I loved this surprising, thought-provoking, engaging novel and read it in one sitting! Taking an extreme version of restorative justice and putting it into people's everyday lives is a genius concept and in the hands of a brilliant crime/thriller writer like Deborah O'Connor. I'm so excited to see what she does next.

Deborah O’Connor’s “The Dangerous Kind” was probably my read of the year in 2019 and after such a tremendous book, I wasn’t sure her latest novel “The Captive” could meet my high expectations.
I need not have had any concerns, for as soon as I started reading, I was engrossed, engaged and invested in it and found it an impossible book to put down. Highly original and set in the near future, restorative justice has taken over the normal prison service. Prisoners are kept and attended to, by the families or victims of the perpetrator, in a custom built cell within their houses. The idea being that the prisoner truly understands the damage they have inflicted on the victim or on the families left behind. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
When Hannah temporarily ‘houses’ Jem, the man accused and found guilty of her detective husband’s murder, she’s nervous of him being in the cell in her kitchen. “What if he speaks to me?”. “What if he hurts me?”. “What if he gets out?” Everyday the same thoughts run through her head. But what happens when she starts to suspect he could have been wrongly sentenced and he didn’t kill her husband?
Brilliantly played out and executed, this exciting, high-concept story was imaginative and constructed with a superb plot that keeps you turning the pages in anticipation of what will happen next. I liked Hannah and Jem, I was thoroughly invested in their stories and I thought the fact she suffered with Type One Diabetes, which played a big part in the intense story, was a realistic addition to her character.
Although far fetched at times and probably an unfeasible solution to prison costs and overcrowding, if you’re invested in part of the story you may as well believe in it all and it is for this reason I give “The Captive” five stars - for the sheer entertainment factor and engrossing storyline. #UnlockTheTruth

5 stars

A high-concept psychological thriller, The Captive is set in London some time in the near future when, for a host of reasons, not least the cost and supposed lack of justice facing criminals in holiday camp condition prisons, the government has taken restorative justice to its logical conclusion and done away with mass incarceration. Replacing the old system with the Domestic Prison Service, a system that requires the victim to house the criminal that wronged them in a cell inside their own home for the duration of the sentence, it sees victims made accountable for their prisoner’s welfare, all overseen by a Domestic Liaison Officer. The theory goes that situating the prisoner within the home of the victim ensures they truly face up to the damage they have done, yet minutes prior to the man found guilty of murdering her husband arriving in her home, cake maker and newly widowed Hannah Cavey is distraught.

Despite pleading not guilty to the murder of Met detective John, overwhelming evidence has seen twenty-eight-year-old Jem Dahlin sentenced to twenty years served in a cell the size of a car parking space in Hannah’s kitchen. Support for Hannah comes in the form of best friend Aisling and John’s police partner and one-time alcoholic boss, Rupert Cammish and DCI Mickey Coomes respectively. Jem professes his innocence from the off and on revealing the contents of the final conversation that he overheard John having on the night of his murder it triggers doubt in Hannah’s own mind. As Hannah instigates her own investigation into John’s murder and finds some truth to Jem’s words there is a gradual thawing of the tension between the pair that sees them foster an unlikely, albeit unequal, bond. As Hannah uncovers further evidence that John wasn’t the man she thought he was with suspicions of corruption, money laundering and death of another officer all circling, it all seems to corroborate Jem’s innocence. But is Hannah right to trust him or is she making a fool of herself letting Jem words get inside her head?

The narrative shifts focus between Hannah and Jem, with parts telling of Jem’s troubled childhood and the path that saw him collide with John and tie their fates together. The characterisation of flawed Jem is superb and although there is a slight second half abatement of tension as Hannah’s investigation into John’s death loses its impetus and her and Jem’s relationship comes to the fore, the whole novel is expertly plotted. The close ramps the tension right up and brings not only the exact circumstances of John’s death to the surface it also resolves several loose threads that provide an explosive conclusion to Hannah and Jem’s stories. Several aspects of the novel prevented it from being a stellar five star read for me however from the early signposting of Aisling’s involvement in the wider plot through to other things that didn’t quite ring true and a rushed denouement.

