Jack Davenport is a great narrator for The Kellerby Code. I didn't engage with the characters as much as I'd like as they're from different social circles than I normally read stories from. Because of that it didn't feel as layered as I would have liked. Overall, an enjoyable listen.

I requested this because a friend had given it 5 stars on Goodreads! I'm afraid it wasn't for me and I only got about a third of the way through. Jack Davenport's narration was great, I just couldn't click with any of the characters and by the time I gave up I was bored of waiting for something momentous to happen. Disappointing.

Brilliance.
I don't know if this is a cosy crime book or a psychopathic crime book.
The story was fantastic and credible, not OTT as some crime fiction can be.
I have already put copies to the side for family and friends.

I loved this! The Kellerby Code is thought provoking, examines class, status and relationships. Although, It doesn’t contain any characters I liked. It is funny, dark and extremely well written with turns in the story I wasn't expecting. A great narration by Jack Davenport too.

I think this book will easily find its fans and a good companion piece would be Saltburn - but this title was not for me. The characters, while intentionally dislike me had no going for me to want to read about any of them, and the last third descended into a chaos that didn’t ring true for me, as a straightforward story or as a satire.

I’m sure this was great, but it just wasn’t for me.

Edward lives a people pleasing life in order to fit in with people with whom he has little in common. His unrequited love for Stanza takes a darker, sinister ‘Talented Mr Ripley’ style turn when Edward discovers she is in a relationship with Robert.
Reading this book the concept of schadenfreude frequently surfaces brought about mainly through the inequality of class between Edward and his ‘friends’. Add to that Edward’s lack of self esteem and imposter syndrome and a twisted and on the whole unlikeable cast and dark humour this makes for a very divisive read.
Based on its premise and with narration by Jack Davenport’, I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I suspect I wasn’t the target audience. I confess I wasn’t a fan of Saltburn, and I suspect this book will really appeal to the fans of that show.

Edward is trying to live in a world he doesn’t belong in and will do anything to fit in with the friends he met at University. When Stanza and Robert admit they are in a relationship, Edward begins to unravel with devastating consequences.

The Kellerby Code is a thought provoking novel that examines class, status and relationships. It does not contain one single character I liked and is completely frustrating in the way they treat each other. That all adds to the enjoyment of the book due to the strong emotions it provokes.

Darkly incredible!

I loved this book, so well written and very much salt burn vibes! But darker and with less graves and bathtubs!

Loved the audio book the narration was 🤌🏼

Chilling in the best way. All comparisons made to The Secret History and The Talented Mr Ripley are more than merited.
Full of dark humour with a sinister edge throughout this was slow burning story that will stay with you and make you question what you had been reading. Well written with real style. I can see a Booker nod coming its way.

Audio was brilliant, narrator has great tone and pace matched the slow burning feel perfectly. Also did different characters accents well which is a rarity in audiobooks. Would make a good audiobook to relax to, tone is perfect to soothe but the story is interesting enough to stop you being sent to sleep with the lovely tones.

I just reviewed The Kellerby Code by Jonny Sweet. #TheKellerbyCode #NetGalley
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A very dark and not
This is a story you may need to stick at for the first few chapters whilst you get to know and hate all the characters. Yes really, there wasn’t a character other than perhaps Maggie that I liked or felt any sympathy for..

The lead character, Edward, starts off as a little bit odd but by the end of the story he is completely off the scale. His servile sycophancy borders on the unbelievable; almost too unbelievable but dragged back from the brink by well plotted and detailed writing.

I would have liked some more detail and explanation at the very end but this is an audiobook that is really worth listening to, especially with the faultless narration by Jack Davenport. particularly enjoyable audiobook. But…….. had me from the first page!

A multilayered, menacing, and intelligent blend of class, crime, mental health issues, and the blackest of humour from Jonny Sweet with his intriguing character study of Edward, a man with self esteem issues and a deep and desperate desire to escape the ordinariness and embarrassment of his background and his disturbing past. I was fortunate to read and listen to the audio, brilliantly narrated with skill and drama by the well known actor, Jack Davenport, keeping me avidly listening from start to finish, A scholarship boy gaining a place at public school who went on to become a Cambridge graduate, you would imagine this is a man set up for life. Not a bit of it, instead the passive Edward appears to have settled for a life of servitude, keen to attend to the needs and whims of his fellow university friends, Robert and Stanza, odious and entitled people, whilst working as a tutor. Nothing is too much trouble for him when it comes to them.

There are numerous scenarios that highlight Edward's awkwardness and lack of awareness within the privileged milieu he so wants to be at home in and fit in with. He lives with Stanza at her London home, with frequent visits to her family estate. His feelings for Stanza are hidden and not reciprocated, Edward suppresses his turmoil and simmering emotions when Robert and Stanza become engaged, but this fails to prevent the unravelling of his life that follows. Tensions begin to become more heightened, as matters enter increasingly deranged, violent and brutal territory, inhabited by imaginary friends.

My curiosity about the unstable Edward kept me engaged and turning the pages of this fearsome, well plotted and unsettling read of worrying brutality, love, and revenge, and appreciated how the author skewered the privileged classes with style and verve. Perhaps not a read that will appeal to everyone, but one which ended up being fun and entertaining, despite it taking some time for me to become immersed in it. I particularly recommend the audio which was significantly more able to keep my interest, the narrator was that good! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC and Bolinda Audio for the ALC.

Thoroughly immersive writing and narration of a somewhat unravelling main protagonist, with a captivating, in depth look into the makings of his mind. This reminded me so very much of a movie that I cannot place for the life of me ….. ?! The lengths that Edward goes to fit in are among some of the funniest, sharp and disturbing instances imaginable. I pitied him, I hated him, I wanted more for him. I absolutely loathed Robert though, which can only mean he’s brilliantly written, and I wanted a little bit more oomph from Stanza.

A fine piece of work!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

A little bit dark, and a little bit fun, this book strikes the right notes often.
I was left feeling slightly uncomfortable at the way Edward was treated and the fact he let himself be.
Raised a few genuine smiles along the way.
I'll look forward to what comes next with this author.