Every town has one. A family that everyone steers clear of, a family that everyone suspects after some form of criminal mischief. The Drumm boys have been taught their bad behavior by their mother, and even after they grow up and leave the nest, the patterns their mother set in place are in evidence. Little cruelties, as it were. Cruelties that will end in one of the Drumm brother’s lying in a coffin. Nugent stories are disturbing and direct, they will stay with you

Another book I was so excited to read is Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent. If you haven’t read her novels Lying in Wait or Skin Deep, get them immediately! Both were fantastic, which is why I was so eager to read this book.

Little Cruelties begins with a funeral, only we don’t know who died.

“All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral, although one of us was in a coffin.”

The book is then divided into three parts which detail the lives and struggles of each of the brothers. William is a successful movie producer who cheats on his wife, Brian is a teacher with low self-esteem, and Luke is a former celebrity, a singer who enjoyed fleeting fame but suffered from addiction. Their mother was in showbiz; a self-obsessed, selfish woman who didn’t know how to parent her kids so it’s easy to blame her for how messed up these boys turn out. Her sons inherited the worst of her personality traits.

Each part of the book shares pieces of the past from various years, this helps form who these men ultimately become. They are not very nice and though I had sympathy for each of them throughout the book; I didn’t feel bonded to any of them, except maybe a little for Luke. This ultimately is a book about secrets, family dysfunction, mental health, and three cruel brothers.

I really like Liz’s writing and can’t wait to see what she writes next.

You can pre-order this book here, it comes out on November 10!