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The Captive
Hannah knows the cage intimately. Small, the size of a shopping mall parking space. A bed, a basin, a table and chair. A hatch and metal drawer through which to exchange food and other items.
Then there's him. Always there on the edges of her vision, no matter how hard she tries to block him out.
Every day, the same thoughts run through Hannah's mind:
What if he speaks to me?
What if he hurts me?
What if he gets out?
Then there's him. Always there on the edges of her vision, no matter how hard she tries to block him out.
Every day, the same thoughts run through Hannah's mind:
What if he speaks to me?
What if he hurts me?
What if he gets out?
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
50 people are currently reading
1382 people want to read
About the author
Deborah O'Connor
9 books203 followersDeborah O'Connor is a writer and TV producer. Born and bred in the North-East of England, she lives there with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
November 27, 2020
After reading Deborah O'Connor's impressive and memorable The Dangerous Kind, I knew I had to read this, her latest psychological thriller set in a London in the near future. The government has cynically closed down the expensive prison system that failed to curb crime in favour of the more cut price move to restorative justice, that has the criminal living in a cage in the home of the victim for the duration of their sentence, now responsible for their welfare, overseen by visits from a Domestic Liaison Officer (DLO). The idea is that the perpetrator will learn the error of their ways by seeing up close the impact of their crime. Cake maker and widow Hannah Cavey's police officer husband, John, was murdered by 28 year old Jem Dahlin, sentenced to 2o years. The still grieving Hannah cannot bear the torments of having Jem in her home, but all her objections come to nothing, as a cage is installed for Jem in her home.
Training in the processes and protocol designed to protect Hannah is given by her DLO, the cancer suffering Mr Dalgleish. To help her through the emotional pressures she is now facing, Hannah turns for support to her best friend, masseuse Aisling, and Rupert, John's police partner, his boss, DCI Michaela Coombes, is struggling with alcohol issues. Jem has a traumatic background, with a mother unable to take care of him, taken in by foster parents, the Tarkers with their young son, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Jem begins to get under Hannah's skin when he tells her he is innocent and relays information to her about John that has a ring of truth. Hannah, against all advice and warnings, begins to delve into the life of her beloved John, only for her to become aware she barely knew him, what was his interest in the death of undercover police officer, Roddy Blessop? In a narrative that takes in betrayal, corruption, money laundering and more murders, Hannah finds herself in danger, she is beginning to fall for Jem, but a relationship with him is taboo, and, more to the point, can she trust him?
O'Connor's central premise of a restorative justice system where victims are forced to live with those who may have committed the most heinous acts of crime against them is fascinating, nightmarish, and intriguing. There are inherent problems with such a concept, which requires a suspension of disbelief, but the idea is usefully explored in detail and insightfully with all its attendant horrors, such as rape victims having to live with the terrors of having the perpetrator in their home and those victims looking for revenge given the opportunity to abuse and potentially kill the perpetrator. This is a memorable, thought provoking, dark and intense crime read, with great characterisations in Hannah and the flawed Jem with his criminal tendencies. An absolutely superb psychological thriller that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
Training in the processes and protocol designed to protect Hannah is given by her DLO, the cancer suffering Mr Dalgleish. To help her through the emotional pressures she is now facing, Hannah turns for support to her best friend, masseuse Aisling, and Rupert, John's police partner, his boss, DCI Michaela Coombes, is struggling with alcohol issues. Jem has a traumatic background, with a mother unable to take care of him, taken in by foster parents, the Tarkers with their young son, Lucas. Slowly but surely, Jem begins to get under Hannah's skin when he tells her he is innocent and relays information to her about John that has a ring of truth. Hannah, against all advice and warnings, begins to delve into the life of her beloved John, only for her to become aware she barely knew him, what was his interest in the death of undercover police officer, Roddy Blessop? In a narrative that takes in betrayal, corruption, money laundering and more murders, Hannah finds herself in danger, she is beginning to fall for Jem, but a relationship with him is taboo, and, more to the point, can she trust him?
O'Connor's central premise of a restorative justice system where victims are forced to live with those who may have committed the most heinous acts of crime against them is fascinating, nightmarish, and intriguing. There are inherent problems with such a concept, which requires a suspension of disbelief, but the idea is usefully explored in detail and insightfully with all its attendant horrors, such as rape victims having to live with the terrors of having the perpetrator in their home and those victims looking for revenge given the opportunity to abuse and potentially kill the perpetrator. This is a memorable, thought provoking, dark and intense crime read, with great characterisations in Hannah and the flawed Jem with his criminal tendencies. An absolutely superb psychological thriller that I recommend highly. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
November 29, 2020
Right from the start this book has you in its thrall, hook, line and sinker! Hannah Cavey’s husband John, a Met detective, is murdered. The current system of incarceration involves prisoners being placed in cells in the victims homes as part of a restorative justice programme with several rings of security. Jem Dahlin is convicted though professes innocence and duly arrives at Hannah’s house.
The concept! How utterly appalling, it blows your mind that an innocent party has to not only confront but feed those convicted! Can you imagine anything worse? Right from the start Hannah’s nerves are understandably jangling and mine along with her! The concept feels original and as the clever plot unfolds Hannah has to start playing detective herself as various discoveries make her realise that things are just not adding up. It’s absolutely gripping as you go on a dangerous and nightmarish journey which reveals lies, corruption, wicked betrayal, organised crime and murder. It’s a very dark and intense plot full of twists which keep you immersed in the storytelling. The finale is very exciting with some jaw drooping and unexpected shocks as it reaches a very satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed this well written thriller very much. The whole thing from start to finish sends shivers up your spine and you recoil in horror at the thought of a prisoner glowering at you 24/7! Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the arc for an honest review.
The concept! How utterly appalling, it blows your mind that an innocent party has to not only confront but feed those convicted! Can you imagine anything worse? Right from the start Hannah’s nerves are understandably jangling and mine along with her! The concept feels original and as the clever plot unfolds Hannah has to start playing detective herself as various discoveries make her realise that things are just not adding up. It’s absolutely gripping as you go on a dangerous and nightmarish journey which reveals lies, corruption, wicked betrayal, organised crime and murder. It’s a very dark and intense plot full of twists which keep you immersed in the storytelling. The finale is very exciting with some jaw drooping and unexpected shocks as it reaches a very satisfying conclusion.
Overall, I enjoyed this well written thriller very much. The whole thing from start to finish sends shivers up your spine and you recoil in horror at the thought of a prisoner glowering at you 24/7! Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books for the arc for an honest review.
January 7, 2021
Wow. I don’t quite have the words to describe how I am feeling after finishing this book. It was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time.
The captive follows Hannah and Jem. Set in a world where the victim of a crime, has to look after the perpetrator in their home. This concept alone was fascinating to me. It really made you think and question everything you thought you knew.
The book has passages from the view points of the different characters. Mostly this consists of Hannah and Jem. I love when books are written like this, it allows you to delve deeper into the thought processes of the characters.
The twists and turns in this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I ended up reading most of the second half of the book within 24 hours, I just couldn’t put it down! I would be blindsided by a plot twist, and before I could right myself, another one would come out of nowhere. I felt so many emotions throughout, it would be an injustice to try to put them into words. By the last chapter I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. The intense emotions coming to the fore, and the sadness and saying goodbye to Hannah and Jem’s story.
This is a book that will live with me, and remain on my bookshelf to be re-read for years to come. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially anyone who lovers thrillers!
The captive follows Hannah and Jem. Set in a world where the victim of a crime, has to look after the perpetrator in their home. This concept alone was fascinating to me. It really made you think and question everything you thought you knew.
The book has passages from the view points of the different characters. Mostly this consists of Hannah and Jem. I love when books are written like this, it allows you to delve deeper into the thought processes of the characters.
The twists and turns in this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I ended up reading most of the second half of the book within 24 hours, I just couldn’t put it down! I would be blindsided by a plot twist, and before I could right myself, another one would come out of nowhere. I felt so many emotions throughout, it would be an injustice to try to put them into words. By the last chapter I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. The intense emotions coming to the fore, and the sadness and saying goodbye to Hannah and Jem’s story.
This is a book that will live with me, and remain on my bookshelf to be re-read for years to come. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone, especially anyone who lovers thrillers!
January 4, 2021
Imagine a society where the victim of a crime (or their family) is expected to accommodate the convicted person responsible in a prison cell in their own home?
In the near future UK prisons are a thing of the past. In their place, a focus on restorative justice and an emphasis on rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration for those who break the law.
Jem murdered Hannah's husband.
Now he's locked in a cage situated in Hannah's kitchen.
His sentence is twenty years.
Hannah is responsible for all his needs for the next two decades.
Then she uncovers several red flags regarding her husband's past.
And the more she gets to know Jem the less convinced she is that he is a killer.
But if Jem didn't murder her husband, then who did?
And how much danger is Hannah placing herself to get to the truth.
Holy cow! This unique, expertly-crafted futuristic thriller sure knocked me for six. The terrifying reality these characters inhabited makes me grateful for our current prison system. Okay so it may be lacking in some respects but this is not in any way an acceptable or healthy alternative. I was utterly impressed and shell-shocked by how everything came together in the end. The last 20% was nail-biting non-stop action suspense.
The Captive is mainly crime, mystery, and domestic noir, but sci-fi as well since the technology used doesn't currently exist in mainstream society. I’m also classing it as dystopian, which may seem a bit odd since life in general pretty much mirrored ours, however the justice system did not, and as a result it was definitely a country governed by a rigid set of rules, not to mention control, fear, loss of freedoms, and powerlessness that affected the majority of the population. And there was even time for romance, but there's nothing I can share about that subplot without spoiling it.
I love that the author took her time explaining the rules of the home prison system rather than bombarding me with an overload of information, yet it was always abundantly clear how the scheme worked. She even included personal accounts of situations where the current system had failed prisoners and victims, horror stories of all the ways things had gone disturbingly wrong, which made the whole thing even more scarily real.
Hannah and Jem were the main narrators, and Jem's chapters also included flashbacks to his childhood. I bonded with both characters and felt for their plight. The writing was straightforward, immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested emotionally.
Last year I added Deborah O’Connor's, The Dangerous Kind to my tbr, but never got around to reading it. After this phenomenal read I'll definitely be bumping it up my list.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Bonnier Books/Zaffre and Deborah O'Connor for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 7th January, 2021.
In the near future UK prisons are a thing of the past. In their place, a focus on restorative justice and an emphasis on rehabilitation instead of mass incarceration for those who break the law.
Jem murdered Hannah's husband.
Now he's locked in a cage situated in Hannah's kitchen.
His sentence is twenty years.
Hannah is responsible for all his needs for the next two decades.
Then she uncovers several red flags regarding her husband's past.
And the more she gets to know Jem the less convinced she is that he is a killer.
But if Jem didn't murder her husband, then who did?
And how much danger is Hannah placing herself to get to the truth.
Holy cow! This unique, expertly-crafted futuristic thriller sure knocked me for six. The terrifying reality these characters inhabited makes me grateful for our current prison system. Okay so it may be lacking in some respects but this is not in any way an acceptable or healthy alternative. I was utterly impressed and shell-shocked by how everything came together in the end. The last 20% was nail-biting non-stop action suspense.
The Captive is mainly crime, mystery, and domestic noir, but sci-fi as well since the technology used doesn't currently exist in mainstream society. I’m also classing it as dystopian, which may seem a bit odd since life in general pretty much mirrored ours, however the justice system did not, and as a result it was definitely a country governed by a rigid set of rules, not to mention control, fear, loss of freedoms, and powerlessness that affected the majority of the population. And there was even time for romance, but there's nothing I can share about that subplot without spoiling it.
I love that the author took her time explaining the rules of the home prison system rather than bombarding me with an overload of information, yet it was always abundantly clear how the scheme worked. She even included personal accounts of situations where the current system had failed prisoners and victims, horror stories of all the ways things had gone disturbingly wrong, which made the whole thing even more scarily real.
Hannah and Jem were the main narrators, and Jem's chapters also included flashbacks to his childhood. I bonded with both characters and felt for their plight. The writing was straightforward, immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested emotionally.
Last year I added Deborah O’Connor's, The Dangerous Kind to my tbr, but never got around to reading it. After this phenomenal read I'll definitely be bumping it up my list.
I'd like to thank Netgalley, Bonnier Books/Zaffre and Deborah O'Connor for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 7th January, 2021.
February 19, 2021
Creative and gripping.
March 15, 2021
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Set in a world where convicted criminals are to live in cages in their victim’s homes, to show them who they have hurt and to try to rehabilitate them, as well as saving the government some money. The book opens with cake maker Hannah awaiting the arrival of Jem, the person convicted of killing her police officer husband. The cage has been set up in the room where Hannah spends the most time, her Kitchen.
Hannah doesn’t want Jem in her house. She doesn’t want to spend time in the same room as the man who killed her husband, even though Jem has stated he wasn’t guilty the whole way through his trial and is still protesting his innocence to Hannah. She is scared of him but is unwilling to let him side that side of her.
Over time as Jem protests his innocence, he provides Hannah with information about her husband, which makes her dig deeper into his life, a life she never knew he lived. What was he hiding? And by searching for the truth has Hannah now placed herself in danger too?
Wow, I mean could you imagine having to spend every day in the same house as the person who has violated you or someone you love? Having to talk to them, feed them, they are there constantly reminding you of the horrid ordeal in your life. It is unthinkable, but author Deborah O’Connor brings this world to life with her all too realistic take on a sham government that cuts costs by making people have to live like this.
Hannah thought she had a perfect life, the life of a police officer’s wife. Happy and content, living her dream in a place where million-pound mansions are the norm but her husband’s job came with some perks and so she lives amongst them until that fateful night her husband was murdered. Now she is living a nightmare, one where she has to live in the same house as his murderer.
I loved the build-up in the multi-layered plot that was filled with twists that kept me engrossed and eager to find the truth. It was fascinating to watch Hannah go from this mild and meek woman to a woman determined to uncover the truth and find out about her husband’s secret life.
As I began The Captive I was unsure how it was labelled a thriller, but as the book progresses is became darker and more sinister than I imagined. The tension rose and the pace quickened. Such an amazing read, one that has left me breathless and thankful that the world within Deborah O’Connor’s mind isn’t real.
Set in a world where convicted criminals are to live in cages in their victim’s homes, to show them who they have hurt and to try to rehabilitate them, as well as saving the government some money. The book opens with cake maker Hannah awaiting the arrival of Jem, the person convicted of killing her police officer husband. The cage has been set up in the room where Hannah spends the most time, her Kitchen.
Hannah doesn’t want Jem in her house. She doesn’t want to spend time in the same room as the man who killed her husband, even though Jem has stated he wasn’t guilty the whole way through his trial and is still protesting his innocence to Hannah. She is scared of him but is unwilling to let him side that side of her.
Over time as Jem protests his innocence, he provides Hannah with information about her husband, which makes her dig deeper into his life, a life she never knew he lived. What was he hiding? And by searching for the truth has Hannah now placed herself in danger too?
