An absolutely heart pounding thriller that I could not put down! Right from the start there are sinister undertones to Marc and it soon becomes clear that everything is far from OK in his relationship with Deb. As each chapter flips between historical aspects to their marriage and separate childhoods, we're left with an underlying feeling of sadness and hopelessness to their situation. The tension builds rapidly towards the end as we wonder just how Debs will come out of the horrific early hours scene. Terrifyingly Superb!

Hmmm, this was my first read by this author and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Firstly, I found myself confused by going backwards and forwards into the past and present so quickly I just didn’t understand what was going on. I persevered though and soon found myself reading along picking up the pace of turning the pages.
Unfortunately though, I was waiting for something massive to happen, I think I knew what was going to happen in the end but felt like I needed more, much more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really hard hitting story that is both disturbing and dark that started off quite slowly and bang it picked up the pace leaving me breathless.
Told in different times this is no easy read and as the book progresses a real sense of menace began to take over the story and I have to admit it made me feel very uneasy and I am not sure this will be a book for everyone as it deals with domestic violence which I found difficult at times.
The characters were well written as was the immersive storyline and this is a book that certainly knew how to rack up the tension it tells a very shocking tale but with the subject matter being what it was it’s hard to say I enjoyed it but I am glad I read it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail / Viper / Profile Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley, I loved her debut so was thrilled to read this.

Tina always comes across very smiley bit don’t be fooled because her writers mind is dark !

This is an intoxicating exploration of a married couple and what has happened to get them to where they are in the book.

Revenge ,lies,secrets and addiction to name just a few keypoints to this marriage.

Powerfully emotive and raw. I’ve been in a abusive relationship and it was captured spot on.

The tension , the harrowing sense of foreboding tension. Chilling and reels you in from the start.

Written in alternate narratives and timeliness so a very fast paced book. Cleverly written and plotted and I highly recommend.

Published 24th February

This review will go live at the first link below on 24 February:

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I never even read the synopsis properly before requesting Nasty Little Cuts on NetGalley. Call Me Mummy was such a surprise, such a fantastic debut, that I never doubted that whatever Tina Baker had come up with next would be awesome and I needed to read it.

Nasty Little Cuts didn’t disappoint, I had a great time with it! That is, if you consider that getting so thoroughly pissed off at a character that you’d happily punch their lights out counts as having a great time, which, fortunately, I do!

Nasty Little Cuts kicks off on Christmas Eve morning. (I started this just before Christmas and I thought: oh fun, an unexpected Christmassy read! Yeah, no, it’s not. Like, AT ALL.) At silly o’clock in the morning, Debs wakes up from a dream turned nightmare, unaware that her real nightmare has yet to begin.

Entering the kitchen, she finds her husband Marc, holding a knife and apparently gone completely off his rocker. This kicks off what is probably the longest morning in the history of time, with the tension and the violence slowly rising until I wanted to throw my Kobo out the window cos I needed the release. I didn’t cos I love my Kobo but also, I had to know how this bloody morning would end! When daylight finally breaks, who would still be standing?!

In addition to these present-day events, Nasty Little Cuts takes us back and forth in time, allowing us to explore the protagonists’ histories and their various relationships, first and foremost as a couple, but also Debs’ close bond with her sister and mother, and Marc’s complicated relationship with his mother. While it does jump back and forth a lot, it never gets confusing and most importantly, it allows for small, often rather eye-opening reveals along the way while enabling the reader to see the bigger picture.

To my mind, the title Nasty Little Cuts refers at least in part to a death by a thousand cuts, that’s what Debs’ story reminded me of. Without going into too much detail, if abuse and gaslighting are difficult for you to read about, steer clear of Nasty Little Cuts. But this is definitely the one for you if you like to get invested in well-fleshed-out, well-rounded characters and love going through a whole range of emotions while reading a book. Seriously, name an emotion and I most likely felt it while reading Nasty Little Cuts.

Nasty Little Cuts is a tense and layered domestic thriller with an excellent build-up that I’d happily recommend to fans of the genre who don’t mind a bit of swearing.

Nasty Little Cuts is out today in digital formats and hardcover, happy publication day to Tina Baker!

Huge thanks to Viper Books and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are still my own.

Wow! What a wonderful book! Kept me gripped from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down. This one will linger with me for a very long time. This has to be one of my favourite books of 2021.

