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Sugar for Sugar
A gripping psychological thriller. How far would you go to uncover the secrets of your past? Issy Cunningham has made a new life for herself but that's all about to come crashing down. If only she could recall what happened that Valentine's Eve, she would be able to tell the police what really took place. But those memories won't come because there's too much in the past that troubles her. How can she set the record straight when her past won't let her be?
246 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2016
28 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Seb Kirby
13 books196 followersI'm the author of the James Blake Thriller series (TAKE NO MORE, REGRET NO MORE and FORGIVE NO MORE) and the psychological thrillers EACH DAY I WAKE and SUGAR FOR SUGAR. A third psychological thriller HERE THE TRUTH LIES is now available. I'm also the author of the the sci fi thrillers DOUBLE BIND and, my latest, JESSICA 8.
An avid reader from an early age - my grandfather ran a mobile lending library in Birmingham - I was hooked from the first moment I discovered the treasure trove of books left to my parents. I was a university academic for many years, latterly at University of Liverpool. Now, as a full-time writer, my goal is to add to the magic of the wonderful words and stories I discovered back then. I live in the Wirral, UK.
Interests: Writing. Music. Jazz. Science. Travel.
An avid reader from an early age - my grandfather ran a mobile lending library in Birmingham - I was hooked from the first moment I discovered the treasure trove of books left to my parents. I was a university academic for many years, latterly at University of Liverpool. Now, as a full-time writer, my goal is to add to the magic of the wonderful words and stories I discovered back then. I live in the Wirral, UK.
Interests: Writing. Music. Jazz. Science. Travel.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 27, 2016
Isobel (Issy) wakes to find herself in the hospital, talking to a therapist. She has no memory of how she got there, doesn't really know where she is. Upon examination, her physician finds that she has been assaulted. When police get involved, she learns that her boss has been murdered.
Bit by bit as her memory returns, she is more confused than ever. When evidence points to her as being the murderer, she turns to the only person she barely remembers as being a friend. She needs to know her past in order to understand the present and prevent a future of being imprisoned.
This is a quick read. Chapters are short and terse, but packed with information. The premise is a good one, well-written. Although a tad not happy with the ending, I did enjoy the book as a whole.
I didn't particularly like Issy in the beginning, I couldn't understand why she would put herself on the line for someone she barely knows. It became a life-altering decision on her part. As most characters, she grew on me. There are many secondary characters who add credibility to the story .... but everyone has secrets and tell lies, leaving investigating police scratching their heads.
This is my first book by this author; I'm sure it won't be the last. If you like psychological thrillers, you don't want to miss this one.
Many thanks to Seb Kirby and Susan Hampson. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Bit by bit as her memory returns, she is more confused than ever. When evidence points to her as being the murderer, she turns to the only person she barely remembers as being a friend. She needs to know her past in order to understand the present and prevent a future of being imprisoned.
This is a quick read. Chapters are short and terse, but packed with information. The premise is a good one, well-written. Although a tad not happy with the ending, I did enjoy the book as a whole.
I didn't particularly like Issy in the beginning, I couldn't understand why she would put herself on the line for someone she barely knows. It became a life-altering decision on her part. As most characters, she grew on me. There are many secondary characters who add credibility to the story .... but everyone has secrets and tell lies, leaving investigating police scratching their heads.
This is my first book by this author; I'm sure it won't be the last. If you like psychological thrillers, you don't want to miss this one.
Many thanks to Seb Kirby and Susan Hampson. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 11, 2020
Thrilling
Issy has had a great tragedy in her life and because of it she has lost all her memories of that night. Unfortunately that day has also had a murder and Issy becomes a suspect for that. The detectives are focused on Issy as the culprit. Having no choice, Issy tries to remember bits and pieces of the day. Her memories slowly change the tenor of the story.
Great story, excellent characters. Liked it.
Issy has had a great tragedy in her life and because of it she has lost all her memories of that night. Unfortunately that day has also had a murder and Issy becomes a suspect for that. The detectives are focused on Issy as the culprit. Having no choice, Issy tries to remember bits and pieces of the day. Her memories slowly change the tenor of the story.
Great story, excellent characters. Liked it.
November 6, 2016
Issy Cunningham has lost her memory due to the trauma of being raped. It comes back gradually and, with her, we find out what has really happened. In addition to the rape, she has a deep tragedy in her past and this has never left her. Both the past she can remember and the past she has recently forgotten haunt her mind. The story manipulates the reader to some extent as we make up our minds what’s happening without the full information. As it unfolds, it’s a shock to have our expectations rattled.
The story is well told and evolves gradually as we enter Issy’s world and grasp her memories. There are several people hunting her at the end and a great sequence of events leads to the denoument. It’s a story which asks challenging questions – in which things are not black and white, and we wonder how we would behave in her circumstances. As always with this author, you know you’re in for a thought-provoking read. Highly recommended.
The story is well told and evolves gradually as we enter Issy’s world and grasp her memories. There are several people hunting her at the end and a great sequence of events leads to the denoument. It’s a story which asks challenging questions – in which things are not black and white, and we wonder how we would behave in her circumstances. As always with this author, you know you’re in for a thought-provoking read. Highly recommended.
November 9, 2016
I have read books by Seb Kirby in the past and loved every one of them. One of the things I really like about books by him is the obvious attention to detail that he has in his writing, it is quite outstanding. This novel has all the detail but also has a very simple story that is very easy to follow, the best of both worlds.
Issy Cunningham has had terrible tragedy in her past and on the eve of Valentines it is about to take her to new depths of personal lows. The only thing is she can not remember anything about the night. The trauma has been too much and her mind will not let her face the events of that evening, not yet anyway, but the doctors agree that it should return over the next couple of days. What makes matters worse is that her boss has been murdered and Issy is sure she saw him that night. The question is can Issy stay one foot in front of the police until she remembers what happened?
I had quite a love hate relationship with Seb Kirby's characters which put me in a bit of a quandary as I really disliked D.I. Steve Ives and loved Issy's character although she was a suspect. Another character that I really took to was Adam. I still smile at the thought of him speeding down the canal breaking the waterway speed limit. Every time I see a barge it will remind me of this novel and make me smile. Some trivia facts just stay with you! This is a stand alone novel with a conclusion to the story. More please.
I received this arc from the author and I have chosen to leave a review.
Issy Cunningham has had terrible tragedy in her past and on the eve of Valentines it is about to take her to new depths of personal lows. The only thing is she can not remember anything about the night. The trauma has been too much and her mind will not let her face the events of that evening, not yet anyway, but the doctors agree that it should return over the next couple of days. What makes matters worse is that her boss has been murdered and Issy is sure she saw him that night. The question is can Issy stay one foot in front of the police until she remembers what happened?
I had quite a love hate relationship with Seb Kirby's characters which put me in a bit of a quandary as I really disliked D.I. Steve Ives and loved Issy's character although she was a suspect. Another character that I really took to was Adam. I still smile at the thought of him speeding down the canal breaking the waterway speed limit. Every time I see a barge it will remind me of this novel and make me smile. Some trivia facts just stay with you! This is a stand alone novel with a conclusion to the story. More please.
I received this arc from the author and I have chosen to leave a review.
February 21, 2017
With the first few pages of his latest novel, Seb Kirby seemed to have challenged his abilities as a writer by choosing two elements that many writers find difficult to pull off: the unreliable first-person narrator, and present-tense action.
It seems challenging at first, but within the first three chapters, you can see how clever Kirby is.
Sugar for Sugar begins with a prologue about a hit-and-run accident. But the story really begins with “I’m lost in a dark, dark place and, try as hard as I can, nothing helps me to understand.
“When I seek answers, I see only broken shards of my past, flashes lighting this darkest of places for an instant, shining bright then fading as soon as they appear.”
Gradually, we learn that Isobel Cunningham has no memory. A friend, Marianne French, has brought her to a hospital, concerned about Issy’s disorientation and confusion.
