A very cleverly crafted tale of psychological trauma and revenge.

Very relatable in many ways, in how pain makes us lash out and want to hurt those who hurt us.

The ending was a big surprise. You think you’ve figured it out, then BAM, there’s more to it that you thought.

I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. You got to know them bit by bit and developed your favourites and the ones you can’t stand.

With plenty of mystery to keep you guessing, it became a full on page turner by the end and had me up later than I intended to finish it.

5 stars all the way and I’d love to read more by this author.

The premise of the book intrigued me, so thankfully I was able to jump into it and I have no regrets
The who is who, the who dunnit and it keeps you guessing until the very very end

Love!

The Othello Club is a sharp, dark thriller that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go! I was absolutely glued to the pages of this clever, well-written novel and can't wait to watch the Paramount+ series!

JD Paddington’s The Othello Club is moody, magnetic, and full of sly little twists that keep you second-guessing everyone’s motives. The writing carries that dark-academic shimmer — velvet-draped rooms, whispered confessions, and friendships that feel more like competitions. Paddington does an amazing job capturing the performance of intellect and ambition, and the story hums with tension from start to finish.
I’m landing at 4 stars only because there were a few places where I wanted the narrative to dig in deeper and linger a little longer — but that’s a testament to how invested I was. The atmosphere and drama more than deliver, and the cast of characters feels like they could step straight out of a secret society dinner and onto the page.
If you’re into exclusivity, intellect with an edge, and the kind of book that leaves you replaying scenes in your head like they’re rumors you weren’t supposed to overhear, The Othello Club will pull you in and refuse to let go.

Revenge has rarely felt so deliciously twisted.

J.D. Pennington’s The Othello Club is a darkly clever thriller that starts with heartbreak and spirals into something far more sinister. Six divorcees, each nursing wounds from betrayal, hatch a plan over post-therapy drinks to disrupt their exes’ lives—nothing violent, just a little poetic justice. But as the petty pranks escalate into deadly consequences, the line between catharsis and chaos blurs with chilling precision.

Emily, the story’s emotional anchor, is compelling in her vulnerability and slow descent into moral ambiguity. Her journey from grief to grit is both unsettling and strangely empowering. The group dynamic is electric—equal parts camaraderie and suspicion—and Pennington masterfully keeps readers guessing who’s pulling the strings as bodies begin to drop.

With echoes of Strangers on a Train and a dash of Shakespearean irony, this novel is a taut, stylish exploration of trust, trauma, and the seductive lure of vengeance. It’s no surprise it’s headed for a Paramount+ adaptation—it reads like prestige television: sharp dialogue, layered characters, and a plot that refuses to let go.

Perfect for fans of If We Were Villains and anyone who enjoys their thrillers with a touch of theatrical flair

With thanks to JD Pennington, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

An interesting premise for this story which acknowledges its debt to Strangers On A Train. Plot rattles along quite nicely until becoming derailed in a rather frenetic finale.

However, what really lets this story down is the descriptive language which jars at regular intervals. Some examples:

“egress of the elevator”
“Jack’s pupils eclipse his irises”
“her jade gaze sliding into her tea leaves”
“respires on her cigarette”
“somniferous darkness”
“amorphous blackness”
“mucilaginous riverbed”

Unfortunately this is not a comprehensive list. Fortunately this is not the final draft so there is still an opportunity for a competent editor to rescue this entertaining story from the excesses of its prose.

The Othello Club begins as a counselling group for divorced/ separated people to help them come to terms with their broken marriages and move forward. It develops into something more sinister when some of the group decide on retribution for their expartners. Although murder is not on the agenda, things get out of control. This book draws you in and the various different characters are well described. Several twists before you get to the end and you are still left wondering! Thoroughly recommend this.

I was drawn to this purely for the Othello reference and at first I felt that aspect had been under utilised other than for code names. But as the author works through the themes of the play and draws out the roles of the characters in relation to it I became hooked. It’s cleverly with some excellent misdirection and an excellent twist, not having been able to solve the crime is always a mark of a good mystery I think.

A simply sharp and impressive debut novel. The Othello Club was a clever and compulsively readable narrative that blended quick wit with dark, twisted suspense. J D Pennington delivered a fresh revenge thriller that felt both original and relentlessly entertaining.