This is the first book I have read by Tina Baker, having missed the hype around Call Me Mummy. I really didn't know what to expect when going into it but as I love a good thriller I was looking forward to giving it a go.
My first initial thought was that the beginning of the story was quite confusing- I wasn't quite sure if we were in the present day, looking back in time or even if the main character Debs was dreaming. Because of this, it did take me a few chapters to get into the story. Once I was fully entwined, the book definitely started to pick up pace. I really liked the fact that the novel went back and forth in time, as these little snippets into the past really helped the reader get to know both Debs and Marc and how they came to find themselves in their current situation.
The only thing I would say is that I felt the story didn't really go anywhere for me, I didn't feel like there was a clear narrative direction, I would have liked a lot more action. I know it culminated into a big ending, but I thought it tied up a bit too neatly for me and was obvious that the ending was going to be what it was.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I am not sure I would seek out another book by the author in the future.

A terryfying and realistic story. This is dark and explores domestic abuse. The story is so tense and scary but such a thrilling tale. Brilliant x

A brilliantly written yet devastating tale of a marriage that should never have been and yet could’ve been so much more!

Tina has an wicked imagination and an insane ability to create these fictional characters that are so raw and realistic that you’d honestly believe you were reading a true account. Her writing ability extends to creating painful yet captivating scenarios and colourfully sets the scene.

I loved this book. Not anywhere near as much as CALL ME MUMMY. But then the two cannot be compared in any way other than author!

Written from Debs and Marc’s perspective and set over (I think!) 25 years. This book has short and very sharp (see what I did there?) chapters that give you perspective and opinion on where and how it all went so terribly wrong for them both.

Fantastically written I was drawn in immediately with Tina’s style of writing. My only criticism is that I felt the plot was too big for the scene and ultimate crimes that happened. For me, there was too many scuffles and scrapes which ended abruptly with unconsciousness or truce. I loved all the build up and the tension that climaxed in the kitchen. But I would’ve preferred a much longer wait for a shorter bit of ‘action’ because the characters and their shared history was fascinating and painfully entertaining to read.

As with Tina’s first book CALL ME MUMMY 10% of the proceeds from each book sold will go towards her chosen charity. This book is no exception and the proceeds will go to The Samaritans. So if the synopsis and reviews aren’t already enough of a reason for you to choose this book. Then I urge you to buy it simply because it will make the difference to someone out there who is going through this for real!

Well done Tina, a superb second novel that I’m sure will become your second bestseller in the new year.

Thank you, as always, to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 3*
Characters: 5*
Super realistic domestic violence: 5*

The premise - who will survive the night.

TRIGGER WARNING - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Tina can do no wrong in my eyes. This is her second novel and it packs the same brutal punch, actually if not more, than the first, 'Call me mummy'.
This was dark, utterly realistic and unputdownable. My heart was actually racing at times, and I didnt know how it was going to end. I will say this is not for the faint hearted, it is very realistic, and I imagine it could trigger some readers.
The multi time lines, flashes back to previous years, even decades, added to the suspense and built an impressive story away from the current time. Do not be fooled into thinking because this is set on Christmas eve it is a festival read. It is not. But it is a fabulously dark, thrilling ride. Please read this!!

This was a punchy and fast paced read that overall I enjoyed. At times it felt a little like a stream of consciousness - it jumped around in space and time and it wasn’t always entirely clear who was narrating or at one point. Structurally therefore it was quite unusual.

The characters were interesting, although some seemed quite conflicting - the different sides of Marc seemed quite jarring and I felt more time could have been spent drawing out how / when he had changed.

There was also not a significant ‘plot’ so to speak - the book was more of a character study and the dissection of a marriage which is not as it seems . I was expecting more to happen but in fact the story examined the background and motivations of the key characters. For those who enjoy a more complex plot with twists and turns it might therefore be a little disappointing.

Overall I enjoyed the book and the author has a very distinct ‘voice’ which I found engaging and unique.

Tina Baker has once again stepped up and showed us why she is so utterly fabulous! However, don’t let her fabulousness on social media fool you. This is a dark read, darker than Call Me Mummy, but equally as addictive.

I have been so excited by this book since the cover reveal and admit, I had happy tears when this one landed. I definitely haven’t been disappointed. This is an absolute gem and Tina Baker is a queen!

This is written in a way, it flows perfectly. We get glimpses of the past as well as knowing what is happening in the present. Baker has stirred so many emotions for me in this book. I definitely have been on a rollercoaster throughout this one. But it’s a rollercoaster I will happily revisit and experience all over again.

Nasty Little Cuts introduces us to Debs who is definitely a survivor. She is witty, funny and possesses a colourful vocabulary. The complete opposite to husband Marc. Baker has written a completely unpredictable novel which is filled with tension and suspense.

This is completely unpredictable and you cannot see what is coming or when it is coming. The emotions ooze from the pages of this one. This is a book filled with broken relationships, secrets and betrayal. It’s not an easy read, but it isn’t meant to be. I’ve been able to hear my heart pounding in some parts.

