A Man Upstairs is a slow burn immersive thriller. Told in multiple POVs and alternative timelines, the story slowly unfolded, keeping me interested every step of the way.

This is a character driven novel, centered around Molly and her dad. I loved her dad Gil in the flashbacks. He was an incredible father, and his family first parenting transferred to Molly in how she raised her son.

The characters truly make this book. Some are wonderful, some are awful, dark and dirty. It was a perfect balance.

A Man Downstairs.

Yall, let’s go ahead and ask the question:
𝗪𝗛𝗢 𝗣𝗨𝗧𝗦 𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗙𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥?!?!

Now that I’ve got that out of my system.
Molly has headed back to her hometown to help get her fothers affirs in order after a massive stroke. Bringing her suliking teenage son along with her, and lets be real, as teens when our parents even thought of moving towns/cities we all saw red.
Not wanting to live in the house where as a child she saw her mother be murdered, Molly moves into a split condo with someone from her fathers past.
Small towns remember everything and so does the over look.

The whole vibe of this book was going from past to present. BBBUUTTT also delves into the mind of the murderer. So essentially three POVs spread through different times.

Something to keep in mind with this book. Parents will do whatever it takes to protect their children.

A Man Downstairs was in intricately layered slow burn suspenseful mystery that was a pleasure to read. I love dual time lines coupled with a decades old murder and having to piece everything together while relying on unreliable childhood memories. The added narration from “Him” really threw me for a creepy loop that I was a big fan of. Small town setting, plenty of secrets and suspicions, this book had it all. I had the pleasure of reading An Unthinkable Thing by her and it was one of my favorite books from last year so if you haven’t read her yet, please do. 3.75⭐️

I have been in a thriller mode lately but this did not fit the bill. There was a little suspense at various points, especially toward the end, but it became mired down in dual time lines that went back and forth and changes in perspective that made the book difficult to follow. Even at the end, I am not totally sure what happened--I generally understand but am still a little confused. Everyone is different but when I read a thriller or suspense novel, I want something that is not hard to follow and to much work to read. This one was just too much work for me. I also found it hard to get a good handle on the characters, especially the main character, who seemed a bit flat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with a copy of the book.

Unfortunately I didn't really get sucked into this book. The premise was original enough, but I had a hard time keeping track of the male characters especially with the dual timeline. The ending was also a bit too open ended for my liking.

What a well crafted novel! I loved the premise and the characters were written really well. You truly got into the mind of each character in this book. It's definitely more of a slow burn than an action packed thriller, so I would definitely keep that in mind based on reader preferences.

I love when a thriller grabs my attention within the first chapter! Loved the twists and that it kept me guessing.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel for review purposes.

The story started with a hook and I was eager to continue reading. I did find that in the end it seemed like a retelling of a familiar tale.

The writing is smooth and the tone kept me interested and hoping the big reveal would be a surprise. I would be interested in reading other novels by Nicole Lundrigan to see if the style starts to lead to more complex plots.

I was #gifted A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan from @NetGalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada in exchange for my honest review. The book was published March 5 and after the last book I read, I was excited to get lost in a good thriller.
The story follows Molly Wynters, a newly divorced mom of a teen boy, as she moves back to her hometown to care for her father, who recently suffered a stroke. She is hesitant to step back into the small town that is reluctant to let go of the violent crime that took place years ago – the murder of Molly’s mother. And it was her testimony that sent a teenager to prison. It’s that testimony, and the events that took place afterwards, that the people in town won’t let go of. As she tries to find her footing and reestablish herself and her life, the sketchy people from Molly’s past keep showing up, and make her question if her 4-year-old self really saw the things she saw, or if she made a grave mistake.
This is the first book I’ve ready by Canadian Lundrigan, but it won’t be my last. The story is gritty and raw, and her characters are vulnerable and jump off the page. While I always find myself trying to figure out the twist, the tale that is weaved left me wondering where the story could go next. Old town secrets, the question of innocence, and some hazy recollections are what keep the reader hooked.
I give this book four-stars. It was fast-paced, and I thought about it even when I wasn’t reading it. I loved how the author set up the plot, brought you along on the present story, while filling in the blanks with the events from the past. While some of the characters were likeable – those that weren’t, were exactly what the author intended. And they all played off each other nicely. I really enjoyed the buildup, the suspense and the narrative that kept me guessing right until the end.

#bookreview #booksof2024 #nicolelundrigan #amandownstairs #readmorebooks #thrillerbooks #advancereadercopy #womenauthors #canadianauthor #reader #bookstagram #bookworm #bookishcanadians #booksofig #booksof2024 #bookthoughts #bookaddict #bookrecommendations #penguinrandomhousecanada #netgalley

***** Many thanks Thriller Book Lover Promotions, Viking Books, Penguin Canada, and Libro.fm for my gifted copies.

This slow-burn thriller was so twisty and had my head spinning. I read the first half of the book and then listened to the audiobook for the last half. The speed of the book really picked up in the last half and I just could not stop listening to the audiobook. A few points in the plot I was dumb founded and felt like the twist slapped me in the face. While I was driving at one point I literally had to tell myself to shut my mouth because my jaw was hanging wide open! I had my suspicions on a few of the twists but I never expect the final reveal and it was perfectly executed!