Issy doesn’t even remember being brutally raped. This fact is discovered by Dr. Jane Wilson, the physician who first examines Issy.
Amnesia: a clever device
The opening is simultaneously frustrating and compelling. Issy asks the same questions over and over because her short-term memory is less than a minute long. On the other hand, she can remember older facts about herself, like her name, age, address and employer. But she cannot remember the previous several days, nor her childhood. The repetition this characterization requires would seem frustrating, but at the same time, we readers are compelled to turn the page to find out more, especially what would induce this state of mind.
This device is a perfect way for the author to describe the first-person narrator, as she goes through the photos and messages on her smart phone to try to learn about herself. “Wavy blonde hair … grey green eyes.” It’s a book for the social media age, as Issy not only begins to reclaim her past through her online identity, but also uses the phone to keep notes as a workaround her faulty memory. They’re messages to herself:
Why did Colin need my help?
Mary is a good friend.
Thankfully, Kirby does not rely solely on Issy, the unreliable narrator. Subsequent chapters have the POV of two police officers, DI Steven Ives and DS June Lesley; Marianne French, the woman who brought Issy to the hospital, and occasionally gangster Justin Hardman.
The mystery
sugarforsugarDetectives Ives and Lesley are investigating the suspicious, sudden death of Mike Aspinal, the Senior Executive at Ardensis, where Issy works. Early in the plot, it turns out that Aspinal has been murdered by poison injected into his back. Medical evidence also shows it was Ardensis who raped Issy, giving her a motive to kill him.
Like the skilled mystery writer that he is, Seb Kirby logically links all these elements. While there are some red herrings, there’s not a wasted word. The pace is fast, the action tense, the details spare, just enough to keep you flipping pages—or swiping my iPad.
The ending is satisfying, sensible and logical, tying everything together.
Recommended
The publisher describes the book as “a gripping psychological thriller,” and every single word of that is true. Do yourself a favour and buy it now.
I highly recommend this book.
It seems challenging at first, but within the first three chapters, you can see how clever Kirby is.
Sugar for Sugar begins with a prologue about a hit-and-run accident. But the story really begins with “I’m lost in a dark, dark place and, try as hard as I can, nothing helps me to understand.
“When I seek answers, I see only broken shards of my past, flashes lighting this darkest of places for an instant, shining bright then fading as soon as they appear.”
Gradually, we learn that Isobel Cunningham has no memory. A friend, Marianne French, has brought her to a hospital, concerned about Issy’s disorientation and confusion.
Issy doesn’t even remember being brutally raped. This fact is discovered by Dr. Jane Wilson, the physician who first examines Issy.
Amnesia: a clever device
The opening is simultaneously frustrating and compelling. Issy asks the same questions over and over because her short-term memory is less than a minute long. On the other hand, she can remember older facts about herself, like her name, age, address and employer. But she cannot remember the previous several days, nor her childhood. The repetition this characterization requires would seem frustrating, but at the same time, we readers are compelled to turn the page to find out more, especially what would induce this state of mind.
This device is a perfect way for the author to describe the first-person narrator, as she goes through the photos and messages on her smart phone to try to learn about herself. “Wavy blonde hair … grey green eyes.” It’s a book for the social media age, as Issy not only begins to reclaim her past through her online identity, but also uses the phone to keep notes as a workaround her faulty memory. They’re messages to herself:
Why did Colin need my help?
Mary is a good friend.
Thankfully, Kirby does not rely solely on Issy, the unreliable narrator. Subsequent chapters have the POV of two police officers, DI Steven Ives and DS June Lesley; Marianne French, the woman who brought Issy to the hospital, and occasionally gangster Justin Hardman.
The mystery
sugarforsugarDetectives Ives and Lesley are investigating the suspicious, sudden death of Mike Aspinal, the Senior Executive at Ardensis, where Issy works. Early in the plot, it turns out that Aspinal has been murdered by poison injected into his back. Medical evidence also shows it was Ardensis who raped Issy, giving her a motive to kill him.
