Oh Rhiannon Lewis - count me in as a Bad Seed!
I was so excited to see the return of my favourite serial killer in what has become of my favourite series of books of all time.
Thorn In My Side picks up shortly after we last saw Rhiannon. She's now in San Diego under the assumed name of Ophelia White with her fiance, Raf, and his assortment of brilliantly drawn family members. She's doing her very, very best to be good but is starting to feel the urge to mete out her own form of justice again.
I don't want to spoil this book so I'll be conservative with my review. It is in turns heart=warming., tense, a little gruesome, and absolutely hilarious. Yes, the humour can be near the knuckle at times but I think that just adds to the depiction of Rhiannon's character. I certainly laughed out loud.
Towards the end of this book the tension ramps up - and the final line will absolutely blow your mind and set you up for what's coming next.
I CAN'T WAIT for the final (?) instalment of the Sweetpea series.
CJ Skuse is a genius. This book is a real treat. I loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

C J Skuse is one of my all time favourite authors. I love her books, so funny. This book was no exception. I cannot wait for the TV series. Fabulous.

I had read the first two books in this series (purchased, not ARCs) and loved them, so I was delighted to receive an ARC of book 3.

It's an interesting series and has understandably been successful. Rhiannon is an intriguing character, and the books are written with sharp wit, seething anger and a nod to the real pychological impact of trauma. All the blood and gore are an extra bonus.

Righteous female serial killer is a trope that has hit a nerve with the reading public. I say fair enough: for years publishers' listings -- not to mentions news reports -- have been stuffed to the point of nausea with stories about men doing unspeakable things to women. It's hard to resist the satisfaction of seeing men getting a dose of their own poison.

While I can see that there is character development (Rhiannon in love - who'd have thunk, eh?), and I liked the aspects about her struggling to adapt to normal family life, this one didn't really hit the spot for me. While she returns to form in the latter part of the book, there was really too much romance.

I look forward to more books in the series, but I hope they'll be more like book 1 than book 3. If I wanted romance, I'd read romance (and I don't).

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

✨Book Review - Thorn in My Side✨

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*I was provided this book free of charge by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely adore everything written by CJ Skuse. She is one of my auto buy authors. The Sweetpea series has been one of my favorites since I found it and had been an obsession ever since.

After chasing down an ARC of this book from @HQStories, I read it as soon as I had a second, which was pretty quick since I happened to be on vacation heading to the UK to move my husband home to the US. I have to admit that I shamelessly messaged CJ while I was reading this at the airport on my way to London.

If you are looking for a book that is fast paced, full of banter, a sharp whit, dry humor, and murd3r, this is the book for you! I laughed out loud throughout the book and repeatedly read sections out loud to my husband so he could laugh with me. The American/ English comparisons are things we discus on a daily basis and the things Rhiannon says about moving to the US are amazingly similar to things Cam says.

I definitely don’t want to spoil this book, so I’m begging you to read it so we can talk about it. If you read it, message me and we’ll talk about how much we love Rhiannon and Raf and their “you jump, I jump, Jack” romance, which is my favorite kind.

Overall, 10/10. I laughed, I cried, I high-fived my husband and yelled “yas queen” at all the right places. CJ- you’re an artist and I CANNOT wait for the Sweetpea show and the next book!

I was really excited to get approved for this one after it being one of my favourite series ever. Unfortunately it was a dnf at 40% as to me it seemed to be dragged out and didn’t hit the humour that the earlier books did. I’m so disappointed, I really wanted to love it but couldn’t force it

I only learnt after the fact that this book is part of a series, which I hadn’t read any of before, so view my review in light of the fact I’ve ended up starting partway through an ongoing story, and perhaps it would be different if I’d been able to start at the beginning. I got about 7% of the way through this book before giving up. I found there were too many names without explanation of who they were and how they related to the story, that I couldn’t keep track, and it just distracted from the overall story, but perhaps this was all explained in earlier books. I didn’t much like the main character as I found her petulant and crude, so between this and the aforementioned reasons, I gave up part way through as I didn’t find it enjoyable

Well this did not disappoint! As expected from the SweetPea series another fine installment of Rhiannon/ Orphelia!!! I have to admit there were moments when I thought the storyline has gone a bit soft and Rhiannon has lost her mojo, and you definitely get to see another side to her personality with Rafe. However the darkly funny humour and laugh out aloud moments were still there. It's hard to say too much without ruining the thrill of the read but let's just say if you like me love this series you will not be disappointed and once Rhiannon submits to her true self she's off again. But what I will say is there are some great surprises towards the end of the book in the dynamic of her relationship with Rafe and OMG that ending!! The book ended on a massive cliff hanger and the next book will not come soon enough for me. TV series material!

Well it was another triumph for CJ Skuse, I absolutely love the Sweatpea series and this is another great read. The writing is razor sharp, hilarious and dark as hell. It's a dream combination for me and Rhiannon has been so well fleshed out over the series that it's impossible not to be in love with her. The latest instalment which I hope won't be the last is set in the US with Rhiannon now engaged to Rafe, a man it seems might be the perfect match. As Rhiannon's days since last kill increase, she is put to the test by the various tormentors around her and Rafe.
A fantastic read! Thanks for the opportunity for an advanced copy.

Rhiannon is finally back! She's back with a new name, fiance and a healthy no-kill streak. She may be a dangerous killer but she's fabulous with a wickedly dark sense of humour and a strong sense of loyalty to those who deserve it (especially children and dogs).

The ending though...Ms Skuse you are a fiend. I already cannot wait for the next installment.

