29. Thorn in my Side by C J Skuse

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My favourite Bridget Jones-esque serial killer Rhiannon strikes again in this fourth instalment of the series! I was quietly delighted when she returned to her murderous ways. Loved Raf, love Rhiannon … just bought the next book to see what happens next!

“Entering my villain era? Well I never really left it. Did I?”

I’d been in a real reading slump lately so I decided I needed a comfort read. So, obviously, I turned to my favourite serial killer, Rhiannon Lewis, and read the fourth instalment in the fabulous Sweetpea Series.

Rhiannon Lewis has a new name and a new life in sunny San Diego. The pandemic has meant she’s had to keep a lower profile but she’s been happy to just enjoy life with her hunky fiance Raf and his family. She is finally surrounded by love and people who accept her. But it is bittersweet as they only know Ophelia, the new person she created after fleeing the UK. She longs to be accepted and loved as Rhiannon, despite her terrible past deeds. But she’s turned over a new leaf. It's been over 800 days since her last kill and she’s finally found peace in her chaotic life. But that all comes crashing down when her sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex and Rhiannon’s taste for revenge is sparked once again…

C. J. Skuse has knocked it out of the park once again with this outrageous, fierce, scathing, and darkly funny thriller. Sweetpea became one of my favourite books of all time when I first read it back in 2019 and has become an auto-buy series and go-to thriller recommendation. So, I had high hopes for book four, which was everything I’d hoped for and more. Skuse’s writing is dark, witty, sharply observed and peppered with random cultural references that add to the comedy. I switched to the audiobook for this book and it was brilliantly narrated, taking everything up a notch and I devoured it whole.

“I only write when I need to bleed out the daily frustrations life as a serial killer affords me and I haven't needed to, see?
Until now.”

Oh, how I love Rhiannon. And I guarantee you will too. Feisty, coarse, sarcastic and filled with pent-up rage, she’s a murderess with a beating heart and an ink-black sense of humour who does the things we’ve dreamed of in our darkest moments. But she’s a lot less murdery this time around as Skuse delves deeper into her history, untangling more of Rhiannon’s complex emotions, trauma and fears. This Rhiannon is more relatable than ever, longs for a normal life with her husband, and is trying to put away her murderous thoughts. She longs to be loved for who she really is but knows that revealing her true identity is dangerous and pretty much a sure-fire route to rejection. And prison. My heart broke for her as she wrestled with this dilemma but I was secretly rooting for her to give in to those urges and start teaching lessons that needed to be learned. And, of course, she still has that warped but laugh-out-loud funny inner monologue that I can’t resist.

Twisted, macabre, hilarious and heartfelt, Thorn In My Side is another addictive instalment in an original series not to be missed. And that ending! I need book five now! Here’s hoping HQ grants my Netgalley wish.

Rhiannon will be coming to your TV screens this autumn, so pick up the whole Sweetpea series now and read the book before watching the show. After all, I’m excited to watch Rhiannon come to life, but the book is always better.

C.J. Skuse's "Thorn In My Side" is a thrilling and darkly humorous novel that skillfully combines elements of crime, suspense, and black comedy. Skuse's distinctive voice and sharp wit shine through, making the characters vivid and the narrative engaging. The plot revolves around an unlikely protagonist whose mundane life is turned upside down by a series of bizarre and violent events, leading to unexpected alliances and confrontations. Skuse's talent for crafting unique, quirky characters and twisted scenarios makes "Thorn In My Side" a standout read in the thriller genre. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of suspense, humor, and a touch of the macabre.

I finished listening to this a couple of weeks ago so can't believe I never wrote my review!
My followers probably all know I adore Georgia Maguire, but this series wouldn't be anywhere near as brilliant without her as Rhiannon.
This series is unlike any other I have read. Georgia Maguire IS Rhiannon. She has a superb ability to convey the humour of Rhiannon's 'hate list'- truly my favourite parts of the series. Each chapter starts with a list of people Rhiannon hates that most have us have been in our own lives, and I howled at some of these.
We continue Rhiannon's story, as she tries to set a life up for herself with her fiance Rafael, whilst continuing to cover her tracks from when she was the Sweetpea serial killer.
I listened in one day, I loved being back with Rhiannon, and my jaw dropped at the ending (What on earth are you doing to us CJ Skuse?) , so I feel assured we will be given a fifth book.
Superb audiobook series, and highly recommended.

The bestest author and book. Obsessed with Rhiannon. Honestly do not want this series to end!! Bravoooo!!!!!!!

