I love memoirs like this. I've read and hugely enjoyed all of Dr Amanda Brown's books and this one, about life as a prison psychologist working with serious offenders, was just as good. Dr Myers is a brave, strong and inspiring woman, and writes with heartfelt honesty. Recommended.
With grateful thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and Dr Rebecca Myers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I rarely read non-fiction books but this one absolutely grabbed me.

I found it gripping, horrifying and moving, and really urge people with an interest in psychology, crime fiction and true crime to read it.

This book is a detailed explanation of Dr Rebecca Myers who at the age of 22 worked as a psychologist in a men's prison in the 90's working with prisoners who had committed sexual crimes in hope they would not reoffend.
A dark book, not easy topics to read but really interesting.
I do not often read non fiction but I really enjoyed this and want to than the author and publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Inside Job Dr Rebecca Myers

5 stars

The genre of books that I most like reading is crime and psychological thrillers so when I saw this book promoted on Netgalley, I was really interested to read it.

Dr Myers is fresh out of university and her first job is dealing with male sexual offenders at Graymoor prison. She feels completely out of her depth but takes us through her doubts and fears and explains in great detail the various programmes that the prisons in the 1990’s used in an effort to understand the minds and behaviours of these very troubled men. We find out about 9 of the prisoners chosen to be in her programmes, all of them having committed sexual crimes, often against minor. We are told in some detail about their crimes but never in a gratuitous way although it takes very little imagination to realise what these men have done.

What I found particularly fascinating was how through the innovative programmes some of the men come to realise and admit to their crimes and manage some form of rehabilitation. The other thing that struck me was, that in almost every case, I could understand how the childhood of these men had in many cases led to their adult crimes.

I was left thinking how much I admire Dr Myers and all other forensic psychologists in doing this job and it was particularly interesting to find out about the current ways that prisons are trying to continue the various programmes.

I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in this area of psychology.

Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

Being a forensic psychologist was always a dream of mine growing up, but the more I realised the extent of the job the more I realised I did not have the emotional capacity to undertake that role, and even more so after reading this book by Dr Rebecca Myers, some of the situations that she explains she found herself in throughout this particular stage of her career were quite disturbing and I applaud her ability to work through them, myself personally I could not see how I would handle it, for that I applaud her

Now on to the book, I love the fact that the author focused on a particular stage of her career with providing the SOTP to sex offenders in a high-risk prison, there were times in the book that I was able to piece together which prison she was talking about after the name dropping of two very infamous killers, however that is all I could pick up on privacy wise. It was intriguing to read about the SOTP, as this was something I had never heard of, and then at the end of the book with particular case studies and figures was interesting. I also appreciate the fact that she did not focus heavily on the offenders crimes, as that could read for some disturbing reading, although trigger warnings there are very descriptive parts in the book that relate to some heinous crimes – especially those performed on children.

However, it was interesting to read the author had her own internal debate, finding the crimes completely heinous, but knowing that she still had to conduct her job with unbiased, and despite the fact these individuals were criminals and sexual offenders, they were still human beings. I liked the way that the book was focused on the program that Rebecca ran, and as difficult as it probable is to admit it, I found the way that she was able to humanise some of the criminals in the story, and there were a few of them I actually started to feel sorry for, which really starts an emotional and moral dilemma within the reader.

This was definitely a read that I was fascinated and engrossed in, and I really found it an intriguing read, I would definitely read more books by this author, and I would recommend this book to fans of psychology, but would heed a number of trigger warnings, such as; criminal behaviour, criminal descriptions, rape, murder, child abuse, child murder, psychopathy, sexual content, sexual harassment and sexual crimes.

As someone who is interested in both psychology and prison life, this book had all the hallmarks of something that was going to keep me gripped. Written by a psychologist who had worked for some years in a high security prison filled with sex offenders, it also promised to be a realistic, eye-opening account from someone with on-the-ground experience.

It certainly delivered in this respect and the author told us, in some lengthy and intricate detail, about the set of characters she was there to treat on the programme she was leading. She walked us through the various stages of this and how it aimed to give prisoners an understanding of their behaviour and ways to modify it in the future, in the hope it may stop them re-offending. So far so interesting, from a ‘case history’ point of view. If you were thinking of entering the profession, this could provide valuable insights into what you might expect, as it is a down to earth account that has not been glamourised. Where it fell a little short I thought was in the story-telling aspect, ie: this is definitely a psychologist-turned-writer rather than a seasoned author. So it’s at times a bit dry and a little closer to an exam dissertation. As someone with an interest, but also looking for a story, I’d have liked to to a little more about various side-plots, her wider life etc, rather than such dogged following of the outcomes for every person in the group.

That said, I enjoyed learning about the writer’s world and she has my admiration for doing what must be an incredibly difficult job.

A really interesting book. I read this in one siting as I just could not get enough. Thank you to the published for an advanced copy of this book.

Really good insight into how prisons try to help prisoners. It does show how people can end up in situations through different choices they make or are made for them.

This is an incredible account of a newly qualified psychologist entering a prison to run programmes for the worst offenders. It is written with empathy and honesty, both in writing about the offenders and also in dealing with her own feelings

For anyone who is a fan of True Crime or interested in the workings of the mind I would highly recommend this book, having said that, I’m now off to read something a bit lighter!

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for ARC in return for an honest review

This book looks into the rehabilitation of sex offenders in a maximum secure prison, its insightful and surprising what goes on. The therapy sessions I enjoyed reading the most.

A great insight into the progressive treatment of sex offenders over the last 30 years. Told with compassion, empathy and experience. I don’t often read non-fiction so it’s rare that something grabs me and keeps my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for approving me for this arc

Okay well wow, I love books like this anyway but I did not want to stop reading this nor did I want it to finish I thought the group work was very different and unique and I think it is important to teach people, in general, why we act the way in which we do!

These men who participated in the groups seemed to realise why they acted in such heinous ways and if was nice to read that they knew how to react to different thoughts, feelings and schemas and were able to recognise when their thoughts and actions were unhealthy.

I also liked that Rebeca started to view them as normal people because most are, I found the whole book very interesting and would 100% read more from her!

A deeply thought provoking book, that pulls no punches. All the more poignant as it is a true, factual story.

What an amazing insight into the role that Rebecca played in her early years at Graymoor Prison, and the way in which she dealt with both her own demons and those of the inmates chosen to taken part in the SOTP.

This is not an easy read and definitely not one for the faint hearted, but a must for anyone who has an interest in the human psyche, and invaluable for those embarking on such a profession.

Thank you NetGalley.

What a non fiction book! A good read and a solid insight to how the other side of prison works and what individuals have to do in order to come to terms with what they have done and how rehabilitation can work but it’s a long and complicated process, it was helpful to have the follow up at the end

This is an incredibly fascinating book; it is not an easy book to ‘enjoy’ as parts are very detailed, and the crimes committed by the men featured are both distressing and horrifying (the Coronation Street theme tune is now tainted!).

It is interesting to see that, through the sessions facilitated by Rebecca and her colleagues, some of the prisoners successfully changed their mindsets, understood themselves and the reasons for their offences. Some even went so far as to experience and exhibit remorse. I was also gripped by the author adding reflections on her personal situation both at the time the book is set, and also as child, this feels a very brave thing to do.

All in all, I found this book both educational and eye opening.

Incredibly fascinating, interesting book.
Horrific accounts of what these men did,
I enjoyed the therapy session accounts, very insightful, particularly when the writer comes to realise she/we all have our problems, albeit not the same as the perpetrators!
Great book & thanks to Netgalley for a copy.

Fascinating and heartfelt insight into a programme to treat sexual offenders in a maximum security prison

This is a true life story of Rebecca, a newly qualified out of university young psychologist who lands a job at HMP Graymoor. She’s young and this is her first real job. Rebecca tells her story and the people she has treated in prison including dangerous sex offenders and murderers. She tells the story of the first SOTP (sex offender treatment programme) a form of CBT where her job is to work with suitable inmates to change their mindset and thinking in order to change their behaviour. It can teach them skills to learn to stop them re offending. She explains each person’s story and how the sessions progressed.

I found this book fascinating, it was really detailed and insightful. Some of the stories of the crimes committed by these men were chilling and appalling, however it was interesting to see how some of their mindsets changed thought the sessions. I really enjoyed reading this book, thank you for letting me pre-read it!

Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this. This is not normally the sort of book i tend to read, but i thought i would give it a go and see what it was like.
It did give me a massive insight into what happens in prison. It was definitely an interesting read and made me realise what a tough job the author really did have. Im not sure i could stomach being in that profession, so it was definitely an interesting insight

This memoir of a forensic psychologist was so captivating. I thought the author set the scene so well at the beginning, I had a clear vision of the prison and all the situations that happened there. Having studied forensic psychology, I really enjoyed reading about the theories and about the programmes being put into use. I found the book very interesting and I could wait to find out more about the prisoners and the programme they were on.

I liked the order of the book. Each chapter started with a new section of the authors role as a trainee forensic psychologist so it was easy to follow. Everything was explained so well to the reader, anyone with an interest in this topic would enjoy this book. I really enjoy reading books written by psychologist working in the field because you can read their real life thoughts and emotions and situations. Highly recommend reading this one, it was very educational and definitely eye opening.