** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

I usually try not to judge a book by its cover but I have to say it definitely was the covered that drew my interest initially. I’d not heard of Fiona Cummins previously but will definitely be looking at her back catalogue following this book.

This book is really easy to get into and draws you into the story pretty quickly and pulls you back in making this a quick read. Good psychological thriller with lots of twists.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I found absolutely fascinating and totally engrossing.
Sometimes you start reading a book and know that it is going to be a good read. When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins is a one of those books. There are two sisters being abused by their parents but no-one would ever believe them, because to the rest of the world their father is a well thought of doctor in their village and their mother, the homemaker who stays at home and looks after them. Shannon is the eldest and is also being bullied and targeted at school. Sara is ten but is more able to stand up for herself.
The story builds up in menace and momentum until one night it all comes to a head,when Shannon and her next door neighbour, Brindley are at the school disco. By the next morning the parents are dead murdered, stabbed to death with a pair of scissors. Brindley’s mother has also died in the night from her cancer.
Things are never the same again. The three girls grow up and end up meeting again. Two are badly injured and one of them is dead.
I recommend this book, it is one of the best books I have read in 2020.

I was absolutely addicted to this from the get go. The pretence of the story was amazing, as you can imagine even at a young age there is only so much one person can take before they retaliate. I actually read this entire book in one sitting as when I got to the end of the first main section, it completely threw me as to what I thought was the plot of the story and then towards the end there was another twist I just did not see coming. I loved the development of the characters, in particular the ‘then’ and ‘now’ kind of stance, you feel like you’re getting to know two totally different people rather than one in the same. The book was written very smoothly, it flowed really well and kept me hooked easily throughout. Really would recommend this if you’re a thriller lover like me!

I absolutely loved When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins. This is as dark and tense as a psychological thriller gets.

I particularly enjoyed the slow reveals of the two families and how the children in both households had to grow up far too soon. The childhood of the Carter sisters is disturbing and makes for uncomfortable reading sometimes but it is a harsh reality we must not shy away from. When we do, unspeakable things happen, like in this novel.

Brinley's first person narrative balances well against the third person narrator. We have a first person viewpoint from childhood to adulthood that is either in the thick of what happens with the Carter sisters or trying to leave it all behind but never being able to. Being their childhood friend and now a reporter, Brinley can't escape that fateful night. She's also carrying her own demons.

The scenes between Brinley and her mother were touching and lovingly written. This meant so much to me, having been in a similar situation although as an adult. I thank the author for her honesty and compassion.

This is a novel where even when you know the answers, the story isn't over. How can it be when a childhood crime haunts the lives of those who were involved, guilty and innocent?

This is an absolute corker of a novel that surpassed the "Just one more chapter night time reading" test. I'd like to say Fiona Cummins stole my sleep because I couldn't stop reading but she gave so much initially by writing such a superbly crafted novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy of the novel.

What a blinding little book, I was drawn in, on the edge of my seat, so sure I knew what was happening and who had done what. Only to have the author blow all my current ideas out of the water before laying it at my feet. A brilliant and engaging 5 star read.

Super dark, very twisted - and a really interesting take on guilt, responsibility, and who really is to blame for the darkest of crimes...

Loved this, a very different take on a fairly well used premise. Edgy, clever and a fantastic twist.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Great book. I loved reading it. Very interesting and covers alot of information

Couldn't really get into this one but it was generally a quick read. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre and is looking for a short read.

Another brilliant book from Fiona Cummins. This is a compelling read, from the first page to the last you are swept along by this sinister tale.

When I Was Ten made me angry, sad & tense but all in the way only a good book can. I thought the characters were fantastic & I particularly like Brinley. You can really feel the attention that has gone in to creating this book. Some of the scenes with Brinley & her mother were heartbreaking in their acuracy, so raw & real. The Carter sister's tale is so disturbing, but gripping it just keeps you turning the page.

If you love a dark, tense & twisty thriller then you're in for a treat with this one.

