I dove into this latest DC Morgan thriller expecting a solid crime read, but Mackintosh completely blindsided me with how cleverly she wove together multiple criminal cases, both current and cold. The story immediately draws you into The Hill, an exclusive Cheshire neighborhood where break-ins are escalating, while across the border in Wales, DC Ffion Morgan is investigating the suspicious death of an estate agent found in a lake.

The plot's complexity never feels overwhelming, instead building layers of intrigue that kept me constantly second-guessing my theories about who was behind the crimes. The author demonstrates remarkable plotting prowess, managing to keep the true culprits hidden until the final reveal.

Character development remains one of Mackintosh's strongest suits, particularly with DC Ffion Morgan. In this installment, we see meaningful growth in Ffion's character, especially regarding her commitment to both her personal relationships and professional responsibilities. Her evolution feels authentic and adds emotional depth to the procedural elements.

The investigation methodology and the way the separate cases eventually collide feels both organic and satisfying. Mackintosh expertly builds tension while exploring themes of secrets, privilege, and the lengths people will go to protect their carefully constructed lives behind closed doors. By the final chapters, I was completely absorbed, racing to see how all the threads would come together.

A big thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading Clare Mackintosh, and I was instantly pulled in. Other People’s Houses is part of a series, but it works perfectly as a standalone. The story is layered, suspenseful, and filled with twists that kept me guessing. I appreciated the emotional depth and how the characters felt real and flawed. Definitely a solid read if you enjoy domestic thrillers with a psychological edge!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of Other People’s Houses by Clare Macintosh. This book is the third installment in the DC Morgan series. I was not familiar with this series or the author. Despite not having read the previous two books, this book stands alone nicely.

The book follows three different stories, two murders, one being told through a podcast, and several burglaries in The Hill, an exclusive neighborhood Ffion and Leo return in this book with Ffion investigating the murder of a real estate agent and Leo investigating the burglaries. Overall, I enjoyed the book.

There were great characters. The main character, Ffion, is a great character, bold and very funny. I also liked Allie (Klingon), a relatable character. We all know an “Allie”. The story had plenty of suspense and twists thar kept me coming back for more.

The only thing that wasn’t for me was the Welsh references. The author gave us a translation guide at the front but I am not one to use it. While, Ms. Mackintosh is a gifted writer and the story was well-done, this particular element will not bring me back to her books again.

I adore this author. This book was fantastic. The characters are amazing and have real depth. The story line was jam packed with suspense and fast paced. Lots of twisty turny surprises throughout. This one was a stay up too late and read book! A must rwad

I love this series and can't wait to read more as these characters develop. The setting is part of the story and the mysteries are always satsfying to read. Well paced and enjoyable.

Thank you for the chance to review "Other People's Houses" by Clare Mackintosh.

The most recent installment in the DI Ffion series was the best yet. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Ffion is growing and becoming more in tune and open to those around her - even having "real" conversations with Leo and George. It certainly wasn't easy for her and there was drama, doubts and attempts at self-sabatoge along the way, but in the end Ffion was able to make choices that respected herself and those around her.

In this book we learn more about Leo's ex-wife, Allie, as she attempts to insert herself into a community of upper classes homes and owners; which just happens to be the same community of Leo's most recent investigation.

This series gets better and better, I can't wait to see how Ffion handles the latest development in her life....

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC. Book 3 of the DC Morgan book series. DC Ffion Morgan is investigating a murder in town while DS Leo is investigating a break-in on The Hill. Both on the hunt until some clues make both cases seem related. I love this series and this group of people. #OtherPeoplesHouses #ClareMackintosh #SourceBooksLandmark #Sept2025

If you haven't read the first two books GO READ THEM.

I love Ffion and her personality and the setting and everything about this series. Macintosh is an absolute force in the world of thrillers and she truly hasn't written a bad book. PLEASE do yourself a favor and read these books.

I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

I was extremely excited to see another DC Morgan book on offer in NetGalley! I have been a fan of Clare Mackintosh since I Let You Go, and I am really enjoying this series. The characters are so well-developed; Ms. Mackintosh's way with a large, varied, eccentric cast reminds me of another one of my favorite authors, Elin Hilderbrand.

I think this book may be my favorite so far in the series. I definitely preferred it to A Game of Lies (even though I still gave that one 5 stars).

I was thrilled to see the pronunciation guide and list of Welsh expressions at the beginning! Welsh looks completely foreign to most English speakers, and I always mean to look up how to pronounce things but never actually do it. The guide was great in this case.

This novel was so super twisty with at least 3 plots, none of which seem related at first, but then it turns out they all are. And just when you think you know who the bad guy is - well, think again!

Special thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS for the ARC

I really really enjoyed this one. I loved how we followed three separate storylines, that alone kept me engaged and not bored for one bit the entire time I was reading.

Our two detective characters were loveable, And really smart too which is always a plus in mystery/thrillers for me.
Dare I say this book was one of the best executed mysteries that I've read recently.

