Multiple story lines that all race to one point and find this young couple involved in the actions of a mad man. Then we find out they actually are not as innocent as they seem. Bracken MacLeod has taken a couple of plots and twisted them together to come up with one heck of a story. Definitely a 5 star read and a book my reading circle NEEDS to read.

Definitely an interesting start. I love when a thriller starts off strong and crazy things happening. We are starting to look for a house so this is creepy lol.

Definitely some twists and crazy events in this!

📖My Thoughts📖

Thrillers are one of my ultimate favorite genres, especially the ones that keep you on the edge of your seat. This one was a total win in my book. I don’t think I’ve ever read a thriller with two different plot lines, so that added to the excitement and made it more enticing. This is a fast paced gripping tale with lots of twists and turns. This was my first book by this author, and I really look forward to reading more. The moment I picked this book up, I was sucked in. Being a thriller, one would expect it to have some intense scenes, which it does, but fair warning, there are several triggers in here with some descriptions that may cause your skin to crawl. If you’re looking for a good thriller, this is definitely one I recommend. Some of it is a bit far fetched, but I really enjoyed it.
Thank you Netgalley, Bracken MacLeod and Mariner Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a great read that will keep you on the edge of your seat page by page. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down! It's an exciting story that will keep you enthralled until the very end. Highly recommended for those looking for an immersive and thrilling read.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Ha a fun thriller/suspense. Recommend

Good pacing and twists that keep you reading. Characters are just flawed enough to be real and the primary antagonist's motivations make for interesting discussion.

I tried reading this months ago and got about a third of the way through and stopped. I was going to try to pick it up again but, at this point I've lost interest.

I was at first pulled into the story but then things fizzled out for me. I found it hard to finish this book. It was not as captivating as I expected based on the book description.

This was definitely an entertaining wild ride, that would be a great movie! The main character finds a memory stick that provides access to more money than one person could deal with in a lifetime.

Once they access the funds, it opens the gates for more trouble than the money may be worth.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Nelle and Evan Pereira bought a dream home, but with dirty money. Will this come back to haunt them or will it be a fresh start for them? Are the things coming into their lives because of the dirty money or is it just happenstance? I definitely recommend this book filled with twists and turns. It will definitely keep your attention.

CLOSING COSTS is an intriguing portrayal of a marriage and the consequences of secrets and lies. The two main characters, Nelle and Evan have recently moved to a new home at the edge of a state forest in Massachusetts from a city apartment. One day a man breaks into the home and takes Nelle hostage then later Evan when he returns home. The intrigue is what the man wants from the couple, and it was a big surprise for me. Nelle and Evan are likeable characters with Nelle portrayed as a very strong woman. I also found he occupation unique, working in a funeral home! The storyline could have been tightened up and it would have been a much better read. I was surprised at the violence and bloodshed contained in the book.

The plot was very good and suspenseful. There are many secrets and lies throughout. I will be seeking more of MacLeod,s work.
Many thanks to Mariner Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book started off great and then I don’t know what happened. The story went from being believable to completely far fetched. I usually like books from MacLeod, so I’m not sure what happened with this one. I’m still a fan of his work though.

Thank you for the review copy.

As others have already said, this one started out pretty good, but then it went off the rails. Without giving away any major plot points, let's just say that, about halfway through, the story becomes way too far-fetched. Also, there were parts that were too disturbing and unnecessary. During one particularly upsetting scene, I was *this close* to putting the book down and not finishing it because I was so disgusted, but then it seemed like the author backtracked a bit. He was already describing something awful happening to the main character, but then in the next scene, he tells us that it didn't actually happen. Kind of confusing, but I was glad for the change. I kept reading because I cared enough about the characters to want to see what happened to them, but unfortunately, the ending was dismal and depressing.

This was a fast paced thriller that felt like I was reading a movie. I enjoyed it, but it was a little too much for me at times. I'm all for a thriller, but it should feel realistic and this one just didn't.
Thankful for the ARC

Incredibly far fetched storyline. I kept reading but found myself rolling my eyes a lot at the ridiculous actions of the characters. Not a horrible story, but not great either.

Nelle and Evan have recently moved into their own home at the edge of a state forest in Massachusetts after living in an apartment in the city (Cambridge I believe). One day while Evan is away from the house a man breaks in and ties Nelle up in the basement and does the same with Evan when he returns. The intruder is a pretty nasty piece of work and I was actually scared for the couple. Gradually the story unfolds as to what this man wants and it's quite a surprise. And the surprises don't end there!

I enjoyed the book, the story is quite different and Nelle and Evan are likeable characters. I found Nelle especially to be a very strong character. She works in a funeral home which was rather unusual and made a nice change from the usual occupations in books that I've read. For some reason it felt like it took me a long time to read this book which has a fairly low page count if I'm not mistaken. I think the book could've been tightened up a bit since it wasn't really a page-turner for me until the last 25% or so but I'd still recommend it. Be forewarned that the book contains lots of violence and bloodshed! I'll definitely be looking into some of Mr. MacLeod's other novels. 3-1/2 Stars rounded up!

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

What happens when you find your dream house but then everything turns upside down? Nelle and Evan cute couple who are ready to find the home of their dreams. The house they buy has history major history, it seems. The house being sold is because of a divorce, one that we don't learn how bad it was until towards the middle. Two things will affect Nelle and Evan: the homeowner wants his house and ex-wife back to kill her, and the second has to do with Nelle's job. I liked how we did not know who was behind the hostage situation at first, and it built on that, but I did find it weird that we had a crazy man and then kind of a mob situation going on. The mob might not be the right word, but I got the feeling from the characters. As the story progresses, we see how Nelle tries to stay alive no matter what, and it was impressive to see how she had to rethink things to stay alive. I think the author could have done without the two different situations going on. I felt that was too much. Also, the ending with Nelle and what she does raises questions on how the police did not know certain things. Overall a decent story.

This tale of a home invasion does NOT play around. Dedicated to Jack Ketchum, Closing Costs delivers darkness and the absence of hope much like some of Ketchum's works. I can only think he would've loved this book.

Home invasion tops the list of scariest things that might happen for many people, and Bracken MacLeod pulls no punches. A well-developed back story helps to get readers invested and provides that much need connection when things go sour. Why should readers care how nasty things get if they simply cannot engage? And better believe that MacLeod GOES there. He needs to; the story demands it. It is all the better for it.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a book to get lost in and to experience a complete feeling of anxiety and tension.

“Closing Costs” is about buying a home, well that and a lot more. Evan and Nelle, a couple of “rockabilly hipsters” find their “Dream Home.” The narrative travels back and forth in time, both before and after the closing, with chapters identifying the time frame and the point of view. It turns out that several people have secrets, and things do not go exactly as Evan and Nelle had planned with this house.

The story centers on Evan, Nelle, and the house, of course. Immediately, readers know things are not going to go well, and soon the anticipated tranquility of the new home is shattered by horror and incredulity. Who are these home invaders? Why this house? Why Evan and Nell? Why indeed? Secrets, lies, and mistakes have unintended consequences. There is plenty of drama and action; some events push characters and readers to the very the edge of credibility. Secondary characters wander in and out of the story to add color, interest, and danger. There are perhaps a few too many since some do not really contribute a lot.

“Closing Costs” is powerful and gripping. Evan and Nelle thought that they were prepared for everything, that they would know how to react in an emergency. They were wrong. I received a review copy of “Closing Costs” from Bracken MacLeod and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. The action increases exponentially, and there are twists and turns on every page. In the end, well, it ends, and I won’t spoil it.