Incorrect review entered in error. Review to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Heather Darwent really knows how to build suspense! I enjoyed her debut novel a lot so thought I would give this a chance! I thought the plot twist was a bit of a let down, but overall I enjoyed reading it as the atmosphere she creates is unmatched.

I loved the slow burn of this book. The unknown and the unreliable narrator. I was swept along with Betsy to Carn. I was intrigued by the concept of a retreat that could help sick girls. That they are special.

The book has a halcean vibe to it with a dark undertow that could have taken many turns. The turn it did take was dark and somewhat delicious. It did feel a little clunky through the last 10%. But the journey was oh so sweet.

I really wanted to love this one because the premise sounded so interesting, but sadly it just wasn't for me.

I found the main character so strange, it was as if she had one personality where she was meek and sickly but then would be snappish and forward when it was needed to drive the plot forward quickly.

The idea of a health retreat having a dark and potentially deadly underbelly was one that made me so excited when I picked up the e-ARC but it fell short pretty early on. I wish that wasn't the case but my star rating reflects this!

Thank you to Viking and Netgalley for the advanded copy exchange for my honest review.

Betsey has problems with sleeping and bad dreams, and after her wedding, it all gets worse. She meets Elise who invites her to Carn, a retreat where she can be healed in a small group of women.
Elise and Carn are increasingly bizarre, there is obviously somebody funding it, but it is not clear what they are getting out of it.
The characters were all quite unpleasant, and kept changing personalities. The revelation didn't feel very plausible. I didn't really enjoy this, but
I did read to the end because I wanted to know what happened.

This was a weird one, there were a few plot holes that just didn't make sense to me so I found it hard to enjoy this book. The premise is great, a woman, just married, with some health concerns ends up admitting herself to a rehab of some sorts, however it becomes very evident that this is not a licensed center and there are weird things taking place. I really wanted to love this but it just fell a little flat for me.

3.5 rounded down

It’s insomniac Betsy’s wedding day to Harry, it’s a hot day and as the day unfolds it’s not quite as expected. It changes her and her memories of the day are hazy as if seen through a veil. After a short while, she chooses to go to Carn, leaving home with nothing but excited anticipation. Carn is a place for people like her, people with problems such as sleep but will it be the solution? Can the place, run by Elise, fix her as they claim?

Gosh, what have I just read? I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like it and it’s an unsettling feeling. I really like the start, especially the tone, as it’s questioning, wondering, mysterious, suspicious and definitely surreal as if everyone, including Betsy, are playing a role. Are the weaknesses of those at Carn being exploited? It’s extremely weird and increasingly so but for a long time I want to understand what’s at play here. It’s atmospherically strange, an odd place and very hard to figure out as most of those there act so strangely. The sense becomes off kilter and hallucinatory, what is real and what is a nightmarish dream? I feel like I’ve lost all sense of reality, never mind how Betsy might feel. I keep asking the question, what is this place? It’s as creepy as and it’s increasingly clear the characters are being manipulated in some way. However, for what purpose?

Adding to the strangeness are the characters themselves and their dynamics which becoming increasingly puzzling. As for Betsy, I swing from feeling sorry for her, to being horrified by her and on more than one occasion her actions totally throw me. I have no idea why she marries Harry and indeed, have even less idea why Harry marries her. What do they see in each other? It’s all part of the unsettling whole that’s hard to put your finger on.

When the truth of Carn emerges all I can say is, it’s not just dark, it’s beyond warped and utterly jet black. I suspect this book will be talked about a lot and people’s reactions to it will hugely vary. You’ll either love it for being creatively different or find it too much. As for me, I sit somewhere in the middle, admiring aspects of it but it’s just too unsettling to suggest it’s a novel that I can fully enjoy.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated epub in return for an honest review.

This started out strong, I was enjoying the mystery and intrigue that surrounded Carn. I also enjoyed the unknown pasts of the girls, it added to the sense of dread. However as the book progressed I found myself getting more and more annoyed with Betsy, in some moments she was placid and others she was arguing and questioning everything. The last 30% or so felt both rushed and chaotic, the answers were a little disappointing and I finished this book feeling underwhelmed.

This book was like nothing I've ever read before and although I wasn't quite sure at the beginning, by the end I realised that the nightmare-like unreality of everything Betsy is witnessing at Carn was exactly how I was meant to be finding the book. Even by the end I'm not 100% sure if I loved it or hated it, or sat somewhere in the middle!

I loved Heather Darwent's 2023 debut, The Things We Do To Our Friends. If you've read it, you'll know she can go dark. Very dark. Which is fine by me.
So I was delighted to receive a proof of her next novel, A Sharp Scratch. It explores the idea of the wellness industry retreat and takes you in directions you definitely won't be expecting.
It's a creepy and compelling read that digs deep into women's frailties and, more importantly, those who seek to exploit them. Heather Darwent is a superb observer of warped and devious characters and, in A Sharp Scratch, she's definitely on top form.