Tina Baker is an author to watch out for! A completely and utterly fantastic lady inside and out. Also, a remarkable author who once you’re pulled in you will be unwilling and unable to put down. Nasty Little Cuts is a book I’ve devoured, I now have a nasty little cut hole with the inability to coherently express how much I’ve enjoyed this book. This will definitely be a 2022 bestseller!!

I was glued to this book from the minute I opened it.

I loved it, if loved is the right word for a book so full of nastiness, abuse and hatred. But there a strong undertone of love here too, ans that’s one between Deb and her children.

I really enjoyed how the story was set out, Tina breaks the night up with stories from the past, both Marcs and Debs. Thai made it so much more interesting too as I had to keep reading and get to the present time to see what was going to happen!

Deb is one strong woman, and I rooted for her all the way through, hoping Marc was going to get what he was due.

I’d recommend this book, and Tina’s last book Call Me Mummy as they are both brilliant. Well done Ms Baker!

Phew! This is one hell of a rollercoaster ride, it may not be to everyone’s taste as at times it is pretty raw, if you have been in an abusive relationship you may be able to relate to some of what happens. Tina Baker really pulls the reader into this dark domestic noir right from the get go. Once you are in you will not want to stop reading until you have read that last page, because you have no idea which way this story will go.

It’s December 23rd and what should be a happy home as the holidays approach and the children are getting excited, things are about to develop into a dark battle, but who will survive.

The story cleverly jumps back and forth in time from the present to when Marc and Debs first met and got married. Two people from different social classes, both have been subjected to some form of abuse and loss as they were growing up. Debs was raised by her single mum Shirley along with her sister Kelly and a number of so called uncles, living above a pub. Marc was raised by his mum Jeanne who’s sees herself as better than everyone else she is quite a harridan.

Marc and Debs have 2 children Dolly and Pat Pat who are delightful, they have what looks like the perfect life to the outside world. But no one sees what goes on behind closed doors and this specific day is about to be the worst. But what sets it off? As Debs wakes up it’s 4.15am she realised that Marc isn’t in bed next to her, but that’s nothing unusual lately. But Debs has a bad feeling, at first as she goes downstairs she wonders if it’s a stranger in the house, but if that was the case Lulu the dog she had rescued would be barking, as Debs enters the kitchen Marc us standing with a knife in his hand. At first she wonders if he is sleepwalking but then her stomach sinks and she realised she is in danger, are the children also in danger?

When Debs first met Marc she thought she had met her Prince and he had come to rescue her, but as time passes she realises he is no prince.

I found myself thinking of the nature/nurture debate as I was reading of both Marc and Debs upbringing. The fact they had both suffered some kind of trauma, both had some form of mental health issues in different ways. Was this because of their childhood experiences or were they born like this?. Did they stand a chance?

I thought I would hate Marc’s character but there were times I felt for him as I learnt more about him, until that day.

This is a very dark read, involving domestic abuse, lies, deceit, mental health issues, a mothers love for her children. Brilliantly written, you will be sat on the edge of your seat as you come to the climactic ending.

Thank you to #netgalley and #ViperBooks for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I received an E-ARC copy of ‘Nasty Little Cuts by Tina Baker through NetGalley from the publisher Viper Books in return for my honest review.

This book follows Debs, her husband Marc, and their two little children.

One night after waking up from a horrible nightmare, Debs goes downstairs and feels as if someone else is in the house. She finds a man holding a knife. To her surprise it is her Husband, but is he asleep still? Why does he look so menacing?

Both Debs and Marc have a past and have made mistakes. Can they work through these mistakes to make their relationship work, or have things gone too far?

When the evening takes more terrifying turns, whose lives will be in danger? How many secrets are being hidden?

What follows is a night of terror and shocks, as the night turns into morning.

The main storyline of this book is set over one night, with other chapters moving back to different periods of time to help the reader discover the background behind the events, feelings, and secrets of the main characters.

I personally found it a little difficult to follow at times, as there were quite a few different moments in time that the book moved through. This may have been partly due to the ARC version I had, and it may be something that others can follow easier than myself.

I really related to some of the comments made by Debs about ‘being a Mum’, I have been in some of the same situations and heard some of the same comments from my own daughter. It made me smile and sometimes cringe at some of the memories.

I must say that Tina Baker has a very bold and confident way of writing, which brings the characters & shocking truths out more to the reader.

I still need to read Call Me Mummy, and I would still love to read as I loved the main storyline & writing style in this book.

Overall, a terrifying and shocking thriller which gives you unexpected turns all the way through.

