Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advance reader copy of Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh Pub date: Sept 16th.

This is the second book I have read by Clare Mackintosh, the first was I Let You Go, which was also a terrific book. Other People’s Houses is the 3rd in the DC Morgan series. I did not read the first two, but this third one can definitely stand on its own. I did not feel like I missed anything by not having read the first two.

I have not read a Mystery/Thriller in a while and I am glad I selected this one to get back to it! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the intricate plot and several different story lines that all came together in the end, It was done so well that it was easy to keep track of what was going on in each storyline, and easy to keep track of the many characters. The map at the front of the book telling you who lived in which house was a great idea!

This story takes place in Wales and is about two DCs (Detective Constables), Ffion and Leo, and their dog Dave. Ffion and Leo are dating but each work in separate towns. Each is working on their own complicated murder case involving several people around town. Soon the cases become entangled and the mystery keeps you guessing all the way to the end.

There are also side stories that include Leo’s ex-wife and his son, Ffion’s mother and daughter, as well as Ffion’s distinct but lovable personality.

I highly recommend this mystery/thriller! I am definitely going to go back and read #1 and #2 in the DC Morgan series.

Another solid read with Ffion and Leo. I love this author's pacing and ability to weave multiple stories at once.

A missing kayak shows up downstream with a dead body in it.

A string of robberies occur in a fancy neighborhood.

A cold case gets a lot t of coverage on a true crime podcast.

FFion and Leo keep up their banter. We are kept on our toes through the whole book.

Thank you to netgalley for an ARC to enjoy.

I really enjoyed the third installment.
We return to DC Morgan and DS Brady both working on challenging cases. However, soon their cases begin to converge.
This was consistent with the other books in the series. Although I’m still hating on Allie, I do feel like her POV gave a little bit of insight into why she acts the way she does.
Overall excited for the next installment!

Other People’s Houses is a great new DC Morgan adventure (third in the series). There are two interesting mysteries to follow; Ffion working a murder mystery in Cwm Coed, Wales, and DS Leo Brady working burglaries in an ultra posh neighborhood called The Hill, over the border in Cheshire. Meanwhile, most of the population is hooked on a true crime podcast in an unsolved case. This book is multilayered with fully developed characters that you feel you have always known, of course including Dave the dog. Leo’s ex-wife Allie is fun to read about as she involves herself where she should not be. Clare Mackintosh’s writing is clever and humorous and the storyline is not easy to predict, as the cases collide. I highly recommend this series. With thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

This was a great read! The mystery was very well done and the pieces all come together in a surprising but seamless way. The characters are interesting and likable and I felt invested in the outcome. I really enjoyed this!

**Other People's Houses** by Clare Macintosh
Release Date: September 16th, 2025

First, I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book. While this is listed as Book 3, it can be read as a standalone. The author does an excellent job of providing context for characters from previous books, so I never felt lost while reading.

The plot is intriguing, featuring a series of burglaries in a wealthy neighborhood, the murder of a realtor in a nearby town, and a decades-old cold case that has inspired a viral podcast. The podcast's listeners and creators take on the role of amateur detectives.

This was my first book by this author, and I would definitely consider reading her other works. However, I did have some issues with unresolved plot points. I can’t specify the details without giving away spoilers, but unless there’s another book planned for this storyline, certain characters did not receive the comeuppance they deserved, which bothered me.

The book offers a good, concise ending for most of the narrative, but the issues I wanted clarified were left unsolved. I might be being petty, as it particularly frustrated me that a character I despised throughout the story got off scot-free. This likely influenced my lower rating. Overall, it’s a fast-paced mystery/thriller, but unfortunately, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. Release date :September 16,2025
Netgalley ARC

Was I waiting for this one to get released on US platforms? Yes I was

I have fallen for this author and her characters and I must read all of the books. So I have been. I like the way the characters different way of story telling have a different way of telling the story so you have multiple views woven together.

While one of the narrators I didn't particularly like it was needed to show the other view point.

