This is the first of her books I've read and I really enjoyed it. I had the feeling the author knows what it's like inside a prison and it comes across really well, as does the situation Rob finds himself in - how could he ever make a life for himself outside now? Very sad and I'm glad things sort of work out well in the end. I'll certainly read more of her books.

Rob is nearing the end of his seven-year stretch inside and is spending the remainder of his time in Brixton’s open prison.

On his way to the charity shop where he volunteers during the week, Rob helps an attractive woman who has tripped in front of him. She makes quite an impression on him and after that day, he looks out for her every morning. Gradually they get to know each other better although Rob needs to keep his past from her. He doesn’t want her to know that he works in a charity shop by day and spends his nights in a prison cell. For that fifteen minutes as they walk down the hill together, she becomes the highlight of his day. As he lies in his bunk at night, he replays everything she has said, the way that she looks, the way she makes him feel and he cannot wait to see her again the following day.

I LOVED this book. I loved the sweetness of the blossoming relationship (the scene in the charity shop with only the curtain between them) and I really didn’t want it to change.

The book makes you think about relationships, loneliness and trust within prisons and how you can perceive situations. Rob’s relationships with his cell mate/best mate Deller and replacement cell mate and irritant Marko couldn’t have been more different. One he trusted with his most intimate thoughts and the other he wanted to strangle. And how prison can eventually be viewed as a safety net. It was extremely insightful.

Rob seems a genuinely lovely guy, I felt sad for him that his mother didn’t visit and I feel almost bereft having finished the book now, I want more!

I rate this book 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and would recommend it for a great read. I’ve heard it likened to A Bit Of A Stretch but the two books for me were like chalk and cheese. I will be searching for more by Lottie Moggach after this book.

Thanks
Thank you to the author and publishers Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an independent review.

Although the main character, Rob, is an inmate in Brixton prison, a significant amount of the action of this book takes place on Brixton Hill as Rob, who is on day release, walks down the hill to his job in a local charity shop. I thought this element was really clever and well thought out. The book seems really well researched, although I found Steph's character and motivations a bit hard to follow. It was very gripping and well-paced, keeping you drawn in to the end.

This isn't my type of book, I read a lot of chapters into it, but there were so many twists and turns I just couldn't make head nor tail of it and found it very confusing.I'm so sorry.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book

This had a very unusual character - a prisoner on daily release, being tested to see if he is a suitable case for parole. There are scenes in the prison contrasted with outside when he goes to his very dull "voluntary" job in a charity shop. He encounters a young woman and things start to happen. This is a very well-crafted plot which reveals secrets gradually. The characters are strong and believable. Lottie Moggach is just as good a writer as her mother.

Well, this is a bit different.
Rob is nearing the end of a seven year stretch in prison and has been transferred to an open prison and is on day release.
One morning on the way to the charity shop where he is working he helps a woman, Steph, who has tripped over and their lives become inexorably entwined. Rob has to make some difficult decisions, his early release is put in jeopardy if he chooses to help Steph.
There are some interesting insights into prison life and some surprise revelations.
A well written book with some interesting and sympathetic characters.
Give it a go, worth the read.

I tried so hard with this book but I couldn't get into it. Maybe it's just not my type of book. I tried to stay with it and finish it but I couldn't. The character description was very good but it just wasn't for me. Sorry Netgalley.

A prisoner on day release accidentally meets an attractive older woman against all prison regulations. In spite of misgivings and huge reluctance on his part a tenuous relationship develops. Vulnerable and on countdown for his imminent release any breach of rules will jeopardise future freedom. Why is she cultivating and encouraging meetings; what does she want from him and how can a person with nothing have anything of value to offer. Therein lies the mystery which slowly unfolds . This story allows the reader a sharp and detailed insight into aspects of life in prison where normal privacy and dignity ceases to apply and survival depends on double guessing what others want and expect from you. Unusual slant on a difficult subject with uplifting conclusion.

Rob is nearing the end oh time in prison. He is allowed out to work at a local charity shop during the week.
On his way to work one day, a young woman falls and he goes to her rescue. He then keeps a look out for her and slowly they strike up a friendship.
Who is she and what does she want with Rob? She seems to know who he is and where he lives. All he has to do is to keep out of trouble and he will be out but maybe someone else has other ideas.

