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Jail Break
From the #1 bestselling author of Fifty Years of Fear, SHADOWS OF REGRET is the unforgettable story of a woman's struggle to rejoin society.Katie committed a terrible crime. Sixteen years was the price she had to pay.Once released from prison, she finds the world has changed. But Katie is a survivor.Isolated and alone, she struggles to make sense of her new life. Starting again isn’t easy, especially after what she’s done.Despite not feeling free or safe, Katie overcomes her fears and confronts the future. Although history won’t remain forgotten.Gradually, memories of the past are revealed. When Katie finally exposes the awful truth and sees there are others who share the blame, she must choose her path.Will she seek redemption, or will she take revenge?
290 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2019
210 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Ross Greenwood
43 books556 followersI was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
I hope you enjoy reading them.
Please feel free to get in touch.
https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoo...
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
I hope you enjoy reading them.
Please feel free to get in touch.
https://www.facebook.com/RossGreenwoo...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 17, 2019
EXCERPT: I think I've always had a dark and vengeful side. It is the survivor in me. There's a demon in the dark who takes only so much. It's the moment when I fight back. I decided that night to let it free.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: SHADOWS OF REGRET is the unforgettable story of a woman's struggle to rejoin society.
Katie committed a terrible crime. Sixteen years was the price she had to pay.
Once released from prison, she finds the world has changed.
Isolated and alone, she struggles to make sense of her new life. Starting again isn’t easy, especially after what she’s done.
Despite not feeling free or safe, Katie overcomes her fears and confronts the future. But history won’t remain forgotten.
Gradually, memories of the past are revealed. When Katie finally exposes the awful truth and sees there are others who share the blame, she must choose her path.
Will she seek redemption, or will she take revenge?
MY THOUGHTS: I am very much swimming against the tide of popular opinion with Shadows of Regret. I thought it very pedestrian. I could summon up little interest in the story and cared nothing for any of the characters who were, to me, caricatures. The dialogue is wooden.
We know that Katie has done something bad, but not what it is. This is slowly revealed in flashbacks throughout the book. This should have made this a suspenseful read, but it didn't work for me.
Not a read that I will be recommending. I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy and read it.
THE AUTHOR: I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Caroline Vincent of Bits About Books for providing a digital ARC of Shadows of Regret by Ross Greenwood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: SHADOWS OF REGRET is the unforgettable story of a woman's struggle to rejoin society.
Katie committed a terrible crime. Sixteen years was the price she had to pay.
Once released from prison, she finds the world has changed.
Isolated and alone, she struggles to make sense of her new life. Starting again isn’t easy, especially after what she’s done.
Despite not feeling free or safe, Katie overcomes her fears and confronts the future. But history won’t remain forgotten.
Gradually, memories of the past are revealed. When Katie finally exposes the awful truth and sees there are others who share the blame, she must choose her path.
Will she seek redemption, or will she take revenge?
MY THOUGHTS: I am very much swimming against the tide of popular opinion with Shadows of Regret. I thought it very pedestrian. I could summon up little interest in the story and cared nothing for any of the characters who were, to me, caricatures. The dialogue is wooden.
We know that Katie has done something bad, but not what it is. This is slowly revealed in flashbacks throughout the book. This should have made this a suspenseful read, but it didn't work for me.
Not a read that I will be recommending. I understand that reading is an entirely subjective experience and that, while this book wasn't one I enjoyed, you may well love it. So if the excerpt piques your interest and you like the sound of the plot synopsis, please get a copy and read it.
THE AUTHOR: I was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until I was 20, attending The King's School in the city. I then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.
I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it now.
Fifty Years of Fear book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then after working in sales management all my life, i randomly spent four years as a prison officer. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours.
I've now written five further books. My second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by a publisher, and Lazy Blood is also out. All my books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour. Reading the reviews has been great.
The first three books are stand alone, however, some of the characters cross over, and you can see how at times, their lives overlap.
Abel's Revenge is something a bit different. It's a modern day love story set against the backdrop of an escalating serial killer. There's a whodunnit element to it, and some smiles along the way.
