LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
We first met Rhiannon, everyone's favourite serial killer, in CJ Skuse's adult debut Sweetpea and blimey, did it hit all the right buttons.
This is the fourth book in the Sweetpea series but it could be read as a standalone. I myself wouldn't recommend it though, why deprive yourself of the previous three outings, the deep depravity of Rhiannon complemented by such humour and sarcasm. She really is a treat, albeit not for the faint-hearted.
Rhiannon 4.0 is an all improved model, more self-control, better self-awareness (thanks to the notes on her phone which help her navigate her emotions and relationships). But we still have the same potty-mouth and twisted humour. Her name's Ophelia now, Phee. She's a lot more stable. Now residing in the good ol' US of A, she has a family around her, she's in a serious relationship and wait for it...she's in love.
It's been 824 days since her last kill and she's proud of herself. "America is a bit more gung ho than I’m used to and I can’t afford to take the chance here, but I do keep eye and ear out for anything I can assist with my own form of community service."
And community service it certainly is. Upending everyone’s lives our favourite girl-next-door serial killer can't keep her good-girl charade up and when her soon-to-be sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex, she rediscovers her taste for revenge.
As ever this is an absolute page-turner, twisted, sharp, clever with just the right balance of immorality. You find yourself egging her on, wanting to join in on the fandom of the Bad Seeds, her biggest fans. All I can say is, roll on book 5!
Deborah Maclaren
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About
Thorn In My Side Synopsis
Everyone’s favourite girl-next-door serial killer, Rhiannon Lewis, is back, and she’s more unpredictable than ever… Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy… Rhiannon Lewis thought she finally had it all: thanks to the pandemic she’s had to keep a much lower profile but has found happiness with her fiancé Rafael and his family. For once, she is surrounded by people who love her for who she is (or who they think she is). After over 800 days without murdering anyone, the woman formerly known as the Sweetpea Killer thinks she might have finally turned over a new leaf. That is until her soon-to-be sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex, and Rhiannon rediscovers her taste for revenge. This time, with a loving family in tow, the stakes are much higher. Wedded bliss and life as a normal person are finally within Rhiannon's reach, but you can never keep a good serial killer down. Can you?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780008608347 |
| Publication date: |
4th January 2024 |
| Author: |
C.J. Skuse |
| Publisher: |
HarperCollins an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
413 pages |
| Series: |
Sweetpea Series |
| Primary Genre |
Humorous Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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| Recommendations: |
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Press Reviews
C.J. Skuse Press Reviews
Praise for CJ Skuse:
‘Dark, depraved and devilishly delicious. A full throttle savage and satirical thriller’ John Marrs
‘Witty, vulgar, sweary, darkly funny, but enthralling – a must-read for thriller fans’ My Weekly
‘Pitch dark, laugh-out-loud hilarious – the Sweetpea series is pure genius escapism’ Susi Holliday
‘Fascinating, intriguing and twist after twist in the tale’ Suzy K Quinn
‘Dark and wickedly funny, and as dry and acerbic as Fleabag, it’s hard not to love Rhiannon Lewis’ Claire Allan
‘Hilarious, refreshing, dark and memorable. It doesn’t disappoint, I loved it’ Phoebe Morgan
‘This darkly comic novel…has the potential to become a cult classic’ Daily Mail
‘Sweetpea hits all the right buttons. A dark, twisted read about a female serial killer with dollops of humour, sarcasm and a lightweight approach…keeping you gripped and on the hook, both smiling and squirming’ Maxim Jakubowski, Lovereading
‘You MUST read this book especially if you like your (anti) heroes dirty-mouthed, deadly and dark, dark dark. ADORED IT' Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle
‘This isn’t a book for the squeamish or the faint-hearted … think Bridget Jones meets American Psycho’ Red
‘This book is OUTRAGEOUS’ Compulsive Readers
‘This anti-hero is psychotic without doubt, sexually voracious and incredibly funny’ Shots magazine
Author
About C.J. Skuse
C.J. Skuse, author of PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC and DEAD ROMANTIC was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England.
She loves: graphic novels, sitcoms, Gummy Bears and the music of My Chemical Romance.
She hates: hard-boiled eggs, carnivals and coughing.
The movies Titanic, My Best Friend's Wedding and Twilight were all based on her ideas, she just didn't get to write them down in time. Before she dies, she would like to go to Japan, try clay-pigeon shooting and own a malamute.
C.J has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside writing kick-ass fiction for teens, works as a freelance children's fiction consultant and lectures in writing fiction for teens at Bath Spa University.
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