REVIEW: My Husband Next Door by K.L. Slater

My Husband Next Door by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 18th October 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 28th October 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The perfect way for us to live. The perfect way for him to hide…

My husband Matt and I are an ordinary married couple in every way but one. At the end of each day, we return to our own homes and our own spaces. Some people think this arrangement is odd, but for us it’s perfect.

But beyond the fairy lights I string at my window, darkness is pressing in. Two local women have gone missing, and I don’t want to be alone. With Matt away for work, I find comfort in chatting to my new neighbour Brenda, who drops in regularly with casseroles and groceries.

Sipping our coffees, looking out of my kitchen window, I soon notice how observant Brenda is. So when she tells me that perhaps my husband isn’t simply working late, something cold takes root. I think of Matt’s recent vague tone, the way he brushes off my questions. Brenda thinks I should pop by when Matt’s not at home. Just to check everything’s as it should be.

I should be able to trust the man I married. But when I do go through my husband’s things, I discover that our perfect living arrangement is hiding a shocking secret…

A completely compelling and twisty page-turner from number 1 bestselling author K.L. Slater. Fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden will be hooked by My Husband Next Door.

MY THOUGHTS:

Kim's back with another deliciously devious thriller to whet our appetites of twisted mayhem. With so much happening, there's enough red herrings to sidetrack readers from what's really going on. But once again, it wasn't enough to fool me and though I'm not on top form of late (with RL issues) I still managed to see through her cleverly crafted plot.

Sylvie and Matt are happily married yet living apart. A weird concept that I just can't get my head around but it works for them. She lives in the house she purchased after the death of her first husband with her daughter Jess whilst Matt lives two doors down in the house he inherited from his grandfather.

Sylvie regularly hosts a book club meet in which various neighbours and her heavily pregnant daughter Jess take part. It's at the last meet that friend and neighbour Penny drops the bombshell that she and hubby Brian are retiring and moving to Portgual, renting out their house which sits opposite. And in moves Brenda.

Then it all happens at once. Jess goes into labour, has the baby afterwhich both Jess and Sylvie fall ill with separate conditions and are hospitalised. Brenda, a retired nurse, swoops in to help. Soon she has the place running like a well-oiled machine. She cares for the still weak Jess, helps with feeding baby Scarlet and has reorganised Sylvie's kitchen for smoother sailing. Sylvie is thankful for Brenda's quick thinking and for being there when she was unable but now she thinks it's time she took back the reigns. But Brenda doesn't seem to want to relinquish her place in Sylvie's house or her life. In fact, she simply doesn't want to leave!

Despite not living at the house, Matt feels increasingly uncomfortable with Brenda constantly hovering, letting herself in at the crack of dawn and turning up unannounced with bags of groceries whilst continuing her labelling spree. He tries encouraging Sylvie to speak up to let Brenda know that she is no longer needed but Sylvie feels indebted to her and fears offending the kindly woman. Besides, Matt is spending a lot of time away for work and Sylvie finds herself seeking out the comfort of her new neighbour.

But Brenda also has an agenda. She is sure Matt is up to no good and will stop at nothing to protect her new friend from his misdeeds. Even if it means exposing him herself. She knows he has secrets that he is keeping from Sylvie. After all, why else is he happy to continue living in two separate houses? Married couples ought to live together, not separately. And Brenda means to expose him.

Added to the domestic drama, there is the lingering mystery of a missing young woman from the area which adds to the tension. And then another young woman goes missing and someone believes they know the truth!

We welcome back DI Helena Price and DS Brewster, giving the books a sense of connection without being a series as such. Plus it's refreshing not to be bogged down in the procedural whilst still keeping a finger in the investigation.

Unfolding through the various narratives of Sylvie, Brenda and the police, this is an addictive fast paced tale that will draw you in despite the frustrating characters. There are twists, red herrings and plenty of tension as the reader is cleverly guided to a satisfactory conclusion.

I would like to thank #KLSlater, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandNextDoor in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says "the creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Ex Who Came Back by Daniel Hurst

The Ex Who Came Back by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 24th September 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th September 2025

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your biggest mistake is your sister’s new boyfriend.

All the family are gathered to meet my sister’s new boyfriend, including my husband Seth, and it should be a happy occasion. But the moment I see him my stomach drops. It’s Mateo. My worst mistake. My biggest secret. I hoped I’d never see him again – why is he here now?

‘It’s nice to meet you,’ he says. As I look into Mateo’s cold green eyes, I know he’s playing a deadly game. My hands tremble. This man can’t be trusted. He’s pretending not to know me… and he knows I have to pretend, too.

