Penance is Eliza Clark's redemption from her previous work, Boy Parts.

There was something so haunting about the entire premise of Penance that despite the gruesome and shocking events that take place in the book, I could not put it down. Clark uses all her talent in this book to create a particular atmosphere of mystery and some level of anxiety.

We connect with every single character she presents to us, it is not difficult to empathize with any of them. The characters each have such distinct and unique voices, ranging from a washed-up journalist to a teenage girl writing fanfic about high school shooters. each perspective tells a different story and each story tells a different “truth” making the reader question themselves at every turn.

This is the final boss of unreliable narrators.

Eliza Clark’s PENANCE is a masterwork fulfilling the promise she showed with her debut novel BOY PARTS. Simultaneously an exploration of the exploitative horrors of true crime, a satire of contemporary Britain, a deep dive into teenhood and online communities, and a dark thriller all of its own, PENANCE snatches hood of the reader and refuses to let go, dragging them through lies and truth and something in between on the way to its incredible conclusion. I have already hand sold multiple copies of this astute, chilling novel.

As you might expect Penance, by Eliza Clark, is a dark and unflinching book. Here we have a book within a book, wherein which Clark places us within the hands of (cancelled) journalist Alec Z. Carelli who believes he is giving us the ‘definitive account’ of the events leading up to the horrific death of Joni Wilson a decade prior. That big question though becomes how much of it is true?

This is a nasty little book, and yet in many ways it seems that’s the point, which is made clear when you read the final interview at the end. It’s strange, I can’t say I enjoyed reading it especially and yet I found I couldn’t put it down.

In Penance Clark has crafted a true crime book within a book and at the same time a blistering critique of the true crime explosion itself. It raises questions about the elasticity of truth within the genre and about the complicity of the consumer within the true crime boom, especially in the darker recesses of ‘00s Tumblr. Not being a true crime reader I can’t really argue around this but I found it interesting nonetheless.

In Boy Parts Clark explored the North/South divide with a strong focus on the arts, in Penance we are engaged in an exploration of socio-economic differences within a small (fictitious) seaside town in Yorkshire. Add to this the backdrop of the political turmoil of Brexit referendum in a remainer town. In fact, the murder in question was committed on the night of the vote and one of the perpetrators was the daughter of the local UKIP ‘rent-a-gob’. I found the focus on the town and its inhabitants to be one of the most interesting parts of the book, though Clark has pushed the small seaside town stereotypes to their absolute limits, and it say this coming from a small seaside town.

Vastly different to Boy Parts, Penance further showcases Clark’s impressive talents. Though I didn’t especially enjoy reading it, it was still a compelling read that raised interesting points.

Eliza Clark has a brilliant and incisive writing style, which I absolutely loved in her debut novel Boy Parts. Unfortunately I was a little underwhelmed by this one, and I think it was because we didn't get that characteristic style in this book - as it's written as a 'book within a book'.

There was lots of interesting political commentary, and I was interested in the characters, although I did find that sometimes the character development was a bit surface level

I couldn’t wait for this book since finishing Boy Parts and though it’s a drastically different story it’s still told just as well. I absolutely love Eliza Clark’s writing and how she pulls you into a story and can’t wait for whatever she writes next.

I picked this up expecting an British version of 'I Have Some Questions For You' by Rebecca Makkai, which I loved earlier this year and also invents a crime and then builds a true crime plot around it, as a device to address larger themes. In this case: high school bullying, social media and internet use, the true crime industry.

I found this not as smart and thought-provoking as Makkai's novel - even though there is a lot to unpack in terms of references. One of the reasons it didn't really work is the frame narrative device, which results in 90% of the novel being a separate (and not great) true crime novel. That novel, Penance, is written by a journalist/writer called Carelli and he is criticized/cancelled after publication, mainly because he took a bit too much literary freedom to embellish his source material. My age may also be a reason I enjoyed this less: it is set around 15 years later than Makkai's novel and the perpetrators are a few years younger, which makes social media a very important factor to understand them.

Still, an entertaining read, 3,5

I adored Clark's last book, 'Boy Parts', especially for the clarity and boldness of its style, remaining utterly frank and specific in the strangest situations.

Penance continued this for me, with a bold look at the complicity of the audience in a huge and growing genre- true crime.

We begin the book by realising that we are reading another book entirely- the work of a journalist doing a deep dive into the horrific attack on a school girl by three fellow students.