Shadows of Regret was inspired by my time on the women's side of the jail in Peterborough, and analyses the close relationship between victim and villain. You won't have read a book like it.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Caroline Vincent of Bits About Books for providing a digital ARC of Shadows of Regret by Ross Greenwood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
January 10, 2019
SHADOWS OF REGRET is a mystery thriller by author Ross Greenwood. If your life was ruined, would you seek redemption or take revenge? This is the story or journey of a woman’s struggle to go back into society after serving time in prison.
Katie has just been released from prison after serving sixteen years, after committing a terrible crime.
But everything had changed. Alone Katie struggles to pick up the pieces and move on with her life. Not an easy task to do!
The novel switches between day and the past. The author builds up the tension and suspense by not revealing right away what lead to her prison time. All in good time.
Gradually, memories of the past are revealed, and Katie must choose her path.
Will she seek redemption, or will she take revenge?
This intense novel combines elements of crime, drama and suspense, and one that you will keep reading until the last page. A thought provoking read and not one that I will forget too readily.
Many thanks to the author, and the TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Katie has just been released from prison after serving sixteen years, after committing a terrible crime.
But everything had changed. Alone Katie struggles to pick up the pieces and move on with her life. Not an easy task to do!
The novel switches between day and the past. The author builds up the tension and suspense by not revealing right away what lead to her prison time. All in good time.
Gradually, memories of the past are revealed, and Katie must choose her path.
Will she seek redemption, or will she take revenge?
This intense novel combines elements of crime, drama and suspense, and one that you will keep reading until the last page. A thought provoking read and not one that I will forget too readily.
Many thanks to the author, and the TBC Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
January 20, 2022
Jail Break by Ross Greenwood is a story of Katie’s release from prison after 16 years , and how and why she got there. A compulsive , emotional read with well drawn characters kept me intrigued from page 1 . Highly recommend it !
I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers Request Group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
I would like to thank the TBC Reviewers Request Group & the author for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review
December 24, 2018
We first meet Katie on the day that she is released after serving sixteen years in prison. The story then flicks between present day with Katie trying to start over again and the past to what her childhood was like.
Obviously I was dying to know just what she had done to deserve so long in prison. The author isn’t in a rush to tell us though, adding to the build up of suspense and intrigue.
I really liked Katie, though prison has certainly hardened her some what. Even so, she wants a fresh start but events from her past are holding her back. We get to meet a few women who are in a similar position and all their back stories were interesting as well as seeing how they all deal with being released differently.
I don’t want to say too much about the story itself but Katie’s somewhat new found freedom, is far from straight forward. Her past had me totally mesmerised and had me feeling an array of emotions.
Shadows Of Regret is hands down the authors best book yet. I read it in one sitting as I was so engrossed in Katie’s story. It’s a mix of crime, drama and suspense. A dark and intense read you won’t be able to put down.
My thanks to Caroline Vincent at Bits About Books and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Obviously I was dying to know just what she had done to deserve so long in prison. The author isn’t in a rush to tell us though, adding to the build up of suspense and intrigue.
I really liked Katie, though prison has certainly hardened her some what. Even so, she wants a fresh start but events from her past are holding her back. We get to meet a few women who are in a similar position and all their back stories were interesting as well as seeing how they all deal with being released differently.
I don’t want to say too much about the story itself but Katie’s somewhat new found freedom, is far from straight forward. Her past had me totally mesmerised and had me feeling an array of emotions.
Shadows Of Regret is hands down the authors best book yet. I read it in one sitting as I was so engrossed in Katie’s story. It’s a mix of crime, drama and suspense. A dark and intense read you won’t be able to put down.
My thanks to Caroline Vincent at Bits About Books and the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 22, 2024
Ross Greenwood pulls readers in once again with a great standalone novel. Entertaining characters complement a solid plot as Greenwood lays the groundwork for an impactful novel with loose influences of his time working for the UK Prison System. Katie has finally been released from incarceration after a long stretch inside. She soon learns that life on the outside is vastly different from time behind bars, though she is not ready for the return to freedom. As Katie seeks to acclimate, she finds herself straddling both sides of the law and fraternising with those who will only cause her grief, but she has a purpose. Her freedom could be in jeopardy should she choose unwisely, but she has a score to settle that trumps all else. A great piece by Ross Greenwood that differs from much of his work I have read.
Katie is ready to live the first day of the rest of her life. Today will differ greatly from many of the others she has lived lately. It is Katie’s release day from prison and she cannot wait to see life on the outside.
