Book Review - The House by Simon Lelic

Amazon UK

Title: The House

Author: Simon Lelic

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Publisher supplied review copy

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 17th August 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Whose story do YOU believe?

Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.

Because someone has just been murdered outside their back door. And now the police are watching them.

THIS STORY IS THEIR CHANCE...

TO PROVE THEY'RE INNOCENT. 
OR TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER.

Incredibly creepy and addictive story that I was scarcely able to tear myself away from. There is just something about this authors writing style that enticed me in and just wouldn’t let me go.

Although the book is called The House, it is about so much more than a house, although it is the trigger for everything that happens. For the first part of the book the story alternates between Jack and Syd telling the story in their easily identifiable voices.

They are writing down exactly what happened as they understand it, to get it clear to themselves, and there is a bit of a chatty feel to the writing, as we get to see all the odd occurrences that happened from the time they found this rather creepy house.

The timeline isn’t completely chronological as it is how they have remembered the events and the order they feel things need to be explained to anyone that reads this account.  Jack’s story is one that I had no problem reading, I just didn’t fully take to his character, but he seemed like a nice enough guy.

However Syd’s story is what makes the book, I loved her voice, and what comes out from her backstory is gripping, horrendous and made me really root for her. She has had a troubled life and yet she still tries to help someone else who she can see in a similar sort of situation.

Whether Syd or Jack’s judgments were always correct, I’ll say that by the time we reach part of the book, I had no choice but to curl up on the sofa and pray that I had no interruptions, I was hooked and raced through the second half of the book, eager to see just what it would bring.

There are many twists and surprises to come, and I was kept guessing throughout.  I’m not sure exactly how you would describe this book, it doesn’t feel quite like a psychological thriller, but it’s definitely full of suspense, creepy feelings and gripping writing.

This is the first time I have come across the author Simon Lelic, and I am very impressed by the writing, and storytelling. Definitely an author I need to keep an eye on future releases from.

Thank you to Annie Hollands at Dead Good Books for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Book Review - Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy

Amazon UK

Title: Do Not Become Alarmed

Author: Maile Meloy

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 6th July 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

When Liv and Nora decide to take their husbands and children on a holiday cruise, everyone is thrilled. The ship's comforts and possibilities seem infinite. But when they all go ashore in beautiful Central America, a series of minor mishaps lead the families further from the ship's safety.

One minute the children are there, and the next they're gone.

What follows is a heart-racing story told from the perspectives of the adults and the children, as the distraught parents - now turning on one another and blaming themselves - try to recover their children and their shattered lives.

There are two main things I can take from this book, never go on a zip line shore excursion in Central America, and definitely never fall asleep while your children are in the sea. Although the second is a point that should in theory go without saying it was the key moment when a dream holiday turned into a nightmare for three families. 

The book starts with a nice family vacation, and I could picture the cruise ship, the buffet, the kids club and generally the feeling of being safe on board with all whims catered too.  It starts of nice and gently and my only disappointment was that the families didn't want to get off at any port. 

Well until after Christmas, at which point they figured they would do an excursion in what was meant to be the safest country on the cruise which is of course where a series of bad decisions leads to a brilliant book for the reader, but a horrific time for all involved in the story! 

As readers we are in the lucky position of seeing not only what happened to the children, but also to the parents so could feel the fear and worry from all sides.  It didn't matter which character the narrative went to, to focus on I was interested in the story and wanted to know what would happen next. 

I found myself despairing with the parents at what the local police appeared to be doing, while at the same time was scared for the children and the situation they have found themselves in.  It was just incredibly well written and being able to empathise with so many characters at once really impressed me. 

I am quite glad that I didn't read this while on my next cruise, and that I have a month to recover and build up some confidence for my own excursions!  Do Not Become Alarmed is a highly addictive read, that I couldn't read through fast enough. I was hooked from start to finish. 

Thank you to Viking and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.