The Book of Guilt
Paperback Published on: 21/05/2026
Price: £10.99
Bookseller Reviews
View all
The Book of Perfection
It’s the late 1970s and we follow Vincent, Lawrence and William some of the last remaining children of the Sycamore Scheme.
Their actions are closely wa... READ MORE
The perfect literary dystopian
This book - wow!
From the opening page, I was completely invested in these boys, and my intrigue only grew the more I read. There's a very sinister, eer... READ MORE
A superb dystopian read!
It’s hard to describe this novel without giving spoilers. A few hints…a house, triplets, mothers, trust, care, institutions, nature vs nurture, dreams and... READ MORE
Absolutely unforgettable
From the very first page I was HOOKED! The entire book being told from the POV of several unreliable narrators had me constantly turning pages with no conc... READ MORE
A provocative and chilling tale.
Catherine Chidgey is such a talented writer - incredible world building, engaging characters and a thought provoking and suspenseful story. Centred around... READ MORE
Disturbing Yet Gripping
A creepy, dystopian tale set in an alternate version of 1970s Britain. Triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William are orphaned children living in seclusion fro... READ MORE
Could not look away
A truly superb book that I know I will still be thinking about in years to come.
I think it is best to go into this book blind, because my god is it an ... READ MORE
Unputdownable!
A highly original, darkly unnerving, and intricately plotted work of literary fiction. I have been a fan of Catherine Chidgey’s previous work but this nove... READ MORE
Unsettling and Unputdownable
Set in a dystopian version of 1979 England, the novel largely follows the lives of Vincent, Lawrence and William, triplet brothers who are some of the last... READ MORE
A brilliant unveiling
This book was a brilliant unveiling; not only of why the triplets were living so far away from civilisation, why Nancy wasn’t allowed outside, the weird ru... READ MORE
Fantastic!
There's already plenty of reviews saying how good this is so I'm just echoing everyone else, but it really is just so good! A dystopian novel that slowly ... READ MORE
Incredibly gripping
Vincent, Lawrence and William are identical triplets and the last residents of one of the government funded Sycamore Houses. Here they live with three Moth... READ MORE
Sinister, kitschy British dystopia
This was just fantastic. I'm partial to 1970s/80s Britain as a setting, and it lends itself so wonderfully to a kind of kitschy creepiness here; gentle eno... READ MORE
Add this book to your TBR right now.
10/10, no notes. Honestly.
What I felt was missing from Ishiguro’s Never Let Me go, I found here. I said what I said.
Synopsis
England, 1979. Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents of a secluded New Forest home, part of the government's Sycamore Scheme. Every day, the triplets do their chores, play their games and take their medicine, under the watchful eyes of three mothers: 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.
All the boys want is to be sent to the Big House in Margate, where they imagine a life of sun, sea and fairground rides. But, as the government looks to shut down the Sycamore Homes, the triplets begin to question everything they have been told.
Gradually surrendering its dark secrets, The Book of Guilt is a profoundly unnerving exploration of belonging in a world where some lives are valued less than others.
Publisher information
- Publisher: John Murray Press
- ISBN: 9781399823647
- Number of pages: 400
- Dimensions: 196 x 128 x 28 mm
- Weight: 281g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allGripping , enthralling shocking... hooked from to the start to the end - highly recommended
"Come to Margate ,where children can have the time of their lives just being children"
Being a teenager in the 70s and knowing both the New Forest and M... READ MORE
Are you sitting uncomfortably yet?
A novel set in an alternative 70s Britain with a nature-versus-nurture theme.
This is quite a weird and disturbing story with the unreliable narrators kno... READ MORE
The Book of Guilt
I loved everything about this novel. A stunning read that captivated me, unsettled me and days after I finished reading it is still whirling round in my he... READ MORE
My perfect read
I adored this book. It piqued my curiosity from the opening. Familiar period details (1970s) overlaid by a completely unfamiliar political landscape and la... READ MORE
An exceptional book that will linger long after you've finished it
Many thanks to the author, Catherine Chidgey, Netgalley and the publisher, John Murrays, for an ARC of The Book of Guilt, which will be published on 22 May... READ MORE
Fabulous
Vincent, William and Lawrence are triplets and the last remaining children at Sycamore House, a secluded home in the New Forest in England in 1979. The chi... READ MORE
Intriguing and chilling
This was something different and I loved it. It was a slow burn at the start but I enjoyed the way the details were drip fed to the reader until you realis... READ MORE
'Asks big questions about nature and nurture, what makes us human, and the ethics of research all wrapped up in a gripping piece of storytelling'
Largely set in an alternate version of 1979, close to reality but unsettlingly different, Catherine Chidgey’s novel follows a set of triplets living in a c... READ MORE
Excellent!
