What impressed me the most 😊
I love this book's atmosphere so much! The majority of the plot takes place in prison. I can't tell you how exciting it was! Angela Clarke did an amazing job. When I was reading, I felt like I was there with Jenna.
I felt the depressing environment of the prison cell. I was frightened when the other prisoner attacked Jenna. I thought about how terrible would be being there. How horrible is when a woman is pregnant in prison. What happens if you don't know that you're pregnant when they lock you up? What will happen to your child? It was such a fascinating insight.
I really liked the characters. Jenna was such a strong woman. She was purposeful and brave. I also like her cell-mate Kelly. They have a strong bond and they helped each other. It was good to see that.
I didn't expect the twist. I thought of a lot of things but I didn't find out. I'm such a bad guesser. It was satisfying. I like the solution.
The writing style was good. I read it in three sittings. The pacing was great but some part was too long.
What I don't like at all ☹️
At some point, the pacing was too slow and I was bored.
Make a conclusion
I gave it 4 stars because I was bored sometimes but it was an entertaining thriller.
I recommend it to anyone who loves the atmospherical thrillers. Who is interested in what life can be like in prison if the character is innocent and pregnant at the same time.
Atmosphere collage aka. how did I imagine the book vibes?
*ARC generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
February 28, 2019
Sometimes you start a book and wonder if you have chosen well, you feel a bit restless at your choice...and other times within the first few sentences you KNOW you have a gem in your hands...this book was one of those...
Jenna has a perfect life, a loving fiancé, appreciative soon to be step daughter, wealth, great job..nothing could be better or go wrong.....
We meet Jenna as she is being carted off in a prison van,accused of murdering the soon to be step daughter and her fiancé....oh and to boot for having child porn on her laptop....she is soon shut in the van cell, fearful, bullied by a guard and covered in her own vomit....
Then her problems really begin!
This incredibly well written tale then charts her time in prison, it is real, harrowing and so well researched and you really feel the terror and fear and helplessness of it all
But this is no ordinary prison story, far from it, the story goes back and forth from her happy life to this horrendous life she finds herself in where no one believes her and the other prisoners find out ‘she is’ a child killer and nonce
If this is all not stressful enough she then finds out she is pregnant!!
And just as things really cannot get any worse there is then a prison riot, so well described the tension was screaming off the pages
All this as she tries to prove she is innocent, alongside lecherous prison guards, violent women and rules and regulations so archaic it beggars belief
I love a surprise ( ok twist ) ending and pride myself on at least part guessing the outcome but this had me flawed....and when you are made aware of who is behind it all I guarantee you too will be open mouthed
The writing is smooth, encompassing and flawless and I loved every word
I am not sure I can put over how good this book really is, awesome read
( there is a fascinating authors note(s) at the end full of statistics ( non boring ones! ) and info on prisons and prisoners and also an equally interesting acknowledgments piece )
10/10 5 Stars
Jenna has a perfect life, a loving fiancé, appreciative soon to be step daughter, wealth, great job..nothing could be better or go wrong.....
We meet Jenna as she is being carted off in a prison van,accused of murdering the soon to be step daughter and her fiancé....oh and to boot for having child porn on her laptop....she is soon shut in the van cell, fearful, bullied by a guard and covered in her own vomit....
Then her problems really begin!
This incredibly well written tale then charts her time in prison, it is real, harrowing and so well researched and you really feel the terror and fear and helplessness of it all
But this is no ordinary prison story, far from it, the story goes back and forth from her happy life to this horrendous life she finds herself in where no one believes her and the other prisoners find out ‘she is’ a child killer and nonce
If this is all not stressful enough she then finds out she is pregnant!!
And just as things really cannot get any worse there is then a prison riot, so well described the tension was screaming off the pages
All this as she tries to prove she is innocent, alongside lecherous prison guards, violent women and rules and regulations so archaic it beggars belief
I love a surprise ( ok twist ) ending and pride myself on at least part guessing the outcome but this had me flawed....and when you are made aware of who is behind it all I guarantee you too will be open mouthed
The writing is smooth, encompassing and flawless and I loved every word
I am not sure I can put over how good this book really is, awesome read
( there is a fascinating authors note(s) at the end full of statistics ( non boring ones! ) and info on prisons and prisoners and also an equally interesting acknowledgments piece )
10/10 5 Stars
January 9, 2020
A Riveting Read with a Stunning Conclusion!
I am covered in her blood. Her hair is caught between my fingers. Her blood is in my hair. I can smell her. Coconut shampoo, vanilla body spray, wet metal.
Robert is missing. I don’t know where he is.
I don’t know what happened.
I only know one thing.
I didn’t do this.
********
On My Life by Angela Clarke is a fast paced, tension filled book with a completely unique story unlike anything I've ever read before. The experience that Jenna found herself in is terrifying and deplorable but was absolutely plausible. I was hooked from page one and the story never let up all the way to the final page! I easily could have read this in one sitting if time had permitted.
This is my first book by Angela Clarke and I've already purchased three more of her books that I can't wait to delve into!
I am covered in her blood. Her hair is caught between my fingers. Her blood is in my hair. I can smell her. Coconut shampoo, vanilla body spray, wet metal.
Robert is missing. I don’t know where he is.
I don’t know what happened.
I only know one thing.
I didn’t do this.
********
On My Life by Angela Clarke is a fast paced, tension filled book with a completely unique story unlike anything I've ever read before. The experience that Jenna found herself in is terrifying and deplorable but was absolutely plausible. I was hooked from page one and the story never let up all the way to the final page! I easily could have read this in one sitting if time had permitted.
This is my first book by Angela Clarke and I've already purchased three more of her books that I can't wait to delve into!
March 2, 2019
I have heard so much about this book through my various social media sites that I was desperate to read it. And having read previous books by Angela Clarke I knew that I would be in for a treat - and I was not wrong. This book was amazing and I would have read it in one go if real life hadn't gotten in the way. I was instantly hooked from the opening pages - I loved it! It was very well researched and that came through in the writing. And that twist - I was gobsmacked!!
