The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

From the acclaimed author Catherine Chidgey comes The Book of Guilt, a profoundly unnerving Science Fiction & Fantasy novel selected as a BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick for 2025. Set in a chilling alternative history, this paperback explores themes of belonging and value in a world where innocence meets experimental cruelty.

Synopsis

England, 1979. Vincent, Lawrence, and William are the last residents of a secluded New Forest home, participants in the government's Sycamore Scheme. Under the constant watch of Mother Morning, Mother Afternoon, and Mother Night, the triplets maintain their routine of chores, games, and medicine. Their lives are documented across three key texts: The Book of Dreams, The Book of Knowledge, and The Book of Guilt. Their sole desire is relocation to the Big House in Margate, but as the government plans to close the Sycamore Homes, the triplets begin to uncover the dark secrets surrounding their existence.

• Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Author: Catherine Chidgey
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Recognition: BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick 2025
• Explores themes of control, innocence, and societal value.

• Author/Artist: Chidgey, Catherine
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 400 pages
• Publication Date: May 21, 2026
• ISBN-10: 1399823647
• ISBN-13: 978-1399823647
• Dimensions: 128 x 28 x 196mm
• Weight: 282g

Discover this compelling and terrifying novel that chillingly engages with current possibilities through the eyes of children piecing together their world.