A new to me author, I was excited to read Here to Stay as the synopsis sounded intriguing! It caught my attention from the get go and I wondered throughout how things would pan out.

It was definitely a book I wanted to finish and keep reading, but it frustrated me so much too. The characters are very unlikeable, some obviously so, but even the main character of Elliott Foster seemed such a wimp and totally under the thumb of his inlaws. The plot seemed very far fetched at times and I spent a lot of the read worrying about the poor cat!

The book picked up at the end and Elliott finally stood up for himself! There was even a slight twist that I wasn’t expecting so that definitely put my rating up a little. Mark Edwards seems like a good writer and this book wouldn’t put me off reading some of his other books - I just hope they have a bit more suspense and intrigue compared with this one.

This book made me uncomfortable.

What a bunch of horrible people. I hate to see someone decent being taken advantage of. I just felt so bad for Elliot. Many reviewers state that he is a doormat, no spine, blah blah. He was in love with Gemma so it’s not that easy as throw the in-laws stuff in the driveway and change the locks. Why those three have any stuff to begin with is strange (not one of the three held any type of job).

This then went from being odd to going off the deep end. There were so many things that were not possible, could not happen (from a legal standpoint) that this became ridiculous.

I finished it so there’s that. The writing is fine and the characters are well developed (though awful humans). It was sad and not really the story for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy in exchange for a review.

Thank you Netgalley, Mark Edwards and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me the great pleasure of reading this book.

I absolutely love Mark Edwards he is my favourite author. So I couldn't contain my excitment when I got the chance to read his new book.

This is a nightmare that many people do not want to come true but it happened to Elliot and Gemma. I was hooled all the way through and I really liked the dark twists and turns, many people have said that they new what was going to happen at the end, but I didn't have a clue. Was I the only one that didn't know what was coming?

Thank you Mark for giving us readers another fantastic book. It is hard for me to pick my favourite out of the ones that I have read so I won't, I like them all. I look forward to reading your other books that I have on my shelf and the books that you have yet to write.

I would definitely recommend this book. I think it is perfect for a book club, it will certainly get people talking and asking questions.

I have never hated characters in a book so much in my life!!! And that is a compliment to Mark Edwards.

Elliot, an only child, was orphaned at 18. Despite this he has made a good life for himself and after selling off his start up he invests in a beautiful Victorian house in London; lovingly restoring it to its former glory. However, he is lonely living with just his cat, Charlie, and after a very short whirlwind romance with Gemma they marry in Las Vegas. Shortly after this the in laws come to stay. Finally they big family he has always wanted but of course things are never what they seem …

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this psychological thriller by Mark Edwards. I haven't read anything by him before but I will definitely be picking up his other novels as Here to Stay was absolutely fantastic. The characters were brilliantly written and really fleshed out. I sympathised with Elliot so much - I got angry and upset with him - I just wanted to reach into the book and punch someone's lights out!!!

If love psychological thrillers then I highly recommend giving this a go.

Blimey, this wasn’t what I expected from the blurb...!
It takes a lot to creep me out but this book did just that. If you want to read a book that keeps you guessing the whole way through and scares you a little, this is it! In places it was a little predictable but I genuinely didn’t care.
Gripping, tense and thrilling. Mark Edwards is truly amazing

This was a very entertaining book! Imagine finding the love of your life, and then the in-laws from hell moves in.... The in-laws did everything they could to make poor Elliott's life a misery. The way Elliott dealt with the squatters was creative and made for very thrilling reading (no spoilers). I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end!
Highly recommended.

WOW. Every time I read a Mark Edwards book it becomes my new favourite by him. This was no exception. It's gripping, thrilling and leaves you feeling a flurry of emotion throughout. It's also given me a new respect for my in laws. Highly recommend, Mark is a genius!

Hooked from the very beginning.
Gripping thriller, with great characters and a brilliant concept for a story.
Loved this and highly recommend to all, will be looking out for other books by this author.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Wow what a fantastic book. I have never read anything from this author before and did not realise what I have been missing. Would highly recommend.

Wow!! 5 stars to Mark Edward's. I've read many of his books and not one has disappointed me yet. Felt likening was loving in the nightmare of this one. It draws you in! And the twist!!! I honestly never saw that coming was brilliant.

Well, they say you don't just marry your spouse, you marry their whole family... Boy, did that turn out poorly for Elliott Foster!

Elliott Foster has the perfect life. The perfect job: teaching science to school districts in need, and making the big bucks doing it. He has the perfect house: a large Victorian he has painstakingly restored. All he needs is someone to share it with... Cue Gemma Robinson.

Apparently Elliott's biological clock is ticking because he and Gemma are quickly caught up in a whirlwind romance that results in their marriage shortly after. Or perhaps everything else he touched had turned to gold so he thought his marriage would follow suit? Or perhaps he was just lonely and (slightly) desperate? He really was a likeable character. But clearly, Elliott forgot about the aforementioned caution about in-laws. Soon after their marriage, Gemma's parents come to stay... and stay...

Poor Elliott. It is amazing the degree to which these people destroy his life. It was one of those things where you're in a game you can't win because your opponent doesn't play by the rules of common decency. Similar in vein to Louise Clandish's books. Which I also loved. Anyways, it made for a great quick read. Elliott was a great character (I pictured him as Neil Patrick Harris for some reason...). I felt infinitely sorry for him and I felt infinite disgust and dismay at his situation. I loved the ending, which I maybe should have seen coming, but I found it very satisfying!

4 holy-schmoly-these-people-are-nuts stars!

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!</i>

Mark Edwards has done it again, in my opinion this is his best book since The Magpies (A favourite of mine)
I didn't think anything was going to compare, and then along came Here to Stay.
Full of tension, and not your run of the mill ending.
Mark Edwards isn't afraid to take risks with his writing and it shows.

Wow...never expected this book to be that good. This one is a thrill ride that I was happy to take. Reading this, makes you wonder how rude people have become. It was like watching a really good lifetime movie. I'll definitely be reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent psychological thriller! Talk about in-laws from hell, this poor guy has them. Emma and Elliot meet and it’s love almost immediately. After a two month whirlwind romance they marry and settle into Elliots beautiful large home. Enter Emma’s crazy family, and chaos ensues. The arrangement was for Emma’s parents and sister to stay with the newlyweds for a week or two while they checked out some rental properties in the area. What Elliot soon learns is the family’s plan doesn’t match up with his and they will do anything to stay. Well written, almost impossible to put down diabolical thriller. I have read Mr. Edwards books in the past and loved them and this one did not disappoint.

Guy meets girl, they fall in love, marry, and move into the guy’s beautiful home---the one he’s spent all of his time and money to refurbish. Then the girl, now his wife, asks if her in-laws can come and visit…stay with them awhile. But of course---they should come and since they are family, they should stay for however long they’d like. But when they are finally settled in, the in-laws take the invitation a bit too far, with all sorts of awful repercussions to follow. I flipped through the pages of this book like they were on fire, simply shocked at how awful some people can be (even though it’s fiction, I’m sure there are people like these in-laws out there!). I loved everything about this book, except maybe for the very end – but I’m not going to that against it too much. Still a great read, with lots of great suspense.

NOTE: A special thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Gemma Robinson saves Elliot Foster’s life it was love at first sight for him . After two months of whirlwind romance they get married and settle down at Elliot’s newly renovated home. Shortly after Gemma’s parents along with her  younger sister, Chloe move in with them until they have a place of their own. He soon realizes that they have no intention of moving out and he might have to take extreme measures if he wants to save his marriage . 

 Mark Edwards has  written another gripping fast paced psychological thriller  with unexpected twists and turns and an explosive ending that makes it a highly entertaining read . Definitely recommend!

I would like to thank Thomas Mercer & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

Great book, love Mark Edwards books never disappoint. Hated his in-laws and wanted to see them ousted..Could not put this book down .thats the reaso for 4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read a copy of Here to Stay.

I found the first half of this book seemed to be repetitive to me. About half way through things started to pick up. It was an enjoyable read, but I could see how it was going to end early on.

Elliot’s life was turned upside down when he met Gemma. A fun, bubbly person with whom he had a whirlwind romance and wedding. Now the in-laws want to come & stay – of course. How bad it be for a couple of weeks?

I have read a number of Mark Edwards books and, without fail, they have been well written, excellent psychological dramas. They have kept me on the edge of my seat & unable to put the book down. This book lived up to its predecessors and possibly even surpassed it. I got so tense reading this. Had it been a film I would have been on the edge of my seat. There were chapters which seemed to almost go in slow motion – you can see what is going to happen & it plays out in front of you whilst you are unable to stop it. To say I got involved with this book would be an understatement.

This is not a run of the mill book. It is unusual with a high degree of suspense. The plot is fantastic & the characters great. There are twists and turns all the way along, including the ending.

So, if you like an adrenaline rush whilst you read, sit back & enjoy the ride.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

OVERALL RATING:
7 out of 10

PLOT:
8 out of 10

CHARACTERIZATION:
7 out of 10

PRIMARY ELEMENT:
6 out of 10 for its thrill

WRITING STYLE:
7 out of 10

PART OF A SERIES:
No.

HIGHLIGHTED TAKEAWAY:
Like with all other books by Mark Edwards, the highlighted takeaway is the end. There are very few writers who can conclude a thriller with a real surprise, but Edwards manages to do so consistently.

WHAT I LIKED:
The story doesn’t slow down for a single moment, in spite of being based on such a simple premise.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
Oddly enough, Elliot. Although his character was developed well and a lot of his behavior made sense because of that arc, he seems too submissive to be real. It made it a little hard to associate with him because I genuinely could not imagine any person being the way he was.

WHO SHOULD READ IT:
Anyone who enjoys thrillers. This is a different style of thriller, but definitely keeps the pages turning.

WHO SHOULD AVOID:
Anyone who does not enjoy psychological thrillers, or stories based on characters who are just plain sociopathic.

READ IT FOR:
An interesting and not-too-commonly-done take on the thriller genre. With so many thrillers out there, this one is a fresh (albeit slightly disturbing) read.

Here to Stay was published on 1st September 2019. If you haven’t tried Mark Edwards yet, this is as good a place to start as any.