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Five by Five (Hardback)
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Five by Five (Hardback)

(author)
£18.99
Hardback 352 Pages
Published: 29/08/2024
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What if the killer she's hunting turns out to be the woman she's falling for?


'Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read' Guardian
'A bloody good read' Val McDermid

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Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – working in one of Scotland’s toughest prisons, monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard, nicknamed Scout, with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

Despite her growing fear, there is one thing going right for Kennedy. The enigmatic new prison officer Molly is beautiful and ready to sweep her off her feet.

But Kennedy can’t afford to let her guard down. Because with Scout hiding very close by, her next mistake might just be her last . . .

----

'A significant crime debut. Authoritatively authentic, irresistibly pacey and nerve-shreddingly tense' Chris Brookmyre

An assured debut by former prison officer, taking us inside the claustrophobic and ofttimes gladiatorial setting of a modern prison. With the dodgy guards and vicious cons, this is a topical dive into the darker aspects of our penal system. Terrifyingly authentic’ Vaseem Khan

‘Raw, brutal, claustrophobic, fast and impossible to put down. Written by someone who's walked the walk and seen the prison system close up’ Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of Dead Man’s Grave

‘Grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go’ Professor David Wilson, leading criminologist and author of My Life with Murderers

‘Brilliantly plotted, and so tense I forgot to breathe in places’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

‘Gritty and unflinching, unbearably tense and claustrophobic, it gripped me throughout. Claire’s professional expertise shines through and gives such authenticity to the story’ Natalie Chandler, author of What We Did

Readers are loving Five by Five

'I was hooked right from the first page of this book and I did not want to put it down' ***** Reader Review

'A cracking debut thriller' ***** Reader Review

'Fast pace, vivid characters and dramatic plot, Five by Five is gritty, compelling and surprisingly affecting' ***** Reader Review

'Such an exciting read' ***** Reader Review

'An incredible book. The characters are believable and relatable. I loved the setting, I haven’t read many set in a prison' ***** Reader Review

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780241687451
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 558 g
Dimensions: 241 x 160 x 32 mm


MEDIA REVIEWS

Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read - Guardian

A bloody good read - Val McDermid

A significant crime debut. Authoritatively authentic, irresistibly pacey and nerve-shreddingly tense - Chris Brookmyre

Raw, brutal, claustrophobic, fast and impossible to put down. Written by someone who's walked the walk and seen the prison system close up - Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of Dead Man’s Grave

Five by Five is an assured debut by former prison officer Claire Wilson, taking us inside the claustrophobic and offtimes gladitorial setting of a modern prison. With the dodgy guards and vicious cons, this is a topical dive into the darker aspects of our penal system. Terrifyingly authentic.

Claire Wilson’s debut novel Five by Five grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. She quickly establishes that she’s blessed with a distinctive new Tartan Noir voice, so you’d better watch out Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Alex Gray and Denise Mina because there’s a new girl in town.” - Professor David Wilson, leading criminologist and author of My Life with Murderers

Brilliantly plotted and so tense I forgot to breathe in places - Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

One of the best debuts I’ve read in some years. Five By Five is a no-holds barred gritty account of working in the prison service, and told from such a unique perspective. Claire Wilson writes with such a confident and assured voice. Utterly impossible to put down. - Robert Rutherford, Sunday Times bestselling author of Seven Days

Gritty and unflinching, unbearably tense and claustrophobic, it gripped me throughout. Claire’s professional expertise shines through and gives such authenticity to the story. The ending left me needing more so I really hope we meet Kennedy again in the future! - Natalie Chandler, author of What We Did

I really enjoyed this gritty crime thriller... feels like a blend of Orange is the New Black and Line of Duty - Roxie Key, author of The Deadly Spark

Claire Wilson’s debut novel Five by Five grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. She quickly establishes that she’s blessed with a distinctive new Tartan Noir voice, so you’d better watch out Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Alex Gray and Denise Mina because there’s a new girl in town. - Professor David Wilson, leading criminologist and author of My Life with Murderers

Raw, brutal, claustrophobic, fast and impossible to put down. Written by someone who's walked the walk and seen the prison system close up. - Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of Dead Man’s Grave

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“A promising debut”

HMP Forth Valley in Scotland holds 850 high security male prisoners and intelligence analyst Kennedy Allardyce monitors not just them but also the staff. A successful operation has serious consequences for Kennedy and... More

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 5

“A very good read.”

This is an excellent debut novel from the author and I do hope there is a follow up. Set in a Scottish prison, it packs a punch with it's descriptions of the inmates and the prison. The tension just oozes out... More

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 5

“A gripping thriller”

I do love a Scottish crime debut and Claire Wilson’s Five by Five has been on my ‘highly anticipated’ list for some considerable time. I’m delighted to report the wait was well worthwhile. Five by Five is dark and... More

Hardback edition
Helpful? Upvote 5

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