Correctional

by N.J. Crosskey

"Smart, fast-paced and disturbingly possible"  —Joelle Charbonneau, author, The Testing "Twelve inmates, one chamber. It’s time to face justice, live!" Saturday night – primetime. The nation settles down to watch a special edition of Justice Live – the most popular, and sadistic, reality show ever made. Twelve of the country’s most notorious criminals are paraded in front of the cameras as the public vote to decide which one will face the horrors of the justice chamber. But correctional officer Cal Roberts has bigger things on his mind. Tonight, he plans to bring down celebrity guard Dax Miller, for good. Tonight, is his chance to put things right, once and for all. Correctional is a near-future dystopian novel that examines themes of inequality, poverty and the cycle of criminality, whilst simultaneously shining an uncomfortable light on our obsession with the macabre and sadistic.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Horror, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Witchetty Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute surprise find. I really felt like a dystopian type book and just put it in library search. This came up as one of the suggested. And wow it packing a punch with exactly what I didn’t know I needed. This is an absolute thriller dystopian book and really does make you think. Also major black mirror vibes!

A changed country, lives divided. We follow Cal, through his life as England is changed forever. Divided by the availability of water after a disaster. One lives in the luxury of everyday access to water whilst the other the taps stop dripping.

This was so not what I was expecting and I was so here for it. It was super interesting and I loved the concept.

This story puts justice into the big screen. In something reminiscent of our reality show games, this one focuses on justice live. A binge worthy spectacle that brings people around the nation pining for their favourite. Their fate in the viewers hands.

But there is more to the story than this game, we look at the life and forever changing times of our MMC Cals life. With a look at how it started and where it ended up, it’s a thrilling ride.

This was interesting and not what I had expected. The end kinda got me but that felt very down the alley of the messages of the book.

I loved the Star Trek reference! Kobayashi Maru


Tropes/Triggers
-prison
-dystopian thriller
-not so distant future
-makes you think
-moral dilemma
-darker themes including m*rder, violence, discussion of m*rder of children and humans alike, c*anablism.
-private run prisons
-reality tv based corrections
-VR and AI

[Shannon Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had completely lost motivation to read, and then the lovely Olivia at @legend_times sent me this book and I started to get excited about reading again!

It was SO good!! If you like Black Mirror (specifically the White Bear episode, iykyk), you will love this! It was a super dark dystopian thriller, with loads of gore, mass murderers, and moral dilemmas!

What I love most about dystopian thrillers is that you really feel like these things could happen in real life! As a society, we are so obsessed with the macabre - even if we don’t particularly like it, morbid curiosity will win out and we will watch horrific things for entertainment’s sake. This book will make you question how you’d react in these scenarios, and make you not know who to side with - are the good guys actually as good as they seem, and are the bad guys really monsters? 👀

There is a LOT of gore and injury description in this so it’s not for the faint-hearted! There is also some description of self-harm briefly but it is quite graphic!

But honestly I cannot recommend this enough. If you want dark, scarily close to home dystopia, go buy this book 👏🏻

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such an interesting near future premise and raised thoughtful questions about the future of VR/AI and the prison industrial compleX. I just needed a litttllllee more from it and was slightly disappointed.

[Joanna Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Such a great concept, which was really interestingly and thoroughly crafted. Although some points were quite slow, and I didn’t massively connect with any characters, I was excited to pick the book up each time, and interested to see how it would end. Speaking of, I thought the ending was very fitting for the themes of the book, and felt very well thought out.

One thing I will say is that I was convinced this was written by a male author, as the depictions of women throughout felt like caricatures, and the descriptions of women’s appearance felt very male-gaze. However, I have since learnt, to my surprise, that the author is a woman! This makes me question whether this was deliberate, due to the book being from a male POV, or whether internalised misogyny was the cause.

That aside, would I recommend? Yes; I enjoyed the ride, for the most part.