After committing a senseless crime, Katie spent over a decade behind bars, but has served her time. Life on the outside is tough, as Katie soon learns, but she has to stay clean. Her past haunts her, but Katie has to find a new path, even as those who were directly responsible for her crime watch from the shadows.
Checking into a probation house helps ease the transition, but there are still temptations and lingering memories about the past. Katie meets a few fellow parolees who have the same issues, but their moral compasses are not as firmly pointed in the right direction.
Memories from the past formulate a difficult road ahead and Katie is ready to face them. However, with a group urging her to right what was wrong, she could be in trouble before her probationary period has elapsed. Still, if it brings closure… Ross Greenwood delivers a strong piece that resonates and keeps the reader wondering!
Ross Greenwood does well with this piece, weaving together a story based on some of his past work experiences. It truly has many elements for success and its rawness is perfect for the theme. The narrative paces things nicely and fuels a great story that gets more impactful. Strong characters offer the reader some highly entertaining individuals with whom they can connect. The plot lines keep the thrills and questions coming while preventing the reader from fully predicting what awaits them. Greenwood does well and keeps the reader highly entertained.
Kudos, Mr. Greenwood, for a great story that uses your own experiences to set it apart!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Katie is ready to live the first day of the rest of her life. Today will differ greatly from many of the others she has lived lately. It is Katie’s release day from prison and she cannot wait to see life on the outside.
After committing a senseless crime, Katie spent over a decade behind bars, but has served her time. Life on the outside is tough, as Katie soon learns, but she has to stay clean. Her past haunts her, but Katie has to find a new path, even as those who were directly responsible for her crime watch from the shadows.
Checking into a probation house helps ease the transition, but there are still temptations and lingering memories about the past. Katie meets a few fellow parolees who have the same issues, but their moral compasses are not as firmly pointed in the right direction.
Memories from the past formulate a difficult road ahead and Katie is ready to face them. However, with a group urging her to right what was wrong, she could be in trouble before her probationary period has elapsed. Still, if it brings closure… Ross Greenwood delivers a strong piece that resonates and keeps the reader wondering!
Ross Greenwood does well with this piece, weaving together a story based on some of his past work experiences. It truly has many elements for success and its rawness is perfect for the theme. The narrative paces things nicely and fuels a great story that gets more impactful. Strong characters offer the reader some highly entertaining individuals with whom they can connect. The plot lines keep the thrills and questions coming while preventing the reader from fully predicting what awaits them. Greenwood does well and keeps the reader highly entertained.
Kudos, Mr. Greenwood, for a great story that uses your own experiences to set it apart!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 22, 2019
When I first met Katie in the story she was at the end of a pretty long prison sentence and very institutionalised. Thing was I had no idea why she had served a 16 year stretch or whether she had been the tough cookie she was now to start with or if prison life had made her that way.
She was totally unprepared for life on the outside, a real fish out of water. Work was found for her which paid a massive 40 times more a day than she had earned inside, that was all well and good until she heard how much the cost of living was. Things sure had changed!
The story is told through Katie both in present day and in the time leading up to her conviction. I must say that I took a little time to thaw out to Katie but as the story unravelled it made me rethink my feelings about her. The story does have to be read, so as not to spoil the shocks that come. There were times when I had a real lump in my throat but at other times I was totally thrown with writing that made me swear more than once as the story snowballed out of control.
What I love about Ross Greenwood’s stories is that the key characters aren’t heroes. They are the people who have had hard knocks in life and no-one had been there it make it better for them as they had no-one they couldn’t ask for help. They are the result of a modern society, being with the wrong crowd and wanting to fit in and he captures it, though he always leaves me with the glimmer of maybe there might be a chance.
Another super read from this author.
She was totally unprepared for life on the outside, a real fish out of water. Work was found for her which paid a massive 40 times more a day than she had earned inside, that was all well and good until she heard how much the cost of living was. Things sure had changed!
The story is told through Katie both in present day and in the time leading up to her conviction. I must say that I took a little time to thaw out to Katie but as the story unravelled it made me rethink my feelings about her. The story does have to be read, so as not to spoil the shocks that come. There were times when I had a real lump in my throat but at other times I was totally thrown with writing that made me swear more than once as the story snowballed out of control.