Wow, I mean could you imagine having to spend every day in the same house as the person who has violated you or someone you love? Having to talk to them, feed them, they are there constantly reminding you of the horrid ordeal in your life. It is unthinkable, but author Deborah O’Connor brings this world to life with her all too realistic take on a sham government that cuts costs by making people have to live like this.
Hannah thought she had a perfect life, the life of a police officer’s wife. Happy and content, living her dream in a place where million-pound mansions are the norm but her husband’s job came with some perks and so she lives amongst them until that fateful night her husband was murdered. Now she is living a nightmare, one where she has to live in the same house as his murderer.
I loved the build-up in the multi-layered plot that was filled with twists that kept me engrossed and eager to find the truth. It was fascinating to watch Hannah go from this mild and meek woman to a woman determined to uncover the truth and find out about her husband’s secret life.
As I began The Captive I was unsure how it was labelled a thriller, but as the book progresses is became darker and more sinister than I imagined. The tension rose and the pace quickened. Such an amazing read, one that has left me breathless and thankful that the world within Deborah O’Connor’s mind isn’t real.
August 10, 2024
Deborah O’Connor’s “The Dangerous Kind” was probably my read of the year in 2019 and after such a tremendous book, I wasn’t sure her latest novel “The Captive” could meet my high expectations.
I need not have had any concerns, for as soon as I started reading, I was engrossed, engaged and invested in it and found it an impossible book to put down. Highly original and set in the near future, restorative justice has taken over the normal prison service. Prisoners are kept and attended to, by the families or victims of the perpetrator, in a custom built cell within their houses. The idea being that the prisoner truly understands the damage they have inflicted on the victim or on the families left behind. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
When Hannah temporarily ‘houses’ Jem, the man accused and found guilty of her detective husband’s murder, she’s nervous of him being in the cell in her kitchen. “What if he speaks to me?”. “What if he hurts me?”. “What if he gets out?” Everyday the same thoughts run through her head. But what happens when she starts to suspect he could have been wrongly sentenced and he didn’t kill her husband?
Brilliantly played out and executed, this exciting, high-concept story was imaginative and constructed with a superb plot that keeps you turning the pages in anticipation of what will happen next. I liked Hannah and Jem, I was thoroughly invested in their stories and I thought the fact she suffered with Type One Diabetes, which played a big part in the intense story, was a realistic addition to her character.
Although far fetched at times and probably an unfeasible solution to prison costs and overcrowding, if you’re invested in part of the story you may as well believe in it all and it is for this reason I give “The Captive” five stars - for the sheer entertainment factor and engrossing storyline. #UnlockTheTruth
5 stars
I need not have had any concerns, for as soon as I started reading, I was engrossed, engaged and invested in it and found it an impossible book to put down. Highly original and set in the near future, restorative justice has taken over the normal prison service. Prisoners are kept and attended to, by the families or victims of the perpetrator, in a custom built cell within their houses. The idea being that the prisoner truly understands the damage they have inflicted on the victim or on the families left behind. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
When Hannah temporarily ‘houses’ Jem, the man accused and found guilty of her detective husband’s murder, she’s nervous of him being in the cell in her kitchen. “What if he speaks to me?”. “What if he hurts me?”. “What if he gets out?” Everyday the same thoughts run through her head. But what happens when she starts to suspect he could have been wrongly sentenced and he didn’t kill her husband?
Brilliantly played out and executed, this exciting, high-concept story was imaginative and constructed with a superb plot that keeps you turning the pages in anticipation of what will happen next. I liked Hannah and Jem, I was thoroughly invested in their stories and I thought the fact she suffered with Type One Diabetes, which played a big part in the intense story, was a realistic addition to her character.
Although far fetched at times and probably an unfeasible solution to prison costs and overcrowding, if you’re invested in part of the story you may as well believe in it all and it is for this reason I give “The Captive” five stars - for the sheer entertainment factor and engrossing storyline. #UnlockTheTruth
5 stars
December 7, 2020
In the future there are no prisons and convicted criminals serve their sentences in the homes of the people who are most affected by their crimes.
Deborah now has a cage in her kitchen and inside it is the man who killed her husband who was a Police Officer.
Jem who was convicted of her husband’s murder is now trying to convince her that he is innocent and Deborah starts to look into the death of her husband and the mystery surrounding it.
I really enjoyed this book it had me hooked from the beginning.
It had plenty of tension and twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Deborah now has a cage in her kitchen and inside it is the man who killed her husband who was a Police Officer.
Jem who was convicted of her husband’s murder is now trying to convince her that he is innocent and Deborah starts to look into the death of her husband and the mystery surrounding it.
I really enjoyed this book it had me hooked from the beginning.
It had plenty of tension and twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2020
The Captive is O'Connor's third crime thriller and is an impactful and gritty read set in and around London. Baker Hannah Casey is grieving the loss of her husband, John, a Metropolitan police officer who was brutally murdered. Twenty-eight-year-old Jem Dahlin was convicted of the crime. But under a new system, he will serve out his twenty-five-year sentence in a cell no bigger than the size of a single parking spot within Hannah's home. There it is hoped he will learn the true cost of his terrible crime. But who is the real captive? Jem, whose whole world is now confined to a few square feet - or Hannah, whose responsibility it is to look after her husband's killer? As Hannah and Jem settle into their strange new situation, they begin to get used to their new routines. But then something happens. Jem tells Hannah he's innocent despite his fingerprints and DNA being found on John's wallet and the murder weapon. He tells her something else too. That her husband had been lying to her. Before long, the relationship between Hannah and Jem begins to shift, as Hannah questions everything she thought she knew. But was Jem really wrongly convicted? Or is he simply a desperate man, willing to say and do anything that might grant his freedom?
This is a compulsive, captivating and refreshingly original thriller with a concept that is well-executed and thought-provoking. The government have abolished mass incarceration deeming it too much of a soft option and more like a luxury hotel than a place of punishment. In the name of restorative justice they have, in its place, created the Domestic Prison Service, a scheme that requires the victim to house the criminal that wronged them in a cell inside their home for the duration of their sentence and they are also responsible for the prisoner's welfare; the idea behind this system is that by living with the victim it is hoped the perpetrator will face up to his wrongful actions and the often irreparable damage they have caused. The narrative alternates seamlessly chapter by chapter between Hannah and Jem's perspectives and the characterisation was simply stunning. It is so much more than just cheap thrills and excitement as it is much more cerebral and intelligent than most thrillers and explores what it means to be both a convicted criminal and a victim. It's a brilliant, scintillating and intensely gripping psychological thriller from the beginning and the tension is expertly ratcheted up as the story progresses culminating in a shocking and explosive conclusion. Highly recommended.
This is a compulsive, captivating and refreshingly original thriller with a concept that is well-executed and thought-provoking. The government have abolished mass incarceration deeming it too much of a soft option and more like a luxury hotel than a place of punishment. In the name of restorative justice they have, in its place, created the Domestic Prison Service, a scheme that requires the victim to house the criminal that wronged them in a cell inside their home for the duration of their sentence and they are also responsible for the prisoner's welfare; the idea behind this system is that by living with the victim it is hoped the perpetrator will face up to his wrongful actions and the often irreparable damage they have caused. The narrative alternates seamlessly chapter by chapter between Hannah and Jem's perspectives and the characterisation was simply stunning. It is so much more than just cheap thrills and excitement as it is much more cerebral and intelligent than most thrillers and explores what it means to be both a convicted criminal and a victim. It's a brilliant, scintillating and intensely gripping psychological thriller from the beginning and the tension is expertly ratcheted up as the story progresses culminating in a shocking and explosive conclusion. Highly recommended.
