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The Cut
An unmissable thriller written by Richard Armitage, author of #1 bestseller Geneva, narrated by the author and by Jacob Dudman.
You can’t escape your past. The cut always reopens.
In the sleepy village of Barton Mallet, the old ruins of Blackstone Mill watch over the residents as they go about their quiet lives. Ben Knot and his friends are looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom once their last year of school is over. The class of 1994 have been through a lot together, good and bad, but teasing turns to bullying when the Knot gang target younger boy Mark Cherry. As tensions rise and violence escalates, the group fractures and tragedy strikes. Before the summer is over, one of them will be killed. Murdered by someone they called a friend.
Thirty years on, Ben is an award-winning architect who has moved his family back to the village where he grew up. His girlfriend Dani is a hands-on step mum to his kids, budding actor Nate and star footballer Lily, but even though the family seem happy, Ben has never been able to forget the tragedy of the past. And it’s a past that is coming back to haunt him with the murderer’s imminent release from prison. Ben’s glittering career is also starting tarnish as some shady business deals have put him on the path to bankruptcy. With the killer’s parole date approaching and the banks calling in their loans, Ben struggles to keep a grip on the perfect life he has built.
When Nate lands the leading role in a new horror movie, Dani jumps at the chance to propel him towards stardom, despite Ben’s concerns that it will complicate their lives. Ben is persuaded to support his son’s dreams, but when the film crew descend on the village to start shooting, the dream starts to turn into a nightmare. The film is not quite what it seems. His kids are being pushed to the limit and Ben’s paranoia makes him question the film makers’ motives. Ben is desperate for answers and will stop at nothing to keep his family safe.
If the first cut is the deepest, then the last cut is going to end it all.
You can’t escape your past. The cut always reopens.
In the sleepy village of Barton Mallet, the old ruins of Blackstone Mill watch over the residents as they go about their quiet lives. Ben Knot and his friends are looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom once their last year of school is over. The class of 1994 have been through a lot together, good and bad, but teasing turns to bullying when the Knot gang target younger boy Mark Cherry. As tensions rise and violence escalates, the group fractures and tragedy strikes. Before the summer is over, one of them will be killed. Murdered by someone they called a friend.
Thirty years on, Ben is an award-winning architect who has moved his family back to the village where he grew up. His girlfriend Dani is a hands-on step mum to his kids, budding actor Nate and star footballer Lily, but even though the family seem happy, Ben has never been able to forget the tragedy of the past. And it’s a past that is coming back to haunt him with the murderer’s imminent release from prison. Ben’s glittering career is also starting tarnish as some shady business deals have put him on the path to bankruptcy. With the killer’s parole date approaching and the banks calling in their loans, Ben struggles to keep a grip on the perfect life he has built.
When Nate lands the leading role in a new horror movie, Dani jumps at the chance to propel him towards stardom, despite Ben’s concerns that it will complicate their lives. Ben is persuaded to support his son’s dreams, but when the film crew descend on the village to start shooting, the dream starts to turn into a nightmare. The film is not quite what it seems. His kids are being pushed to the limit and Ben’s paranoia makes him question the film makers’ motives. Ben is desperate for answers and will stop at nothing to keep his family safe.
If the first cut is the deepest, then the last cut is going to end it all.
Audible Audio
First published August 22, 2024
82 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Richard Armitage
90 books644 followersBritish actor and audio-book narrator.
Richard Armitage was born in 1971, the second son of Margaret, a secretary, and John, an engineer. He grew up in a village outside the city. Some of his favourite childhood stories included The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
At the age of fourteen he transferred from a local state middle school, Brockington College, to Pattison’s Dancing Academy in Coventry (now Pattison College), an independent boarding school specialising in Performing Arts. The school arranged regular theatre visits, and it was here, watching a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, that he discovered an interest in acting: “I remember having that moment of finally understanding what was going on. They were having such a good time and the audience was having such a good time and I just thought that was where I wanted to be. I remember thinking they were doing something they loved and they were getting paid for it”. [2]
Pattison’s introduced him to the demands and obligations of an acting career: "It... instilled me with a discipline that has stood me in good stead - never to be late, to know your lines and to be professional." It gave its pupils opportunities to appear in local amateur and professional productions, and by the time Richard left school at 17, he had already appeared in Showboat, Half a Sixpence, as Bacchus in Orpheus and the Underworld and in The Hobbit at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. [3]
After leaving school, Richard joined The Second Generation, a physical theatre group, working for eight weeks in a show called Allow London at the Nachtcircus in Budapest. Here he “threw hoola hoops to a skateboarding Russian and held ladders for [a] juggling act…did guide roping for the trapeze, and…a weird kind of UV glow-in-the-dark mime illusion thing”. [4] Though he later described “sleeping next to the elephants” as “a low point in show business”, it was sufficient to gain him his Equity card, a pre-requisite at the time for entry to the profession. [1]
Returning to the UK, he embarked on a career in musical theatre, working as assistant choreographer to Kenn Oldfield and appearing in the West End and on tour in a series of musicals including 42nd Street, My One and Only, Nine, Mr Wonderful, Annie Get your Gun and Cats.