What I love about Ross Greenwood’s stories is that the key characters aren’t heroes. They are the people who have had hard knocks in life and no-one had been there it make it better for them as they had no-one they couldn’t ask for help. They are the result of a modern society, being with the wrong crowd and wanting to fit in and he captures it, though he always leaves me with the glimmer of maybe there might be a chance.
Another super read from this author.
February 1, 2019
This is my first book by Ross Greenwood and I was instantly intrigued within the first chapter. Katie is being released from a 16 year prison sentence for murder, but that’s all we know at first.
The story is narrated by Katie and alternates between the past and the present day explaining how and why she ended up serving such a long prison term. We follow Katie as she struggles to adapt back into society having been incarcerated since she was 18. Now a 34 year old woman, she faces the dilemma of revenge against those who hurt her 16 years ago or moving on and trying to survive in a new town.
Shadows of Regret was a fast paced and gripping thriller and an easy read for me.
The story is narrated by Katie and alternates between the past and the present day explaining how and why she ended up serving such a long prison term. We follow Katie as she struggles to adapt back into society having been incarcerated since she was 18. Now a 34 year old woman, she faces the dilemma of revenge against those who hurt her 16 years ago or moving on and trying to survive in a new town.
Shadows of Regret was a fast paced and gripping thriller and an easy read for me.
March 8, 2019
Shadows of Regret is Ross Greenwood’s latest psychological thriller and boy, you will want to read it! A brilliant read, loved it!
With a life behind bars and scars that will never fade, Katie is a resilient protagonist but will she find her way?
Introduction
A woman leaves prison after sixteen years inside. Katie did not think she ever would. Now she has to get back into society – but society has changed. A lot. Will she be able to rebuild her life? She has to live with rules and to report regularly, however, she soon wishes that were all. With the past haunting her Katie faces huge problems in the present and soon, she’ll have to make a choice…
My Thoughts
Ross Greenwood has done it again! I LOVE Shadows of Regret – a psychological thriller that grabs you and won’t let go until you’ve finished it. The book is well-researched not only showing the author’s background as a prison officer but also his personal (compassionate, love that!) thoughts on the system and circumstances of the people – women – imprisoned.
Katie has an engaging personality and you can just empathise with her and the girl she once was – how betrayed and trapped she feels and how it affects her vision on life. There’s more to her character – the author only shows you bits at a time – just like the memories Katie re-lives one at a time. With each shadow from the past revealed, I wanted to know more. To understand. Fascinating and gripping.
A captivating thriller that has you on the edge. With his usual expressive and engaging writing style, Ross Greenwood draws you into the life of Katie and you just got to love her strength and resilience… and fear for what she will decide next, how she will cope with what life deals her. That capability is what makes a writer an author – and Shadows of Regret a book I highly recommend!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/shadow...
With a life behind bars and scars that will never fade, Katie is a resilient protagonist but will she find her way?
Introduction
A woman leaves prison after sixteen years inside. Katie did not think she ever would. Now she has to get back into society – but society has changed. A lot. Will she be able to rebuild her life? She has to live with rules and to report regularly, however, she soon wishes that were all. With the past haunting her Katie faces huge problems in the present and soon, she’ll have to make a choice…
My Thoughts
Ross Greenwood has done it again! I LOVE Shadows of Regret – a psychological thriller that grabs you and won’t let go until you’ve finished it. The book is well-researched not only showing the author’s background as a prison officer but also his personal (compassionate, love that!) thoughts on the system and circumstances of the people – women – imprisoned.
Katie has an engaging personality and you can just empathise with her and the girl she once was – how betrayed and trapped she feels and how it affects her vision on life. There’s more to her character – the author only shows you bits at a time – just like the memories Katie re-lives one at a time. With each shadow from the past revealed, I wanted to know more. To understand. Fascinating and gripping.
A captivating thriller that has you on the edge. With his usual expressive and engaging writing style, Ross Greenwood draws you into the life of Katie and you just got to love her strength and resilience… and fear for what she will decide next, how she will cope with what life deals her. That capability is what makes a writer an author – and Shadows of Regret a book I highly recommend!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/shadow...
December 27, 2018
We meet Katie on her release from prison after serving 16 years for her terrible crime. We follow Katie on her journey of freedom as she struggles to make sense of her new life. The book switches from present Katie to past childhood Katie beautifully.