December 28, 2020
I hadn’t planned’ what I was going to read over Christmas, and so this book kinda ‘ended up’ being it, a dystopian psychological adventure with a whodunit and whodidntdoit theme running through
Prisons are now deemed ‘a thing of the past’ and so basically a criminal once convicted is placed within the victims home to serve their sentence, a cell is constructed within the house and an ‘officer’ visits for shower and outside recreation duty, if the victim is dead then the criminal serves their time in a families home, intriguing!
Hannah’s husband was murdered
Jem was convicted
And so the 2 start their ‘new lives’ together, the ‘host’ has to provide meals and a decent standard of life for the criminal in the cell now plonked in their home
Of course as the story evolves so does their friendship and as Jem continues to plead his innocence Hannah finds out more and more about her late husband ( and none of it good ) that makes her wonder if he is actually telling the truth...and the game really begins!
Highly original and to be honest a fascinating idea along with good characters and ever changing plot made this book a worthy read and kept you on your toes, the ending multi pronged and well done
I was also interested in the location as it’s based in Hampstead and I think one of the streets featured quite a bit in the book is based on ‘The Bishops Avenue’, a fascinating place that is one of the most expensive ( if not the most ) addresses in London and is known for its many art deco mansions and wealthy residents and includes many houses bought by Middle Eastern Royal Families years ago and never ever used!, I think at last count more than 10, anyway I may be wrong but think it is based on there
As say a really good, different read
10/10
5 Stars
Prisons are now deemed ‘a thing of the past’ and so basically a criminal once convicted is placed within the victims home to serve their sentence, a cell is constructed within the house and an ‘officer’ visits for shower and outside recreation duty, if the victim is dead then the criminal serves their time in a families home, intriguing!
Hannah’s husband was murdered
Jem was convicted
And so the 2 start their ‘new lives’ together, the ‘host’ has to provide meals and a decent standard of life for the criminal in the cell now plonked in their home
Of course as the story evolves so does their friendship and as Jem continues to plead his innocence Hannah finds out more and more about her late husband ( and none of it good ) that makes her wonder if he is actually telling the truth...and the game really begins!
Highly original and to be honest a fascinating idea along with good characters and ever changing plot made this book a worthy read and kept you on your toes, the ending multi pronged and well done
I was also interested in the location as it’s based in Hampstead and I think one of the streets featured quite a bit in the book is based on ‘The Bishops Avenue’, a fascinating place that is one of the most expensive ( if not the most ) addresses in London and is known for its many art deco mansions and wealthy residents and includes many houses bought by Middle Eastern Royal Families years ago and never ever used!, I think at last count more than 10, anyway I may be wrong but think it is based on there
As say a really good, different read
10/10
5 Stars
January 22, 2024
The concept of this book was actually really interesting. Under a new government rule, if convicted of a crime, prisoners no longer go to prison. Instead, they now stay in a cell in their victims home, where they will remain for their sentence. Victims now have the choice of pressing charges and living with a criminal or letting them go free.
Hannah's husband, a cop, is murdered in a dark alley, and now she is living with his killer in her basement/kitchen. He insists he is innocent, and after Hannah starts looking into what really happened, she starts to wonder if he's telling the truth.
This one was soooo slow to start with. And for a long time, nothing really happened. It was mostly just following Hannah as she dealt with her husband's death whilst housing his killer. Once she starts believing Jem is innocent and looking into what happened, things start picking up a little. Throughout this book, I was set on giving it 3*. But by the end, I had changed my mind and found that I thoroughly enjoyed how this one played out.
I'm also super happy to find my name and nickname used in this book. There's a character named Michaela who calls herself Mickey. So yay.
Hannah's husband, a cop, is murdered in a dark alley, and now she is living with his killer in her basement/kitchen. He insists he is innocent, and after Hannah starts looking into what really happened, she starts to wonder if he's telling the truth.
This one was soooo slow to start with. And for a long time, nothing really happened. It was mostly just following Hannah as she dealt with her husband's death whilst housing his killer. Once she starts believing Jem is innocent and looking into what happened, things start picking up a little. Throughout this book, I was set on giving it 3*. But by the end, I had changed my mind and found that I thoroughly enjoyed how this one played out.
I'm also super happy to find my name and nickname used in this book. There's a character named Michaela who calls herself Mickey. So yay.
March 7, 2021
Maybe this one was just bad timing for me...others have loved it.
The near-future where criminals are housed in the homes of their victims is definitely a morally complex concept. All my stars go to this aspect of the novel. For me, the characters were a little under-whelming and there seemed to be so much more that could have been elaborated on.
The plot is not bad but it wasn't brilliant either. I found it frustrating and unimaginable in places (not the system of inmates but the actions and reactions of protagonist Hannah.
Probably one to read at another juncture in life.
The near-future where criminals are housed in the homes of their victims is definitely a morally complex concept. All my stars go to this aspect of the novel. For me, the characters were a little under-whelming and there seemed to be so much more that could have been elaborated on.
The plot is not bad but it wasn't brilliant either. I found it frustrating and unimaginable in places (not the system of inmates but the actions and reactions of protagonist Hannah.
Probably one to read at another juncture in life.
December 4, 2020
After reading The Dangerous mind also by Deborah O’Connor I was intrigued to see what was next instore with The Captive.
Sometime in the future Met detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway. Since the prison system collapsed, victims of the crime now must house the perpetrators caged in their home for the length of their sentence. This means they must feed and clothe them and oversea the visits from the Domestic liaison officer. This is done so the perpetrators will learn the error of their ways.
Jem was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of John cavey. His wife Hannah is uncomfortable for having the murderer of her husband in the house. What makes it worse Jem keeps saying he is innocent of the crime and when other things come to light, she thinks that she might believe him. She confides this to her best friend Asling and Micky another police detective.
The captive is a unique story, with great characters that I really enjoyed, and I think this will be talked about for a long time. This is one of them thought provoking books that would worry you if the concept really came to life. Would you want the person who robbed, raped, or murdered someone you new incarcerated in your home for the period of their sentence? There is a lot of questions that would come of this.
Sometime in the future Met detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway. Since the prison system collapsed, victims of the crime now must house the perpetrators caged in their home for the length of their sentence. This means they must feed and clothe them and oversea the visits from the Domestic liaison officer. This is done so the perpetrators will learn the error of their ways.
Jem was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of John cavey. His wife Hannah is uncomfortable for having the murderer of her husband in the house. What makes it worse Jem keeps saying he is innocent of the crime and when other things come to light, she thinks that she might believe him. She confides this to her best friend Asling and Micky another police detective.
The captive is a unique story, with great characters that I really enjoyed, and I think this will be talked about for a long time. This is one of them thought provoking books that would worry you if the concept really came to life. Would you want the person who robbed, raped, or murdered someone you new incarcerated in your home for the period of their sentence? There is a lot of questions that would come of this.
July 2, 2022
Imagine having to accommodate the murderer of your husband in your own home in a prison cell. This is a society where convicted criminals have to live in the homes of the victims as a way of trying to rehabilitate them.
Grieving Hannah now has to accustom to life with Jem living in her kitchen for the next 20 years.
Jem denys ever murdering Hannah's husband and starts to plant seeds of doubt in her mind.
Hannah decideds to do some detective work herself and uncovers some horrible truths, what was he hiding?
Who did kill Hannah's husband if it wasn't Jem?
I loved this book and was hooked from the beginning due to the unique plot. The tension grew as the book went on with many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Told through the perspective of both Hannah and Jem is something that I loved and being given an understanding of Jem's past.
Suprises, murder and betrayal, this is a MUST read!
Grieving Hannah now has to accustom to life with Jem living in her kitchen for the next 20 years.
Jem denys ever murdering Hannah's husband and starts to plant seeds of doubt in her mind.
Hannah decideds to do some detective work herself and uncovers some horrible truths, what was he hiding?
