In Bloom

Sweetpea, Book 2

By: C. J. Skuse

Narrated by: Georgia Maguire

Sweetpea TV series starring Ella Purnell coming out on Sky Atlantic in October!

She’s back and killing for two…

Rhiannon Lewis should be happy.

Her cheating fiancé is in jail – framed for the depraved killing spree she committed. Her ex-lover is chopped up and buried where no-one will find him.

But there’s one small problem. She’s pregnant.

And as much as Rhiannon wants to continue working her way through her kill lists, a small voice inside is trying to make her stop.

Now Rhiannon has to choose – motherhood or murder.

©2018 C. J. Skuse (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"This darkly comic novel...has the potential to become a cult classic." (Daily Mail)

"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 anti-hero is psychotic without doubt, sexually voracious and incredibly funny." (Shots Magazine)

Developing the story nicely

I would suggest reading this second book in this series without reading the first would be a poor choice. Read “Sweetpea” before you read this one.

If you’ve read Sweetpea and liked it then you will almost certainly enjoy the way the story progresses. It’s not just more of the same but it is in keeping with the story that you enjoyed.

I expect to be continuing with the series to see how the story evolves after the developments in this book.

I won’t be watching any more of the TV show which is an adaptation that disappoints deeply.

"More cuckoo than Switzerland."

Rhiannon Lewis is not the first murderous anti hero of a literary work. Most notably, there has been the self serving, talented Mr.Ripley, moving up in wealth and society through his carefully choreographed killings. And, of course, Dexter, who pacified his dark passenger by eliminating those whose own serious misdeeds were untouchable by the law. And both of these characters, despite their sociopathic actions, were nevertheless charming and endearing to those, at least, not at the sharp end of their more vicious attentions.. Sadly, pregnant Rhiannon might have rid the world of a couple of sexual predators - her justification for allowing her inner anger loose - but she is also an unpleasant and miserable protagonist, moaning, despising and using those around her, taking advantage of the everyday kindness of others whilst manipulating those she saw as weaker to take revenge. Her internal musings are crude and unpleasant, designed, no dkubt, for humour but definitely falling short. The killings, too, are crudely achieved and the whole seems so unkikely.

Narration by Georgia Maguire is good except that the voicings of the assorted protagonists often seems inappropriate for the character speaking, and, in particular, that of the unborn child, a baby girl, with whom Rhiannon has an ongoing dialogue. Perhaps this, too, was supposed to be amusing rather than the districting interruption it became.

The writing of In Bloom was good. But the story? Apart from bad temper, grievances, and self pity, very little really happens outside of pregnancy, heartburn, nausea and other lavatory movements, plus some attention from a D.I.Jericho. And it takes 12 hours to do this. Perhaps had I first read the earlier book I might have been more invested in Rhiannon and her grubby little world. As it was, I finished it but was disappointed.

Interesting premise

Interesting.
Disturbing.
A bit too sympathetic to a serial killer, but nothing outrageous compared to say, Dexter.

It did rely a lot on the previous book to drive the plot. But I hadn’t read it and didn’t notice big gaps.

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for a review.