We are led through various pieces of evidence and reportage, including the personal thoughts of the journalist, including how he came to investigate this, and his motivations for doing so.

However, the book is far cleverer than that, acting in itself as a critique of the very text(s) it provides, creating a deeper meta-narrative that makes you as the reader aware that you are, perhaps, also part of the problem.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So this is a novel that is framed as a non-fiction book about a murder that is not real. Pseudo-true crime, if you will. I am not a true crime aficionado in any way, the genre generally makes me uncomfortable. That said, I was an adolescent girl on Tumblr which is where and how a significant portion of this story unfolds. The general set-up is that three young women set a fourth young woman on fire after kidnapping and torturing her. If this sounds unnerving, that's because it is! Clark certainly enjoys grotesque subject matter as anyone who's read Boy Parts can attest. The story is being 'reported on' by a disgraced male middle-aged journalist who intersperses testimony from the family and friends of the victim and killers and two of the killers themselves with online posts, fanfiction and extensive 'prose' sections where he imagines what the girls thought and did over the course of a year leading up to the murder. As might be expected, the prose bits were the ones I liked least (there's even a meta-commentary on the integrity of these sections at the end of the book). I did enjoy this book as a portrait of a town and community, even as Crow-On-Sea is a fiction in itself. It felt very real and alive and I read the whole thing in day so I can't pretend it isn't compelling! And I do think Clark has benefitted from the attention of a larger publisher as the pacing, dialogue and characters are all more developed than her first novel.

A thrilling, innovative novel by an exciting young writer - keen to pick up anything Eliza Clark writes, and I loved being guided through the mire of teenage girlhood and violence by Clark's confident and authoritative voice.

this was absolutely incredible -- i felt like i was living it. the author gave so many interesting perspectives of each character in the story. new favourite book!!!

This a unique and intriguing read. It started off really strong with an interesting and gripping start describing the horrific murder and torture of a teenage girl by three of her classmates. It reads as a true crime book and I loved the way it blended fiction and reality to leave the reader feeling unsettled and the story telling felt very realistic. The author really captures the feel and atmosphere of the small coastal town and sets a very realistic tone for the mindset of the characters involved.
Overall this is a unique and gripping read.

Boy Parts was one of my favourite books in 2021 so I was equally nervous &excited to get my hands on a copy of Penance. Could it possibly live up to my expectations or would I be left feeling meh? Well first things first, Penance is a whole other book to BP but wow does it stack up as a gripping &stomach churning read.

Following the decade old story of the horrific murder of 16 year old Joan Wilson in the tattered seaside town of Crow-on-Sea, Clark looks at the tumultuous life of being a teenage girl, the ever popular true-crime genre &questions the concept of what really is the truth.

While looking at the lives of the girls involved in that infernal night, Eliza shows just how chaotic the reality of teenage female friendship can be. Every single character is richly &meticulously crafted, so much so that I felt my level of empathy &attitude towards each girl fluctuate greatly, creating a constant sense of discomfort. The concept of a ‘pocket hell’ is prominent &Clarks clever portrayal of the girls' dynamics &their experiences could easily be seen as each of their own little pocket hells.

The book is awash with pop culture references. Glimpses of The Sims, Andrew Lloyd Webber &indeed the often depraved rabbit hole of Tumblr were expertly written with a cosy familiarity often taking the harsh edge of the gruesome topic at hand. However, wait for the slapping side eye of the Vance Diamond subplot!

The format is a reality blurring cocktail, part metafiction, part (fictional) true crime story which Clark has executed flawlessly. True crime fans may flinch at Eliza’s gaze but I felt it more explored the premise of truth behind true crime. Whose truth is true? Whose story are these stories to tell?

While it may be quite different to her first novel it equally flaunts the insanely brilliant writing ability of Clark. Another enthralling, ingenious &unsettling page turner.

Read If You Like
•True Crime
•Meta Fiction
•Unreliable Narrators
•Unlikeable Characters

For Fans Of
•True Crime Story
•I Have Some Questions For You
•True Story

Favourite Moment
•The Sims torture dungeon! Didn’t we all remove the swimming pool ladder or lock Winston the butler in the freezer, no?

Eliza Clark has reached into my head and pulled out memories of being 14/15/16 and chronically online. This was the best representation of being young and navigating a social media that went unchecked. It avoids being cliche with imitation of how girls interact and instead replicates it so vividly I feel almost as though I am remembering these instances as though they were my own experiences. So good! I loved boy parts but this was stunning.