This book had me gripped from the start and I did rush read the first time so I re read it again before writing this review as I was that hooked. Katie has been hardened by prison life but she wants a fresh start and we follow her struggles to achieve that.
I absolutely loved this book and found the story to be well written and kept my interest all the way through. A great mix of crime, suspense and drama. I honestly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more of Ross Greenwood's work.
Thank you TBC Reviews and Ross for the chance to read this fantastic book.
This book had me gripped from the start and I did rush read the first time so I re read it again before writing this review as I was that hooked. Katie has been hardened by prison life but she wants a fresh start and we follow her struggles to achieve that.
I absolutely loved this book and found the story to be well written and kept my interest all the way through. A great mix of crime, suspense and drama. I honestly recommend this book and I can't wait to read more of Ross Greenwood's work.
Thank you TBC Reviews and Ross for the chance to read this fantastic book.
December 17, 2018
Wow.. the characters of this book were so animated and real.. I was unsure what to expect from this book .. we all have secrets .. don’t we ??? I got lost in the story wondering what the characters reaction would be and wondering equally what mine would be .. a fabulous read and one I have recommended to friends whom I know love this genre .. an easy five star review
April 22, 2020
Katie has lived a troubled life. In care as a child and then she spends time in prison for a murder she committed when she was 18.
I liked the structure of the story. Some chapters are set in the present day, whilst others are Katie's memories of her childhood and teenage years, and what led up to her committing murder.
The events in Katie's life got me thinking about right and wrong, criminality and justice. Are there any circumstances in which you could feel sorry for the murderer rather than the victim? Every action has a consequence and although some of Katie's actions may be classed as criminal, they were consequences of other people's actions.
This is an excellent piece of crime fiction, that is also very thought provoking. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I liked the structure of the story. Some chapters are set in the present day, whilst others are Katie's memories of her childhood and teenage years, and what led up to her committing murder.
The events in Katie's life got me thinking about right and wrong, criminality and justice. Are there any circumstances in which you could feel sorry for the murderer rather than the victim? Every action has a consequence and although some of Katie's actions may be classed as criminal, they were consequences of other people's actions.
This is an excellent piece of crime fiction, that is also very thought provoking. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.
December 26, 2018
Ross Greenwood and his books have often popped up on my Facebook newsfeed. This is his first book that I’ve read - and I greatly enjoyed it.
The author writes clearly and the pages just flew through my swiping fingers!
This was a book full of fast paced action, excitement and many twists and thrilling turns. An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The author writes clearly and the pages just flew through my swiping fingers!
This was a book full of fast paced action, excitement and many twists and thrilling turns. An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 11, 2022
Another stunner from this author who uses his knowledge of the prison service to write a strong emotional story. Written from the perspective of the main protagonist, Katie, covering her memories from the past until the present day, this is a traumatic and heartbreaking story.
Briefly, today is the first day of the rest of Katie’s life as it is the date of her release after 16 years behind bars. She committed a terrible crime the circumstances of which haunt her but she is determined never to go back. However, she soon discovers that starting over is not easy. Slowly she makes new friends and starts to find her feet but her past keeps drawing her back as she discovers the truth about her childhood and a shocking event which occurred. Can Katie face the dreadful truths, deal with them and stay out of jail?
This is a real page turner. An exceptional book and I just could not put it down. Katie is an great character, I couldn’t help feeling empathy with her and sympathy for her harrowing life that lead to her prison sentence. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Briefly, today is the first day of the rest of Katie’s life as it is the date of her release after 16 years behind bars. She committed a terrible crime the circumstances of which haunt her but she is determined never to go back. However, she soon discovers that starting over is not easy. Slowly she makes new friends and starts to find her feet but her past keeps drawing her back as she discovers the truth about her childhood and a shocking event which occurred. Can Katie face the dreadful truths, deal with them and stay out of jail?
This is a real page turner. An exceptional book and I just could not put it down. Katie is an great character, I couldn’t help feeling empathy with her and sympathy for her harrowing life that lead to her prison sentence. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 20, 2022
Fascinatingly believable, gritty and real. This is the story of Katie, from her harrowing childhood and heart wrenching bad luck we see her emerge from a sixteen year stretch in prison and what fate now awaits her.
Due to his excellent insights of life inside, as an ex prison officer and a real grasp of human nature and the hard realities of life this makes an absolutely gripping story and an emotional roller coaster. The characters are expertly viewed from all angles and the blurred lines between good and bad and how quickly tables can turn are all too well highlighted and exposed.
This is hugely thought provoking and makes you question everything and everybody we meet along the way. and ‘the system’ as a whole. This will definitely stay with me for a long time and I definitely recommend it.
Due to his excellent insights of life inside, as an ex prison officer and a real grasp of human nature and the hard realities of life this makes an absolutely gripping story and an emotional roller coaster. The characters are expertly viewed from all angles and the blurred lines between good and bad and how quickly tables can turn are all too well highlighted and exposed.
This is hugely thought provoking and makes you question everything and everybody we meet along the way. and ‘the system’ as a whole. This will definitely stay with me for a long time and I definitely recommend it.
January 19, 2019
Katie is being released after sixteen years in prison. Over the course of the story we see what she did to merit this sentence. Sixteen years is a long time for regrets and anger to fester and the book shows us how she deals with them. She’s intelligent and resourceful but trusts very few people. I have to say that in spite of her past, I warmed to her a great deal. She’d got the mucky end of the stick in life. The book’s well written and we are seeing the world from inside a young woman’s mind, brilliantly done by this male author. In parts it’s sad, exciting, thought provoking but never at any point is it boring.
December 31, 2021
Another brilliant book by Ross Greenwood. The story is told via a series of Katie's memories at different stages in her life as well as what's going on in her life currently after being released from prison. It all fits together incredibly well. She comes across some pretty awful people but also some quite lovely ones (I loved Sally). The reasons for her tough exterior and inability to get too close to people become apparent as the book progresses. Her sense of shame is almost tangible. An excellent read!
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December 15, 2021
I've read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. He writes some in a series but this one is a standalone (although there are characters which link through to other books).
The book is 274 pages split into 67 chapters.
It is described as a "suspense thriller" which is appropriate. It is firmly set in the criminal world although it is far from the usual crime novel or the standard police procedural.
The accuracy of the detail surrounding Katie's release from prison sets the story well with a start that leads into a very realistic novel. This high level of accuracy made me more unforgiving of the parts which stretched my imagination too far (several women released from long prison sentences into approved premises within a short period of time and none of them knew each other? Unlikely as there are so few female prisons in England). I can't fault anything else though and loved the tension/mystery created to keep a reader hooked.
Very quickly any concerns about plausibility are swept aside by the strength of Katie's voice. The book is written as a first person narrative and we are opened up into Katie's head straightaway. She makes many decisions which made me want to shout at her but there is a powerful strand of truth which runs through everything she does.
Anyone reading this will learn about the hopelessness and the grim reality of the many people who experience the world as Katie does.
There is a gritty story behind Katie's narrative which makes the book well worth reading, I was disappointed with the title as it is overly melodramatic and doesn't give much of a clue about the book's subject matter. I'm a fan of the author but do not think the combination of title and cover would attract me to pick up this book in a shop.
The book is 274 pages split into 67 chapters.
It is described as a "suspense thriller" which is appropriate. It is firmly set in the criminal world although it is far from the usual crime novel or the standard police procedural.
The accuracy of the detail surrounding Katie's release from prison sets the story well with a start that leads into a very realistic novel. This high level of accuracy made me more unforgiving of the parts which stretched my imagination too far (several women released from long prison sentences into approved premises within a short period of time and none of them knew each other? Unlikely as there are so few female prisons in England). I can't fault anything else though and loved the tension/mystery created to keep a reader hooked.
Very quickly any concerns about plausibility are swept aside by the strength of Katie's voice. The book is written as a first person narrative and we are opened up into Katie's head straightaway. She makes many decisions which made me want to shout at her but there is a powerful strand of truth which runs through everything she does.
Anyone reading this will learn about the hopelessness and the grim reality of the many people who experience the world as Katie does.
There is a gritty story behind Katie's narrative which makes the book well worth reading, I was disappointed with the title as it is overly melodramatic and doesn't give much of a clue about the book's subject matter. I'm a fan of the author but do not think the combination of title and cover would attract me to pick up this book in a shop.
