With this book, what you read is exactly what you get..warts and all. I absolutely hated it. I think that was part of the point of the story though. The main character "Mike" is a detestable, slimy stalking piece of crap. He and the Judge who tried the case should be taken out back and have a bullet forcefully shoved between their eyes. The truth is that women are judged on a completely different scale than men. This just wasn't a book that I should have read, because it's a subject that's bound to get my dander up. "That's putting it politely." I thought the author did a great job in her storytelling, and I'd probably read something else by her. I'll confess though, I'm thoroughly sick and tired of this kind of story. My thanks to the publishers and Netgally for letting me read this. Now I think I'll go read something more pleasant. Horror maybe?

OH. MY. This book is messed up and I loved every second of it. Once I started it, I was unable to put it down.
I'm not going to get into the plot because this is the type of book you need to read for yourself but if you're looking for a dark, disturbing book about obsessive love...Our Kind of Cruelty is the book for you!

I read this book in ONE day. I could not stop because I HAD to know who was playing who. No Spoilers but you must read for yourself. Amazing

This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for a review. Don't want to give a thing away. Read this book. Now!! SO great! You won't be able to put it down!

This was a thoroughly compulsive read. I picked it up in the morning and refused to go to bed until I'd finished. I won't be giving up any major spoilers but I will say that Mike is a great unreliable narrator and his recounting of this tale is consistently darkly disturbing. But more disturbing things are at play here too and that's what I really liked about this book.

This tense tale is told in three parts. The first Mike's written account to his attorney while awaiting trial for murder. The second part was quite taut as it covers the event that lights the fuse for what you already know is going to be a explosion that's going to destroy more than one life. The final part is focused on the trial and I have to say that I found this part not only tense but also infuriating. While the first two parts give insight to quite a lot of gross male behavior and many instances of Mike being so consistently dismissive of the women in his life (Verity, Carly, Kaitlyn, Lottie) whom he always knows better than they do, what they mean when they speak and act. He also thought of himself as god-like in comparison to other men who displayed dismissive behavior toward women. I was taken with how the author was able to express this over and again in different ways. This dismissing of a woman theme never got boring and always stung and no more than in the denouement. It also struck me that quite a bit of Mike's tendencies, actions, physical attributes and economic status could quite easily be transferred to some romance novels and contextually be seen as sexy, endearing and expressions of his devotion and love. Additionally, the discomfort of a society still at odds with women being sexual entities exercising their own agency played out. The Crave game played by Mike and Verity was no doubt cruel and twisted but they were not equally apportioned blame and judgement for it.

When I read the summary for this I was just expecting a thriller in the same vein of You by Caroline Kepnes but the third act is the unexpected surprise that I feel really shines here. The trial proceedings and the judge adjudicating particularly irritated me. The newspaper article that Mike saved was an interesting inclusion as it was really nothing to do with Verity and everything to do with the female writer's own bad experience (her husband ran off with a woman she likened to Verity) and lingering anger over it. That she mentions no anger toward or assigns any blame for that situation to her husband was as representative of the worst theme at play in this whole story as anything. That women are responsible for the bad behavior of men and therefore need to be brought low. The judge says as much too, just to drive it home. I too had an initial impulse to lay some of the blame for the resolution on Carly because she didn't fly in to testify when I could have given a more clear view of Mike (though the judge said he wasn't going to allow her testimony because he didn't find Mike's past sexual history of relevance.) But then I thought of what Carly'd already lost and what doing so would have cost her additionally. Given what happened with Verity, I felt sure Carly's past sexual history would become highly relevant in the cross examination, so I couldn't blame her for protecting herself.

I'll be thinking about this one for a while as the themes really struck a chord. It's out in May 2018, just in time for summer book clubs and beach season. It's a thriller that'll leave you thinking when it's done. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley & publisher MCD/Farrar, Straus & Giroux for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an extremely dark and graphic novel about a man named Mike who is totally obsessed with his true love Verity. Mike was raised in a tough home environment, but he has risen above that and is now the man that he thinks Verity will desire the most. The two of them have a sexual game that they call “the crave.” It is really twisted, as is most of this book. When Verity gets married and invites Mike to the wedding, the whole plot seems to unravel as the reader delves into a subconscious that is sickly deteriorating. I did not enjoy this book at all; the sex scenes were too graphic. The details were too many and too dark and the chapters were way too long.

Mike and Verity know each other, they can communicate without words, they share the love of the game they call "the Crave". At least that is what Mike tells us when we read his take on his relationship with Verity and how he comes to be in a prison cell. But can we trust Mike at his word? He is one unreliable narrator-and what about Verity is she really all she portrays herself to be--I mean her name is another word for truth isn't it?? Mike is a man who looks outwardly normal-he is handsome and muscular and has become financially successful after an abusive childhood with a neglectful mother. We feel sorry for him but do we really know the truth about him or Verity? While reading this book by Araminta Hall I felt quite dazed. She is a wonderful writer and the story she recounts from Mike's perspective is really dark and disturbing and creepy--it is never perfectly clear to me whether or not he is delusional. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading books that are not clear in the direction they are going.. I was surprised a lot and still don't know what I can trust to be reality or not-is it just Mike's reality. Was Verity using him, was he using Verity? They had a secret language that only they could understand didn't they? That ending--hmmmm I am still puzzled and so in closing I just would like to say--"the eagle has landed".

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and give an honest review of this book.

This was disappointing. I expected it to be on par with Caroline Kepnes but it missed its mark completely. The beginning was long and dry and just when the story began to pick up, I was let down. In the middle I'd hoped that the female character might be (somewhat, in any way) to blame and that was the twist! Which would have been great! But no. There was no satisfaction in reading this book. It wasn't a thriller. It was a document.

Wow and wow again. A sexual game of fantasy that a couple plays in fun. leads to repercussions that neither character sees coming. How much love is too much? Is killing, stealing, betrayal, hate, passion too far to go in loving someone. How do you protect someone that has committed these crimes? How do you save them for yourself?
A dark story, that turns from love to hate to love. The Author has taken great care in developing the main characters, Mike and Versity. Each character is relatable. The storyline is unique and powerful. Strongly recommend reading.
5 Stars

This is the complete opposite of a feel-good novel. Dark and unsettling, it tells a story of obsession and a twisted kind of love that leads to murder. Mike loves Verity more than anything. Surely she must feel the same way, right? But how can a person who grew up in the most horrific circumstances know what it means to care about someone? Verity is not returning his messages, she changed her phone number, blocked his email address... that must surely mean that she wants him to fight for her, right? Man is Mike self-deluded! Yet, in his mind, this is a beautiful love story and there is nothing he won't do for her. Which is where things get even darker. I had to keep reading, even if it felt like a knife twisting in my gut. It's funny how the characters are not really well-defined, but just because we're seeing them through Mike's eyes. Mike, however, is so real that it's hard not to care. You know he's not going to end well but the conclusion of the novel is still so surprising and upsetting, that it wouldn't work if it wasn't so well written.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of OUR KIND OF CRUELTY by Araminta Hall in exchange for my honest review.***

Mike and Verity (V) play a sexual fantasy game called The Crave. They scout for a victim in a bar, then she hits on him before Mike beats the stranger for kissing his girlfriend. The Crave escalates as a V wants more danger. Two years later, V is engaged to someone who’s not Mike, but he knows it’s all part of The Crave. Or is it?

From page 1, I strongly disliked V and Mike. I don’t care what they did in the bedroom or with other consenting adults, but they created unwitting victims. Mike’s narration of the relationship never felt right and I questioned his reliability.

Araminta Hall has me guessing whether the couple was playing The Crave or if Mike became a stalker. Hall did a wonderful job creeping me out throughout OUR KIND OF CRUELTY. Normally I like creepy novels but I don’t need to, or want to read about stalking or a sex game that creates victims. I didn’t enjoy reading the book, despite great writing Mike being an interesting, complex character. OUR KIND OF CRUELTY is a better book than my enjoyment of it.

If you like domestic psychological thrillers, OUR KIND OF CRUELTY is an excellent choice. I can picture is as a movie as well.

This was a fun read, and I can easily see it being one of the most buzz worthy novels of 2018. I'm clearly in the minority with my middle of the road rating, but please don't let that cause you to pass this one by. If anything, I think this novel helped me realize that I'm not as compatible with stories told from the male stalker POV as the majority of thriller readers are. If you enjoyed novels such as You by Caroline Kepnes and Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda, I think you'll really take to this one and fully lose yourself in all of it's gritty, dark glory.

I don't want to get into plot specifics, because this is the type of book where getting spoiled on the ending will ruin the entire read for you, as it all hinges on you being surprised along the way. However, I think discussing in the abstract, it's quite easy to divide this slim book into two sections-part one and part two. Part one is actually the least exciting, and in some ways I guess that's good, because it caused me to give this a higher rating that I would have the other way around. Part one mostly focuses on our boy Mike's inner monologue, which means very little dialogue and heavy portions of slow thought processes. In the beginning it helped set the stage for amazing suspense, but after about twenty pages of this I found myself losing engagement, checking my phone, and staring off or daydreaming a time or two.

That said, it turns out all that inner monologue is quite important and vital to part two. Once we arrive here, the story takes off at breakneck speed and I couldn't put it down. The courtroom scenes were especially scintillating and, while I did initially guess how it would end, I found I was doubting myself at times, which shows how manipulative the author is with her writing. <--- And I mean this in the best way; manipulative writing is one of the aspects I value most in a novel.

Overall, I wasn't blown away, as it's very similar to a number of books I've read before and fairly predictable, but it sure was a fun read regardless. I always enjoy a good book about mentally unstable people and what makes them the way that they are, and this was definitely just that. Readers of mainstream psychological thrillers and current events will thoroughly enjoy Mike's love story and the implications that a few wrong choices can spur into action. Araminta Hall has proven she can write a compulsive story full of gasps and awes, and I sincerely am looking forward to what she brings next to the table.

Holy cow, I am totally uncertain of what I just read!! Our Kind Of Cruelty was absolutely amazing! One of the best jaw-dropping psychological thrillers I have ever read! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! So dark, and unique! I LOVED it!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought it was a sexy, twisted and disturbing thrill ride.
It was very addictive and I couldn’t stop reading it because I had to see how it was going to end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading thillers.

Wow. Enter Mike and his longtime girlfriend Verity, who engage in a sexual game called the Crave. When Verity ends the relationship, Mike will stop at nothing to get her back. Does Verity really want to move on, or is this part of the game? How reliable of a narrator is Mike?

This is more than your basic psychological thriller - it’s a realistic portrayal of dependent/dangerous relationships and the double standards that women continue to face in today’s political climate. It was refreshing to read about a rich, attractive, controlling man that gives people the creeps, especially since that type of character is, unfortunately, so popular (looking at you, Fifty Shades of Grey). The third part of the novel is a slower pace than the rest, but where it leads, along with the author’s afterword, makes the story memorable and a much-needed discussion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

wow wow wow

Shocking

This was really good. Mostly told by Mike the main character of his undying, unhealthy love for Verity. This goes way over the edge and I didn't see the most shocking part coming, nor the ending. I am totally shocked. Poor Verity she tried to get away and ended up in it for the long nasty end. I had something like this happen to me and sometimes no matter how far you run they find you. It wasn't anything like this though but some parts were. Should I feel like a jerk for liking this book though? Perhaps yes, perhaps no. I'm glad it's behind me. So you can't say this is a far-fetched story cause it does happen. Probably more than we know. I like how this book did that. It bought the real to a novel and the courtroom part to the finale is the best.

I do recommend this book if you can deal with this kind of content.

On to the next book if I can get this one out of my mind.

Thank you Net Gallery for this great read and the opportunity to review a second book on behalf of you, the publisher, and of course the Author.

Cherie'

This one is a rough one—but I don’t mean that in a negative way. It’s compulsively readable and keeps moving at a fast pace. I will say that this could be a difficult read for anyone with a history of PTSD, child abuse, sexual assault and a multitude of other psychological disorders. Due to that aspect, I couldn’t recommend it with out a trigger warning. However, I very much enjoyed it and think it has the potential to be a hit.

To start with the positives, the book is well-written. There are many clever scenes where, despite the unreliable narrator, we are able to comprehend the reality that he cannot. The book is quite effective in conveying a sense of ‘this is how a crazy person could misunderstand the world around him.’

That said, this book did not work for me. My secondary problem with the story was that in the last third (which I actually enjoyed the most), the author seemed to argue that what was happening was really about “the continued injustices perpetrated against women in our so-called civilized society” (her words, from the Acknowledgements). Yes, bad things happen to the woman in this story. But it’s not because of the patriarchy. It’s because she had the misfortune of falling into the orbit of a crazy man.

My main problem with the story is a feature of it, not a bug. In order to maintain suspense, the entire story is told from one perspective. I like psychological thrillers, but 300 pages in the mind of a crazy person was rather exhausting and a bit repetitive. Judging from the other reviews, I’m in the minority on this one. That’s ok. I’ve been wrong before.

This is one intense book. The first few pages had me thinking, “Nope. This isn’t for me.” When page one begins in a bar with a couple playing sex games and by page two the main characters are already using the F word and performing it, as well as other suggestive activities, it seems fair to imagine that might be the way the rest of the story’s going to go. Luckily, I kept reading, and by page three things had moved to a different, albeit no less compelling, environment. I was hooked. Whew.

The narrator, Mike, tells his story from jail, as he awaits trial for murder, although at this point we don’t know how or why, or even who the victim is. Mike grew up in foster care, after a tumultuous, unstable childhood in poverty with a neglectful, alcoholic mother and her often abusive partners. He finds a loving home with his foster parents, and his life moves on to a much more stable and even lucrative adulthood and career. He and Verity, whom he refers to as V, meet and fall in love and remain together for several years until certain things begin to change their relationship. The reader also finds certain things emerging in bits and pieces that give us glimpses into Mike’s behavior.

What happens when their relationship begins to fall apart is chilling in several respects. Without providing spoilers, I will say that I was, many times during the novel, deeply sympathetic to Mike because of his painful past and how it affected him. By the end of the story, I was angry, certainly at him, but truly angrier at a system that is allowed to manipulate situations in ways that are just wrong. I would say more, but that would give too much away.

This is a gripping and suspenseful story. The author drops little hints throughout as to what to expect, and had me anxious the whole time, wondering exactly what was going to happen. I was angry by the end, and was tempted to rate this as 3 stars. When I read the acknowledgements and found out why the author wrote this as she did, I changed it to 4 stars. Good job.

Thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know if this will be for everyone, (main narrative is not very likeable) but I loved the crazy delusion!

Mike loves Verity. Verity used to love Mike, but she broke up with him after an indiscretion that Mike admits to. Mike apologizes and knows that all will be forgiven, as love like theirs is one in a million.
When Verity announces she is to be married, Mike understands. Verity is just making him pay for his slip up. It's all part of their game, the Crave.

So what could possibly go wrong here?

Is Verity punishing Mike, or has she moved on? Is Mike delusional, or just a pawn in her games?

This is a cleverly crafted web of mystery and suspense that kept me riveted! I think I would have liked a better ending, one with a bit more retribution to it, but all in all this was one entertaining read!

ARC provided by NetGalley