Reviews

House of Correction by Nicci French

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition

4.0

Tabitha Hardy is in prison, charged with murder. She's in shock. She can't believe this has happened to her, and she can't really remember how she got here. There was a dead man in her shed, her former teacher. What could she have to do with this?

At first Tabitha seems like a bewildered victim, but as the real Tabitha is slowly reeled out before us, we see someone who is deeply depressed, prickly, difficult, reactive, strange. She bought a house in the village she grew up in and has returned to remodel it and live there. It's a funny choice because Tabitha was never happy in Oakham and she left behind some difficult relationships including one with the dead teacher who abused her in high school. Things are pretty stacked against her, and then she decides to defend herself. Foul-mouthed and screechy, she refuses any help.

"House of Correction" scoops you right in and keeps you there until the end. The novel is full of unpleasant people, and even though Tabitha seems to be at the top of that list you will wonder where this is going. All the evidence is stacked against her, and the entire village turns out to blast her, even though the dead man was not liked either. Tabitha seems bright, but can't get out of her own way.

This is my first Nicci French and I'll be back for more. The writing is smooth, the characters surprising, and the plot plenty quirky. A delicious escape when we need it!

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

pollyanna_lee's review against another edition

4.0

The sections of this book in court made it a 4. I just wish there'd been a tiny bit more satisfaction in the ending. Michaela is the best character, Tabitha did my head in most of the time but she made a brilliant story

lehete92's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bookietracey's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gchav's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lizzydeboer's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated

2.0

reuben_books's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a very solid Nicci French. It's compellingly written, and I just couldn't put it down.
 
It captured the confined feeling of prison really well, and I loved trying to work everything out at the same time as Tabitha.
 
The ending really worked for me, as I was happy I managed to figure out some of the answers, but was also pleasantly surprised by others. 

gemma_tunstall's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

birrebir's review against another edition

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

varshainthebook4's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75