If you are looking for a slow-burning roller coaster of a read, you will likely enjoy A Man Downstairs!

I love the full cast of narrators and they added so much to this twisty story that lead it to an outstanding read.

Amazing thriller, kept me guessing till the end. Although I had some suspicions, nothing ended up the way I had thought. Which in turn is what makes a fantastic thriller. It was really easy to read and kept me wanting to come back to my book and find out what was happening! I love duel timeline stories and this gave so much to the storyline! I would highly recommend this read for anyone who loves a great psychological thriller

4.5 stars
Nicole Lundrigan has a talent for creating the uncomfortable, the chilling. An eerie undertone of disquiet.
A Man Downstairs is the third novel I've read of hers, and I was thrilled to receive her most recent.
Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for my eARC copy for review!
Molly Wynters and son Alex have moved back to her sleepy hometown. She has always lived under the shadow of the infamous murder of her mother.
At the age of three, Molly was the witness to the events of that day - her only recollection was of "a man downstairs".
This novel tells Molly's story in present-day, as well as her pharmacist father Gil's point of view from years prior.
As well, we have chapters documenting an unnamed "him".
I'm always drawn to thrillers that involve layers of the past meeting the present, and the unreliability of memory. And in Nicole Lundrigan's hands, all of this is even better - I love her use of language, her creation of dark characters, and being unafraid to go to the shocking places.
Recommended!
For release on March 5.

This was definitely a slow burn. It started off pretty good but was kind of just dragged out. I was also confused by the ending?

I love an audiobook with a full cast and because this book is told in multiple points of views on different timelines, it made listening much more enjoyable and engaging. There’s also a mystery narrator whose identity is hidden until the very end and I was completely stumped who it was! I had my guesses but, of course, I was wrong!

This is a slow burn mystery with many elements that keep you guessing what really happened. In the present timeline, the main character is certain she knows what happened the night her mother died. In the past, we get insight to what actually went on. As the stories begin to merge, the main character’s life changes forever.

This story focuses on mental health, family dynamics, dark secrets, and distorted reality. If you’re a fan of slow burn psychological thrillers, add this to your list!

interestingly well-written thriller with some super fun ideas. i really REALLY loved this one. thanks so so much for the arc.

A Man Downstairs is the ninth book written by the acclaimed Canadian author Nicole Lundrigan. It’s a taut psychological thriller that brings to mind the expression that you can never go home again.

When her father Gil has a massive stroke, Molly Wynters returns to the town where she grew up so that she can support him. A lot has changed for Molly since she left Aymes. She is now a certified therapist who plans to work remotely while she is in Aymes. She is also a divorcee with a teenage son, Alex. Molly is about to discover if things have changed in Aymes.

Aymes is the fictional North American small town setting of A Man Downstairs. As with all small towns, everyone knows everything about Molly. They all remember that at age three she witnessed her mother’s murder. You will feel overwhelming pity for the traumatised three-year-old yet her testimony in court managed to tie a teenager to the murder of Edie Wynters. The teen ended up being sent to prison for the murder but was released when his conviction was overturned three years later. These events made Molly a focus of attention in Aymes. When she left Aymes, it was a relief to no longer be known as the child who witnessed her mother’s murder.

Gil has always adored Molly. When she was a child, he would tell her stories to keep her mother’s memory alive. Returning home triggers Molly’s memories. She remembers her childhood as one full of love and wants to help out in the community. Molly becomes a voluntary therapist for the town helpline. While working on the helpline, she begins to receive threatening calls that lead her to question her memories of the day her mother died. Did she identify the wrong person? Molly can’t seek clarification from Gil as his stroke has left him unable to communicate. To further complicate matters, Alex is researching his grandmother’s murder for his law class.

It’s not surprising that her memories are questionable as Molly was so young at the time. Fortunately, we also have the perspective of her father, Gil. The chapters from Gil’s perspective are set in the past. They describe how he met Edie Paltry, the early years of their marriage and details about his business partnership as a pharmacist. Paltry is an interesting choice of a last name for Edie. She lived with her widowed mother in a rundown house in the poor part of Aymes prior to her marriage to Gil. Edie and Gil seem like an unlikely couple, yet Gil’s love for Edie is immense. At times, his love appears somewhat obsessive.

There is also a third perspective included in the book, from someone that we only know as Him. It is clear that he is a student at the high school where Edie works in the cafeteria but we do not know his actual identity. He is not a reliable narrator and seems to fantasise a great deal. The true nature of his relationship with Edie is unclear. He will strike you as a creepy stalker. The chapters focused on this mystery student are easy to identify as they are labelled Him and printed in a different font.