Jenna's life has it all - a wonderful fiancé (who is also mega rich), a job that she loves and a beautiful home. Its a long way from her childhood and life couldn't get better. Is it all too good to be true? In an instant her life changes when she comes home to find her teenage step daughter murdered in their home and her partner Richard missing. And she is arrested with the murder. All of a sudden she is locked up in a women's prison where she is trying to come to terms with what has happened as well as clear her name. She tells her fellow inmates that she is in for drug related offences as the real crime would see her a target. As if this is not enough after a few days inside she discovers that she is pregnant. Feeling very alone and scared she has to adapt to prison life and try to get herself out before she loses everything.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Mulholland Books as well as Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Jenna's life has it all - a wonderful fiancé (who is also mega rich), a job that she loves and a beautiful home. Its a long way from her childhood and life couldn't get better. Is it all too good to be true? In an instant her life changes when she comes home to find her teenage step daughter murdered in their home and her partner Richard missing. And she is arrested with the murder. All of a sudden she is locked up in a women's prison where she is trying to come to terms with what has happened as well as clear her name. She tells her fellow inmates that she is in for drug related offences as the real crime would see her a target. As if this is not enough after a few days inside she discovers that she is pregnant. Feeling very alone and scared she has to adapt to prison life and try to get herself out before she loses everything.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and Mulholland Books as well as Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
March 7, 2019
I was quite apprehensive about picking this up due to the hype surrounding it but it actually deserves the noise it's generating. I was riveted after the first few pages and the short, snappy chapters created a momentum which propelled me through. The tension builds and builds with each turn of the page but the story is actually more profound and thought-provoking than just a simple thriller.
At its heart, this is novel about the state of the justice system and the fact that it is fallible. You are so expertly placed in the prison beside the women that the claustrophobia creeps off the pages and seeps into your mind, and you experience what the characters are thinking and feeling. The situation is really rather heartbreaking and a sense of utter dread underpins the entirety of the narrative. It's well worth your time if you enjoy dark, disturbing fiction/nonfiction hybrids.
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
At its heart, this is novel about the state of the justice system and the fact that it is fallible. You are so expertly placed in the prison beside the women that the claustrophobia creeps off the pages and seeps into your mind, and you experience what the characters are thinking and feeling. The situation is really rather heartbreaking and a sense of utter dread underpins the entirety of the narrative. It's well worth your time if you enjoy dark, disturbing fiction/nonfiction hybrids.
Many thanks to Mulholland Books for an ARC.
March 7, 2019
I made the mistake of starting this book a couple of days before moving house. Consequently I didn't want to pack, I didn't want to organise and throughout the move I had to know where this book was at all times (given the thousands of books we moved this was no mean feat). But, I had to know where it was so that as soon as I had a moment I'd be able to grab it and just carry on reading. From the very first page I was totally hooked and when not reading it I was thinking about it. Jenna's story is compelling from the very first word right until the end. The author expertly guided me in so many different directions that none of my guesses were even close to the truth. The prison scenes were genius and had me holding my breath on more than one occasion. Thrilling, intense, fast-paced and full of surprises I would give this book 10 stars if I could.
March 5, 2019
4.5 ⭐️ Hells bells what an exciting and engrossing read On My Life by Angela Clarke turned out to be. If you love a prison drama, then look no further, it’s definitely dramatic, the vivid prison scenes depicted by the author give a sense of malevolence that radiate from its pages, it’s a book that’s fraught with tension. The author’s depiction of HMP Fallenbrook is so convincing it doesn’t take much imagination to sense the claustrophobic feel of the prison, the constant noise, the lack of privacy, a world where violence and fighting for survival going hand in hand. This book is more than a crime thriller, it’s a searing account of one woman’s journey through a failed Justice system. This book maybe fictional, but once you read the afterwords by the author you realise there are so many parts of this book that are based on alarming facts, facts that will make you angry and force you to question the failures of a justice service that treats pregnant woman.
On My Life tells the story of Jenna who appears to have it all, loving fiancé, a great job, a beautiful home, but then Jenna is accused of the murder of her 14-year-old stepdaughter and the disappearance of her fiancé. Placed on remand at HMP Fallenbrook, she finds herself fighting for her freedom, is she innocent? Who and why would someone go to such lengths to have her incarcerated? The answers are deftly revealed by the author, with numerous shocking moments along the way. The beauty of this story is the contrast between Jenna’s life prior to the murder and her life as a prisoner, the author reveals the good, the bad and the ugly in equal measures, she doesn’t leave any stone unturned.
As Jenna steps through HMP Fallenbrook she catches her first glimpse of prison life, the author expertly describes Jenna’s thoughts and feelings and captures the fear that shrouds the prison I found myself becoming more and more anxious for her. The scenes are brutal, and yet there are also the scenes that are emotionally charged and heartbreakingly sad, and made me question my own assumptions of the treatment of women in prison. As you would expect in a prison drama, pack mentality rears its ugly head and usually in a book of this nature the protagonist comes out on top, but that isn’t the case for poor Jenna, because of the nature of her crimes she’s vilified by her fellow inmates, bullied and treated shockingly by the guards.
On My Life moves masterfully between the present and Jenna’s past, although this gives an insight into her current predicament, it also explores her difficult childhood and her relationship with her fiancé and his family. I would be lying if I said I didn’t guess the mystery of the “who” but you know what? this really didn’t matter, as it was to the “why” I couldn’t fathom out and kept me so engrossed in this book, I must admit when the big reveal came I gave a very satisfied sigh. On My Life is a riveting, character driven novel, which is superbly plotted, this is definitely one book I will be recommending to anyone and everyone.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
On My Life tells the story of Jenna who appears to have it all, loving fiancé, a great job, a beautiful home, but then Jenna is accused of the murder of her 14-year-old stepdaughter and the disappearance of her fiancé. Placed on remand at HMP Fallenbrook, she finds herself fighting for her freedom, is she innocent? Who and why would someone go to such lengths to have her incarcerated? The answers are deftly revealed by the author, with numerous shocking moments along the way. The beauty of this story is the contrast between Jenna’s life prior to the murder and her life as a prisoner, the author reveals the good, the bad and the ugly in equal measures, she doesn’t leave any stone unturned.
As Jenna steps through HMP Fallenbrook she catches her first glimpse of prison life, the author expertly describes Jenna’s thoughts and feelings and captures the fear that shrouds the prison I found myself becoming more and more anxious for her. The scenes are brutal, and yet there are also the scenes that are emotionally charged and heartbreakingly sad, and made me question my own assumptions of the treatment of women in prison. As you would expect in a prison drama, pack mentality rears its ugly head and usually in a book of this nature the protagonist comes out on top, but that isn’t the case for poor Jenna, because of the nature of her crimes she’s vilified by her fellow inmates, bullied and treated shockingly by the guards.
