The Sleepover by Keri Beevis is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Boldwood Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The five of them were barely teenagers when the monster next door made them grow up fast.   Eileen Wickham ended up in prison for 20 years for her crimes, but now she is out, and  both she and her son Bill are ready to take revenge for what they went through.  The Hixton girls have to pay.

Even though 20 years has passed, the girls still fear Eileen.  Jill,  Tasha and Lauren seem to have moved on from the awful events of that summer.  But Rosie has never been the same.  For that matter, neither has Hannah, who has built up walls of protection.  Miles, Jill's brother had lost his life.

Liam Quinn, a reporter, wants to write a book about Mrs. W (as Eileen was known), and is interested in the viewpoints of the girls.  Hannah, although skeptical is starting to think it may be therapeutic.  But now things are happening, and she's just scared, and she is sure that Liam is keeping a secret.


My Opinions:
This was quite good.  My only real complaint was that the author released the information of that summer VERY slowly.  On the other hand, it built suspense rather well.  This author has a good writing style, and I will be watching for more of her books.

Character wise, I had an inkling as to the culprit.  Of the five girls, I really only liked Hannah, and was really hoping that Liam was not the perpetrator.  LOL...I may not like romance in my mystery novels, but I did like theirs.  I loved Tank!  I like how the author told the story from multiple perspectives, as well as going back in time to that fateful summer.

There were a number of twists, although I did anticipate a few of them.  However, they definitely kept me turning those pages, as I was eager to know what happens next.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book!  She's a very talented author.

I’ve read a number of books by this author and they are always a good read. This isn’t as dark as some of her books but there are still some pretty scary and chilling events that gave me the shivers. Told from multiple POV mainly in the present but with recollections from the past and the stalker’s thoughts interspersed. The main protagonists are two of the Hixton Five, Hannah and Rosie and journalist Liam Quinn.

Briefly, it’s summer and a group of young teens are befriended by Eileen Wickham and her son Bill. But Eileen’s isn’t the kind mother figure she seems to be. Twenty years later, newly released from prison, and once again some of the friends are looking over their shoulders. Is Eileen back to wreak revenge on the Hixton Five?

The portrayal of the effect the Wickham’s and their evil practices had on Rosie and Hannah is so well done. How could you ever forgive someone that evil? Eileen was able to manipulate the teens though threats and fear, and not just them but her own son. Some good red herrings made it difficult to tell who to trust and who not to and there’s a shocking ending. An excellent psychological thriller, great plot and a really evil antagonist keep you page turning until the end.

Chilling and disturbing, the Sleepover is the perfect psychological thriller for the spooky season. With its well-developed characters and fast pacing, it kept me engaged and interested. I didn't want to put it down. I highly recommend it to all psychological thriller fans.
I will definitely be seeking out other books by this author.
Thank you to #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sleepover by Keri Beevis is an awesome book it comes at you from many different directions but mainly it’s a thriller. In the summer of 2002 Hannah, Rosie, Tasha, Jill, Laurie and her brother miles we’re enjoying their summer riding their bikes around their sleepy little village and then Eileen Wickham happened. That’s when their crew went from 6 to 5 and when Miss W was sent to prison and her phone bill would be sent to juvenile detention. The rest of the group did the best to MoveOn and make lives of their own Hannah and Rosie were the best of friends and stayed in touch constantly except when Rosie would go off on her binges of alcohol drugs and sex. Hanna who also suffered from PTSD was enjoying herself with her pet business and she thoroughly enjoyed walking her charges. This is how after rejecting True Crime rider Liam Quinn‘s request for an interview, she was forced to have a conversation with him. She was hesitant about any kind of interaction with him because they just wanted to forget it ever happened but One thing leads to another and not only is she talking to him but sleeping with him as well. When strange events start happening to Rosie at first Hanna thinks she’s over exaggerating because she does tend to do that but when she goes to Rosies home to comfort her she sees proof that someone is harassing her. They recently heard Miss W was released from prison so could she be the one harassing them or is it too coincidental that Mr. Liam Quinn showed up right when all the strange things start happening. Before I say how great this book was let me just say I absolutely loved tank and I laughed out loud when he was on the beach with the other dogs. Now having said that this book is awesome I love The thrillers in head had bad luck lately with getting bad ones but this does not fall into that category. This is a total five star read an ass I said Miss Beavis comes at you using every emotion Love for your partner your pets your siblings and she twisted and turns it until it’s painful and she only lets it go to come back and do it again. If you are into thrillers and mysteries get this book you will not regret it. I received this book from NetGalley and bold wood books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate most of my review.

Thanks to publishers and netgalley for giving me the chance to read this arc.

First book read by this author won't be the last absolutely loved it

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is another winner from Keri and has her at her best. The story sets your nerves on edge and even although you may think that you have figured what is going on in parts, be prepared to be sent down another path again and again. Twisted and creepy, well paced and engrossing all at the same time. She also describes the aftermath of things, which may have happened in our childhood, so well and the long term psychological effects on people.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

I received an E=ARC with a request for my honest review.

This psychological thriller is set in Suffolk and Norfolk in the UK. It follows Hannah as she is trying to move on with her life after a devastating night in her hometown Hixton, twenty years ago.

When the woman who affected Hannah’s life is released from prison, the Hixton five all start to be targeted bringing back all the memories they had tried to forget.

With an author in town researching for his book he is writing about that fateful night, Hannah is even more on edge, but can’t quite bring herself to stay away from him.

Does the author have a secret? Who is behind terrorising the Hixton five?

This psychological thriller has you questioning many characters as you go through, with many secrets to come out and some twists too. I live close to where this story is set, which quite often makes it feel that little bit more real to me.

It was hard but inspiring to see Hannah try to work through her past, as she had been living with that night for twenty years. Even after moving out of the area, she couldn’t face being back in her hometown.

You do get to see what a few of the characters are thinking throughout the chapters which I’m not sure if it makes it clearer or more confusing on who could be behind everything. It certainly adds the suspense to the storyline.

Overall, a suspense filled psychological thriller where after twenty years the Hixton Five must confront their devastating past.

Another great thriller from Keri Beevis.
I loved Hannah and really felt for her as I learnt what happened to her and her friends when they were younger.
Hannah receives a visit from Liam who wants to write a book about what happened, and at first she pushes him away, as she really doesn’t want to relive it.
Her best friend at the time, Rosie, is still close to her and warns Hannah not to trust Liam.
As the weeks go on Liam and Hannah build a friendship and she soon finds herself opening up to him as there’s a threat to the group of friends from years ago.
Worried that her life is in danger, Hannah is not sure who to trust and one decision she makes, leads to a nail biting encounter.
This is a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

MENACING. DISTURBING. SPOOKY. TERRIFYING. CHILLING!
A perfect read for Halloween!👻🎃🦇

Keri Beevis returns following With Friends Like These
with THE SLEEPOVER —A dark and spine-chilling psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat with one eye open, afraid of what will happen next.

Set in the fictional town of Hixton in Suffolk, the author has created one of the year's most evil (monster) mothers! A remote farmhouse contains horrible secrets, cruel events, abuse, and nightmares.

The Hixton Five will not be the first victims. There were others before them.

This devilish witch scares me. She is nasty and has two different personalities. When the mask slips, WATCH OUT. Be careful; she will PUNISH you if you DROP anything. You will pay.

The Hixton Five. There were actually six of them that summer, the Americans have moved to the village after Christmas. The five girls that were friends allowed a boy into their fold, making six of them until he was gone, leaving five.

The Hixton Five consisted of Hannah, Lauren, Jill, Rosie, and Tash. Jill's brother Miles was now gone because of THE MONSTER.

The friends were adventurous—entering their teenage years, they liked to explore. They were innocent. UNTIL the monster. HER.

Everything changed that summer twenty years ago. From the past to the present, the monster had said that as children, no one would believe them. She was wrong. The monster had been taken way to prison. Now she was getting out. The monster was being freed, and they knew she or her son, Bill, would come after them for revenge—they were responsible for putting her behind bars.

Eileen was a mother and befriends the teens, often inviting them over to her remote farmhouse, providing them with food, drinks, fun at the pond, and friendship making them feel like adults, and they loved going there. Also, her son Bill was good-looking and popular, and they looked forward to their visits.

UNTIL Eileen turned into a MONSTER. A psycho. The mask slipped, and Hannah was the first to discover her sick games and how she could torment and abuse children. They made her pay in cruel ways. She did not want to return but was afraid to tell. Eileen even put on the motherly charm with her mother and was forced to go back.

Hannah Cole had moved away to Wells, still tormented by past events. She has tried to start over away from the bad memories. She owns Pawsome Pet Services and loves her dog clients.

Hannah is worried and anxious about having to return to Hixton for her parent's upcoming anniversary. Her mom wants her to stay over, and the idea haunts her. The past is resurfacing.

Hannah was married to Josh in her twenties, but they are divorced but best friends. She often calls on him for advice and help.

Rosie is one of the five, and she is always in some sort of drama and expects Hannah to drop everything when she calls. Rosie was also traumatized by the monster, and she acts out by having sex, being reckless, and binge drinking.

Then the journalist, Liam Quinn comes knocking. He is writing a book about the events twenty years ago since the MONSTER is out of prison. Hannah wants nothing to do with him or a book or revisiting the painful past.

The monster is called Eileen Wickham, Mrs. W, or Eileen Wicked. She calls the Hixton Five, little bitches. She will make them pay. She is now sixty-three years old. Can the police protect them?

Her son, Bill, is her lapdog. Hannah walked in on them, which was disgusting. The horrible games the two played. Totally sicko. Bill does whatever his mother says, and now that she is out of prison, she, of course, wants him to enact revenge on the five, especially Hannah, since she saw what they were doing.

Liam is persistent, and soon Hannah's defenses slowly wear down, and she lets him in. His loveable dog Tank has helped. Can she trust him?

When strange things start happening with notes, flowers, a music box, and things only Rosie and Hannah would understand. They are fearful either Eileen or Bill is trying to teach them a lesson. However, no one can find Eileen.

Then more sinister things occur, and part of the Hixton Five winds up dead under mysterious circumstances. Was she playing a sick game, and who is next?

Things turn dangerous, something is off with Liam, and what is his connection? Hannah starts getting involved with Liam, but can she trust him?

Then Bill shows up, and Hannah is afraid for her life, but is there someone else she should also be fearful of that may be closer than she knows?

OMG! This book captivated me from the first page to the explosive ending! It is intense, with a dark sense of foreboding, and you are waiting for the devil to jump out from behind the door.

The author does a killer job of creating riveting suspense and oh, so many twists, and red herrings, keeping you guessing until the end. She really dives deep into the mind of an evil monster. I enjoyed Hannah, Liam, and Josh's characters.

This is my second book by the author, and already on my favorite author list. I am enjoying these newfound UK authors who definitely know how to create mind-bending twisty psychological thrillers.

For fans of Harlan Coben, Miranda Rijks, and K. L. Slater. If you are looking for an eerie, sinister, frightening, creepy, and terrifying read, this is it! You may want to leave the lights on.

This would make for a great movie, especially the scenes in the cellar and barn. I would definitely keep my eyes closed in some parts. Cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.

Thank you to #BoldwoodBooks and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. I also pre-ordered the audiobook narrated by Imogen Church (a favorite).

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5/5🌟 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 24, 2022
Oct 2022 Must-Read Books

This is a really good book. I found it engaging and interesting. The story kept me intrigued and interested throughout.

Five friends spending summer together in their neighbours garden. Looking away the summer in a haze of sun, friendship and fun.

But then bad things happen, people are things that they weren't meant to see, bad things happen and then disaster strikes and bad things happen.

Now twenty years have passed and Mrs B is out of jail. Then strange things start happening, Mrs B has a score to settle and bad things start happening again.

If you like thrillers don't miss this one. It's a good one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This book centers on Hannah and Rosie, two members of the Hixton Five, a group of children terrorized by a local neighbor when they were tweens. Upon the release of the woman who'd hurt them, strange things begin happening to them and they wonder if it's her again. Meanwhile, a writer, Liam Quinn shows up wanting to tell their story about what happened. Mystery surrounds him and even as he and Hannah draw closer, is their new relationship too good to be true?

I was a little let down by this book. It felt like the pacing was a little too slow and methodical and I wasn't thrown at all by the twists in the book. It was more of a "yeah that tracks" instead of an "OMG" moment. The author invested a lot of time into Liam's secrecy but it didn't really work for me.

I found the writing to be good and the characters interesting but I didn't feel that tug of needing to know what happens next as I read. I also found that some characters, like Josh, just completely dropped from the novel as it neared the end and things picked up. He'd been super involved in Hannay's life (in a way that still seems a little weird to me, but who knows) and then he just wasn't mentioned again.

All in all, I'd say this is a solid middle-of-the-road book. Worth a read but not the best book you'll read this spooky season.

Yet another cracking read from Keri Beevis. Just when you've got it all figured out there comes the biggest of twists. The book has a great pace and the story is well written ensuring that you want to keep reading to find out what will happen.

Hannah Cole and her best friend Rosie Emerson and a few friends are invited to stay over Mrs Eileen Wickham’s farm one summer night. When Hannah sees something, which involved Mrs Wickham and her son Bill that scares her, and she flees. She never goes around there again. Even though the rest of her friends, which were all nicknamed the Hixton 5 did. Until something bad happened which ended up calling the Police.
Twenty years later Mrs Wickham is released from Prison and the Hixton 5 are scared that she will take out revenge.
At the same time Liam Quinn an investigative journalist comes to town and contacts Hannah, and he is writing a book about what Eileen Wickham that fatal night and he wants her side of the story. Why does he want to dredge up the past that the Hixton 5 are trying desperately to forget. When strange things start to happen, they think Eileen is back to get her revenge.
I have heard good things about Keri Beevis so I thank Boldwood books for a copy of her latest offering The sleepover.
The Sleepover is a dark, disturbing thriller from the author and overall, I did enjoy this story about Hannah and her friends. Maybe I am nit picking here. But all through the book I am thinking what Eileen Wickham was arrested for and imprisoned for all that time. As the author is good and slowly revealing what happened that night and we only find out the fall story at the end. It played on my mind throughout the story. I was also expecting a big explosive ending but was a bit disappointed at the end. Even so I would like to seek the authors books. 4 stars from me.

I became a huge fan of Keri's writing after reading Every Little Breath last year so I was so excited to get the email inviting me on this tour.

I've been on the edge of my seat the whole book. I got things wrong so many times, I just gave up trying to piece together the clues and enjoy the book.

This book grabs hold of you and doesn't let go til the final page. I feel like I've been holding my breath the whole book waiting to find out what happens.

Keri's writing is addictive and you end up immersed within the pages. Another brilliant read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! Great book! What a crazy book! It took me a minute to read this book for some reason but I'm so glad I went back to it! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, some really crazy twists and a few great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and a bit crazy lol I highly recommend reading this book! It was so worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Talk about a book that kept me wondering. I was so convinced I knew who Bill was and I was wrong all along. And then the twist after that for who had killed two others surprised me as well. Though I always felt there was something off about that person throughout the book.
Great and easy read.

A group of friends who are later known as the Hixton Five, are hanging around the village when they are invited by Mrs Wickham to her farm, where she treats them with baked goodies and homemade lemonade. The young friends soon become regular visitors, swimming in the pond and enjoying treats provided by Mrs W.
Hannah, one of the friends witnesses a horrifying interaction between Mrs W and her teenage son Bill. Hannah flees the farm and is very reluctant to return with her friends. During a sleepover at the farm, Hannah’s best friend Rosie bears witness to the dark side of her host. Both girls are terrified, which is compounded as they are told their parents will never believe them. Mrs W threatens that if they do tell, she will dole out her own form of retribution, but eventually the girls cannot live with the torture anymore.
Turning to the present day, Hannah and Rosie are still best friends. Hannah is the strong one and Rosie is still tortured by her childhood experiences, self-medicating on drugs, alcohol and sex to briefly dispel the demons. After 20 years in prison, Mrs W has been released, but is it a coincidence that strange things have just started happening to Hannah and Rosie. True crime author Liam Quinn starts sniffing around, keen to get some material for a book he plans to write about Mrs W. Liam is keen to get Hannah to agree to an interview, but does he have an ulterior motive?
Slowly the story builds up and just when you think you have the plot sussed out, it culminates with a cunning twist.
The story deals with some unpleasant issues which are handled well and give you an insight without being too graphic, with some twists and nail-biting moments added for good measure. The pace of the plot is exactly right from the outset and Kerry has a massive talent for writing books that grip you straight away. I devoured this book in a matter of days and totally loved it - Only the third ‘five star’ book that I have read this year!

One of my favourite authors has a new book and I am doing the happy dance. A five star page turner, I thought I knew what had happened and what was unfolding but boy I WAS SO WRONG!!!!! Packed to the rafters with tension and suspense and with an ending I never saw coming. Another fantastic thrill ride from Keri and I loved it!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I a big fan of this author and this did not disappoint. from page one was drawn in to the story. six best friends different ages did everything together. they form a relationship with a woman mrs Wickham and her son who own a farm they spend most of there summer there then the unthinkable happens. Rosie and Hannah are very close. and the day has come that Wickham is released from jail. and a writer turns up on Hannah s doorstep wanting to write there story she says no but then a friendship forms. but someone has a score to settle. this story is just so good you just dont want to stop very twisty and addictive will you work it out i did not

What can I say? I just love Keri’s writing style and book content. I also love the fact that she has you guessing, constantly, about the outcome.

So many times during The Sleepover, I thought I knew what happened and I was wrong apart from one thing, (which I’ll not spoil for you).

Such and easy 5 stars to give. Go and buy the book, you will not be disappointed.