WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE IS THIS BROKEN, YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.
A nightmare jolts Debs awake. She leaves the kids tucked up in their beds and goes downstairs. There's a man in her kitchen, holding a knife. But it's not an intruder. This is her husband Marc, the father of her children. A man she no longer recognises.
Once their differences were what drew them together, what turned them on. Him, the ex-army officer from a good family. Her, the fitness instructor who grew up over a pub. But now these differences grate to the point of drawing blood. Marc screams in his sleep. And Debs hardly knows the person she's become, or why she lets him hurt her.
Neither of them is completely innocent. Neither is totally guilty. Marc is taller, stronger, and more vicious, haunted by a war he can't forget. But he has no idea what Debs is capable of when her children's lives are at stake...
A completely addictive story of a relationship built on passion, poisoned by secrets and violence. Perfect for readers of Blood Orange and Big Little Lies.
Oh my goodness, I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest when reading Tina Baker's new novel, Nasty Little Cuts. It's so dark, disturbing and completely affecting that it stole my breath away and had my heart pounding.
It's Christmas Eve and a man in her house puts Debs and her children in grave danger; the man isn't Santa Claus, it's Debs' husband Marc. Almost unrecognisable from the man she married, Debs is afraid of Marc but she will fight to the death for her children...and it might just come to that.
This book really affected me, not just reading about the toxic relationship of Debs and Marc but the reasons behind why they are both the way they are. I was surprised how much my heart went out to Marc, as I learned about his upbringing and army life, and whilst it's not an excuse for violence it goes some way to explaining it.
I am completely in awe of Tina Baker's ability to create such original and unique voices in her novels, especially those of children. Debs' and Marc's daughter Dolly is the stand out character for me but I also have to give a mention to Lulu the dog whose voice was also heard. Dolly has the honour of having the first line in the novel and what a first line it is! It had me laughing out loud and ensured that Dolly and her little brother Pat-Pat captured my affection from the start.
Nasty Little Cuts is a deliciously dark and disturbing domestic noir novel, stunningly written and so completely addictive I positively raced through it. I love Tina Baker's writing; it's dark and raw but a sprinkling of humour makes it perfectly balanced - she's an author not to be missed. Highly recommended reading.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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