I really enjoyed this book. I found it a compelling read which kept me intrigued to find out what would happen. I enjoyed finding out how the relationship Rob, as a convicted criminal, had despite being on work release from prison at the charity shop. I was on tenterhooks wondering if he would make the right decisions for himself or if his head would be turned. It kept me gripped to the end. Brilliant.

It was good thriller and mystery in regards to being in a prison! Throughout the book you meet some characters and wonder I how and why they meet and was things are planned or just it happens!

A fascinating glimpse in to the mindset of an offender in an open prison doing day release. The challenges of the outside world and temptations and pressures that can be placed upon the offender from other prisoners and from within themselves.

This is a beautiful book, it's not really a thriller in my opinion but a beautiful drama. The story doesn't really get going until you're about 70% in. Before then it reads like a well written documentary of prison life. I loved this book and it's a solid 5 stars for me. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

An interesting read although it does take a while to get into the story. Definitely worth the time with it

Things are looking good for Rob. Sentenced to seven years in prison he is now coming up for release and is enjoying his freedom to leave the prison each day for a job in a charity shop. He is hopeful he can get some semblance of a life back and this seems even more likely when he meets Stephanie who, literally, falls at his feet one morning! Tentatively they build up a relationship in just the short time that they see each other on Brixton Hill each day. However, is Stephanie really who she seems? Does Rob tell her the truth about his incarceration? This is a great story and both the main characters are likeable and believable.

I really enjoyed this book, good characters and a steady plot, no real surprises throughout the book though

I struggled to get into this book. It does explore the feelings and thoughts of a prisoner out of prison on day release but it does start to become repetitive as the days go by. I don’t know the area being described so I wasn’t interested in excessive details of the area.
I feel that Rob’s narrative is more believable and feels authentic. I felt no empathy with Stephanie at all.

I

Having read Kiss Me First, which I enjoyed, I knew that I’d like this book, but Brixton Hill was in a different league. A clever, well executed novel which tells the story of Rob, a prisoner on day release, and Steph, an attractive older woman, who meet by chance one day. The story was told in alternating chapters by the two main characters and what a story it is. Well written, descriptive, plausible. I read that Chris Atkins, the author of Bit of a Stretch was involved in the research so the scenes set in prison were very believable. This is a book that you will think about after you’ve finished it. I’ll be recommending it to my friends and family. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy. A clear 5 stars.

This is a well-researched thriller, set mostly in Brixton Prison and its surroundings.

“Rob”, a prisoner nearing release from an indeterminate sentence for public protection, falls victim to multiple levels of manipulation and betrayal from several different people whom he likes and apparently trusts. But, given the gradually-emerging reason for his being in prison in the first place, he has no way out of the impossible position he has been deliberately put in by others unless he can see himself, his situation and all his own faults, as clearly and dispassionately as the authorities will.

4-5 stars

Rob is serving seven years in prison in Brixton, he is now a Category D prisoner and as he is nearing the end of his sentence he is allowed out on day release to work in a charity shop where Carl the manager is not especially charitable. On his way to work one morning a woman falls and Rob helps her to her feet. This is Stephanie who befriends Rob although this is not allowed on the terms of Robs licence. What is Stephanie’s game? This compelling story is told in alternating perspectives by Rob and Steph.

I really enjoyed this book which is very well written. I like that both characters observe the minutiae of Brixton Hill with great perception though for different reasons. Seeing the changes through Robs eyes since he started his prison term is really interesting and some of the changes he witnesses do seem ludicrous and rather pretentious! The depiction of the prison world appears to be very authentic as is the depiction of Robs ‘padmates’ and this makes for fascinating reading. The characters of Rob and Steph are also interesting. Rob is reflective especially on his actions, he seems to have self knowledge and comes across as clever and honourable in his own way. Steph seems to be Robs saviour although you question her motives from the start and you eventually realise they are far from pure. What unfolds is twisty and there is a huge web of lies with a large spider at the centre of it.

Overall, this is a really good read which I quickly became immersed in and caught up in the intriguing spun web of deceit. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little, Brown Group for the ARC.