As a fan of Louise Candlish, this book absolutely kept me at the edge of my seat and gave me extra anxiety attacks! I was drawn into story from the beginning. It has strong and intriguing opening: what will you do if you recently see the image of the person you’ve killed two years ago: the very same person: a problem child, probably a sociopath who targeted your family, ruined everything in your life returned back from the grave for revenge!

At the beginning, we’re introduced to Ellen Saint having a client meeting at their condo. When she catches a glimpse of next building called the Heights, she cannot believe in her eyes but she sees Kieran Watts who should have been death for two years! He looks thinner with his bleached hair ( originally he’s red head)
Could it be possible?

Then we go back to the past to learn about her family of four: her teenage son Lucas from her first lover, her husband Justine, second child Freya. When Kieran is transferred to Lucas’ school, Lucas finds himself in his orbit like a moth to a flame! Kieran has truly bad influence on him. Ellen doesn’t want this problem child in her son’s life: she shares her worries with Lucas’ father Vic. She does everything in her power to separate the boys. But when she agrees her son to see Kieran when he gets back to home for Christmas holiday, something tragic happens.

Then we start to read Vic’s POV which surprises us a sudden twist: that’s the cue where I stop to tell you more details!

You can sense something truly earth shattering happened to rock Ellen’s world!

The writing style was so capturing! Slow burn high tension keeps you agitated. You keep waiting something sinister’s coming up any second to shock you! Introduction of high place phenomenon which means a sudden urge to jump when in high place is also crucial addition to the plot!

Only thing I didn’t like was Ellen’s characterization which was a little bit annoying. I couldn’t relate with her and Vic!

Ending was a little argumentative. It wasn’t bad but there were a little plot holes.

Overall: it was still exciting page turner that kept my interest intact. Especially I recommend it to author’s fans!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I read this book immediately after reading The Other Passenger and I can't decide which I liked more? I could not put this book down either! Louise Candlish delivered her slow burn method again and the wow factor surprises toward the end that I could not guess! I will definitely be grabbing a copy of this when it is released!

Louise Candlish stuck the knife into our minds and twisted it again. The Heights is the second book of her I read this year and I loved how she managed to make me hate a character and be okay with him/her at the end again. She gives you these little clues that make you go “oh! I think I know what’s going to happen” (and it goes exactly like that) and she adds one more chapter at the end to say “gotcha!”

Ellen didn’t like this boy who suddenly entered into her son’s life: he looked like a trouble. He sweet sweet boy was on Oxbridge track, so no one should have get him off that track. But ever since Kieran, or dealer as Ellen liked to call him, started at Lucas’ school, he was acting like some little gangster. Ellen did everything to keep them separated, but she could only do so much. With A levels were done and everyone was set to go to their ultimate destinations, Ellen took a deep breath: Lucas and Kieran wouldn’t be spending every second together. When Lucas was back for Xmas break, Ellen was almost okay with him hanging out with Kieran. But only if she knew what comes next…

Blinding by grief she was experiencing, Ellen thought of doing something unspeakable. Assuming that with Vic, Lucas’ father, solved the issue for her, she continued living her life with bit of guilt and bit of relief. Couple of years later, she got to learn that issue was never solved… This time instead of being blinded by grief, she was blinded by fury. Moral of the story for shocked readers like us, be very afraid of a hurt mama bear!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a bit hard going, because it was so miserable. I don't think any of the characters ever laughed. I found Ellen unlikeable, but also unreal - what were her hobbies? what did she like to eat? who were her friends? what books did she read? Her relationship with her ex, Vic, was well drawn, but I had little sense of her love for Lucas or Justin, and as for poor Freya, they seemed more like acquaintances than mother and daughter.

It picked up for me when Vic took over the narrative, and the first twist was pleasing, but after that it dragged and although there were further twists I found myself increasingly bored. By the end I wasn't really sure what the point of the book was. The framing device was a bit unnecessary, and it was obvious from early on where Ellen was attending her writing class. I never felt I really got a handle on what made Kieran tick, and there was so much ambiguity at the end that I wasn't sure exactly how much we were supposed to hold him responsible. Prisca was another person whose characterization was all over the place.

Disappointing and unremittingly dark. The blurb gives a false impression of what this book is like.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

Ellen Saint is working with a client at their condo when she happens to glance at the apartment building next door. The Heights is the name of the building. She can hardly trust her eyes when she sees a man she recognizes on his rooftop deck. A man who single-handedly ruined her life and her family...A man she thought was dead.

I debated how much of the plot to disclose in my review, but I think I’ll keep that part short and sweet.

This is an entertaining and compelling psychological suspense story that I couldn’t put down. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but never boring. The first 30% caused me major anxiety (bad for me, but a clear indication that a book has me hooked) as I just knew something unsavory was going to happen...and that it did!

I ended up guessing the majority of surprises soon after that, but that didn’t deter me one bit. Louise Candlish has a knack for writing enthralling storylines with fully dimensional, everyday characters in tough situations. Although Ellen got a bit annoying at times, her grief and occasional hysterics felt real and raw. I didn’t see the reveal in the last chapter coming, and I thought it was a clever way to make me reflect on the story as a whole from start to finish.

Bottom Line: If you’re a fan of Candlish, and/or a fan of simmering suspense, do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

Side Nugget: I found the High Place Phenomenon experience very interesting, and I’m glad this book gave me something new to google.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/1/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

The Heights is the worst nightmare of every parent-your studious and obedient child turns into a rebellious teenager who falls in with the wrong crowd, dabbles in drugs and alcohol, skips school to run amok with his new BFF, and breaks every rule you've set. The Heights could have easily become a cliche-what kid hasn't had at least one friend their parent disapproved of? But The Heights is so much more than a story of boys gone wild. Using "dualing duals" (multiple time frames and narrators), The Heights is also a "book within a book" about a mother driven mad with grief and the thirst for revenge after the death of her son. One constant in Miss Candlish's novels is the importance of the setting-The Heights is a highrise apartment building where very little of the action takes place-but its shadow looms over every page. The plot alternates between simmering embers and scorching inferno-this seesaw keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way. And The Heights features another Louise Candlish trademark-the ending is a gut wrenching surprise that literally makes you gasp- no easy feat considering we know early on a death has occurred. The Heights takes you to dizzying highs and devastating lows-it puts the "thrill" in thriller.

Another winner for Louise Candlish.The Heights is beautifully written and you can easily identify with the characters and a few twists along the way to make you just keep reading..I would highly recommend this book.

Candlish does an excellent job of weaving a story that you are never quite sure where it is heading; creating a slow suspenseful build up to a satisfying finish. In this case it is the obsessive behaviours of a mother after the death of her son. The story is laid out through newspaper articles, a memoir, and different viewpoints of the characters involved. Do all parents in books who lose a child go a little bit mad, lose sight of the details to spin a story that is easier to manage? Candlish makes it feel possible.


'I was aware that I was delaying, extending by a few extra seconds, this half of my life.'

'His gaze narrows. "How can it not?" When you lose a child, you make your life in that shadow. You're never going to be cured. You're managing a condition.'

'Three of them and still not enough to protect the boy!'

Thank you to Artia Books Publicity Department and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lousie Candlish offers another satisfying thriller. A recommended purchase for collections where crime fic is popular.

Atria Books thank you so much for the amazing chance to read this ebook!
I had so much fun reading it.

The Heights is another amazing psychological thriller from Louise Candlish.
The Heights is a tall, slender apartment building among the warehouses of Shad Thames.
And you hardly can tell it exists if you were not standing by the window in a flat!
And suddenly that is when you see the man you know shouldn't be standing there because you killed him!
Candlish knows how to create a wild scenario and here she does just that!
This was so wild I couldn't turn away.
This story is a non-stop roller coaster of suspense. It’s an edge of your seat psychological thriller, with a constant feeling of dread, that toys with one’s mind and emotions at the same time. 
Pick this book up! NOW!

Thank you again Publisher, NetGalley and Author for this amazing novel!

Louise Candlish is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved this book within a book, within a book. It had me hooked from the first pages and I absolutely didn't see the ending coming! Two surprises. Loved this book and cannot wait to recommend it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.