Anyway I loved this and I would read it again

“Other People’s Houses”is the third installment in Clare Mackintosh’s compelling series, and while the overall arc continues to deliver on tension and drama, this one didn’t quite hit the same mark for me.

Mackintosh has a real talent for character development, and as always, she lays a solid foundation for suspense to simmer just under the surface. The story is edgy, dramatic, and explores strong female friendships—something I always appreciate seeing portrayed with sincerity and care. The dynamics between the women are a highlight, offering both warmth and grit.

However, the pacing felt a bit off this time around. The narrative didn’t flow as smoothly as the previous two, and it took some extra effort to stay fully engaged. Paying attention to the Welsh definitions at the beginning is key—there’s more cultural layering here than usual, and missing that context might leave readers feeling a little adrift.

As for Allie, I struggled with her. She came across as somewhat superficial, making it hard to connect with her in the way I have with Mackintosh’s other protagonists. That said, the twists were solid and the ending satisfying enough to close the book with a nod of appreciation.

Overall, Other People’s Houses adds to a very good series, but it’s not the strongest of the three.

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Other People’s Houses is an absolute standout, emotional, suspenseful, and beautifully written. Clare Mackintosh once again proves she knows how to craft a story that keeps you hooked while tugging at your heartstrings.

From the first chapter, I was drawn into the layered characters and the secrets simmering just beneath the surface. The tension builds in all the right places, and the pacing makes this such a hard book to put down. Every twist felt earned, and the emotional depth really brought the story home.

This is more than just a domestic drama; it’s a powerful look at connection, grief, and the things we hide behind closed doors. A truly fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions as a NetGalley reviewer.

This is such a great series. It was nice to see what Ffion and Leo are up to now. The death of a real estate agent and some burglaries in a wealthy community are the two cases that Leo and Ffion are investigating separately but the two stories suddenly overlap which ties the two together.

Ffion and Dave her huge dog also need to move out of her rental so she has big decisions to make. Also, Leo’s ex wife Allie now lives close to the wealthy community involved so she is an important character to the story. This series has a very engaging cast whose story is important in the development of the series.

When successful real estate agent Natasha is drowned on a weekend work retreat, Ffion has to find out if her jealous boyfriend or a work colleague is involved. And Leo is dealing with the break-ins where nothing much is stolen so why?

This was a great summer read. I flew through it and was still surprised at the end. I will be looking forward to the next installment. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a fast-paced and suspenseful read. The plot kept me guessing, and the twists were well-executed. The tension built steadily, making it hard to put down.

Overall, a solid thriller that I’d recommend to fans of the genre.

I loved this book! It's the third book in a series and I've read the other two but i think I like this one the best. While Ffion investigate a murder in Wales, her boyfriend Leo is investigating a series of home break ins in Cheshire. Are they related? And do they have anything to do with a cold case featured in a popular podcast? I loved how the pieces all came together as well as the building of the relationship between Ffion and Leo. Highly recommend.

Another great read in this series. Lots of twists and turns with an outcome I haven’t foreseen in more ways than one! This series keeps getting better!!! Would highly recommend this!

This murder mystery had a great setup; especially the investigation in “The Hill,” a wealthy, tight-knit neighborhood where everyone’s a little suspicious. I loved that the book included a map right away to help visualize the area. But unfortunately, the story lost steam for me pretty early on. The pacing felt uneven, with too many slow-moving side plots and neighbor interviews that didn’t really drive the mystery forward. The urgency kind of fizzled out until the last stretch, and while the ending picked up a bit, it still felt a little abrupt.

