THE PLOT: ‘Sick to Death’ by Chris Bridges is a psychological thriller. Unable to work because of a neurological condition, Emma is trapped in a tiny council house with her cruel step-father. But when Emma meets Adam, she finally finds a way out. Adam is the perfect boyfriend, with a perfect home in Blackheath and a perfect job as a doctor. The only problem is his wife, Celeste. A divorce would leave Adam with nothing; Emma and Adam wouldn’t be able to afford a flat together on their own. But there is another way to remove Celeste from the picture and no-one would suspect poor, sick Emma of anything nefarious…

SUMMARY:  Written by a former NHS nurse with a hidden disability, this novel smashes the trope of the ‘passive sick character’ by putting Emma in the driving seat. Although I don’t want to box this book in a corner by focussing on the main character’s disability, it’s an important point of difference that makes this book stand out from other thrillers. Chronic illness is so often overlooked but this is a compelling, realistic portrait of someone living with a disability and being pushed to the edge. By featuring a main character with FND in genre fiction, I truly think it allows us to see characters with disabilities as well-rounded people, not just the object of pity or someone who must be “faking it”. Plus, this book has a very good twist. So, if you’re a thriller-addict, pre-order this book now!

GOOD BITS:  It’s so hard to review thrillers without spoilers but let me just say that this book has a big twist. The first half is a slow-burn and I thought I’d guessed where it was going. I’m so pleased that I was wrong. There was a much-needed escalation and extra POVs that elevated the plot and kept me guessing. I also loved the council house setting and implicit commentary on wealth and societal status, particularly as Emma is a character receiving state benefits due to her illness.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: I think this is just a problem of personal taste, but I struggled to connect with Emma’s voice. Although it fits the genre, I found that her emotions were very surface-level and her simplicity was almost child-like. The first-person narration from Emma’s perspective reminded me of the main character in ‘The Maid’ by Nita Prose, so this could be a good fit if you liked that writing style.

OVERALL: I’d recommend this book to fans of Nita Prose and Lisa Jewell. Thank you to Avon for my #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. ‘Sick to Death’ will be published in February 2025 and is available to pre-order now.