Five by Five: A gripping debut thriller, from a major new talent in Scottish crime

'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