A new series for me , I hadn’t read the first two, but I have read other books by this author and liked them. Other People’s Houses wasn’t at all hard to get into and get to know the characters. DC Morgan and DS Leo Brady. The mysteries are fast-paced and well plotted, and I did not see the end coming.

This is book 3 in the DC Ffion Morgan series and can be read as a standalone (though some characters are mentioned from previous books). I appreciate the authors note saying she wanted to incorporate some traditional Welsh, as her stories take place in Wales. She also includes a translation guide. However, I read on kindle and have my settings adjusted for accessibility, and the guide did not display correctly. I also found it time consuming to go back and fourth while reading just to find the translation.

I enjoyed books 1 and 2, but unfortunately for book 3,, I was far more interested in the families who lived up on the Hill over Ffion and Leo, and his absolutely horrible ex wife (I don’t think I’ve ever read a character as insufferable as Allie). Add in the large cast of characters and the language barrier, and this was a 2.5 star for me.

***Spoiler*** the ending leaves an opening for a fourth installment, so we might not be done with Ffion and Leo just yet!

This being book 3 makes an immense amount of sense. There is so much depth to this book I was lost. I need to read the first one and get these on my shelves! The cover of this book is just gorgeous and I enjoyed the dual pov writing style.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving honest feedback voluntarily.

Another excellent installment in the Ffion Morgan series!
I enjoyed spending more time with Leo’s ex Allie as she struggles to fit in with the residents on The Hill. She manages to bite off more than she can chew when she starts snooping around & trying to be a part of their clique.

I LOVE Clare's writing, she hooks her readers in early with twist after twist and this book was no exception. It's fast and diabolical and offers all the things you want in a thriller. I loved this one!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I had a hard time putting this one down. The quick pace and multiple storylines had me hooked. In this book, Mackintosh has three crimes that are being solved simultaneously. The first we are introduced to is the murder of a young real estate agent whose body is discovered, bloated and drowned in a kayak. The second is a series of burglaries that are being committed in an upscale neighborhood, and the third is an unsolved murder from over a decade prior.

The way these crimes were woven together was really cleverly done. I also enjoyed the podcast element, which was based on solving the older unsolved case. I do wish there was a bit more of a wrap up for the podcast bit since it ended abruptly and there was never any solid closure to it.

Having read the two prior DC Morgan books, it is always enjoyable to see the characters grow and develop their relationships. I do find this to be a part of these books that draws me back in to the series.

I'm really looking forward to what else is to come in this series.

Side note for the publisher: I felt the book club discussion questions were kind of lacking. I think too many focused on the 'romance' element, and less on the actual mystery. I would skip a lot of them if I were to use any of them at all.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC.
Wow, what a great read, it's absolutely brilliant, I loved it.
It's no. 3 of the DS Ffion Morgan series. I had read no.2, but not no. 1, so I downloaded that this morning ... that's how much I love Ffion and the whole atmosphere and settings of the books.
Highly recommended, a must read!

Other People's Houses is the third book in Clare Mackintosh’s DC Morgan crime fiction series, delivering an intricate and fast-paced thriller. The novel intertwines three seemingly unrelated cases: a cold case resurfacing through a podcast, a string of burglaries plaguing a luxury home community led by DS Leo Brady, and the mysterious death of an estate agent found in a lake led by DC Ffion Morgan. The story builds suspense as we quickly see how these cases are connected.

The book is packed with secrets, and even the most minor characters seem to be hiding something, making for an unpredictable read. While the multiple story lines required attention, the pacing kept the tension high. Alongside the unfolding mysteries, the novel further explores the evolving relationship between Brady and Morgan, adding emotional depth to the plot.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

DS Leo Brady is assigned to a case where someone is breaking into the homes of residents in a wealthy enclave, and his ex, Allie, a pathetic social climber, keeps trying to ingratiate herself with these people to no avail. His girlfriend, DC Ffion Morgan with the Welsh police, is investigating the death of a realtor. And many people are listening to a true crime podcast about a cold case murder. When these cases collide, it's apparent that many residents of "The Hill" have secrets that they don't want revealed, and that they will stop at nothing, even murder, to keep them private. A shocking revelation and a life and death car chase which endangers someone close to Leo may finally provide the answers. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I'm not sure if it was a language barrier or what but I just could not follow this book. There were so many characters to keep straight and I just stayed confused most of the time.

I was in the mood for a mystery like this and it hit the spot. This was an ambitious plot - a cold case murder, a series of burglaries, a current murder and some minor shenanigans all at once - but I think it worked. It is a lot to keep track of and honestly, I’m not analyzing the resolution(s) too deeply because it was entertaining. I do admit to mixing up some of the rich snob characters who make up the majority of the suspect list though. I’m still enjoying Ffion’s somewhat untrusting prickly personality and her relationship with Leo; it is good to continually see growth from her rather than just having her prickliness drag on. Looking forward to the next installment especially after the little surprise ending!

This is the third book the DC Ffion Morgan series. That being said, it could easily be read as a standalone. When the body of an estate agent is found in a luxury neighborhood DI Ffion Morgan is out to find the killer. The story is fast paced and exciting. The relationship between Ffion and Leo is further developed. The ending was totally satisfying. If you enjoy an edge of your seat mystery this is the book for you.
Highly recommend.

Loved this book! I love this series. Ffion Morgan is one of my favorite detectives and that there are splashes of Welsh in the story.

This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites! I adore the main characters, Ffion and Leo, and this novel is another great addition to the series. If only this could be adapted to a BBC series! In this installment, Ffion and Leo are investigating different crimes which involve multiple story lines and characters. The ending is very satisfying. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

So I have books from this author on my shelf that I admittedly haven’t gotten to just yet but I heard great things, I love thrillers so when I saw this book I just had to request it expecting a really decent one. Unfortunately this was a DNF and I think it’s because of how hard it was to keep up. Discolsure - I am American and only know English from here and Spanish . I wish I was able to understand things a bit more but alas I am not. I can read books that have a more English or Spanish basis but others lose me. There was a whole section at the start explaining words and I just struggled. Too much to keep track of and trying to grasp it all felt too tedious. I’ll definitely read in the future but have to be more picky.

Clare Mackintosh is one of those authors who are sneaky good. She has a way of weaving endearing characters into ‘whodunnits’ and making the story feel so real. I’ll read anything about Ffion and Leo.

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!