Like the skilled mystery writer that he is, Seb Kirby logically links all these elements. While there are some red herrings, there’s not a wasted word. The pace is fast, the action tense, the details spare, just enough to keep you flipping pages—or swiping my iPad.
The ending is satisfying, sensible and logical, tying everything together.
Recommended
The publisher describes the book as “a gripping psychological thriller,” and every single word of that is true. Do yourself a favour and buy it now.
I highly recommend this book.
February 3, 2020
Having read Seb Kirby’s brilliant novel ‘Here the Truth Lies,’ I had high expectations from ‘Sugar for Sugar’ but didn’t find it as engrossing as the former. Probably the title is symbolic or misleading; I couldn’t follow its significance. It is just a murder mystery, laced with vindictive “sugar” and meanders through same alleys that you could have visited many times. A little unbelievable at places, it is emotionally charged, fast-paced and reserves some secrets.
Issy Cunningham is traumatised and can’t recollect any incident of past or present for 2 days but could outsmart everyone the moment she gets a little support! That seems really incredible. Her character is not as strong as the action sequence given to her and that’s what makes this story a little lame. Intelligent and insightful June Lesley shines through the investigation. Even professor Mary has been crafted with great dignity. The mindset of other characters remains hazy. A quick read, this book is enjoyable.
Issy Cunningham is traumatised and can’t recollect any incident of past or present for 2 days but could outsmart everyone the moment she gets a little support! That seems really incredible. Her character is not as strong as the action sequence given to her and that’s what makes this story a little lame. Intelligent and insightful June Lesley shines through the investigation. Even professor Mary has been crafted with great dignity. The mindset of other characters remains hazy. A quick read, this book is enjoyable.
November 11, 2016
A well paced story with nice short chapters that will keep you reading . lovely main character that you can't help but like . This was my first book by this author but it will not be the last . I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
September 10, 2017
2 or 3 stars? I'll be nice and give it 3. It wasn't a bad book, it has a quick and thrilling pace but some of the characters seem stunted and there were a lot of grammatical errors that bothered me. Cool story though. I'll give it that.
December 17, 2018
Trust no one.
Who to trust? A complicated question for Issy.
Consistently trying to help others, regardless of the cost to herself.
Her daughter is the fatality in a hit & run incident
Who to trust? A complicated question for Issy.
Consistently trying to help others, regardless of the cost to herself.
Her daughter is the fatality in a hit & run incident
November 4, 2016
Enjoyable story with some interesting devious individuals and an obnoxious detective
March 16, 2017
Brilliant, what you call a page turner, short chapters kept it fast paced, definitely reading more by this author!
November 3, 2016
I do love a book with an unreliable narrator. That's not a spoiler btw as the author mentions Issy's memory loss in the blurb. We, as readers, are as clueless as her as to what happened that Valentines night.
We first meet Issy in a medical centre. She had no idea where she is or why she is there as she is suffering from memory loss. She also has trouble forming new memories as she keeps asking the same questions over and over which indicates that she has suffered some kind of trauma. There are also physical signs that back this up but the medical staff are as clueless as Issy herself as to what has actually happened. As are the police when they eventually get involved. We then follow Issy as she desperately tries to uncover her past and piece together what happened, not only just on the night in question, but also what happened prior to that. What were the circumstances that led her to where she is today? Will she find out before the police and be able to save herself or is she really in deep trouble?
I simply whizzed through this book. No mean feat considering I read a paperback copy and I mostly read electronically these days. The book contains short punchy chapters that keep the story moving along at quite a high pace. Combine this with a plot line that held my attention and kept me on my toes throughout, played out by well crafted, easy to connect with characters and you get yourself a very readable book. There are not many wasted words either. Description is confined to scene setting rather than adding superfluous bulk which meant that the story really did get on with itself. Don't get me wrong, I love books with wonderful descriptive parts, full of colourful, poetic language, but I also love a book that just gives me the story. No mess, no fuss, just great action.
