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Alison Irving
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Casual Cruelties: A brand new nail-biting domestic suspense with a breathtaking twist Kindle Edition

by Alison Irving (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,556 ratings
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She wants to escape the prison of her marriage—but after decades of mind games, does she have the strength to break free?

Fifty-three, long-married, and in the throes of menopause, Laura is dismayed. She’s always tolerated her journalist husband’s belittling insults and manipulation—but at least she got some peace when he was busy at his job. Now he’s working from home, and her life is becoming a nightmare. Laura’s blessed escape comes in the form of book club meetings where her female friends commiserate and joke about raging hormones and rogue chin hairs. She also runs into an ex-boyfriend, and their renewed friendship awakens the spirit and self-confidence she thought was long gone.

But when Laura learns some startling things about her spouse, she begins to think she needs a different kind of life change. But an abuser can be dangerous when deprived of his fun—and just how far is Laura prepared to go to get her life back?
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  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Bloodhound Books
  5. Publication date
    November 3, 2023
  6. File size
    2410 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJ3GVHMC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloodhound Books (November 3, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 3, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2410 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,556 ratings

About the author

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Alison Irving

Alison Irving

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Alison lives in a village outside Belfast, Northern Ireland. Casual Cruelties is her first novel. The follow up to Casual Cruelties will be published by Bloodhound Books in August 2024

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,556 global ratings
Slow burn
4 Stars
Slow burn
This domestic suspense was very much a slow burn. I had a bit of trouble staying focused in the beginning, with the monotony of life that was depicted. As the pace started picking up, my interest did as well. This was a well written book that showed the progression and acceleration of abuse in relationships. So a major trigger warning there. The disgust I felt for the MMC only grew and snowballed out of control, so the ending had me satisfied.Laura is our FMC and with her only son off to college, she is suffering from not only from an empty nest, but menopause as well. With no one around to see the “casual cruelties” that he throws at his wife, James starts to accelerate his abuse. Laura hides this from her friends, and suffers alone. Until she runs into a former flame, and they start plotting how to get her a new life.
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Top reviews from the United States

Tenta
5.0 out of 5 stars It felt like spying on a marriage!
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023
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Brilliantly written. An initial slow burn that gradually catches light and rapidly flares to an unputdownable ending!
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Corine Lombardi
4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and suspenseful
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
I loved the aspect of being stuck at home with your spouse due to working from home that was refreshing and original. This book has many dark aspects and turns and I must say the tropes of psychological abuse and manipulation were well crafted to create a story that I just couldn’t stop reading. This author has an amazing way of making you fall in love with characters while also hating them throughout this book there were many times that I second-guess my sanity because of how much I enjoyed the chaos and turmoil of the plot itself.

This is very Showtime meets Hallmark, which again in many ways was refreshing and original, because I love this genre. It is one of my favorites, I wouldn’t call this suspense as much as I would categorize it psychological thriller with a climax that you just don’t see.

In many ways, I felt like this female main character was weak and built herself up, yet I kind of wanted to jump through the page and shake her at times.

Now because there is definitely the aspect of mental and emotional even physical abuse, and in someways I say more physical because the idea of this story coming to life would take a physical toll on the person. I truly resonated with this book as a woman that works from home and now has also learned a few quirks and pet peeves that I didn’t notice until I started working from home about my husband.

Highly recommend because this will have you second guessing each step of each character till the end I loved it.

To the author:
What are some red flags that you would say would have you end a relationship?? And if this were a true story do you think there were red flags in the book that you want readers to specifically notice?!
One person found this helpful
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Amanda Felton
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book for first time author.
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
I love love this genre. This book is Alison Irving's first debut novel her first book !! The writing style and story of this book was so well done. I wouldn't have said this was her first book. I absolutely loved this book. Laura was an amazing character and wow can I relate to her in more ways than one. I loved how she blossomed throughout the book. I loved the friends she had and the book club they formed. I wanted to be that friend for Laura. James was a bully. He was pure awful. I wanted to strangle him. He really thought he was gods gift to women. Just awful man. I'm still reeling from the ending. I can't get over it. It really ended with a bang and now I have so many questions that I'm hoping will be a sequel!!! I need y'all to so me a favor and go get this book you won't be disappointed if anything you will be like what just happened. Yeah it's an ending you didn't see !!!
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B. Armellino
3.0 out of 5 stars Fell short for me
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
The subject of the novel is difficult to deal with, butI just couldn’t relate to the main character. I found that the writing style was very wordy. Not an easy read for me.
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Miriam
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2023
Was a bit slow but picks up the suspense and couldn’t put it down. Ending was unexpected. Definitely recommend and would be reading more from this author.
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Tiffany Knowles
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow burn
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
This domestic suspense was very much a slow burn. I had a bit of trouble staying focused in the beginning, with the monotony of life that was depicted. As the pace started picking up, my interest did as well. This was a well written book that showed the progression and acceleration of abuse in relationships. So a major trigger warning there. The disgust I felt for the MMC only grew and snowballed out of control, so the ending had me satisfied.

Laura is our FMC and with her only son off to college, she is suffering from not only from an empty nest, but menopause as well. With no one around to see the “casual cruelties” that he throws at his wife, James starts to accelerate his abuse. Laura hides this from her friends, and suffers alone. Until she runs into a former flame, and they start plotting how to get her a new life.
Customer image
Tiffany Knowles
4.0 out of 5 stars Slow burn
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2023
This domestic suspense was very much a slow burn. I had a bit of trouble staying focused in the beginning, with the monotony of life that was depicted. As the pace started picking up, my interest did as well. This was a well written book that showed the progression and acceleration of abuse in relationships. So a major trigger warning there. The disgust I felt for the MMC only grew and snowballed out of control, so the ending had me satisfied.

Laura is our FMC and with her only son off to college, she is suffering from not only from an empty nest, but menopause as well. With no one around to see the “casual cruelties” that he throws at his wife, James starts to accelerate his abuse. Laura hides this from her friends, and suffers alone. Until she runs into a former flame, and they start plotting how to get her a new life.
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Nanci Gage
5.0 out of 5 stars Will grab you!! Getting anything else done but reading this may be casually cruel!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
Wow such a well-written story! So relatable in many ways and really captured the feelings and emotions and yes, challenges that many women face if not to the degree of the story in some way. Compelling characters that I found myself engrossed in the story quickly and routing for. While it is definitely slow building, slow burn it captures you to the “can’t put it down point” ! A great read!
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Christine A
5.0 out of 5 stars Read it in One Sitting
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
I literally could not put this one down, and read the whole thing in one sitting.
Laura is so relatable as she starts to question her life and happiness. We don’t all share the experiences that she does in the book, but we all have those feelings as we get older of wondering what our purpose is and are we truly happy.
I should also mention that the ending is pure perfection!
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Top reviews from other countries

Sorrel Pitts
5.0 out of 5 stars A gripping story about coercive control
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Alison Irving's novel is written in the best of storytelling traditions - it builds slowly and in straigthforward linear form, with the tension growing chapter by chapter as central protagonist's Laura's husband James slowly reveals his real, rather ugly colours. Rather like the boiling frog analogy (the theory goes that if you put a frog into water and let it slowly come up to boil, the frog won't notice until it's too late to jump out ) Laura doesn't realise what's really happening in her marriage until things have gone so far that it's almost impossible for her to fight back. Fortunately destiny throws Laura a bone and we cheer her on as she starts to plot her escape.

Casual Cruelties is a brilliant depiction of power imbalance in a marriage, but it also takes a hard look at long-term relationships in general and the petty irritations that can fester and grow when real communication breaks down. I am sure that many people - both men and women - will strongly idenfity with its themes. An excellent novel.
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Mr Raymond Thompson
4.0 out of 5 stars This is a good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2024
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This story was a slow starter but kept you hooked and wanting to know more . I enjoyed reading it.
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Margaret
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2024
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A brilliant book with a gripping story and wonderful characters. Alison is a real talent and this is the best debut book I have read. I hope to read a lot more of her work. I am waiting for her next novel and am glad to find another author to follow. I suspect Alison will become one of my favourites.
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W. A. Burt
3.0 out of 5 stars I didn't bite my nails
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very slow to start and needlessly drawn out.
Yes,it had it moments,with coercive control and some sexual violence but for the most part it was a relatively tame read.
Be warned,there is a cheesy romance squeezed in to lighten things up but the ending was too predictable.However,the Epilogue was unexpected and enigmatic.
For something much darker and disturbing try The Second Woman by Louise Mey.
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Suzanne
5.0 out of 5 stars Behind closed doors.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very good read. I see myself, wishing it was me meeting my first love from many moon's ago.
I would have left her husband long before he got so controlling.
The way he treated her....his sly, Mr. Big manner and His too posh family looking down on others.
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