First of all, It was very pleasing when the bad people are killed. You will know what kind of people these are when you read it.
I’ve never read anything from the side of the serial killer but I now need to go back and read the series!

Another cracking read from this author. I can't believe we have to wait until October for the next book in the series. A funny, close to the bone, thrill ride that leaves you wanting more. I love Rhiannon.

Absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed the writing style and the storyline and the characters were really well written.

Rhiannon Lewis (Ophelia) is my favourite anti-hero and it was great seeing what she’d been up to in Thorn In My Side.

Book 4 has the same whit and unrelenting narrative of its predecessors. Rhiannon continues to be a fabulous character, for all her bad behaviour you can’t help but route for her.

I can’t wait for book 5 because the ending of this book was so abrupt!

This is actually book number 4 in the series. I loved the characters. This book surprised me at how much I liked it. The plot was different and a nice change from my recent reads.

It’s really hard to review a title that’s fourth in a series without giving spoilers but I will say that I really enjoyed this one. Rhiannon is such a well formed character that while I don’t always agree with her I want to look after her! Bring on book 5

I love this series more than life !!! I have read all of cjskuse’s books young adult and adult this one continues the series along perfectly who doesn’t love a bit of murder and humour !!! Haha keep writing love it !!!!!

Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

I love the Sweetpea series of books and this latest installment did not disappoint. We get to read more of Rhiannon/Ophelia's life as she prepares for her wedding to Rafael. There's all of the usual humour, wit and gore that we have come to expect from this character. What I didn't expect however was the ending. I don't think I've ever been so blindsided by a book ending before! I'm now even more impatient to read the next book!

The fourth in the series, still funny, still gruesome. C.J. Skuse has created a figurehead in Rhiannon with this hugely influential series.

It’s more of the same, with lockdown disrupting her k*ller tendencies. Fan will love it it, casual readers might get bored before book four, I’m somewhere in the middle. As always it’s entertaining but I’d like more plot development.

I wish C.J. Skuse would write another standalone as The Alibi Girl was great.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ

It was so good to be back in Rhiannon’s orbit – fictionally speaking at least 🙂 And I love that beautiful cover.

Thorn In My Side is written in the same easy, conversational tone as the earlier books, with Rhiannon’s daily ‘kill list’ and run down of her not-at-all-average days. C.J. Skuse has included enough background to remind me what had occurred in the first three books which was perfect. I definitely recommend that you start from the first book though.

Once I’d started, I really struggled to put the book down. Like its predecessors, it is laugh out loud funny, dark, shocking but also surprisingly tender in places. It’s great to see a different side to Rhiannon as she settles in to family life, although her true nature is still there, simmering under the surface. Never has wedding planning been so bloodthirsty!

The final quarter of the book was completely compelling and I really could not put it down until I’d finished. There’s so much going on in the final chapter that I had to go back and read it again – oh my god that ending! I can’t believe how it was left. I can see from C.J. Skuse’s twitter that there is another book in the pipeline so now I’m counting down the days until I can get my hands on it. Hugely recommended.

A big thank you to the publisher for my copy of the book.

I hadn't read the other books in the series before this one, and it did work as a stand alone. However I have enjoyed this so much that I have now purchased the previous books and cant wait to read them all! Great storytelling and I loved the main character.

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.

I love this series and am a huge fan of what I call the "good for her" genre of mystery/thrillers. Well done!

WOW. I absolutely LOVED this book! Thorn in My Side is definitely the best of the Sweetpea series so far. I've loved all the books, but this one is just next level.

Rhiannon is one of my favourite female characters ever. She's fearless, funny and charismatic.
Raf and his family are great too.
I love the relationship between him and Rhiannon, they have fantastic chemistry and they're well suited personality wise.

The writing was excellent as usual. I was drawn into the story immediately. I just couldn't put it down.

I wasn't happy with the cliffhanger though, so I hope I don't have to wait too long for the next installment. 🤞

I highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

What can I say. My favourite serial killer is back with a bang. But is she?

Due to the pandemic, settling down with her wonderful Rafael and being embraced by his loving family Rhiannon hasn't killed anyone for 800 days. The Sweetpea killer is definitely in the past but can she stay there?
A troublesome family member sets off a terrible chain of events ending with an oh my god!!! ending. Set with the usual dark humour undertone I have to say this is the best one yet. I look forward to the next instalment as I don't know how she will get out of this one.

Brilliant five star read.