January 3, 2019
Gripping to the extent that it is almost mesmerising, I really enjoyed the author’s writing, constantly telling myself ‘just one more chapter’ when I really should have been doing something else! As the author points out in a note after the book, experience has taught him that there tends to be a blurring between villain and victim for the majority of women incarcerated in the UK. This is definitely true of the female prisoners and former prisoners depicted here. Ross Greenwood does a fantastic job of creating rich and complex flawed characters that you empathise and sympathise with (with the female and some of the male characters at least, some of the men have little to redeem them!).
This is the story of what happens to Katie when she is released from prison after serving sixteen years of a life sentence. We meet Katie on the day she is released and then as events unfold in the present, she shares the key memories and events from her past that led to her incarceration in the first place. I think that this plot device works extremely well and we really get to know Katie as she tries to make life work after her release. At times brutal and shocking, Katie’s story is one that will stay with me for some time.
This is the story of what happens to Katie when she is released from prison after serving sixteen years of a life sentence. We meet Katie on the day she is released and then as events unfold in the present, she shares the key memories and events from her past that led to her incarceration in the first place. I think that this plot device works extremely well and we really get to know Katie as she tries to make life work after her release. At times brutal and shocking, Katie’s story is one that will stay with me for some time.
March 24, 2019
Greenwood does it again with this latest instalment in the Dark Lives series. This was a thoroughly absorbing and emotionally-packed read; following the journey a young woman takes after leaving prison. But Katie soon finds out that life on the outside isn’t everything she had hoped for, especially when she is thrown into the path of Thorn, whose threatening presence is immediately felt. I particularly enjoyed the building tension, flitting between past and present scenes as we followed Katies progress. The writer did an excellent job of keeping me interested while I waited for Katie’s past to unravel. This was cleverly done. At the heart of this story though, is a shocking secret that I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t see it coming. Be warned—Katie’s story will get under your skin. I rooted for her all along and felt her sadness as if it were my own. Greenwood’s writing style is engaging as always. He has the rare ability of making his characters come to life on the page. Expect to undergo lots of different emotions and have a box of tissues on hand because you are going to need them!
January 7, 2019
The book starts with Katie leaving prison, where she has been since the age of 18, having served a 16 year sentence. We don’t know what Katie has done to deserve such a long sentence, but you don’t get a sentence of that length unless it’s something serious! We don’t find out until about two thirds of the way through the book what her crime was. The narrative of the book follows Katie in the present and also at key moments in her childhood, and gradually we begin to understand why she was in prison.
I was hooked from the start. I loved the character of Katie, who struggled to reintegrate into society after coming out of prison. As a child she was let down by the foster service, and now as an ex-prisoner she is let down by the probation service. We meet several other ex prisoners in the book and all of them are struggling. When the truth about Katie’s past is finally revealed I felt heartbroken for her.
The book is well written and the pace is just right and kept me reading even when I knew I should be doing something else. The ending was perfect and makes me wonder what will happen to Katie in the future. This book is definitely thought provoking and it was interesting to read the authors notes at the end.
I was hooked from the start. I loved the character of Katie, who struggled to reintegrate into society after coming out of prison. As a child she was let down by the foster service, and now as an ex-prisoner she is let down by the probation service. We meet several other ex prisoners in the book and all of them are struggling. When the truth about Katie’s past is finally revealed I felt heartbroken for her.
The book is well written and the pace is just right and kept me reading even when I knew I should be doing something else. The ending was perfect and makes me wonder what will happen to Katie in the future. This book is definitely thought provoking and it was interesting to read the authors notes at the end.
January 2, 2019
Katie came into my life the day she left prison after serving a 16 year stretch. I was immediately intrigued to find out what she had done as she seemed pretty level headed and ordinary- however the author keeps you guessing for a significant chunk of the book- making it a page turner from more than one aspect of the story telling!
The tale is told from Katie's perspective both in the present and the past, gradually filling in the blanks about her past whilst giving a really descriptive overview of the bleak and troubled life led by people freshly released from long sentences. Katie's experience of her first proper girls night out is particularity moving and really highlights how the world has changed since her incarceration.
She is a strong woman, shaped by her past experiences and her time in jail and her story is one that I did not want to end.
Definitely a page turner and one that provokes more thought on the prison system and society as a whole.
The tale is told from Katie's perspective both in the present and the past, gradually filling in the blanks about her past whilst giving a really descriptive overview of the bleak and troubled life led by people freshly released from long sentences. Katie's experience of her first proper girls night out is particularity moving and really highlights how the world has changed since her incarceration.