I’m caught in a lie with no way out. Mateo is dangerous. I don’t want my sister to get hurt. But if I admit who Mateo really is – what really happened between us – I could lose everything. My gorgeous husband. My precious little boy.

Or even my life…

From number 1 bestselling author and the king of jaw-dropping twists, The Ex Who Came Back is a completely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller that will have your heart hammering as you flip the pages until the final twist!

MY THOUGHTS:

Your biggest mistake is your sister's new boyfriend...

Five years ago, Corrine made a mistake. And she thought that mistake was long behind her. She was wrong. 

Now Corrine is happily married to Seth with four year old Freddie and her sister invites them to a family dinner too introduce them all to her new boyfriend, who she must be serious about as she never "brings them home" so to speak. But nothing prepares her for who she sees seated next to her sister Georgia. It's him. Mateo. Her one mistake.

But it gets worse when Georgia announces that they are moving in together. Corrine feels sick and she does everything she can to dissuade her sister from making what she knows will be a serious mistake. Mateo is not here for Georgia; he's here for her. To pick up where they left off five years ago. And it only gets worse when Mateo gives her an ultimatum - tell Seth about their night together by the end of the week, or he will. In front of family and friends.

From there, Corrine just seems to dig herself in deeper and deeper. With one bad decision after another. Beginning with her decision to sleep with Mateo in the first place! She has such a good man in Seth, what on earth was the woman thinking? She was wallowing in self-pity is what she was doing. She seriously did not deserve him. And Mateo? He made my skin crawl from the beginning. I couldn't wait to escape his presence...or Corrine's either, for that matter.

But as unlikeable as the characters were, Hurst knows how to keep his readers engaged with his pacing and short snappy chapters. But I wouldn't call Mateo an ex; he was a one night stand. There is plenty of tension, I admit, though the story was predictable. The ending was a surprise.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheExWhoCameBack in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright

The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 3rd August 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 31st July 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Six mothers-to-be. One of us is lying.

My fiancé and I traded our cramped London flat for a beautiful beach house on the Cornish coast. With our first child on the way, it’s the perfect place to start our new life. Quiet. Peaceful. Safe.

But the isolation is suffocating. Alex is working all hours, and he’s showing no interest in our wedding plans. 

So I join an antenatal class - a chance to make friends with other mums-to-be. That’s where I meet Cora, Carmen, Violet, Rachel and Lucy. We bond over baby names, birth plans, and the sleepless nights ahead.

But something’s wrong. 

I don’t like the way Lucy looks at Alex.

I’ve heard whispers about her husband’s first wife – and how she died.

At one of our get-togethers, she clutches Violet’s baby a little too tightly. The child begins to choke. No one forgets how long it takes her to let go.

I should have trusted my instincts. 

The closer I get to my due date, the more frightened I feel. It seems like I’m falling apart – but I know my baby is in danger.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book starts off with an explosive prologue, making me want to swipe the pages of my kindle faster. Darcy has just given birth and her baby has been taken, leaving her and her fiance Alex lifeless beside the birthing pool.

"My baby's been taken," Darcy sobs into the phone. And before she can digest all that has just happened, she slumps into unconsciousness.

Darcy and Alex have been together just under a year when Darcy fell pregnant just a couple of months into their relationship. But this was what she had always dreamed of - being a mum. OK, so it wasn't planned and it was unexpected but it could work. And so they are looking for a fresh start when they decide to move from the busyness of London to the quiet Cornish seaside village of Rock and preparing for the arrival of their baby together.

Darcy decides to join an antenatal class, figuring it might be a good way to make new friends. They could share their experiences together whilst forming firm friendships. But Darcy has always struggled to make friends and she finds it difficult to connect with the women in the group, her past insecurities looming heavily. Add to those along with pregnancy hormones, her paranoia flares.

At first, she connects with Cora and feels an affiliation with her but soon her insecurities cloud her judgement as she begins to feel shut out from the rest of the group. This is highlighted even further as one by one the women begin giving birth and each becomes a mother. The dynamics of each begin to shift as tensions rise and their little group becomes smaller, shutting Darcy out completely.

Stupidly, Darcy confides in no one about her fears but then how could she? Who could she really trust? It was clear from the outset that there are insecurities around her relationships and for the most part it is completely understandable why she in turn shut everyone out. But did she really have no one? It seems so.

Of all the women in the antenatal class, Carmen and Lucy are the ones Darcy trusts the least. But when Cora, Rachel and Violet all start to shut her out, Darcy wonders what she has done to upset them. Why are they meeting up in cosy little gatherings in cafes, some of them with their bundles while others still awaiting the arrival of theirs? Even Lucy, with whom she had grown much closer to in recent weeks, has ghosted her while gathered with the others laughing away - most likely at her. Again, her paranoia flares. She can't confide in Alex her insecurities - he doesn't even know the half of it, let alone will he understand. He's her rock, her security; if he didn't believe her she doesn't know what she'd do. So she kept her fears, her paranoia and her insecurities to herself.

As her due date approaches, despite the women shutting her out of the group entirely, Darcy has noticed Lucy sidling up to Alex. Is something going on there that she isn't aware of? Darcy is sure something is going on but Alex will only deny it and throw familiar accusations at her. And he wouldn't be entirely wrong. Needless to say, a ton of drama ensues.

After most of the book detailing Darcy and her insecurities, constantly whining about having no friends and being left out to be being jealous of all the women for a variety of reasons and berating Alex for a previous infidelity, we get to the culmination of events that precede the penultimate climatic conclusion. And boy, does it get interesting! Up till now I found myself skimming pages with a dragging realisation that Darcy was infinitely annoying and Alex was a complete knob. But now the tension mounts as Darcy goes into labour and things get hairy to say the least. She changes her mind about birthing plans but no one seems to be listening to her. She is terrified and scared and tries calling for help but to no avail. And then secrets burst to the surface as Darcy realises the dreaded reality of her situation. And in the end, her baby is gone. Darcy is inconsolable.

The final twists were revealing in themselves, although it was the very l ast one in the epilogue that I didn't see coming, as I predicted everything else that unfolded with ease. But that was a nice a touch to leave readers dangling.

This is a fairly quick read though it took me longer due to personal reasons and time being a factor. But I raced through over half of the book this afternoon to its thrilling end. Darcy was hard to like because of her constant whining. I could relate to her with not making friends as I too find it hard to make friends but she just constantly moaned on an on about it. I didn't like Lucy either. She was completely transparently fickle and bitchy. The other women were OK but most of the focus was on Lucy and sometimes Carmen and Cora. So it was up to us as readers to work out which one we couldn't trust. Alex was a complete twat. He could have at least tried to be a little more understanding but he didn't even try. Instead he shoved Darcy in the direction of Lucy when it was clear she wasn't comfortable with her. Instead of taking her concerns seriously, he waved them away and told her to get a grip basically. I would have liked to get a grip on him - firmly around his neck!

A quick read, it was intriguing enough but the pacing was a little sluggish in parts and I found it hard to stay fully engaged. I loved the ending though. Everything from where Darcy goes into labour to the birth and the aftermath was nail-biting and I raced through those pages till the final conclusion.

I would like to thank #JadeLeeWright, #JoffeBooks and #ZooloosBookTours for an ARC of #TheBabyGroup in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Whilst writing my next book I am a mother wrangling two under two and pursuing a BA (Honours) in English Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University. I'm currently in my third year and have received a distinction. My writing has also been highly commended in the UK's Writing Magazine and I have been shortlisted for The Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize. I run a popular Bookstagram page called Boho Bookworm, where I share my passion for literature. Through this platform I have connections with various publishing houses and authors.

Now I’m incredibly proud to be signed with Joffe Books on a two-book deal. My debut with them, The Baby Group, is set for release in July 2025. It’s a suspenseful, emotionally charged thriller about motherhood, identity, and trust. My second novel, The Family Secret, will follow in 2026.

When I’m not writing (or daydreaming about the next twist), you’ll usually find me with my nose in a book.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tik Tok | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst

The Couple Before Us by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 15th July 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th July 2025

★★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘Something terrible happened to the couple who lived here before…’ My hands shake as I read the warning note I’ve just found hidden in a forgotten corner of my brand new house. My husband told me we’d be the first people to live here. Did he lie?

Moving to this gorgeous house was meant to be a new start for our family. My hand rests on my growing baby bump as I walk through our home, the smell of fresh paint in the air, but my heart no longer feels full of hope for the future.

My husband Christian wraps his strong arms around me and tells me to forget the note; he wants this to be the perfect home for us. But as I look into his blue-grey eyes, I wonder if there’s something he’s keeping from me or if I’m just being paranoid.

Was there a couple who lived here before? And what happened to them?

I try to forget my worries like Christian asked, but then I see something in our next-door neighbour’s garden that I can’t ignore. I know I need to find out the truth if I’m ever going to feel safe again.

Except when I overhear Christian revealing a secret on the phone, I start to question: do I even know the man I married?

As I get closer to the truth of what happened to the couple before us, I realise one thing: I should have run when I had the chance…

Number 1 bestselling author Daniel Hurst is the king of utterly addictive and unputdownable psychological thrillers. The Couple Before Us is a completely gripping, pulse-pounding, keep-you-up-until-3am read perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Freida McFadden and Lisa Jewell.