[Justine Naboya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish reading this one because I kept waiting and waiting for the tipping point in the plot and I lost interest when it was taking too long. It came wayyyy later than I was expecting, which I was initially disappointed with. But then I loved the way it ended, and it made me realise that the build-up was more important than the climax 🤷🏽‍♀️ Still not 5 stars because I wanted just a liiiiittle bit more from it and Dax’s downfall just wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping it would be lol

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started so well, very Black Mirror-esque (think episode White Bear) mixed with Big Brother reality TV. But I was expecting a huge twist (like the whole thing was VR and Cal isn't the character we thought he was) but alas no twist it was still a fitting ending and it was tied up well.

Set in a dystopian near future, the south of the UK is thrown into poverty when its water supply is cut off due to contamination. A rich/poor divide is created by the access to water and is split by those living above the Thames and below. The story is about Cal who grows up in Hallow, an impoverished town on the river. Cal has a rough childhood, and becomes obsessed with living in a VR world he sometimes plays with his friends. There is a prison that becomes the center of attention as they launch a show called Justice Live, where 12 offenders and their correctional officers (who become the celebrities) are filmed Big Brother-style and each week voted into a live VR torture designed to send them crazy and for viewers to watch their pain.
Cal is asked to work at the prison by his wife's (Melody) Dad who has invested in the prison. Mel is from the rich side of the river and Cal has moved himself from poverty to rich. He works on the prison's VR programmes for rehabilitation before being roped into the TV show when one of the kids he worked with in a youth center in Hallow is put in prison and selected for the show.
Cal fights with the other correctional officers predominantly Dax who is the officer for the most notorious prisoner. It ends when Cal sets Dax up after learning he is torturing his prisoner outside of the remit of the show. Dax is murdered and Cal is implicated ending up as a prisoner on the show himself. His correctional officer friends save him by allowing him to visit the VR world of his childhood to escape the reality of prison.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me all the black mirror vibes in the best way- reminded me a lot of the episode “white bear” actually.

I really enjoyed it. I think the author does a really great job representing the media throughout the story. It was a good reminder that everything that plays on television is not always the real story and just how far the media will go to twist public perception.

[Amelia L Harmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short summary (no spoilers!): There is a new game show that is one of the most popular ever made, called Justice Live. 12 of the countries most notorious criminals are placed in a prison wing together and their life of broadcast in reality-tv style. On each episode, the public votes for which of the prisoners will face the “justice chamber”, essentially a torture room, which is broadcast during the show. However, not everyone agrees with the concept of this new hit show and conflict arises which threatens it’s survival.

An easy 5 stars. This book is absolutely incredible and I’m surprised it doesn’t have more reviews! I’d highly recommended it to anyone who’s interested in true crime or even likes the show Black Mirror. It is borderline dystopian but also scarily realistic. I love the ending, it’s so good. Probably my second favourite book ending, after the silent patient, maybe joint first! I started and finished it on the same day and it was so hard to put down when I had to go work during my time reading it. A fantastic read!

[Savannah Simms · Rating 3 out of 5]

It definitely captured my attention and was an easy read, but I felt like most of the “twists” were predictable (until the end) and the dialogue was pretty flat. There were even a few spelling / grammar errors.

I picked this up because it reminded me of an episode of Black Mirror, and it definitely met that expectation, but it also felt rushed in all the wrong places. The start was also soooo slowwwwwww

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book number 3/5 of my book swap with Amelia.
Correctional is the type of book which makes you want bonus stars for a rating system. I read this book soo quickly and loved every minute of it. Cal goes on a great journey throughout the book from childhood, through poverty and some dystopian themes to lead to the life he ends up in and the choices he makes to land in the place he actively is trying to avoid the people he knows ending up.

[Sydney Borsellino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting and compelling read! At times the conversations were a little corny (mostly around the show itself and its level of fame etc), but I think the premise it explores and its importance far outweighs any weaknesses. Very Black Mirror-esque at times but still grounded enough to recognize the ways we see these themes in today’s CJS.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good omg!!! I picked this up on a whim after seeing a random post on tiktok and I am so so happy, it got me out of my reading slump and is the best book I’ve read all year🥳

The description of a dystopian England was so well done and I felt very immersed in Cals world. This needs to go viral so we can have a film!😂

[Casey C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was advertised for fans of “black mirror” and it did not disappoint!! This should be made into a movie!! Fast paced and makes you question ethics and morals. There isn’t anything like this book out there. The ending was A+.

[Quanisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about this book was sooooo good! The characters, plot, the beginning, middle… then there’s the ending. 😒

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚 Cerita ini berlatar di masa depan, di mana acara realitas sadis bernama Justice Live menjadi tontonan utama.

Setiap minggu ada dua belas penjahat paling terkenal di negeri ini dipertontonkan ke publik, yg kemudian memilih siapa yg akan menghadapi hukuman di ruang keadilan yg mengerikan. Di tengah tontonan ini, petugas penjara Cal Roberts berusaha menjatuhkan penjaga selebriti yg kejam, Dax Miller, demi menegakkan keadilan.

🕵️‍♀️ Aku suka bgt sama konsep ceritanya: Unik & menggugah ❤️ Ide tentang acara realitas yg menggunakan hukuman sbg hiburan menyoroti obsesi masyarakat terhadap kekerasan & keadilan yg dipertontonkan 🔥 Ini adalah kritik sosial tajam bagaimana media dpt mengeksploitasi penderitaan manusia utk sekedar hiburan 😒 Misalnya, ketika penonton bersemangat memilih siapa yg akan dihukum, adegan ini menunjukkan hilangnya rasa empati dlm masyarakat yg dikuasai oleh media 😔

Cal Roberts sbg tokoh utama digambarkan dgn sgt baik 👍 Dia adalah seorang petugas penjara yg tidak hanya peduli pd pekerjaannya, tetapi juga memiliki rasa keadilan yg kuat 🔥 Rencana Cal utk menjatuhkan Dax Miller, memperlihatkan konflik batin antara mengikuti sistem / melawan ketidakadilan 🔥 Dalam salah satu adegannya, Cal merenungkan tentang bagaimana sistem yg ia layani telah mengubahnya menjadi bagian dari masalah 😔

Penulis berhasil menggambarkan dunia distopia yg sgt relevan dgn isu² saat ini, seperti ketidaksetaraan, kemiskinan & siklus kejahatan 🔥 Dunia di dalam novel ini, di mana orang² miskin & tersingkir menjadi bahan tontonan, yg mencerminkan ketidakadilan ada dlm masyarakat kita sendiri 😭 Penggambaran ini memperkuat pesan ceritanya & membuat aku merenungkan keadaan dunia kita sendiri 😔

Meskipun konsep ceritanya kuat, tetapi ada bagian dari cerita yg terasa dipaksakan, terutama terkait dgn rencana Cal utk menjatuhkan Dax Miller. Terkadang, tindakan Cal terasa terlalu dramatis ❌ Misalnya, ada adegan di mana Cal hampir tertangkap, tetapi situasinya diselesaikan dgn cara yg menurutku terlalu mudah 😂

Selain itu, alur ceritanya kadang² tidak konsisten, dgn beberapa bagian cerita yg berjalan terlalu lambat & lainnya terlalu cepat. Bagian awal novel terasa lambat dgn banyak deskripsi tentang dunia & acara Justice Live, sedangkan klimaks ceritanya terasa tergesa-gesa, yg membuat aku sempat tidak fokus mengikuti perkembangan plotnya.

💌 Novel ini menyampaikan pesan kuat tentang bahaya membiarkan kekerasan & ketidakadilan yg menjadi bagian dari hiburan 💣Novel ini mengingatkan aku akan dampak buruk dari sistem yg mengorbankan martabat manusia demi rating & keuntungan 😂

Melalui perjuangan Cal Roberts, novel ini jg menyoroti pentingnya keberanian utk melawan ketidakadilan, meskipun itu berarti menghadapi risiko besar. Penulis mengajak kita utk merenungkan sejauh mana kita telah membiarkan media & sistem mempengaruhi nilai-nilai kemanusiaan kita 🤔