Wow! This is brilliant!
Told in different timelines and from different perspectives - One minute you’re in the present day and the next you’re 30 years ago, 2 weeks ago, 3 months ago. From Debs’ perspective to Marc’s, to Marc’s Mum’s… A rollercoaster of a story!

The characters are fascinating and you’re just desperate to know what lead them to where they are and how it’s going to end up. This book is dark, unsettling and full of tension with witty and clever writing.
It draws you in from the beginning and doesn’t let you go until the very end.
An absolutely thrilling story, one of my favourites this year. A solid 5 stars!
I cannot wait to read more from this author.

This book wasn’t what I expected, after reading this author’s last book ‘call me mummy’ that was excellent and is the best book I have read all year. I was expecting this book to be the same but I was slightly disappointed by it. The characters were good, but I don’t really think the plot went anywhere and it dragged on to much. But this won’t put me off to continue to keep my eye out for more books by this author in the future.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

OK so I flippin LOVE this book. This is going to be one of those rambling reviews where I just gush over it and embarrass myself by being a fan girl, and yet I care not!

A toxic marriage, and years of built up resentment have finally come to a head. Its the very early hours of Christmas eve morning, Debs wakes to find her husband Marc standing in the kitchen clutching a knife. She is terrified. She doesn't know why, but she knows that something awful is about to happen. This is where we start. 2 pages in and I was HOOKED. As the story unfolds we jump through so many different timelines and povs I lost count. We are 10 years ago, to 3 days ago, to 4 years ago to 24 years ago... we are in the head of the wife, then the husband, the daughter, even the dog.... and yet it all flows seamlessly and makes perfect sense.

The story is VERY DARK, so not for the faint hearted. It covers topics such as sexual assault, rape, domestic violence, suicide, homophobia, murder, violence, violence and more violence.... but God there are some epic belly laughs along the way too! Tina writes beautifully poetic lines, and ends the paragraph with a fart joke. It's just the perfect combination of light and dark. There are some emosh scenes in there too which got the old tear ducts going. Its a cliche to say that it was an emotional rollercoaster , but that is exactly what it is. By the time you reach the end you will find yourself with panda eyes, messy hair, a bit wobbly on your feet and possibly a dodgy tummy 💁🏼‍♀️

So yea... basically, you need to read it. ALL OF THE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A phenomenal second book from the author of callmemummy. And quick side note... Tina thanks bookstagram in the acknowledgements, which we love to see!! Get it pre ordered!

Massive congratulations to the author, and thanks so much to viper for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review #prproduct

First of all, thank you to Viperbooks and Netgalley for approving me for an arc copy of Nasty Little Cuts by Tina Baker.
After the hype surrounding her debut, Call Me Mummy (which I’ve also read) I knew as soon as Tina Baker revealed her second book, Nasty Little Cuts was to be up for request on Netgalley, I wanted to be part of The Chosen Ones and so I requested it.
And got approved…
And was excited…
And I read it…
Now I’m reviewing it.
I was a bit put out when the opening chapter took us to the night before Christmas Eve, as I was worried I’d ended up with a Christmas read right before Halloween.
Then, I remembered Die Hard (which, IS definitely a Christmas film 😉)
Then, I remembered who the author is.
BOOM!
Just like that, the Christmas cheer is no more, when Debs gets woken up by a disturbance downstairs.
Us readers then find ourselves thrown every which way, thrust into the toxic relationship and caught between Debs and Marc.
The story can almost be described as a domestic noir thriller, as readers are taken through the course of Debs and Marc’s marriage, from its passionate beginning, to the knife edged present. We aren’t just told what happens to each character, we are literally shown. And honestly, some of what we are shown is truly awful.
We are given glimpses into Debs and Marc’s childhoods; Debs being raised above a pub while Marc was raised by a ‘lady who lunches’. Both of these childhoods impacted the respective characters in quite horrific ways, and this story is as much of a character study as it is a thriller.
The way this book is written could be seen as chaotic and hard to follow, but for me, it follows the thought processes of the characters in a really clever way, and the scenes unfold in front of the readers eyes.
There are so many issues raised within this book; consent, family, abuse, suicide, drugs, to name just a few off the top of my head. So, this book really isn’t for the faint of heart.
But, in my sick mind, Nasty Little Cuts is deliciously dark, and definitely one to read at Christmas (or anytime, really.)
Maybe it’s the Die Hard of the book world?
Once again, thank you to Viperbooks, Netgalley, and to the author Tina Baker.

I read this gripping read in just two sittings, I was totally drawn to the characters and this had you guessing all the way though which kept me page turning until almost midnight.

Highly enjoyed this read and have already downloaded Call Me Mummy.

Looking foward to the next read from Tina Baker.