As a preface, I love dystopian novels but I don’t usually go for sci-fi, unless that sci-fi involves real human beings (I’m not interested in aliens or made-up creatures). I can get on board with time and/or space travel (see Sea of Tranquility and Cloud Cuckoo Land). I like social and political commentary, with slightly altered reality, but nothing too scary (no thank you, Margaret Atwood). These might be unusual lines to draw, but it’s where I land time and again. So what about a historical fiction dystopian mashup? All in. A different fate for Hitler, and therefore, humanity? Fascinating.

The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey takes place some 35 years after the conclusion of WWII, in which there was no winner. Triplets live at the Sycamore Home for boys, where their dreams and sins are recorded by their carers, Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night. Nancy, a girl who lives in isolation with her parents, is ultimately connected to the boys by the Minister of Loneliness.

The book explores nature vs nurture, good vs evil, ethics, the greater good, and the guilt of those who look away when injustice comes for the “others”. It’s not too scary, but there’s enough tension and creepy eeriness that any movie adaptation could turn this into something terrifying. There’s an obvious parallel here to Never Let Me Go, with undeniable holocaust echoes and a serial killer giving All the Colors of the Dark vibes. Disturbing in the best possible way.

Some feedback for the publisher: The first third was a little slow – I felt it could have been a bit shorter, but I understand Chidgey was setting the scene. But then it picks up and takes off and was worth the wait. I do not feel that the cover jacket design reflects the weight or tone of the book. The font makes it seem like a slightly scary beach read fit for an airport bookshelf. I thought white was a strange choice for the font, and overall felt the design could have had a more ominous aesthetic. Just don’t judge a book by its cover. There is also a typo on page 329.

Trying to figure out how to review this without spoilers... the best I can do is to say that the pacing is very slow. Unnecessarily so, imvho. Most of the book is set in 1979 and there's a lot of repetition and stressing how the boys lives are somehow different. Hearing from the Mothers would have been nice. Then the sudden shift to 2019 with only an incredibly quick gloss on the intervening 40 years? If just didn't quite work for me.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Most reviews of The Book of Guilt are going to tell you that if you liked Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go, you'll also like this. They're right: the two books are outstanding companions for one another. Both project a fascist Britain, cloning, and young people seeking out their origins and trying to understand their purpose and seeking meaning in life. Both involve government ministers and original art and enigmatic caregivers. But they are also very different books. Chidgey's story involves three young and very naive--although not entirely innocent--boys growing into young men, cared for by Mothers, awaiting the day that they, too, like their departed peers, will get to go to Margate to live in a big beautiful house and play at the amusement park there. Although they're identical triplets, the boys are very different people, and through the voice of just one of them, Chidgey manages to give them all voices and personalities that are clear and unforgettable. Where Ishiguro's book is horrific and elegaic, Chidgey's is horrific and, well, horrific, and the denouement and epilogue are astonishing and bold. It's a masterpiece, and a must-read.

Not quite what I expected going in, and I struggled a bit at the beginning to get my footing in the story, but then I was hooked. This was one of those books I couldn’t wait to get back to every time I put it down and I found myself thinking about when I wasn’t reading. If you loved Kazuo Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go” (2005), this is the book for you.

Another thoughtful, thought-provoking read from Catherine Chidgey. Even as she describes seemingly halcyon days, she builds a sense of menace. And while elements of the story are reminiscent of a certain book I won't name for fear of spoilers, "The Book of Guilt" offers different points of view, and the storytelling is propulsive enough to keep you reading. And even as you guess the unspoken truth at the heart of the plot, and after it's revealed, there are still several surprises, including at least one gut punch.

The reason I'm not rating this as high as the two other Chidgey books I've read, "Remote Sympathy" and "Pet," is that two of the three narrative voices felt a bit naive and overly similar, and the third a bit coy. Also, the final chapter was a bit too on the nose for my liking, blunting the emotional impact (at least for me). None of these should keep you from "The Book of Guilt," however. I highly recommend.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A little conflicted about this one. Overall, I found the pacing to be slow and the narrative to be a little convoluted and almost made this one a "did not finish". However, based on other reviews, I wanted to get to the end, which did give me more satisfaction.

Catherine Chidgey is unhinged in the best way possible. The Book of Guilt is her at her creepy, shocking best, and I loved every twisted, devastating second of it.