Book Synopsis-Emily’s life was in pieces after betrayal and divorce, and she reluctantly joined a support group where she met others in the same situation. Over drinks, the group bonded through their shared pain and hatched a mischievous plan: they secretly got a little payback on one another’s exes. At first, it seemed like harmless fun—but when one ex turned up dead, and then another, their pact spiraled into something far more dangerous. Suspicion crept in, trust between the group fractured, and Detective Inspector Rosa Hawkes closed in as everyone scrambled to figure out who was behind the escalated violence.

J. D. Pennington’s style was cinematic, fast-paced, and sharp, mixed dark humor with psychological tension. He used multiple perspectives, tight dialogue, and cliffhanger chapter endings that kept the story moving, while it gradually revealed secrets. The result was a thriller that felt layered, suspenseful, and laced with wit.

The Othello Club was an inventive and sharply written thriller with a premise that hooked me right away. A group of divorcees who bonded over heartbreak and created a revenge pact gave the story both tension and a darkly playful edge. The multiple perspectives kept things fresh, and the twists landed with enough surprise that had me second-guessing who could really be trusted. The Shakespearean undertones and layered themes of jealousy and betrayal added an extra richness that elevated it beyond the standard revenge tale.

At the same time, juggling so many characters made it harder to connect deeply with each of them, and a few of the shifting viewpoints slowed the momentum in places. Some of the twists leaned a little on the expected side, especially once the pattern of revenge turned deadly. Still, the writing was gripping, the concept original, and the suspense sharp enough that it kept me reading eagerly to the end.

I absolutely loved this original debut. The Othello Club stood out with its fresh concept, layered perspectives, and relentless suspense that kept me glued to the pages. Pennington’s sharp writing and clever twists made this a memorable thriller, and I’m already eager to see what he delivers next.

I’m grateful to NetGalley and Datura for the chance to read J. D. Pennington’s debut novel in exchange for my honest review.

First, I adore thrillers of any kind and what a journey this was! It was combined with Shakespeare, who I haven't read since high school. Regardless of all that, I thought this was a well-written debut. This book was told through multiple perspectives of a group that are seeking counseling for their divorce. The group eventually comes together and begins to join alliances as they use code names based off the characters from the Shakespeare play "Othello." I found this read to be enticing and it gripped me from the first chapter. Each character in the book was diverse, heartbroken from their divorce, and each was seeking revenge for their own reasons. I couldn't have loved a thriller more. I finished this title in two days and J.D. Pennington did a great job of throwing me into the world of "The Othello Club."

All participants are reluctant to join the divorce counselling group but for one reason or another they go. What happens after that is beyond all comprehension. Revenge is taken but by whom? Lots of twists and turns in this thriller.

this was a really exciting premise. i've seen it done and had fun when it was done in the rom-com books. so i was a little excited to see how this shift would be done in the thriller side of things. and boy am i glad i did!
this was a gripping book. full of leading questions. fulls of suspicion. and full of that great thing where authors mount the tension until you need to remind yourself to breathe a little haha.
this book is about a group of people who are in a counselling group. this group is for people going through divorce. and you can imagine feelings there aren't always so good in the moments they come for help. but then there sparks an idea. what about if they just seek some petty revenge on their ex's and their seemingly looking sorted lives? we the get each story following from there. but things take a awful turn when each of the ex's then start dying. ermmm this wasn't the plan...was it?
its dark and twisty and you aren't exactly liking a fair few of the people involved but that sometimes makes it better. you aren't so worried so you just enjoy the darkness of it all. and some get out of control. their revenge fantasies aren't staying just that. so who's guilty? who's doing this? can any of them be trusted?
i love getting involved in the characters and getting to know more about their stories. this also kept me guessing on where this was going and who might be the villain.
this book doesn't hold back. so you obvious might need to be cautious with your triggers. the things involved in this book is obviously going to be harder for some.
i tried to guess who was guilty in this too many times. and i was wrong haha. but when it was finally revealed to me im so glad im not smart enough because the reveal was so good!
this book is brilliant. its dark yes. but i kind of like that actually. it made me realise how light(which sound weird talking about thrillers) some books go on the fullness of their dark plots. and how clever it must be to either hold back but still add the right atmosphere or to not hold back but know just what to include as to not overwhelm.
this book was clever and so well written. its had me in its grips since i got it and i tell you i didn't put it down. i was having to shake my head, my eyes were trying their best to betray me and fall shut, last night in order to keep reading.
authors are just incredible aren't they? and J.D.Pennington should be so proud of what they've written here. its just fab.

Strangers on a Train meets Othello - great premise for a book and well worth reading for anyone who likes a mystery.

Six people all going through traumatic divorces meet at a support group, though tentative at first they bond - and decide that maybe their exes deserve a taste of their own medicine. Although no-one is supposed to get hurt, it's not long before the first body drops and suspicion starts to creep into their intimate circle. Every member of the group has a past, but which of them is the killer?

I found this to be a gripping read, partly because of the storyline and partly because of the way it's written. The chapters are short and the story is told from multiple points of view - which gives it a fast pace. Although there are a few frustrations - several of the characters are stereotypes and there are a couple of plot holes - that's the case with any book. I can see that it's going to work well on screen and this is definitely one I would recommend.

Wasn't sure about this book when I first started reading it but before long I was completely dropped. Six strangers meet at a group for divorcees chaired by Malcolm who is a psychotherapist. The aim of the group is to support those going through messy or acrimonious splits where they are the aggrieved party.

Despite their different backgrounds and personas, all six have something in common - their shared dislike /hatred of how their former partners have treated them.

They agree to form an alliance to wreak revenge on their exes by disrupting their lives on social media etc. The alliance call themselves The Othello Club. From the outset the rules are clear. They can get their revenge via social media and messing with their partners heads but they can't use violence in any form.

At first, this works really well but what happens when one of the group goes rogue and the body count starts to rise?

The book kept me guessing about the guilty party right until the end. Superb book and I can't wait for the TV series.

A group of very diverse people meet up at a divorce grief therapy session. All have been betrayed by the spouses. Some having to attend as mandated by the court's. Others there to try and move forward.
All bitter and heartbroken.
Deciding to have a consolation drink after the meeting a plan is hatched to make the cheating spouse's pay.
Ruin their lives as they have destroyed families and marriages.
Taking code name's from Shakespeare's play Othello. Jealousy and hurt turn to revenge.
Full of twists and revelations.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.

I would give this book 3.5/4 stars - so have rounded it up. I really enjoyed the premise of this book and can see its potential as a tv series/film. However, as a book, it jumped in timeline and character a lot which made it more difficult to follow along. That being said, the writing style and premise of the book was good and made me wanting to keep reading. The ending wasn't what I was expecting and has made me think.

I am looking forward to seeing how the book is adapted for the screen and will be watching it.

A great little murder mystery waiting to be solved. Emily Hunter just knew that her husband was having an affair when he claimed to be going away on business. The giveaway was his passport still laying in the bedside drawer. Things take a drastic turn for the worse after she confides in her best friend, Charlotte.

Advised to join a group focused on surviving divorce, Emily becomes friends with six like-minded individuals. Those who are unable to relinquish ties with their spouses and harbour anger towards their new partners. Together, they hatch out their revenge with the promise that no one gets physically hurt. Very soon bodies start to mount up and the killer or killers have no intent on stopping. Have one of the members gone rogue.

A debut novel from Pennington, The Othello club is a tight knit murder mystery. With references from the Shakespeare play it is engaging and what one would call a page turner. Loved the different perspectives and back stories. I must be losing my touch however, as I was convinced that I knew who it was only to be completely surprised. Just how a book should be. Great stuff and I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and ARC for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Othello Club by J. D. Pennington. This debut novel delivers a brilliantly twisted ride and a fresh storyline. Six divorcees, brought together through a support group, plot revenge on their exes. When chaos ensues, the story turns dark and absorbing. Emily is a strong character but is she really as misunderstood as she professes?

The narrative shifts between multiple perspectives, giving each member of the group a distinct voice. It demands your attention, but the twists are worth the effort, and the suspense never lets up. If you love thrillers with rich character insight, this is a perfect next read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

Oh how i enjoyed The Othello Club! I read it over two days and its definitely my read of the year so far.

A group of recently divorced/separated people are thrust together when they join a therapy group to help them move on. We have the ex SAS soldier, the computer wizz who can hack into anything, the multi millionaire to name a few. They've all been betrayed by their partners who all now seem to be living much better lives without them. Cheating with friends, family, demanding money, reducing contact with their children, the group members have had a rough time. So after a session they decide to get some revenge, petty revenge like spiking the food in a restaurant so it gets closed down, that kinda thing....But then the bodies start to pile up and its clear someone is taking it much further.

Told from the POVs of all the group members, their therapist, the inspector leading the investigation and even at times, the victims, this is a very well written plot that'll keep you guessing until the end .

I enjoyed this book, it’s gripping. I finished the book quickly but I think I overhyped it for myself and was expecting too much, regardless I enjoyed it!