On My Life moves masterfully between the present and Jenna’s past, although this gives an insight into her current predicament, it also explores her difficult childhood and her relationship with her fiancé and his family. I would be lying if I said I didn’t guess the mystery of the “who” but you know what? this really didn’t matter, as it was to the “why” I couldn’t fathom out and kept me so engrossed in this book, I must admit when the big reveal came I gave a very satisfied sigh. On My Life is a riveting, character driven novel, which is superbly plotted, this is definitely one book I will be recommending to anyone and everyone.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
August 5, 2019
I thought this book was excellent. I was so engrossed in it from start to finish. The story was heartbreaking and it made the perfect thriller. I felt so bad for Jenna and Kelly for all they went through. I really liked them both and wanted the best for them. It was so well written and so addictive I loved it. I definitely recommend it.
January 4, 2019
Blimey On My Life is a right rollercoaster ride of a read, pacy yet hugely thought provoking, one of those absolutely RIVETING page turners that swallow up a few hours of your own life.
I loved it and was horrified, emotionally charged storytelling with an unpredictable edge and a twisty bit of truth telling about life behind bars that will stay with you for a long time.
Jenna knows she didn’t commit the crimes she is accused of but proving that to the wider world from a prison cell is almost impossible. Pregnant and grieving, dealing with a circle of life she has no experience of, finding new friends but also dangerous enemies, Jenna has a mountain to climb and boy is she going to force you to climb it with her.
Without doubt Angela Clarke’s best novel to date, On My Life is a genuinely compelling, beautifully plotted character driven crime novel with heart and soul that I can’t do anything except highly recommend to everyone.
Brilliant. Just that.
I loved it and was horrified, emotionally charged storytelling with an unpredictable edge and a twisty bit of truth telling about life behind bars that will stay with you for a long time.
Jenna knows she didn’t commit the crimes she is accused of but proving that to the wider world from a prison cell is almost impossible. Pregnant and grieving, dealing with a circle of life she has no experience of, finding new friends but also dangerous enemies, Jenna has a mountain to climb and boy is she going to force you to climb it with her.
Without doubt Angela Clarke’s best novel to date, On My Life is a genuinely compelling, beautifully plotted character driven crime novel with heart and soul that I can’t do anything except highly recommend to everyone.
Brilliant. Just that.
March 25, 2019
This is a great book, but I feel like it was ridiculously predictable. I read a lot of books in this genre, I know, but I knew exactly what kind of a story this was going to be just from the first chapter.
Raise your hands if you're with me!?
I could probably name at least five books with similar twists that came out only last year, but that would mean serious spoilers, so...
On the other hand, Angela Clarke has created a marvelous work of popular fiction highlighting and bringing to attention a very underestimated problem - pregnant women in prisons.
I've been sort of following this issue since I found out that one of my favorite actresses - Leighton Meester - was actually born in the prison. She claims, NOT actually in the prison, but in a prison hospital or whatever...the point is there is someone so talented and wonderful from that kind of a past.
So, yes. Kudos for the courage to research and describe these issues in a crime thriller.
Other than that, it's more of domestic suspense than anything else. And like I said, super predictable. But very well written and deeply emotional.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Raise your hands if you're with me!?
I could probably name at least five books with similar twists that came out only last year, but that would mean serious spoilers, so...
On the other hand, Angela Clarke has created a marvelous work of popular fiction highlighting and bringing to attention a very underestimated problem - pregnant women in prisons.
I've been sort of following this issue since I found out that one of my favorite actresses - Leighton Meester - was actually born in the prison. She claims, NOT actually in the prison, but in a prison hospital or whatever...the point is there is someone so talented and wonderful from that kind of a past.
So, yes. Kudos for the courage to research and describe these issues in a crime thriller.
Other than that, it's more of domestic suspense than anything else. And like I said, super predictable. But very well written and deeply emotional.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2018
4.5 stars
On My Life by Angela Clarke is a psychological thriller due to be published 7 March 2019 for ebook and 11 July 2019 for paperback by Mulholland Books and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy from Netgalley.
This book has been doing the “social rounds” on Twitter – lots of very lucky and excited authors have been bragging about reading the proof for weeks and when it finally popped up on Netgalley and Steve Cavanagh (author extraordinaire) recommended it on THE Book Club I grabbed a copy and started reading it immediately.
I’m struggling to eloquently put into words what this book personally did to me. I could say it gripped me, kept me turning the pages, left me breathless and unable to put it down (which it did), but more importantly it was so tense and consuming that my sphincter muscles went into spasm from over clenching and I wasn’t sure whether to pop an Imodium or Ducolax as I didn’t know if I was coming or going!
When Jenna is sent to a women’s prison accused of the murder of her 14 year old step daughter and the disappearance of her fiance, she finds herself alone and fighting for her freedom, to prove her innocence and protect her unborn baby.
Without giving anything away the scenes in the women’s prison were SO F*CKING REALISTIC I crapped myself. I could literally smell the fear and hear the women’s chants and the banging of the cell doors. I was absolutely terrified for Jenna and found the scenes harrowing and very believable. The pace of the book and the alternating chapters taking the reader from past to present, ensured that I used the “just one more chapter” technique of reading.
The book is a fast paced, tense and claustrophobic, nail biter of a thriller which was, in my opinion, impossible to put down.
On My Life by Angela Clarke is a psychological thriller due to be published 7 March 2019 for ebook and 11 July 2019 for paperback by Mulholland Books and I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy from Netgalley.
This book has been doing the “social rounds” on Twitter – lots of very lucky and excited authors have been bragging about reading the proof for weeks and when it finally popped up on Netgalley and Steve Cavanagh (author extraordinaire) recommended it on THE Book Club I grabbed a copy and started reading it immediately.
I’m struggling to eloquently put into words what this book personally did to me. I could say it gripped me, kept me turning the pages, left me breathless and unable to put it down (which it did), but more importantly it was so tense and consuming that my sphincter muscles went into spasm from over clenching and I wasn’t sure whether to pop an Imodium or Ducolax as I didn’t know if I was coming or going!
When Jenna is sent to a women’s prison accused of the murder of her 14 year old step daughter and the disappearance of her fiance, she finds herself alone and fighting for her freedom, to prove her innocence and protect her unborn baby.
Without giving anything away the scenes in the women’s prison were SO F*CKING REALISTIC I crapped myself. I could literally smell the fear and hear the women’s chants and the banging of the cell doors. I was absolutely terrified for Jenna and found the scenes harrowing and very believable. The pace of the book and the alternating chapters taking the reader from past to present, ensured that I used the “just one more chapter” technique of reading.