This was an incredibly nostalgic read for me, as it follows the lives of teenage girls in a horrible seaside Yorkshire town during the 2010s. It got to a point where I was picturing my own school classrooms for scenes, and the Tumblr drama only added to the nostalgic atmosphere. It captured so much of what I remember from my teen years with complete authenticity, with everything heightened and covered with a grimy filter.

In the form of a true-crime book, it details how three school girls would go on to torture and set fire to one of their classmates on the eve of the Brexit vote. These murderous teens have all been deeply traumatised as their seaside town seems to be a cesspit of right-wing nationalism, corruption, sexual abuse and death. They even have their own version of Jimmy Savile, a family friend to one of the girl's zealously right-wing father, as its rotten cherry on top. Things get more twisted when the girls explore the rabbit hole of true crime fandoms online, with one of them writing some truly horrendous fan fiction of real life school shooters and developing a disturbing kinship with the killers. While two of the girls are tragic but still deeply unpleasant characters, I was the most disappointed with Violet. In a state of desperate loneliness, she allows and even introduces the other girls to extreme ideas that ultimately lead to murder. I feel like her main crime is that of having terrible friends and no will to hold them back just so she doesn't feel so alone. Although I did quite enjoy her Sims murder basement game mod, hilariously dark.

The true-crime commentary was excellent and really delved into why people can become so obsessed with it. The unhinged true-crime fandoms the girls take part in and the very structure of the novel as a book that shines a spotlight on a horrific murder that had been overshadowed by Brexit, highlights the exploitation of such crimes and their victims. I've read some other books that try to explore the same theme, but don't execute with the same level of nuance.

This is a gritty, twisted and yet darkly funny book that you will devour. A nostalgic read for those who were teens in the 2010s and with anyone witness to Tumblr and Discord fandom drama, although I really hope not to this extreme. It will make you remember all the worst bits of being a teenager in this era and laugh at the ridiculous pettiness of it all.

AMAZING!

This book is a standout title for me. The plot was phenomenal told through the biased narrator that can never be fully trusted. The book perfectly critiques the True Crime industry.

Written like a True Crime investigation, the book delves into the case of Joan Wilson’s murder. Journalist Alec Z Carrelli constructs an “true” account of the murder free of bias and sensationalism. Only how can this be true in the form of the True Crime industry. Including interviews, research, discussions with the killers and illustrative version of events. All create a spell binding and horrific tale.

This book was amazing. I adored every second and the psychological description of each characters approach to the murder. Clark truly showed the impact of such a tragic event whilst binding in the horrific impact one’s teen years and social media can have.

Clark artfully created a perfectly plotted story that captures you in its horrendous form of continuous tragedy and disaster. The ending was absolutely phenomenal!

100% best book of the year.

This was a savage kick in the stomach from start to finish. So compelling that I couldn't stop reading and so disturbing that certain lines gave me chills.

A book within a book framing device is used that works well to ask the uncomfortable questions about true crime.

Seemingly sympathetic, is there more to this journalist than meets the eye?

Three girls have murdered another girl, setting her on fire in a brutal attack. Girl A, B, C and D - girl D isn't involved but is dragged into the investigation.

What we see as we move from their different points of view is characters who seem real, a sea-side town in decline full of corruption and its own sense of rights and wrongs. Tragic events that unfold with an all too clear sense of reality. This could happen. It does happen. I wouldn't be a teen again if you paid me.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. Outstanding and disturbing, not for the faint of heart.

After loving Boy Parts, I was elated to find out that Eliza Clark was coming out with another novel and was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Netgalley for it. Admittedly, I did not know what I was getting myself into, only that I loved her prior work.

Within the first couple pages I had to research whether the events being told actually happened because the writing was so believable. Only then did I clue in that this is not a regular mystery/ thriller, but a fictional true crime one. It took me a while to get used to the format this type of story entails – especially because this book was an inception of sorts where the narrator is an author himself, writing a true crime novel about the account of events that took place of the murder and interviewing people closest to the victim and suspects.

The story was a little all over the place. Rightfully so, the author included background stories of many minor characters and historical stories about the town. These mostly all tied in at some later point in the book, but in the moment I was a bit frustrated trying to understand their purpose. My favourite parts were the ones that accounted for the background stories of the girls themselves, as well as the account of what happened that led to Joni’s death: the Tumblr posts, the Sims tie-in, the text messages – these were the exciting parts, but they were in between some other things that I sometimes found it a chore to get through. This book also needs major trigger warnings for so many things; especially near the end, I had a hard time getting through the gory details, but also the huge plot point of bullying was a bit triggering for me too.

Regardless of all of that, when I picked up the book, I couldn’t put it down. I was even flying through the parts I didn’t care about because I knew that on the other side, we’d get more juicy details, and I couldn’t wait for those. I’ve only been seeing hype around it, and while it’s not my favourite like Boy Parts was, it is a really interesting and engaging read.

Penance is stomach-churning. The fact that this is fiction doesn't take away the absolute macabre horror, either. You can consider yourselves warned.

Unusually, for a crime novel, there is no mystery here. The crime is unveiled at the start, and Clark’s story aims to dig deep into the motive.

Our narrator is the author Alec Z Carelli, a journalist who, disgraced in the phone hacking scandal, is now writing true crime. This time, the book is about a murder in Crow-on-Sea, a far past its prime town near Scarborough: Joan Wilson, 16, was killed on the eve of the Brexit vote by schoolgirls she knew well; they kidnapped her, tortured her and then set her on fire.

Gradually we get introduced to the backstory, which, is this even possible!, at times feels even more traumatic than the central heinous criminal act.

Carelli recounts the girls’ previous relationships by comprehensively reconstructing the banalities of school popularity politics and the everyday trials and tribulations of teenage life.

But the sinister turn comes when some of these girls become immersed in online “fandoms” where murderers are put on a pedestal like pop stars. Plus, some girls, including our perps, begin bonding over an elaborately ritualised occult game where they “manifest” harm on “enemies” such as Joan – and steadily, the line between fantasy and reality blurs.

Carelli intertwines this story with that of his own “tireless research” through various media, journal entries, interviews, Tumblr posts and more. At every turn, he unveils a magnitude of hypocrisy and amorality. Carelli secures the cooperation of the girls’ distraught relatives by sharing his grief over his own daughter’s suicide; or, when that fails, he's not beyond turning to outright bullying or harassment.

How much is truth? How much is Carelli constructing for the story selling sensationalism? That's the problem with unreliable narrators. And, sure, is there such a thing as absolute truth here anyway? Or is it an abstract concept only?

Penance is a triumph. An enrapturing read which takes us deep into the extremely troubled mindset of these murderous teenage girls. 4.5⭐

Lately I’ve been reading books that seemed like a sure hit, only to be left underwhelmed. The reverse has also been true so I can’t complain much.

Penance is a fake true crime book telling the story of how three teenage girls killed a classmate on the night of the Brexit vote. Set in N. Yorkshire, where I spent my own teenage years, I was drawn to the familiar setting and the unique style of the book.

The book is made up of interviews, podcast transcripts, dramatizations, history sidebars and tumblr posts. This was a fresh approach, however, and perhaps this only applies to the eARC, it wasn’t always clear where one source finished and another started and I was sometimes unsure who ‘I’ was.

I really expected to love this book and I think writing it in this style is impressive. As there are so many rave reviews (and believe me, I want to conform) let me tell you what didn’t work for me:

It’s too long – and felt it. Some sections seemed to go on for a long time without adding much (most of the dramatized scenes) and others seemed irrelevant (an entire account of a fictional school shooting, town history). I understand that the variety of sources is what makes the book, but it needed a faster pace.

It’s repetitive. Moving through different points of view means that information is often repeated without much expansion.

There’s no mystery. The crime is explained at the start and the rest of the book serves to tell us how all parties arrived there, giving more information about backgrounds, etc. However, I felt there were few surprises, and I would’ve liked a reveal to change our first impressions.

Not a hit for me, but I’m definitely in the minority. And I will go back and read Boy Parts, which I’ve had since release!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Penance is a novel about a "true crime" set in not-quite-Bridlington, full of seedy characters and teenage internet creepypasta drama spilling out into the real world. The tabloid hack who's writing the definitive book about the crime is a damaged bereaved parent and his honesty is questionable - what's the real truth?

I ended up listening to the audiobook version of the book and stayed up late to carry on listening because I was so hooked on the story and desperate to know what happened to all the girls.

A highly recommended read.