Title: THORN IN MY SIDE
Author: C.J. Skuse
ISBN: 9780008608347
Publisher: HQ
Pages: 432
Source: Private Copy
Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy…
Rhiannon Lewis thought she finally had it all: thanks to the pandemic she’s had to keep a much lower profile but has found happiness with her fiancé Rafael and his family. For once, she is surrounded by people who love her for who she is (or who they think she is).
After over 800 days without murdering anyone, the woman formerly known as the Sweetpea Killer thinks she might have finally turned over a new leaf.
That is until her soon-to-be sister-in-law has a run in with her abusive ex, and Rhiannon rediscovers her taste for revenge. This time, with a loving family in tow, the stakes are much higher. Wedded bliss and life as a normal person are finally within Rhiannon’s reach, but you can never keep a good serial killer down.
Can you?
Official Summary
20 February 2025
Book four in the Sweetpea series, Thorn in My Side is a darkly hilarious and gripping continuation of Rhiannon Lewis’s story, proving once again that you can never truly leave your past behind—especially when that past includes being the infamous Sweetpea Killer.
This time around, Rhiannon is living a seemingly quiet life, keeping a low profile thanks to the pandemic and embracing the love of her fiancé, Rafael, and his family. For the first time, she feels accepted and, dare she say it, happy. More impressively, she’s gone over 800 days without murdering anyone. But when her soon-to-be sister-in-law is threatened by an abusive ex, Rhiannon’s old instincts start to stir. Can she really ignore her thirst for justice—or rather, vengeance—when it’s so close to home?
Skuse once again masterfully blends pitch-black humour, razor-sharp wit, and a deeply compelling antiheroine. Rhiannon’s internal struggles are fascinating, as she genuinely seems to want a normal life, yet the world keeps throwing her into situations where her particular skills might come in handy. The tension between her desire for a future and her lethal instincts keeps the story engaging and unpredictable.
The pandemic setting adds an extra layer of realism and claustrophobia to Rhiannon’s journey, making her attempts at normalcy feel even more fragile. The addition of Rafael’s family also introduces a new dynamic—one where she actually has something to lose. This raises the stakes significantly, making this instalment feel weightier than its predecessors.
For fans of Sweetpea and Dead Head, Thorn in My Side delivers everything you’d hope for—twisted humour, a morally complex protagonist, and a rollercoaster of emotions. It’s a brilliant continuation of Rhiannon’s story, proving that no matter how much she tries to change, some habits die hard. If you’ve been following her journey, you won’t want to miss this one.
Also by C.J. Skuse
DEAD HEAD
Can a serial killer ever lose their taste for murder?
Since confessing to her bloody murder spree Rhiannon Lewis, the now-notorious Sweetpea killer, has been feeling out-of-sorts.
Having fled the UK on a cruise ship to start her new life, Rhiannon should be feeling happy. But it’s hard to turn over a new leaf when she’s stuck in an oversized floating tin can with the Gammonati and screaming kids. Especially when they remind her of Ivy – the baby she gave up for a life carrying on killing.
Rhiannon is all at sea. She’s lost her taste for blood but is it really gone for good? Maybe Rhiannon is realising that there’s more to life than death…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
C.J. SKUSE is the author of the Young Adult novels PRETTY BAD THINGS, ROCKOHOLIC and DEAD ROMANTIC (Chicken House), MONSTER and THE DEVIANTS (Mira Ink). She was born in 1980 in Weston-super-Mare, England. She has First Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Children and, aside from writing novels lectures in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. C.J. is currently working on adult novel SWEETPEA for HQ/HarperCollins (out April 2017).
C.J. loves Masterchef, Gummy Bears and murder sites. She hates carnivals, hard-boiled eggs and coughing. The movies Titanic, My Best Friend’s Wedding and Ruby Sparks were all probably based on her ideas; she just didn’t get to write them down in time. Before she dies, she would like to go to Japan, try clay-pigeon shooting and have Ryan Gosling present her with the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. You would have noticed that despite my bad start with the Sweetpea series, I have changed my tune since book two. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. If you decided to give up on Rhiannon after Sweetpea, I suggest you give her a second chance and keep reading. You won’t be disappointed.
