CW: excessive alcohol use, infidelity, mentions of traumatic past, violence, life-altering fire accidents, death

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Penelope has two teenagers, an unemployed husband, and zero desire to confront her past. That is, until Willa, her post-college roommate, shows up at her door. Though Willa seems to be a great help at first, Penelope quickly starts to realize that things feel a little "off." Is it her imagination or has Willa brought back their past to haunt them?

Though there was definitely foreshadowing in the book to help the reader predict the twist, I still felt like it was well executed. I was interested throughout, and read the story in about 24 hours. The book was well paced and resolved nicely.

The Spires is a dark and twisty novel that kept me riveted from the first page, through all the twists and turns, to a shocking ending! When Penelope’s college friend Willa shows up on her doorstep, Penelope is surprised but willing to help her escape an abusive marriage. What unfolds is emotional and stomach-churning, as Penelope’s life begins to unravel. And it’s not only the present that is disturbing, but memories from 20 years ago begin to surface, putting Penelope on edge as she is reminded of the tragedy that separated her from her friends for two decades. The relationships are as twisted as the plot, and it is those elements that set this thriller apart, adding layers of turmoil, distrust, and revenge.

There was, unfortunately, nothing special or unique about this thriller. However, it was entertaining. It could have been more suspenseful but was lacking on the page-turning suspense. The ending was interesting, but neither predictable nor shocking.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Penelope (aka Pip) can't believe it when her old college friend Willa shows up at her front door. She hasn't spoken to Willa in almost twenty years, not since the night of "the fire" that took their home, a refurbished church building. Penelope hasn't spoken to any of her former friends/roommates since that night, for a number of reasons, foremost of which is her guilt over what happened. But it's nice having Willa around (she tells Penelope that she needs a place to hide out temporarily as she escapes her abusive husband) - with Penelope's husband unemployed and "finding himself" through yoga and therapy, and her two kids involved in a number of activities, Penelope has been stretched thin lately, and Willa is happy to help with dinner and shuttling the kids around. But soon, things begin to seem weird around the house - Penelope's jewelry goes missing, random photos of Penelope and her kids from years past appear out of nowhere, Pen's husband ends up in the hospital - and Penelope can't help but think Willa is behind it all. But why? Told in alternating timelines leading up to the big reveal, we slowly find out what happened all those years ago - and how it ties to what's happening now.

I have never read anything by Kate Moretti but did know that she is a thriller queen - and I wasn't disappointed. I did figure out some of the big reveal, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I will definitely read more by this author in the future :)

Another great Kate Moretti story. Twenty years ago, Penelope and her friends decided to live together after college, to decide what they were going to do with life. Things didn’t end well. Now Willa is on Penelope’s doorstep, but what does she really want?

I didn't know if I was going to keep going with this book, but I am glad I did. It got better. After many years Penelope receives a letter from her old college friend and roommate, Willa her to meet so they can talk. Willa claims she was abused by her husband and needs a place to stay for a few weeks. Things end up taking a turn in the wrong direction as Penelope planned and it seems Willa has a plan of her own. Was everything really as it seemed or did Penelope end up falling into something bigger. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

This is the first book I have read by Kate Moretti. I really enjoyed the setting of the book and the deep way that I was able to get to know the characters. Penelope was my favorite character and the one I felt I could relate to the most. The only problem I had with this novel was that I was not a big fan of the writing style. It felt choppy and confusing to me. That’s my only issue. Cover art is gorgeous.

Kate Moretti has delivered another solid and intriguing psychological suspense. The character development was outstanding and the many interrelationships were complex and well-detailed. At times I found that the plot didn’t move along quickly enough, but the twist at the end completely made up for that.

I'm sure this book will find its audience, but it isn't me. Don't care for main characters. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

I am blown away by this book. Like literally BLOWN AWAY! I don't think I have ever read any of Kate Moretti's novels and that is going to change after reading this. I honestly think that Moretti can write about watching paint dry and it would still be outstanding she writes that good.

I loved the characters, they were all real and I love the fact that Willa actually did have a history with Penelope and to be honest, they did have a true friendship.

LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK!

So I usually really like Moretti's books, but I just could not get into this one. I can't really put my finger on why either. Maybe I just didn't really connect with any of the characters. I think the premise of living in an old renovated church sounds cool though. I would definitely try another of her books, just this one was a miss for me.

What would you do if after 20 years a friend from your past just suddenly comes back into your life?

Meet Penelope. When her old friend, Willa mysteriously shows up at her door, she can’t escape her past any longer. 20 years ago she lived with some college friends in an old church converted to a house. A tragic event changes their lives forever. Willa quickly infiltrates every aspect of her life & crosses a lot of boundaries. With Willa back in her life, she has to face the past trauma that she’s kept buried for so long.

This book gripped me tightly and didn’t let me go! I couldn’t put it down & was so anxious to find out what happened all those years ago. There are some intense moments & several huge twists that I did not see coming! If you like domestic thrillers, you’ll definitely want to check this one out!!

I spent the afternoon reading and finishing a book, which means when evening rolls around Ill be picking something brand new to start.
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I got a sneak peek of The Spires by Kate Moretti so Im leaning towards that one.
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The plot is intriguing: "
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Strung between two teenagers, an unemployed husband, and a tenuous career, Penelope Cox barely has her life together when the past comes knocking at her door. Willa Blaine, her old roommate, needs her help: refuge from an abusive husband. “Two weeks tops,” she says—but it’s not the imposition that bothers Penelope; it’s the memories Willa brings with her.

Twenty years earlier, Penelope, Willa, and three friends lived together in a converted church. Insular and closed off from the rest of the world, the five roommates formed their own dysfunctional family, celebrating the pinnacle of their lives; they called themselves “the Spires.” But nights of wild parties gave way to a darker undercurrent: jealousy, resentment, unrequited love, and obsession. Tensions boiled over during a night of debauchery that ended in a deadly fire, leaving the Spires scattered and forever changed.

Now Willa is the perfect houseguest: accommodating, helpful, bringing a newfound sense of excitement to the Cox household. Yet Penelope can’t help but feel the cracks in her life widen as she begins to question Willa’s motives. Everyone has secrets, it seems—and the fire may have brought down the Spires, but not everything burned was forgotten."
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Do you ever finish a book then start a new one within the same day?
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I really like the way Kate Moretti tells a stories through well-developed characters. The Spires is told from Penelope's (aka "Pip") POV in the past and present. 20 years ago a fire broke out where Penelope and 4 other friends were living, leaving one person dead. After the fire, the group went their separate ways, none of them speaking to each other again until one day Willa shows up on Penelope's doorstep. Willa brings up so many memories of the past and when she starts to take a place in Penelope's family, things start to go awry.

I was captivated by the story and what happened to the group in the past. In the present, Penelope's life seems to be deteriorating - is she losing her mind or does Willa have ulterior motives? I happy I didn't guess the twist until the very end!

Kate Moretti had me at "lived together in a converted church." (I've loved this concept ever since I read Wait Til Helen Comes in fifth grade!) I loved this book — the characters, the tension, the setting, every last bit of it.

This was great! My second book by this author did not disappoint! Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book. I will definitely be recommending to everyone!

This was my first book by this author and I was not disappointed! What a great gothic thriller. There was a lot of character development but the twists and turns didn’t lose focus. I sometimes think thrillers fall short of the character development and that was not the case here.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Very captivating with amazing character development. A group of friends who are broken apart by a horrible secret. This book took you back and forth to weave you through the mysteries to present day to make your own resolutions. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really found the writing to be compelling and the suspense to be really good. I liked that the story is so built up and thought out from both the past and the present. I was kept guessing until the end, although I felt that it was just a little confounding that there was that level of obsession about the past. I found that parts of this book were just too slow and seemed to be thrown in for length and did not really add the story. The ending was a bit rushed and really glazed over any form of resolution. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. I enjoyed this one.

This book took me on a wild ride and left me screaming for mercy. I literally never knew what was going to happen, I kept having to put the book down to breathe before coming back to it. Penelope is the glue that’s holding her family together, as well as the strained marriage with her husband who lost his job a year ago and has spent the time “finding himself”. Willa is an unwelcome blast from the past, who comes to Penelope a little broken and needing to get away from an abusive man. Just a few weeks to help her friend get back on their feet. What could go wrong? Uhhhhhh EVERYTHING. But is it Willa doing these things? Someone else from the past? Or is Penelope having a breakdown? I hope you get everything as wrong as I did while reading this, and that you enjoy the ride!!