📱E-Book Review📱

Cuckoo In The Nest
Diane Saxon

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I absolutely love a good psychological thriller and although this was my first read by this author, I couldn't wait to give it a try.

I was initially drawn to the front cover, which along with the tags made this sound full of suspense and I was hoping for more than a few twists too!

I liked that this was told over a dual timeline. This allows the whole story to unfold over time and also means that we really get a good sense of the character we're following, their background over the years and also the motivation behind what's happening in the present day.

Where it was a little unclear as to why Alex was having to share a house with some really not so pleasant people, this became clearer the first her through the book we got.

I was rooting for Alex throughout. After hearing his situation, I really was hoping for a satisfactory conclusion to his story, but I really didn't connect with any of the other characters - which made me feel suspicious of everyone at one point.

The writing style was well paced and I sped through the chapters, sneaking just one more each sitting - I actually snook a few more and devoured this over just 3 sittings!

A great first read and I can't wait to see more from this author.

Alex moves into a house share m, the three people that live there give of an undercurrent of tension and they all seem to have secrets. Alex though has a secret of his own Heather to find out what happened to his friend Nikki. Told in two timelines this twisty thriller kept me reading just one more chapter. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book. It is the first I’ve read by Diane and it won’t be the last. I loved the suspense and how Alex moved in the shared house to find out what happened to his friend and that is where it gets vey interesting .
Thanks to this book I will be looking for more by this author. Would recommend a read.

Cuckoo in the Nest is such a perfect title for this, wow.

It had me on the edge of my seat with suspense, page after page, not knowing where each piece of the story was going to go. I really liked the little bit of time jump happening, where we get to learn about the childhood and meeting of Alex and Nikki before the present day events. Knowing those things about Alex and what he went through as a child, it really kind of fueled part of what I found thrilling about the present day chapters.

The story hele my attention the entire time I was reading, I didn't want to put it down. I kept picking it every time I had a break from work, or while I was waiting for dinner to cook. Since I was reading an ARC on my Kobo thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books, the ebook version made it easy to feed my drive to get this book read as fast as I could.

Highly recommend going into this as blind as you can, TBH I only read the first couple sentences of the synopsis and that was enough for me to be intrigued. That's really the best way to go into a thriller novel, in my opinion, especially a psychologically twisty one.

Thriller told in dual timelines. Alex moves into a house, becoming the fourth roommate. His goal is to
discover what happened to his friend Nikki who vanished, leaving no indication of her new location.
Alex and Nikki became friends when he saved her from danger when she was a child. Being raised by
an abusive father, Nikki’s mother Julia takes Alex in as a foster child. Alex and Nikki have always had
a close relationship which changes as they grow older, fighting the mutual attraction between them.
The other three roommates are not the friendliest bunch and Alex becomes aware of other roommates
who have suddenly left. Discovering what happened to Nikki and the others leads to a shocking conclusion.
#CuckoointheNest #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

This is a different kind of thriller, and I really liked it.

Alex has a mission to find his "sister", Nikki, who suddenly disappeared from the house where she was renting a room. Nikki and her mother, Julia, had taken Alex in when he was 11. His father was extremely abusive, yet Alex was a bright and kind boy struggling with his own self-worth. Nikki and Julia became his family. Alex rents the room that had been Nikki's so that he can investigate the renters and what happened.

The other renter's in the house are a very strange bunch. As Alex listens and asks questions, he comes to realize that many renters that were women have suddenly left the house.

The story is told between Alex, in the past and in the present, and through Nikki via telephone messages she left Alex. I found the unfolding of the story using this method was very effective. There is just enough creepy atmosphere to make you feel chilled!

This book is not your normal "thriller". This is also the story of past trauma and found family. By laying out the story of Alex and Nikki/Julia in the past, we understand how strongly Alex feels the need to protect them and discover what happened. There are so many sweet and heartbreaking moments in the telling of Alex's life, and I loved Alex, Julia and Nikki! I think it was fantastic that the author incorporated this into the narrative because I really understood and connected with how Alex was motivated. The pace of the story is not as fast as many thrillers, but the interweaving of the plots, and the insight through the narratives had me racing to find out what happened. And the title, once the book is read, is perfection!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. THis is my honest and voluntary review.

My first book by the author but definitely won't be my last.
What an excellent rollercoaster of ride this read is. Told over two timelines, the plot is original, clever and riveting.

This a slow burn thriller that switches back and forth from the past to the present to set you up for the grand finale. The antagonists have no redeemable qualities. The protagonists have flaws but mean well. While you know one of the roommates are involved. Their true nature of their evil is revealed in the end.
Alex is on a quest to find out what happened to his friend Nikki. Nikki moved int a house with roommate and she is missing. She was supposed to go see her mother but never arrived. Alex and Nikki met as children when he rescued her from getting hurt. Alex has his own familial problems living with an abusive alcoholic father. He is then saved in return from his situation from Nikki's mom.
While this is not one of my favorite of Ms. Saxon it was still enjoyable.

