This is a great read, digested it in one sitting! Such an easy book to follow, and did not want to put it down!

Compelling reading. I'm not sure enjoyed was the right word but I found this to be quite a fascinating insight. The author was very transparent with her thoughts and actions which added a layer of depth. Very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone keen to understand more about such a profession and the minds of criminals.

Author Rebecca Myers recounts her time as a newly qualified psychologist, beginning her new role at HMP Graymoor and leading treatment sessions for some of the country’s most notorious and dangerous murderers and sex offenders.

I knew that this wouldn’t be an easy read, but I’m so glad I picked it up. Through Myer’s sensitive and insightful portrayal of her time in group sessions with a group of male inmates, we see her level of commitment to the rehabilitation of men whom society have written off as monsters. True, their crimes are appalling and the level of detail is difficult to read, although I am grateful that there was nothing gratuitous in the descriptions of what lead these men to Graymoor. However, Myers shows us how, through these rehabilitation groups, she came to view these men (to a greater or lesser degree) as men who had done bad things, rather than simply “bad men”.

Myers delves into the early lives of each offender, looking for patterns of behaviour that led to the crimes and the explanations (though not excuses) for why and how they developed. It is fascinating and horrifying, but very honestly and sensitively done.

This absolutely won’t be suitable for every reader, but I would very much recommend to any readers interested in true crime or criminal psychology.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

An interesting read that gave me a better insight into prison and the psychology surrounding it. This was very intriguing to me and it delivered the information and knowledge that I wanted to gain from it.

I really enjoyed this book, and wanted to keep reading which is always a good sign! A fascinating insight into a programme set up for quite serious prisoners.

This book was always going to have to straddle a very tough line between being a tough but worthwhile read, and being sensationalist and too-detailed, and I think Myers achieves this *relatively* well.
I appreciate that the publishers were aware enough to include the byline "Treating Murderers and Sex Offenders. The Life of a Prison Psychologist." on the cover as this is absolutely not the kind of book that you want to be surprised about the content - and even then I was still a bit shocked at what we were privy to.

We meet Dr. Myers as a young trainee psychologist, joining the prison service in the 80s to work with the worst offenders; psychology as a treatment for these prisoners was a burgeoning field and it is clear as she goes through the book that the services were desperately trying to keep up with a demand it could never meet. Myers opens by stating early on that she will not be sensationalising the men's stories and acts, as she wants to respect the victims. While there are not *gory* details, as such, do not be fooled - there is a lot of reference to specific sexual abuse and details of murder in this. In fact, the whole premise of the treatment is that the offenders need to revisit their past crimes and, as a group with the psychologists' help, try to understand why they did what they did, so we hear multiple times about some of the crimes, which I don't feel was necessary for me.

Interspersed with this, Myers details some of her own life, how and why she became a psychologist, and how working in the prison affected her personally.

This book won't be for everyone, but I did find the whole concept interesting and it was insightful in general. Just glad it is done now and that I am lucky not to have to think about issues like that again for a long time.

This is a fascinating fluently written book which against my initial thoughts drew me right in. I learnt so much, not least about myself. I now have the utmost respect for those who work in and with the prison service, Inside Job is a real eye opener.

This book is absolutely fascinating and shows a world few of us know anything about, the incarceration and treatment of the most unwell child murderers, rapists and offenders who have committed the most appalling crimes.

It is written from the perspective of the young 22 year old Rebecca, a trainee psychologist straight out of University, in HMP Graymoor, where some of the perpetrators of the worst crimes this country has seen are serving their sentences, as getting psychological treatment.
It’s easy, as a reader, to label them the worst of the worst, monsters of society, yet the author shows us how they are very human, some even likeable, despite their horrific crimes, not so dissimilar to the rest of us in some ways.
Their route to the heinous crimes they commit are all different, and all tragic, and the book has a sorrowful undercurrent where it becomes apparent they can be helped very little. So you find yourself in the unexpected position of feeling some sort of sadness on their behalf, wishing it didn’t have to end like that for them.
A thoroughly compelling book, if not truly an enjoyable read (no disrespect to the author) and highly recommended.

I found this book rather difficult to assess in all honesty.. It's the story of a recently qualified, young female psychologist in the 90s heavily involved in a tough men's prison with the Sex Offenders Treatment Programme. It tells of the hundreds of hours spent talking to rapist/murderers (and role play) only to reveal that in 2017 a study concluded that the programme had had very little effect. Really! Perhaps it's the cynic in me that found this not to be surprising. I would also add that, unless the author kept notes or recordings her actual memory of words spoken so many years ago is astounding.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins UK for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction stories, but oddly whenever I read a memoir it is usually from the perspective of someone who works or has had experience within the prison system. I really hope that this is a situation I will never find myself in and so I find it intriguing to read about. It’s interesting to see the inner thoughts and previous backstories that caused inmates to be where they are, and the books usually have commentary about what has changed within the system as years go by. Inside Job is a memoir from a female prison psychologist with a specialism of treating male sexual offenders at HMP Graymoor in the 1990s and it’s a very fascinating read.

I’ll start by saying this book is not an easy read, if you are looking for something light or have any triggers of sexual violence or graphic descriptions, I would turn away now. Dr Rebecca Myers is refreshingly honest and isn’t shy to lay bare her own flaws within the book. It was interesting to see her development - from a new graduate walking through the prison block wearing a skirt, worried about spending time with the male correctional officers, let alone the prisoners, to a capable and confident psychologist who received accolades for her work. I have read memoirs before where the balance between work and personal life is too biased towards the writer, but here the personal details such as the relationship with her colleague or the backstory of her childhood are given enough time to make her feel human but never overshadow the story she is trying to tell. I felt that I related to her in a lot of ways, and this kept me hooked and wanting to read more.

This book employs a great technique of focusing on the men that took part in the treatment programmes and charting their progress throughout the course. We learn about 4 of the individuals in particular in a lot of detail - these are rapists, child molesters and murderers but in the end, incredibly, you can almost empathise with some of them! It was interesting to hear them talk in their own words about why they did what they did and how Dr Myers used psychological techniques to help them understand the triggers and destructive thinking which had led them to this point in the hope that they can recognise the same behaviours and correct them if they happen again. It was sad to not get an update about a few of them (although as Dr Myers rightly points out, no news is good news!), although the ending chapter had some very sad revelations about a few of the key characters. There were also a few chilling descriptions of inmates with psychopathic tendencies, who were either not remorseful, making excuses for their crimes or using the programme to fool parole boards into thinking they had changed for the better. The story of Dr Myers meeting Mr Slade was so chilling and some of the imagery (why is it always picnic blankets?) will stay with me for some time.

The book has an unusual ending in recounting the statistics about the effectiveness of the type of treatment programme Dr Myers was a part of. I think it is important that some of these men’s stories are told to show that the courses did do some good as well as some harm, but I think that Dr Myers does a great job of trying to show both sides of the argument as she admits that some of the techniques she employed may have been potentially harmful or unhelpful in the long run.

Overall, Inside Job is a difficult read, but it is a fascinating one and its very well written by an experienced and assured author. Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK – HarperElement for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy a good murder/serial killer, police procedural book so was intrigued to read this non fiction account of the psychology behind the crime/criminal. This is an easily understandable book which I appreciate as I’m a bit adverse to being lectured to and given psycho-babble. The inmates’ histories are fascinating but also harrowing - but approached with consideration by Rebecca Myers’s. I was somewhat astounded to discover that as a newly graduated psychologist she was effectively pushed in at the deep end with no practical experience, but I hope things have now changed. This was a good and informative book which strangely I enjoyed reading.

Wow, this book is astonishing. Dr Rebecca Myers writes about sexual offenders and - yes, I can hardly believe I am thinking, let alone writing this - manages to make you feel not horror (or at least not only horror), but empathy for them.

It is a very, very well-written, thoughtful book. It mainly centers on the treatment of a group of men following the Sexual Offenders Treatment Programme (SOTP) in a high-security prison in Yorkshire.

These are men who have done terrible things. Myers brings the reader on a journey where you get to know these men, to understand some pertinent details of their background, to witness them as they gain insights into their own behaviour. She humanises them, and presents them with empathy, while never, even for a moment, condoning what they did. Hell, she even makes you feel some empathy for the ones who are obviously abusing the programme, haven't an iota of remorse and would clearly do it again given the chance!

It's an engrossing book, but painful, as you are faced with some horrendous details of crimes. But Myers is not doing this in a voyeuristic thrill-seeking way. She really forces you to listen, to try to understand rather than outright condemn.

This is hard for me to write. I have suffered sexual abuse that has affected my entire life. I am in touch with a lot of rage and hatred that that engendered. But Myers book has actually helped me raise issues in therapy that I would not otherwise have been conscious of.

I applaud Myers and others who devote their lives to trying to help men like that, not necessarily for their own sake but for the benefit of society and to make people safer. I absolutely applaud the bravery and civic duty.

As for me, I've gained a modicum of empathy - which has helped me a little as I continue to try to make some sense of my past - but I still want those men locked up and throw away the key. To put it mildly.

It left me underwhelmed.

I found that in places not enough details were provided and at times too much, so it was inconsistent in a way.

The whole book was dedicated to the SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Programme), going into details of how it works etc. However in the end there's a whole chapter about how it was cancelled and might not be efficient at all, but rather harmful.

She explains why it was cancelled and deemed insufficient, however in my opinion this chapter should be at the start of the book as it changes the context of it in a way.

I did read it rather quickly, but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Excellent book about the reality of working in a prison as a psychologist. I found this book fascinating. Look forward to more from this author. I am grateful to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I can recommend this book fully to those who are interested in true crime, and rehabilitation or who are studying the subject of psychology.

An interesting look into life as a psychologist in a prison. This follows the author through a part of her career, from junior psychologist on her first day and thought her experiences with people who have committed particularly serious offences.

This isn’t for the faint hearted as the background of the criminals and their crimes is quite detailed, but the book is interesting and the curious will want to know what motivated those people to commit those crimes and what they are now feeling - following the work the author carries out with them in terms of psychology.

A good, interacting read. Thanks to #netgalley for an ARC of this book

A truly disturbing book that really should come with a warning. Some chapters I barely skimmed just to get through them. I don't think such graphic detail is called for here and does not show much skill in the handling of such situations.

The author seemed to want to shock, whereas I was expecting a more rounded biography, I guess.

If you're a fan of real crime and graphic explanations, then this is the book for you!

Interesting insight into serious offenders mindsets and experiences which lead them to commit horrendous offences. This isn't my usual kind of book, but it was an interesting read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
I love true crime and what makes someone do the things they do so this was really interesting.
You almost begin to empathise with people in treatment not forgetting the trail of victims like ripples in a pool.
However would I like them released or move in next door definitely not.
I can recommend this book.

A truly fabulous and absorbing read with the author detailing her early career in prison psychology. Working as a trainee and being dropped into the deep end working with serious sex offenders, trying a new course with the inmates with the aim of realising and confronting the behaviour and offences so the offender can change their thoughts and behaviour with the end goal being to stop the offences from happening again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was a gripping read and an honest personal account.
I do hope the author will write a follow up to the book about how her career developed further and provide more insights into the world of criminal psychology.

This is a fascinating book.

HMP Graymoor - a notorious UK prison housing some of the most dangerous men in the country, murders, rapists and paedophiles. It is also the work place of Rebecca Myers’s, a newly graduated psychologist, only 22 years old,

The book charts her early career, working with some of these dangerous and mentally ill criminals, and the important work she did trying to understand them, and get them to understand their offending.

There are some graphic and upsetting topics covered within the book, but if you have an interest in the criminal mind, you will find this fascinating.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.