The Penal Colony by Richard Herley

The British government now runs island prisons for the worst offenders from its mainland jails. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can. To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit. Routledge knows he is he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life. From Goodreads

I was very surprised by this book. I have to admit, as it was a free book, I didn't expect much. I enjoyed this book, though enjoyed is the wrong term for it. It was a brutal, disturbing story and very violent. It is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is made clear that the main character is innocent but also that most of the 500 men on the island are not. Even though it is clear that the people are murderers, rapists and worse some of the characters are still likeable but most of them are of course intensely detestable.
   
I read this book as part of the Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon.hosted by Michelle at The True Book Addict.

It also qualifies for: 
100 books in a year Reading Challenge 2012, 
Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge, 
Where Are You Reading Challenge 2012,
2012 Ebook Challenge, 
Why Buy the Cow? Reading challenge 2012 ( this book is free on Amazon)