[Tanya Kost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this one up solely because it reminded me of the Black Mirror episode “White Bear.” And it does resemble it to some extent—but this story goes further, spending more time on world-building and developing a strong connection with the protagonist. A good portion of the book dives deep into his backstory, helping the reader understand his morals and decision-making. I personally really enjoyed that, though I’ve seen some comments criticizing the slower pace early on.
While I did expect the main storyline to kick in right away, I found the backstory absolutely worth exploring. The book is set in a dystopian world divided by access to resources—some people live in comfort while others struggle with severe water shortages. It paints a harsh picture of how one's upbringing and environment can limit their opportunities and drive them to break the law, especially when the system fails them from the start.
What I appreciated most is that this story isn’t one-dimensional. It’s layered and thought-provoking. As a reader, it made me reflect on the morality of certain actions and empathize with characters who grew up in difficult, often preventable, circumstances. The author also does a great job of planting subtle hints about the fates of key characters, keeping you hooked and eager to find out what happens next.
And the ending? It truly surprised me. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but I had a great time reading it

[Jade Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel took me completely by surprise in a good way. From the blurb, I was expecting a simple dark reality show novel, without much plot, but my goodness, was I wrong!

It elegantly picked up on themes of class differences, and the prejudice you can subconsciously carry without realising it, that go on to effect your day to day actions. The ending was just so bittersweet, and poignant, that I was left feeling completely in awe.

It starts off following the childhood of Cal, setting the scene for Crosskey's dystopian world where part of the population have access to running water and others don't. Cal has a hard start in life, and we really empathise with his character, cheering him on as he seems to drag his way up and onto a better life. He's faced with moral choices throughout the novel, that really gets the reader questioning what they'd do in the same situation, and reminds us of how complicated life is - things are never black or white.

I have been craving a dystopian book with a bite, and this book scratched this itch and then some! I almost want to say ignore the blurb, and just pick it up if you fancy a book that gets you thinking because it's far more than what the blurb suggests!

[Maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spellbinding read. I finished the second half in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.

I very much enjoyed how much this book took facts and twisted them throughout the narrative. Cal is a good man, the worst criminals deserve torture, the truth is always clear - but it turns out that dealing in absolutes can only lead to tragedy.

There were a few grammar mistakes in the book, and some of the twists were quite predictable, but all in all, this was an engaging, interesting dystopia set in a world frighteningly similar to our own. 4/5 stars, a great book to start off my 2025.

[Tuva Persson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. The theme of the book intrigued me, but somehow I didn’t really have that feeling of needing to read the next page to know what happens. For a while I was set on giving it two stars, but the ending surprised me as it was very well composed and thought out in my opinion.

[Simone Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is the best thing about this book! So many interesting pieces to dive into, from the water shutoff leading to class divide to the rehabilitation subplot to the nationally broadcast VR torture. However, I felt like the pacing seemed off. The climax was not as intense as I thought it would be, and some people’s motives were still a mystery. But the pace is fast and I liked the ending!

[Katelynreadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

*rounded up from 4.5*
This was such an interesting read! Part dystopian class warfare, part examination of justice systems and how punishment is metered out, and how we as people respond to injustice, trauma and bullying when it's happening right in front of us

[Emily Aicher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept and the "forward" really gets you ready for the idea of justice live and the big climax that will eventually come. But most of the book is world building to get you there, to an ending that I find unsatisfying yet noble ... I guess?

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I shouldn’t judge books by their covers (I do usually) as I really enjoyed this. Ending was a tad disappointing but on the whole, a really immersive dystopian vibe (my favourite vibe). Surprisingly underrated.

[Claire Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise but the whole virtual reality as punishment base of the story didn’t really work for me. The story became quite repetitive & then quickly concluded with a bonkers twist.

[Mary-Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The preview I read was more exciting than the book.

[Kendall Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book with a perfect ending. I loved everything about it. The characters, the plot, everything. A perfect story for any sci fi lover who enjoys well developed themes.

[Emma Tomko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled the black mirror shaped hole in my heart 💕

[Tracy Hollen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Amber Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set up with an interesting prologue, and Cal's realisation of himself is interesting. 4 stars as I felt it went on a bit too long but loved the overall story

[Raechelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars