We Used to Live Here by Daniel Hurst
Genre: Psychological thriller
Read: 3rd November 2024
Published: 17th February 2022
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
DESCRIPTION:
Every house has secrets. But not all of them stay buried forever...
When the Burgess family move into their 'forever' home, it seems like they are set for many happy years together at their new address. Steph and Grant, along with their children, Charlie and Amelia, settle into their new surroundings quickly. But then they receive an unexpected visit from a couple who claim to have lived in the house before.
They wish to come in and have a look around for old time's sake. Seeming pleasant and plausible, Steph invites them in. And that's when things begin to change. It's not long after the peculiar visit when the homeowners begin to find evidence of the past all around their new home as they redecorate. But it's the discovery of a hidden wall containing several troubling messages that really sends Steph into a spin.
After digging into the history of the house a little more, she learns it is connected to a shocking crime from the past. A crime that still remains unsolved...
A gripping psychological thriller from the author of the UK #1 bestseller The Passenger
MY THOUGHTS:
If only the walls could talk...
"How many people does it take to look for a dead body?
Seventeen, apparently, if the number of people currently in the garden at 31 Burchfield Drive was any way of judging it."
So I thought I would treat myself to some of Daniel Hurst's earlier thrillers because...well, I could. This is number 28 of his that I've read and while it is not groundbreaking or action-packed like some of his other adrenaline-fuelled thrill-rides, it still bears the trademark hallmarks of a Daniel Hurst thriller. That being the quirky easy writing style, the snappy chapters and the killer twist at the end that (while much of the story was predictable) even I didn't see that coming! I think this book is one of those that lulls you into a type of sense where you think you pretty much know what's going to happen...and then bam!
Steph and Grant have just moved into their new home with their two children, Charlie (5) and Amelia (6 months), needing to upsize from their smaller first home. And from first sight, 31 Burchfield Drive was perfect. One day they get a visit from previous owners, Ken and Julie, who would like a look around for old times sake. Steph has no problem with it but Grant is a little uncomfortable with letting a couple of strangers into their home - previous owners or not. But they are soon gone and life goes back to normal. Or does it?
As they begin renovating their new home to their style and tastes, they discover that the house holds some secrets from the past. Scribbled words under the wallpaper, a secret wall and some disturbing messages. Steph's interest is piqued and sends her on a mission to delve into the history of the house (and its owners), as much as she can, until Grant tries to put a halt to her investigations. She is like a dog with a bone refusing to relinquish her hold on all she has uncovered while Grant just wants a quiet life. He has troubles of his own which plague his mind far more than the mystery of the secret wall.
The dual narrative between Steph and Grant offers the reader their respective perspectives. You can feel Steph's frustration and anticipation as well as Grant's nonchalance. He's far more skeptical than she, possibly due to some of his own antics which take up far more of his time that it should.
A slow burn to start with, the pace doesn't really pick up much throughout making this a different style for Hurst. But it was still enjoyable while it lasted. This quick read, which I devoured in one sitting and four hours, is filled with plenty of intrigue and mystery to keep the reader guessing with the ending offering more than expected. Though I shouldn't surprised...Daniel Hurst is renowned for his last minute twists and stings in the tail of his storylines.
An easy four star read...until that final twist.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.
Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.
Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.
A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.
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