This was so perfect, literally everything I wanted it to be. I fell in love with Ffion in the first two books in this series as well as all of the other characters, especially her dog Dave!! I was so happy with what the author did with her & Leo’s relationship in this book. I also thought the addition of his kind of crazy ex wife’s POV was really interesting. All of the characters are so well written, I get attached to all of them & now I’ve added her & George to the list of people I’m invested in hearing about in the next book. I loved the big mystery involving rich people & their secrets & I love the way she has so many moving parts that end up fitting together perfectly at the end. Watching all the different little details finally start to lock into place within the narrative is so satisfying. I’m already desperate for another book in this series & sad to know it’s not coming next but I’ll still be reading the standalone book Clare Mackintosh releases next because I can trust it’ll be great too. She’s a new favorite author!

Just when I didn't think I could love this series and these characters any more than I already did, here comes Other People's Houses!! And that is saying a LOT, as I LOVED the previous two! The characters and their relationships just get better and better! Ffion. Leo, Dave, George and yes, even Allie are all amazing well written characters, and they feel like old friends now! That is the mark of a great series to me. And I do not traditionally really get into series. My list of ones I do read is quite short. But enough about me! DC Ffion Morgan is on a case involving a dead realtor found in a kayak in Wales. Ffion's maybe boyfriend Leo, also a detective, is investigating a series of break-ins in an elite hilltop cul-de-sac. We get to learn how the two cases end up intersecting and it is quite a ride! Ffion is one of my absolute favorite book characters. She is smart, independent and hilarious! In fact, humor is a big part of this series. I laughed out loud at some of the one-liners, such as a canoe-dunnit, the six-legged cow and Dave, the flatulent dog! IFYKYK. I also loved the introduction of Allie, Leo's ex-wife, a social climber who wants desperately to fit in with the group on the Hill and fails miserably. She should probably not be a likeable character, but under Clare Mackintosh's writing, she made me feel empathy and I liked how her arc played out. It was also nice to see the friendship between Ffion and George growing. There are not too many positive female friendships in books here lately. The glossary of Welsh terms at the beginning was great, also as I find it great fun to Google all the Welsh words I don't understand anyway! I was also excited to read that there will probably be another addition to this series! Yaaaayy! I was under the impression that three would be it! So, something to look forward there. And maybe it was just me, but I felt that George's story left something that could be a big part of Book 4! But I guess we will have to wait on that, as the next book will be a standalone, but Clare Mackintosh in any form is always a good thing!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Clare Mackintosh and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of September 16, 2025.

Other People's Houses was a slow start of developing a layered plot. There have been multiple burglaries and some individuals injured in a wealthily neighborhood. It is unclear what the burglar is looking for as they do not seem interested in high ticket items. In parallel, a cold case is reopened of a brutal murder of a duo. As well as a realtor, shows up dead. All three of these plots intertwine in a satisfying ending.

Book 3 of the DC Morgan series and by far my favorite.

While I do still find Ffion insufferable and Leo still just kind of exists for me, I really enjoyed Other People’s Houses. The dual mystery aspect was a nice twist. I will say I loved the chapters surrounding Leo’s ex-wife, Allie. She’s awful, like I can’t stand her, but they were fun.

The ending was surprising and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to book 4!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read Claire Mackintosh before, but I didn’t realize this book was part of a detective series. That said, it worked well as a standalone. I never felt lost or like I was missing key backstory.

The murder mystery drew me in right away, especially the investigation that unfolded in “The Hill,” an exclusive neighborhood where detectives started questioning neighbors. I appreciated how the layout of the area was introduced early on, via a map at the start of the book, to help orient the reader.

However, I found myself losing interest fairly early. The pacing felt uneven, with a lot of time spent on side stories and various neighbor interviews that slowed the plot. They were meant to add to the story, but just dragged on, in my opinion. The case itself seemed to lose urgency as the story progressed. Things picked up in the final 75 pages, but the ending felt abrupt.

I think the core story had potential, but the structure and execution didn’t fully land for me. I’ve seen many others love this book, so perhaps I would’ve connected more if I had read the earlier installments in the series and had more of a connection with the main detective.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Immediately yes right from the beginning. This book had the perfect cast of characters! It also kept me on my toes because I had no idea where it was going until it was revealed. I love her books and will continue reading them