She is a strong woman, shaped by her past experiences and her time in jail and her story is one that I did not want to end.
Definitely a page turner and one that provokes more thought on the prison system and society as a whole.
January 22, 2019
This was a really gripping page turner of a read! This book really takes you into what life is like for a women being released from prison. Very well researched from what prison life is like, what leads various women to jail, & what life is like for them when they are released.
I love how Ross Greenwood wrote the order of events starting with Katie’s release from jail after serving 16 year sentence. Hearing what it’s like for her to be free you are instantly drawn to her character wanting to know what led her to serve such a long sentence at such a young age. Imagine going to jail at 18 & getting out at 34.
Full review on my blog:
https://griplitgrl.wordpress.com/2019...
I love how Ross Greenwood wrote the order of events starting with Katie’s release from jail after serving 16 year sentence. Hearing what it’s like for her to be free you are instantly drawn to her character wanting to know what led her to serve such a long sentence at such a young age. Imagine going to jail at 18 & getting out at 34.
Full review on my blog:
https://griplitgrl.wordpress.com/2019...
February 21, 2019
Wow what a captivating story. We first meet Katie when she is released from prison where she has spent her entire adult life. I loved the way we get glimpses of her past creeping through and I found myself rooting for her despite her past and hoping she could pull through it all and succeed at starting a new life free from her past. Superbly written and kept me up all night I couldn’t put it down. This is definitely a book to recommend to everyone and I am looking forward to reading more of this authors books in the near future.
January 3, 2019
The story opens and we are introduced to Katie who has just been released from prison for a sixteen year sentence. The story follows Katie and her struggle to integrate into society and make sense of her new found freedom. We are taken through the present day of Katie's struggles, as well as getting glimpses into her childhood and younger years to understand what got her to this point.
A very interesting gripping read which I couldn't put down. This book was definitely a page turner, full of suspense and shocking twists and turns. Five stars.
A very interesting gripping read which I couldn't put down. This book was definitely a page turner, full of suspense and shocking twists and turns. Five stars.
January 16, 2019
My first book by this author . I really enjoyed this . A story of a woman trying to make it back out in the world after serving time in prison . The story flicks from the present to the past showing us how Katie ended up leading this life . She must now struggle to make it on her own but the past and present threaten to engulf her and she must make decisions to protect herself once more
January 22, 2019
It was clear from this well-written story that the author had a good experience of the prison system, adding an authentic touch and setting. With great characters, as a reader, I was intrigued to discover the reason main character Katie had ended up in prison in the first place. The suspense kept up throughout the story and kept me turning the pages. An enjoyable a hard to put down read.
October 2, 2019
I wasn’t sure about Katie at the start but I grew to really like her. Ross Greenwood definitely doesn’t give his characters an easy time of it and I really felt for her. I was almost in tears at one point and there were a few things that I just didn’t see coming. There is also a boo hiss panto baddie that I was hoping would get his comeuppance. A gripping, dark story and I recommend it.
January 2, 2019
Absorbing and interesting. This book is clearly well researched and the main character is utterly believable. I fell in love with this book from page one and couldn’t put it down. The whole thing was just perfect.
January 26, 2019
This author has again exceeded my expectations with this gem of a story. Once I started I didn’t want to put it down. I felt myself reading just one more chapter and all of a sudden I was at the end.
Katie has committed a terrible crime. What the crime is we don’t find out straight away which although had me more curious I liked how the author kept us in suspense. Free from prison we see the world through Katie’s eyes. The changes all around her aren’t as easy to adjust to as she thought.
The author gives us glimpses of Katie’s past. Although I’m not usually eager for a story flicking from past to present this really worked and I enjoyed it.
As a blogger I read lots. Ross Greenwood is one of those authors that’s a definite 1-click for me. Can’t wait to read more from this brilliant author.
Katie has committed a terrible crime. What the crime is we don’t find out straight away which although had me more curious I liked how the author kept us in suspense. Free from prison we see the world through Katie’s eyes. The changes all around her aren’t as easy to adjust to as she thought.
The author gives us glimpses of Katie’s past. Although I’m not usually eager for a story flicking from past to present this really worked and I enjoyed it.
As a blogger I read lots. Ross Greenwood is one of those authors that’s a definite 1-click for me. Can’t wait to read more from this brilliant author.
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