By 1995, inspired in part by seeing Adrian Noble’s classic 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Stratford, he was laying the foundations of an acting career, appearing at the Actors’ Centre’s Tristram Bates Theatre as Macliesh in Willis Hall’s The Long and the Short and the Tall, and at the Old School Manchester as Henry in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, Flan in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation and Biff in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He was also studying for a Society of British Fight Directors qualification.
This was the year that Richard enrolled on a three-year Acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Here he appeared in student productions including Pericles as Antiochus the Great, David Copperfield as Uriah Heep, Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart as Felix, and as Buscher in Manfred Karge’s metaphorical drama of unemployment The Conquest of the South Pole.
In his final year at LAMDA, an advert on the college notice board for film extras led to his first experience of acting in a feature film: a one-line role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It was a humble, though interesting, entry into film: “I felt very nervous saying my line - I had practised it for three weeks… I actually ended up as a computer graphic in the film, I think”. [4] Despite being unidentifiable on screen, he found himself besieged by Star Wars fans when touring Japan with the RSC two years later.
Graduating in the summer of 1998, he immediately joined the cast of Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, having already appeared at the Edinburgh Festival
Richard Armitage was born in 1971, the second son of Margaret, a secretary, and John, an engineer. He grew up in a village outside the city. Some of his favourite childhood stories included The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
At the age of fourteen he transferred from a local state middle school, Brockington College, to Pattison’s Dancing Academy in Coventry (now Pattison College), an independent boarding school specialising in Performing Arts. The school arranged regular theatre visits, and it was here, watching a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, that he discovered an interest in acting: “I remember having that moment of finally understanding what was going on. They were having such a good time and the audience was having such a good time and I just thought that was where I wanted to be. I remember thinking they were doing something they loved and they were getting paid for it”. [2]
Pattison’s introduced him to the demands and obligations of an acting career: "It... instilled me with a discipline that has stood me in good stead - never to be late, to know your lines and to be professional." It gave its pupils opportunities to appear in local amateur and professional productions, and by the time Richard left school at 17, he had already appeared in Showboat, Half a Sixpence, as Bacchus in Orpheus and the Underworld and in The Hobbit at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. [3]
After leaving school, Richard joined The Second Generation, a physical theatre group, working for eight weeks in a show called Allow London at the Nachtcircus in Budapest. Here he “threw hoola hoops to a skateboarding Russian and held ladders for [a] juggling act…did guide roping for the trapeze, and…a weird kind of UV glow-in-the-dark mime illusion thing”. [4] Though he later described “sleeping next to the elephants” as “a low point in show business”, it was sufficient to gain him his Equity card, a pre-requisite at the time for entry to the profession. [1]
Returning to the UK, he embarked on a career in musical theatre, working as assistant choreographer to Kenn Oldfield and appearing in the West End and on tour in a series of musicals including 42nd Street, My One and Only, Nine, Mr Wonderful, Annie Get your Gun and Cats.
By 1995, inspired in part by seeing Adrian Noble’s classic 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Stratford, he was laying the foundations of an acting career, appearing at the Actors’ Centre’s Tristram Bates Theatre as Macliesh in Willis Hall’s The Long and the Short and the Tall, and at the Old School Manchester as Henry in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, Flan in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation and Biff in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He was also studying for a Society of British Fight Directors qualification.
This was the year that Richard enrolled on a three-year Acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Here he appeared in student productions including Pericles as Antiochus the Great, David Copperfield as Uriah Heep, Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart as Felix, and as Buscher in Manfred Karge’s metaphorical drama of unemployment The Conquest of the South Pole.
In his final year at LAMDA, an advert on the college notice board for film extras led to his first experience of acting in a feature film: a one-line role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It was a humble, though interesting, entry into film: “I felt very nervous saying my line - I had practised it for three weeks… I actually ended up as a computer graphic in the film, I think”. [4] Despite being unidentifiable on screen, he found himself besieged by Star Wars fans when touring Japan with the RSC two years later.
