Blog Tour: Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald #bookreview #WorstCaseScenario #SomethingAboutMary @FitzHelen @OrendaBooks #RandomThingsTours @AnneCater

Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line.
Liam Macdowall was imprisoned for murdering his wife, and he’s published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that makes him an unlikely hero – and a poster boy for Men’s Rights activists.
Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice … with devastating consequences.
A heart-pounding, relentless and chilling psychological thriller, rich with deliciously dark and unapologetic humour, Worst Case Scenario is also a perceptive, tragic and hugely relevant book by one of the most exciting names in crime fiction.

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Hi and welcome to my stop on the Worst Case Scenario blog tour! First of all, many thanks to Anne Cater for having me on the tour and to Orenda Books for the eARC!

This is the story of Mary Shields, parole officer. I have always thought the job of probation officer must be a fascinating one. To have convicted felons being released in your care, to be responsible for determining their worst case scenario in an attempt to prevent said scenario from ever coming true, to be the one to evaluate all that could go wrong and all that needs to be done to make sure it doesn’t? Fascinating! But tough! And this particular probation officer is becoming a bit unhinged. Is it her comic artist husband who has finally found success, is it the job that’s finally got to her, is it hormones? Could be all of the above, but whatever the cause(s), Mary’s a hot mess and has lost sight of her own worst case scenario. She has come at a point in her life where she just doesn’t give a rat’s ass anymore. And being menopausal sure doesn’t help. Unfortunately she doesn’t realise that her devil-may-care attitude could very well ruin her life, and the lives of others, including those she cares about.

Know that feeling when you’ve overslept and you jump out of bed, cleaning your teeth, combing your hair and putting on your socks all at the same time, hurrying out of the house in total bewilderment, not quite knowing what the hell you’re doing? That’s pretty much how Worst Case Scenario felt to me! The story takes off at breakneck speed and you’re hurtled along with it, and in its wake you’re left breathless and bewildered and very much alive. Utterly exhilarating!

Part of me admired part of Mary. She’s going to quit the job that drives her crazy, and to hell with everything and everyone! On the other hand, she sometimes had me muttering questions like: Are you delusional?! What the hell are you doing?! However, it wasn’t in an eye-roll kind of way, Mary got under my skin but not on my nerves, and believe me, that’s an impressive balancing act right there!

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting it to be, but while I was certainly surprised, I was anything but disappointed. This was an insane ride, super-fast, dark, funny, crazy as hell and yes, please, I want more! Recommended!

Worst Case Scenario is available now as eBook and as from 16 May in paperback and audio. Don’t miss it!

Find out more on the other stops of this tour: