Ellen is Fatal Attraction but instead of a spurned lover, she is obsessed with her son’s best friend, and not in a good way. She thinks he is a bad influence and her son Lucas begins to spend more and more time with Kieran. When Lucas and Kieran get into a car accident, Ellen just can’t get over it.

This one was a bit slower paced than I would have liked, but it still keep guessing on what was coming next. The ending was exactly what I was expecting until the epilogue where we get way more shocking information. I loved finding out what really happened and I would recommend for those who enjoy slow burn novels or Candlish's writing.

I found it difficult to like The Heights. For me it was a dark story filled with unappealing characters and rationalizations I found troubling. This was surprising, since I’ve enjoyed other books by Louise Candlish.

It was hard to empathize with a vast majority of the characters. Ellen, in particular, seems to be off the rails most of the time, with little regard to how her behavior and actions were affecting those around her, including her family. I completely understand and know firsthand how grief can make a person do and say things that are completely out of character. But, after five years, that type of extreme behavior should be subsiding a little. Instead, Ellen is tolerated and catered to, while at the same time she’s dragging others down her dark hole. And, while it’s not explicitly stated, it would seem it’s all because Ellen feels a mountain of guilt because she didn’t intervene before tragedy struck. Again, something that is quite understandable but hard to accept after five years.

The plot as a whole, is a good premise, but the length of the story and Ellen’s behavior made it somewhat tedious to read. Ms Candlsh’s writing, as always, is quite good and her characters are well-drawn. Even though I’m sure there are some parents who are much like Ellen, I just didn’t enjoy this portrayal. Because of that, I can only give The Heights 2.5 stars but will bump it up to three. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

Louise Candlish writes a slow-burn psychological thriller with an interesting mystery and complex characters. This novel isn’t flashy but it’s suspenseful and well written.

Told through multiple perspectives and timelines with the expertise of a seasoned writer.
There’s neurotic and always-on-edge Ellen a mother who loses her son in an accident that she’s convinced is another boy’s fault.
Then Vic the ex-husband and father. A rational bloak who is just trying to get by and appease Ellen and her neuroses.
It’s also told through a written story of the events as they are unfolding.
The title The Heights is also a character. It’s a building with a roof terrace that you’d never see if you weren’t standing directly opposite in a certain flat. That’s where Ellen sees the boy who killed her son. A boy that's supposed to be dead because Ellen killed him.

This story about grief, obsession, and secrets was intriguing and clever in its conclusion. My first by this author but not my last.

This is a twisty, convoluted story which appears to be a story within a story called Saint or Sinner by Ellen Saint. She is taking a writer's workshop run by Felix Penny a crime novelist. This workshop is also attended by a journalist, Michaela Ross, writing Killing Time for the Sunday Times Magazine. The story weaves its web through the eyes of the characters in the book who all tell a different story. Ellen is a totally unlikeable, unreliable character who can be very annoying because of the intense anger which clouds her judgment and perspective. She is using writing as a means of grieving for the loss of her son, Lucas in a tragic accident with his friend Kieran Watt. Ellen is blinded by her grief and determination of seeking revenge for her son's death. It soon becomes apparent that she is becoming mentally unstable as her view of events differs greatly from other people. It will definitely mess with your head as it isn't clear what is fact and what is fiction. What really happened? Who is the victim?

i think i’m definitely in the minority from looking at other reviews, but for some reason this didn’t grip me and i wasn’t finding myself wanting to pick it up.

At first, this one seemed just like your average thriller, a woman narrator with a shady past, but this one had the added twist of her being the murderer (not a spoiler, read the synopsis)!

We begin with Ellen Saint seeing Kiernan Watts, the young man she holds responsible for the death of her teenage son and whose death she believed helped cause. The story goes back and forth to the years prior to her son's death and the present day and also from her point of view and also that of her son's father. Nothing is as expected and you can always count on a few unexpected turns and then a final OMG moment at the end.

Ellen Saint sees a man standing on top of a rooftop but that's impossible because she killed him years ago. She cannot believe what she is seeing. She gazes at the discreet rooftop terrace of “The Heights” from the building across from it. Kiernan has been dead for two years and she is the one who killed him. Kiernan Watts was responsible for the tragedy against Ellen’s son Lucas, and Ellen thought she made sure Kiernan paid for the harm he caused. Somehow he is here again, and Ellen will stop at nothing to make sure he finally gets what’s coming to him. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

While I’ve loved other books by this author this one just wasn’t the same. Won’t deter me from reading more of hers. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for review

The Heights has a interesting premise. Ellen sees a man she knows standing on top of a rooftop but that's impossible because she killed him years ago. That was also I needed to read and knew that I wanted to read this book. The beginning started off to the races but then mid way it did slow up quite a bit. I felt that the back story of Kieran was slow and it took away a bit of excitement of the plot for me.
That being said, once we past that it was a great page turner that has many twists that will leave you guessing. Louise Candlish is an auto buy author for me.

I liked this, but it's not my favorite by Candlish. Her writing is always entertaining and fast-paced.

Another great mystery by Louise Candlish! This is one of my favorites of hers, and I really enjoyed the story.

I was so excited to read this book after reading the synopsis but the story as a whole did not work for me. While the authors character driven plot was well done, I found it repetitive and slow. I needed more. I will definitely read more from this author!

Great psychological thriller, that plays cat and mouse with you. I deducted a star because it was slow and lagged in some parts. This book published in March 2022 I', finally getting caught up on old reads.
My second read from this Author. I like her writing style.
Thank you to Netgalley, Atria books and the Author Louise Candlish for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Short synopsis: Looking at a posh apartment complex The Heights, Ellen sees a man she knows should be dead… because she killed him two years ago.

My thoughts: This was a slow burn mystery, that kept me guessing until the very end. Multiple timelines, complex relationships, and compelling characters.

While some of this was slow going, I couldn’t put it down. Anxious to unravel all the secrets and twists Candlish interspersed throughout the story.

Read if you love:
- Multiple timelines
- Revenge
- Slow burn
- psychological thriller

Ever since Our House, I jump at any chance to read Louise Candlish book. And so I dropped everything to read The Heights.

The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among warehouses in London. Its roof terrace is so discreet, you wouldn’t know it existed if you weren’t standing at the window of the flat directly opposite. But you are. And that’s when you see a man up there—a man you’d recognize anywhere. He may be older now, but it’s definitely him.

But that can’t be because he’s been dead for over two years. You know this for a fact.

Because you’re the one who killed him.

The Heights is ultimately a love letter to parents everywhere - it shows just how far someone will go to protect their child. The characters were well-developed -- so much that I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room a few times. This was a wild ride, so buckle up!

This was my first book by this author and I loved it! We learn a little at a time told in first person and later in third and in nonlinear timelines. The ending totally shocked me! I loved the twists throughout and my mama heart just broke for Ellen!

The Heights is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Heights today.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.