I pondered not giving feedback because I failed to finish the book, however I decided that I’d given it a fair read and I couldn’t make neither head nor heal of it. Very disappointing.

Thank you nevertheless for the opportunity to read and review.

I love Sophie Hannah but I have to say that her new novel "No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done" is seriously one of the most bonkers and chaotic books I’ve read in a while (in a good way). It's wild, messy but weirdly addictive.

The Lambert family are completely unhinged, and the way their story unravels is like watching a slow motion car crash: you know it’s going to get worse, but you just can’t stop turning the pages. The drama is intense, and some of the twists genuinely surprised me.

That said, a few parts definitely had me confused and sometimes raising an eyebrow. Some of the drama felt a bit too over the top. There were a few occasions where I found myself thinking, “Would anyone really do that?”

However, even with the occasional eye roll and furrowed brow, I found myself hooked. The writing is sharp, the characters are a mess in the best way. So if you like dark, dysfunctional family stories with a lot of bite, this one’s totally worth your time.

With thanks to Bedford Square Publishers for providing me with a complimentary digital copy via Netgalley for review consideration

Billed as a story about a neighbour feud that pushes one family to do the unthinkable, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't this. It's completely ridiculous and I can't even explain the biggest reason why without 'spoiling' the plot. What I can say is that even as a devoted pet owner I found Sally Lambert's craziness around her dog extremely bonkers - calling him her child and singing special songs to him every day and night. I never don't finish a book because I'm always intrigued to see how it pans out and if it turns around but even after finishing I still don't understand the point of the story or what actually happened. Others have mentioned clever twists and hidden meanings though so possibly it was just lost on me....

NO ONE WOULD DO WHAT THE LAMBERTS HAVE DONE BY SOPHIE HANNAH.
Great name and great cover for this book.
It really stood out to me even more so after I read the blurb.
Really twisty at times.
This is my first book by this author and look forward to reading more

This is probably the quirkiest and most bonkers book I’ve ever read. I honestly have no idea how to review it. The book description gives nothing away, and it is definitely better if you go in blind. I can’t tell you what makes the Lamberts do whatever it is they do, because it would ruin all your reading pleasure.

There is, quite frankly, very little at all that I can tell you. One village, two families at war, a death, and a dog in trouble. That’s all you need to know, and for the most part it’s great fun. I always enjoy a small village setting, full of silly issues and odd little rivalries, and there’s some of that here for sure. There are even a few winks at Agatha Christie. Many dog lovers will undoubtedly be able to relate. Even if Sally takes things so far to the extreme that it becomes difficult not to begin making fun of her.

However, at one point, it all starts to verge on the ridiculous, though. The problem is that I can’t actually tell you why as it would be an enormous spoiler. But it was around that point that Sophie Hannah started to lose me. I often felt confused with no clue what was happening. Unfortunately for me, that didn’t go away at the end of the book when I had to admit that I had no idea who had done what, or how, and why. I don’t feel like I missed clues, and I don’t expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter but the actual reveal, if I can even call it that, left me utterly bewildered. 

So, a story of two halves for me. Fun and entertaining, but also a tad too silly at times and just a little bit confusing. Still enjoyed it though and it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon or two.

I tried very hard to read this book. I have read other books by Sophie Hannah and enjoyed all of them, sadly not this one. I got confused with what was happening, the plot sounded good but I just couldn’t keep track of what was going on.
I am grateful for the chance to read the arc and will return later to try again.

This was such a twisty read that kept me guessing and gripped until the end with its growing intensity.

It's not a Man Bites Dog story, it's not even a Dog Bites Young Girl story, as Champ has an alibi for his whereabouts at the time of the alleged incident, but even if that were the case no-one, we are led to believe, would do what the Lamberts have done. But when a policeman comes knocking on the door of the Hayloft in Swaffham Tilney to say the Lambert’s Welsh Terrier has been accused of viciously biting, not just nipping, Tess Gavey, Champ’s owner Sally Lambert does what no one else would do. And evidently enlists the rest of the family. The title makes it sound a little more sinister doesn't it? Well, that kind of suspense is something that this author is a master - or mistress - of, and surreal suspense at that.