I absolutely loved The Book of Guilt. I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for when I started: identical triplets in a children’s home with a distinctly 1950s... READ MORE
Great Read
Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last remaining residents of a secluded New Forest home, part of the government’s Sycamore Scheme. Every day, the trip... READ MORE
Not for me
This was a strange read for me it was very odd and I found it hard to get engaged with it at all.
I actually felt like I was wading through treacle plodd... READ MORE
A captivating dystopian thriller with a chilling twist
I really enjoyed reading this, but ended up a bit on the fence about it. There’s a huge amount there for fans of high-concept alternate histories and dysto... READ MORE
An amazing read
It is the 1970's and they are very different from the 1970's in our time frame. In this reality, the end of WW2 was very different, which explains some of ... READ MORE
Quietly chilling
This unsettling and cover read is both emotionally affecting and compelling. It does creeping unease with such skill and style. Excellent. Already one of m... READ MORE
Thought provoking
I went into the Book of Guilt with no previous knowledge, and I think this is how everyone should go in. The pacing is slow but not so slow that you lose ... READ MORE
Superb! Chidgey at her creepy best!
This is Catherine Chidgey at her creepy, shocking best. I loved it. More stars required for this one.
Vincent, William and Lawrence live at Captain Scot... READ MORE
Guilty as charged…
A novel set in an alternative 70s Britain with a nature-versus-nurture theme.
This is quite a weird and disturbing story with the unreliable narrators kno... READ MORE
A dark menacing read
I thought this would be an easy review to write as this book is just fabulous but how to do so without giving any spoilers away. I don’t even want to menti... READ MORE
Brilliant premise
The Book of Guilt has one of those premises that hooks you in straight away. Three brothers, who live in a home, isolated from everyone other than their ‘m... READ MORE
A great read, thoroughly engaging
I was riveted by this book.Highly original, very engaging and thought provoking. I loved the way the story took its time to to gain empathy with the key ch... READ MORE
Nature or Nurture
The narrative does a good job of gradually introducing different threads to the overall story. I began to wonder how the author was going to keep the reade... READ MORE
Love the uniqueness of the storyline
4.5⭐️
A new to me author. This is so very different it’s hard to describe it, or do its creation justice. It really is one that you need to read for you... READ MORE
The Book of Guilt is frightening and sadly relevant in today's world.
Acclaimed writer Catherine Chidgey returns with a chilling novel about reworking the past to understand the present. She describes a reimagined 1970s Engla... READ MORE
Electric, disturbing, alternative historical thriller : no spoiler review
Its almost impossible to be able to do justice to this one, as its crucial, I think, to read this without any guidance on plot, character – or even ‘what i... READ MORE
Fabulous dystopian novel
Vincent, William and Lawrence are triplets and the last remaining children at Sycamore House, a secluded home in the New Forest in England in 1979. The chi... READ MORE
A Brilliant Novel!
'The Book Of Guilt' is set in an alternative England in 1979. The triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William are the last residents of a mansion which is part ... READ MORE
Sinister and compelling
This gothic tale about triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William, living in a sprawling children’s home in the New Forest is original and engaging. Set in an ... READ MORE
Not my usual
While dystopian fiction isn't my usual go-to, this novel presents a unique and compelling premise. Set in the late 1970s, it follows triplets raised by thr... READ MORE
A dark, gripping piece of storytelling
Largely set in an alternate version of 1979, close to reality but unsettlingly different, Catherine Chidgey’s novel follows a set of triplets living in a c... READ MORE
My book of the year
Possibly my favourite book of the year so far. It is a masterpiece.
A superb dystopian novel set in the New Forest, UK centering around a set of triplets... READ MORE
Complex and captivating
There is not much I can say about this because I don't want to give away the slightest of spoilers. I went into this book knowing very little and felt all ... READ MORE
Great read
Triplets Vincent, William and Laurence are the only remaining children in a care home where they're looked after by 3 women .Mother Morning, Mother Aftern... READ MORE
Four stars!
Set in England in 1979, Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt is a haunting exploration of control, identity, and belonging. Through the lens of three isol... READ MORE
A slow read
The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey is a slow, unsettling read about triplets — Vincent, Lawrence and William — the last children living in a strange, i... READ MORE
Four stars!
Set in England in 1979, Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt is a haunting exploration of control, identity, and belonging. Through the lens of three isol... READ MORE
Excellent!
After the end of World War II, Sir Alastair Roach, eminent scientist, establishes The Sycamore Homes, to house children without families and to give them t... READ MORE
A brilliant dystopian story!
'Morning, afternoon, night.
The mothers are always watching.'
This was such a brilliant book, and it had the most original storyline I have read this y... READ MORE
What a book!
It’s the late 1970’s and the book is narrated by Vincent and Nancy.
Vincent, William and Lawrence are identical triplets, orphaned as babies. Brought up i... READ MORE
Discombobulating
3.5* The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey will leave you entertained but entirely discombobulated.
Vincent, Lawrence and William are triplets and the ... READ MORE
A book to watch in 2025
Wow. "The Book of Guilt" by Catherine Chidgey is going to be big in 2025.
Shocking from when you understand what is going on at the secluded home for ch... READ MORE
Speculative fiction at its finest
I really enjoy speculative fiction as a genre and it’s something that I don’t come across particularly regularly in my reading, so I was excited to request... READ MORE
Creepily good!
Wow! Why have I never come across Catherine Chidgey before? This book was amazing. A slightly alternative view of the world after WW2 but it takes a little... READ MORE
Haunting, hypnotic, highly recommended reading
Chidgey has once again proven herself a master of atmosphere and psychological complexity in The Book of Guilt: a novel that is as chilling as it is exquis... READ MORE
Excellent 5*
After the end of World War II, Sir Alastair Roach, eminent scientist, establishes The Sycamore Homes, to house children without families and to give them t... READ MORE
clever plot
.I really enjoyed this book which immediately reminded me of Ishiguro’s "Never Let Me Go" although Ms Chidgey then made it her own with her clever plot twi... READ MORE
Intriguing
What an intriguing and unusual book, the Book of Guilt is. Set in the New Forest (much mention of the ponies) in the 1970s, but after a very different outc... READ MORE
Wow what a book!
From the very first there is a real sense of unease and of something being not quite right as we meet the dear triplets, living their lives in a home for b... READ MORE
An incredible book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an arc of this incredible book. 'The Book of Guilt' is a story that will haunt you long after the fina... READ MORE
The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey
Vincent, Lawrence and William are brothers. Vincent wears yellow. Lawrence wears green. William wears red. The colours enable the Mothers (Mother Morning, ... READ MORE
Intriguing, full of complex characters and set in an alternative world not too far from ours
I discovered this book thanks to NetGalley, and I went ahead and bought it when it was published.
I had never read any books by Catherine Chidgey before, ... READ MORE
Lived up to the hype
I'd heard so much about this book and the premise felt so rich and intriguing. I couldnt wait to read it and was thrilled to receive an ARC copy.
The g... READ MORE
A classic in the making
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and then some)
You know that rare reading experience when a book unfurls in your hands like a blood-red rose—beautiful, dangerous, and layer... READ MORE
Brilliant
Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt is a masterclass in controlled dread—elegantly structured, disturbingly precise. It peels back its layers with agonis... READ MORE
Gripping and unsettling
Three identical triplets are living in a children’s home in the late 1970s, watched over by three ‘mothers’ by morning, afternoon and night shift. The boys... READ MORE
Life
Thank you NetGalley and John Murray Press for this eCopy to review
Reading The Book of Guilt felt like stepping into a time capsule of 1979 England, whe... READ MORE
The Book of Guilt
This book was phenomenal. It's also one of those books where it is better if you go in as blind as you can. Which makes it hard for me to say much about it... READ MORE
Dark and Compulsive. You’ll never read anything like this!
I read my first book by Catherine Chidgey earlier this year and on the basis of reading Axman’s Carnival I went out and bought her back catalogue. I’ll be ... READ MORE
Fantastic
The Book Of Guilt is one of those fascinating, confusing, intriguing, horrifying, thought-provoking reads that will stay with you for a long time after you... READ MORE
Echoes of Ishiguro
With similarity to Never Let Me Go, Chidgey brings a fresh dynamic to a compelling plot
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