Whilst there are very obvious problems with the concept of restorative justice and the possible abuses of the system the novel benefits from bringing a totally new focus to the saturated psychological thriller market. It is also impossible not to ask yourself the same questions that Hannah faces and follow the concept of a lawless country where victims of crime choose not to prosecute to its resultant conclusion. Compelling, tightly plotted with two credible characters in Hannah and Jem.

It is billed as a high concept thriller and it certainly ticked all my boxes. Set in the near future there are no longer prisons. The victim now becomes the jailer. The criminal is incarcerated in the victim's house in a cage. Not much bigger than a car parking space for a supermarket. Inside this cage is enough room for a single bed, a basin, a table and chair. The cage has a hatch and a metal drawer which can pull out to deliver food and other essentials. The victim now has sole charge of the criminal. Can you imagine how Hannah feels having the murderer of her husband in her home ensconced in a cage in her kitchen??? A murder mystery/ psychological thriller which had me reading late into the night. A multi layered thriller which had me glued to my seat. What would you do in this situation and how would you react??? The only thing that put me off was the side story of Aisling, it detracted from the main story and in my opinion was not needed. Otherwise this would have been a five star read.
Thanks to Bonnier Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Hannah is married to John, a police officer, when he’s killed the man convicted of killing him is imprisoned in her home; a very strange concept and one which I had to google to make sure it doesn’t happen anywhere! The story follows their relationship from getting used to living under the same roof to how this evolves. Hannah wants to find out the truth about her husbands murder and is fearless in uncovering what her husband had been working on and with whom. There were a number of points in this book which literally made me gasp out loud at what was happening, the pace was fast and there is never a dull moment. The author has a wonderful way of portraying all of the range of emotions so well, as a reader you can feel it all. This kept me reading late into the night and I wanted to keep reading to know what was going to happen. I enjoyed the ending too, there was a bit of a twist and I very much enjoy a book that keeps me guessing and doesn’t give things away easily. I very much recommend this.

This was an absolutely great concept read. It was very thought provoking and gripping. I can definitely see it being turned in to a movie! I was amazed by the author’s ability to get the concept across so well!

This has been described as a high concept novel and golly, it is. Criminals now live in cages in the homes of their victims for the duration of their sentence and it is the victims, not the prison system, who are responsible for prisoners’ welfare. Hannah Cavey’s husband John was murdered by Jem Dahlin, who has been sentenced to 20 years – all of which are meant to be in Hannah’s home she had shared with John. Understandably, Hannah turns to close friends to get her through this strange time and, although unexpected, she starts to question her late husband’s activities leading to his death. She also begins to see Jem as more than a prisoner but naturally a relationship with a prisoner is forbidden – but can she trust Jem? This is a multi-layered story with plenty to keep you entertained and the premise is such that you can’t help but wonder what you would do in a similar situation.

In the future there are no prisons and convicted criminals serve their sentences in the homes of the people who are most affected by their crimes.
Deborah now has a cage in her kitchen and inside it is the man who killed her husband who was a Police Officer.
Jem who was convicted of her husband’s murder is now trying to convince her that he is innocent and Deborah starts to look into the death of her husband and the mystery surrounding it.
I really enjoyed this book it had me hooked from the beginning. It had plenty of tension and twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Captive by Deborah O’Connor is an intriguing Thriller set in the not to distant future, well it may even be now, in a country where the failing prison system has been ripped apart and a new restorative justice system is in place,

No longer do the police press charges but the victim does. And if the victim does press charges then they in turn then become the jailer of the criminal who moves into the victims home to play out their sentence in a custom made cell. It’s a crazy idea.

Deborah O’Connor spins this take brilliantly as the obvious questions begin to be asked on how you would treat your captive and what relationships develop between you and them.

The 2 main protagonists are quite likeable and throughout your waiting to see exactly what Jem is up to in a twisty and enthralling mystery.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s so different with such a unique storyline.

Fast Paced, thrills a minute reading, the ending is great and this a real page turning thriller that will leave you thinking what if and buts about the whole premise. Captivating like it’s title suggests.

5/5

Thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre Books

In a not too distant future, restorative justice has replaced prisons. The idea is that the criminal will reside in a tiny cell in the victim's home so that the impact of their crime becomes tangible. Hannah's police officer husband is murdered and the perpetrator, Jem, is established in a cell in her kitchen.
This really captured my imagination and was unlike anything I had ever read before.