The book is a fast paced, tense and claustrophobic, nail biter of a thriller which was, in my opinion, impossible to put down.
July 29, 2019
I know many reviewers highly rated this book but I found it unremittingly bleak and depressing somewhat like the June UK weather. I wasn’t keen on the present tense style throughout and I didn’t find the Then or Now sections of the book very cohesive. I couldn’t relate to the characters either. I probably wasn’t in the right frame of mind for this book and perhaps if I’d read it at a different time I might have rated it more highly.
March 9, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Keeps you guessing until the end.
Jenna arrives home after work to find her stepdaughter stabbed to death. All the evidence points to her being the murderer. How could this be?
Someone is framing her but she can not find out who it is, as she is held on remand in prison.
The only people who know the truth is the murderer, the victim and Jenna's future husband, who just so happens to have disappeared, presumed murdered.
Jenna arrives home after work to find her stepdaughter stabbed to death. All the evidence points to her being the murderer. How could this be?
Someone is framing her but she can not find out who it is, as she is held on remand in prison.
The only people who know the truth is the murderer, the victim and Jenna's future husband, who just so happens to have disappeared, presumed murdered.
December 16, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness what a brilliant book, it has jumped right into my top ten books of the year.
The writing style was great; it had you guessing what next, it was so descriptive you really did get a sense of who people are and the author has that rare knack of immersive writing where you totally feel like you are in the story, feeling what the characters feel and seeing the world through their eyes.
I honestly couldn’t put it down and so can’t recommend it enough.
After finishing it last night, I instantly bought the author’s previous books!
Oh my goodness what a brilliant book, it has jumped right into my top ten books of the year.
The writing style was great; it had you guessing what next, it was so descriptive you really did get a sense of who people are and the author has that rare knack of immersive writing where you totally feel like you are in the story, feeling what the characters feel and seeing the world through their eyes.
I honestly couldn’t put it down and so can’t recommend it enough.
After finishing it last night, I instantly bought the author’s previous books!
December 10, 2019
Review to follow
October 16, 2018
This is one punchy book! From the very first chapter I was truly captivated by Jenna's sheer terror of the situation she found herself in. Every sense, every emotion, every smell is expertly relayed as you follow her journey into the unknown. The story weaves masterfully between past and present as she pieces the clues together to try and figure out who framed her for the murder of an innocent young girl. Such a crime does not help her popularity in prison, a place where Jenna faces more challenges than she could ever imagine. I cannot recommend this book enough. I read it in just three days. When I wasn't reading it I was thinking about the characters. Angela Clark is a force to be reckoned with. I cannot wait to read her next offering.
March 30, 2019
An intensely gripping story, as we discover just why Jenna is in prison, why she is adamant she is innocent, and the events leading up to that fateful night.
What really struck me about this story was how much research the author must have put in, to make account of what happens in jail so vivid, realistic and claustrophobic.
You feel as though you are incarcerated alongside Jenna, although the only difference is as the reader you are yet to be wholly convinced who is guilty, whether it is Jenna or as she suspect someone is framing her. The lack of evidence pointing to anyone other than Jenna is overwhelming.
I liked the pseudo friendships that were formed in the prison, you are never sure who you can trust, and the book definitely touches on issue that are relevant to real life prisons too.
I was kept guessing throughout until the reveal as to just what happened the nigh that Jenna's fiance disappears and his daughter was brutally murdered.
Previously I had enjoyed Angela Clarke's social media murders books, and was excited to see a new release from her, which was even better than her previous great books.
I was completely hooked on On My Life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
What really struck me about this story was how much research the author must have put in, to make account of what happens in jail so vivid, realistic and claustrophobic.
You feel as though you are incarcerated alongside Jenna, although the only difference is as the reader you are yet to be wholly convinced who is guilty, whether it is Jenna or as she suspect someone is framing her. The lack of evidence pointing to anyone other than Jenna is overwhelming.
I liked the pseudo friendships that were formed in the prison, you are never sure who you can trust, and the book definitely touches on issue that are relevant to real life prisons too.
I was kept guessing throughout until the reveal as to just what happened the nigh that Jenna's fiance disappears and his daughter was brutally murdered.
Previously I had enjoyed Angela Clarke's social media murders books, and was excited to see a new release from her, which was even better than her previous great books.
I was completely hooked on On My Life.
Thank you to Netgalley and Mulholland Books for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
February 16, 2019
This is a book that grabbed my attention form the start and didn't let go to the end, it Kept me guessing and when I thought I'd worked it out I hadn't but that's surely how a good thriller should be.
Jenna is dating a farmer she met at work only he is a lot more than she first imagined and when she thought all her dreams were coming true a great big hole opens up and tried to swollow her whole and it never looked likely to let her go. Jacob her fiance has disappeared apart from some of his blood that is found in the kitchen and his daughter Emily is dead on the same kitchen floor. The picture of perfection they have on show is not the same as it is behind closed doors or his parents doors anyway.
Jenna background could not be more separated from her intended she was brought up on that estate the one most towns have where those from the Manor don't want messing up their shoes. Her Mum is an addict and her elder sister Hess is the one bringing her up and protecting her from her Mum's many men that turn up to party at their home or just trash it up, They have spent many a evening barricaded in a bedroom to protect themselves. Sure you get the picture, however Jenna didn't let this hold her back as she got educated and a very good job that she loves which all get swept away on Emily's 14th birthday Emily being Jacob's daughter and Jenna's soon-to-be stepdaughter if only. Well I will let you read it for yourself.
Jenna's life is altered and her friends dessert her well who wants a jailbird for a friend well not her so called friends obviously and she doesn't have many friends in her new home but Kelly her roommate (ok cell mate) she is good but Gould she isn't.
As well as a thriller the research done by the author Angela Clarke makes this a very authentic and therefore a very informative book as well highlighting some real issues and things that prisoners have to face today and the sort of people that you really meet there as opposed to the ones everybody thinks you will meet. I could say more on this but it is all part of the story and enhances the whole experience which is a gift of Angela's writing and you will get to see what I mean as you read it and I hope you do because this is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it, I'm believing you may well do to once you have devoured the pages of this thriller.
