Cover Image: The Sleepover

The Sleepover

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Member Reviews

With a chilling opening, Beevis grabbed my attention from the start; this became a book that I just could not put down.

I enjoyed this story because of how far the writer manipulates you into believing who is the identity of the mysterious voice. I was convinced I was correct… until a plot revelation brought unexpected developments that had me gripping the book even more tightly.

It is clear that Hannah’s life has never been the same since a summer when she was a teenager. She is haunted by her time at Eileen Wickham’s but is determined to move forwards. Her best friend, Rosie, clearly struggles more and this is shown by her cannonball lifestyle that is equally selfish and irritating. Through flashbacks to their teenage years, readers gradually discover what happened to the Hixton Five, and the events are dark and chilling to the bone.

Having now read all of Beevis’s books, I think this is one of her more darkest stories. The events involving Eileen and Billy are twisted and the remote setting intensifies the feeling of being hunted by an apparently welcoming adult. The mistrust that Hannah feels towards strangers was palpable and I understood her reservations towards writer Liam Quinn. Yet, despite claims that he is there to present the truth about what happened that fateful summer, there are enough vague answers that made me completely suspect him of a more serious agenda.

The final quarter of the book was the most thrilling and I loved how surprising Beevis keeps the narrative. Even though Hannah is determined to lay ghosts to rest, I was screaming at my book for her choice to return to the Wickham house. This part of the story was so effective because it is at a point where so many answers are being provided, but not enough to guarantee that Hannah is making the safest of choices.

A great read, I think Beevis goes from strength to strength and I can’t wait for her next novel.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Such a fun twisty read! Had me very engaged through the whole book, the characters were great, the plot was amazing. Def an amazing first book for me by this author

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The Sleepover by Keri Beevis was a very good psychological book especially as was a good page turner with lots of good twists and turns form the beginning till the every end.

Keri's latest book will not disappoint and I highly recommend it.

Big thank you to netgalley, Boldwood books and the author Keri Beevis for a copy of her book exchange for a review.

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this book was unpredictable so for me thats a winner in my eyes. Some great twists and turns, and I kept turning those pages to find out who, what when and why and how.

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Reading Between the Wines book review #31/115 for 2023:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: The Sleepover
Author: Keri Beevis
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Disturbing. Dark. Suspenseful. These are just a few words that come to mind after reading this book. This is my first Beevis book, and I enjoyed the way she writes. When you think of a sleepover it should be a great memory with friends. Unfortunately, this is not true for the Hixton Five. Read this book and go on a dark journey where you don’t know who to trust or what to believe. I sped through this book and I am getting ready to start Beevis most recent release, The Summer House. I hope this is another good read.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @BoldwoodBooks for an advanced copy of @TheSleepover.

#TheSleepover #KeriBeevus #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

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Make sure you don’t read Keri Beevis’ The Sleepover late at night and in an empty house because after racing through this creepy and terrifying thriller, you won’t be able to sleep for days on end!

Hannah is still haunted by that summer twenty years ago before everything had changed. Everything had started out so well with the promise of long days ahead with lots of new friends to be made. Yet, she never imagined that her life was going to be defined by the events of one night that was going to shape the rest of her future – and that of her four other friends. The five of them had been named the Hixton Five and they never imagined that that summer was going to turn out to be memorable – but for all the wrong reasons…

A monster had come into their lives and destroyed it. This monster was not an ogre or a beast with fangs and horns, but somebody who seemed perfectly ordinary. For the last two decades, the object of Hannah’s nightmares has been locked away, but she’s now free and strange things have already started to happen. Hannah is no longer safe and with the monster keen to settle all old scores, she knows that she has nowhere to hide and that sooner or later, she is going to have to pay for what happened twenty years ago…

Keri Beevis will send your heartrate soaring through the roof with this tension-filled, fast-paced and disturbing thriller full of menace, foreboding and terror. Not for the faint of heart or the easily scared, Keri Beevis’ The Sleepover is a dark, unsettling and nail-biting chiller packed with twists and turns you will not see coming.

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This book bugged me out!! So good!! This was a compelling thriller that kept me reading well into the night. Highly recommend this one. Would be worth trying if you are in a reading slump. Highly recommend

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Wow what a read. An author that is a firm favourite in my top 5 authors, to the point where I don’t even need to read the blurb anymore to know I’m in for a great read. Great storyline and great characters, some to like and some to really dislike with a couple in the middle that I had mixed feelings for. The book never actually lets up and had me gripped the whole time I was reading. I don’t write about storylines in my reviews as I feel this is the job of the blurb to peak your interest and draw you in. But I will say another cracking read from Keri Beevis

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Review
The Sleepover is a psychological thriller following our main character, Hannah, a member of the Hixton six. It's 20 years since the events that changed her life and strange things are starting to happen, including a journalist showing up on her doorstep. From here on we adventure into what happened to the Hixton six as well as what's happening to them now and who's behind it.
This book had me sitting on edge, my mind racing and every time I dared to put it down, I would end up picking it back up instantly.
I've been a bit up and down with my reading over the past few weeks, not feeling attached enough to a book or never really getting into it, overall just a bit slumpish and The Sleepover changed that. Immediately I was drawn in and hooked. There's twists and turns, complex character relationships but everything just works.
I would say I did struggle to get along with the main character at certain moments due to some of her brash decisions. I also predicted the main twist, but even with the shock factor it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. It does cover some very dark topics including sexual assault, mental abuse, murder and stalking amongst others.
Overall, I would say The Sleepover is an excellent example of how a psychological thriller should be. I'd definitely recommend it for this time of year as we get into the more autumnal months, it's the perfect cozy evening read.
Rate - 4/5
Once again a big thank you to Keri & Rachel for having me on this tour. Below will be a post of the other tour dates/spots so if you're wanting to check out reviews/spotlights from some fabulous fellow book bloggers, make sure to check that out!

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Enjoyed this book! The story alternates between the chilling events of the present and what happened 20 years ago to the teenage group that came to be known as the "Hixton 5". Evil Eileen Wickham has been released from prison and unsettling events began to occur. The alternating timelines were well done, breaking up the tension of the present and providing some background understanding. I’ll be looking out for more by this author.

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A group of friends visit Eileen Wickham and her son on a farm during the Summer holidays in 2002. She was supposed to be looking after them. They came away traumatised forever.

Eileen Wickham ended up in prison for 20 years for what she had done that Summer.

Present day – now she is out, and both she and her son Bill want revenge.

The Sleepover is addictive, deeply disturbing and will chill you to the core. It will stay with you afterwards for sure! I can’t recommend this psychological thriller enough – ideal for a scary Halloween read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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honestly don't even know where to start with this one. What an incredible read. It kept me engaged the intire time. I found it was one that had my questioning everyone's, unsure of who to trust. I really liked Hannah, she was such had strong character. But I do think she trusted Liam a bit to quick. I also got really irritated with her mum, she seemed far to interested in herself, than taking notice of her child! That got under my skin!
The twists blew me away, the ending was brilliant. Although I was suspicious of a certain character, I was still very shocked!
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources

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I’m not a parent but I can only imagine this book is every parents worst nightmare. 🫣

One word to describe this book: MENACING 👹

Twisty ✅
Suspenseful ✅
Page Turner ✅

Literally a thriller that has it all! 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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The Sleepover by Keri Beevis was not my cup of tea but maybe it can be yours! I felt like I have already read this book several times, just written by other authors. Maybe something else from this author will be better.

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The Sleepover
Keri Beevis
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book has definitely kept me interested from the beginning! It was definitely catching from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down! It was an amazing read, and definitely not one you can figure out from the beginning. I’d definitely be running not walking to get this! I loved this book, and once you figure out who the person is, you will be surprised! If your looking for a good book that keeps you on your toes and wanting to who, what, when, where, and why….This is the book for you!

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Now this is a book I have been waiting for! Keri Beevis is an author I have followed since her first book. She has always spun great stories that are just getting better constantly. The Sleepover is her latest book, released on the 24th October. I waited for a day where I could just sit and read knowing I wouldn't want to put it down for one minute!

A dark and chilling psychological thriller, set in Norfolk and is told from multiple characters perspectives too. The story moves from twenty years ago to the present day telling the story of the Hixton 5, a group of children who are harassed by a local woman until she gets sent to prison. In the present day, the woman is released after serving her sentence and weird things begin to happen to members of the Hixton 5. Could they be connected to the woman who is free now?

This is a tale that has been skilfully woven. The multiple timelines run perfectly, with no jarring, the multiple perspectives are written in a way that gives the reader an all round view so you get to know what the motivations are. I also find I get to know the main characters, Rosie and Hannah, or I think I do anyway.

Yes, well, I did read it quickly there is no doubt about that. I was so intrigued with the story I was turning the pages so fast. The history of the children and the events surrounding them are difficult issues and are a bit of a hard read. I am lucky with no triggers. Keri Beevis has written about those issues well and it fitted into the story without being gratuitous.

Keri Beevis has definitely ramped everything up in The Sleepover. She made me feel everything the characters where experiencing and omg, that tension, terror, paranoia. They all gave me goosebumps and at some points I was really anxious of what would be next. Did I say next? There is a twist and yes, well, all I shall say is, if you want to know more...the buy link is below this review!

This is Keri Beevis at her best, until the next time anyway.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

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Having read books by this author before, I thought I would be prepared for The Sleepover… but wow. A gripping and chilling thriller, with dark drama and a spooky tone, it kept my heart thudding throughout.

I always like to think I know what’s going to happen or who is responsible but this one kept me on my toes with some great twists and turns along the way. The writing style is one that keeps a reader in suspense, it’s easy enough to read whilst being really clever in leading us into false sense of security.

I was genuinely shocked by by the ending, I think I may have gasped or something out loud a few times too.

Another fantastic read by Keri, definitely an author on my ‘must read’ list every time.

Highly recommended for thriller lovers!

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Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel Random Resources for the opportunity to read, The Sleepover.

I found it to be a page-turner, well-written and plenty to keep you reading, including a loveable dog, what more could you ask for?

Keri knows how to make a reader love and hate characters, well done and I am looking forward to reading more from Keri. I definitely recommend and if I could give more than 5 stars I would.

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I really enjoyed reading this book. There were so many plot twists and I didn’t know what to expect from both the characters and the storyline. I came into this book without really knowing too much about it other than it was a thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and the plot was so exciting. I have never read a plot with a storyline like this one before.

We got to read mainly from the perspective of Hannah, a woman who had a series of traumatic events happen to her and her friends when they were younger. As readers, we get snippets from 2002 when these events were taking place and we slowly get to put the puzzle together. I enjoyed only knowing these events in small sections because it made what was happening in the present day even more exciting. In the present day, Hannah is experiencing some strange things and she becomes wary to what might happen to her. She definitely becomes aware of her past and what might happen to her.

I thought Hannah and her friends were very likeable people. I loved the friendship between Hannah and Rosie, they both know each other so well after everything they have been through. Some suspicious things happen in this book which made it hard for me to figure out who to believe. There were definitely many mysterious characters in this book.

The layout of this book was really good, I thought the 2002/past chapters were spread out across the book and they came in at a point which made sense. Also, we got a couple of chapters from a mysterious person who seems to know a lot about the girls, we get to discover more about this person throughout the book. The writing style was easy to read and very enjoyable. The chapters were short and got straight into the plot. I highly recommend this book to all thriller and mystery lovers, it was action packed, especially towards the ending.

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And there was me thinking that Beevis couldn't possibly top Every Little Breath, turns out yes she can!

The story is told from several POV, in past and present format. It's creepy, chilling and an absolute page turner, it was another one sitting book for me.

Very well plotted in Beevis' inimitable style, with some well developed characters and fast pacing throughout.

Exciting, engaging and definitely recommendable.

Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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