Sorry but this book wasn't for me, couldn't get into the story line and I have to give up less than halfway through.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

When the first line of a book is “In eleven minutes and fourteen seconds, Catherine Allen, who only wants to be ordinary, will be dead”. You are immediately hooked.
Even more so as the prologue had started the story 21 years previously, with a violent double murder, by the couple’s own daughter. We also have a second child, running scared who is struck by lightning. With details of her smoking body, and the holes left in her trainers by the escaping energy. Oh yes, buckle up readers, we have a humdinger of a book here!
I do need to say that this book will not be for everyone, this is not a light, cosy crime read. It is dark, a story of cruelty in unexpected places, lies and secrets, and the long reach this will have, through the years. There were times when I was reading of Shannon and Sara’s childhood, that I had to stop reading for a moment.
But if you like dark, gritty, twisting, gripping books, you really need to read When I Was Ten. There was a moment that my jaw, literally, dropped open. I was so engrossed, expecting “something” specific to happen, when something completely unexpected became apparent. I wish I could say more, but to do so would risk me spoiling this 5* book for you. I want you to experience all of this rollercoaster of a book for yourself.
This is the first book by Fiona Cummins I have read, but it certainly won’t be the last. In fact, I’m just about to download Rattle, Fiona’s first book.

A very interwoven plot which has you hooked from the beginning! I particularly liked part 2 of the book which flashes back to the past! It was difficult in some places to distinguish whose POV you were reading as it jumped around a bit but on the whole I enjoyed it!

Compulsive reading from the outset, "When I Was Ten" is a psychological thriller which explores criminal justice, the rehabilitation of young offenders and the long-term effects of trauma. Fiona Cummins' plotting is cleverly done, building intrigue from the opening pages. Her characters are complex and experience a range of issues including bereavement, emotional abuse and bullying. There is also some interesting commentary on how the media operates in the UK and the dangers of social media. I read this in one sitting and think it would transfer well to television.

I found this book a compelling and gripping psychological read that is deep and twisty. I was wrong footed from the beginning but totally hooked. This is a multi-layered story of 2 sisters who had an abusive upbringing, their close friend and the consequences of one night played out many years later.

Thirteen years ago two brutal murders of seemingly loving,parents well respected in the community, shook the nation.
Their daughters aged 10 & 12 at the time, at the centre of the investigation had their worlds turned upside down, one tarred with the name ‘the angel of death’ locked up for 8 years and the other sent to live in foster care.
13 years later one of the sisters opens up the nations interest again by agreeing to a documentary and the media frenzy ensues opening up old wounds and bringing new evidence to light.
I really enjoyed this book, I could tell a lot of careful research had gone into it as there were many sensitive subjects covered. The twists and turns were exciting and surprising, great suspense!
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars from me

I'm going to start straight off by saying I LOVED this book. This is pretty much everything I would want a thriller of this nature to be, it had twists, turns and surprises galore. When I Was Ten begins with Catherine Allen trying all she can to make her life as normal as possible. She has changed her name, she has her own family and she desperately wants to forget her past and an awful incident that blighted her early years because....when she was ten Catherine stabbed her parents to death with a pair of scissors. I know right??? That's some super intense stuff right off the bat! Catherine (or as she was known as a child, Sara Carter) is shocked to learn that her older sister Shannon is being interviewed by the media to get an insight into the grizzly crime and what could have pushed her little sister, nicknamed The Angel Of Death, to murder their highly respected parents. The second part of this book is where the story really solidifies itself, we go back to the 1990's where Sara and Shannon's childhood is unearthed along with the events leading up to the fateful day. I raced through this book and finished it in pretty much one sitting and that for me is the sign of an excellent book. There wasn't a single second where I wasn't fully invested in the characters and where the plot was leading me. The writing was punchy but provided a wide scope with nothing being missed. There were unexpected moments and weird twists I didn't see coming. The ending lacked a little of the drive that the book had in the first two thirds but this was a minor quibble and I won't say too much because it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book at all. This is a must read if you love your books dark, creepy and chilling.

I can't say I 'enjoyed this book given the subject matter of child abuse and murder. But I thought the subject was handled with great sensitivity and the plot compelling. The only strange point for me was the subplot of the MP - I couldn't see how this fitted in with the rest of the novel. Like reading two different books. I also would have liked a little more back story on Shannon but overall an excellent book about the legacy of abuse and the path to healing and redemption in adulthood.

A shocking and harrowing plot . Fiona Cummins has produced a psychological thriller that will keep you engrossed, and on edge, from start to finish. Brilliant!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy of When I Was Ten.

My first book by Fiona Cummins, a writer I have heard a lot about. I was not disappointed. This is a fantastic psychological thriller, expertly written and not relying on sensationalism as so many of this genre are. Already I am checking out her other novels.