Jenna is dating a farmer she met at work only he is a lot more than she first imagined and when she thought all her dreams were coming true a great big hole opens up and tried to swollow her whole and it never looked likely to let her go. Jacob her fiance has disappeared apart from some of his blood that is found in the kitchen and his daughter Emily is dead on the same kitchen floor. The picture of perfection they have on show is not the same as it is behind closed doors or his parents doors anyway.
Jenna background could not be more separated from her intended she was brought up on that estate the one most towns have where those from the Manor don't want messing up their shoes. Her Mum is an addict and her elder sister Hess is the one bringing her up and protecting her from her Mum's many men that turn up to party at their home or just trash it up, They have spent many a evening barricaded in a bedroom to protect themselves. Sure you get the picture, however Jenna didn't let this hold her back as she got educated and a very good job that she loves which all get swept away on Emily's 14th birthday Emily being Jacob's daughter and Jenna's soon-to-be stepdaughter if only. Well I will let you read it for yourself.
Jenna's life is altered and her friends dessert her well who wants a jailbird for a friend well not her so called friends obviously and she doesn't have many friends in her new home but Kelly her roommate (ok cell mate) she is good but Gould she isn't.
As well as a thriller the research done by the author Angela Clarke makes this a very authentic and therefore a very informative book as well highlighting some real issues and things that prisoners have to face today and the sort of people that you really meet there as opposed to the ones everybody thinks you will meet. I could say more on this but it is all part of the story and enhances the whole experience which is a gift of Angela's writing and you will get to see what I mean as you read it and I hope you do because this is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it, I'm believing you may well do to once you have devoured the pages of this thriller.
March 2, 2019
A thrilling, and deeply compelling, novel set primarily in a women’s prison, where Jenna is on remand, charged with the murder of her fourteen year old, soon to be, stepdaughter Emily.
Jenna seems to have it all, a loving (and rich) fiancé, a job she loves and a lovely home. This all come crashing down when she comes home to find Emily murdered and her fiancé missing. She is charged with Emily’s murder and when child pornography is found on her laptop, this seems to compound her guilt. Jenna knows that she is innocent.
In prison, Jenna befriends her cellmate, Kelly, who is young and pregnant. This provides a pretty harrowing portrayal of the treatment of women in prison, particularly those who are pregnant.
The book is a fast paced, tense and claustrophobic; it switches between ‘then’, Jenna’s life before prison and ‘now’ where she is on remand. The scenes within the prison are so well described, with such gritty realism, that they really get under your skin. You can hear the noise, smell the fear and immerse yourself in what it must be like to be incarcerated. The depiction of the prison riot had my heart racing.
The real strength of this novel is the description of prison life, well supported by a meaty thriller/whodunnit. It is apparent that the author really has done her research. I think this is going to be a big hit in 2019.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Jenna seems to have it all, a loving (and rich) fiancé, a job she loves and a lovely home. This all come crashing down when she comes home to find Emily murdered and her fiancé missing. She is charged with Emily’s murder and when child pornography is found on her laptop, this seems to compound her guilt. Jenna knows that she is innocent.
In prison, Jenna befriends her cellmate, Kelly, who is young and pregnant. This provides a pretty harrowing portrayal of the treatment of women in prison, particularly those who are pregnant.
The book is a fast paced, tense and claustrophobic; it switches between ‘then’, Jenna’s life before prison and ‘now’ where she is on remand. The scenes within the prison are so well described, with such gritty realism, that they really get under your skin. You can hear the noise, smell the fear and immerse yourself in what it must be like to be incarcerated. The depiction of the prison riot had my heart racing.
The real strength of this novel is the description of prison life, well supported by a meaty thriller/whodunnit. It is apparent that the author really has done her research. I think this is going to be a big hit in 2019.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
April 16, 2019
Having read the social media murder books by Angela Clarke I was keen to see how she did with a stand alone thriller. And I’m pleased to report that she has surpassed herself with this terrifyingly brilliant novel that’s part psychological thriller and part prison drama! When Jenna is sent to prison to await trial for the murder of her stepdaughter, she is determined that she won’t go down without a fight against the system. She says she’s innocent but if she is then who did kill Emily and why? As the books flashes back to Jenna meeting her fiancé and the development of their relationship, we are introduced to some unexpected family secrets but don’t expect to be lead by the hand to the truth because this journey follows a very twisty path indeed!
Honestly, this book literally grabs hold of you from the first page and does not let go!! After finding Jenna a little too good to be true at the start, I gradually found out more about her history and that began to explain some of the decisions she made and why. But I couldn’t decide if she was just naive or just very manipulative as she rushes into a relationship with her fiancé without realising that he comes as a package! But On Her Life isn’t just a mystery to solve, it’s a brilliant study of life in a woman’s prison and the relationships that get formed there. Yes, there’s a hierarchy that is difficult to make sense of if you’ve never been faced with jail time (this makes me sound as though I have but I haven’t!!) but the relationships between these women, who are all in jail for very different crimes, is a huge part of this book.
I could not put this book down and raced through it in a matter of hours…then wanted to kick myself because I’d read it too quickly!! But this addictive read is pretty much impossible to put down. It was like picking up a bar of Green and Blacks Butterscotch Chocolate and telling yourself you’re only going to eat a couple of squares but knowing that you’ll end up eating the whole thing at once! (Please tell me that this isn’t just me lol) Jenna is a brilliant character creation that every reader will be rooting for as she battles to prove her innocence before her own child is born. Angela Clarke doesn’t waste a word as she keeps her plot tight and her writing expressly to the point. The characters felt so realistic, they could have been plucked out of any office or home in your neighbourhood so it was fascinating to see how real women reacted to a prison life that definitely wasn’t on the list of things they wanted to achieve in their lives.
This is a brilliant but terrifying thriller that kept my blood pressure higher than my doctor would approve of but what’s a little hypertension between author and reader eh?! This is definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year and one I can highly recommend especially for the number of OMFG moments throughout! Loved it!
Honestly, this book literally grabs hold of you from the first page and does not let go!! After finding Jenna a little too good to be true at the start, I gradually found out more about her history and that began to explain some of the decisions she made and why. But I couldn’t decide if she was just naive or just very manipulative as she rushes into a relationship with her fiancé without realising that he comes as a package! But On Her Life isn’t just a mystery to solve, it’s a brilliant study of life in a woman’s prison and the relationships that get formed there. Yes, there’s a hierarchy that is difficult to make sense of if you’ve never been faced with jail time (this makes me sound as though I have but I haven’t!!) but the relationships between these women, who are all in jail for very different crimes, is a huge part of this book.