Who did kill Hannah's husband if it wasn't Jem?
I loved this book and was hooked from the beginning due to the unique plot. The tension grew as the book went on with many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Told through the perspective of both Hannah and Jem is something that I loved and being given an understanding of Jem's past.
Suprises, murder and betrayal, this is a MUST read!
July 3, 2022
Imagine having to accommodate the murderer of your husband in your own home in a prison cell. This is a society where convicted criminals have to live in the homes of the victims as a way of trying to rehabilitate them.
Grieving Hannah now has to accustom to life with Jem living in her kitchen for the next 20 years.
Jem denys ever murdering Hannah's husband and starts to plant seeds of doubt in her mind.
Hannah decideds to do some detective work herself and uncovers some horrible truths, what was he hiding?
Who did kill Hannah's husband if it wasn't Jem?
I loved this book and was hooked from the beginning due to the unique plot. The tension grew as the book went on with many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Told through the perspective of both Hannah and Jem is something that I loved and being given an understanding of Jem's past.
Suprises, murder and betrayal, this is a MUST read!
Grieving Hannah now has to accustom to life with Jem living in her kitchen for the next 20 years.
Jem denys ever murdering Hannah's husband and starts to plant seeds of doubt in her mind.
Hannah decideds to do some detective work herself and uncovers some horrible truths, what was he hiding?
Who did kill Hannah's husband if it wasn't Jem?
I loved this book and was hooked from the beginning due to the unique plot. The tension grew as the book went on with many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat. Told through the perspective of both Hannah and Jem is something that I loved and being given an understanding of Jem's past.
Suprises, murder and betrayal, this is a MUST read!
February 16, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the arc of The Captive by Deborah O'Connor.
5 star read- Met Detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway, since the prison system collapsed on itself any criminal now must be caged in their own homes for their whole sentence so this means they must clothe and feed them and over visits from the domestic liason officer.. Jem was the one who was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of the met detective John Cavey. Hannah whom is Jem's wife is very uncomfrtable with having her murderer of a husband in the house but he keeps stating that it had nothing to do with him and that he is innocent to the fact that Hannah actually starts to believe he is too. so she ends up confiding in Asling and Mickey whom is another police detective.. this is a really different, unique and wild thrilling story which had you hooked and gripped from the outset right up to the end
Totally recommend 5 Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 star read- Met Detective John Cavey was murdered in an alleyway, since the prison system collapsed on itself any criminal now must be caged in their own homes for their whole sentence so this means they must clothe and feed them and over visits from the domestic liason officer.. Jem was the one who was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of the met detective John Cavey. Hannah whom is Jem's wife is very uncomfrtable with having her murderer of a husband in the house but he keeps stating that it had nothing to do with him and that he is innocent to the fact that Hannah actually starts to believe he is too. so she ends up confiding in Asling and Mickey whom is another police detective.. this is a really different, unique and wild thrilling story which had you hooked and gripped from the outset right up to the end
Totally recommend 5 Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 2, 2023
The concept of housing inmates in the victims home/business is just so coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs, I couldn’t stop focusing on it.
The rest of the story was good, but a bit on the cop/detective side - dirty cops etc (for me, I’m just not in to that, and that’s not the normal opinion).
I found a lot of the story forced me to stretch believability to its breaking point. That said, it wasn’t a horrible story, and I think most will enjoy it.
The rest of the story was good, but a bit on the cop/detective side - dirty cops etc (for me, I’m just not in to that, and that’s not the normal opinion).
I found a lot of the story forced me to stretch believability to its breaking point. That said, it wasn’t a horrible story, and I think most will enjoy it.
November 18, 2020
I really enjoyed this book it was a very unique plot line and whilst I’m not quite sure how I feel about the concept of the victims of a crime having to house the perpetrator it sure made for an interesting and thrilling read. This is a book that I’m sure will spark many discussions and as for myself I find the whole idea of having the instigator of a crime against me or my family having to be housed with me horrific however this gave the book a very different twist and it really did make for a great read and it was a refreshing change to read something so different and praise to the author Deborah O’Connor for coming up with something so completely different.
A book that kept me glued to Kindle as I desperately wanted to know the outcome and I wasn’t disappointed at all, great writing and a plot with a difference what more could you wish for so give it a go it’s well worth it !
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A book that kept me glued to Kindle as I desperately wanted to know the outcome and I wasn’t disappointed at all, great writing and a plot with a difference what more could you wish for so give it a go it’s well worth it !
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 17, 2021
The Captive is set in the near future, the main element setting it apart from the world as we know it is its reformed penal system, under which convicts are now doing their time in the homes of their victims, their victims’ families or an unrelated Foster Host.
As such, Jem, the man convicted of the murder on Hannah’s husband, is coming to live with her, in his own little cell in her kitchen. Take a minute to picture this. Can you imagine?! My home is my haven, my safe space, I would NOT want to come home every day and have to look at the person responsible for my grief and misery! And Hannah has it even worse: she’s a baker, her kitchen is where she spends all of her time, there is no escaping the captive. Which is exactly the point of this so-called restorative justice. And just like that, in the span of just a few short chapters, The Captive had my mind whirring and my heart thumping.
Hannah misses her husband something fierce and having Jem there, watching her every move, feels like she’s the one being punished. The odd conversation is unavoidable, and Jem not only tells her that he’s innocent – of course he would say that, wouldn’t he – but also that the hubby was not the man she thought he was, and her marriage less than perfect. Is Jem telling the truth or is he scheming? Hannah doesn’t know and neither does the reader. Even the chapters told from Jem’s POV bring no solace: things only got curiouser and curiouser. I hated it and I loved it.
With every other chapter not only leaving questions unanswered but creating new ones, the real captive was me. The plot thickening with every page I turned, this was an absolute delight to read. The kind of book you’re reluctant to put down and genuinely happy to pick back up. Recovering from a book hangover, I had been struggling with my reading, nothing quite up to the task of keeping me entertained, but The Captive snapped me right out of it, reminding me that reading is supposed to be fun (even if you can’t quite figure out the plot).
After My Husband’s Son and The Dangerous Kind, The Captive is Deborah O’Connor’s third standalone novel, and my favourite one to date. A novel premise, great writing, excellent characterisation, so much mystery and so thought-provoking I ended up having whole discussions about it with the hubby (not a fiction reader himself but happily awaiting the film this book will be turned into if filmmakers know what’s good for them). I have so many thoughts and so many feelings but I can’t tell you about them, because I don’t want to spoil things, ugh! Read it so we can talk!!
The Captive takes a wild and wildly exciting premise and runs with it, flawless execution bringing it home. A superb thriller, highly recommended!
As such, Jem, the man convicted of the murder on Hannah’s husband, is coming to live with her, in his own little cell in her kitchen. Take a minute to picture this. Can you imagine?! My home is my haven, my safe space, I would NOT want to come home every day and have to look at the person responsible for my grief and misery! And Hannah has it even worse: she’s a baker, her kitchen is where she spends all of her time, there is no escaping the captive. Which is exactly the point of this so-called restorative justice. And just like that, in the span of just a few short chapters, The Captive had my mind whirring and my heart thumping.
Hannah misses her husband something fierce and having Jem there, watching her every move, feels like she’s the one being punished. The odd conversation is unavoidable, and Jem not only tells her that he’s innocent – of course he would say that, wouldn’t he – but also that the hubby was not the man she thought he was, and her marriage less than perfect. Is Jem telling the truth or is he scheming? Hannah doesn’t know and neither does the reader. Even the chapters told from Jem’s POV bring no solace: things only got curiouser and curiouser. I hated it and I loved it.
