The Lamb by Lucy Rose review

About The Book

Book: The Lamb
Author: Lucy Rose
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publication Date (UK): 30th January 2025

🔍Standout Read. Awarded to books I highly recommend.

My Review

“On my fourth birthday, I plucked six severed fingers from the shower drain.”

What a strong opening line! You know you’re in for a treat with this one.

I first heard about this when Lindsey mentioned it during our Northerners Love Books meet. We visited Criminally Good Books in York, where bookseller Cat did such a fantastic job describing it. I’d heard elsewhere that it was a little literary and worried it might not be for me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, I returned to pick up a copy in time for a buddy read with Annie, Lindsey, Shellie, Kim (www.whatthebook.co.uk) and Tony.

This is such a fantastic book, and if you haven’t already, I urge you to pick it up – especially for a buddy read! Or feel free to DM me to discuss. It’s so different and it was great to chat along as we read.

Young Margot lives in the forest with her Mama. They wait for knocks on their cabin from who they call “strays” – those lost and seeking shelter. Mama brings them in, offers them warmth and wine… before ultimately consuming them. Yes, Margot and Mama are cannibals. Think Hansel & Gretel.

It’s gruesome yet darkly humorous at the same time – sometimes Mama serves the strays with Yorkshire puddings to mop up their sinister gravy, and other times, she just digs out some leftover potato waffles from the bottom of the freezer.

But it’s not unreadably dark. I even managed to read my buddy read pages after a night out and not chunder, so there you go!

Set in modern-day Cumbria, Margot actually attends school. It’s an interesting contrast to her home life. Mama has raised her not to stand out or be too loud, so there’s a tension in these sections. Will anyone realise?

You really feel for Margot throughout. She struggles with learning, friendships and relationships – there’s even the horror of her first period. But as the book progresses, I found the real horror wasn’t the cannibalism, but how Mama treats Margot.

This book is fantastic. It’s much more than horror. Absolutely recommend. Bravo!