Brookmyre once again delivers a brilliant story, hard hitting and well told. Another on one of his books I couldn't put down until the end.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

The Cut is a thrilling and witty crime novel by Chris Brookmyre who weaves together the stories of a retired actress, a former gangster and a serial killer

The characters are well-developed and realistic, with sharp dialogue and humour, exploring themes such as fame, identity, revenge and redemption

The Cut is a highly entertaining and satisfying read for fans of the genre

Wow. What a great book. I thought at the start I wasn’t going to enjoy it at all, but began changing my opinions when Jerry and Millie’s stories started to converge.

Alright, gather 'round, folks, 'cause we've got a juicy murder mystery on our hands! Meet Millie Sparks, the gal who allegedly gave her boyfriend the ol' stab-in-his-sleep treatment. She served her time, 25 years in the slammer, and now that she's out, she's all about that undercover life, calling herself Millicent to stay incognito.

But here's the kicker - she swears she's innocent! And boy, oh boy, some strange stuff starts happening, hinting that there's a secret someone out there with some big hush-hush knowledge.

Now, this Millie has a fascinating gig - doing makeup for horror flicks, especially that death makeup. You know, the gory stuff that fits right in with what we see in those movies? It's like her job is screaming "murder mystery" from the top of its lungs!

Oh, and let's not forget the genius title of the book - "Cuts." Movie versions are all about those cuts, and wouldn't ya know it, the boyfriend's unfortunate end was all about the stabbing!

I gotta say, this story had me hooked, but there was one little hiccup - that lowland Scots slang. Phew, it gave me a run for my money! I mean, "necking" a drink? Supposedly it means tossing it back without even letting the fluids touch your throat. Now, call me crazy, but I think that's a total waste of good booze. Unless, of course, you got some cheap swill you'd rather not taste.

But hey, apart from that, I found this murder mystery absolutely fascinating! I was all in, even with the slang hiccups. So, if you're into a wickedly good time with a touch of Scottish flair, give "Cuts" a whirl! I'm throwing down a solid four-star rating 'cause it's got the thrills, the chills, and a dash of movie magic!

a twisty thriller, with good characters, very enjoyable and will read some of his others now having delved into this.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for this ARC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this as I have previous books by Chris Brookmyre. It’s a standalone book with new characters and Millie Spark is wonderful. I loved her! The story line is original and the plot moves along at great pace with the author’s trademark dark humour. A must read.

Chris Brookmyre is incapable of writing a bad book. Sophisticated writing, brilliant characters, and perfect pacing. Bang on his usual form.

Classic Brookmyre, with the dark humor, the conspiracies and the plot twists that are the real thing. Also, spoiler alert, he's not afraid of the happy ending and I love him for it.

First book by Brookmyre that I've read, and after this, I would be interested to read more, although perhaps not be the first in the queue!
This felt rather unbelievable at times, and I struggled to get past this barrier through the book. Some readers have said this, and then still been able to award 5 stars. I feel like the coincidences lose the book it's credibility and cannot fully recover in my eyes.
It was a good read, and I did enjoy the plot, but my reservations mean I can't give it a higher rating.

Staring two misfits who form an unlikely alliance - 70 year old Millie was Jailed for the murder of her boyfriend, she spent 25 years in prison for a crime she can't remember and is finding it hard to adjust to life outside prison. Jerry, a horror film buff and petty criminal, is young university student from a poor background trying to break away from the 'friends' who were determined to hold him back, now he doesn't feel like he belongs anywhere.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is expertly written and so entertaining! With a host of fabulous characters and plenty of twists and action which kept me turning the pages long after I should have been sleeping.

What exactly did I love?
Having an 'outsider' 70 year old female as the main character.
Millie and Jerry's fabulously written characters and their unlikely friendship.
How the past was told through Millie's well placed flashbacks to the making of the movie which was never released.
The vividly atmospheric descriptions of European cities and the satisfying ending to this fabulous tale.

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy, this is my honest opinion of the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Group for a review copy in exchnage for an honest review.

Synopsis
Millie Spark can kill anyone.

A special effects make-up artist, her talent is to create realistic scenes of bloody violence.

Then, one day, she wakes to find her lover dead in her bed.

Twenty-five years later, her sentence for murder served, Millicent is ready to give up on her broken life - until she meets troubled film student and reluctant petty thief Jerry.

Together, they begin to discover that all was not what it seemed on that fateful night . . . and someone doesn't want them to find out why.


I loved the unlikely duo forming a friendship, and speaking in movie quotes against the backdrop of this incredible plot.
This was across the two timelines detailed in the synopsis - present day, and twenty five years ago.
This is my first Brookmyre book and will definitely not be my last!

Classic Brookmyre - a thoroughly enjoyable climb to redemption and well-earned cold revenge. You wouldn't want Millie Spark to be on the other team

My first but not my last by this author. A 72 year old who spent 20 plus years in prison and a young film student. This is a story with humour (dark!) and us written very well. Off to buy more by the author and recommend as a strong 4/5.

This was an original book with unique characters. The story was unusual, there was black humor and a good plot. I'm glad I read something different than usual thrillers. I'd recommend if you're looking to try a different type of thriller.
Thanks a lot for this copy.

Chris Brookmyre's novels are always a bit off-the-wall in comparison to his peers, but this is what makes his books really stand out. A unique cast of characters are thrown into a slightly bonkers situation, and it's all topped off with Brookmyre's trademark macabre wit. Brookmyre never lets a reader down!

I read this book three times, but... It's just not clicking. I enjoy the setting and the blurb, but to me, the book does not deliver what the blurb promised - at least not in the way I understood it. The writing style made it difficult for me to concentrate and I had the feeling that this book was all over the place; picking up lose threads for a while before dropping them and picking up another.
I wanted to love this book so much, especially because I've heard many great things about the author, but maybe we just don't click in that way,
Sad, I really wanted to like this book, because it sounded like it would be perfect for my taste in literature...


I received a free copy by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Millicent and Jerry are a brilliant odd couple pairing in Chris Brookmyre's superb new novel. It may be the best he has ever done. They are both lost souls with skill sets that the other needs.
Millicent has a heartbreaking past. She has been to prison for a murder she didn't commit. Her background as a horror make-up artist made her a great character. Jerry's own past is nearly as tragic. Jerry has a guilty secret that threatens their friendship.
As usual in a Brookmire book, there is corruption in high places and some vivid descriptions of violence. Also, the book is as funny as they usually are, and viciously skewers the system.

Dear Little Brown.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read and review this title. Unfortunately, I got to just over 20% this weekend and I'm going to DNF this book. I wasn't feeling invested in the story, I wasn't really following what was going on, and the book wasn't making me want to climb into bed at night and read. I'm sorry about that, but as we all know, not every book is the right fit for every person. This one wasn't the right fit for me.

Again, thanks for the opportunity and I hope to be able to read and review more titles for you in the future.

Due to the fact that I DNF'd this title, I won't be leaving any reviews on Goodreads or on my blog.

Kind Regards
Kim

A book by Chris Brookmyre is always a treat, and this is no exception. It has all the usual Brookmyre hallmarks - interesting characters, black humour, and a satisfying plot, this time based in the movie world. Chris Brookmyre is one of my favourite authors and, even though this book has no Jack Parlabane in it (I love Jack!), it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed it.