Author: Shona Knight

Series: The Undertakes

First Published: 27 January 2026

“I knew I wasn’t worthy of her, but I was gonna spend my life desperately trying to be.” 

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to Shona for sending a copy my way!

Her letters saved them. Now they’ll destroy everything to save her.

Wren

My brother says he only wants what’s best for me.
He says the world is dangerous. That I’m safer at home.
That he’ll teach me everything I need to know.

I believed him.
Until the day I found a letter that changed everything.

He had made a deal with the devil—one that traded my future for his power.

So I ran.
No plan. No destination. Just one final letter to the four men who had accidentally become my closest and only friends.

My prison penpals.

I never expected them to come looking for me.
I certainly never expected them to find me.
And I definitely didn’t expect them to be equal parts appealing as they are terrifying.

They’re dangerous, obsessive, and unapologetically mine.
And when my past catches up to me, they’re the only ones willing to burn the world to keep me safe.

Four men who should have been a mistake—might just be my salvation.

Holy hell! Talk about a cliffhanger ending. My Prison Penpals is a fantastic start to a new dark romantic suspense. And you guys, I am hooked!

Her brother has raised Wren after the death of her parents. He claims to want only the best for her. He tells her that the world is too dangerous, so she needs to stay home, protected and learn how to manage a household. And naively, she believes him. Despite how caged she feels in the domestic role he’s forced her into. She has one small, secret act of rebellion. She has four pen pals who are currently in prison serving life sentences. Their letters are the only joy she has. Things go sideways when her brother brings a business associate home and demands that she spend time with him. When she uncovers the secret that her brother has traded her hand for arms, she does the only thing she can think of. She runs. Luckily for her, her pen pals—Dex, Pete Sly and Jagger—find her after escaping from prison before she ends up in too much danger.

Wren is so innocent. I just want to hug her. The poor girl has been purposely sheltered from the world. Groomed to be the perfect bride that someone her brother can trade away in a business deal. I love the little burst of rebellion we see, even from the beginning. I look forward to seeing her growth in the rest of the series as she explores the world and discovers who she is.

Dex, Pete, Sly and Jagger were cellmates in prison. They barely tolerated each other and seemed to band together out of necessity. The only thing keeping them together after their escape is Wren. Her letters were the only bright spot in their imprisonment. They were shocked she kept writing once finding out they were prisoners and not foster kids like she originally thought. Dex is an ex-cage fighter who’s prone to bouts of berserk rage. But he’s a secret softy who’s spent his days reading books on how to be romantic. Pete is a charming ex-drug dealer who has a soft spot for knives. He’s just as likely to stab you as he is to laugh at your jokes. Sly is 100% Dexter coded. He was an accountant who spent his nights hunting down the murderers and rapists his defence attorney father let roam the streets. He’s cold. The only person he’ll soften for is Wren. And then we have Jagger. He’s ex-military and ended up on the wrong side of the law once he returned from combat. He’s mute, having suffered an injury that damaged his vocal cords.

Beyond romance, the developing trust and friendship between the guys really stood out. While on the run, they quickly realise they each have skills to help them stay safe. They also realise that together they can all provide Wren with the love and support she deserves. I adore how they all learn sign language so they can communicate with Jagger.

This is one aspect I adore about Shona Knight’s works is while the worlds are dark, the romance never is. Please check the trigger warnings, as there are dark themes here. The guys, despite being framed for the crimes that landed them in jail, are dangerous murderers with connections to gangs. Also, Wren has been groomed to embody her brother’s archaic idea of the “perfect woman,” void of personal will. I adore how Dex, Pete, Sly and Jagger recognise Wren’s ignorance concerning women’s rights and autonomy. They didn’t want to accidentally coerce her into anything she doesn’t fully consent to. They are really sweet in a gloriously unhinged way. Honestly, they had me swooning all over the place. We do have some steamy scenes, which focus on Wren finding pleasure, but they are taking things slow and at her pace.

The last chapter! My God, so much happened. We discovered some answers, such as how the prison escape went smoothly. But this only raised more questions. What happens next, I have no idea. Also, whose side is Elias really on? I need to know!

I adore Shona Knight’s brand of why choose dark romantic suspense. I am looking forward to Wren learning who she is and seeing her brother pay for all his crimes. Thankfully, the next book, My Fearless Fugitives, will be out later this month! Because I’m not sure how long I can wait for answers.