Five by Five - by Claire Wilson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 - rumors of a corrupt guard, nicknamed Scout, with lethal influence. And what's worst, it seems they've already realized Kennedy is on their tail.

Despite her growing fear, there is one thing going right for Kennedy. The enigmatic new guard 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...

Review Quotes

Tense, chilling and distinctive, this is a one-sitting read--Guardian

A bloody good read--Val McDermid

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

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

Five by Five is an assured debut by former prison officer Claire Wilson, taking us inside the claustrophobic and offtimes gladitorial 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. --

Claire Wilson's debut novel Five by Five grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. She quickly establishes that she's blessed with a distinctive new Tartan Noir voice, so you'd better watch out Val McDermid, Ann Cleeves, Alex Gray and Denise Mina because there's a new girl in town."--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

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, Sunday Times bestselling author of Seven Days

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, author of What We Did

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

About the Author

Claire Wilson is from central Scotland. Her debut novel, Five by Five, was the inaugural winner of the Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Writers' Prize. It is based on her day job as an Intelligence Analyst in a Scottish Prison.