3 1/2 Stars
Mike and Verity play games. After they breakup Mike is convinced V is still playing. Is she, or is Mike delusional? Is he an unreliable narrator, or is V still playing games? What happens when things go too far? Is V involved or is she innocent? A story of obsessive love gone wrong. A fast paced, good book, but could have been great if it had a few more twists and wasn't quite such a straight forward read.

This is a brilliantly done character study on par with Joe Goldberg from You, and Paul Strom from Best Day Ever. If you’re expecting a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller you’ll be disappointed, but if you’re looking for a highly developed, character driven story of a disturbed individual, pick this one up.

The author has taken “a mad spurt of anger at the continued injustices perpetrated against women in our so-called civilized society” (quote from the Acknowledgements) and developed it into a story that could really truly be any woman’s nightmare come to fruition. It also absolutely exemplifies the double standards in our world which are still in existence to this day.

This is yet another novel that I had to keep putting it down which is my gauge these days - if it’s making me uncomfortable I know the writing is strong, and this one pushed me to the brink of comfort. A truly in depth, disturbing look into the life of a highly traumatized individual.

Thank you to Netgalley, Araminta Hall and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Personally speaking, I found this book very disturbing. But while I felt uncomfortable, I was also aching to read more. This book will more than likely generate quite a lot of attention; it's sexy, it's thrilling, and it is, for lack of a better term, psychologically sick. There was a lot of build up to the book and we learned so much about Mike and Verity's respective characters, however, I felt that nothing really happened and the ending fell relatively flat.

Sometimes a writer is so convincing, you can't help but have a visceral reaction to the characters in the book. This is exactly how I feel about Mike in Our Kind of Cruelty. As the book went on, I just felt like his greasy icky codependence was eeking its way into my brain. Not my kind of book, but there is no argument that it is well done.

Hmmm what's to say about this book? Well it's definitely a dark love story filled with passion, lust and well I'd say obsession. The whole book is from Mike's point of view describing his love for Verity and their sexual game called "The Crave". Both are sexually aroused by men lusting for Verity and Mike coming in as her hero to save her, but things change when Verity finds another lover who she ends up marrying. While I thought it was great that it was from a man's perspective, I would have like to know her version of the story. So that's the only reason why I rated it a 3 out of 5. While I was reading it I was yearning to know her side and if the story would shift eventually but it didn't. Even so, from Mike's perspective it was still thrilling.

A psychological tale in first person narrative, through the the unreliable narration of the unhinged mind of Mike Hayes, he will love, err, crave, obsess, stalk, and murder.

Verity Metcalf is the woman he desires, she will be in the press in later parts with a question mark, with the question:  “Is Verity Metcalf a modern-day Lady Macbeth ?”

A slightly disturbing read of one mans twisted game of toxic desire and his disturbed search for implied meanings to all things said.

The narrative was suspensely springing forward in gripping formation, in clear prose, matching the scene, situations, and emotions, with good craft in telling with all its gathering storm of morbidity and something to go terribly wrong with an unhinged mind.

I truly loved this book and will happily recommend it to others. I received an unproofed copy from #NetGalley and the author in exchange for my unbiased review. The whole book consists mainly of two people and the relationship between them. Mike grew up in foster care during his formative years. Luckily for him he ended up with a very nice couple who did the best they could after he had been abused for 13 years. He met V (Verity) at university where she has a same sex relationship (or not because not everything in this book is as it seems). Mike and V start dating and start a relationship that consists of V going to pubs and try to seduce a man and then Mike comes to her rescue and end up having steamy sex. Mike and V eventually break up (or do they?) and someone ends up dead. Don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Great book. Please read! Five stars.

This is a very dark, twisted love story. Or...it's Mike's love story.

Mike and Verity met and fell in love at university. As they got older, they developed a sick and twisted sex game called "The Crave." Time goes on and Mike moves to New York for work and after two years living apart, Verity ends the relationship. Mike moves back to London and continues playing "The Crave" with Verity - or is he. Tragedy happens and....well, that's all I can say.

This book is a disturbing look at volatile relationships and the dangers of bad men. This is also a look at the way women are portrayed and viewed in the court system. Araminta Hall does a great job of getting into the mind of a clearly mental ill man and the lengths that he will go to get what he thinks is his.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’m done but I need a drink... It was brilliant and frustrating at the same time. All in all...I loved it. Please read it.

A creepy, dark tale of obsession! I thought this book was about a game called The Crave, played by Mike and Verity, who were deeply in love but had some kinky sexual interests. Mike came from a horrid childhood where he was pitifully neglected, but once adopted he went on to university and did well and became wealthy. Mike met Verity met at university and loved her totally and completely. He went to America to live for awhile and their relationship continued, but then he received a wedding invitation - to Verity's wedding to a man named Angus.

The book really creeped me out and for awhile I had the wrong impression of what was really going on. An interesting psychological read and I kept wondering what was going to happen next - almost like a chess game between the characters. An absorbing book that made me keep reading to better understand what was really happening.

Thanks to Araminta Hall and Farrar, Straus and Giroux through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Hard to review without spoiling, but Michael definitely has issues and V doesn't make it easy for him to resolve those. With an alcoholic mother and a childhood in a foster home, Michael never really learned normal relationships. Hooking up with Verity (V) in college din't help the situation as the games they play to space up their sex life sprays out of control. A good psychological thriller well worth the read.

Oh Mike. Mike never really had a chance to be a normal functioning human with normal functioning relationships. I want to be careful what I say as this book could be ruined with spoilers. This book is dark and psychological and addresses many dangerous subjects: like old sexual games and manipulation. I enjoyed the read, but I did kinda hope it would be a little darker. I think this will see the same popularity as books like "Best Day Ever." I liked it a lot, but I did not love it. It is a page-turner and never boring.

This was a really interesting look at obsession and psychopathy. That being said, nothing particularly surprised me, I kept waiting for some kind of twist. When it didn't happen, it made me feel like I had invested a lot in reading the story that I already thought was going to happen.

Fans of "You" by Caroline Kepnes will enjoy Our Kind of Cruelty. A creepy, unreliable, stalker of a narrator tells his side of a story involving his beloved ex-girlfriend and a horrible accident.

Wow! This is a very dark, twisted novel about obsession. Mike loves V and is crafting the perfect life for them. The fact that she’s getting married to someone else isn’t enough to alter his plans.

Like Dr. Frankenstein, V has created Mike, but just like the monster, he’s gone off the rails. The story works so well for being told solely from Mike’s perspective. No matter what V does or says, he twists it to fit his version of reality. It’s delightfully scary.

I had trouble believing several of V’s actions, however, including the wedding invitation. Given the way V and Mike separated, I just couldn’t see her wanting him there. I can’t believe she really thought they’d ever be friends. Maybe it just goes to show Mike wasn’t the only one seeing things through a distorted lens.

And then we get to the third part and there’s a wild twist. I really didn’t see it coming. It really pumped up the story a notch by adding a layer about how society views sexually active women.

I recommend this to anyone who likes dark psychological thrillers. It’s a quick, sick read.

My thanks to netgalley and Farrah, Strauss and Giroux for an advance copy of this novel.

Wow, buckle up for a wild and crazy ride! This dark, psychological thriller is disturbing, riveting, and full of obsessions, lies, and delusions. At times this book made me feel uncomfortable, but for some reason I couldn't put it down. Definitely an entertaining read!

OUR KIND OF CRUELTY is one of those eyebrow raising, mouth agape, and “are these people for real” good read. This is an unusual contemporary psychological thriller about manipulation, perversion, obsession and just plain crazy.

Author Araminta Hall draws the reader into the eight year, game playing love affair of Michael Hayes and Verity Metcalf from page one as we watch in fascination as they engage in their perverse game of Crave. The story is told from Mike’s POV. He is the type of guy who seems reliable and is physically appealing - tall, good looking, body enhanced by weight lifting and daily runs, but lurking just below the surface is the child of poverty, abused and emotionally unstable, whose skewed perception of reality makes this seemingly innocuous guy a walking time bomb.

The Verity character, on the other hand, is a little harder to pin down. Is she the unsuspecting bystander or the devious exploiter or Mike’s obsessive love and devotion?

When murder enters the game it’s a question of who is telling the truth, who can be trusted?

For the answer to this and other questions, latch on to this brain twister for an ominous thrill ride you won’t soon forget.

This book was ok. It is a quick read, but it leaves me with too many questions. I want to know her side of the story. Why does she still wear the Eagle? Overall, the book was a good read, perfect for a few hours of entertainment, but nothing too thought provoking or challenging.

This book made its way into my head and I have a feeling it’s going to live there for a very long time.

This was such a twisted story, I was never quite sure exactly what or who to believe. Mike definitely wormed his way in to my heart in a tragic and wounded kind of way. He was, for me, a very compelling character. I was never quite sure what to make of Verity. How I would love a sequel told from her viewpoint.

What made this book special for me was the exquisite story telling. I felt Mike’s confusion, and it added to the darkness and seduction of the story. Was he truly obsessed or was it all just a part of the Game they played? The author has created a truly fabulous character in Mike, one I was never quite sure whether I should love or hate and I think that was the whole point.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of domestic and psychological suspense. This one gave me the shivers and still continues to do so weeks later. It was spectacular.

"I crave you"

"We know what love is: the kindest and the cruelest emotion." Ain't that the truth my friends....

Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall is one heck of a ride. I felt like I was watching my favorite channel ID.... I'd Kill for you. This is a whole mess of lies, sex, obsession, stalking, jealously, greed, and rage. It can't get more juicy then that!

I can definitely see this being a top thriller for 2018. I think this would be a fabulous group read or with a book club.

Mike is mady in love with Verity. Verity also used to love Mike but she broke up with him after a bit of infidelity on Mike's part. Mike never truly moved on from Verity but on the other hand Verity announces that she is getting married. Mike seems to be fine with it and is thinking Verity is making Mike pay for his mistake. Mike believes it's all part of a sex game that they used to play together called "The Crave."

So.. I know what you're thinking what could possibly go wrong here? Oh... my friends love triangles never can last......

I am on the outlier coulee island again on this one.... with my average rating. Don't get me wrong this was entertaining BUT it could have been better. I was loosing interest in part 2 of the novel where we constantly kept hearing about Mike's obsession with Verity. I think we could have cut some of this out.

I feel like Araminta left her readers hanging a little bit with the end of the story. I think I would have enjoyed this more if we were able to see Verity's perspective. The entire novel was based off of Mike's character.

I am impressed with Araminta nonetheless and look forward to seeing what she comes out with next.

3.5 obsessive stars!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the arc.
Publication date: 5/8/18
Published to GR: 4/22/18