Loved this nail biting thriller, raced through the pages to uncover twists and truths. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

When I was ten is another brilliant novel from Fiona Cummins.

1997 and two young girls are taken away from Hilltop House by the Police. They are sisters aged 10 and 12, their parents murdered, stabbed to death..

Almost twenty years later, one of the sisters is finally breaking her silence about the case that shocked a nation.

The other, who has now built a new life for herself, is horrified that her family will be destroyed and doesn't want her sister to do it,

This is a difficult novel to read at times due to the subject matter, and there is also a chapter to be avoided if you don't like spiders!!

When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins

Another thrilling book from Netgalley.

Didn't want to put it down until it was over!

Sara and Shannon Carter are bound by tragedy. The murder of their parents.

Tormented by horrid abuse, one of the sisters takes matters into their own hands and ends the misery the parents bring to their lives, thus dubbed, the angel of death.

13 years later, the truth will reveal itself. Ripping apart the lives of many. Brinley Booth, their childhood best friend, and now a journalist will help spill all for the most explosive interview of her career.

Everyone has a story to tell, but who is telling the truth and what will they do to protect their secrets?

Absolutely Brilliant - as are all Fiona Cummins novels !!

I could not put this down it was exciting -heartbreaking and the ending had a perfect twist

Highly Recommended !!!

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

'When I Was Ten' is a very dark, disturbing read from Cummins. However, it is also an electric read and I was absolutely gripped by this from start to finish. Definitely read the blurb before starting this but if you read this prepared then you are in for a treat and an exhilarating read that will leave you wanting more. I enjoyed that as the book progressed, Cummins changes the time period the book is set in, it allows the reader to understand more about what is going on and the characters thought processes. I was also surprised by the amount of twists and surprises that Cummins throws in. I was not expecting them and it only served to increase my enjoyment.
In a weird way, I found the characters very likeable and I cared about them and what happened to them. This also helped my enjoyment. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed 'When I Was Ten', if you are looking for a dark thriller that will thrill and excite you, then look no further.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.

Inhaled this book in one sitting , it was by far one of my favourite reads. As I am new to reviewing I was unsure where to start but this book was a huge big yes for me

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Intense, gripping and impactful - i really enjoyed this. I jever would've foreseen that plot twist. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you're in a thriller mood.

Just......absolutely fantastic. This kept me up till the early hours. I could not put this book down. The characters and storyline are absolutely amazing and I rushed through those pages.
##Amazing##UpAllNight##

A fascinating thriller. I haven’t read anything by this author before so I was excited to pick this one up. Was so good and the beginning was a little confusing until you place all the characters I found but that’s probably just me.
A great thriller

I enjoyed the multiple POV in this book. This was a gripping and unique thriller with great characters that had my attention from the very start.

Easily one of the best books I have read in years.

Literally could not put this down. Hook, line and sinker I was drawn to this book and I disappeared into this rollercoaster story.

What makes a child want to kill their parents ?

There are parts of this book that you think you can't read, but you have to. You have to keep going. I read this book almost in one sitting and that is a huge thing for me. I had to step away for fear of being up all night but this is a fantastic read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it and it kept me guessing, I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

This was a dark and twisted read which really kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. An utterly engrossing book which is builds tension beautifully throughout and adds a creeping sense of menace as the story progresses. A thrilling ride right from the get go.

Oh my days. What a fantastic book that managed to get me out my reading slump! Never knew where I was going to be taken next

Interesting plot and the opening was certainly intriguing. Some good twists as it progressed that kept me reading.

Utterly brilliant, just like everything else Fiona Cummins has written.

Thanks very much to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. Many thanks, Dave

The twists and turns and fantastic storyline kept me awake until the birds began singing for two consecutive nights !!! A MUST read ! I got so engrossed in this book l thought l new who was the killer but it had me guessing to the end best book l have read for along time

On Sunday, April 20, 1997, two young sisters were led from Hilltop House by police. The younger aged 10, the older 12. Their parents stabbed to death. A third young girl watched as the sisters were escorted away, never to return to their home.

Almost twenty years later, one of the sisters is finally breaking her silence about the case that shocked a nation. The other, who has now built a new life for herself, is horrified that her family will be destroyed.


I really enjoyed this book. I think my favourite character was journalist Brinley Booth, who is covering the story. I also liked the politics angle, it added another angle to what was, at times, a very difficult read about two sisters who had been treated so badly. Their parents were very abusive and I found that very uncomfortable to read about, so do proceed with caution (also if you hate spiders, I'd avoid the chapter about the shed!).

This was a solid, well-written thriller that almost crossed over to horror at times. It was well crafted and the pace was perfect. If I had one criticism it would be that the ending all felt a little bit flung together compared to how well the rest of the story was told.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.

I have no idea why I left it so long to read this novel. I went through a phase of just not reading crime or thriller books but I picked this up recently and OMG! What a book!

The writing was super easy to follow, with characters who had so many secrets drawing you in. Not only that, but the plot itself was just amazing. This was filled with family dramas, sister devotion and twists you just did not see coming.

Triggers warnings are needed for this book though, with key ones being death, child abuse and adultery.

I loved the multiple POV's, jumping from Catherine to Brinley, and even throwing in the politician - although I'm still not clear why his story was part of the novel.

Hands down a brilliant thriller!