I picked it up at first cause it looked promising but now that I know it's part of a series, I'm definitely going to check the others out too.

Clare Mackintosh returns with Other People’s Houses, the third novel in her gripping DC Ffion Morgan series—and it's arguably her best yet. Part murder mystery, part social drama, hilarious, and entirely addictive, this book pulls back the curtains on a pristine gated community to reveal the secrets, lies, and betrayals lurking just beneath the surface.

What sets this book apart is its perfectly balanced tone: darkly witty, sharply observant, and emotionally resonant. Mackintosh excels at weaving humour and heartbreak through even the most procedural of beats.

An outstanding thriller that’s as thoughtful as it is thrilling. Clare Mackintosh proves once again why she’s one of the sharpest voices in British crime fiction. You’ll come for the mystery, but it’s the characters who will stay with you.

OMG, suuuuuch a good boooook. Like, I stayed up too late, forgot about my laundry, and was fully invested in the drama of it all. The mystery pulls you in fast (hello, body in a kayak??) and somehow keeps getting more tangled in the best way. Between the murder, the burglaries, and the true crime podcast vibes, there is a lot going on—and honestly? I was here for all of it.

Ffion is super sharp and chaotic, Leo is doing his best (bless), and Allie... well, she’s messy, but kinda iconic in her own way. Also, Dave the dog is totally the true star here. Like, give him his own spinoff, please.

The only reason it’s not a full five stars is because the relationship drama dragged a bit in places—but the plot totally made up for it. And the setting? Gorgeous. Welsh village-meets-elite suburb is a whole mood.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Review: Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh

Set in the exclusive neighborhood of The Hill, Clare Mackintosh’s latest mystery explores the hidden dangers of privilege. A wave of break-ins and a suspicious death draw DS Leo Brady and DC Ffion Morgan into a tangled investigation where secrets come at a cost.

While the setup is intriguing and the tension between the two detectives adds spark, the plot suffers from an overcrowded cast. The sheer number of characters dulls the mystery’s impact, and the final reveal feels more procedural than shocking. Allie, a meddling side character, distracts rather than deepens the story, though she plays a role in the conclusion.

For fans of the series, it may offer satisfying progression. However, newcomers may find it tough to connect, especially since earlier books are said to be more compelling.

Solid premise, diluted execution.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really like this series so when I got approved for this I was so excited. I love the character development in this book and the story just flowed.

A tense, layered thriller that holds its own while deepening character bonds in the DC Morgan series—though a late twist may divide readers. It’s a gripping, emotionally rich read that proves Mackintosh continues to refine her craft.

If you are lucky enough to live on The Hill, all envy your wealth, position, and property. Even a string of burglaries and an attempted murder does not seem to faze this posh neighborhood and its residents. Just over the Wales border, the body of a woman is recovered from a rogue kayak adrift on a local lake; her death suspect. Two crimes, two locations, same case. This is a gripping novel with multiple plots and an equal amount of loathsome, shallow, and irritating characters and is ideal for fans of Ruth Ware.

I love this series, and this is another great installment.

I liked that this book was told from the perspective of Ffion, Leo, and Allie. All three are flawed characters, but this author does a wonderful job of humanizing them for us.

The mystery aspect of the case kept me guessing, and I liked that the setting was an insular neighborhood. I had so much secondhand embarrassment for Allie.

I'm very excited to see what happens next with Ffion and Leo, especially with the end reveal.

Thanks to Net Galley for the book to review.

Thank you @netgalley for an arc of this book!

FFION and Leo are back in this domestic thriller. They bring along more Allie into the story who is so very frustrating of a character. (I’d love to bitch slap her numerous times).

Anyway, the book starts off with an investigation into a murder where the woman was found in kayak down stream. This sets off a series of events and leads detectives to an area called THE HILL. It is a place where a lot of awful people live. Ffion and Leo are working to different cases but it all comes together at the end. It was an exciting back half of the book. I also enjoyed Ffion character development in this book along with Leo. Again, I can’t express my desire to slap Allie around a whole bunch!

Ps: thank you to the author for including how to say some welsh things in the beginning. With her last book I really struggled with the name FFION and the town she was from. It made it hard to read. But this book starts with that and I’m all for it and happy she did that!!

I love Clare Mackintosh and the DC Morgan books, and this is the best one yet. The setting is fantastic and really adds to the atmosphere of the story. I especially enjoyed seeing Ffion’s character growth this time around, and I liked how Leo and Ffion’s separate cases gradually came together into one compelling investigation. The ending was fantastic and left me genuinely excited to see where the series goes next. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this ARC. I can't wait until the next one!

Other People’s Houses by Clare Macintosh Publication date September 16, 2025. "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." I really enjoyed this book. It’s a series but can be read as a stand alone. It’s about relationships, murder, jealousy and the rich and wannabe’s. It has some edge of your seat moments as well as humor. I now have to add this author to my TBR list! I gave it 5 stars, it’s an easy, fast read and I highly recommend.