There is a lot going on in this book at times but it never got overwhelming. Yes, confusion levels are, at times, quite high but that is the nature of the beast with this genre and these sorts of characters and, as such, is acceptable and indeed necessary for the plot to work. There is also quite a lot of research evident in the book. There's the setting and the chases through London, the technology employed in the book and, of course, the medical conditions depicted therein. I can't vouch for the complete accuracy of all of these, but those within my grasp are all done well and all the rest I don't know anything about come across as completely credible to say the very least.
All in all, this is a well plotted thriller that had me running around in circles whilst keeping my attention nicely. It is also the first book I have read by this author despite having several of his books already on my Kindle. I guess I'll be bumping them up my TBR now.
My thanks goes to TBC for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.
We first meet Issy in a medical centre. She had no idea where she is or why she is there as she is suffering from memory loss. She also has trouble forming new memories as she keeps asking the same questions over and over which indicates that she has suffered some kind of trauma. There are also physical signs that back this up but the medical staff are as clueless as Issy herself as to what has actually happened. As are the police when they eventually get involved. We then follow Issy as she desperately tries to uncover her past and piece together what happened, not only just on the night in question, but also what happened prior to that. What were the circumstances that led her to where she is today? Will she find out before the police and be able to save herself or is she really in deep trouble?
I simply whizzed through this book. No mean feat considering I read a paperback copy and I mostly read electronically these days. The book contains short punchy chapters that keep the story moving along at quite a high pace. Combine this with a plot line that held my attention and kept me on my toes throughout, played out by well crafted, easy to connect with characters and you get yourself a very readable book. There are not many wasted words either. Description is confined to scene setting rather than adding superfluous bulk which meant that the story really did get on with itself. Don't get me wrong, I love books with wonderful descriptive parts, full of colourful, poetic language, but I also love a book that just gives me the story. No mess, no fuss, just great action.
There is a lot going on in this book at times but it never got overwhelming. Yes, confusion levels are, at times, quite high but that is the nature of the beast with this genre and these sorts of characters and, as such, is acceptable and indeed necessary for the plot to work. There is also quite a lot of research evident in the book. There's the setting and the chases through London, the technology employed in the book and, of course, the medical conditions depicted therein. I can't vouch for the complete accuracy of all of these, but those within my grasp are all done well and all the rest I don't know anything about come across as completely credible to say the very least.
All in all, this is a well plotted thriller that had me running around in circles whilst keeping my attention nicely. It is also the first book I have read by this author despite having several of his books already on my Kindle. I guess I'll be bumping them up my TBR now.
My thanks goes to TBC for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.
November 6, 2016
This is the first book I have read from this author and after enjoying this one I wouldn't hesitate in reading more. This was well paced, with short chapters which is something I love in a book.
Issy Cunningham wakes up in hospital not able to remember anything in her past, particularly what happened on Valentine's Eve. Her boss is found dead at work and the police are trying to piece the evidence together to find out who committed murder. Issy starts to remember her life but still cannot remember what happened that night. Finally the mystery is revealed with an ending I did not expect.
The characters were interesting, I found myself rooting for Issy Cunningham, especially as the one of the detectives was a bit arrogant, and focused on her guilt.
Highly recommended and 4 stars from me.
Issy Cunningham wakes up in hospital not able to remember anything in her past, particularly what happened on Valentine's Eve. Her boss is found dead at work and the police are trying to piece the evidence together to find out who committed murder. Issy starts to remember her life but still cannot remember what happened that night. Finally the mystery is revealed with an ending I did not expect.
The characters were interesting, I found myself rooting for Issy Cunningham, especially as the one of the detectives was a bit arrogant, and focused on her guilt.
Highly recommended and 4 stars from me.
November 3, 2016
An interesting idea for a story with our lead character, Issy Cunningham, losing her memory after a traumatic event but could she have done something horrific or was it something done to her? As we see things unfolding for the two detectives, and Issy slowly regaining her memory, we are taken on an intriguing journey as the truth of the story is gradually unveiled.
The book is a short read and you will find yourself racing through to discover what happened but I think I would have appreciated it if there were more depth to the characters as this is definitely plot led and for me I like spending a little more time getting inside people's heads.
I enjoyed this read but I felt it finished too quickly and would have liked more!
The book is a short read and you will find yourself racing through to discover what happened but I think I would have appreciated it if there were more depth to the characters as this is definitely plot led and for me I like spending a little more time getting inside people's heads.
I enjoyed this read but I felt it finished too quickly and would have liked more!
November 5, 2016
This is a fast paced thriller with short, punchy chapters which kept me wanting to know more...well researched and well written, with a particularly interesting main character. This book kept me guessing - I kept changing my mind about whether I thought the main character had committed murder or not, and the tension was almost palpable as she struggled to remember what had happened and keep herself safe. I was unsure which of the characters I trusted, and was surprised at how the story ended....and books are always best when you don't see things coming!
I haven't read anything previously by Seb Kirby, but certainly plan to in the future.
I haven't read anything previously by Seb Kirby, but certainly plan to in the future.
July 28, 2023
Issy has reset her life, a loss in her past was so traumatic she needed to move on. Then Valentines Eve happened & she can't remember any of it. What happened, where, when, anything. The police know something happened but Issy can't remember.
This book just kept me turning the pages, something happened in every chapter. A complete page turner.
The chapters were short & punchy & it made reading while I was on the move was even easier.
I gratefully accepted a copy for an honest review. Honestly a great exciting read.
This book just kept me turning the pages, something happened in every chapter. A complete page turner.
The chapters were short & punchy & it made reading while I was on the move was even easier.
I gratefully accepted a copy for an honest review. Honestly a great exciting read.
October 24, 2016
Issy Cunningham wakes up in a hospital bed not able to remember anything about what happened to her in the past. Slowly some of her history comes back to her but she still can't remember what happened on Valentine's Eve. Was she responsible for murder or not? The detectives aren't too sure either. The book focusses on Issy's struggle to solve the mysteries before the police do. A well crafted story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
November 6, 2016
What a great book. I was given a real book in exchange for an honest review and I was nervous because I read almost all my books on the kindle now. This was the perfect book to get me back in the swing of things, it hooked me immediately and I did not want to put it down. I found myself leaving the phone ringing and letting the children have 'just 5 minutes more in front of the tv'. I really enjoyed and would recommend it
March 6, 2017
Trust - such a small word but so deep.
The entire story is built around trust. Issy, our main character has lost her memory due to her trauma and one thing she can't trust - herself.
I really enjoyed the twist and turns and honestly I didn't see the ending coming. I'm still curious what happened to Colin because there was nothing of him in the end but despite some unanswered questions, I found it very dripping.
The entire story is built around trust. Issy, our main character has lost her memory due to her trauma and one thing she can't trust - herself.
I really enjoyed the twist and turns and honestly I didn't see the ending coming. I'm still curious what happened to Colin because there was nothing of him in the end but despite some unanswered questions, I found it very dripping.
November 21, 2016
My first book by Seb Kirby but definitely not my last! A well written story, told in part in the first person by Issy - around whom the story focuses - which made me feel as if I was there with her, sharing her ordeal.
The book is written in short chapters, flitting between the different characters, which makes it very readable. All in all a good read which I would recommend.
The book is written in short chapters, flitting between the different characters, which makes it very readable. All in all a good read which I would recommend.
November 26, 2016
Unputdownable.
Well worth its 5* A gripping story from start to finish. With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I thought I had the culprit sussed. I was wrong!
Great read highly recommend x
Well worth its 5* A gripping story from start to finish. With plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I thought I had the culprit sussed. I was wrong!
Great read highly recommend x
November 28, 2016
This author does suspense!
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January 14, 2017
Excellent
What a great read!! Fast paced with a likeable protagonist. Definitely did not see the ending coming! ! Worth a read
What a great read!! Fast paced with a likeable protagonist. Definitely did not see the ending coming! ! Worth a read
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews