This is an enjoyable edge of your seat break neck ride type of read. It's good but the unreliable narrator/dometic thriller is waaaaay too overdone now. The industry seems to churn these out by the day. Is it time for something new?

I am in charge of our Senior School library and now during this time of lockdown, I am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

The House by Simon Lelic was the first book I have read from the author and I loved it. Its psychological thriller about abuse, lies and murder, with lots of twists and turns throughout. Very Cleverly written and I would Highly recommend this book by Simon.

Thank you to Penguin Books UK and Netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review.

Plus Simon Lelic for a copy of this brilliant book.

This was an okay read. I wasn’t terribly enthralled by this but I was able to get through it nonetheless. It had a slightly creepy feel to it but I wasn’t completely sold on the plot. Wish it could have been better!

I have to admit I cheated with this title and listened to it via Audible. I had a long train trip and it seemed good timing. I do, however, find audiobooks a risk. If you get someone who isn't voice trained and it kills the story/words dead. This isn't the case here. Two trained actors made all the difference to this story. The whole story is intriguing. I couldn't stop listening and I while I was sad to leave the place I was visiting, I was excited to get back into the narrative. (This review is longer than online)

A fantastic thriller, a gripping page-turner that had me racing to the end. A thriller worthy of the accolades!

<b>Clever. Thrilling. Mind-blowing. </b>

Do not be deceived by the simple synopsis of The House. I love books that make me go back page after page to check out the clues that I missed while I was so caught up on going ahead. I double-checked the clues in The House as well, and let me tell you, I'm impressed.

The House starts with a written confession-kind-of document from Syd & Jack, explaining the events prior to the  murder right behind the new house they've bought. It then lapses into first-person narratives after with eye-opening  revelations. The best part about these narratives is that they have their own personality. With Jack, you'll notice a more  formal tone trying to be rational. In Syd's case, she took me on a ride into her dark past that made my stomach churn and teeth grind. I was right there with her, feeling what she was feeling. Every. Damn. Second. In the beginning, you might get a very odd feeling about Syd, thinking why is she going on about her past and her connection with Elosie. But as the story progresses, you'll warm up to her personality.

What thrilled me, or rather raised the tiny hairs on my arms was the setting of this story. The House is set is a seriously creepy house that toyed with my mind. Simon Lelic's writing is nerve-wracking and it made me jump a few times in the beginning....almost borderline paranormal.

Every aspect of The House was well thought of and my mind was working in overdrive when I actually came face to face with the revelations. A hauntingly satisfying novel that's surely topped the thriller list for me.

Once or twice a year a novel is released which stays with the reader for a long time. There is a book which has a great storyline, the characters from within who get under the reader's skin and can not be forgotten and this is one of those books for 2017.
It has a hard hitting storyline, one which includes child abuse but it should not be shied away from because of this. The author, SImon Lelic, is renowned for writing books with controversial and thought provoking story lines and his books are high in charts, with readers enjoying his style of writing and content.
I really liked that there are two narrators of the story and that much of the story is told through memories by Sydney and Jack, who are writing their stories for each other. I really found the beginning of the book addictive and felt the scene was set for the rest of the book. There was an increasing spookiness and this continued throughout the book.  The suspense was a great aspect of the book and although I don't usually like spooky storylines this one captured my attention to the very end.

Thank you to the publishers, Penguin,  for sending me the book to review and inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.

It was the cover that attracted me to this novel.

Jack and Syd were chosen to purchase their first house after attending an open viewing, the owner requested that a young couple buy the house and inherit all the belongings left inside.

Syd is an ‘ex’ junkie however at the smallest chaos can easily turn to her help of choice and Jack being very laid back is quite the opposite.

After moving in Jack notices a smell and discovers something in the attic. We are led to believe this is something grisly but I was disappointed and felt very early on that the blurb to this book had left me feeling deceived.

I loved the suspense of The House, but overall felt that this was book that started out leading one way and ended up another. I feel that the whole plot gave me the impression of being about a house but in reality was more about the people that lived there.

I have to be honest that whilst I enjoyed the read I didn’t love it. It is grippy and I was compelled to turn the pages but Lelic left me feeling flat. This was mainly due to my expectation not because it isn’t written very well, or that there is isn’t a story in the pages.  I just thought that it would be more like the one described on the back.

The cruelty of the fathers was horrendous and I think could trigger some deep emotion among some readers.

This is going to be a ‘marmite’ read. Some will love it and some will not. However, this was not for me but I haven’t been put off reading more by the same author. Lelics style is good to read and this was a mystery that will appeal to most.

I was totally absorbed by this twisty, psychological thriller.  I had initially been worried that it would be too similar to some other books in this genre, but it did not disappoint and I really enjoyed it.  The end was a bit of a let down for me, but not enough to put me off recommending.

