The Staffymum's Book Nook: K.L. (Kim) Slater

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

Monday, 18 August 2025

REVIEW: The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater

The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th August 2025

Published: 14th August 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You’ve won the house of your dreams. It’s about to become a nightmare…

A gripping twist-filled thriller from the bestselling author of Message Deleted. For fans of T.M Logan, Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell.

When Merri and Dev buy a ticket on the last day of a national draw to win the house of their dreams, they never, in a million years, expect to win.

Less than a week later, they’re receiving the keys to their new Lake District mansion.

For Dev, it’s a dream come true – no more stressful rent negotiations, or waiting for the landlord to finally fix the damp. Of course he’s delighted to be interviewed about their good luck.

But Merri feels a little uneasy. Dev doesn’t realise there’s a reason she’s never wanted to put down roots, always trying to run away from the memories of what happened the day her little sister died.

At first it’s easy to think she’s imagining the shadowy figures in the lakefront garden. It’s silly to think that someone is watching her through the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

And then a body is found in the lake. And Merri’s new perfect life is about to come crashing down…

MY THOUGHTS:

They've won their dream home...but are they really lucky...?

Dev and Merri are my people. They are real. They know what it's like living paycheque to paycheque, scrimping and scraping, trying to get by. This is my life! At last, characters with whom I can identify in the real world. And then...Lady Luck comes knocking. They've won a three million pound mansion in the exclusive Lake District overlooking Lake Windemere AND a quarter of a million pounds to go with it! Yep, just like that. But how did it happen?

It was their third wedding anniversary and Dev, a spontaneous easy going guy, buys Merri a lottery ticket for the occasion. He doesn't expect to win, but it's the thought that counts. Merri, ever the practical and thoughtful one of the couple, is almost livid that he wasted £20 on a ticket that will win them absolutely nothing and could have been best spent on one of their mounting bills and growing debt. In the light of the day the following morning, Merri has calmed down and appreciates Dev's thoughtfulness, even if it was a little reckless. They'll get through this - they have before; they will again.

Days later, Merri is trying to enjoy a lie in but the doorbell is ringing constantly and her phone is blowing up with a deluge of missed calls from Dev who is on his way to work p by bus (since their car gave up the ghost). Frustrated and yelling at the ringing doorbell to wait whilst reading Dev's senseless messages, she opens the door to a group of people with cameras and lights and a microphone shoved in her face asking "What does it feel like to be an instant millioniare?"

Standing on the doorstep in her dressing gown, Merri is speechless. What are they talking about? And then she remembers. The lottery ticket. And the realisation dawns. They've won the Lake District mansion and a quarter of a million pounds! No more scrimping and scraping! No more struggle street!

What then ensues is lots of photographs and a visit to their new home, more photographs, a guided tour, a deluge of paperwork legalising their ownership, loads of packing and then moving from Nottingham to the Lake District before they can finally sit back, breathe and enjoy their moment. All this is really theirs! But they have hardly settled in when the subtle threats begin. A brick through the window. Scratches in the glass balustrading. Spray paint on the windows. Their car mysteriously keyed. And the social media posts boasting their win under Merri's name which she never posted. Somebody isn't happy with their good fortune.

Still, ever since they have moved in Merri has felt unease. A prickling sensation on the back of her neck, a movement in the shadows and the unsettling knowledge that she doesn't really deserve this. That if Dev really knew the secret she has been keeping, she would lose him. But Merri's world is about to come crashing down when she realises that somebody knows her secret. And they will stop at nothing to reveal it. And bring her down with it.

The pacing was a little slower than some of her other thrillers, dipping slightly in the middle. I did lose patience with Merri occasionally as she seemed to be second guessing everything they did or everything others did. The story unfolded primarily through Merri's narrative with a little perspective from Dev and a few chapters from an unknown narrator titled "The Watcher". Although the house they won was stunning by all accounts, it's certainly not to my taste. All those clean lines, minimalism and glass facades - I'd feel like I was living in a fishbowl! I prefer something with history and character...as did most of the locals, from what I gather.

Another great read by Kim Slater, though not her best I still thoroughly enjoyed it for the most part. Looking forward to what else she can deliver us.

I would like to thank #KimLSlater, #Netgalley and #Penguin for an ARC of #TheLuckyWinners in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

Sunday, 26 January 2025

REVIEW: The Married Man by K.L. Slater

The Married Man by K.L. Slater

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller

Read: 26th January 2025

Published: 1st November 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

He was my husband first. Only I know his secret…

Eleven years ago, my husband had to disappear. He told me about the terrible thing he had done, that would put me and our son in danger. We had no choice but to pretend he was dead.

My heart broke for our little son, who missed his father every day. But when you are married you do what you must to protect the people you love.

Every day was a struggle, but I’ve survived because he promised that he would return to us one day. That we would move to a new town and start all over again. But now, I have made a shocking discovery. My husband has a new wife, and a new perfect life. Without us. This was never part of our plan…

After everything I did for him, he’s betrayed me. And now, I have to stop him before it’s too late. Because what he’s done hasn’t just put me in danger, but also our son. I’ll do anything to protect him.

I don’t know why my husband has thrown away everything we’ve worked for. But his secret is no longer safe with me. And he has absolutely no idea just how far I’ll go to get my revenge…

A completely gripping and addictive thriller from the number 1 ebook bestselling author K.L. Slater, The Married Man will have you glued to the pages until the very last twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned...

Nothing like a good solid fast paced read from a go-to author to keep you entertained on a quiet Sunday afternoon. And Kim packs a punch with a few twists thrown in that will make your head spin! Seriously, you will think you have this one figured out but you don't. For once, Ms Slater has hoodwinked me. Nicely played.

The story begins with a slow build that soon picks up pace as things begin to go awry. Eleven years ago, Liv's husband Rich disappeared while out with their three year old son Maddox, having taken him to nearby Frog Hill to fly his recently acquired kite from his birthday. At first Liv isn't concerned. But then when they still haven't returned after several hours, she tries calling but it goes straight to voicemail. She isn't completely surprised as the area has notoriously bad mobile signal. So she decides to head up there and take a look for them herself. But upon pulling into the deserted car park the only thing she could see is Rich's locked Mercedes and a fog rolling in with the coming storm. Returning home, she calls Rich's mum Shannon who tells her not to worry they'll turn up before calling the police to report them missing. After a brief search, Maddox is located hiding in a cave but Rich is never found.

Over a decade later, Liv awaits the day she and Rich planned for almost twelve years ago. A day when hers and Maddox's lives will change for the better. But when that day comes and goes bringing nothing with it, Liv begins to wonder if her husband has double crossed her. She has been going out of her mind with worry and Maddox has suddenly grown sullen, slamming himself out of the house at all hours and not telling her where he's going. And when the police come knocking asking for Maddox, Liv wonders what has her son gotten himself mixed up in?

Maddox has always accepted the story his mother told him of his father's disappearance all those years ago. But more recently, his snooping and a chance encounter leads him to wonder if his mum only been lying to him all these years. What he discovers rocks his world and puts him on a path to something far more dangerous than he could imagine.

Across town Kait, who has been married to Daniel for the past couple of years, is beginning to suspect her husband is cheating on her. Cryptic notes he dismisses with a wave of his hand, late nights out, snippets of a phone call caught on their doorbell camera all lead Kait to suspect Daniel is being less that truthful with her. Possibly cheating. Pregnant with their first child, Kait thinks only of her unborn child when Daniel begins being secretive. Before Daniel threw the cryptic note she found out she snapped a photo of it on her phone. And now she calls on her sister to help her unravel the string of numbers and abbreviated message. And it leads her right to Liv and Maddox. What exactly is Daniel hiding? And why does Liv pale when she saw a photo of him?

The story unfolds in the past and present through the various narratives of Liv, Maddox, Rich, Kait and the return of the Nottinghamshire police in DI Helena Price and her sidekick DS Kane Brewster.

This book is my umpteenth I've read by the author (I've lost count...lol) and it is full to the brim with a vast array of characters that each play a part in the past and present stories. Slater has penned yet another entertaining and intriguing fast paced read that had me devouring every page in one afternoon. So many secrets, lies and deception and many twists to give you whiplash.