MY THOUGHTS:

If it seems too good to be true then it probably is...

That's the piece of advice I felt like giving couple Dionne and Christian as they looked around the newly built house on the new estate that still resembled a construction site. Simply put - if you don't feel the house isn't right, don't buy it. Why Dionne gave in to hubby Christian, I have no idea, except maybe to keep the peace and she was heavily pregnant and needed somewhere to call home and soon.

So Christian loved the house, Dionne didn't. Five year old Kai loved the yard in which he could kick a football around and that alone seemed to melt Dionne's heart. And yet she still didn't feel right about the house. Something didn't feel right. A bit like the book. Something was missing that I couldn't put my finger on. It just lacked the punch that Hurst is known for.

And so in their cramped motel room they've called home for weeks, Dionne crumbles and gives in. "Make an offer" she says. Words she will live to regret. And within weeks they are moving in and unpacking their boxes and furniture. But still Dionne cannot still the niggling feeling that something isn't quite right about this house. And then in the corner of the cupboard she finds a note.

"Something terrible to the couple who lived here before..."

This was supposed to be a new-build. They were supposed to be the first people to be living there. So what is the meaning of this note? Who wrote it? And where did it come from?

Suffice to say, Dionne was not going to let things lie and decided to do some investigating of her own. As the story unfolds, she looks to the observer like she's a bit unhinged as she does some really stupid things. 

Despite this being a relatively quick and easy read that was predictable, it had plenty of eye-rolling moments that even I was shaking my head at. It lacked the thrills and tension of Hursts usual thrillers and Dionne was incredibly annoying. 

But don't let this review turn you off Daniel Hurst. He is a great thriller writer and I have devoured over 40 of his thrillers, most of which are edge-of-your-seat entertaining thrill-rides. But even our favourite authors can write books that don't thrill us. That doesn't mean I'll stop reading him because I know the calibre he is capable of.

Not a bad read, but not his best. Still, it held my interest enough to read in one sitting.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheCoupleBeforeUs in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora

Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic suspense

Read: 13th July 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 17th February 2025

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

As I push my baby down the street in her pink stroller, I look up and smile at the security cameras. Because I know they are watching. And I need to play my part as the perfect mother.

It’s been a year since my husband and I moved into our new home on the exclusive Cutter’s Island. This is where the rich and beautiful live, and where we plan to raise our baby. It couldn’t be more different from my old life.

But soon, my new life begins to shatter when I find a handwritten note in my mailbox: How can you live with yourself? I glance up and see curtains twitching in my neighbors’ windows. Someone knows what I did.

Clutching the note in my hands, I run inside, locking the door behind me. But later that night, smoke starts to fill the house. I run to my baby’s room and find my worst fears come true. Someone has taken her.

As my dream home goes up in flames, I know that whoever discovered my secret wants me to pay for what I did, to remind me that I was never meant to have this life. But they have no idea who I really am. And just how far I’ll go to get my baby back…

An addictive and gripping thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Packed with twists you’ll never see coming, this is perfect for fans of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, Shari Lapena and The Girl on the Train.

MY THOUGHTS:

Perfection is the best disguise...except when it isn't...

For a quick read this was a slow read. I mean, our protagonist Amelia Sterling spends half the book lamenting on how she fears her past being discovered by not only the rich and powerful she has married into but that they would see her for who she really is. And Amelia doesn't like the person who she used to be...which is why she has spent so long running from that past she has left behind. I guess it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so frustratingly repetitive and with no real direction except a mother with a newborn who was constantly tired and didn't want to be the centre of attention. Oh, and a secret to hide. Those were pretty much the only clues to go off.

Until the THEN chapters began. Suddenly, we are given a glimpse into the past through a young girl's first person narrative but the identity of that girl isn't clear until further in. So naturally it is left up to the reader to guess. Actually, I much preferred the THEN chapters to the present ones. They seemed to have much more happening than Amelia's life now. But it was the prologue that really drew me in...after that, the rest fell a bit flat until it began to fall into place.

So the players we have in the present are Amelia, husband Timothy, baby Clover, parents-in-law Alexander and Isabelle (though Alexander I think has one line "It's so good to have you have you back at the table again Celeste" was the sum of his involvement), sister-in-law Lydia, neighbours Eleanor and Celeste, Amelia's only friend Tabitha and reporter Jack. In the past there are just four - Hazel, Meadow, their mum and Hazel's boyfriend Tommy. So how do all these people and their stories come together? It wasn't overly difficult to piece together and the story was fairly predictable but it was still an OK read. I didn't not like it but it wasn't edge of your seat either.

