Firstly I’d like to thank NetGalley for the preview copy of this amazing novel, one that I loved and will come back to in the future.
Catherine Chidgey has conjured up a magically evocative 1970’s rural English setting. Memories from my childhood came flooding back ( my Nan playing spot the ball in the newspaper, I’d completely forgotten that! ) So much that was familiar but then jarring incongruences and unsettling events that point to a post WW2 society that has evolved with very different ethical standards than those we expect today. Questions about humanity, medical trials, good versus evil, nature versus nurture….everyday people and those in power who either close their eyes to the horrors or rationalise what they know.
We follow the story of institutionalised children cared for by three “mothers” and a “doctor”. A daughter brought up in a seemingly normal family but confined to her house and garden. A “Minister for Loneliness” who has difficulty decisions to make.
Great characters, original and thought provoking narrative ….I highly recommend thus novel and leave this review voluntarily.

3.5⭐️
The story of triplet boys living separated from the general population in the Sycamore Scheme run by the English government. Chapter by chapter we learn more about the boys but are also introduced to Nancy, being raised by her overprotective parents who seem to have something to hide from her and the world.
Strangely I got more interest in Nancy's storyline than the boys. I think due to the boys' story taking so long to be told. A good read although I wish the Sycamore side of things had moved along a bit quicker.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Australia for the arc of this book for review.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis of The Book of Guilt. The unsettling atmosphere, the mystery surrounding the Sycamore Scheme, and the triplets' yearning for a normal life all had the potential for a gripping story. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me.

While Chidgey establishes a suitably creepy environment, the plot meanders and the pacing is glacial. The secrets hinted at in the blurb unravel far too slowly, and when they finally do, they feel underwhelming. The characters, particularly the triplets, remain frustratingly underdeveloped. I never truly connected with them or felt invested in their struggles.

The constant references to the books (The Book of Dreams, The Book of Knowledge, etc.) felt repetitive and heavy-handed, rather than adding to the story's atmosphere. While the writing is competent, it lacked the spark needed to elevate the material. Overall, The Book of Guilt felt like a missed opportunity. It had all the ingredients for a compelling read, but the slow pace and lack of character development left me feeling disappointed.

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

The year is 1979 in England, there stands on the edge of the woods just across the river a house for boys, Captain Scott House, where three thirteen-year-old orphans live; Vincent, Lawrence and William. They are identical triplets who believe their parents both dies from heart attacks. They are raised and taught by three mothers; Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night.

In the morning at five am Mother Morning starts her day, the first thing she does is ask each boy what he dreamt and writes it in the Book of Dreams, they then eat breakfast and have lessons from the Book of Knowledge. At one o’clock Mother Afternoon comes on duty and is with the boys until nine pm when Mother Night comes and stays awake all night in case she is needed. If a child misbehaves his punishment is having his misbehaviour written up in the Book of Guilt where anyone can read it. They have a regular physician, Dr. Alastair Roach, who comes regularly to check on the boys and prescribe them all kinds of different medications that the mothers make sure they take.

Sometimes a boy is sent on an errand into the village to buy some bread or buttons but only if he promises to be on his best behaviour. It is during these errands that the boys notice the villagers are cautious of them, almost like they are contagious and the village children have been known to beat them and laugh saying “see they feel no pain”. Why are they treated like this?

One day the Minister of Loneliness comes to visit, she tells them their home that they have lived in all their lives since they were born is to be closed but they will hopefully have a family to live with.

Only a few hours away lives thirteen-year-old Nancy with her parents. She is not allowed out, just to her backyard sometimes and only if no one else is around. If anyone comes to the house she has to hide and not be seen. Why are her parents keeping her a secret?

This book is written from three points of view; Vincent, Nancy and Silvia Dalton; The Minister of Loneliness.

I enjoyed this book very much and kept trying to work out who the triplets were and why they were treated like second class citizens but I could never have guessed the real truth.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin Random House Australia for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant. So unsettling and eerie, it was totally immersive. Already hanging out for whatever Catherine writes next.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars

This is one of those stories that you keep thinking about late at night when everything is quiet and still.

The Book of Guilt explores the lives of Triplets who are the last remaining residents of a New Forest home, part of the government's "Sycamore Scheme".

It's a slow burn to start, as we explore this home through the eyes of one of the boys. As many books with a narrator that is restricted in what they know of the world, building their world and understanding their lives can take time. But as the government starts to shut down the "sycamore scheme" it becomes clear that things are not quite what they seem...

Unnerving, and dark, I could not put it down after about 30%, desperate to find out what was actually going on. I love a dystopian novel, and this one was so different and ecompassing. I absolutely recommend it.

I was so lucky to be given this book to read and honestly review as an advanced copy by Penguin Randon House and Net Galley - thank you!

Dystopian fiction and a mesmerising read.

Post war Britain is not the Britain we know. It's 1979 and the story follows two strands. A set of triplets at a boys home, they are the last residents at the home, part of the Sycamore scheme. And Nancy, a girl who's parents never let her out into the public, and hide her in the cupboard if anybody comes to the house.

It's a slow reveal as we learn, along with the triplets, what the Sycamore scheme is all about. We also learn how the lives of the boys are linked to Nancy.

A read with sinister undertones, it's haunting, addictive and thought provoking.

Wow! This is one that will stay with me.

In The Book of Guilt we meet 13 year old triplet boys who live in Sycamore House cared for by 3 ‘mothers’ who educate, medicate and record their dreams and behaviour. They dream of one day leaving and going to Margate as others before them have done. Margate promises warm weather and permanent fun.

We also meet Nancy who is being raised by her parents but not allowed to leave their home. Until the Minister of Loneliness is tasked with finding homes for the boys and all their lives collide and truths are revealed.

This book had me gasping out loud. I couldn’t put it down. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

‘Come to Margate … where children can have the time of their lives just being children.’

This gripping dystopian novel opens in England in 1979. Lawrence, Vincent and William are the last residents of a secluded New Forest home, part of the government’s Sycamore Scheme. Every day has routine and structure. The triplets have chores, lessons and games. They also have medicine administered by one of the three women looking after them: Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night.

‘Their nightmares are recorded in The Book of Dreams.
Their lessons are taken from The Book of Knowledge.
And their sins are reported in The Book of Guilt.’

But their routine is about to be disturbed. The government is looking to shut down the Sycamore Homes and this means that the boys are gradually exposed to the outside world.

What can I tell you about this novel without introducing any spoilers? I could suggest that you just pick it up and read it, become immersed in a world where ethical considerations are a distant second to scientific and medical possibility. I could hint at ongoing debate between nature and nurture, at lives blighted by fear and the possibility of revenge. I could observe that some lives are valued less than others, that decisions have consequences.

I could just observe that this is one of the best books I have read this year, that the story holds uncomfortable echoes of the past. I finished the novel, took a series of deep breaths and rejoined my current reality.

I’ll end by observing that Ms Chidgey held my attention from beginning to end and that the most effective dystopian novels are grounded in unpleasant realities and possibilities.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I was thoroughly absorbed in this imaginative Sci Fi novel. There was so much to wonder about and piece together. There was an underlying sense of foreboding in each of the character's life experiences and I was eager to keep reading to find out where it was all leading. It was easy to feel empathy for some of the characters and I found myself dreaming up ways that the story could end in their favour. I like how the author cleverly rewrote history rather than using a futuristic setting. This will stay with me as one of my favourite books of 2025. I am curious to see what else this author has written.

A historic fiction story, The Book of Guilt (2025) by Catherine Chidgey is a pleasant read, with sinister undertones. Vincent, Lawrence and William are identical triplets who live in a secluded New Forest Manor and are watched around the clock by three mothers. Each morning, their nightmares are noted in the Book of Dreams, their daily lessons taken from The Book of Knowledge, and The Book of Guilt records their sinfulness. The brothers are part of a government scheme, requiring daily medication to fight the illness. With the imminent closure of the Sycamore Scheme, the boys' lives are irrevocably changed, and dark secrets will be revealed. The lulling, almost gentle narrative hides dark hints of malice, the true purpose of the triplets’ lives, and genetic antecedents. Although set in 1979 England, this is a sci-fi tale with a bleak, almost Armageddon feel, that has a somewhat disappointing ending and a three star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Penguin Random House Australia and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

Review:

The Book of Guilt is one of those rare reads that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. Catherine Chidgey’s writing is stunning - sharp, lyrical, and full of nuance💖 Every word feels intentional, every chapter peels back another layer of intrigue.

The story of the triplets is deeply compelling. Their individual struggles, their fractured memories, and their desperate attempts to untangle a past that won’t stay buried — it’s emotional, tense, and so raw. You feel their confusion, their guilt, their need to know. And the way the writer handles their unraveling truth is truly masterful🫶🏻

There’s so much depth here - family, identity, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. It’s complex but never confusing. Just beautifully, hauntingly done.

Taut, emotional, and richly layered, The Book of Guilt is a psychological journey into the depths of family, memory, and the cost of silence. Intricately written and impossible to put down, this book will stay with you long after the final page.

This engrossing and unsettling mystery is set in an alternate reality where young triplets live separated from the world with their every misdeed and dream meticulously recorded. The premise is chilling and the narrative is gripping, tackling themes of nature vs nurture and societal fear of those deemed “different”. It is a well-paced story with tension building as the sinister secrets hidden from the children are progressively revealed. Dystopian but not too far-fetched, this is a really good book.

Plot twist upon plot twist! A cool “virgin suicides” vibes story,which in my head has Fleetwood Mac exclusively playing. This book poses the age old question of nature vs nurture. You’ll spend your ethical hour with Mother Morning wondering if blood will win out…

Imagine three boys, raised in the quietest kind of isolation, their world shaped by the rotating care of three mysterious figures that they simply know as Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Night.

Every day is a carefully orchestrated routine which includes taking of medicine to ward off something called "The Bug." The Mothers document every slip-up, every childhood mischief, in the ominous-sounding "Book of Guilt."

This book dives deep into the age-old question of nature versus nurture & throwing in a hefty dose of how do we value those who are different from us? It has thought provoking ideas wrapped in a haunting package.

The author masterfully holds back the big reveal about their unusual home life until well into the story, giving you ample time to try piece together the puzzle yourself.

If you like dystopian fiction with a bit of mystery then this is for you

Thank you Catherine Chidgey, Penguin Random House Australia & NetGalley for an advanced copy. Social post on it's wayyy.

The story about a tripled growing up in a tightly secured house away from the society. Vincent, Lawrence, and William only had each other, growing up in the care of Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother night. They followed their daily schedules, taking pills to keep them from the Bug, taking lessons from the Book of Knowledge, and trying to keep to their best behaviour to not get written up in the Book of Guilt. Like all the rest of the kids that grew up in the Home, the boys longed for the day they would be invited to go to Margate, the place where all the kids dream to go to have the best fun kids can get.

Until a change in minister and a slip of tongue from a local revealed a more sinister side of why they were brought up in this way. Suddenly secrets from the past were brought to light, Their mothers and lessons started to shook in lies and Margate didn't sound like the dream place they grew up to believe.

As the story progress, the sinister truth about the Homes, the government schemes supporting it, and the people involved were brought to light. The pacing and detailing that that author gave throughout the book was crazy, and honestly freaked me out how real it felt. The imagination and creativity in this book is out of the world. Honestly one of the best ARC I've read this year. I feel like I love and hate all the characters at the same time. It's a long and lengthy book, for good reasons. All the questions were answered at the end in the most satisfying way. One of the top read in 2025 for sure.

I was looking forward to reading another spectacular novel by the talented Catherine Chidgey and when The Book of Guilt became available as an ARC I hoped that I'd be given the chance to read it. Thank you so much!

This is my favourite of Chidgey's work so far. It began fairly quietly, but Catherine Chidgey is able to weave threads that gradually build tension and crescendo taking your emotions with the fall.

This story curls around your heart and squeezes.

The truth about which one was hurt by the psychotic "grieving" parents hit me in the feels. It was devastating.

I can't understand Vincent's love of William, but I love that Mother Night reappears.

This story will haunt me for a while.

Thank you @NetGalley and @PenguinRandomHouse for giving me an ARC of this beautiful book!
I was lucky enough to have read an ARC of this amazing book. The author has stunned me and left me speechless with this brilliant dystopian fiction. If Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro left an impact on you, you are going to enjoy this book a lot!
When you start reading, you will find yourself learning about 3 orphan triplets who are living in an orphan home with their carers, in the late 1900s, living their day-to-day lives waiting to be adopted. They do what they are told, like learning, taking their medicines, playing and chores of different types to enable them to grow up to become a fully functioning adult. All the boys want is to good enough to be accepted into this dream place called as Margate where the fun never ends. However, the more you delve into this book the more you will get to know the purpose of these boys, and the more your skin will crawl. She has brilliantly weaved a beautiful story out of things that may even happen in this weird world into something that will haunt you. I cannot recommend this book enough! Have thoroughly enjoyed reading it and will definitely buy a copy as soon as it is released! Release date 6th May 2025!

Thank you so much to @netgally @penguinrandom for letting me read this amazing ARC which is coming out in May and my god I just know this is gonna be a big hit.

Summary - In England 1970, 3 triplets are the last remaining children in an isolated home as part of the Sycamore scheme. They dream of going to ‘Margate’ which seems to be paradise. But unfortunately the government is shutting down the Sycamore scheme and as truths start to unfold, the triplets start to question everything they’ve been told.

Review - If Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro had an impact on you, then this is the book for you. I don’t want to give too much away in regard to this book but it was an insane moral and ethical fiction piece regarding how humans value one life over another.

I will admit the book started off slow but in hindsight, I think that build the suspense and when the bombs started to drop and the plot twists came, it made the impact so much harder. There were so many times where something was revealed and I sat staring at the page in shock.

This book was such an incredible story and really made me question whether it was even a fiction at times, because a lot of the events I definitely see happening in the future which is kind of scary making it an almost dystopian fiction but set in the past. As someone in science, it definitely made me question the ethics of research and it was just such an incredible read.

Catherine’s writing really put me through so many emotions and built up the plot twists and reveals so perfectly I am so so excited for the official release so more people can read this book !

Review time!!!!! Going into The Book of Guilt, I knew I was going to love it and I was right. The story unfolds bit by bit, sometimes leaving my mouth hanging open. The book is based in the late 70’s, England. Three young boys are raised in relative isolation as part of the government’s Sycamore scheme. Three women (Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Evening) are rostered around the clock to observe, care for and teach the boys. The triplets do their exercises and their chores, and swallow not only their medication, but also the lies they are constantly told.
My heart absolutely went out to the boys as more and more of their purpose in life was revealed, and how little their lives seemed to matter to some. It’s hard to write a review without spoiling the story, but just know this is a carefully crafted book by an incredibly talented author. I definitely need a trophy copy of this when it is released! I loved it so much. Pleeeeeeease get your hands on it when it’s is released (Pub date May 6th), I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished it.
Thankyou to Catherine Chidgey, the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
#thebookofguilt #netgalley