As in real life, all of these characters are flawed in different ways. Like many small towns in the past, it is clear that in Aymes there was a cover-up or look the other way approach to mental health and addiction issues. Secrets were buried deep. The more you learn about the folk in Aymes, the more suspects you’ll add to your list. Lundrigan is very adept at misdirecting readers with numerous red herrings scattered throughout the story

You will know the identity of Him and what role, if any, he played in the murder of Edie by the end. Once Lundrigan shifts from establishing the characters to revelations about the past, the book becomes more action packed. You will not be able to put it down at this point. Lundrigan smoothly manages to pull events from the past into a memorable present day ending. The Epilogue will leave you feeling shocked to your core. Perhaps there is some truth in the expression about never going home again.

A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan starts off slowly and picks up its pace about 1/3 of the way through. I was a bit disappointed at the beginning but soon changed my mind.
Molly Wynters, at three years old, witnessed the murder of her mother. And even though at that young age, it was her testimony that convicted the killer. Molly has now come back to this small town forty years later with her teenage son, to look after her sick father. He has had a stroke that left him unable to speak or communicate. She has a guidance degree and when she volunteers for a local help line, she begins to get threatening messages, accusing her of not telling the truth. Of course, in a small town, the talk is all about her and the murder of her mother; even after forty years! After encountering a few of the people she grew up with, she’s beginning to wonder if she really saw who she thought was the murderer.
The story is told from the point of view of Molly, her father Gil and another character who we don’t know. A bit confusing at times but perhaps heightens the suspense as the story progresses. The book is well written and keeps you going right to the very end! I love it when that happens.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for my eARC.
I recommend this book to suspense book lovers!

Thank you @thrillerbookloverspromotions @nicolejlundrigan @penguinrandomca & @netgalley for my complimentary copy. My thoughts are my own.

Nicole Lundrigan writes strong, complex character-driven novels with slow-burn SUSPENSE that will keep you guessing and turning the pages! This is the second book I have read by this author and I definitely plan to read more!

When MOLLY WYNTER’S father becomes bed-ridden due to a stroke, she moves back to her hometown to be close to him and to start closing down her family home. But this move stirs up memories of the past, and of her mother, who was murdered when Molly was a young child. Molly, who is recently divorced and struggles with a teenaged son, is also a trained therapist. She volunteers to answer a local helpline, but soon she begins receiving random phone calls, and then she realizes she is a target of someone who can’t forget the past. Molly knows she needs to figure out what really happened to her mother all those years ago.

As the dual timeline story unfolds, the characters (and the mystery) become more complex. EDIE, Molly’s mother, is a free spirit who struggles with postpartum depression. GIL,  Molly’s father, has strong traditional values and tries to do what he believes is right for his wife and daughter. An unnamed teenaged boy builds an intricate fantasy life around Edie, who works as a lunch lady in his school.

As I read, I became thoroughly engaged in this multi-faceted story and I had to keep re-evaluating my suspicions as the story progressed. I should have foreseen the conclusion but it took me by surprise.

Read this if you love:
*An old murder mystery
*Complex thrillers
*Character-driven stories
*Slow burn suspense that builds in intensity

A Man Downstairs is just the thriller I was craving. Firstly, I loved how much build up/suspense there was from the start. It was twisty and kept me guessing. I love a read that takes me for a wild ride. I personally really enjoyed this one!

'A Man Downstairs' by Nicole Lundrigan is a well written, psychological mystery/thriller that kept we wanting to 'get back to the book!' during those times when the reader's other needs get in the way, such as sleep.

There is Molly, a therapist and divorced mother of sixteen-year-old Alex. They have just moved back to Molly's childhood home to care for Gil, her pharmacist father, who has suffered a major stroke and there is no one other than Molly to care for him. Her mother, Edie, was murdered when Molly was three years old. At the murder trial of a teenaged male suspect, little Molly testified to seeing "a man downstairs" and identified the young man. He was found guilty and went to prison.

From there, The story is one that goes back and forth in time which can get a bit confusing, especially when 'now' and 'then' involve all the same characters, just at different ages. However, time frames are pre-Edie's death and post-Edie's death therefore clarity becomes easier.

The characters are fully rounded and the reader thinks he has just decided who is good and who is bad, when the narrative shifts in a totally new direction and reader is back to square one. The most interesting player is identified only as "Him". Followed by Edie, Gil, Molly, Russell the landlord, the neighbour and her sleazy son Bradley along with the anonymous caller who raises hairs on the back of your neck. The most creepy scene in the book is a 'bottomless', cold lake where Edie's body is said to be.

Over the intervening years since the trial, the town seems to be divided over the guilt of the teenaged perpetrator and the testimony of a three-year-old child. Even the adult Molly begins to doubt her own childhood memory. The final, few dozen pages of the book are mesmerizing. You may think you have it all figured out, but I'll wager you haven't. It's a satisfying ending.