Graduating in the summer of 1998, he immediately joined the cast of Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, having already appeared at the Edinburgh Festival
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
August 27, 2024
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 3 Stars
I loved the idea of the story, but the execution left me confused most of the time. It wasn't the writing. On top of being an amazing voice performer, Richard Armitage's writing is wonderful. It was the back and forth between past and present with multiple povs in the 3rd person that had me confused.
Story - 3 Stars
I loved the idea of the story, but the execution left me confused most of the time. It wasn't the writing. On top of being an amazing voice performer, Richard Armitage's writing is wonderful. It was the back and forth between past and present with multiple povs in the 3rd person that had me confused.
October 18, 2024
Wow, I downloaded this after hearing a short add on a podcast, and I'm so glad I dove right in (it's Richard Armitage... of course, I'm going to read/watch/listen to anything this wonderful man creates/narrates!!!) It isn't a genre I usually go for, I didn't read the blurb... I went headfirst. And I am now pre-ordering the physical book for my husband, he will also like it, I would also like to read the ending again...
Was really enjoyable going back to the early 90's having a shot of nostalgia in quick chapters. This novel spoke to me in so many ways, a story of many victims.
Vulnerability of children and friendships, the hierarchy of school children, complexities of relationships young and old, deciept and manipulation. Love and all its complexities. Evil is disguised as friendship and love.
Thrown from England to the US, Stella artois being drank in LA really had me laughing, along with really great references (modern and 90's!).
We have the real struggles of being perceived as different, gay, cultural differences, racism and sexism. Very emotive writing.
Children can be this cruel. it's a novel, but it speaks true, relatable, and a stark reminder to give my children freedom but also guidance where I can.
This is a thrilling, fast paced read, I got completely lost in the mystery and felt so many emotions throughout, easy to digest, relatable and one of my favourite audible reads this year from a genre I rarely touch.
Was really enjoyable going back to the early 90's having a shot of nostalgia in quick chapters. This novel spoke to me in so many ways, a story of many victims.
Vulnerability of children and friendships, the hierarchy of school children, complexities of relationships young and old, deciept and manipulation. Love and all its complexities. Evil is disguised as friendship and love.
Thrown from England to the US, Stella artois being drank in LA really had me laughing, along with really great references (modern and 90's!).
We have the real struggles of being perceived as different, gay, cultural differences, racism and sexism. Very emotive writing.
Children can be this cruel. it's a novel, but it speaks true, relatable, and a stark reminder to give my children freedom but also guidance where I can.
This is a thrilling, fast paced read, I got completely lost in the mystery and felt so many emotions throughout, easy to digest, relatable and one of my favourite audible reads this year from a genre I rarely touch.
August 29, 2024
This was a captivating book, I chose to list this as a horror and mystery novel, at times while listening to this that is how I felt. I thought it was a worthwhile read and kept me on the edge of my seat at times. I admit I am biased as the author is also one of the narrators and I am a fangirl...could listen to him read anything.
September 19, 2024
Richard Armitage’s second novel is so atmospheric you feel as if you’re there at the Mill watching the events unfold in the pouring rain.
I love that all the characters were well developed, the dual timeline, teasing us with only a smidge more of what happened at The Cut in 1994.
The audiobook was intense. Both narrators did an excellent job and bringing the story to life & I hope one day it lands in film.
RA is my favorite narrator and he’s clearly becoming a favorite author.
I love that all the characters were well developed, the dual timeline, teasing us with only a smidge more of what happened at The Cut in 1994.
The audiobook was intense. Both narrators did an excellent job and bringing the story to life & I hope one day it lands in film.
RA is my favorite narrator and he’s clearly becoming a favorite author.
October 3, 2024
Dark, mysterious and narrated by Richard Armitage.. what's not to like
September 15, 2024
Brilliant, tightly plotted thriller that will have you gripped!
