I enjoyed Lottie Moggach's two previous social-issue literary thrillers, Kiss Me First and Under the Sun, and Brixton Hill is very much in the same vein. Rob is nearing the end of a seven-year sentence for manslaughter in an open prison in Brixton; he's now allowed out on day release to volunteer in a charity shop. Rob knows that all he has to do now is keep his head down and be on his best behaviour to secure his freedom, but an accidental encounter with Steph, an attractive, well-dressed woman, on Brixton Hill, threatens to risk all of that. Structurally, this novel, which switches between the first-person perspectives of both Rob and Steph, hits all its thriller beats. We're kept guessing as to what Steph really wants from Rob, and how much he's worked out about her motives, and Moggach weaves in the small clues very effectively. However, Rob's narrative, in particular, delivers something even more interesting. Despite his many certificates from prison courses proving that he's learnt to feel remorse and manage anger, he is uncertain about the possibility of true rehabilitation. He self-presents as a genuinely guilty perpetrator, but we are also left to judge how far his story is reliable, especially as Moggach deliberately limits how much we know about his crime. On the other hand, the novel's depiction of life even in an open prison highlights how damaging and ineffective imprisonment is, and how difficult it is for released prisoners to aspire to anything in the world outside; the nature of Rob's conviction means that it will never expire, and so even something like getting credit on a mobile phone purchase will always be hard for him. Brixton Hill kept me gripped, but it also left me with plenty to think about.

I will post this review to Goodreads and to my blog nearer publication date.

This was such a wonderful book that I feel as though I want to thank the author for writing it. I wasn't sure at first and wondered where it was going but nothing prepares you for the shocks later on. It is truly masterful, I couldn't put it down and was sorry when it ended, I would have loved to read more about Rob and Steph, maybe there will be a follow up which would be really well received. I really love it and have no hesitation in giving five stars.

I discovered this author when I saw Kiss Me First advertised on the tv. Although the series was pretty much nothing like the book (aren't they all) I still enjoyed both.
So, Rob is approaching the end of a prison sentence. He is in an open prison in Brixton and every working day he leaves there and walks to his "job" in a charity shop - the backroom, sorting all the donations. One day he bumps into (literally) a women. He helps her up and the speak for a short while. There's something about her that piques Rob's interest and, every day from then on, he keeps an eye out for her, trying to organise another meeting. He is trying to keep where he lives, and his past, secret but it soon becomes evident - to the reader, not Rob - that she has secrets of her own...
This is a very character driven story. As such, the characters have to be strong enough to carry it off. Rob and Steph are definitely in that category. In fact, as more is learned about who they are and where they came from, they become more and more interesting as their layers are slowly unpeeled. I also have to add that so pivotal to the story it is, Brixton itself could almost be counted as a character in its own right too.
All that's not to say that the story is weak. Far from it. This also is well plotted and executed and held my attention very well. I needed to know the truth, I wanted it all exposed. And when it was, well, I had to go back and think about what I had just read with all this knowledge and it just blew me away. And left me wholly satisfied. Exactly what I need from a book in these days of uncertainty.
All in all a cracking read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Life at both its best and its worst. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I really enjoyed this well paced novel. It was interesting to read about prison and prisoners being portrayed in a different way to many thrillers with attention to the minutiae of life and emotions about release and the intensity of friendship. I also found the twists and turns of the plot kept me turning the pages to the satisfying ending
Thank you to netgalley and Little Brown for an advance copy of this book.

This is a well researched story, told via a dual narrative, with more to it than meets the eye.
It begins with us meeting Rob, a prisoner on the verge of release from a 7-year stretch, who is released each week day to work in a charity shop. On his way to the shop he bumps into Stephanie, whom he takes a bit of a shine to. So far, so normal, but as Stephanie’s POV begins we see there’s more to this meeting than meets the eye. Who is she?
The story has plenty of twists that leave the reader wondering whether their empathy is misplaced.
The author has clearly researched prison life thoroughly and carefully, and has applied that knowledge to this story without over-egging the pudding, making it believable and relatable.
For a debut novel especially, this is a superb read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

An enjoyable read. Many books I have read although good at the time are quickly forgotten. I feel i will always recall this story. Not sure why but i have to give credit to the author for the creativity of the storyline..

A good start but a little drawn out in places. I was looking for a gritty fast paced thriller, however this was not to be. The plot was good and the ending drew it all in to a brilliant close however a large chuck of the middle could of been taken out and I wouldn’t of noticed.
I would definitely read another from this author as I do think the story was good just didn’t need the bit in the middle.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
I really wanted to love this book as it was such an interesting premise but for me it was too slow and filled with too much daily routine detail. I did warm to Rob but didn't to the other characters.
The book alternates between different points of view and is more of a gradual reveal rather than "twists and turns". Kudos to the author for trying a very different approach
Sadly not for me but I would try another book from this author

From the description, I expected a traditional crime thriller. But Brixton Hill is so much more than that. It was an intense and gripping exploration of character and the prison system. For a lot of people, prison is a world we can only imagine and a place which is shouted in mystery and politicised repeatedly. Brixton Hill feels real, not dramatised for political point scoring but an honest look at the challenges of life inside (and outside). By the end I had grown so fond of Rob, it was a shame to finish the book. A fascinating contemporary novel.

