How ABL Health's Sarah Chilton drove me mad - My Breakdown: sacked by email

WOMAN No 2 (my employer) sacked me by email while I was recovering from my suicide attempt on the mental health unit.

It was no real shock - it had been coming since April.

I had been signed off work in March with 'poorly controlled diabetes, stress and exhaustion'.

Picture the scene: a Saturday evening, I was cooking dinner for Sarah (Woman No 1) and me, in the first weekend off I had that year.

Texts start coming in from employer. Sarah paces the kitchen: "How dare she do this on your first weekend off?" she protested. Again and again.

I was under pressure, personally, professionally and with my uncontrolled diabetes.

Two weeks later my employer decided to bring disciplinary proceedings against me.

REVIEWS FOR BETRAYAL

*****Fast paced and compelling political thriller

"Set in a feasible future this is a fast-paced page-turner of a thriller. The main action is telescoped into the tight timeframe of an imagined post-Corbyn Labour Party Conference.
The author takes us into a world of would-be Labour leaders and their political advisors/minders.
It’s a tale of ambition and selfishness, well told and it leaves you wanting more from this writer after such a compelling debut."

*****A fascinating insight into the turmoil of politics

"A gripping read with compelling characters, entertaining dialogue and some evocative prose."

****A taught thriller set in the underbelly of Labour politics

Betrayal feels as much like a fly-on-the-wall documentary as a novel. The characters are recognisable and even the more improbable twists have an air of veracity.

It is testimony to Finnegan’s talents as a writer that this quality runs through his work of fiction. He does not dwell on the convulsions of Corbynism, which is probably as well. A page-turning political procedural is probably not the place to unpick today’s ideological and strategic ferment.

What Finnegan does provide, however, is a window into the world of advisors, spin doctors and policy wonks who underpin today’s politicians. One can only hope that at least some of the travails he records are dialled up for narrative effect.

*****A great read!

"I don’t normally read political novels but I really enjoyed this book. If, like me, you don’t normally pick this kind of book, do not be worried about it being too complicated. It is accessible to all, and I could not put it down. I read it over a weekend and thought the plot was gripping. The characters are well developed and you will be left very moved by some, angered by others. There are some very poignant parts and upsetting moments, all made very real thanks to some very vivid descriptions. Add to all of the above a murder and a few sex scenes and you have all the ingredients needed for a very enjoyable book."

*****A compelling read

"The characters are intriguing and each contributes to the whole perfectly.

A fascinating story line, developing over a short period of time and packed full of intrigue.
It’s not often that you pick up a book and read it cover to cover before putting it down. An excellent debut novel!"

A political thriller you won't be

able to put down

I found this novel totally gripping.

Finnegan brings his characters to life

with incredible skill. This novel would

appeal to anyone who enjoys

following politics or likes crime books.

The descriptions are so realistic, and

it's clear Finnegan understands perfectly

the machinations of ambition and politics,

and the complexities of the human

characters that play in this game.

Highly recommended.

Engrossing

I found this book increasingly engrossing,

especially in our current political climate.

It has everything : love, sex, and plenty of

sleazy , back-stabbing politicians

and their cronies (who knew?).

A riveting read !

Excellent read and strongly recommend

Not a fan of novels like this, but really enjoyed

this. I was attracted to a story about the days

in a Labour Conference as I have attended

a few myself! I expected very little but the

more I got into the story, the more I

wanted to find out what happened.

Can strongly recommend.

Once you start reading you can’t put it down

I read purely for pleasure and totally escapism

but I found Betrayal very insightful educational

and escapism at the same time, a real page

turner. “A week is a very long time

in politics” A great read

Well done Matthew Finnegan.

How ABL Health's Sarah Chilton drove me mad - My Breakdown

The coup de gras - sacked while recovering from suicide attempt

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