When she makes the shocking decision to defend herself of the murder charge, things really get interesting.

worth of bread each week and Howard commented that the keeper "starves his prisoners" but his report does not mention the jail fever and smallpox that were rife in other such institutions. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. It’s an interesting and absorbing read with an interesting cast of characters which makes the story highly readable right from the start. It starts with the depiction of prison life, the House of Correction which is well portrayed as a dismal place but there are redeeming aspects especially cellmate Michaela who stands by Tabitha so admirably. Alnwick House of correction, also know as Alnwick County House of Correction was opened in 1807 [1].

Describing it as a suspenseful prison thriller, or riveting courtroom drama doesn’t do this meticulously written detective novel justice. Tabitha quickly becomes her own worst enemy, as it never seems to occur to her that she does not have the necessary skills to mount a successful defense. The trial is gripping reading, at times the atmosphere is electric and you have no idea which way it’s going but she fights in doggedly and occasionally explosively.

The following year the new building, on St George's Fields, opened, with separate wards for men, women, and children. Two years later the decision was taken to build a new building, owing to "population growth and the need for more suitable prison accommodation". In 1981 he won Vogue magazine's Writing Talent Contest, and from 1981 to 1986 he was their theatre critic. It is also of note that a continuing criticism of prison inspectors was that Brighton had to send vagrants and other transgressors to Lewes because it had no house of correction. I have read many of the books written by this talented pair of authors, both stand alone and from the popular Frieda Klein series, and this one is out there with the best.Take a look at our Pinterest Map for more ideas and things to do during your stay at House of Correction. Description: Includes a printed statement (1883) from the Chaplain of the House of Correction at Cold Bath Fields in Middlesex, together with a list of persons rescued from 'continual imprisonment' (1700-1887). French, the British husband-and-wife writing team of Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, seamlessly shifts from prison drama to procedural to legal thriller—and finally to an ingenious twist on the locked-room mystery. John Howard, the 18th Century prison reformer, proposed the creation of purpose-built houses of correction with salaried gaolers, exercise yards, adequate food and medical care, and the females segregated from male prisoners.

The story of Tabitha and her courtroom fight is very well written and unfolds extremely well and the whole concept of the novel hanging around the court case is really intriguing.

She is accused of killing Stuart Rees, a local schoolteacher who is also involved with the management of the church. The main frontage (pictured) was of Mansfield stone, "rusticated" says Shilton, "in the highest degree of workmanship. Alnwick House of Correction was one of the most expensive prisons to operate of the time, due to the lack of prisoners housed there.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published. The second half of the novel takes us in to the court room where Tabitha is clearly naive to think she can represent herself in court against experienced prosecutors and was lucky to have a patient judge (who allowed her more leeway that would likely be allowed in reality). Most prisoners were poor, and dependent on the "kindnesses of the keeper" and charity provided by prison visitors.For the first half of the book, Tabitha is preparing herself for her trial while in prison and I found this part a bit slow and repetitive. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. After firing her court appointed lawyer, although advised not to Tabitha decides to conduct her own defence in court and sets out to solve her case from the confines of prison.