A cracking read that was entertaining from beginning to end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

PUBLISHER:

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

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

REVIEW: Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

Message Deleted by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 30th October 2024

Published: 18th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Saffy is waiting to go into a job interview when she receives a text message from her best friend, Leona:

Can’t speak . . . don’t text or call . . . please just come

As Saffy struggles to understand what is happening the phone screen changes:

This message was deleted.

Saffy races to Leona’s house, but when her friend answers the door, she insists everything's fine. She doesn't know anything about the message. Saffy can tell something’s not right, but after looking around the house, she can’t think of anything else she can do.

Six hours later, Saffy gets a knock on the door. It's the police. Leona is missing, with her young child. There's blood everywhere.

And Saffy was the last one to see them alive . . .

MY THOUGHTS:

"Can't speak...don't call or text...pls just come..."

In recent years, Saffy's life has gone into freefall. Once married to dependable Neil and mother to the delightful Fox, it all came unravelling apart three years ago when she walked in on something unexpected. And has since been unable to move on. Everyone else has, but Saffy. Her marriage fell apart and Neil filed for full custody. She didn't contest because she knew she wasn't a fit parent and that Fox deserved better than what she could (or couldn't) provide.

Three years later and Saffy's life is on the up. She underwent treatment for her mental health, bought a half share of a house and is at this moment sitting in the waiting room for an interview as a data analyst. Neil has even agreed to a whole weekend visit with Fox - unsupervised. Nothing could spoil her mood today.

Until it does...

Leona has been Saffy's friend for as long as she can remember. Even when Leona didn't make the wisest of choices, Saffy was always there for her best friend. And then she met Ash. And only as Leona can, falls head over heels for him and elopes with him in Majorca. But there's something about Ash that Saffy doesn't like, doesn't trust. And it seems the feeling is mutual because Saffy has been excommunicated from her friend's house.

Then just moments before she's to walk into her interview, Saffy receives a text message from Leona.

"Can't speak...don't call or text...pls just come..."

And then just like that, the message is deleted. What? Why? Saffy can't concentrate on her interview and leaves abruptly, hailing a taxi and hurrying to her friend's place. Something is wrong. Saffy can feel it. But when she arrives, Leona opens the door surprised by her friend's sudden appearance...and more to the point, denying all knowledge of the texts!

Something is wrong. Saffy can feel it. Maybe hubby Ash's presence prevented her friend from confiding in her? Who knows? But six hours later, there is a knock on Saffy's door with two detectives informing her that Ash, Leona and 5 year old Rosie have all disappeared. And Saffy was the last person to see them!

What ensues is a police investigation focused on Saffy being the last one to see the family and honing in her as their prime suspect. But Saffy didn't do this. And yet she is the only suspect.

Only a handful of characters in this psychological whodunnit, but boy, you will have your work cut out sifting through each of them trying to work out which one of them is the villain. The story unfolds in the past and present over the course of various timelines leading up to the big reveal. We hear from Saffy, her sister Poppy and from Leona as well. Three women with three different perspectives and agendas. And boy, did I want to shout at Saffy for the stupid decisions she made and slap Poppy who was so obviously indulged by their mother from an early age. And Leona? My goodness, the woman walked from one disastrous relationship into another.

And yet the story kept me glued to the pages and had me devouring this read in less than a day, despite its 400 pages. This is my 18th read of Kim's thrillers so I know how she likes to throw us off the path but I was still entangled in the brambles that still lay there! I did guess the ending as it approached as suddenly things began to fall into place.

Overall, an entertaining and intriguing read that kept me engaged throughout with plenty of twists, tense moments and never a dull moment!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

Wednesday, 22 November 2023

REVIEW: Husband and Wife by K.L. Slater

Husband and Wife by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 21st November 2023

Published: 3rd November 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

We promised to keep each other’s secrets. Until they found the body…

The Wife:

My husband and I are fighting for our lives in hospital after a terrible car accident. But despite my pain, all I can think about is what our families will find behind our front door. The scarf that has been all over the news, belonging to a dead young woman with honey-coloured hair. I have to speak to the police before my husband can…

The Husband:

I’m drifting in and out of consciousness, but when I hear my wife talking to the police, accusing me of the murder of an innocent woman, a cold fear grips me. I know I’ve got a temper. That I’ve not always been faithful. Will they think I killed her?

I think of my wife’s jealous streak, of the lies she’s told our loved ones. But if I tell the whole truth, they’ll look into her past. And that will destroy me, too…

Two people fighting for their lives. Two people with secrets to hide. Who will you believe?

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 Husband and Wife.

MY THOUGHTS:

"I have something very important to tell you. But you mustn't tell anyone..."

Kim Slater continues to thrive with her deluge of thrillers and this one she well and truly had me hoodwinked. Though when the villain was revealed I was surprised but not shocked...because everything just fell into place with that one piece of knowledge. All throughout, with her sleight of hand deftly moving the pieces, Kim weaves a tale which pitches wife against husband and husband against wife. And despite having the facts laid out before us, I was still blindly lead up a false trail wanting so badly for the villain to be someone else entirely. And while she was deftly moving the pieces behind the scenes, I didn't see the truth until she spelled it out for us. And it had been hiding in plain sight.

Nicola and Cal are excited to be babysitting their seven year old grandson, a rare occurrence given that their relationship with their son and his wife appear to be somewhat strained. But a night out at a dinner dance his firm is holding, Parker delivers their son to his parents on their way out for the evening and into the night. His wife Luna naturally remains in the car and Nicola can't understand why the woman never makes an effort with them. But regardless, for Parker's and Barney's sakes she tries to offer an olive branch but it's swept away each time.

Before leaving, Parker whispers to his mother that he needs to talk to her the following day when his father was at work and Luna safely back at home. His words "I have something very important to tell you. But you mustn't tell anyone" have her intrigued and pondering what could be so important that he only wished to confide in her. And without his wife's knowledge.

But the conversation was never to take place. Because at 2am the following morning, she's shaken awake by Cal and the strobing blue lights lighting up their bedroom. Downstairs the police rang the doorbell. There had been a very serious road traffic accident in which their son Parker and his wife Luna had been seriously injured.

Leaving Cal at home to look after their sleeping grandson, Nicola rushes the hospital to find out just how serious this accident was and in what condition her son was. When she arrives, Parker is in the trauma unit and is barely coherent. Knowing that his condition is critical and that Luna is also injured, Nicola realises that it's left up to her to take over the care of her grandson Barney in his parents' absence and makes arrangements with the nursing staff to access Parker's belongings so that she can go to their house to collect some clothes and toys for Barney.

As she pulls up in front of her son's illustrious detached home, she cannot believe what she is seeing. Why hasn't Parker told them? Understandably frazzled by this latest revelation, Nicola swiftly enters the house, disarms the alarm and goes in search of Barney's room to pack a few things. As she wanders the rooms she continually tells herself "I will not snoop...I will not snoop...wait! What?" But the revelations inside the house were nothing compared to what she found when she decided to put their bin out...a piece of evidence that links her son to a murdered woman. This cannot be happening.

Now, armed with this new knowledge, Nicola scrambles to protect her family.

The story unfolds through various timelines and a handful of characters. While not in a straightforward timeline, it goes back and forth in a mish mash of times that would normally confuse a reader but made perfect sense given what was really unfolding. As the story progressed, the more questions were raised. I had my suspicions but this time I was way off base.

I love that Kim's books continue to involve DI Helena Price and her DS Brewster. It makes them feel almost like a series without being a series. And you don't get bogged down in all that police procedural info when all you want is a fun, entertaining and interesting thriller to devour.

Another addictive read from Kim sure to thrill fans alike!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

PUBLISHER:

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

Sunday, 21 May 2023

REVIEW: The Bedroom Window by K.L. Slater

The Bedroom Window by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 15th May 2023

Published: 19th May 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

They say they have no children. So who did I see at the window?

