The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

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The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

Literary fiction

The Book of Guilt

by Catherine Chidgey

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Quick Take

This eerie exploration of nature and nurture follows three triplet brothers raised in a strange government program.

Good to know

  • Illustrated icon, Multiple_Viewpoints

    Multiple viewpoints

  • Illustrated icon, Creepy

    Creepy

  • Illustrated icon, Siblings

    Siblings

  • Illustrated icon, Dystopian

    Dystopian

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.

Content warning

This book contains scenes depicting child abuse and mentions of the death of a child.
Creepy
Forget Me Not
The Book of Guilt
You Belong Here
The Man Made of Smoke
Sleep Tight
Dearest
House of Glass
Hum
Made for You
The Haunting of Velkwood
My Darling Girl
Starling House
The Last Word
The Writing Retreat
What Lies in the Woods
The Devil Takes You Home
Daisy Darker
The Maidens
Too Good to Be True
The Survivors
The Wife Upstairs
The Hunting Party
Pretty Little Wife
Invisible Girl
The Guest List
The Wives
The Great Pretender
The Family Upstairs
Imaginary Friend
The Chestnut Man
The Whisper Man
The Other Woman
The Winter Sister
Watching You
The Silent Patient
Sweet Little Lies
Our Kind of Cruelty
Creepy
View all
Forget Me Not
The Book of Guilt
You Belong Here
The Man Made of Smoke
Sleep Tight
Dearest
House of Glass
Hum
Made for You
The Haunting of Velkwood
My Darling Girl
Starling House
The Last Word
The Writing Retreat
What Lies in the Woods
The Devil Takes You Home
Daisy Darker
The Maidens
Too Good to Be True
The Survivors
The Wife Upstairs
The Hunting Party
Pretty Little Wife
Invisible Girl
The Guest List
The Wives
The Great Pretender
The Family Upstairs
Imaginary Friend
The Chestnut Man
The Whisper Man
The Other Woman
The Winter Sister
Watching You
The Silent Patient
Sweet Little Lies
Our Kind of Cruelty