I thoroughly enjoyed Armitage’s debut novel, GENEVA, so when I spotted THE CUT on Audible I immediately downloaded it for a listen. I’m so glad that I did, as I was totally hooked! It’s very different from GENEVA, but equally well plotted and accomplished in its narrative. It’s immediately unsettling, incredibly atmospheric, and very evocative. I felt transported to Barton Mallet, with its creepy abandoned mill, imposing countryside, grand houses, and sleepy streets. As you possibly might expect from an audio specific release - or, indeed, from the author’s other profession - there’s something incredibly cinematic about this book. The landscape is imposing and feels just as much of a character as the people, building atmosphere and tension alongside the twists and turns in the narrative. I particularly enjoyed how the book moves between chapters set in the past and chapters set in the present. I was really hooked on trying to figure out exactly how the past had impacted the present and was equally invested in both timelines. This also allowed Armitage to explore lots of different themes within the book. Some that really stuck out for me were elements of identity and living authentically, bullying (particularly homophobia), a sense of reclaiming the past, grudges and revenge, guilt, male privilege, and retribution. There were lots of layers to this story, which really gave it depth and kept me glued to my headphones!
Armitage narrates the present day chapters and really breathes life into the characters, particularly Ben. Armitage is my favourite male audiobook narrator, as he brings authenticity to each character, making them unique and easily identifiable. He can convincingly perform both male and female characters, which I’ve found is a skill set not all male narrators can achieve. When I listen to his narration I am completely transported to the world of the story, which was exactly the case with The Cut. The writing is quite beautiful and poetic in places, but also punchy and pacy when required. It is perfectly written for performing, as I often felt like I was listening to a film or television series (indeed, it’s begging to be adapted!). Jacob Dudman narrates the historical chapters and I felt like this was a great decision for the book, allowing me to immediately know which timeline I was in. Dudman is an equally accomplished narrator, building tension and atmosphere in these chapters. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to discover exactly what the truth was and as the novel built to its explosive crescendo, the unnerving past events were vividly brought to life. Both narrators complement each other perfectly to build a world in which listeners can lose themselves. It’s a dark and unsettling world, but one that is evocatively and grippingly brought to vivification.
If you are a fan of audio, or someone who would like to give an audiobook a go, THE CUT should be at the top of your TBR!
I thoroughly enjoyed Armitage’s debut novel, GENEVA, so when I spotted THE CUT on Audible I immediately downloaded it for a listen. I’m so glad that I did, as I was totally hooked! It’s very different from GENEVA, but equally well plotted and accomplished in its narrative. It’s immediately unsettling, incredibly atmospheric, and very evocative. I felt transported to Barton Mallet, with its creepy abandoned mill, imposing countryside, grand houses, and sleepy streets. As you possibly might expect from an audio specific release - or, indeed, from the author’s other profession - there’s something incredibly cinematic about this book. The landscape is imposing and feels just as much of a character as the people, building atmosphere and tension alongside the twists and turns in the narrative. I particularly enjoyed how the book moves between chapters set in the past and chapters set in the present. I was really hooked on trying to figure out exactly how the past had impacted the present and was equally invested in both timelines. This also allowed Armitage to explore lots of different themes within the book. Some that really stuck out for me were elements of identity and living authentically, bullying (particularly homophobia), a sense of reclaiming the past, grudges and revenge, guilt, male privilege, and retribution. There were lots of layers to this story, which really gave it depth and kept me glued to my headphones!
Armitage narrates the present day chapters and really breathes life into the characters, particularly Ben. Armitage is my favourite male audiobook narrator, as he brings authenticity to each character, making them unique and easily identifiable. He can convincingly perform both male and female characters, which I’ve found is a skill set not all male narrators can achieve. When I listen to his narration I am completely transported to the world of the story, which was exactly the case with The Cut. The writing is quite beautiful and poetic in places, but also punchy and pacy when required. It is perfectly written for performing, as I often felt like I was listening to a film or television series (indeed, it’s begging to be adapted!). Jacob Dudman narrates the historical chapters and I felt like this was a great decision for the book, allowing me to immediately know which timeline I was in. Dudman is an equally accomplished narrator, building tension and atmosphere in these chapters. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to discover exactly what the truth was and as the novel built to its explosive crescendo, the unnerving past events were vividly brought to life. Both narrators complement each other perfectly to build a world in which listeners can lose themselves. It’s a dark and unsettling world, but one that is evocatively and grippingly brought to vivification.
If you are a fan of audio, or someone who would like to give an audiobook a go, THE CUT should be at the top of your TBR!
August 28, 2024
I found the story to be okay. The characters were not likable at all, which made it difficult to care about what happened to any of them. However, the audiobook narration was fantastic, which is why I'm giving it 3 stars.
September 21, 2024
DNF. Love Armitage, but this was a bore!
October 20, 2024
*Buried Secrets*
I really wanted to love this book, I absolutely love Richard Armitage’s narration which he shared with Jacob Dudman.
The story did not work for me and as much as I enjoyed both narrators, I could not connect with the characters or the story. My favourite way of reading is with a physical book or my kindle and the narration together. In this case there is only the audiobook at the moment.
I suspect this would play out better on television or film. I have only just noticed that the physical book to this audiobook is due out next year August.
The story is set in two timeframes. In the past in 1994 and in the present time.
There are buried secrets, bullying, murder and a film being made in the present time that is not what it seems and injustice. This is disturbing in the present for someone who is struggling to hide their paranoia and trying to appear calm. The film is being made in their town but, things are happening that threaten to push that person over the edge.
I loved the premise but Richard’s performance along with Jacob’s made it a much better experience than the story itself.
I really wanted to love this book, I absolutely love Richard Armitage’s narration which he shared with Jacob Dudman.
The story did not work for me and as much as I enjoyed both narrators, I could not connect with the characters or the story. My favourite way of reading is with a physical book or my kindle and the narration together. In this case there is only the audiobook at the moment.
I suspect this would play out better on television or film. I have only just noticed that the physical book to this audiobook is due out next year August.
The story is set in two timeframes. In the past in 1994 and in the present time.
There are buried secrets, bullying, murder and a film being made in the present time that is not what it seems and injustice. This is disturbing in the present for someone who is struggling to hide their paranoia and trying to appear calm. The film is being made in their town but, things are happening that threaten to push that person over the edge.
I loved the premise but Richard’s performance along with Jacob’s made it a much better experience than the story itself.
August 31, 2024
2.5 rounded up
Too many characters, got confusing sometimes with who was who. Felt pretty slow paced and wasn't keeping me truly invested in the story.
As always the narration was impeccable but I enjoyed Richard Armitage's previous book, Geneva, a lot more than this.
Too many characters, got confusing sometimes with who was who. Felt pretty slow paced and wasn't keeping me truly invested in the story.
As always the narration was impeccable but I enjoyed Richard Armitage's previous book, Geneva, a lot more than this.
September 15, 2024
Tekstam kā tādam 3 zvaigznes, bet audio - 5 (ne jau tikai pašam Ričardam Armitidžam, bet arī Džeikobam Dudmanam un skaņu efektiem), tātad vidējais ir 4.
Trillera daļa ir diezgan paredzama, tāds žanra cienītāju ātrās izklaides gabals. Lasīt interesanti, vai paliks ilgtermiņa atmiņā - apšaubu.
Trillera daļa ir diezgan paredzama, tāds žanra cienītāju ātrās izklaides gabals. Lasīt interesanti, vai paliks ilgtermiņa atmiņā - apšaubu.
September 10, 2024
More like 3.5 (narration 5 stars!), but I definitely enjoyed Geneva more.
November 10, 2024
Terrible, predictable and desperate need of an editor or researcher. The narration was good and it was for the most part a fun popcorn thriller. But ending is highly predictable and just nothing special. My biggest gripe goes back to the editor/researcher need - someone messed up the dates completely in this book and it's actually embarrassing it managed to make it to audiobook stage without anyone picking up on it. First example - the prologue begins by opening up to the murder that the entire book is based around. Except in the prologue it says it's August 1993. However by the end of the book it's magically changed to around July/August 1994. Later in the book, one of the teenagers quotes exact quotes from the Lord of the Rings MOVIES (not from the books), but the scene takes place in 1993. Almost a decade before the famous Gollum quote was ever on screen. It shouldn't be a big deal but honestly it bugs me that someone couldn't get a second ear/eye to look at this before release and make some corrections.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
Too much suspension of disbelief required. So many questions! Why would (spoilers) a lad take the blame for a death that was an accident? No one tried to frame him for murder so why did he go down for 20 years?? The characters were thin and clichéd. And who was 'Freckles' - was that the film director grooming the kid?? Annoying.
December 28, 2024
I was looking forward to this book after having enjoyed Geneva so much but was quite disappointed because the outcome was so predictable. The story moved at a good pace however I found most of the characters really annoying, but maybe that was the point? I did enjoy the narration.
Read
September 8, 2024DNF- lost interest
August 27, 2024
I did not know that Richard Armitage, an actor, was also a writer. I became a fan when he played John Thornton in "North and South" in 2004. His voice!
He has narrated several books, including some classics and some children's books, that I have "read".
I bought this book to check out his writing. This read more like a screenplay. There was no development of any of the characters, or the scenes. I struggled to get a feel for who anyone was or when things were happening. The story plays out in 1994 and in 2024. A girl dies in 1994 and one of the characters investigates it via movie-making in 2024.
Even though the writing wasn't great, the story was gripping and I didn't want to stop listening.
He has narrated several books, including some classics and some children's books, that I have "read".
I bought this book to check out his writing. This read more like a screenplay. There was no development of any of the characters, or the scenes. I struggled to get a feel for who anyone was or when things were happening. The story plays out in 1994 and in 2024. A girl dies in 1994 and one of the characters investigates it via movie-making in 2024.
Even though the writing wasn't great, the story was gripping and I didn't want to stop listening.
January 17, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. I really enjoyed "Geneva," but this one was harder for me. Like many others have said, there were some continuity issues, but those didn't bother me as much as they bothered some others. I struggled because I felt like there were too many threads in the tapestry. The story jumps between 1993/4 and 2024. On top of that, the story is being told through the eyes of multiple characters. It was incredibly difficult for me to keep it all straight.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the narration. In general, I love it when fiction authors narrate their own work. Since they know the characters better than anyone, they know what words or ideas to subtly emphasize, and that's fun. Many of the characters, however, sounded the same, and at times it was difficult to determine who was speaking.
So, yeah, this was a good read, but not a great read.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the narration. In general, I love it when fiction authors narrate their own work. Since they know the characters better than anyone, they know what words or ideas to subtly emphasize, and that's fun. Many of the characters, however, sounded the same, and at times it was difficult to determine who was speaking.
So, yeah, this was a good read, but not a great read.
October 13, 2024
The Cut is a tense psychological thriller by actor Richard Armitage. Richard is a skilled narrator as you would expect from such a good actor.
The Cut flips between two time periods, the present day and the 1990s and the present day. Ben the main character is a troubled sole. Whilst on the face of it he is a successful businessman with a partner and two children. However, all is not what it seems and when his son gets a part in a film which is being shot locally everything starts to unravel.
I listened to the end as I wanted to know what had happened (although I had guessed quite early in the book) but it was a tad laboured at times.
The Cut flips between two time periods, the present day and the 1990s and the present day. Ben the main character is a troubled sole. Whilst on the face of it he is a successful businessman with a partner and two children. However, all is not what it seems and when his son gets a part in a film which is being shot locally everything starts to unravel.
I listened to the end as I wanted to know what had happened (although I had guessed quite early in the book) but it was a tad laboured at times.
September 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. What I liked most about the book wasn’t first and foremost the thriller, but how perfectly detailed and well written it was about living through difficult, turbulent and heartbreaking teenage years. I believe the author is a good observer of people and life, and he made the story come alive.
The narration of the audiobook was superbly performed both by the author and Dudman.
The narration of the audiobook was superbly performed both by the author and Dudman.
September 4, 2024
Audiobook
September 9, 2024
OK. Confusing and hard to keep up with the going back and forth in the history of events.
Nothing to write home about
Nothing to write home about
August 31, 2024
Good story and I want to love it, but the point of view hops around so much it takes the impact away. It also made it quite hard to follow in places.
September 1, 2024
Audio book very well read by the author. This was a horrible story of schoolboy bullying and adult revenge. The details of what happened emerge slowly but the actual murderer is probably never in doubt. I found the whole horror film scenario rather unlikely and the final denouement even more so. I’m quite relieved to have finished it.
September 23, 2024
Not bad, but the story dragged out for far too long and ended quite abruptly. It was also a very bizarre way of getting revenge/a confession.
The author's writing style was really good though, too bad the story didn't quite live up to it
The author's writing style was really good though, too bad the story didn't quite live up to it
September 6, 2024
Readable but ultimately lack lustre thriller that could have done with a dark twist or two. Two interwoven stories plotting the death of a young girl and a film makers desire to recreate something similar 30 years later. A little pedestrian and with pencil thin and generally unlikable characters it is just instantly forgettable.
October 21, 2024
Not the most thrilling book. But the synopsis is an accurate depiction of the storyline. I just found it quite difficult to follow
October 12, 2024
Bullying and SA are bad, y'all.
Excellent narrators
Excellent narrators
October 11, 2024
Deeply unlikable characters, a very predictable ending, too much faff around this movie and things that don't make sense. The girlfriend had no legal authority to allow the teenage children to be this involved!
The only possible twist was the returning character which was spoiled way too early
The audio was great though!
The only possible twist was the returning character which was spoiled way too early
The audio was great though!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews