⭐️: 4.5/5

I’m slowly becoming a HUGe Clare Mackintosh fan. When I saw that Other People’s Houses, which has not released yet in the US, was available to buy in the UK already, when I had a trip planned, I made sure to snag a copy! I also received an eARC to read, so it was really nice to have the dual reading experience of a physical and digital book.

One thing I found interesting was in my eARC, there’s a Welsh pronunciation guide for names, places, and common sayings, which was not present in the UK edition of my hardcover. It was a really helpful addition for me though, since I don’t have any previous experience with Welsh words or pronunciations, and it made it easier to keep things straight when I could say them correctly in my head. I will say though, this one had SO many names that were hard to keep straight anyway 😂

I love when there’s little multimedia snippets (like blog posts and chat rooms) between chapters, since it breaks up the story so nicely while also providing more context and information about the mystery itself. While I loved the first two DC Ffion Morgan books, I think this one was my favorite so far. For one, the storyline was done so well and in such an intriguing way. At first, it felt like there were three separate mysteries, but they dovetailed in such a fun way, it kept me reading WAY later than I meant to stay up just to get to the end. My favorite mystery and thriller book series are the ones that dive into the lives of the detectives or other parties solving the cases, so that we start to care about them as characters too, which this series has been doing so well. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Ffion Morgan and Leo Brady (and of course Dave)!

Thank you to @netgalley and @ for providing this eARC for my review!!

Let me just say: if you’ve ever driven past a gated community and thought, “Ugh, I bet those people have it all together,” this book is here to say: LOL. Nope.

Welcome to The Hill.

Where the lawns are manicured, the secrets are messy, and everyone is watching each other…

You know that feeling when you walk into someone’s gorgeous house and think, “Wow, must be nice”?
Clare Mackintosh takes that thought and sets it on fire.

There are break-ins.
There are bodies..

DS Leo Brady is investigating a string of unsettling burglaries that feel less like petty theft and more like surgical strikes — someone isn’t just stealing jewelry; they’re hunting something specific.

Meanwhile, DC Ffion Morgan finds an estate agent floating in a lake and she’s got questions… starting with “Was it murder?” and ending with “How fast can I solve this before Leo ruins everything?”

Their banter? SPICY.
Their history? Messy.
Their chemistry? Unskippable.

Clare Mackintosh does what she always does best:

✔️ Multi-layered characters with just the right amount of emotional damage

✔️ Taut, clever plotting with enough red herrings to start a seafood market

✔️ Jaw-drop twists that made me pause my audiobook just to whisper, “Oh no she didn’t.”

This isn’t just a whodunnit. It’s a whydunnit, howdunnit, and please-leave-the-lights-on-when-I-go-upstairs-dunnit.

If you’re new to the Ffion Morgan series, I recommend starting with The Last Party — but this can absolutely be devoured as a standalone if you’re just here for the scandal, the crime, and the absolute chaos of suburbia in meltdown.

Final Verdict:

For fans of thrillers with substance, sass, and secrets so juicy they should come with a warning label.

I love the way Clare Mackintosh can effortlessly weave two storylines and seamlessly bring them together in the end! Bloody brilliant!

Other People’s Houses is the third installment in Clare Mackintosh’s Ffion Morgan series—and it might be my favorite yet. The layers of plot are so deftly woven, with just the right balance of intrigue and emotional depth. What starts as separate investigations for Ffion and Leo soon unravels into a web of secrets involving the ultra-wealthy, glossy real estate deals, and the darker truths hidden behind closed doors.

Mackintosh masterfully asks: Do we ever really know what’s happening in someone else’s home?

This book has everything I’ve come to love about the series: a sharp mystery, moments of real tenderness, and a cast of characters who feel like old friends. The dynamic between Ffion and Leo continues to evolve in satisfying (and sometimes heartbreaking) ways. I also adore the immersive setting. Reading about Wales, with bits of the Welsh language sprinkled in, makes this series feel truly special.

A twisty, thoughtful, and entertaining read from start to finish. I already can’t wait for book four.

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Great read! The character development is spot on. There are many moving parts, all expertly blended. I read this book first but will definitely be going back to read the rest of the series. A bit of a slow burn but in all the best ways.

Ffion Morgan and Leo Brady are back in a new thriller about what happens behind closed doors in an elite neighborhood. While they are not working together this time, their cases start to merge as Leo’s burglaries are occurring in the neighborhood where a group of estate agents that Ffion’s investigating are working. Meanwhile, a cold case is gaining popularity from a true crime podcast, and Ffion may be a little obsessed. Coming back to these characters in Cwm Coed was exciting. New character perspectives are also introduced; readers get to know Allie, Leo’s ex-wife. While her social-climbing neediness is annoying, her perspective is important to the story. Readers of the series will be enthralled with this new installment; while the cases are new, the main characters’ established relationship means this one doesn’t work as a standalone.

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.