Honestly? I couldn't stand any of the Sterlings. They were fake and pretentious and too powerful for their own good. They didn't care about Amelia, though it's hard to care about Amelia as she is hard to like. Isabelle was controlling and condescending, Lydia was fickle, Timothy was a two faced hypocrite - only Alexander didn't register anything as he didn't feature long enough to do so. This was all about girl power - or rather bitchiness. I felt like I was watching some Real Housewives reality TV rubbish.

When the pace picked up there was tension, secrets and lies that aren't entirely difficult to unravel once you piece everything together. It was a quick read that I devoured in about four and a half hours of an afternoon though it was filled with unlikeable characters that made it hard to like anyone. But I enjoyed it for the most part and it gave us a good satisfactory ending, even if not entirely believeable.

I would like to thank #AnyaMora, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #GoodBadMother in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anya Mora lives a ferry ride from Seattle. She's a wildly sentimental mother of five in a love affair with hot yoga, positive affirmations, and to-do lists. She unabashedly uses emojis and wears her heart on her sleeve. Her novels, while leaning toward the dark, ultimately reflect light, courage, and her innate belief that love rewards the brave.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Mother's Phone Call by Victoria Jenkins

The Mother's Phone Call by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 24th June 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 16th January 2025

★★★ 3.5  stars

DESCRIPTION:

Gripping the phone, my hands tremble with fear. I look at my son and wonder how my darling blue-eyed boy could have done this. But as my eyes focus down on the body, I know what I must do. I know it will destroy our lives forever. “Hello? I need help. It’s my child. He’s killed someone.”

As my son looks at me, his eyes pleading for help, all I can think in that moment is that I will do whatever it takes to protect him. A young girl’s lifeless body lies on the ground and my heart breaks when I realise I’m already too late to save her.

Our family will never be the same again.

I know I should call for help. But looking towards the phone table I see an old picture of the children playing in the garden. Our children and hers. We used to be so close, I thought our families would be together for a lifetime. But in a moment of rage, the life I imagined has been snatched away.

But if I’m honest, I’ve been kidding myself about how perfect our lives were. I’m a mother. I should be able to keep my children safe. But what I see in front of me cannot be denied. No one else is here. My son’s guilty.

How far will I go to protect him? 

A completely gripping and pulse-pounding psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Wife Between Us, The Girl on the Train and anything by Shari Lapena.

MY THOUGHTS:

Not often I read the same author two books in a row but I thought "why not?" Despite its title, there is far more going on than just a phone call. In fact the said phone call doesn't take place until about 20% or so in. But it does pose the question of what would a mother do in such a situation? Mothers, by nature, tend to want to protect their young but at the same time it is also their job to teach them responsibility, accountability and doing the right thing...even if it breaks your heart to do so.

Jo and her husband Rob enjoy a nice life in their quiet little cul-de-sac with their 18 year old twins Alice and Toby. An affluent neighbourhood, they live across the road from their closest friends Eve, her husband Chris and their adult children Dylan (20) and Freya (18). The two families have been friends for years as Jo and Eve navigated motherhood together and they watched their children grow up together. Their lives were picture perfect...until a tragedy pitches them family against family.

The story opens with Jo and her family attending the overtly lavish summer party to celebrate 20 years of wedded bliss between Eve and Chris. Overtly lavish as only Eve could do. And of course only lavish would do for those Insta-pics that depict the carefully curated life she so wishes to convey to the world. As shallow as she can appear at times, Jo loves Eve though I'm not entirely sure why. The women are poles apart. Even their children are chalk and cheese. It is hardly surprising that Eve's daughter Freya is as shallow and fickle as her mother, seemingly taking pleasure in cruel pranks and wondering what the fuss is all about afterwards. I must admit I was surprised that Alice was friends with Freya - the girl was horribly cruel and enjoyed inflicting that cruelty.

It's while at the party, Alice overhears whispers of a conversation between her father and Eve that just didn't sound right... And it leaves her wondering how to confront him or even tell her mum. But even Toby appears to have harsh words with Freya and then Chris seems to let his hands wander a little too close to comfort when saying goodnight to Jo. Just what is going on with this family?

And so the night rolls into Sunday and all's well...and then rolls seamlessly into Monday (that I didn't even notice a change in the days). Jo is scrolling social media when she sees Eve posting a provocative posed pic of herself claiming to be recovering from a two day hangover. But it's a video shared to TikTok of Alice that has everybody seeing red. But is it enough to kill for?

That evening, with the family safely tucked up in their beds, Jo is pondering the provocative photo of Eve when she receives a phone call from Toby. Toby? But isn't he upstairs in bed? He tells her he is across the street at Freya's house and that something awful has happened. When Jo rushes over nothing can prepare her for the scene that greets her. Freya laying in a pool of blood with Toby standing next to her, bloodied and in tears. Then making the hardest decision she calls the police to report the crime her son has committed. The police arrive, he's arrested and the families are pitched against each other.

Alice cannot believe her brother would kill Freya, or anyone. But the evidence clearly points to him and his prints were on the weapon and her blood was all over him. And worse of all, Toby remains silent refusing to comment when questioned or shed any light on what had happened. But would they believe him if he tried? Probably not. After all, his own mother believed it of him after taking one look at the scene so of course the police will do too. 

What ensues is a fight to uncover the truth and clear Toby's name while Freya's family are hellbent on showing him up for who he is - a murderer who killed their beautiful and innocent girl. Innocent, my eye. That girl gave as good as she got and was the product of her environment. But who is lying? Who is telling the truth? And what really happened that night when Freya was killed?

An interesting Desperate Housewives-ish tale that unfolds through the alternating narratives of Jo and Alice, this story has secrets and lies in abundance with plenty of toxic characters and layers of deceit to unravel.

Overall, a dark and twisted tale that was both enjoyable and entertaining.

I would like to thank #VictoriaJenkins, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMothersPhoneCall in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017 and is an Amazon UK top 30 bestseller, and top 5 bestseller in the Amazon US chart., to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.

The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.

Her first psychological thriller, The Divorce, was published in July 2019. The second, The Argument, was published December 10th 2019 and The Accusation was published June 9th 2020, followed by The Playdate, The New Family and The Bridesmaids.

Victoria lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.

 

Social Media links:

Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: Stolen Baby by L.G. Davis

Stolen Baby by L.G. Davis

Genre: Domestic suspense

Read: 1st May 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th January 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I told everyone she is my baby. I lied.

My life changes forever when my little girl appears in a basket on my doorstep, her long lashes fluttering, only a few hours old. She’s so tiny and precious; my heart is hers in an instant.

My husband Tom and I have always longed for a child, so we agree not to tell the authorities. We won’t risk them taking her away. And I know if they find out my history, they’d never let me keep her…

I’m so grateful to have my beautiful baby, who we call Daisy. But while Tom refuses to talk about it, I can’t stop wondering who her biological parents are and why they left her with us?

Then someone sends me a message, enclosing it in a funeral programme I find on my kitchen table. Now I know the terrible truth about what happened to Daisy’s parents, and it’s closer to home than I could ever have imagined.

I thought I could protect us all, despite my past mistakes. But when the secrets I uncover put my family’s lives at risk, how far will I go to keep the little girl I love?

An utterly heart-pounding and twisty psychological suspense novel from bestseller L.G. Davis. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Teresa Driscoll and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

She's not mine...but I'll do anything to keep her...

Nora was just sixteen when she had Isobel, who is the light of her life, and for twelve years it had just been the two of them before she met and married Tom eight years ago. Now after suffering several miscarriages, Nora fell pregnant again and it was looking very likely that she would carry this one to term. But just a couple of weeks ago, she suffered a late term miscarriage and was left desolate.

Nora has struggled with severe depression for years and her miscarriages have only fuelled her depression, leaving her grappling with anxiety and the depth of the abyss into which she often finds herself. Isobel is worried sick about her and is hesitant about leaving her alone, deferring her own studies to care for her mother. For a long time, it had only been her and her mother and she knows Nora gave her everything she could growing up, so being there for her is the least Isobel could do for her now.

And then just when Nora is at her darkest, the doorbell rings. Dragging herself from the couch she opens the door and finds a basket with a newborn baby and a note saying that her name is Daisy and to please take care of her. Nora takes this as a sign - she was meant to have this baby. The mother couldn't care for the child herself and for some reason believed Nora was the perfect one to take care of her. It isn't hard to convince Tom or even Isobel to keep little Daisy. And after a week of no police reports of missing babies, they decide to keep Daisy and raise her as their own.

OK, yes. You really do need to suspend reality here. In what world would three people all agree that taking someone else's baby and raising them as their own is a good idea?

There isn't much more I can say about the story from here on in as I would be venturing into spoiler territory. But what I can say is nobody seems to have an iota of common sense! And I really mean no one! They are all aboard the crazy train even if they do disembark at different stations. Plenty of eye-rolling is to be had and face slapping is needed for every single one of them!

The story unfolds through Nora's perspective and then Isobel's. Both women are guilty of jumping to conclusions along the way with no one coming up with any kind of resolution. I wanted to smack everyone so much for their plain stupidity. But having said that, regardless of how irritating everyone could be, the story was still addictive enough to keep me turning the pages.

Another quick and easy read from Liz!

I would like to thank #LGDavis, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #StolenBaby in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Liz's story began in a refugee camp in Angola, where she spent the first eight years of her life. After that, she spent some years in Namibia (her home country), South Africa, and Germany. Liz wrote her first full-length novel at eighteen and hid it in a box under her bed. Several others soon followed it. Her passion lies in writing edge-of-the-seat psychological thrillers that give readers the same rush they would get on a rollercoaster.

She now lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and two children. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope

Welcome to West Street by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic Suspense

Read: 22nd April 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 22nd April 2025

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

‘Welcome! I hope you’ll be happy here,’ I say, standing on the doorstep and holding out a freshly baked cake. Amanda smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. The new arrivals to West Street clearly have secrets. But that’s okay. Because so do I…

Caroline twitches aside her curtains to see the new family moving in. A mother – beautifully dressed in expensive clothes – and two young children. Where is her husband, she wonders? And why are they moving in to the smallest house on the street? They really don’t seem the type.

But Caroline believes it’s important to be welcoming. It’s important to know everything that’s happening on West Street.

Amanda unpacks another box and breathes a shaky sigh. Her son is refusing to speak. Her daughter misses her friends. But we’re safe, Amanda tells herself. Her neighbour Caroline seems nice, if a little nosy. And most importantly, West Street is peaceful. Anonymous. Nobody knows who she is… do they?

But can Amanda really trust anyone on West Street? And can they trust her? Because when her secrets catch up with her…

Someone will go missing.

Someone will be taken away in handcuffs.

And someone, will die.

A totally addictive psychological thriller about a peaceful suburb where nothing is as perfect as it seems. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and The Perfect Marriage won’t be able to put this down.

MY THOUGHTS:

Welcome to West Street!

I'd heard mixed reviews of this one so I began with a sense of dread and trepidation - but I was pleasantly surprised! I began this book as I was cooking dinner and devoured it within hours. It is pure Nicole Trope, domestic suspense queen extraordinaire.

Amanda has been married to jewellery businessman Mike Caldwell for twelve years; first his mistress then his wife. Together they have two children - Jordan (11) and Keira (9) - and a huge sprawling house with everything she could ever want. Except maybe a husband who loves and respects her. But to Mike she is just a trophy he can take out and show off, whilst behind closed doors bending her to his will. His abuse is swift, stealthy and silent. No one but she knows of her terror. And the last thing she wants is her children finding out. They adore their father and she doesn't want to taint their image of him. Her only problem now is how to leave him. She's threatened him eleven times and each time he knew she would never follow through. After all, she knew what he would do to her if she tried.

So when she receives a text from an unknown number"

"You don't know me but I know you...Mike and I are in love..."

Amanda thinks this is her way out. She bides her time and waits for the perfect moment. It comes when Mike takes a week long buying trip to China for his business. Amanda wastes no time in packing their belongings - all the essentials and the things she has purchased in secret and kept in storage until this moment - loads the children into the car and drives the hour long distance to the place she has rented for them for six months. This will be the start of their new life. But what she doesn't realise is the danger she has brought to her door.

The moment Mike realises she has gone, leaving nothing but an envelope with divorce papers on his desk, she knows he will be livid. He has threatened her many times if she dared to leave him. But dragging the children from their life of privilege to a run down house that will be demolished in a few months, that has nothing of the mod cons they are used to, is a far cry their old life. She knows her children don't like the move but she is doing this for them. She doesn't want them to grow up with the shadow of that kind of abuse being acceptable. It isn't.

It isn't long before Amanda meets the other residents of the quiet cul-de-sac of West Street - queen bee Caroline who flutters over elderly Mary and mother of two Gemma. The women like the street the way it is and dislike disruption but welcome the family with open arms. However, not all is as it seems. Jordan is anything but happy about the move and makes it known not just to his mother but all the other neighbours as well, screaming his vitriol for all to hear before storming out which becomes a daily occurrence. This unsettles the residents and ruffles the feathers of their quiet little street. But there's a story lurking and the women are intent on uncovering Amanda's secrets and to be the friends she is sure to need.

But just how much is everyone hiding in this cul-de-sac? Can she trust them? Can they trust her? And just whose past is going to catch up with them before the last page?

Amanda didn't so much as drive to West Street as catch the crazy train there! This is one crazy ride from start to finish with plenty of drama, secrets, lies and deception. Oh, yes, it is a tad OTT but the entertainment factor kept me enthralled too much to care. Nobody is particularly likeable, including Amanda as you feel she is keeping something back though you aren't quite sure what. I didn't entirely warm to her and loathed her son Jordan who was a spoilt rich kid who had been used to daddy's creature comforts not to see past himself. Caroline was far too nosy for my liking though she came across as endearing that you forgave her that at first. Mary is somewhere in la la land and Gemma is just pure shifty. I knew she was hiding something from the beginning.

The story was pretty predictable from very early on and I had figured out pretty much all the twists - some even before they happened! But it didn't ruin my enjoyment of what was essentially an entertaining quick read that I devoured in the space of an evening.

Nicole Trope is one of my favourite authors and she never disappoints. I love how she brings Australia to life in her stories so I can relate to the climate she describes in her books as I live the steamy summers and mild winters all year round. And February definitely IS the hottest and steamiest month (even though it is the last month of summer here).

If you love a good domestic suspense with plenty of drama, secrets and whole load of bonkers, then you will enjoy this crazy ride for sure!

I would like to thank #NicoleTrope, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WelcomeToWestStreet in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

  

REVIEW: The Liar by Louise Jensen

The Liar by Louise Jensen

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 25th April 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th April 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The Abbotts’ new lodger Luke hasn’t told them much about himself, but they can’t expect to know everything about a stranger who’s just moved in.

But Luke keeps asking about their family photos and looking through their things. Why does he want to know everything about them? And why does daughter Jen think someone is watching her?

Then, suddenly, Mum Mel texts the family to say she needs a break. But Mel has never gone away alone before. And now it’s been days, and no one has heard from her.

The Abbotts’ house is full of secrets.

They say people never tell the whole truth.

They’re right.

MY THOUGHTS:

I think this is the seventh or eighth book by Louise Jensen I've read and I just love her style. She begins with a slow burn - but not in sluggish way that makes you lose interest or wonder when you are going to get to the point. More of a build up of atmosphere as each of her thrillers have been. Though this one had more of a domestic suspense feel to it rather than the atmospheric chill of previous thrillers. A tale of secrets and lies and whole load of drama that leads to even more secrets and lies.

The Abbott family are just your average family - loving and caring. Mel is a single mother of two - Jen (26) and Amy (13). She's a social worker and fights for the underdog and the misunderstood. When Jen was about sixteen, she took in her best friend Camilla after the foster system spat her out and loved her as her own. In fact, she became like another daughter. Then when Camilla gave birth to Mason, Mel and her family doted on him. So when Camilla and Mason move into their own flat, Mel's house seems that little bit empty. And so they decide to take in a lodger. 

Mel loves her family, she loves her life. But many years ago, she did something which she fears has come back to haunt them. But as she keeps those fears to herself, when she goes missing no one is aware of those fears or what she did for them to come back to haunt her.

As the hours turn into days, Jen receives word from her mum that she needs some time out but will be home soon. And the lodger didn't turn up when he was meant to, instead showing up the day after looking at her somewhat blankly. Despite this, Jen and Amy decide if their mother checked him out and was happy with him then they are too. Until they find him rifling through things which don't concern him. What exactly is he doing here? And what does he want with them? Does he know what's happened to Mel?

This is a deftly woven tale that to say much more would give too much away. Suffice to say things get a little complicated before being made clear but Jensen weaves her tale through the multiple timelines and narratives with expertise. I devoured this in a day. I'm sure you will too.

I did note in the final lines of the book, I welled up somewhat as I felt it rather poignant and somewhat fitting considering Jensen's mother passed away just before the book published. When you read those final lines, you will know what I mean.

I would like to thank #LouiseJensen, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheLiar in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Louise Jensen has sold over a million English language copies of her International No. 1 psychological thrillers The Sister, The Gift, The Surrogate, The Date and The Family. Her novels have also been translated into twenty-five languages, as well as featuring on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestseller’s List. Louise's sixth thriller, The Stolen Sisters will be published in Autumn by Harper Collins.

The Sister was nominated for the Goodreads Debut of 2016 Award. The Date was nominated for The Guardian's 'Not The Booker' Prize 2018. The Surrogate was nominated for the best Polish thriller of 2018. The Gift has been optioned for a TV film. The Family was a Fern Britton Book Club pick. Louise was also listed for two CWA Dagger Awards.   

When Louise isn’t writing thrillers, she turns her hand to penning love stories under the name Amelia Henley. Her debut as Amelia Henley, The Life We Almost Had, is out now.

Louise lives with her husband, children, madcap dog and a rather naughty cat in Northamptonshire. She loves to hear from readers and writers.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | YouTube