We open in an alternate version of Britain, one where Hitler was assassinated in 1942 and the war ends not with victory, but with compromise by way of the Treaty of Gothenburg. The sinister consequences of this “peace” echo through every page. There are Sycamore Homes, state-run institutions that toe the line between orphanage and experiment site. At one such home, Captain Scott, three boys—triplets Vincent, William, and Lawrence—live under the rotating care of Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Night. They learn from a set of encyclopedias called The Book of Knowledge, confess their dreams to be recorded in The Book of Dreams, and carry the weight of their misdeeds in The Book of Guilt. They take their daily medication to keep “The Bug” at bay. They are told that all the other children have gone to Margate, a place that sounds like paradise, where no one is sick and everyone plays all day.

But if that dream they keep having doesn’t stop (the one with the girl, and the blood), they may never get there.

In a parallel story, we meet Nancy, a girl confined to her family home and hidden in the wardrobe whenever anyone visits. Her world is small, but her questions are getting bigger. Why isn’t she allowed outside? Why does her birthday party feel like a punishment? And why, no matter what she’s told, does she know something isn’t right?

And then there’s the Minister of Loneliness tasked with shutting down the Sycamore Homes for budget reasons. Her sections are razor-sharp; a portrait of bureaucracy and manipulation.

And. And. And. There’s so much to tell, but it’s better if you go in without knowing too much. What Chidgey does here is masterful. She builds dread with the gentlest of touches. You can feel something’s wrong from the start, but the full horror unfurls slowly.

The Axeman’s Carnival was one of my favorite reads of 2024, and I was excited to read The Book of Guilt, which did not disappoint. The writing is superb. The structure is elegant and unsettling. Chidgey threads in pieces of 1970s British culture, and the blend of the familiar and the uncanny is part of what makes this so disturbing. This is dystopia with one foot still in the real world.

Highly, highly recommended if you’re a Chidgey fan or just someone who loves a book that makes you desperate to talk to someone about it after you finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

A very fluid and well-done dystopian and speculative fiction that I thoroughly enjoyed! I was genuinely enthralled by the consistency of the story—it just kept pushing me forward, and I truly couldn’t stop reading it. This was a slower-paced novel, but somehow it felt like so much was happening all the time. The three alternating POVs gave the story such a well-rounded perspective, allowing me to see the moral dilemmas and political issues at play from multiple angles. Themes of government control, systemic cruelty, moral reckoning, and judgment really came to the forefront—and were handled with such eerie precision.

The world-building and descriptive language were some of the best I’ve ever come across. It was colorful, atmospheric, deeply immersive, and never once confusing. I found myself savoring every single word.

While the pacing near the very end shifted a bit from the rhythm of the rest of the book, I actually loved how it all came together. The final reveal in the museum was genius—it answered so many lingering questions and wrapped up the mystery of why these children were really made. It didn’t leave any major holes, and for a dystopian novel, that’s something I deeply appreciate.

I’ll absolutely be recommending this book to others, and I can’t wait to dive into Catherine Chidgey’s earlier work. She’s a writer I’ll be keeping my eye on.

This deserved 4.5 star rating!! I rounded up because it was some of the best dystopian I’ve read yet (and enjoyed).

This dystopia revolves around male triplets; Vincent, William and Lawrence that are living in a home for orphaned boys. Their caretakers are Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night. From the start, you have an unsettled feeling. The boys are taught good manners, morning exercise, and daily lessons. They are also given medicine every day because of their weak constitution and mother morning wants a full report of all of their dreams. It is post World War II, and there was no winner of the war. The doctor that overseas the boys healthcare, was a big fan of Mengele..

The author has a beautiful job drawing a picture of the children Lies and little by little uncovering the mystery. This book is very reminiscent of Never Let Me Go. If she wasn’t such a good writer, I would dismiss the book out of hand because how can you compete with Ishiguro?

The book has a very satisfying ending and ties up all the loose ends.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for this advanced reader copy.

Catherine Chidgey’s *The Book of Guilt* is a chilling, immersive journey into an alternate 1979 England.

As with many novels depicting children sequestered in oppressive group homes, a certain degree of suspension of disbelief is necessary. The Sycamore Home’s regime, where every dream is logged in the Book of Dreams and every infraction tallied in the Book of Guilt, is both sinister and slightly surreal.

The story is told mostly through the perspective of Vincent, one of the brothers who remain at the Sycamore Home. At times, this childlike point of view can feel frustratingly narrow. Yet, the limitation is also a narrative strength: Chidgey skillfully uses Vincent’s innocence and naiveté to shroud the book’s darkest secrets, revealing them only as he’s able to piece together the truth. This technique allows for plot twists to emerge as if driving in fog - a looming shadow that suddenly pops in to clear, horrific focus. The reader discovers these realities step by step, echoing the children’s dawning horror and resilience.

The book probes heavy moral questions: what constitutes guilt, who determines humanity and how far can governments go in pursuit of societal control?

In summary, while the title may feel at odds with the story’s layered emotional reality, *The Book of Guilt* is a beautifully written, morally complex novel that lingers long after the final page.

Wow. I finished this a few weeks ago, but didn’t have time to post. I was engaged with this novel from the first sentence, and will definitely read any future work by Catherine Chidgey.

I’m not generally a fan of younger narrators, but Chidgey nails the teen/pre-teen voice. I was fascinated by the book jacket description and had my own ideas, having read WWII fiction/history, about ‘who’ and ‘what’ this book might be about. I was actually kept guessing (in the best kind of way) about the tie-in to some of the characters, and was not disappointed at the reveal.

My assumptions only barely touched on the true ‘mystery’ of this book, which is to say I was happily surprised – and mortified, in fact – by what was really happening to the characters. Stories which reimagine endings different from history are always fascinating to me.

In the end, this really is a meditation on the value and worth of a life, of individuality, and of acceptance. It’s a story of collusion and secrecy and the ways we tell ourselves we are not culpable. It also begs the question of “what makes a family?” and touches on questions of “the greater good.” I’m being purposely vague so as not to include any spoilers, but will say that there is another heart-aching twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Bravo to the author. This did not feel like a 400-page read for me. I zipped right through it. And the writing was lovely.

Title: The Book of Guilt   
Author: Catherine Chidgey    
Genre: historical fiction, fantasy  
Rating: 3 out of 5

After a very different outcome to WWII than the one history recorded, 1979 England is a country ruled by a government whose aims have sinister underpinnings and alliances. In the Hampshire countryside, 13-year-old triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents at the Captain Scott Home for Boys, where every day they must take medicine to protect themselves from a mysterious illness to which many of their friends have succumbed. The lucky ones who recover are allowed to move to Margate, a seaside resort of mythical proportions.

In nearby Exeter, 13-year-old Nancy lives a secluded life with her parents, who dote on her but never let her leave the house. As the triplets’ lives begin to intersect with Nancy’s, bringing to light a horrifying truth about their origins and their likely fate, the children must unite to escape – and survive.

I found this book to be really messed up, frankly. The premise itself, once I finally figure out what was going on, was so horrible and sad, but the people’s reactions to what was going on were worse. I didn’t find any of the characters likable, and the narrative felt pretty monotonous, which actually makes sense given what the premise was. I basically kept reading to find out what the deal was with the boys, not because I actually cared about what was going to happen.

Catherine Chidgey lives in Cambridge. The Book of Guilt is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 9/4).

I didn't know exactly what to expect from The Book of Guilt, as the premise and author really drew me in as I'd really enjoyed Chidgey's previous novel, Pet. What I found was a brilliant, tense and thrilling alternate history, as this book occurs as if WWII was never won. Therefore, there is a lot more at play with regards to scientific discovery and experimentation.

The way this was delivered was very straightforward; through three people's perspectives, two of whom are young. However, the pieces of the puzzle slowly click into place and as you realize what is going on, your sense of dread really increases. It makes for a really compelling book, with outstanding prose.

I highly recommend to readers who like alternative historical fiction, with a bit of sci-fi added in. This will definitely rank in my favorite books of the year. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I will be thinking about this book for a long time. The original premise, complicated characters, plot twists and turns, ethical dilemmas, and effective foreshadowing make me a new fan of Catherine Chidgey's work. I hope to read more from her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book follows the lives of three people in a different version of 1979 England: Victor, a 13-year-old triplet who lives with his brothers in a Home for Boys, Nancy, a 13-year-old girl who lives with her extremely overprotective parents, and the Minister of Loneliness. Throughout the book, Victor and his brothers are learning how to be good people, how to please their three mothers (Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Evening), and how important it is to take their daily medicine to keep the Bug from killing them. As the book goes on, Victor learns more and more about the world around him and so does the reader. While the book also follows Nancy and the Minister, I cared the most about Vincent. There were some tense moments were it felt like I forgot where I was as I was reading the book until I knew what happened to him. That being said, I still enjoyed the other character's chapters and didn't feel like I was trying to hurry through them.

There are many apt comparisons made about this book to a famous book that came out years ago, which I've also read and enjoyed (I won't name it so as to avoid spoilers) but The Book of Guilt dug into me in a way the other book did not. These characters felt incredibly real to me. I've both loved and hated my siblings, fought tooth and nail over something as stupid as a deer antler, and covered for them when they did something wrong. Glimmers of truth pop up in this book and make it hard to put it down.

Despite the dark content, there are moments so funny I laughed out loud and read them out to my husband. There are themes of morality and ethics, nature vs nurture, guilt and shame, and somehow they are all explored in a satisfying way. It was a beautiful book and I can't wait for it to come out so I can buy it.

The Book of Guilt takes place in the late 1970’s in England, but in an alternate timeline from us. In the book’s reality, Hitler was assassinated in 1943 and WWII ended in 1944 with a treaty that just stopped the fighting without assigning winners or losers.
The Captain Scott home is currently occupied only by ailing thirteen-year-old identical triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William. The orphans are the remaining inhabitants of the home, along with their caregivers known as Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon and Mother Night. Over the years, the other residents, also all orphans, have gradually left the premises to go to live in Margate, a magical sounding amusement park/residence that is their reward for having been cured of the illnesses that had plagued them.
The triplets, who like their predecessors are limited to the grounds of the home, are educated through classes held by the caregivers, often using topics from their only book available, a multivolume Book of Knowledge. They receive assorted injections and pills in hopes of curing their varied symptoms. The Mothers studiously record the boys’ dreams into the Book of Dreams; their behavioral mishaps are likewise entered into the Book of Guilt. In time, the boys are allowed to leave the home to accompany one of the mothers on errands, but the villagers seem to treat the triplets with scorn or fear on these trips.
In a parallel story, Nancy lives with her older mom and dad. She is generally treated well, but at times her parents make her do odd things, such as dress in special clothing so her father can take posed photos. Most importantly, though, Nancy is not allowed to leave her house. When the very infrequent visitor comes to the home, Nancy must hide in a closet and be very quiet.
Eventually, the lives of Nancy and the triplets will intersect and they will all learn the truths that have been kept from them. What will happen to these children going forward from here?
I enjoyed reading the Book of Guilt. It kept me guessing until almost the end.

This sounded so intriguing to me--I love alternate history--but I was surprised as I got into the book that the mood was so, well, almost derivative of Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go. For a good part of the book I wasn't sure that this was going to be anything other than a knockoff imitation of it with less sympathetic main characters. I mean, it's gonna be really, really hard to succeed with a book if everyone is comparing you to an Ishiguro masterpiece, you know? Who could stand up to that???
But I warmed up to this one as I discovered the different themes, especially the ideas of heredity and guilt, that began to be developed as the story progressed, and the ending, while leaving me wanting a bit, was satisfying enough that I decided I liked the book well enough. So. Don't expect it to be Never Let Me Go; come for the interesting examination of who is a person, who deserves to "live" and who deserves punishment? And how does genetic source material influence that?
So, I liked it, but if you haven't yet read Never Let Me Go, why not? Definitely do that too!

Catherine Chidgey's The Book of Guilt is a story of speculative fiction where WWII ends differently. In 1979 we meet the last residents of a home for boys, 13 year old triplets William, Vincent and Lawrence. We also meet 13 year old Nancy who lives with her parents although her home life seems odd and secretive.

I enjoyed the pacing of the story as the mystery and connections surrounding the children, their caretakers, and the society they live in heartbreakingly reveals itself. I also enjoyed the alternating narratives, and getting a current day update at the end of novel.

I rate this book a 4.5

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advance readers copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

I was excited to read this alternate universe book. It was well written and the characters were well developed. I did feel like this closely resembled another book I’ve read, so I was disappointed in that. But overall, I would recommend this book.

I liked this one a lot, with an intriguing world and a central mystery that raises interesting questions about the characters individually and about society in general. There was a moment of weird foreshadowing when characters read James Joyce and think about the beauty of the words, despite not understanding the narrative. I am an uncultured pleb who likes when stories have resolutions, and unfortunately this part about beautiful words that don't actually resolve into a storyline foreshadowed how this novel would wrap up.