This is a non-fiction book about a prison psychologist who helped to establish the Sex Offender Treatment Programme in the 90s. This sort of book interests me and I looked forward to reading it.

It’s quite a quick read as it isn’t a very long book, but I wouldn’t say it’s an easy read. There are graphic descriptions of offences committed by the prisoners. There is a trigger warning at the start of the book.

It’s very interesting to see how in helping the prisoners learn about their offending, Myers feels she has learnt about her own past traumas.

At times it seems like Myers gets a lot more respect from the prisoners than she does the prison staff!

It’s well explained but I did find the frequent explanations in brackets a little patronising.

Overall it was an interesting read and I would recommend if you’re interested in this field.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for my copy.

I loved Inside Job. It was a very honest, heartfelt, profound and touching account of the dark side of real life. The author was vulnerable, humble and empathetic and at the same time, was very concise with her words. I'd love to read more books like this; there aren't enough of them.

A fascinating read that lays bare the lack of well funded mental health support within prisons. This will open your eyes to the stories of even the toughest criminals who are trying to work out what they have become and why. Scary and fascinating read.

My Dad was a prison officer in NI during the times of the troubles so I have always found books about prisons fascinating. The memoir was written by a newly qualified psychologist working in a prison facilitating small groups of men on the sexual offenders treatment programme. Whilst the subject matter is often harrowing we come to realise that the men have much in common with you and I. Rebecca also realises that spending 200+ hours with these men comes to affect her life deeply and make her realise she is also working through her own issues. Interesting read.

This book gave an insight into a newly qualified psychologists job within a prison setting focusing on men that have raped, abused, killed.

A graphic read at times, the book follows 6 men on their journey to try and rehabilitate with a view to release from prison.

The author gave a candid view of her personal growth and thought processes dealing with challenging patients. A difficult read but not that I regret reading.

Very very interesting insight to what happens in the prison world. I was so curious and loves it. Very descriptive and kept me wanting to know more. Really good

Chilling. Fascinating. Insightful.

I expected an intriguing memoir that looked into the world of prisoner psychology, but Inside Job felt like so much more than that.
It’s an expert insider’s insight on the complex world of prisons, prisoners and rehabilitation programmes. I don’t read many memoirs, but Dr Myers’ novel really kept me gripped. I found her account relatable and thought that she handled an incredibly difficult subject with sensitivity. It made me think differently about the prison system, the prevention of re-offending and to consider the problems of certain attitudes amongst prisoners and prison staff as well. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in psychology, prisons and to a lot of crime fiction readers too - as there would be much to interest them as well. Huge thanks to the author, Dr Rebecca Myers, and publisher, HarperCollins, for this advance review copy. Views my own. 5*

This book follows the real-life account of Dr Rebecca, who starts working in a prison as soon as she graduated from university. There is a new programme for sex offenders, murderers and rapists which she will be leading as a newly trained psychologist. Over the course of the book we meet the prisoners and learn more about their crimes and their progress on the programme. The author does a great job of focusing on the psychology rather than the much glorified “true crime” gory details. I also enjoyed the reflection on her own relationships, background and thought processes. The hostage chapter was particularly gripping!

I enjoyed this, but it wasn't quite what I expected. There was a lot of information about one course she ran at the start, which went on for a bit. I'd read something similar recently, so some of it wasn't as shocking as it would have been otherwise, which obvs not Rebeccas fault1

Great read! Really enjoyed the inside view easy to read. I love books that give us a view into something we may know nothing about

i love love love medical memoirs and i love insights into prison life so this was a perfect combo. as a young woman entering a high profile prison, we feel rebecca's hesitance and desire to make some positive change in a world that's so new to her. she covers various topics, from sex offenders to child murderers, and many many more, conveying empathy and ambition towards these various men

I found Inside Job to be deeply fascinating and written in such a way that you felt you really got to know the author.