This book was kindly sent to me without request as I had previously read and enjoyed this authors last book. But unfortunately I struggled a bit with this one. I found it quite slow paced and felt like nothing really happened, nothing that gripped me anyway. I have read my fair share of thrillers and this one just lacked unfortunately. Quite forgettable.

i loved this authors debut and couldn't wait to read her second novel. It took me entirely by surprise - so dark, macabre and unsettling. Betsy is a chronic insomniac who is given hope of a cure by the mysterious Elise and her even more mysterious "wellness retreat" Carn. It's a page turner because you literally have no idea where it is going - so well crafted and yet brilliantly confusing at the same time, with a conclusion that is stomach churning. highly recommend

Thank you for the advanced copy.

I loved the sound of this book- a retreat with questionable methods? - always my thing.
However I found the pacing of this incredibly slow and really not a lot actually happened. It left a lot to be desired in terms of plot and also finished without any real answers or explanation of what was involved in their therapies, relationships, illnesses etc.
so a 1.5 star rounded to two star rating for this one

Dark, disturbing, unrelentless twists.

We start with Betsy, essentially unravelling at her wedding. An opportunity to stay at Carn, where they promise to cure her sleeping woes seems the solution. Carn is billed as a wellness retreat, albeit with many rules. Betsy agrees and is swept into something altogether more ….

A Sharp Scratch, is a fantastic second novel for Heather Darwent, a highly recommended, keep you up reading all night kind of book.

Thanks to Penguin UK for inboxing me an ARC!

3.5 🌟

This started a little flat for me but definitely picked up pace the further into it I read!

Creepy, mysterious and dark, A sharp scratch left me feeling extremely eerie. Heather did a great job of building the suspense because, I'll be honest, I had no clue what was going to happen!

If you're squeamish there may be some parts that make your tummy turn slightly, particularly towards the end. (And I don't think I'll be rushing to eat any Hors d'oeuvres offered to me at parties anytime soon after this that's all I'll say 😅.)

The ending was kinda dissapointing being left "open" and the huge 5 year jump didn't give any real indication of what had been happening in Betsys life, but all in all, this was a good read.

What on earth did I just read?

This book starts off light and superficial but grows progressively darker. In the final third, I kept thinking, "This can’t get worse," and yet it did—punch after punch. I absolutely loved how unexpected this book was; I didn’t see any of the twists coming. Dark, captivating, and the kind of book that keeps you up all night because you can’t stop reading.

The story begins with Betsy, whose life is unraveling, though she’s reluctant to face it, leaving you unsure of what’s truly happening. She receives an invitation to a free retreat, promising to cure or at least improve her sleeping issues. With nothing to lose, she decides to go. At the retreat, her condition improves faster than she expected—but she starts noticing things that feel off.

I loved the originality of the story and the flawed, complex characters. Darwent is extraordinary at portraying the nuanced dynamics between women. It felt real and honest, which I always appreciate.

There was very little I didn’t enjoy, but the final chapter fell short for me. The ending wraps up the storyline but leaves Betsy’s ultimate choice open-ended. I would have preferred if that last encounter hadn’t been included. That said, after such an incredible book, it’s easy to forgive.

It’s hard to give trigger warnings without spoilers, so I’ll leave a broad one here: if you’re squeamish about anything body-related or murder, this book might not be for you.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and loves being kept in the dark until a brilliant reveal at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin UK for the ARC in exchange of my honest review. A Sharp Scratch will be out on May 29th 2025.

Dark and delicious (although maybe delicious is not a good descriptor!).
Betsy and three other women afflicted by mysterious ailments are invited to stay at Carn, free of charge.
Betsy's awful marriage (why she ever married Harry is beyond me) and the nature of her affliction are drawn out by the expert therapist. Betsy becomes suspicious about the staff at Carn and makes some shocking discoveries.
Tension builds and we head towards the final devastating twists.
Edge of the seat stuff!

a HUGE thank you to the team at penguin for sliding this into my inbox !!!! feeling very lucky and grateful to sink my teeth into this one (all puns intended).

this book was spectacularly grotesque and wildly thrilling. i was gripped from the get go and could not put this down. i went into this completely blind, only knowing i absolutely loved the authors debut so had high hopes. and they were definitely achieved! i read this in under 3 hours and didn’t stop for anything - it really was THAT good

the narrator was incredibly unreliable and had me questioning every morsel of information we were given. it was so interesting being inside of her head whilst trying to figure out what was actually going on. it was also hilarious because i fear carn would work on me and i wouldn’t be snooping around at all. food on command and all i have to do is sit around all day … lovely.

the end (+the epilogue) spun me out a bit and i cannot wait to read the discourse surrounding it when this book is published! i really loved reading this one and at no point had any idea what was going on.

heather darwent’s amazing debut novel was a standout and i recommended it to just about everyone and this one did not disappoint. i look forward to reading just about anything she puts out at this point!

Deliciously dark, deeply unsettling, and much more addictive than the most hardcore drug! Prepare to put your life on hold til you’ve turned the final page, and even then it will stay with you, long after you finnish it. If i could give it more than 5 stars i would.