The tension in the book is palpable from the start; the fear and hatred Hannah experiences with Jem being in the house is tangible. Jem continues to protest his innocence and it's unclear whether this is a mind game he is playing, to torment Hannah further, or if there is any truth in what he claims.

Hannah does start to investigate exactly what happened to her husband and it soon starts to become evident that her dead husband had secrets. Hannah's best friend Aisling may be able to shed some light on what happened, but she has started to avoid Hannah and whilst Hannah may trust Jem, it's clear he is hiding something too. It's a tangled web and had me turning the pages desperate to find out exactly who could be trusted and what really happened to Hannah's husband. My only complaint was that there was a side story that involves Aisling that detracted from the pace and plot, thankfully once this is wrapped up the book really ramps up the tension as all the loose threads are brought together for the dramatic conclusion.

This is a great book and I would like to thank the publishers and Net Galley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

This is a good read. It is totally unbelievable in places but thought provoking as well. This is a good who dunnit.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

After reading The Dangerous mind also by Deborah O’Connor I was intrigued to see what was next instore with The Captive.
Sometime in the future Met detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway. Since the prison system collapsed, victims of the crime now must house the perpetrators caged in their home for the length of their sentence. This means they must feed and clothe them and oversea the visits from the Domestic liaison officer. This is done so the perpetrators will learn the error of their ways.
Jem was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of John cavey. His wife Hannah is uncomfortable for having the murderer of her husband in the house. What makes it worse Jem keeps saying he is innocent of the crime and when other things come to light, she thinks that she might believe him. She confides this to her best friend Asling and Micky another police detective.
The captive is a unique story, with great characters that I really enjoyed, and I think this will be talked about for a long time. This is one of them thought provoking books that would worry you if the concept really came to life. Would you want the person who robbed, raped, or murdered someone you new incarcerated in your home for the period of their sentence? There is a lot of questions that would come of this.

Right from the start this book has you in its thrall, hook, line and sinker! Hannah Cavey’s husband John, a Met detective, is murdered. The current system of incarceration involves prisoners being placed in cells in the victims homes as part of a restorative justice programme with several rings of security. Jem Dahlin is convicted though professes innocence and duly arrives at Hannah’s house.

The concept! How utterly appalling, it blows your mind that an innocent party has to not only confront but feed those convicted! Can you imagine anything worse? Right from the start Hannah’s nerves are understandably jangling and mine along with her! The concept feels original and as the clever plot unfolds Hannah has to start playing detective herself as various discoveries make her realise that things are just not adding up. It’s absolutely gripping as you go on a dangerous and nightmarish journey which reveals lies, corruption, wicked betrayal, organised crime and murder. It’s a very dark and intense plot full of twists which keep you immersed in the storytelling. The finale is very exciting with some jaw drooping and unexpected shocks as it reaches a very satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I enjoyed this well written thriller very much. The whole thing from start to finish sends shivers up your spine and you recoil in horror at the thought of a prisoner glowering at you 24/7! Highly recommended to fans of this genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the arc for an honest review.

A unique plot based on possibly the future with our ever loaded prison system - Hannah finds herself the carer of Jem imprisioned for the murder of her husband - the system means prisoners are locked in a cell in the home of the victims family and so the story begins . Putting pieces together Hannah realises Jem is innocent and the two form a bond and put together a plan . Really enjoyed this book a really unusual plot that makes for excellent reading

This is a book with a unique premise; the family of a victim of crime can house the prisoner. It’s a weird and quite disturbing concept but it certainly creates a different setting for an interesting read.

I found it really well written if claustrophobic as the lead character deals with her grief, whilst housing the guilty perpetrator.

The relationship between captive and his captor is fascinating and as the book progresses you are drawn into the dilemma of innocence vs guilt.

An interesting 3* Good Read and I’m grateful to NetGalley and Bonnier books Zaffre for the opportunity to preview.’

In a world where restorative justice means that victims of crime house the criminals who wronged them in their own house in a specially built cell, Hannah is stuck with the prospect of years of living alongside Jem, the criminal who murdered her husband. Jem is a complex character who eventually makes Hannah question everything and investigate her husbands death.
This was a fantastic thriller, so many twists and questions with an exciting climax, a very unique plot idea! I would love to see this as a movie or series on tv!
Thanks so much to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Deborah O'Connor's impressive and memorable The Dangerous Kind, I knew I had to read this, her latest psychological thriller set in a London in the near future. The government has cynically closed down the expensive prison system that failed to curb crime in favour of the more cut price move to restorative justice, that has the criminal living in a cage in the home of the victim for the duration of their sentence, now responsible for their welfare, overseen by visits from a Domestic Liaison Officer (DLO). The idea is that the perpetrator will learn the error of their ways by seeing up close the impact of their crime. Cake maker and widow Hannah Cavey's police officer husband, John, was murdered by 28 year old Jem Dahlin, sentenced to 2o years. The still grieving Hannah cannot bear the torments of having Jem in her home, but all her objections come to nothing, as a cage is installed for Jem in her home.

Training in the processes and protocol designed to protect Hannah is given by her DLO, the cancer suffering Mr Dalgleish. To help her through the emotional pressures she is now facing, Hannah turns for support to her best friend, masseuse Aisling, and Rupert, John's police partner, his boss, DCI Michaela Coombes, is struggling with alcohol issues. Jem has a traumatic background, with a mother unable to take care of him, taken in by foster parents, the Tarkers with their young son, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Jem begins to get under Hannah's skin when he tells her he is innocent and relays information to her about John that has a ring of truth. Hannah, against all advice and warnings, begins to delve into the life of her beloved John, only for her to become aware she barely knew him, what was his interest in the death of undercover police officer, Roddy Blessop? In a narrative that takes in betrayal, corruption, money laundering and more murders, Hannah finds herself in danger, she is beginning to fall for Jem, but a relationship with him is taboo, and, more to the point, can she trust him?

O'Connor's central premise of a restorative justice system where victims are forced to live with those who may have committed the most heinous acts of crime against them is fascinating, nightmarish, and intriguing. There are inherent problems with such a concept, which requires a suspension of disbelief, but the idea is usefully explored in detail and insightfully with all its attendant horrors, such as rape victims having to live with the terrors of having the perpetrator in their home and those victims looking for revenge given the opportunity to abuse and potentially kill the perpetrator. This is a memorable, thought provoking, dark and intense crime read, with great characterisations in Hannah and the flawed Jem with his criminal tendencies. An absolutely superb psychological thriller that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.

A great story set in a very different world to the one we have now with offender management. The story is captivating and keeps you guessing throughout.

Fast paced and an interesting concept whereby the victim of a crime, if they prosecute, is faced with housing the perpetrator in their home instead of a prison.

Quite an unbelievable storyline tbh, but fun and action packed enough to draw you in. Easy reading.

The central premise of the ‘The Captive’ is a wonderfully inventive idea. In a not too distant future, the government has decided to close down the prison system. It clearly isn’t working – look at the reoffender statistics – and it is very expensive to run. Dressed up as the desirability of restorative justice, convicted prisoners are now looked after in the houses of those they’ve harmed so that they can come face to face with the damage they’ve inflicted. Housed in a secure metal cage about the size of a car park space, they are fed and watered by those that they’ve desecrated in some way.
Jem has killed Hannah’s police officer husband and has been sentenced to life in a cage in her kitchen for twenty years. From the start, he proclaims his innocence but this is just a ploy to woo Hannah, right? It’s clear that his long-time criminal tendencies were always likely to escalate so why should she believe him? However, as the plot develops the reader is given plenty of reasons to doubt the validity of his sentence.
Deborah O’Connor has taken the problems of a broken prison system and a cynical government and pushed them to a creative conclusion. Whilst the practicalities of this are very difficult to imagine, despite the details she gives us, the subject matter should lead to some interesting discussions.
Is this novel an unmitigated success? Not in my opinion. The final sections where all of the threads are pulled together felt overcrowded and implausible. Perhaps if some of the plot lines had been ditched earlier, the revelations and the denouement would have felt more credible. A well-written novel which is worth reading for the main idea rather than the plot that unfolds.
My thanks to Bonnier Books UK, for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.