With every other chapter not only leaving questions unanswered but creating new ones, the real captive was me. The plot thickening with every page I turned, this was an absolute delight to read. The kind of book you’re reluctant to put down and genuinely happy to pick back up. Recovering from a book hangover, I had been struggling with my reading, nothing quite up to the task of keeping me entertained, but The Captive snapped me right out of it, reminding me that reading is supposed to be fun (even if you can’t quite figure out the plot).
After My Husband’s Son and The Dangerous Kind, The Captive is Deborah O’Connor’s third standalone novel, and my favourite one to date. A novel premise, great writing, excellent characterisation, so much mystery and so thought-provoking I ended up having whole discussions about it with the hubby (not a fiction reader himself but happily awaiting the film this book will be turned into if filmmakers know what’s good for them). I have so many thoughts and so many feelings but I can’t tell you about them, because I don’t want to spoil things, ugh! Read it so we can talk!!
The Captive takes a wild and wildly exciting premise and runs with it, flawless execution bringing it home. A superb thriller, highly recommended!
January 1, 2021
What a book! This was a perfect start to the year as I absolutely loved it and it has earned one of my rare five star ratings! This is released on 7th January and I would highly recommend it as an addition to your wish lists and TBR!
There was such an interesting and unique concept to this, the government has closed prisons due to the expense, and instead, if you are the victim of the crime, the perpetrator is housed in a cell in your home. You are responsible for feeding them and interacting with them as you see fit, with regular visits from a liaison officer. The aim is restorative justice, as the victim sees the impact they have had on your life due to their crime.
This happens to Hannah. Her husband John has been murdered, and the man convicted for the crime, Jem, is incarcerated in a cell in her kitchen. Hannah is terrified, she has to see him every day, she doesn’t want him to speak to her and she is worried he will get out and harm her. We follow Hannah’s ability to deal with this situation, her relationship with Jem, and her discovering her husband’s death isn’t exactly as it seems, with a lot of twists and turns on the way.
I absolutely loved this psychological thriller, I couldn’t put it down and have read it in a day. I found it captivating and the idea of the reformed system very clever, intriguing and thought provoking. I loved the fact that this was told through the perspectives of both Hannah and Jem, with information being revealed about Jem’s past and how this links to the present. As we move further through the book we encounter surprises, murder, and betrayal, which all comes together to an ending I loved and thought fit perfectly.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I will definitely be adding the rest to my reading list immediately!
There was such an interesting and unique concept to this, the government has closed prisons due to the expense, and instead, if you are the victim of the crime, the perpetrator is housed in a cell in your home. You are responsible for feeding them and interacting with them as you see fit, with regular visits from a liaison officer. The aim is restorative justice, as the victim sees the impact they have had on your life due to their crime.
This happens to Hannah. Her husband John has been murdered, and the man convicted for the crime, Jem, is incarcerated in a cell in her kitchen. Hannah is terrified, she has to see him every day, she doesn’t want him to speak to her and she is worried he will get out and harm her. We follow Hannah’s ability to deal with this situation, her relationship with Jem, and her discovering her husband’s death isn’t exactly as it seems, with a lot of twists and turns on the way.
I absolutely loved this psychological thriller, I couldn’t put it down and have read it in a day. I found it captivating and the idea of the reformed system very clever, intriguing and thought provoking. I loved the fact that this was told through the perspectives of both Hannah and Jem, with information being revealed about Jem’s past and how this links to the present. As we move further through the book we encounter surprises, murder, and betrayal, which all comes together to an ending I loved and thought fit perfectly.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I will definitely be adding the rest to my reading list immediately!
January 6, 2021
What a bloody brilliant concept for a book. The thought of restorative justice being brought to its extreme, convicts being imprisoned to serve out their sentence in the home of the person they've wronged and what that entails for both the prisoner and the victim... It gets the brain ticking.
Add in a murder victim who wasn't quite what they seemed, deceit and secrets and the mixed feelings that develop when you live with someone, I found this story a real page turner.
You really feel for Hannah throughout the course of the novel- the loss of her husband, the situation she's forced into with the alleged man who killed him, and the impact all of this has on the relationships she holds with friends. But as with any well written thriller, all is not as it seems and I am pleased to say I was kept guessing until the very last twist as to whodunnit and why.
I will certainly be reading more of Deborah O'Connor in future!
Add in a murder victim who wasn't quite what they seemed, deceit and secrets and the mixed feelings that develop when you live with someone, I found this story a real page turner.
You really feel for Hannah throughout the course of the novel- the loss of her husband, the situation she's forced into with the alleged man who killed him, and the impact all of this has on the relationships she holds with friends. But as with any well written thriller, all is not as it seems and I am pleased to say I was kept guessing until the very last twist as to whodunnit and why.
I will certainly be reading more of Deborah O'Connor in future!
January 20, 2021
In a not too near future, over crowded prisons and a lack of public satisfaction with the course of justice,had led to the forming of a new system.Restorative justice is meted out in the form of a cell, built in the house of those who press charges against those who have committed crimes.
The hope is that by putting the criminal and victim in the same house,the criminal will face the consequences of their actions. In contrast, the victim gets the chance to face the worst moments of their lives over and over.In Hannah's case, her duty as host to Jem,the person found guilty of killing her husband, will last 20 long years.Her request to have Jem removed and put with alternative Hosts denied, she has to face her husband's killer as she goes about her daily business.
His cell is built in the basement of her house where her kitchen is. She cannot avoid him,and added to this,her neighbour is furious that this new 'guest' has driven the property prices down.But who in this game of cat and mouse, is actually the captive? As th3y begin to establish a new routine for daily cohabitation, Hannah digs deep to find more of her husband's belongings to keep his memory alive. But with Jem protesting his innocence,and certain inexplicable items coming to light in her searches, Hannah begins to suspect that someone close to her has been hiding the truth.
Who really was responsible for her husband, John's death?
Was it the last detective case he was working on?
Or something much more sinister?
As the threads of suspicion twine around her, Hannah looks for help in the most unlikely of places...The themes of this conceptual thriller are so interesting-how many of us would press charges against a criminal if it meant coming face to face with them for the length of their sentence?
Outside of Hannah's case,the wider implications are explored in the cases of those in her neighbourhood who have followed the law to different conclusions. Her helpful associate,Mr Dalgliesh who liases with her as a sort of social worker/prison officer tells her of cases gone wrong as cautionary tales.However, it raises so many questions that cross the lines of justice into gender based violence,culpability and criminal behaviour.
Surely someone who sets out to stalk and harrass a woman would want nothing more than to be ensconced within the confines of her home? Or, even worse,to avoid this fate they might avoid pressing charges to not suffer such a fate leaving a criminal free to strike again.There are so many aspects and angles to this set up that really gets you thinking about the concepts of justice and how well we, as a 21st century, still do not effectively deal with crimes in a way that truly punishes them.
And, in a week where one of outgoing president Trump's actions was to turn down the death row appeal of the first woman to be executed in decades,the impact and effect of justice is very much in my mind.I don't think there is a perfect notion of a punishment fitting the crime,however,taking the life of another definitively removes the potential for restorative justice. And in a patriarchal society where more women tend to be the victims of crimes than perpetrators,it seemed to me like another crime was being comitted against Hannah, and other women in the course of meeting the court mandated 'punishment' of hosting a criminal.
There is so much to think about when reading this novel but it never gets tied down in intricacies which distract from the essential humanity at its heart. The need for honesty,love and justice for the harm done to Hannah,is the cornerstone of the story. However,Jem's alternate chapters tell of how he ended up behind bars. The victim of a childhood no one wants to remember, was he a convenient scapegoat for the murder of a cop or did he really do it? And if so why?Another breathless and compulsive thriller which makes you feel like you are in the hands of a master storyteller,who will let you go when she is finished with you,I am a confirmed and committed fan of Deborah O'Connor!