An easy to read, well paced book that is quite different to the usual books I read. Not exactly a thriller and not as gritty as a gangland book, however a very interesting read. The characters are very well developed and the plot of the story was very clever.

I enjoyed this book very much and raced through it. I found it a refreshing change from the books I usually read and didn’t think it dragged at all as some other reviewers have said. I wouldn’t describe it as a thriller but nevertheless there was a build up of tension towards the end and a good ending. Rob was a very sympathetic character - others less so. Recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and Little brown

Brixton Hill is a good and fasted paced thriller that was full of twists and turns, a few that took e by surprise.

Very authentic piece of fiction which centres on a soon to be released prisoner who bumps in tot a woman on the street whilst on day release and there is an instant connection. It is this too good to be true? Does she have her own motives?
A nice change to most fiction coming out at the moment.
Having reaD the superb “ a bit of a stretch” by Chris Atkins recently this in some ways resembles a fictional version of that. The accuracy in the detail is no surprise as there is a family / link / relationship there which probably has helped in the authors depiction of prison life.

This was an easy to read thriller that kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this arc. Moggach's debut, Kiss Me First, is one of the most haunting psychological thrillers I've ever read, so I was excited to read this. Unfortunately for me Brixton Hill just didn't work despite being such a short book I found that the descriptions of day-to-day life in prison overrode the story and plot, which doesn't come together until the last 30% of the book.
This is narrated from two POVs:
* you have Rob, who was in prison for 7 years. His sentence is coming to an end, and he is now allowed to leave prison for the day to work at a charity shop, a job organised by the system. One his way one morning he bumps into a beautiful woman, and the two continuously start to meet in the mornings.
* Steph is the woman who Rob meets. But Steph has her own agenda for meeting Rob. What does she want from him?
While the writing was fine, I found the day to day descriptions became tiring after awhile and nothing much happens for the first 55% of the story. When we finally see some plot and things start to happen in the second half it slows down again with even more daily descriptions of prison life. It was such a slog finishing this book, even though this is less than 300 pages. Overall not a bad book, but quite slow on plot and more of a psychological drama than a thriller.

After 7 years, Rob is coming to the end of his prison sentence and is allowed out into the community every week day as part of his rehabilitation programme. He works in a charity shop a short walk from the prison. On his way to work one morning, he has what appears to him to be a chance encounter with and attractive young woman, Stephany, who is also on her way to work. Over the next days, they meet most mornings and gradually get to know each other a little better. Unknown to Rob, Steph has a hidden agenda and the ‘chance’ meetings are part of a plan. The storytelling provides an interesting and convincing view of life inside and makes for surprisingly compelling reading.

I really enjoyed this book, it had an interesting storyline, it all came together to a satisfying conclusion

This is my first Lottie Moggach book. It tells the story of Rob who is in the open wing of Brixton prison finishing a seven year sentence for manslaughter. One day on the way to his day release job he encounters Steph an attractive woman who trips up in front of him.
For about two thirds of the book it felt a bit turgid, we hear a heck of a lot about what happens in the charity shop where Rob spends his day release time. Unlike other readers I enjoyed reading about the day to day happenings in the prison but it does drag a little.
The final third, however, pulls all the parts of the story together and I started enjoying it a bit more.
If I could give 3.5 stars I would, but I will have to mark down to three.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book quite like Brixton Hill.

The main reason I wanted to read it is because it’s primarily based around the area I live in. That’s why the title pulled me in so much!

I didn’t really see any thriller elements to Brixton Hill, but there were lots of tense moments. I really enjoyed how everything started to fall in to place. I quite liked the characters, and Liam (bless him!).

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Brixton Hill. My only bad point is that some of the Brixton Hill focal points where not factually correct, I have to admit that bugged me in the beginning but it didn’t take away my enjoyment.

Rob is nearing the end of his prison sentence, he is desperate to keep on the straight and narrow so he can leave prison and go back to his life.
When he meets an attractive woman on the street on his way to his day release job he is instantly attracted to her and wants her to see him as he really is not just a prisoner.
This book shows us societies view on prisoners and the stigma that prison has. The prison scenes are really well researched and realistic. Rob is a likeable character I rooted for him all the way through even though I was as the reader unaware of his crime and the circumstances of his incarceration.
I loved this book a real page turner and a good mix of fiction set in a realistic setting.