It's all in the way you tell it and Sophie Hannah has you on tenterhooks from the start with her extraordinary and unusual opening. A policeman, the PC in question in the first paragraph, has dug up been left a battered manuscript that details the incidents you are about to read, although strangely, even he feels part of the story in the way he reports it up to his superior officer. That's a little odd. Then, once he convinced his boss that it needs to be read you get, presumably, the narrative of the manuscript book, which is odder still, detailing that the incident is just part of a long running feud between the Lamberts and the Gaveys. All is not well in the village of Swaffham Tilney.

The story has been written at least partly, we are led to believe, by the Lambert's daughter Rhiannon, or Ree, and as it's told here, the tension between the two families is something rather more than a feud, more like two powerful nations at war, a war to the finish that will annihilate one or the other. Not even that, perhaps even more like the eternal struggle between good and evil. There are also two perspectives on this; that of “Ree" in first person and that of Sally the mother, from a not impartial, it seems, third person perspective. Both take the incident and the implications for Champ, VERY SERIOUSLY INDEED, Sally preparing to go on the run from justice with Champ. Tobes, her son and Mark, her husband Lambert, don't seem terribly grounded either. Although, expressed in apocalyptic terms, nothing any of them say or think really seems all that extreme. We've all felt like this, haven't we? Hmmm.

There is often just such a gothic fairy-tale quality to Sophie Hannah’s writing, I've found. And it's utterly original and compelling. Magnus Mills taken to another level. Here we have an unsettlingly honest and open narrator who tells us everything, so it's not as if it's the old unreliable narrator trick, but since the narrator also admits that they are holding back some important information, at least until they can get the reader on her side, there is reason to be suspicious. Sally also relates her feelings and fears directly to Champ, things that she wouldn't confess or admit to anyone else. Again, there is an acknowledgement that this is a story, that it is a book, and suggests that there is a postmodern metafictional aspect to No One Would Do What The Lamberts Have Done. It's Sophie Hannah, what do you expect?

It’s also a lot more than that. As I noted when I reviewed Haven't They Grown, "Sophie Hannah is particularly good at tapping into the complexities of modern life and the neuroses and strange behaviours of seemingly ordinary people." NOWDWTLHD is a surreal mystery, a satire of middle class values, of incompetence of authorities with incidents and behaviours that you can view as minor incidents that can appear otherwise when considered on macro level. You can take the dispute that led to the Swaffham Tilney Agatha Christie Book Club war form example as a commentary on social and ideological divisions, or just laugh at how silly and realistic it is about how seriously we take ourselves. Hanna also slips in some wonderful satire of politics, journalism and social media in there in a way that is conscious of worrying trends without getting too dogmatic about it. Hannah is no J K Rowling. Thankfully.

Either way, whether you consider it as satire, commentary or just observation, NOWDWTLHD is hilarious and disturbing at the same time, a laugh out loud moment at a brilliant observation here and there and a shudder of recognition at others. Most of all it's an Enjollifying shaggy dog story, or in this case a furry dog story that all dog or pet owners (personally, my Land of Cute and Furry is feline) - nay, all animal lovers including Ricky Gervais (Praise Ricky!) - will enjoy. If you haven't read the book, you won't know what all that means, unless the Lamberts goes viral and I don't even want to consider what Level that takes us to...

I'm sorry but this was a DNF for me. I really enjoy Sophie Hannah's Hercule Poirot stories, but this was too confusing, rambling and strange. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to try the novel, but on this occasion it was not something I could finish.

No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done
I have read a number of Sophie Hannah’s novels and normally love her idiosyncratic writing style but I could not get a handle on this book. Maybe it is because I have never seen the appeal of dogs and a love of dogs is integral to this novel.
I really struggled to get into this story and I’m still confused by the ending. The idea of the story is at the start is appealing but there are too many strange occurrences for it to be enjoyable. Maybe other readers will enjoy it but sadly it was not for me. Many thanks to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read this novel in return for an honest review .

Absolutely ridiculous. I only gave this book 2 stars because I only give 1 star to books that I can’t finish.

The plot was confusing, details were lacking and it felt completely unfinished to me.

I love dogs but Sally’s craziness made me cringe. I don’t get what the story was trying to say. I don’t know if it even had a reason for being written. I would suggest everyone gives this a miss.

Not for me, I’m afraid. I found it all a bit over the top and, although I usually don’t mind flawed characters, these just went too far and irritated me enough to distract from the (very odd) story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

The writing is as always faultless. The narrator takes the definition of unreliable to a different level and the book gives us twists and turns galore. There are a great mix of characters within the story, we meet not only the Lamberts but millionaire neighbours, locals with grudges and let’s not forget Champ. The mix of murder mystery and humour makes this story a joy to read, and will keep you hooked right until the final line.

I thoroughly enjoyed this standalone novel and would recommend if you are looking for something a little bit quirky.

I was really looking forward to reading this book having read a previous book by the author. I was also drawn in by the unusual title. It is an unusual read, but unfortunately not a book I could get invested in. I've also found it difficult to review.

At first I thought it was a YA novel with the characters dialogue, particularly the main narrator sounding naive. I nearly didn't finish the book after the first 10%. I found it hard going. Although there was action, it also included a lot of scene setting and back story that I didn't find relevant (at the time!).

The book centres around a policeman visiting the house, and informing the owner Sally that they have had a report of an incident involving her dog. Having been a dog owner, I still found the overly descriptive love for the dog (and houses) too over the top. I think if you are not an animal person, then you won't be the audience for this book. A lot of the writing is about dogs, and how much the owner loves her dog.

As the author was been granted permission by the Agatha Christie estate to write new novels, it is clearly an indication of her being excellent at her craft. When I got to the last 10% of the book it finally gripped me! I realised how clever it was, and I could see Agatha Christie comparisons. Unfortunately it was too late to give a higher rating to the book overall.

DNF.

What on earth is this book?? The writing style is all over the place, it’s like page after page of incoherent rambling.

I couldn’t engage with the story or the characters and knew early on this was not the book for me.

Found the start very interesting with the policeman hinting at a 'book' that had been placed by his garage that made for an interest tale. However once the story got under way it was a little underwhelming. The plot was interesting but did not blow me out of the water and I often felt a little confused due to it feeling like too many words had been used necessarily. I often had to reread parts due to this confusing and the flipping between narratives did not help. Overall solid story just not a favourite of mine.

I was so excited to read this, after hearing good things about it.

I felt it was quite a complicated story to being with, as it involved a number of characters in a village with varying narrators, one of whom only is named much later in the book. The story begins with Sally Lambert’s beloved dog Champ being falsely accused of biting a neighbour’s daughter. Determined to save Champ, Sally enlists the help of another neighbour (luckily a rich one who owns several houses) to aid her in getting Champ out of the village and to safety.

I enjoyed it more as the story unfurled and especially the last quarter, when the reader was allowed into some of the book’s secrets.

I have read several Sophie Hannah books and psychological thrillers are my favourite genre. But I have to say this is not my favourite Sophie Hannah book and not being a dog owner and having been bitten several times by dogs over the years I did not think the basis of the book was that strong. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Thank you for letting me read this book before it comes out.
However I could not get along with this and just didn’t seem the type of book I would read the plot felt a little bizarre and in the end I DNF which is rare for me.

Not one of Sophie Hannah's best books, but I have to admit that the idea was original!
The hardest thing I found about this book was my lack of empathy for the various characters - especially Sally.
The book within a book within... was a clever twist, and I did find the latter stages of the book more interesting than the earlier.
Although I'm tempted to only give three stars, it is not so lacking as those books to which I have already done that, so I will stick with four.