The hope is that by putting the criminal and victim in the same house,the criminal will face the consequences of their actions. In contrast, the victim gets the chance to face the worst moments of their lives over and over.In Hannah's case, her duty as host to Jem,the person found guilty of killing her husband, will last 20 long years.Her request to have Jem removed and put with alternative Hosts denied, she has to face her husband's killer as she goes about her daily business.
His cell is built in the basement of her house where her kitchen is. She cannot avoid him,and added to this,her neighbour is furious that this new 'guest' has driven the property prices down.But who in this game of cat and mouse, is actually the captive? As th3y begin to establish a new routine for daily cohabitation, Hannah digs deep to find more of her husband's belongings to keep his memory alive. But with Jem protesting his innocence,and certain inexplicable items coming to light in her searches, Hannah begins to suspect that someone close to her has been hiding the truth.
Who really was responsible for her husband, John's death?
Was it the last detective case he was working on?
Or something much more sinister?
As the threads of suspicion twine around her, Hannah looks for help in the most unlikely of places...The themes of this conceptual thriller are so interesting-how many of us would press charges against a criminal if it meant coming face to face with them for the length of their sentence?
Outside of Hannah's case,the wider implications are explored in the cases of those in her neighbourhood who have followed the law to different conclusions. Her helpful associate,Mr Dalgliesh who liases with her as a sort of social worker/prison officer tells her of cases gone wrong as cautionary tales.However, it raises so many questions that cross the lines of justice into gender based violence,culpability and criminal behaviour.
Surely someone who sets out to stalk and harrass a woman would want nothing more than to be ensconced within the confines of her home? Or, even worse,to avoid this fate they might avoid pressing charges to not suffer such a fate leaving a criminal free to strike again.There are so many aspects and angles to this set up that really gets you thinking about the concepts of justice and how well we, as a 21st century, still do not effectively deal with crimes in a way that truly punishes them.
And, in a week where one of outgoing president Trump's actions was to turn down the death row appeal of the first woman to be executed in decades,the impact and effect of justice is very much in my mind.I don't think there is a perfect notion of a punishment fitting the crime,however,taking the life of another definitively removes the potential for restorative justice. And in a patriarchal society where more women tend to be the victims of crimes than perpetrators,it seemed to me like another crime was being comitted against Hannah, and other women in the course of meeting the court mandated 'punishment' of hosting a criminal.
There is so much to think about when reading this novel but it never gets tied down in intricacies which distract from the essential humanity at its heart. The need for honesty,love and justice for the harm done to Hannah,is the cornerstone of the story. However,Jem's alternate chapters tell of how he ended up behind bars. The victim of a childhood no one wants to remember, was he a convenient scapegoat for the murder of a cop or did he really do it? And if so why?Another breathless and compulsive thriller which makes you feel like you are in the hands of a master storyteller,who will let you go when she is finished with you,I am a confirmed and committed fan of Deborah O'Connor!
October 27, 2020
I've seen an early copy of this and it really is one to watch in 2021. Highly original concept which victims forced to house the criminals that wronged them, after restorative justice is taken to an extreme conclusion. Keep your eyes out for it!
January 10, 2021
Wow.
First thriller of the year for me and I won't lie, I expected good things from Deborah, after reading My Husband's Son and she didn't disappoint!
At the beginning I was a little thrown. It took me a little while to settle into the concept, before I was really caught and it sunk in and wow! What a concept it turned out to be! To play host to someone who inflicted so much trauma and change to your life - absolute madness!
Deborah really had me going though from start to finish. Although a bit of a slow burner for me, which may have been a reflection of me being unwell, I soon got into the pace of things and couldn't put it down. I loved the ending how it was neatly placed altogether without losing the essence of it all.
Another great book from Deborah and one I'd recommend adding to your TBR lists!
First thriller of the year for me and I won't lie, I expected good things from Deborah, after reading My Husband's Son and she didn't disappoint!
At the beginning I was a little thrown. It took me a little while to settle into the concept, before I was really caught and it sunk in and wow! What a concept it turned out to be! To play host to someone who inflicted so much trauma and change to your life - absolute madness!
Deborah really had me going though from start to finish. Although a bit of a slow burner for me, which may have been a reflection of me being unwell, I soon got into the pace of things and couldn't put it down. I loved the ending how it was neatly placed altogether without losing the essence of it all.
Another great book from Deborah and one I'd recommend adding to your TBR lists!
January 27, 2021
What a crazy basic concept!? But it works, it creates the right framework for an exciting story. It will take some time at the beginning of the book for us to understand how this system, which is designed to eradicate crime, works. After all, every sin has one or more victims. If the criminal recognizes how much harm he is doing to the victim, and in addition to forcing the victim to live with the offender, the crime will end in one fell swoop, but at least the prison issue will be a problem for the individual, not for the state. This may seem good when it comes to parliamentary decision-making, but in reality it is provoking new conflicts as crime increases. But the state is no longer interested in this, it has fulfilled another task and can continue to feed the bureaucracy. This is how a little social critique gets into the book through an apocalyptic vision. It provides a framework for the story that makes it possible and understandable how the criminal and the victim can find each other and the roles change. Practically this is what the novel, the romance, the psychology, the action and the catharsis are all about. And, of course, the constant twists and turns in the story, because until the end of the book, we can’t be sure that they are the good ones we think are, and the condemned ones are who committed the sin. The roles are constantly changing and swapping as we scroll through the pages. After all, it is impossible to put the book down, to take a break from reading, there is tension in the story all the time, it does not allow us to turn it off a bit, we need to know who the culprit is, and whether those we have supported will find each other and the happiness.
November 18, 2022
Now that I've finally finished The Captive, I'm left a tad conflicted.
Whilst the premise sounds very clever and intriguing, it kind of fell flat midway through. I just find it totally unfathomable that Hannah was just a bit too trusting of Jem and developed a sexual relationship with him that fast. Honestly, between the two of them they were stupidly running the risk of breaking the law countless times!
The thought of a system where the victim of crime has to 'host' their assailant in their home sounds extremely creepy! There's no way I could actually cope if this was the norm! I'd be too scared in the knowledge that they could actually try something sinister despite being locked in a cage. Even if there were multiple safeguards in place. Hannah and Jem just proves that it's possible to trip the system!
Wasn't expecting the multilayers to this thriller. First, Hannah's husband John wasn't the person she had loved and trusted. Secondly, Jem's backstory from childhood to the moment of the murder blew me away. Lastly, Hannah's neighbours were quite the odd bunch. Elderly Pru provides most of the drama, as she suffers with dementia and understandingly is confused most of the time. But Kiki- why was she even there, apart from being nosy and owning a cat who had more personality than their human?
There's a very minor character named Laurie whose story I would've preferred to read rather than this. Now, The Captive wasn't too bad of a read, but I expected more, especially waiting so long to get around to it.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Whilst the premise sounds very clever and intriguing, it kind of fell flat midway through. I just find it totally unfathomable that Hannah was just a bit too trusting of Jem and developed a sexual relationship with him that fast. Honestly, between the two of them they were stupidly running the risk of breaking the law countless times!
The thought of a system where the victim of crime has to 'host' their assailant in their home sounds extremely creepy! There's no way I could actually cope if this was the norm! I'd be too scared in the knowledge that they could actually try something sinister despite being locked in a cage. Even if there were multiple safeguards in place. Hannah and Jem just proves that it's possible to trip the system!
Wasn't expecting the multilayers to this thriller. First, Hannah's husband John wasn't the person she had loved and trusted. Secondly, Jem's backstory from childhood to the moment of the murder blew me away. Lastly, Hannah's neighbours were quite the odd bunch. Elderly Pru provides most of the drama, as she suffers with dementia and understandingly is confused most of the time. But Kiki- why was she even there, apart from being nosy and owning a cat who had more personality than their human?
There's a very minor character named Laurie whose story I would've preferred to read rather than this. Now, The Captive wasn't too bad of a read, but I expected more, especially waiting so long to get around to it.
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
October 21, 2022
The Captive is a thrilling story about finding the truth and falling in love in one of the most usual circumstances.
Definitely a recommendation 📚
Definitely a recommendation 📚
January 4, 2021
Being a fan of Deborah O'Connor I was bursting to read her latest offering and bloomin heck does this deliver!
Set in London in the near future the criminal justice system is radically reformed. The Government sees the prison system as an expensive failure in that criminals go on to re-offend more often than not. The new system sees the criminal put in a cage in the home of their victim for their full sentence. The victim is fully responsible for their welfare and is overseen by a DLO - Domestic Liaison Officer who comes to supervise certain things (such as shower) time a few times a week.
Hannah Cavey is tasked (in the name of justice) to house her husbands murderer - Jem Dahlin- in her kitchen. Unfortunately for Hannah she's a cake maker and needs to work in Jem's company in order to keep her head afloat. We learn of Jem's awful childhood and that his own starvation led him down the slippery slope of crime. However, he maintains that he didn't murder Hannah's husband. When he tells her things that ring true, Hannah starts down a path that will unravel her life as she tries to untangle the truth from the lies...
This book is a great way to start 2020! I was absolutely hooked. Hannah is such a likeable character and I was surprised to find myself liking Jem despite his faults. Hannah's support circle, however left a lot to be desired. Her late husband's work partner Rupert made my skin crawl and her best friend Aisling made me feel suspicious.
The notion of having to house a criminal in your home is utterly horrifying. Especially being that you would have been a victim of their crime. I can't imagine having to bear the burden (and steep penalty should you abuse your 'power'). Although this aspect of the plot is far fetched, it was utterly compelling. I don't want to give too much more away for fear of spoiling it for others, but I highly recommend this book.
A gripping 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Zaffre Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Set in London in the near future the criminal justice system is radically reformed. The Government sees the prison system as an expensive failure in that criminals go on to re-offend more often than not. The new system sees the criminal put in a cage in the home of their victim for their full sentence. The victim is fully responsible for their welfare and is overseen by a DLO - Domestic Liaison Officer who comes to supervise certain things (such as shower) time a few times a week.
Hannah Cavey is tasked (in the name of justice) to house her husbands murderer - Jem Dahlin- in her kitchen. Unfortunately for Hannah she's a cake maker and needs to work in Jem's company in order to keep her head afloat. We learn of Jem's awful childhood and that his own starvation led him down the slippery slope of crime. However, he maintains that he didn't murder Hannah's husband. When he tells her things that ring true, Hannah starts down a path that will unravel her life as she tries to untangle the truth from the lies...
This book is a great way to start 2020! I was absolutely hooked. Hannah is such a likeable character and I was surprised to find myself liking Jem despite his faults. Hannah's support circle, however left a lot to be desired. Her late husband's work partner Rupert made my skin crawl and her best friend Aisling made me feel suspicious.
The notion of having to house a criminal in your home is utterly horrifying. Especially being that you would have been a victim of their crime. I can't imagine having to bear the burden (and steep penalty should you abuse your 'power'). Although this aspect of the plot is far fetched, it was utterly compelling. I don't want to give too much more away for fear of spoiling it for others, but I highly recommend this book.
A gripping 5 star read for me.
I would like to thank Zaffre Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
February 18, 2021
I’d like to thank Bonnier Book UK/Zaffre and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
The whole concept of this book was deeply disturbing but wonderfully original. Can you imagine living with someone who had hurt you or a member of your family? If that was the only way to see them punished would you still press charges? I think Hannah was very brave to bring Jem into her house. I can understand why but at the same time I don’t know if I could of done it.
From the beginning this book grabbed my attention and the more I read the more I knew not everything was as it seemed. The alternating chapters between Hannah and Jem gave the book more pace and I really enjoyed learning about Jem’s childhood. I felt that his story represented so many and the author portrayed his upbringing in an honest and relatable way. The more I got to know Jem the more I liked him and understood his actions, I knew he was telling the truth but I also liked the air of mystery surrounding him. Many times I questioned what his involvement could be and really hoped he wasn’t going to go down in my estimation.
I felt that Hannah was very naïve, even I had worked out with the first few chapters why her best friend, Aisling, was avoiding her! As the book went on I warmed to her more and actually admired her determination and kindness. She had a good nature about her and I started to see why she hadn’t seen the signs earlier, she genuinely believed in the goodness of everyone. I loved the chapters that included her baking, the designs sounded sublime and had my taste buds tinging!
This was a thriller that delivered on all accounts. The writing was easy to follow and whilst I had guessed some of the revelations, the final chapters were packed with drama and tension!
The whole concept of this book was deeply disturbing but wonderfully original. Can you imagine living with someone who had hurt you or a member of your family? If that was the only way to see them punished would you still press charges? I think Hannah was very brave to bring Jem into her house. I can understand why but at the same time I don’t know if I could of done it.
From the beginning this book grabbed my attention and the more I read the more I knew not everything was as it seemed. The alternating chapters between Hannah and Jem gave the book more pace and I really enjoyed learning about Jem’s childhood. I felt that his story represented so many and the author portrayed his upbringing in an honest and relatable way. The more I got to know Jem the more I liked him and understood his actions, I knew he was telling the truth but I also liked the air of mystery surrounding him. Many times I questioned what his involvement could be and really hoped he wasn’t going to go down in my estimation.
I felt that Hannah was very naïve, even I had worked out with the first few chapters why her best friend, Aisling, was avoiding her! As the book went on I warmed to her more and actually admired her determination and kindness. She had a good nature about her and I started to see why she hadn’t seen the signs earlier, she genuinely believed in the goodness of everyone. I loved the chapters that included her baking, the designs sounded sublime and had my taste buds tinging!
This was a thriller that delivered on all accounts. The writing was easy to follow and whilst I had guessed some of the revelations, the final chapters were packed with drama and tension!
December 28, 2020
Captivated...
Imagine having to host someone who wronged you in the worst possible way...that's the premise for this clever thriller.
The concept is definitely original; with Hannah hosting her husband's killer - Jem - captive in a cell in her kitchen! The idea for restorative justice being that the victim and prisoner live in the same place together after sentencing.
As a pretty unique story, I didn't want to put it down. It was pacey with chapters written from both Hannah's and Jem's viewpoint. With lots of surprises along the way, I felt I was kept on my toes from the first page, right up until the very end.
There's lots going on in this book, with some of the story taking place via flashback, but I never felt that this took it away from the drama or suspense in the present storyline. The short chapters drive the plot along quickly and make for an easy read. Loved it! Thank you Readers First for providing an ARC.
Imagine having to host someone who wronged you in the worst possible way...that's the premise for this clever thriller.
The concept is definitely original; with Hannah hosting her husband's killer - Jem - captive in a cell in her kitchen! The idea for restorative justice being that the victim and prisoner live in the same place together after sentencing.
As a pretty unique story, I didn't want to put it down. It was pacey with chapters written from both Hannah's and Jem's viewpoint. With lots of surprises along the way, I felt I was kept on my toes from the first page, right up until the very end.
There's lots going on in this book, with some of the story taking place via flashback, but I never felt that this took it away from the drama or suspense in the present storyline. The short chapters drive the plot along quickly and make for an easy read. Loved it! Thank you Readers First for providing an ARC.
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