Thank you to Net Galley and HQ for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I read and loved the previous books in this series and have waited so long for this one! It was definitely worth the wait. I’ve always liked Rhiannon, but found myself liking her even more in this book. I’m not going to mention the plot, because I don’t want to spoil anything, other than to say I wasn’t expecting the ending! I cannot wait for the next one - keep them coming! It’s already preordered for my own bookshelf and for my mum - she loves this series as much as I do. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

Rhiannon is back! And she is as authentic and inappropriate as ever - I hope she never changes.
I enjoyed this latest instalment of Sweetpea more than the last: in fact, I think it’s the best one yet. Rhiannon (aka Ophelia) is older, there’s been the pandemic, she’s in a new country - but she still makes her hate lists.
No spoilers, but it’s worth reading for the scene in the wedding shop cubicle alone!!

Serial killers deserve love too!
Rhiannon - or Ophelia - is finally going to get married soon! She hasn’t killed in over 800 days, but really who’s counting.
It was a refreshing change of perspective following the killer instead of a victim or investigator.
The sweet vigilante justice our antihero seeks can only be applauded!

To say I was over the moon to be accepted for this book would be an understatement. I am obsessed with the first three books in this series and could now wait to get my hands on this. So much so that I started this book as soon as I was accepted and put my others on hold.

The book is different to the other three and we get to see a completely new side to Rhiannon. A side that if I'm honest didn't know existed. Although this book was not what I was expecting it was nice to see how Rihannon's life had turned out since the last book.

It's a nice, easy must read for all the Sweet Pea fans out there and I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts then this book is released into the world! C J Skuse will always be one of my favourite authors.

I finished Thorn in my Side late last night because Rhiannon/Ophelia just wouldn't let me go to sleep. A dark, hilarious, enthralling ride that gave me palpitations, Thorn in my Side does not disappoint.

The book we've all been eagerly awaiting is upon us and after much anticipation I was able to slide back into the mind of my absolute favourite serial killer.

Despite trying to live a 'normal' life Rhiannon or should I say Ophelia still struggles daily with many unhinged thoughts about people... mostly about killing them! As per the others books in this series each chapter begins with The List which is pretty self explanatory - it's the people she wants to kill.

I think what makes this series so enjoyable is I like many others can scarily relate to our main protagonist... people aren't they just so annoying. Like I literally could write A list too.... I just couldn't carry it out! Ha ha!!

I know so many people who are looking forward to this one and I hope they enjoy this 4th installment of Sweetpea just as much as I did.

Rhiannon is now in a remarkably stable stage of life, happily shacked up with Rafael, and having gone 800 days without murdering anyone. A major milestone, indeed!

Unfortunately, events are about to conspire to hurl her off that wagon. Her sister-in-law (to be) has an unpleasant experience with an abusive ex, leading Rhiannon back into her bad (?) ways with the ensuing murder and mayhem you would expect.

Not having read the previous books it took a little bit of time to settle into this one. but its a rollicking ride, with oodles of humour and some serious sarcasm. And if it requires a suspension of disbelief, surely that's a good thing! It gets 3.5 stars.

Thorn in My Side by CJ Skuse
I give this book 4.5 stars.

Rhiannon Lewis thought she had it all, she’s found happiness with her fiancé Rafael and his family.
After over 800 days without murdering anyone, she might have finally turned over a new leaf.
That is until her soon-to-be sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex, and Rhiannon rediscovers her taste for revenge……

The serial killer we all love (but shouldn’t) is back!
I have waited far too long for instalment 4 of the exceptional series,this is one that I advise you read in order and is not for the faint hearted!
Told in diary format we are once again being entertained within the head of psychopath Rhiannon aka Sweetpea (or Ophelia as she’s now known) Be prepared for kill lists,observational humour and random thoughts on life in general, along with murder,revenge and love.
Darkly funny ,deadly sarcasm and addictively twisted……. Pure escapism,more please!
With thanks to Netgalley,CJ Skuse and HQ Digital for my chance to read and review this book

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed Sweetpea and In Bloom, I was a bit surprised to see I had missed book three (Dead Head). It appears this was a ‘boo-boo’ as it was hard to understand the events that had led to where Rhiannon is at the beginning of book four. As the tale rolls on it became less of an issue, however, I would recommend that the books are read in order, to fully appreciate them.

As per the other books I have read, each chapter opens with ‘Ophelia’s’ current 'kill list', I really like this, and it made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. Following the ‘kill list’ the book is presented in diary format – again this is something I really like, and as per the rest of the series the plot is extremely dark and murderous but is sprinkled with (dark) humour! I have to say, I found this instalment less gripping than the other two I have read, I guess part of that is since the premise isn’t as powerful this time around…

I have no doubt that this book will be a massive success and that die-hard fans will love the cliff-hanger ending, which tees things up smoothly for a further book.

So glad to be back with my favourite serial killer who is still on the run and, unbelievably, she is still on the wagon! Over 800 days since she last got the urge to murder and she is all loved up and about to settle down with fiance Raf, but can she ignore what is happening to Raf's sister and maintain her streak? While also staying off determined Detective Gericault's radar and blocking out news from back home?

This is the fourth in this brilliant series and Rhiannon is back and as funny and foul-mouthed as ever. It still feels a little bit concerning how much I identify with her and I could honestly write almost all of her brilliant lists myself! It is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but having loved rhe series since Sweetpea, I have loved seeing the growth of this excellent character and after that ending... bring on book 5!

Love the Sweetpea series, Rhiannon is a serial killer you can relate to!
Rhiannon is now living in America as Ophelia White, she has a new life with a new fiancé and his family but how long can she last until she kills again?
Wickedly good.