I could not put this book down and raced through it in a matter of hours…then wanted to kick myself because I’d read it too quickly!! But this addictive read is pretty much impossible to put down. It was like picking up a bar of Green and Blacks Butterscotch Chocolate and telling yourself you’re only going to eat a couple of squares but knowing that you’ll end up eating the whole thing at once! (Please tell me that this isn’t just me lol) Jenna is a brilliant character creation that every reader will be rooting for as she battles to prove her innocence before her own child is born. Angela Clarke doesn’t waste a word as she keeps her plot tight and her writing expressly to the point. The characters felt so realistic, they could have been plucked out of any office or home in your neighbourhood so it was fascinating to see how real women reacted to a prison life that definitely wasn’t on the list of things they wanted to achieve in their lives.
This is a brilliant but terrifying thriller that kept my blood pressure higher than my doctor would approve of but what’s a little hypertension between author and reader eh?! This is definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year and one I can highly recommend especially for the number of OMFG moments throughout! Loved it!
March 5, 2019
I loved this book SO much. It was recommended by another author as their favorite unputdownable must read book of 2019 and I knew as soon as I read the description that I wanted to read it! I read so many thriller and suspense books and was starting to feel like I was always just reading a slightly different version of a story I already read in a different book.
The idea of a character getting accused of a crime they didn’t commit, being forced to remain in prison because of laws and legal loopholes, then finding out that they were pregnant while they were in prison, they could lose their future baby, and that someone was trying to frame them for murder was DEFINITELY not something I had ever read before. I was excited to read and it definitely did not disappoint. I would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to go to work, but as soon as work finished I raced home, made some coffee and didn’t look up until it was over. It’s been a while since a book has been THAT good that I just NEEDED to know how it was going to end.
Angela Clark is a BRILLIANT writer masterfully skilled at making the reader feel ALL of the emotions of Jenna and her prison cell mate Kelly as they navigate being pregnant in prison, the possibility of losing their babies after birth, and the complete loss of control the girls experienced while incarcerated due to outdated laws and legal loopholes. The idea of being in prison for a crime you didn’t commit, pregnant and unable to do ANYTHING because no one believes you and there isn’t anything you can do about it is SCARY. I felt Jenna’s fear pouring out of the pages and felt like I was right there with her as she fought for herself and her unborn baby, trying to figure out how she ended up in prison and who framed her for murder.
This is my favorite book of 2019 so far! (And I read a LOT of books!). This was my first book by Angela Clark but it definitely won’t be my last! The unique plot line, relatable characters you can’t help but root for, and the authors brilliant writing style was a refreshing change from the books I have been reading and finally got me out of the reading rut I was stuck in!
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars, because it blows so many other 5 star books in the genre completely out of the water. Since I can’t, I will give 5 stars, but really this book deserves about 10 stars!! I hope others read it and enjoy it as much as I did! This is one of those rare books that stays with you, that you are still thinking about LONG after you finish reading the final page.
The idea of a character getting accused of a crime they didn’t commit, being forced to remain in prison because of laws and legal loopholes, then finding out that they were pregnant while they were in prison, they could lose their future baby, and that someone was trying to frame them for murder was DEFINITELY not something I had ever read before. I was excited to read and it definitely did not disappoint. I would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to go to work, but as soon as work finished I raced home, made some coffee and didn’t look up until it was over. It’s been a while since a book has been THAT good that I just NEEDED to know how it was going to end.
Angela Clark is a BRILLIANT writer masterfully skilled at making the reader feel ALL of the emotions of Jenna and her prison cell mate Kelly as they navigate being pregnant in prison, the possibility of losing their babies after birth, and the complete loss of control the girls experienced while incarcerated due to outdated laws and legal loopholes. The idea of being in prison for a crime you didn’t commit, pregnant and unable to do ANYTHING because no one believes you and there isn’t anything you can do about it is SCARY. I felt Jenna’s fear pouring out of the pages and felt like I was right there with her as she fought for herself and her unborn baby, trying to figure out how she ended up in prison and who framed her for murder.
This is my favorite book of 2019 so far! (And I read a LOT of books!). This was my first book by Angela Clark but it definitely won’t be my last! The unique plot line, relatable characters you can’t help but root for, and the authors brilliant writing style was a refreshing change from the books I have been reading and finally got me out of the reading rut I was stuck in!
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars, because it blows so many other 5 star books in the genre completely out of the water. Since I can’t, I will give 5 stars, but really this book deserves about 10 stars!! I hope others read it and enjoy it as much as I did! This is one of those rare books that stays with you, that you are still thinking about LONG after you finish reading the final page.
May 17, 2019
Framed………in prison……….pregnant.
Jennifer Burns is charged with the murder of her fourteen-year-old stepdaughter and sent to HMP Fallenbrook to await her trial. Her stepdaughter is dead, her fiancé is missing, and all the evidence points to her. Jenna swears that she is innocent, but nobody is listening because all the prisoners claim innocence. She now has to adapt to the fragile ecosystem of prison life, cut off from everything and everyone she knows. It is like stepping back in time, no mobile, no Internet, no privileges, no privacy, male guards in a female prison, locked up for 23 out of 24 hours – the tiny, cold room is now her home. And then she finds out that she is pregnant.
The book vividly explores the issues expectant and new mothers face in prisons and shows how all the movies made about prisons are nothing like reality. There are many misconceptions as to the type of people who are in jail, the types of crimes they have committed and exactly what the prisons are like. In reality, eighty-four percent of women are in prison for non-violent offences. There are fewer staff looking after more prisoners in jails that are poorly maintained in ageing buildings. The officers are human, half of them barely out of school, and most of them not staying for long. If you are in prison you are dead to those on the outside, they are embarrassed by you because you have tainted everyone's lives. The treatment of the prisoners by the prison authorities is deplorable, and the treatment of expectant and new mothers is inhumane – how can you take a baby from a mother and offer her no counselling, no support?
The book is gripping and has a shocking ending that I definitely did not expect. It shows prison life in its naked, visceral state, and I do NOT ever want to end up there! This book is about the prison system in England, but I think the conditions are the same in most other countries and worse in many others. Governments should all review their policies about prisons, the treatment of inmates and especially the provision of facilities for mothers and pregnant women.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Jennifer Burns is charged with the murder of her fourteen-year-old stepdaughter and sent to HMP Fallenbrook to await her trial. Her stepdaughter is dead, her fiancé is missing, and all the evidence points to her. Jenna swears that she is innocent, but nobody is listening because all the prisoners claim innocence. She now has to adapt to the fragile ecosystem of prison life, cut off from everything and everyone she knows. It is like stepping back in time, no mobile, no Internet, no privileges, no privacy, male guards in a female prison, locked up for 23 out of 24 hours – the tiny, cold room is now her home. And then she finds out that she is pregnant.
The book vividly explores the issues expectant and new mothers face in prisons and shows how all the movies made about prisons are nothing like reality. There are many misconceptions as to the type of people who are in jail, the types of crimes they have committed and exactly what the prisons are like. In reality, eighty-four percent of women are in prison for non-violent offences. There are fewer staff looking after more prisoners in jails that are poorly maintained in ageing buildings. The officers are human, half of them barely out of school, and most of them not staying for long. If you are in prison you are dead to those on the outside, they are embarrassed by you because you have tainted everyone's lives. The treatment of the prisoners by the prison authorities is deplorable, and the treatment of expectant and new mothers is inhumane – how can you take a baby from a mother and offer her no counselling, no support?
The book is gripping and has a shocking ending that I definitely did not expect. It shows prison life in its naked, visceral state, and I do NOT ever want to end up there! This book is about the prison system in England, but I think the conditions are the same in most other countries and worse in many others. Governments should all review their policies about prisons, the treatment of inmates and especially the provision of facilities for mothers and pregnant women.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
April 10, 2019
This was my first book by this author and I walked away really impressed!
Being put away for a murder you didn't commit and not having anyone believe you? Terrifying!!
The frustration of trying to contact the outside world (i.e. your lawyer or family) and meeting resistance at every turn.
The apathy of the guards and evil nature of the fellow inmates.
This was chilling and the twist? Amazing!!
Being put away for a murder you didn't commit and not having anyone believe you? Terrifying!!
The frustration of trying to contact the outside world (i.e. your lawyer or family) and meeting resistance at every turn.
The apathy of the guards and evil nature of the fellow inmates.
This was chilling and the twist? Amazing!!
December 27, 2020
Compelling, moving, intense and powerful read. breathtaking story. I kinda hoped for a better ending though.
March 7, 2019
I was a little bit nervous to read this one, but only because I loved Angela Clarke’s social media series so much. This one is a bit different to her other books, so I was interested to see what it was like. I was not disappointed by this book! I’ve never read a book like this one before so the storyline is unique to me. I found it really interesting and also informative. It’s obvious that a lot of research has been done to make sure this book is accurate and realistic. I was hooked right for the start and found this one to be a real page-turner. I also loved the characters. Although this one wasn’t a full-on thriller, it still had amazing twists! I wasn’t expecting them and some parts actually made me gasp out loud. Full of action and tense moments right from the start, I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
April 6, 2019
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I loved this story from start to finish!
All the characters were excellent, there was such a wide range of differing personalities too and the interaction was perfect, I had my mouth open in parts nervous in anticipation about what would happen and it was a story that really got under my skin.
The whole book was superbly researched and believable, the whole prison experience was brought life and I can only imagine how terrifying it must be for someone in Jenna’s position, it was hard enough for me being pregnant towards the end never mind all the other things that Jenna has to deal with on top!
Jenna was a brilliant character, she was very well developed, had a great personality and the author really made me feel for her. The book is very well written and I loved the flow of the story. There were bit of suspense and everything in the story was needed, it had the right amount of detail and is an excellent story and OMG that ending – just brilliant!!
It is definitely five stars from me for this one, I have read a few of this author’s books so far and this one was exceptional, certainly her best to date!! Very highly recommended and I know it will be in my top books at the end of the year for 2019.
I loved this story from start to finish!
All the characters were excellent, there was such a wide range of differing personalities too and the interaction was perfect, I had my mouth open in parts nervous in anticipation about what would happen and it was a story that really got under my skin.
The whole book was superbly researched and believable, the whole prison experience was brought life and I can only imagine how terrifying it must be for someone in Jenna’s position, it was hard enough for me being pregnant towards the end never mind all the other things that Jenna has to deal with on top!
Jenna was a brilliant character, she was very well developed, had a great personality and the author really made me feel for her. The book is very well written and I loved the flow of the story. There were bit of suspense and everything in the story was needed, it had the right amount of detail and is an excellent story and OMG that ending – just brilliant!!
It is definitely five stars from me for this one, I have read a few of this author’s books so far and this one was exceptional, certainly her best to date!! Very highly recommended and I know it will be in my top books at the end of the year for 2019.
March 25, 2019
On My Life is by far one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read.
Ever.
Seriously.
Clarke has brought us an insight into the women’s prison service while telling an emotionally charged psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages so fast, you’ll get RSI.
Jenna is having the time of her life. She’s getting married to the most eligible bachelor in the town, she has the perfect stepdaughter, the perfect job, and her whole life in front of her. Until she’s locked up for murdering her fiancé and his daughter.
And then she finds out she’s pregnant.
What follows is the most harrowing insight into the prison service I’ve ever read. I don’t know why … perhaps because it’s a women’s prison and I’ve never read a book which shows what life is really like behind bars. I think there’s a general feeling that prisoners are treated better than they perhaps should be but that's not the case in this book. I’ve also always thought that the legal side of things was a lot different to the way it’s been shown in On My Life and I know the author has done her research on this.
It’s terrifying that the idea of innocent until proven guilty is not adhered to. If you get put on remand until your trial, you are treated the same as every single inmate whose guilt has been established and who has been officially charged and sentenced. The treatment of these women, guilty or not, was appalling and I hope that there was some artistic licence used on this side of the book because otherwise, the system as it stands needs some serious attention and intervention.
Back to the plot.
Jenna is an amazing character. The strength she shows to deal with her situation is admirable and makes her such a brilliant character it’s hard not to fall in love with her. Jenna is determined to prove her innocence but with no one to talk to and no one who will listen – she might as well be shouting into the wind.
Her cellmate, Kelly, is a tower of strength for Jenna. She is young but has been inside for a while and shows Jenna the ropes. Another character who you will fall in love with. She is feisty, determined, loving, and loyal. I suppose, she’s all the things you’d want the person who you have to spend almost 24 hours a day with, to be.
As Jenna starts to think back over her life and see who could want her locked up, we see another side to her new family. All the money in the world can’t buy class and manners, and all those little things she saw in the previous year, start to look far more sinister now her stepdaughter and fiancé are gone.
Jenna tells her story in Now and Then chapters which are perfectly paced and flow between the two times flawlessly. I adore this set-up in a book; I love knowing what’s happened, to a certain degree, then working backwards with the characters to discover how they got to where they are now. The tension steeped into the pages of On My Life is executed sublimely, Clarke has a real knack for sucking you into the pages, making you feel, smell, and hear everything as the characters do. I was almost inside that horrible building with Jenna and I loved it!
But why on earth would anyone want Jenna framed like this? Who could hate her that much? Well, the truth is so shocking I scared a train load of people when I shouted, ‘What the actual fu*k!?’ out loud!
Needless to say, this is an absolute belter, it should be on the TBR pile of every bookworm in the world.
Seriously, go and get your copy now!
Ever.
Seriously.
Clarke has brought us an insight into the women’s prison service while telling an emotionally charged psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages so fast, you’ll get RSI.
Jenna is having the time of her life. She’s getting married to the most eligible bachelor in the town, she has the perfect stepdaughter, the perfect job, and her whole life in front of her. Until she’s locked up for murdering her fiancé and his daughter.
And then she finds out she’s pregnant.
What follows is the most harrowing insight into the prison service I’ve ever read. I don’t know why … perhaps because it’s a women’s prison and I’ve never read a book which shows what life is really like behind bars. I think there’s a general feeling that prisoners are treated better than they perhaps should be but that's not the case in this book. I’ve also always thought that the legal side of things was a lot different to the way it’s been shown in On My Life and I know the author has done her research on this.
It’s terrifying that the idea of innocent until proven guilty is not adhered to. If you get put on remand until your trial, you are treated the same as every single inmate whose guilt has been established and who has been officially charged and sentenced. The treatment of these women, guilty or not, was appalling and I hope that there was some artistic licence used on this side of the book because otherwise, the system as it stands needs some serious attention and intervention.
Back to the plot.
Jenna is an amazing character. The strength she shows to deal with her situation is admirable and makes her such a brilliant character it’s hard not to fall in love with her. Jenna is determined to prove her innocence but with no one to talk to and no one who will listen – she might as well be shouting into the wind.
Her cellmate, Kelly, is a tower of strength for Jenna. She is young but has been inside for a while and shows Jenna the ropes. Another character who you will fall in love with. She is feisty, determined, loving, and loyal. I suppose, she’s all the things you’d want the person who you have to spend almost 24 hours a day with, to be.
As Jenna starts to think back over her life and see who could want her locked up, we see another side to her new family. All the money in the world can’t buy class and manners, and all those little things she saw in the previous year, start to look far more sinister now her stepdaughter and fiancé are gone.
Jenna tells her story in Now and Then chapters which are perfectly paced and flow between the two times flawlessly. I adore this set-up in a book; I love knowing what’s happened, to a certain degree, then working backwards with the characters to discover how they got to where they are now. The tension steeped into the pages of On My Life is executed sublimely, Clarke has a real knack for sucking you into the pages, making you feel, smell, and hear everything as the characters do. I was almost inside that horrible building with Jenna and I loved it!
But why on earth would anyone want Jenna framed like this? Who could hate her that much? Well, the truth is so shocking I scared a train load of people when I shouted, ‘What the actual fu*k!?’ out loud!
Needless to say, this is an absolute belter, it should be on the TBR pile of every bookworm in the world.
Seriously, go and get your copy now!
May 5, 2019
On my Life is about an innocent woman who is falsely incarcerated. It’s about murder, it’s about betrayal, it’s about life behind bars, it’s a chilling Orange is the New Black (without the gay action). It is a poignant, menacing, heart-breaking tale, especially because the main character is a smart, educated woman, who is nevertheless rendered completely powerless once inside. It is also a thrilling mystery: who would frame Jenna, who hates her enough do to such a despicable thing?!
I listened to it on Audible and the narrator, Sarah Durham, is incredible. She voices Jenna’s inner turmoil perfectly, and really brings her to life. She narrates with such emotion, from joy all the way to anguish, loved it!
I listened to it on Audible and the narrator, Sarah Durham, is incredible. She voices Jenna’s inner turmoil perfectly, and really brings her to life. She narrates with such emotion, from joy all the way to anguish, loved it!
February 3, 2019
When I heard great thing on social media about this book, on my life by Angela Clarke I had to read it and I am so glad I did. What a fantastic book it is.
Jenna Burns arrives home to find her Stepdaughter Emily dead and her Fiancé Robert missing. When the police arrive, they find her hugging Emily a bloodied hoodie and child porn on her laptop. Jenna is imprisoned and waiting for trail, for her murder of Emily. She is sent to a high security prison. Where she tries to keep her head down and not let anyone recognise her but, word gets out and she can hear the other inmates chant the blond Slayer. She tells not only her lawyer but the prison that she is innocent but nobody listens to her. Not only that, whilst incarcerated she finds out that she is pregnant with Robert’s child.
This is a gripping, tense psychological thriller. Mostly told in Jenna’s POV, the story is told in the ten and now. How she was brought up in a Council estate, she meets wealthy Robert and has a whirlwind romance. They quickly move in together in his mansion. But, not everyone is happy with the decision, mainly his parents.
I thought the author did her research very well of the subject of prison life and the prison system. You could feel the tension and the close proximity of actually being there in the cell and also the fear of the other inmates. It was quite realistic. And Boy I didn’t see the ending coming.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this book
Jenna Burns arrives home to find her Stepdaughter Emily dead and her Fiancé Robert missing. When the police arrive, they find her hugging Emily a bloodied hoodie and child porn on her laptop. Jenna is imprisoned and waiting for trail, for her murder of Emily. She is sent to a high security prison. Where she tries to keep her head down and not let anyone recognise her but, word gets out and she can hear the other inmates chant the blond Slayer. She tells not only her lawyer but the prison that she is innocent but nobody listens to her. Not only that, whilst incarcerated she finds out that she is pregnant with Robert’s child.
This is a gripping, tense psychological thriller. Mostly told in Jenna’s POV, the story is told in the ten and now. How she was brought up in a Council estate, she meets wealthy Robert and has a whirlwind romance. They quickly move in together in his mansion. But, not everyone is happy with the decision, mainly his parents.
I thought the author did her research very well of the subject of prison life and the prison system. You could feel the tension and the close proximity of actually being there in the cell and also the fear of the other inmates. It was quite realistic. And Boy I didn’t see the ending coming.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a copy of this book
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