3.5 ⭐️

I love the psychological depth of Clare Mackintosh’s novels. She dives deep into the psychology of her characters, making them flawed, real, and emotionally layered. Other People’s Houses, her newest work, explored the rich psychological, emotional, and social themes set in the idyllic suburban town. This story exposed the unsettling realities that happen behind closed doors. A few of the themes addressed were appearance verse reality, psychological abuse and control, female vulnerability, empowerment and justice. Whether it was a traumatic past, a failing marriage, or criminal activity, the theme asked how much secrecy a person or community could endure before it broke.

I always love alternating perspectives because they effectively build tension and suspense and that’s what Mackintosh delivered. She created a seamless flow of the characters’ perspectives while each chapter slowly shifted my perception of who might have been guilty. I also liked the short, punchy chapters. These quick chapters made the book fast-paced following a slow start. Altogether this was an entertaining binge-worthy, twisted domestic thriller.

In addition to the above noted positives, there were a few negatives aspects. First, the pacing was slow to start. While the premise was strong, I felt that the early chapters were bogged down by repetitive internal monologue. Fortunately, as the story moved forward, the pacing picked up. Second, this trope has been overused-the seemingly perfect neighborhood with dark secrets, the newcomer with a mysterious past, and the watchful neighbor prototype. And third, there were too many characters. Although Mackintosh excels in the multiple point of view technique, I felt in this story it was hard to connect deeply with any one character. Lastly, I’m sad to say, the ending was underwhelming. The twist didn’t meet my expectations. Typically Mackintosh has a reputation for jaw-dropping finales but this one wasn’t as shocking as those in her former novels.

Collectively, I was wrapped up in Clare MacKintosh’s new novel and recommend it to those that enjoy domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators and a few twists along the way.

Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars
Several mysteries are happening at the same time here. Ffion working a murder, Leo burglaries and on the edges a podcast has everyone worked up over a 10 year old murder case that has been reopened..Lots of lying happening in this upscale Welsh town. Ffion adds the perfect amount of humor. Sad that this is the last in a series of three.

The idea of wanting what others have but at what cost! Such a big thing in the world today. I could not stop reading this book. It was fantastic. What a story!!

This is the third book in a series, but you do not have to read the first two to know what’s going on. This is a great story with relatable characters and an intriguing mystery. If you like a good detective novel and thriller and suspense, this one is for you!

Other People's Houses is the 3rd installment in the DC Morgan detetective series and my favorite. I gave four stars to The Last Party and A Game Of Lies, both being well written and solid. Other People's Houses had multiple story lines, some intersecting, but all equally enthralling. I loved meeting Leo's ex-wife Allie(a pain in the ass), always love Ffion, enjoyed getting to know George better and overall had such a good time that I am really looking forward to the next one. And Leo is adorable, but that goes without saying!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I am a thriller lover and just finished a good read. Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh is out this fall.

Starting at book three is so awkward y'all. I don't mean that it doesn't work as a stand alone, because it completely does, it's just that now I don't know if I've spoiled going back to read the first two because I know things, in a character development way, about the protagonist/s. Sigh. Decisions, decisions...

I really enjoyed Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh, the third installment in the DC Morgan series. I really enjoyed the Welsh setting and the rich people behaving badly storyline. Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

Other People’s Houses was unfortunately my introduction to Clare Mackintosh as an author. It’s my understanding that she has written some outstanding thrillers over the past decade. This is not one of them. There are too many characters, and they act so similarly that it became a chore trying to differentiate them.

As an American, a lot of the slang threw me for a loop as well. Though I did appreciate the pronunciation guide included in the beginning of the book, it simply wasn’t enough. I chose to DNF this one at about 60% after trying and failing to connect with the material for over a week. Respectfully, this was just not for me.

I really enjoyed this book. This was my first Clare mackintosh book but I throughly enjoyed this. I’m a big fan of fast paced books and are able to keep my attention, keep me turning pages and not getting bored…. This book delivered just that!!! Loved it!

“Other People’s Houses” by Clare Mackintosh kept me guessing—just when the culprit felt obvious, the story turned sharply in another direction. Clever, twisty, and utterly gripping. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was really good! At times predictable but overall a great addition to the Ffion series. I really love Leo! This book had all the twists and turns.

🔍🏘️ Other People's Houses
by Clare Mackintosh | Out 9.16.25
📍Sourcebooks Landmark | DC Morgan Series #4

Welcome to The Hill—where every house is pristine, every secret is buried deep, and someone is breaking in to find the truth. 👀🔐

In this twisty new installment of the DC Ffion Morgan series, a string of luxury home invasions and the shocking death of a real estate agent bring Welsh detective Ffion and English DS Leo Brady face-to-face once again. 💥 As their cases entwine, so do the lives—and lies—of the people hiding behind glass walls and garden hedges.

✨Expect:
🏡 Suburbia with secrets
💀 A body in the lake
👮‍♀️ DC Ffion’s sharp wit
⚖️ Cross-border collaboration
💣 Revelations that hit hard

Mackintosh delivers another winner in her gripping detective series. If you're a fan of tightly-plotted thrillers with morally gray characters, sharp banter, and crimes that peel back the polite veneer of privilege—this one belongs on your fall TBR. 🍁

#OtherPeoplesHouses #ClareMackintosh #NetGalleyReads #MysteryThriller #FallThrillers #SuburbanSecrets #DetectiveFiction #DCFfionMorgan #DomesticSuspense #Bookstagram #Whodunnit #CrimeReads #NewRelease2025 #WomenInMystery #SourcebooksLandmark #ThrillerRecs #BooksWithBodies #SmallTownSecrets

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ebook. The opinions expressed are my own.

Though this book is the third installment in the DC Morgan series by Clare Mackintosh and I have not read the first two books; it is still enjoyable as a standalone. It is a relatively short book coming in at 328 pages so I was able to get through it fairly quickly. I could see this as a book to take with you to read by the pool or while laying on a beach during vacation. It is lightweight in terms of content and can be picked up or put down at your leisure.

There were a few things that I was not a particular fan of starting with the depiction of the UK police system and hierarchy. As an American reader I was not always sure which ranking was superior or what the distinction between some roles were. This is a minor complaint as a quick Google search can clarify this for you, but I wasn’t enthralled in such a manner that I really wanted to invest the time to do the leg work. Perhaps this was clarified in the initial book, but as I stated above I have not read it.

Secondly, the depiction of “The Hill” was at times confusing. The author does provide a map at the beginning of the book, but I’m not sure it’s much help as you got past the first few chapters. The story could’ve been more streamlined had the author stuck to the relevant homes and related characters however the additional characters could’ve been a device to build suspense. This is a dense book character wise and because of that reason sometimes the characters lacked the kind of depth that made you feel invested in them or even memorable. There were moments where I would ask myself “where do they fit in again?”

Another note is concerning the Welsh pronunciation guide which is thoughtful of the author to include, no doubt. However, it’s unlikely that most readers are either remembering all of it as they move through the chapters nor is it super convenient to revisit the guide every other chapter.

This story is packed with so many plot points that at times I wondered what story the author was truly focused on. Again, this could have been devised as a way to keep the reader guessing and so to that point I think it was mildly successful. Though I wonder if some of the fluff was also to contribute to the length of the novel since it is a fairly short read as stated above.

I would be remiss in not addressing the odd turn of events that is DC Morgan’s pregnancy. This just does not seem to align with how her character is portrayed and is in conflict with all that she has stated she does and does not want. Perhaps this is a pitfall of reading this as a standalone instead of as part of the series? There might be some character development or backstory that could make this feel more natural? I’m not sure.

Additionally, the social commentary on the disparity of wealth, the ability to evolve as an individual, prejudices as well as the desire for acceptance and the societal pressure to “keep up appearances” that is woven into this story felt relevant and meaningful.

Finally, the oddest part of this book is how the social media aspect was interspersed throughout the story. I can see what the objective was, but I’m not sure it was effective.

To conclude, I enjoyed the story. Will I be on pins and needles for the next installment? I’m not so sure. I may backtrack and read the first DC Morgan book and see if that alters any of my opinions.

I had never read the DC Morgan series or heard of Clare Mackintosh before starting this book, so it was interesting starting with the 3rd book in the series. But, let me tell you, she earned a fan! Within the first quarter of the book, I felt myself becoming invested. From the romantic aspects to the murder mystery to one of the most God awful characters I've ever read about. Really, I don't want to give away too much, but Mackintosh wrote one of the antagonists so well that I literally seethed with hatred every time the character appeared. I don't think I've ever had that reaction to a character before, so well done, very well done!

I am obsessed with the DC Fifion Morgan series and while this wasn’t my fav I still enjoyed the ride.

We met fiffion, Leo and the rest of the squad in the previous two books and this time they’re back on another case. I found this one much slower and more drawn out than the others which isn’t my typical style. There’s the POV of Leo’s ex wife this time and while we knew her I really didn’t enjoy or felt like I needed her chapters.

There were lots of twists and turns however and I can honestly say I did not see the ending coming. I really I hope get more from our fav sassy welsh detective soon

Clare Mackintosh delivers another compelling thriller with Other People’s Houses, skillfully weaving together two murders and three burglaries into one masterfully crafted plot. The way the story unfolds offers fascinating insight into the residents of The Hill, as well as the main male and female characters, whose dynamics kept me invested from start to finish.

The book was a true page-turner—fast-paced, easy to follow, and filled with intrigue. One of my favorite aspects was how the multiple crimes connected in unexpected ways, adding depth to the neighborhood drama and tension among the characters.

Allie, with her relentless social climbing, served as a perfectly annoying foil to the rest of the cast—always stirring things up, often unintentionally, and making you groan in the best way.

Overall, Other People’s Houses is a fun, twisty, and satisfying read. I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars!

Other People’s Houses by Clare Mackintosh is a twisty read that pulls you right into the secrets and scandals of a seemingly perfect neighborhood. The Hill looks like the kind of place you’d dream of living until a dead body turns up miles away in a lake. The story follows two detectives, Ffion and Leo, whose cases intertwine in such a clever way. The tension builds with every chapter with curveball after curveball. This book is dark, suspenseful, and seriously hard to put down!

I really appreciated the inclusion of Welsh pronunciation at the beginning—it added authenticity and helped with the reading experience. I enjoyed the writing style and seeing words and phrases not commonly used in American English. At times, I found it a bit challenging to keep track of the different characters and their house names, but overall, it was an engaging read with a fun mystery to unravel.

This was a solid mystery/thriller from Clare Mackintosh. I was impressed with how the multiple storylines and police cases tied together in the end. I can't wait to continue to follow Ffion and Leo and their future.