Rebecca gives a detailed account of her work at Graymoor Prison. A forensic psychologist, she was a facilitator on the Sex Offenders Treatment Programme, which was groundbreaking. Just as we are disturbed and sickened by the descriptions of offences, so is Rebecca. But she also thinks the best way to protect future victims, is to treat offenders as human beings. To give them the skills and insights to change their thoughts and behaviours.

The group dynamic was fascinating to read about, how they developed and became deeply insightful about one another.

Sadly, a 2017 research project seemed to show that the programme was less effective in preventing recidivism than simply doing nothing. I find this hard to believe, though the author herself did point out negatives of the study. But regardless of statistics, it led the way for future projects all aimed at keeping potential victims safe.

The message I took away is that demonising and shunning offenders does nothing to change their behaviour. Giving them insights and skills to change their thinking, has surely to be better than doing nothing.

Memoir of a female psychologist assigned to a serial offenders unit and part of a team working with rapists and murderers to try to impact the drivers on their behaviour and rehabilitate them. Interesting insight into how a young woman feels in a largely male environment where on occasions there seemed more respect from the prisoners that the fellow staff members. The impacts on personal life and associations is also interesting.

This is a harrowing read and once which you should check the trigger warnings for.

It can make for uncomfortable and upsetting reading due to the nature of the crimes discussed.

I found that when using terminology the author gives the meaning of such so that the reader isn't confused.

I have read a few true crime reads about work in prisons and they are all quite similar in style.

I’m a huge true crime fan so knew I would find this interesting from the start, and it definitely is interesting, giving an insight to world that you rarely get to see. However it is graphic, and it does leave you feeling unsettled and definitely a bit more wary of the world and the very bad people in it. It could also be triggering for some as it does dove quite deeply into some very distressing subjects. Overall I enjoyed it but I was also happy when i finished it and I could move onto something more lighthearted!

Well writen and interesting

Not a job I would want speaking to sex offenders in prison.

Couldn't put it down

My thanks to Harper Collins and Dr Rebecca Myers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

True crime fans this is the book for you!!! A fascinating book that goes behind the scenes of a prison psychologist and the treatment programmes used for the most serious offenders.

I was gripped from page 1 and could not put this down.
Highly recommend.

I have unfortunately had to ‘DNF/Not right now’ this read. It is absolutely fascinating however when I reached the extended part of the psychology programme I found the book really became too intense and graphic for me. There is a content warning at the beginning of the book which is most definitely needed as this book would be very triggering for some. Personally, I found myself becoming anxious walking alone out and about so decided to stop reading this book at 70% for now. I may well return to this book at another time as I found the psychology interesting. Whilst the author states the offenders stories are not sensationalised out of respect for the victims, it did feel somewhat sensationalised to me but maybe that’s just from giving this awful acts a platform.

This would be a highly interesting read for anyone interested in pursuing forensic psychology and I have recommended it to people who are studying psychology currently but a strong stomach definitely required!

An important read on horrendous acts of aggression.

Dr Rebecca Myers is a newly qualified psychologist when she joins the team of psychologists working together with the prison officers to run programmes aimed at helping rapists, paedophiles, murderers, and other serious crime offenders come to terms with their pasts and through a designated programme, learn how to turn their urges for rape, murder, or grooming youngsters into living normal lives.

Her memoir is based on the first SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Programme) which she supervised shortly after starting at the prison. I found it hard to read why each prisoner was on the programme. Their crimes were all vicious and difficult to absorb.

Dr Myers’s writing was so vivid that I honestly felt as if I could smell the prison smells emitting from the confinement of the men. I came away knowing that one would have to be utterly committed to helping these men gain their independence one day after taking part in SOTP. Can people change their past?

Rony

Elite Reviews received a copy of the book to review.

OMG, riveting but scary all at the same time. Inside the life of a prison psychologist who covers some very harrowing stories. Behind the bars of some of the most damaged offenders. Fascinating.