My darling little boy Albie adores playing at our new neighbours’ house. And after the terrible year we’ve had, I feel so lucky that we can start over in this perfect place, with new friends who treat Albie like the son they never had. He can’t stop talking about the tree house they’re building him, and the cookies they bake together.

But as time passes, something starts to feel wrong. Why don’t they ever open the front door more than a crack? They told me they had no children, so who does the small pink tricycle I saw in their hall belong to? And why can I hear a lullaby drifting across the garden when I’m tucking my own boy into bed?

Then, one night, I see a small shadowy figure in their bedroom window…

I thought I’d learned my lesson about trusting the wrong people, but now I’m forced to wonder what this perfect couple are hiding.

And if I try to save that little helpless figure in the window, will I do what I’ve always feared most, and put my beautiful boy’s life in danger…?

An utterly gripping psychological thriller from the number one bestselling author of The Marriage and The Girlfriend. If you like Gone Girl, The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell then you will be hooked by The Bedroom Window.

MY THOUGHTS:

They said they have no children...so who did I see last night...?

This is about the fifteenth book by Kim I've read and I've yet to be disappointed! THE BEDROOM WINDOW is a departure from her usual domestic thriller style allowing the house and the setting centre stage to create an atmospheric and somewhat creepy tale. I love stories set where the sea is ever present that I can almost hear the crashing waves and smell the salt in the air.

THE BEDROOM WINDOW offers readers a different take on the classic "Rear Window" made famous by Alfred Hitchcock in which a paralysed man spends his time people watching his neighbours and unwittingly uncovering a crime. In this tale, there's no sprawling rear window overlooking the neighbours all encompassing secrets...just a small poky spare room window which serves pretty much the same sort of purpose. But on a whole different scale of secrets.

Lottie and Neil move from Nottingham to the North Yorkshire coast with their nine year old son Albie after Neil receives a job offer of head gardener at Seaspray House. This move is a fresh start for all of them. Two years ago, Neil suffered an accident at work which saw him paralysed and told he may never walk again. Lottie left her job to become his full time carer and over time it took its toll on both of them. But after a miraculous recovery, he began looking for work and when this opportunity came along it was too good to pass up. Albie had been the victim of bullying at school so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put the past behind them and make a fresh start.

Arriving at Seaspray Cottage, which is just a short walk from Seaspray House itself, Lottie and Neil begin unpacking and settling in whilst Albie runs around open-eyed in awe at the space they have and the size of his room. They enjoy walks to the beach and Albie even takes up surf lessons that are on offer for youngsters. It seems they have made the right choice in moving here.

Seaspray House itself is a large pallatial house with glass frontage overlooking the vast expanse of coastline offering million dollar views of the sea. Lottie can't wait for an invitation into the house to see it all for herself. But as the days and weeks go by, no invitation comes. Maybe the Williamses are a private couple. But Ted and Neeta welcomed Lottie, Neil and Albie with open arms when they first arrived and they fuss over Albie whenever he visits after school. But even they have never set foot inside the house, despite promises of the cinema room with Ted and baking with Neeta.

Lottie begins to think the couple are hiding something. A thought which is only confirmed when she sees a small shadowy figure from their spare room window. But what? Neeta told her that they were not blessed with children and yet Lottie has seen children's toys and a tricycle in their sunroom! She's even seen Neeta holding clothing that could only belong to a child and the strains of a lullabye being sung in the dead of night.

"Hush little baby, don't say a word..."

The more Lottie sees of these shadows and strange goings-on, the more she suspects the Williamses are up to something. But what, exactly? She tries to voice her concerns to Neil but he just shoots down every criticism or negative opinion she has of his new employers who have been nothing but good to them. He refuses to listen to reason even when Albie comes home sporting expensive new sportswear despite Lottie just buying him some with her staff discount from her new job. It seems Albie is just as taken in by Ted and Neeta as her husband. And then there is the question of what really happened to the previous occupants of their cottage...

Added to that, Lottie's nightmares about her childhood have returned leaving her spent and confused. She hasn't been completely honest about her childhood with Neil...but then he's not being completely honest about what's going on up at Seaspray House. Does one lie cross out another? Or are they about to pile up and bury the couple, ensnaring them within the tangled wed of secrets and lies that has been woven around them?

And as Lottie finds herself drawn into a dangerous game, the question she keeps asking herself is...what is this couple hiding?

Beginning the slow build with a palpable tension throughout, THE BEDROOM WINDOW is as intense as it is atmospheric. I love the setting and could feel the seaspray with every swipe of the page. Told through the alternating perspectives of Lottie and Neil, peppered with flashbacks to twenty years previous, the story unfolds with a small cast of flawed and untrustworthy characters. Despite the red herrings tossed our way, I was still able to hook the truth myself which, although a little far fetched readers will have to suspend belief, wasn't too difficult to figure out. That's not to say that the story is predictable because Slater still manages to throw in a few uncertainties along the way and despite figuring out the big reveal, the twists are still nail-biting and tension-fuelled.

The biggest mystery I think that went unanswered was what was Neil really doing with Neeta all those times? And the untoward attention they displayed towards Albie? What was that in aid of? And why was it not followed up? Lottie was ready to tear strips off Neeta. For this, I've dropped half a star.

The only other thing is I think maybe an editting issue. In the first of the flashback chapters, a slip is made and the identity of Charlie is revealed...which, when you think about it, is not too hard to work out when you think about it. But it left no room for doubt when I saw a name that didn't belong in there.

Overall, THE BEDROOM WINDOW is an addictive atmospheric psychological thriller that I could not put down. Despite the unlikeable characters and the few loose ends, this is an outstanding mystery filled with suspense and intrigue and is undoubtedly creepy. Another winner for Slater!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

PUBLISHER:

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

Sunday, 8 January 2023

REVIEW: The Narrator by K.L. Slater

The Narrator by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 4th January 2023

Published: 6th January 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What if the chance of a perfect life… put your daughter in grave danger?

Being a single mother is tough, but I’d do anything for my little girl Scarlet. I’d given up on my career as a voice actor when the call came, but suddenly I was the new narrator for a secret book from bestselling author Philippa Roberts, who has been missing for eight months. It was a lifeline for me and my daughter.

I hated that it meant leaving Scarlet with my ex in his perfect new home with his perfect new girlfriend. But I knew it was the right thing to do.

But as I start reading Philippa’s new novel, I start to wonder if it’s no coincidence that I’ve been chosen to narrate it. There’s something hidden in the pages of this book, I’m sure of it. Some clue to Philippa’s disappearance. And I don’t feel safe. I think I’m being watched. My room has been searched.

And then my ex’s girlfriend calls in tears and everything starts to click together. If I don’t find answers fast, I’ll lose more than my second chance. I’ll lose my daughter.

A completely gripping thriller that will hook you in from the first page and leave you gasping out loud. Fans of Our House, The Woman in the Window and The Wife Between Us won’t be able to put The Narrator down!

MY THOUGHTS:

An author, her assistant, an audiobook narrator and an obsessed fan make up the bones of Kim Slater's new psychological thriller with a difference. Coupled with a narcissistic ex-husband and his pregnant new girlfriend and you're tangled in secrets, lies and manipulation. THE NARRATOR is something completely different for Slater who wastes no time in slaying this addictive and twisted thriller. And it did take me a while to warm up to it and pick up the pace of the direction in which it was going.

The opening, rather than a prologue, launches the reader right into it taking place ten months prior with successful crime writer Phillipa Roberts preparing to attend an awards night in which she is expected to take the crown. But things go awry with a drugged bottle of champs and an abduction that lead us to a dark and dingy basement in which the author is imprisoned. What does the kidnapper want? Money? Or something more sinister?

As a friend of Phillipa's who had narrated each book in her acclaimed Tower series, Eve Hewitt was devastated by her disappearance. No one knew what happened to the acclaimed author but many had theories...some even whispered rumours. But then Eve suffered her own setbacks at same time with the death of her beloved father and the discovery of her husband's affair with her colleague. On the verge of a breakdown, Eve packs up and leaves London for the safety of her mother's house in Nottingham with her five year old daughter Scarlet.

Almost a year later, a hidden manuscript written by Phillipa is discovered. A tenth novel to the Tower series she had penned featuring DI Jane Tower. Almost at once, Phillipa's editor contacts Eve to ask her to narrate this latest book and without a second thought Eve jumps at the chance. But as soon as she's begun, Eve discovers inconsistencies between the manuscript and the previous nine books.

And so she decides to do a little digging into the events surrounding her friend's disappearance. But what she discovers only serves to puzzle her further. Rumours have it that Phillipa had had enough after nine books and was calling time on the Tower series and looking forward to settling down and focusing on her family. Surrogacy was planned to give her and her wife Fleur twins but things went wrong. Her finances were in disarray - was she being blackmailed? And then there was an overdose of sleeping tablets - accident or intentional? And why, after struggling to write the tenth novel and asking for a deadline extension, was the completed manuscript found hidden in the loft? If she had already written it why ask for an extension of her deadline? Nothing made sense...least of all the new novel! Had Phillipa been trying to send clues through her words as a cry for help?

Added to that is Eve's narcissistic ex, Hugo, a complete misogynist who disregards every thought or explanation that isn't his own, and overrides Eve's wishes regarding their daughter Scarlet. While Eve is in London he pays a visit to her mother where he then sweeps Scarlet away to his beautiful cottage recently purchased with his new girlfriend Saskia where he then plies her with expensive gifts and promises that no five year old can resist. Eve is livid but as she's in London, there is little she can do about it. Once again Hugo has manipulated things to his advantage leaving Eve as the bad guy. But when she arrives at the delightful chocolate box Bee Cottage for the weekend, intent on taking Scarlet back to Nottingham, she discovers that not all is as rosy as Hugo has made out.

And there is Chad. An obsessive fan who has his own ideas surrounding Phillipa's disappearance and in her absence decides, as her narrator, Eve will suffice as a substitute. And thus he begins to stalk her. On Twitter; via text message - "wait, how did he get my number?"; then email - "and my email?"; "bumping" into her in Primark; stealthily watching her every move and even offering his services as a handyman to her mother. A tad creepy.

Eve is beginning to wonder how her dream job has become a nightmare as she realises that she her her daughter could potentially be in real danger. But from who? She has no idea. But someone doesn't want secrets uncovered. Someone wants her to stop asking questions and looking into Phillipa's disappearance. Why?

And where is Phillipa? She's been missing ten months now. Is she still alive?

Wow! What a thrill ride THE NARRATOR turned out to be. Despite its slow start, it turned out to be an addictive fast paced page turner not to be put down! Intricately plotted and woven with a tangled web of secrets and lies, THE NARRATOR will have you questioning everyone's motives until that spectacular ending!

This was a very different book for Slater but it was every inch as addictive and twisty as her other thrillers. Even though we were rolling our eyes every time Hugo opened his mouth and Chad totally creeped us out...and we questioned Nina, Jules and Alicia throughout. While we may go through our own list of suspects and try to figure out what really happened...I dare anyone to see that shocking twist ending coming! Not even I, who is very rarely hoodwinked, had it figured making it all the more delicious and oh so deviously clever. Well done, Kim, for throwing us all off scent completely!

A well deserved 5 stars!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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" he 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 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

PUBLISHER:

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

Friday, 28 October 2022

REVIEW: The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater

The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2022

Published: 27th October 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My husband’s dead. She’s at my door. She owns my home…

The doorbell rings, just days after my beloved husband’s sudden death. I don’t recognise the woman on our doorstep, with her buttery blonde highlights, a diamond bracelet identical to my own and a bouncing baby boy in her arms.

As I show her inside, I notice her eyes grow wide as she takes in our spacious hallway, and the big squashy sofas that we all used to pile on. She glances at the silver-framed family photos and my little daughter hiding behind my skirts.

She looks at me, her blue eyes serious. ‘I’m sorry’ she says. ‘I know this will be hard to hear. But I am your husband’s girlfriend. And this is his son.’

