We Don't Use Words Like 'Crazy'

‘Gripping, empathetic, and honest, this account of what it’s like to care for the mentally ill as they sink into schizophrenia, depression, self-harm, delusion, anorexia, dementia and more, is both an education and a wake-up call. Sweeney writes with brilliance about a vulnerable population that deserves our respect and compassion.’ – Bonnie Garmus * Author of Lessons in Chemistry *‘A beautifully written, hopeful book from the kind of mental health nurse you’d be lucky to have. If only the NHS had 13,300 more of them’. – Dr Benji Waterhouse * Author of You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here: A Psychiatrist’s Life *Sweeney pulls you into the dark and baffling world of mental health care with a freshness and humanity that is usually missing from other books on the subject. Having spent nine months on HMP Wandsworth, where most of the inhabitants are mentally ill, Sweeney’s account struck home, and will hopefully shed much needed light on this scandalously overlooked area. * Chris Atkins, author of A Bit of a Stretch *A heartfelt and powerful account of what it feels like to be on today’s mental health front line. The shortages of staff and resources in this area of critical care is appalling. These dedicated professionals need all the care and support we can give them. * Carol Vorderman *

I’m a Londoner born and bred, but these days divide my time between the capital and my adopted home in Lancashire, where there’s a bit more space to write. By day I’m a community psychiatric nurse specialising in adolescent mental health and post-traumatic stress. Through fiction, my aim is to fuse my professional interests with a love of fast-paced crime writing.