Brillaint . I love this author she never fails . I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend as a compelling and highly entertaining read that grips you from start to finish

This book wasn’t for me. I felt it was very boring and lacked action. I didn’t like the characters at all. A disappointment

4 stars

Overall, I’ve never read Tina Baker before but I’ll definitely want to do so from now on. This is well written in a way that perfectly matches the descent into a cycle of violence and into the pit of despond with the destruction of self and the shocking annihilation of a relationship. It’s not an easy read but nor is it meant to be.

Would recommend

Urgh so disappointed 😭 loads of people raved about this but could not get into it at all. Shame DNF at 24%

My Review:

This is my third book this year by Tina Baker (my new BFF) and is another superb standalone psychological thriller. Nasty Little Cuts is Tina’s second novel and if you haven’t read any of her books I can highly recommend both Call Me Mummy (see my full review here) and Make Me Clean (see my full review here).

None of Tina’s books are light reading or for the faint hearted. They all pack a powerful punch and leave a very uncomfortable aftertaste when you finish the book, but that is EXACTLY what I want from a psychological thriller.

Nasty Little Cuts is a brutal and raw story centred around the marriage of Debs and Marc. Two total opposites who met, got married, started a family despite their obvious differences. This is a relationship that would never have worked and now it’s heading for a violent and dangerous outcome.

The story flits back and forth constantly, taking the reader through the timelines of both Debs and Marc’s past. We dig deeper into both their pasts, their family relationships, their dysfunctional childhoods and learn what happened to each character to make them behave the way they do as adults.

It’s really uncomfortable and dark, it’s a powerful story of toxic love which gets right under your skin and takes you on a very disturbing journey.

Tina Baker has brought to life two fascinating but flawed characters. The tension grows from page to page and the simmering violence left me emotionally drained. If you enjoy your thrillers so dark you may need a torch, so uncomfortable you may need a cushion and so emotionally draining you will definitely need a sugary cup of tea, then I would definitely recommend Nasty Little Cuts (and her other 2 books as well).

This is a domestic thriller, which is dark, disturbing and shocking.

The story is about a couple called Debs and Marc, and their two children, who are living in an abusive situation. This is partially due to Debs and Marc having abusive and traumatic childhoods, which have left them unbalanced mentally. We are shown their lives in the present moment, as well as flashbacks to the past.

I found this book traumatic to read. The actual writing is amazing, and it is cleverly done. But the content of the book was too dark for me, especially as it included children and dogs. Normally I can read thrillers with no problem, but this one felt too real to me, and I think I am too sensitive for it. There was too many details about the abuse in the book for me.

Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we are inside the story and living it, as if it is real life. So, for me, it just felt too upsetting to read, as it felt real. However, I loved Tina's other books, so I will definitely read more of her books in the future, as I think she is very gifted and talented, and she is a wonderful writer.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Gripping and tense! What a brilliant thriller.

The storyline is immersive and full of twists and turns. The characters so authentic and well developed. I didn't want the book to end.

Took me a while to get into the forwards and backwards and character changes with this one but I liked the context of the book. Some really interesting themes within the storyline which made it more than just a thriller. Dark in places but with depth which made it a worthwhile read.

Is there anything better for Valentine's Day than a bloody marriage thriller? I don't think so!

"Nasty Little Cuts" is brutal, realistic and traumatising.

Tina Baker has a special gift. Her writing will make you piss yourself laughing and shit your pants at the same time, because the atmosphere in the book is so tense.

The story of Mark and Debs is so disturbing, you won't be able to sleep until you know all the answers. It's full of secrets and the silence is really loud.

I said it before, but I really enjoy books with a soundtrack. I read "Nasty Little Cuts" back in December but I still can't get "Agadoo" song out of my head. I've never heard it before but it was a love at first listen 😂
What's even worse, I can't stop dancing to it and with my bad coordination, it's not a pretty sight.

I wish the book was published around Christmas time, because the Christmas vibe is so on point in this one.

I think we need some more variety when it comes to Christmas books. Some of us prefer vodka and a festive bloodbath over hot chocolate with marshmallows and carrol singing

After reading the blurb and seeing the reviews for Nasty Little Cuts I thought it would be right up my street. I normally enjoy quite dark and twisted thrillers so was looking forward to tucking into this one.

Unfortunately, it just didn't sit right with me at all and I was left feeling uneasy, confused and uncomfortable for the majority of the book.

The story revolves around a deeply flawed and toxic couple, Debs and Marc, and while obviously neither deserves anything that happens, I found it almost impossible to connect with either of them or to even feel some bit of empathy. In all honesty, I only felt sorry for the two kids and for the poor dog Lulu who I frankly felt was just written in to add an extra level of shock factor and grimness.

It takes a whole lot to disturb me between my work and the mountains of deeply dark stuff I read (I rarely shy away from a TW) but this whole storyline just felt overwritten, damaging and gratuitous. Extreme violence, abuse and sexual violence plagued every page lacking any real point besides to shock the reader. The darkness and intensity of the abuse is relentless to a point where almost all sense of tension or emotion was lost.

I really do hate to give such a negative review but I do believe in being honest in my reviews and also making sure people are fore-warned to what they're getting themselves into. With an average of 4 stars on Goodreads, it's clear I am in the minority so don't let me discourage you, just be mentally prepared for what you're going into.

TWs: Abuse (Domestic, Physical, Emotional and Sexual), Graphic Scenes of Physical and Sexual Violence, Animal Abuse & Cruelty, Toxic Relationship, Gaslighting, Drug Abuse, Homophobia, Self Harm, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, PTSD and Mental Illness.

I really enjoyed Call Me Mummy, so I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint!

It was tough to read at times and very sad and heartbreaking too.

It was very, very tense at times too because you really couldn't tell what was going to happen from one page to the next.

Once again a very well written book by Tina.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tina for the chance to read this book.

The chapters are short and snappy which I liked as It kept me engaged. There is description of domestic abuse threaded through out the book, that brings out the dark side of the couple and consequently the lead up to Christmas.

Debs makes a final decision in the kitchen whist the children are sound asleep upstairs and after Marcs actions that will alter their lives as a family forever. I really want to know what happens to Debs after!

Another astounding book from the author.

full review on blog

Black, intricate and chaotic, Nasty Little Cuts is domestic noir at its absolute darkest. It’s intense. It’s claustrophobic. It’s bloody exhausting. And it demonstrates with brutal clarity how a build-up of seemingly minor events can suddenly, inexplicably, spiral fatally out of control.

For 350 pages, this novel holds you transfixed in time and space, in a family kitchen, in the early hours of Christmas Eve morning. Husband Marc is in full meltdown, waving around a lethal chef’s knife. Terrified wife Debs is attempting to appease him, while frantically trying to make sense of what’s happening. Their two young children are asleep upstairs.

Using multiple flashbacks to different points in time, author Tina Baker depicts the “nasty little cuts” that have led to this dramatic standoff; while repeatedly hauling you back into the present, directly into the minds of Marc and Debs, as they circle each other like wounded animals thirsty for the kill.

The conflicting whirl of emotions in the room — fear and confusion fighting against love and compassion — becomes a living, breathing presence, to the extent that all you can think is: how has it come to this?

Reading this felt like watching a car crash in slow motion: the screeching of tyres, crunch of metal and shattering of glass. A gruesome spectacle that no matter how ugly, you can’t turn away from.

It’s a shocking, disturbing read; the narrative is awash with triggers: domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental illness, and emotional manipulation, to name just a few.

But here’s the thing: amidst all this horror, Baker somehow manages to cultivate sympathy for both characters, whose marriage, originally founded on an attraction of opposites, has evolved into this monstrous, toxic union that they are both guilty of creating, albeit with what turns out to be understandable mitigation.

This is not a book for the faint hearted. Nor is it easy to navigate; so disjointed and disorienting is the narrative. In fact, there are lots of reasons why it shouldn’t really work. But it does. And I, for one, want to read more from Ms Baker.

The best way to describe this book is that it was disturbing. I couldnt stop turning the pages and was very impressed.

Absolutely thrilled to read this after loving Tina's earlier book!
I was holding my breathe at times, fantastically dark humour and nice sharp short chapters!

A very intense and well written book that does not shy from some harsh, and graphic, realities.

Tina Baker is the master of portraying the rough edges of human relationships, yet she does so with an underlying dark humour at times. The tension in this book is at times unbearable and I found myself always expecting the worst because she created such vivid characters and Marc gave me the fear on many occasions. Having read Call Me Mummy, I was eager to read Tina's second book and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see what she has for us next.

Wow what an empotional rollercoaster of a book this had me on. To be honest at around 40% i didn't know if i wanted to continue. This was a personal choice and had no reflection of the story or the writing style of the author, instead i carried on reading. A well written book with a trigger warning for domestic violence. As i have experienced this i could relate to Debs questioning herself 'can she run to the neighbours house for help' but then making excuses that its too early. 

The book takes you through the mind of both POV past and present. Both have mental health issues from trauma they have both experienced in their past. 

Once i got to the second half of the book i couldn't put it down. Needing to know where this was leading. Would he? Wouldn't he? This was a dark read which shows pure honesty on the pages. What would you do if you were in their position?

I had read lots of great reviews for this book, especially on Instagram where it has been talked about a lot. Whilst I can see why this booked has made an impact, it just wasn’t for me and left me feeling really uncomfortable after I had read it.

Yes, this book is dark and deep with lots of triggers in it and I understand that it is meant to be hard hitting, but it left me feeling uneasy and I wasn’t entirely sure what the point of the book was in the end.

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.

This is one twisty, dark, domestic noir! It’s brilliant and creative narrative that takes you deep inside a family home and the psyche of protagonists Debs and Marc.

The author cleverly weaves past and present timelines and alternative POV’s that keep you on the edge of your seat. In fact, for the whole novel, I was on that edge! It’s powerful, violent, emotive and utterly thrilling!
I feel I need to add TW’s here as it might not be for everyone. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Mental health, drugs.

I was totally invested in the characters and storyline. It’s not an easy read but an excellent, chilling and gripping one. To add softness, I adored Lulu the dog. I haven’t read anything by Tina Baker before, but I certainly will be from now on!!

I couldn't put this down, once I'd started I need to know!! It's a very dark story, Debs is a great character with plenty of flaws, and her husband Marc's character is awful! But obviously he's meant to be. If you like a thriller, you will like this book. I was horrified and sad all at once!