A good read, with plenty of twists and turns and my first by this author. I really enjoyed if so will look out for more.

A fun and well written psychological thriller with a shady cast of characters. This was the first Chris Merritt book I’ve read, and I wasn’t sure what to expect given his choice to narrate from a female perspective. However, Merritt manages to pull it off without making this female reader cringe too much. The end result is a quick read that you won’t want to put down.

Our main character (Freya) has just purchased a new home with her fiance (Jack). Four months later their neighbour (Emily) and her daughter (Thea) are missing. Freya seems to be the only person who is overly concerned and her quest to find answers leads her down a somewhat obsessive rabbit hole. Mix in an elderly neighbour with early signs of dementia, Emily’s suspicious husband, a seemingly bored police force, and you have yourself a vigilante style investigation.

I wouldn’t say this book has any earth shattering twists and turns, but it will keep you reading and the resolution is not overly obvious. I enjoyed it and will definitely read another Chris Merritt book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You can see more of my reviews here:
https://thebooknerd679462600.wordpress.com/2021/07/22/the-new-home-by-chris-merritt/

Freya and fiancé, Jack have found what they hope is their forever home in a quiet street on the outskirts of London. It might need a bit of work but that's ok and their new next door neighbours seem lovely. The couple and their little girl live in a beautiful home enjoying a life Freya can only hope to emulate but, one ordinary day, Emily and daughter Thea are gone.

Feeling no one is taking the disappearances seriously and suffering from her own private tragedy Freya throws herself into finding out what really happened to her friend. Wth Jack and the police convinced she is getting in over her head Freya feels more alone by the day but are her worse case scenarios anywhere close to what really happened or could it actually be something she can’t imagine.

Chris Merritt is a master at drawing readers into his series of novels and not letting them leave thankfully this standalone thriller is no different. Freya is a woman whose thoughts have a habit of taking over and to begin with they are a little intrusive as her vivid imagination is working overtime!

This is a novel that surprises, it lays things out before changing everything you thought was happening into something completely different. I was forever second guessing myself and, without spoilers, sometimes there are very ordinary reasons for things which seem suspicious. Of course that isn't always the case and there are some surprises which shocked both the books characters and me!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. Overall I have enjoyed the series by this author a little more but this is still an excellent, thought provoking read.

When I first chose this book, I chose it for the description. The mystery of a missing person and her daughter. A husband who isn't what he seems and the possibility that he's a murderer.

First, what I liked about the book. I really enjoyed the base story. A woman, Freya and her fiancé Jack, moved in next door to a family, Michael, Emily and their daughter Thea. Everything seems perfect with them until they are invited over for dinner and see that things between Michael and Emily aren't at all what they seem. Some days later, Emily and her daughter are missing and the husband seems to be hiding something. The truth is much darker and I truly enjoyed and did not see the twist ending coming. I felt the pacing was nice and the suspense literally had me turning the pages quickly. It took me about 3 hours to read this book. The felt like I got to know the characters and I was really happy with the ending. I felt it wrapped up nicely.

So here's what I didn't like. I felt there was a little too much feminist rhetoric and male bashing. Times where the character talks about how men never listen and how her fiancé felt he was entitled to dinner every night like she was some kind of 1950s housewife. Comments like "women are called stubborn when they stand up for themselves but men are called self-assured". First off, not all women subscribe to these types of tropes. I am in my 40's, I am a stay at home mom to three kids. I chose to be the 1950's style housewife and its a tad offensive to be seen as somehow less of a person because I chose that role. Maybe this wasn't the authors intent but that's what i took from it. I also didn't care for the perpetuation that if a woman does report her rape that she will always be ignored. I think what bothers me the most about these comments is that women can behave in the same way but that is often overlooked or completely ignored. There are many times I do not listen to my husband, but just nod and say okay. Women do kill other women, maybe not at the same rate but it does happen. In todays world of forced feminism the idea that women are told they are stubborn when they do stand up for themselves, I believe is just a lie. I have a daughter and have never once thought that or said that too her.

All in all, it comes down to the story for me. I did enjoy the mystery, suspense aspect of the story was great. I literally was on the edge of my seat and could not stop reading. I was determined to find out what happened to Emily and her daughter.. I honestly don't know if Ill read anything from this author again but I'm thankful I got the chance to review this book.

Had a few books to read before this one but put this to the top of the pile. The cover drew me in along with the description. This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be my last!
Wow!!! Wow!!!! Wow!!! This book is a total page turner and will keep you guessing with every page. Halfway through I thought I had it figured out and then BAM! The ending floored me... I just loved this book. If you are looking for a good mystery with twists and turns then you will enjoy this one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What do you do when a neighbor who has become a friend suddenly disappears along with her daughter? Well read Chris Merritt's new novel The New Home and find out. This book has many twists and turns and had me guessing until the bitter end. These are the kind of thriller I love to read. Freya and Jack move away from family and friends so Jack can take a new job. Once in their new fixer upper Freya becomes friends with neighbor Emily and her daughter Thea, until one day they both disappear. This spine tingling story has Freya frantically trying to find out what became of her friend and daughter. She sets up a web page for them and starts getting various messages from people who tell Freya to beware of Emily's husband Michael. Did he have anything to do with their disappearance. Freya's other neighbor Cathy told her that a fancy man came and visited Emily during the week.Is he involved, but Cathy's mind wanders so Freya doesn't know who to believe. Then there is Jack, Freya's fiance who acts very funny when he is first introduced to Emily. Do they have a past that Freya doesn't know about and what secret is Freya hiding from Jack. The author writes characters that are very complex and very dark. Anyone of them can be killers. The spine tingling story has the reader thinking one thing and on the next page you are thinking something totally different. The ending was not what I expected at all.. My only complaint was that it took a very long time to get to the crux of the story. Other than that I give it five stars. Chris Merritt is a new author for me and I am sure to be looking at his other writing. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for approving me to read this ARC. So happy you did.

What a creepy thriller. I absolutely loved this one. I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. Great characterization and setting as well.

Freya, the main character has a wild imagination and lives in her head a lot. So at times through the book you had times when you were not sure what was real and what was in her head. That made it such a fun book and a wild ride. Surprise after surprise is revealed and you start going down this rabbit hole of crazy.

Great literature? No. A fun, crazy reading adventure? Absolutely!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.

The New Home by Merritt might be my first novel my this author but it won't be my last!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Author for this crazy advanced ebook copy!.

The New Home was simply a great, wild, wonderful story.

Freya is thrilled to be in a new home in a cute, quiet suburban neighborhood.
She develops a new friend Emily. Freya has someone who she can talk to and gossip with while having a few drinks.
While having dinner one night Freya sees something awful and starts to make her wonder if if Emily's life is all she makes it out to be.
Within days Emily and her daughter just up.and go missing!
After meeting Em's husband he seems a little off and Freya seems to think he might be hiding something.
Did Emily and her new friend .set by chance or by accident?
Finding out the truth will make you question everything!
The answers will have your mind spinning

This wild ride took me surprise so many times, because you think you know what's going on.... Then Bam its not what you're thinking!
The plot is well constructed & builds on a good suspense.
The New Home was a tense and thrilling read that had me powering through the pages. The story takes some unexpected turns which made for an exhilarating reading experience and that ending! WoW!
The author did not disappoint with this one here.

Again thank you for this amazing, great, wonderful read!
I enjoyed every minute of this book!

I will post to my Goodreads, bookstagram and Facebook accounts closer to pub date!.

This book was a very interesting but also kind of weird story?! Lol it had intrigue, suspense, lots of twists and turns! The main character was kind of out of her mind at times! The storyline went all over the place at times, I did enjoy the book but it wasn't my favorite but still worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

my 1st book buy this author and so enjoyed very twisty and did not figure it out who it was . Freya and Jack buy there dream home together in a different location as Jack has a new job at a hospital . Freya makes documentary s so can work from home . they meet there new Neighbour s Emily Thea Michael . Freya does not like Michael . Freya forms a friendship with Emily .there other Neighbour Cathy is elderly but Freya forms a relationship with her and they become close . but one morning the police are knocking on Freya s door Emily and Thea have gone missing was she murdered was they taken Freya is Determined to find out but things start going wrong for her and Jack so very very good so enjoyed

#TheNewHome #NetGalley
A good read.
Freya loves her new home on a quiet suburban street. And her beautiful neighbour Emily is everything she’s ever wanted in a best friend. Finally, she has somebody to share her secrets with over a glass of wine. But as Freya watches her new friend setting the table for dinner one evening, she sees something shocking that makes her think that Emily’s life might not be as perfect as it seems. Days later, Emily and her daughter vanish… When you meet Emily’s husband, you will think you know what he’s hiding.
I'm doing more promotion on its release date among my fellow Authors Bloggers Family Friends and followers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.