I actually really enjoyed reading this. It took quite a while to get into it. It was a very slow starter and I found the beginning quite confusing, but then I got sucked right in. I really enjoy reading complex characters that don't quite fit in any mold. None of the characters are particularly endearing. They are smug, entitled and just full of their own self importance. Completely out of touch with the real world. But I still was gripped. The ending was especially satisfying.

Edward is a man out of place and to some extent, out his of time, too. While The Kellerby Code reminded me from the beginning of Saltburn; for a while I could not quite put my finger on what decade it was set in. Edward went to Public School on a scholarship and thereafter to Cambridge University. It was a terrific achievement for a young man from a difficult background and you’d imagine he would make the best of his opportunities. Instead, however, he seems to have settled into a life of tutoring which is neither satisfying nor especially well remunerated. A lover of the era of Jeeves and Wooster, he lives entirely in the shadow of Robert, a theatre maker and Stanza, both University classmates. These are not nice people. Rich, entitled, they are the kind of people who laugh at you when you can’t understand the difference between Bollinger and Krug. They both treat Edward like some kind of pet slave; fetching and carrying for them – getting him to handle the distasteful parts of their lives they would rather not demean themselves to undertake. It’s a toxic relationship, but Edward longs to fit in. Edward is a tenant in Stanza’s London home where he cleans and keeps the place as clean as a new pin. He’s had feelings for Stanza since they first met; unexpressed but longing. Robert knows of course, but that does not stop him from forming a relationship with her, much to Edward’s unhappiness. Stanza is the heir to Kellerby House, a vast sprawling mansion which she professes to hate. Her father is drinking too much and spending what little family money there is on an immensely expensive geological collection. Edward is not only odd and sticks out like a sore thumb in Robert and Stanza’s gatherings, but he is also quite clearly not well. Under the surface he is an angry man and full of severely repressed tension which starts to bubble over when Robert and Stanza get together. A trip to Kellerby and an unwanted guest set some very bad things in motion, not helped by Plum Edward’s imaginary friend, who urges him forward, making suggestions that will only fuel his spiral of descent. Sweet plots his arc really well and he does a brilliant job of making Robert and Stanza complete narcissists who think themselves so clever and who, behind Edward’s back, deride and mock him. But as Edward heads down the rabbit hole, his behaviour becomes unpredictable, tense and violent and the worm finally turns, wreaking his revenge. Verdict: A slow burn until you get into the meat of the plot this is a fascinating read. The Kellerby Code is dark, brutal and satirical. The character of Edward is completely compelling and so well- articulated that it kept me on edge throughout.

Jonny Sweet delivers a powerful and decidedly sinister debut which wonderfully re-imagines the Jeeves and Wooster scenario and turns it into a wickedly twisted tale of madness and murder. The Kellerby Code is a truly addictive, entertaining and at times completely mad thriller which twists and turns from page to page and is a beautifully written and extremely clever masterpiece that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing to the very end. How far would you go to fit in? Edward lives in a world he can't afford and where he doesn't belong. Desperately trying to forget his troubled past whilst running around and doing everything he can, above and beyond for best friends Stanza and Robert. But Edward's secret love for Stanza and he's hopes for a brighter future for the pair of them living in the wondrous and dream defining Kellerby House are threatened when Edward discovers his two friends are now a couple and as dreams turn to madness and the need to fit in turns into an insatiable desire for acceptance, murder and mayhem soon follow as Edward faces the darkness at his very core. The Kellerby Code is a brilliant and gripping debut that cleverly twists the format of the psychological thriller as the reader is transported through the life and mind of the seriously disturbed Edward who longs to climb the social ladder and become accepted by those he values more than himself in high society. The fact that writer Jonny Sweet has your allegiances shifting throughout is a mark of just how clever and well plotted this thriller is as Edward's resulting decent into madness and subsequent need for revenge is both gripping and outstanding with its constant revelations and plot twists throughout. Characterization is spot on and the psychological drama is truly mind blowing leaving the reader on edge throughout and never guessing what is coming next until it's to late. This feels like a re-imagining of a classic with tension and suspense on a knife edge from page one and superbly keeps its reader guessing till the awe inspiring conclusion and loving it all the more. Highly addictive with a stand out plot and moments of pure madness leaving the reader behind in its deliciously wicked aftermath. The Kellerby Code will be your next sensation and needs to be read to be believed. Mind Blowing!

If you’re looking for something with similar vibes to Saltburn, with even less likeable characters, this is for you. Edward desperately needs to be liked and accepted by his rich uni friends and their social circles - so much so that he makes himself indispensable in their lives, picking up their dry cleaning, running their errands and being an all-round yes-man. Robert is an up-and-coming director with more money than sense. Stanza is Edward’s roommate - she’s a rich girl with a mean streak, and Edward is also in love with her. But Edward also has a past that he can’t seem to escape. When Robert runs into some trouble with an old friend, Edward has the opportunity to step up and solve it once and for all, with the hopes of proving himself worthy of Robert’s love and attention. But just how far is he willing to go to attain the life he desires? The Kellerby Code was a tense ride in some parts and infuriating in others, with a whole host of unlikeable characters that make the novel compulsively readable (honourable mention to Madge, however, who was the only character I warmed to and actually rooted for!)

Edward was born in the 'lower-middle' classes but, after a scholarship education and a degree at Cambridge, he aspires for more. Hiding a secret from his past Edward tries to fit in with his 'friends' Robert and Stanza however, he has neither the money nor the connections to succeed. In love with Stanza, Edward is devastated to discover that his two closest friends are getting married and this releases a long suppressed rage within him. This book is subject to a lot of hype and loads of gushing reviews so I approached it in anticipation of a good read, unfortunately I was somewhat underwhelmed. The narrative comes across as an attempt to meld Wodehouse and Highsmith but has neither the wit of the former nor the menace of the latter. It's a perfectly enjoyable read but I felt as tough I was expected to love it more than I did!