Don't go into the attic! This debut novel from Simon Lelic, has a double narrative between wife and husband , Jack and Syd. Both are keeping these diary-esque entries in a bid to make sense of something that horrendous which has happened to them.
It starts with them finding a house they can afford to move into , decorated with stuffed birds, the lack of back story of the previous owner, then they venture into the attic to find the source of the really odd smell that no amount of cleaning will get rid of. There are tantalising bits of info dropped into each chapter and when you are about to say 'OMG! Where is this going?' the narrative flips to the other perspective.
This keeps the pace flowing very quickly and builds up an air of tension as both parties come together. Who and what to believe is up to the reader....
Simon Lelic wears his influences proudly and there are definite tones of Stephen King in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this proof in return for an honest review.

Syd and Jack find a house full of things left over by the previous owner at an unbelievable price. It's a real deal and the house, with all it's quirks becomes theirs. But soon, they both tumble into a series of problems in and around the house. No, not leaky pipes. Disturbed neighbors, unexpected findings in the house and such. 
The story is written with Jack and Syd narrating it from their POV alternatively. Honestly, it was a bit annoying. They kept building the story on and on. What I was expecting was possibly buried secrets (if you know what I mean) but the book takes a completely different route. Not a bad one though. 
The book deals with a lot of twisted relationships and how they implicate the lives of the lead protagonists. While each character itself is quite interesting, the story is crazy to say it simply! 
It builds and builds and suddenly spirals out of control. Yes, I am still wondering if I like this book or not. But it was definitely a surprise! 
A thriller, not so much an out and out whodunnit. Not so much about why either. But a mix of everything! 
Since the blurb does not reveal a lot about the plot, I do not wish to either! But what I can tell you is that it's a good story. Perhaps, the style of narration was something that did not appeal to me. It was too casual. 
Overall, a good page turner- it had me hooked and I really did want to get to the bottom of it all! And when the curtains fell it did take me by surprise. So yes, overall a good read- just not written in an appealing manner.

There's no place like home ...

This psychological thriller will hook you from start to finish.
 
This creepy story of Londoners Jack and Syd who move into their first home. Clearing the attic they make a grisly discovery but make the mistake of choosing to ignore it. Fast forward a year, a body is discovered right outside their back door.  And now the police are watching them. 
 
Packed with chills as the twin narratives of the couple entwine.  This clever twisty plot peppered with nerve-jangling suspense will keep you guessing until the end.

An interesting book, I was surprised by the switch in perspective and therefore the use of the unreliable narrator. It kept me guessing all the way through, and I enjoyed how it was both domestic and a thriller. It did take me a while to get into the story, mainly because of the male protagonist and some of his views, but I had to understand that he was just a character and not the actual author.

The House is well-plotted, written as 'diary' entries by a couple who are experiencing strange happenings in their new house. What initially appears to be a haunted house story, morphs into a more personal revenge thriller. It is well-paced, although belief is stretched at points, but overall an interesting read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, but I just found it rather odd.  I love a psychological thriller and this was definitely a page turner, so I kept going. However, all the main characters were unlikeable and had vile evil fathers, really? Unconvincing I am afraid.

The blurb didn’t reveal much of what this book is really all about and there is so much more that will surely surprise you with this story. The plot for sure is unique and the mystery surrounding the house is intriguing. There is a paranormal feel to it at first that made the story a lot more interesting. That said, it was easy to get into at the beginning. It was told in both Jack and Syd’s perspective in a diary-like format, where they recounted the things that happened since they set foot in their new house. The characters are okay but there were times that I can’t find any sympathy towards them. It was just hard for me to engage with them. As I’ve said, there is so much more to it, more complex than expected. It took on a rather darker turn as the story progressed. The theme of abuse is very much present thus readers who get uneasy to such theme must approach this with caution. The twist is unexpected, surprising even. It is a twisted psychological thriller, not much suspense but still cleverly wrapped-up. In a whole, I find this one a decent read.

This was a very complex story with strong moral dilemmas. Some great characters and a believable storyline which raised lots of questions. The twists and turns in this story made it a real teaser and the conclusion was exceptional.

A gripping thriller with plenty of misdirection which kept me guessing - but ultimately all believably explained, so I didn’t end up feeling I had been cheated, as is so often the case. Simon Lelic has a tight grip of the plotline at all times and delivers a devastatingly clever twist at the end. Highly recommended, I really enjoyed it.

The House by Simon Lelic was not what I expected it to be but I enjoyed it. I thought the narrative was unique as the alternating perspectives were written in a journal style. There were some parts of the story that were creepy and had me turning the pages and a few twists along the way. While it wasn’t the most amazing psychological thriller I’ve read, I enjoyed The House and would be interested in reading more of the author’s work. 
Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Books (UK), and Simon Lelic for the opportunity to read The House. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.