My world implodes. And then she tells me that she owns our home – and that she’s not going anywhere…

An utterly gripping psychological thriller from the number one bestselling author of The Marriage. If you like Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and Lisa Jewell then you will be hooked by The Girlfriend.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for K.L. Slater's tense domestic thriller THE GIRLFIREND.

WOW! What can I say? Kim Slater has done it again and knocked her latest psychological domestic thriller THE GIRLFRIEND straight to the pool room ("The Castle" movie reference there....meaning it takes pride of place). It has to be one of my favourites of hers to date...of which there are so many! So where do I even start to reel off thy ways it totally hits the mark?

So if you're think you're having a bad day...put yourself in Jennifer Fincham's shoes.

Jennifer and husband Cole throw a Halloween party ever year. This year they are combining it with her birthday and celebrating the of end of renovations to their now stunning home. They have thought of everything - costumes, make-up and black marquee in the backyard ("you don't want your halloween party to look like a wedding, do you?") complete with special effects that will make their party the talk of the town for months.

But then in the midst of preparations, Cole leaves the house in a rush, jumping into his Range Rover and speeding away. All under the watchful eye of their 13 year old son Miller, who also witnessed his father stumble on the back patio as if he were drunk and unknowingly drop his secret phone. He hurriedly rushes downstairs to retrieve it before anyone else can...and pockets it for future use. After all, he knows his dad's passcode.

Just as Jennifer is making the final preparations before the guests arrive, there is a knock at the door. Thinking some guests have turned up early, she opens the door to find two police officers standing there.

And her world comes crashing down.

Cole was involved in a road traffic accident, rolled his car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her beloved husband of fifteen years...gone. She is devastated. How does she even begin to tell her children that their daddy isn't coming home? Ever? And the party? What the hell is she supposed to do about the party?

But if she thought that was the end of her world...things are about to get a whole lot worse.

A day after the tragic event there is another knock at the door. A woman is standing there with a baby in tow. Her name is Sara Nordstrom, announcing she is Cole's girlfriend and the baby is his son. And what's even worse...she claims that she is the legal owner of the house in which Jennifer and her children live, their cars, their assets and all of their money. Essentially, Jennifer has nothing. What the hell?

Jennifer throws Sara out and endeavours to make enquiries with Cole's accountant about the allegations regarding their property and assets. If anyone would know, Corinne would. But it seems the news isn't good. A year ago, Cole was facing bankruptcy and Sara bailed him out with a watertight legal agreement that should anything happen to Cole or the loan defaulted, then all property and assets would go to Sara. How could Cole do this to her? To them?

But Sara has an idea. A compromise, albeit somewhat unconventional. She wants her baby to have a family. To have siblings, something she never had. And so she proposes that she and baby Rory move in with Jennifer and her children, and share the house that Sara said Cole had promised was to be theirs. Is she out of her mind? Even moreso, is Jennifer? For even considering it?

But Jennifer has a plan. To keep your friends close...and your enemies closer. Sara is up to something, of that she is sure. But what, she is yet to find out. However, this is only the beginning of her troubles...because things are about to get even worse...a whole lot worse!

WOWSERS! Buckle up, people, you are in for a bumpy ride! And what a ride it is! Kim Slater has done it again with this fun and speedy thriller that will have you racing through the pages till the very last page. I devoured this in one day, stopping only for dinner (how dare a meal get in the way of a good thrilling read???), and I enjoyed every flipping minute of this rollercoaster. An affair, plenty of secrets, moody teenager...and a cuckoo. Who doesn't love a cuckoo in the nest? And throw in a whole bunch of crazy and you have a spectacular fun and entertaining read. This one is bound to get under your skin and leave you breathless. The fact I guessed the who didn't spoil it for me. I found it fairly obvious...but it was the why I didn't get until just before the reveal.

But it was Jennifer's secret that surprised me...or did it? OK, so I had an inkling. But only a teensy one...lol

Overall, THE GIRLFRIEND is one addictive entertaining fun fast paced thrill ride a minute that I devoured and is one of Kim Slater's best thrillers to date! I loved loved loved it! Every flipping minute! And it was great to see the return of DI Helena Price and DS Brewster. I hope they continue to pop in.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

PUBLISHER:

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