book cover of Five by Five
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Five by Five

(2024)
A novel by

 
 
What if the killer she's hunting turns out to be the woman she's falling for?


'Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read'
Guardian
'A bloody good read' Val McDermid

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Just because the most dangerous criminals in society are caught and locked up, doesn’t mean they stop committing crime.

That’s where Kennedy Allardyce comes in – working in one of Scotland’s toughest prisons, monitoring not just the prisoners, but also the staff.

And she’s just stumbled across her most dangerous foe yet – rumours of a corrupt guard, nicknamed Scout, with lethal influence. And what’s worst, it seems they’ve already realised Kennedy is on their tail.

Despite her growing fear, there is one thing going right for Kennedy. The enigmatic new prison officer Molly is beautiful and ready to sweep her off her feet.

But Kennedy can’t afford to let her guard down. Because with Scout hiding very close by, her next mistake might just be her last . . .

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'A significant crime debut.
Authoritatively authentic, irresistibly pacey and nerve-shreddingly tense' Chris Brookmyre

An assured debut by former prison officer, taking us inside the claustrophobic and ofttimes gladiatorial setting of a modern prison. With the dodgy guards and vicious cons, this is a topical dive into the darker aspects of our penal system. Terrifyingly authentic’ Vaseem Khan

‘Raw, brutal, claustrophobic, fast and impossible to put down. Written by someone who's walked the walk and seen the prison system close up’ Neil Lancaster, bestselling author of
Dead Man’s Grave

‘Grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go’ Professor David Wilson, leading criminologist and author of
My Life with Murderers

‘Brilliantly plotted, and
so tense I forgot to breathe in places’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

‘Gritty and unflinching, unbearably tense and claustrophobic, it gripped me throughout. Claire’s professional expertise shines through and gives such authenticity to the story’ Natalie Chandler, author of What We Did

Readers are loving Five by Five

'I was hooked right from the first page of this book and I did not want to put it down' ***** Reader Review

'A cracking debut thriller' ***** Reader Review

'Fast pace, vivid characters and dramatic plot, Five by Five is gritty, compelling and surprisingly affecting' ***** Reader Review

'Such an exciting read' ***** Reader Review

'An incredible book. The characters are believable and relatable. I loved the setting, I haven’t read many set in a prison' ***** Reader Review



Genre: Mystery

Praise for this book

"A significant crime debut. Authoritatively authentic, irresistibly pacey and nerve-shreddingly tense." - Chris Brookmyre

"Gritty and unflinching, unbearably tense and claustrophobic, it gripped me throughout. Claire's professional expertise shines through and gives such authenticity to the story. The ending left me needing more so I really hope we meet Kennedy again in the future!" - Natalie Chandler

"Brilliantly plotted and so tense I forgot to breathe in places." - Lisa Hall

"I really enjoyed this gritty crime thriller... feels like a blend of Orange is the New Black and Line of Duty." - Roxie Key

"Raw, brutal, claustrophobic, fast and impossible to put down. Written by someone who's walked the walk and seen the prison system close up." - Neil Lancaster

"A bloody good read." - Val McDermid

"One of the best debuts I've read in some years. Five By Five is a no-holds barred gritty account of working in the prison service, and told from such a unique perspective. Claire Wilson writes with such a confident and assured voice. Utterly impossible to put down." - Robert Rutherford


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