I've moved into a shared house. My three new housemates aren't just reserved, there's a distinct chill in the air, an unspoken tension that makes me uneasy. I'm not here to make friends though. I have my own secrets. Nikki is like a sister to me and I'm here to find out what happened to her. Where is she? I'm convinced someone knows more than they're letting on. Is she simply missing? Or has something far more sinister occurred within these walls? I'm not leaving until I find out if Nikki is dead or alive.

Alex has moved into a shared house where there's unspoken tension in the air. He needs to find out what happened to his friend Nikki. Someone knows more than they're letting on.

This story has a dual timeline - the past twenty-two years ago when Alex first met Nikki, and the present day. The characters are well-developed. The story is told mostly from Alex's perspective and we get some snippets from Nikki. There was a creepy vine running throughout. I could not put this book down.

Published 12th August 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #DianeSaxon for my ARC of #CuckooInTheNesty in exchange for an honest review.

The story is told in a dual timeline when Alex was a child and now (today) as an adult. When it begins you are not too sure as to why he is suddenly house sharing however it becomes apparent as the tale unfolds. There are a few really unlikable characters in it which adds to the story as it progresses. Did I guess the outcome - definitely not !!!.

Thanks to Netgalley / Boldwood books for the ARC to review

Ive been a fan of Diane's for a while, but i think this is her darkest and creepiest books yet.
It follows Alex and Nikki, alternating between the current time and 20 years previously.
Alex had a tough childhood, but an unexpected encounter with a little girl changes his life forever.
When she mysteriously goes missing Alex stays in the house she was in, to try and investigate what happened.
Both stories are brilliantly told and the flip between timelines clever and relevant. Alex suffers horribly at the hands of his father as a child. There is no graphic description of what happens. A lot of the abuse is deprivation rather than physical.
Alex was a wonderful character, I dont think he had any grey areas, any faults, except for maybe being a typical man and not showing his true feelings! Nikki was great and her childish sayings and sense of fun were infectious.
Can't not mention Julia, a shining light throughout, and Saul, very much the opposite!
Absolutely raced through this and think my heart raced quickly along with it!

I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed the overall feel of this psychological thriller concept. I was invested in what was going on and thought the overall storyline was so well written and thought the overall concept was chilling and worked. I enjoyed the idea of a house full of secrets and had that element that I wanted and enjoyed in this type of book. The characters worked so well in the environment and was glad I got to go on this journey with them. Diane Saxon has a strong writing style and was glad I read this.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which had me intrigued and also a bit scared.

We meet Alex, he has come to live in a house with other people, not for the reason of having somewhere to live, but he wants to know what happened to a previous person that lived there, that is Nikki, who nobody knows where she’s gone.

The book was well-written, its dual-timeline and will make you feel a bit creepy. What happens during the story, you won’t be able to foresee.

Another fabulous book by Diane Saxon.

I highly recommend this book.

ha this book was brilliant. i loved the title too haven't learnt a long time ago in horror at what these birds do i was here for the link to this book!
Diane always has it right for me. she doesn't just make a plot gripping and hold you to that on whether you enjoy it or not. no, she seems over every area that truly makes a book good. her plot is tight, it has all the mixtures you need from a good thriller, including emotions and properly fleshed out characters. there is ALWAYS a story there. a deeper on and i love getting involved in her worlds she builds for us within the pages.
this one was no different.
for this one we have Alex who has just moved into a shared house. but he is here for one reason, to find out what happened to his missing friend. Nikki hasn't been seen and she is convinced someone in this house knows something. he doesn't even know if she is still alive. Nikki is like a sister to him and so he is here to find out just what has happened to his friend.
the way we get told this story means we get to know more into both Nikki and ALex's life to solve what went on and whats going on here. i really like how when we learn more about Alex it takes us to his younger years and just how he came to meet Nikki. it truly add that depth and emotional side to the book and has you rooting for him even more.
as things start to unravel and pieces start falling into place you are truly tense and hooked to how this will play out and what to come next.
it also touched the heart this book which again is something Diane does so well to give much more engagement to her books. and make me feel so much more when i am reading and it goes a step above to making me tense not only because of the great plot points but also because i now care more what happens.

"One house. Four tenants. One deadly secret"
…

What secrets lie behind these doors and windows?

I've moved into a shared house. My three new housemates aren't just reserved, there's a distinct chill in the air, an unspoken tension that makes me uneasy.

I'm not here to make friends, though. I have my own secrets. Nikki is like a sister to me and I'm here to find out what happened to her. Where is she?

I'm convinced someone knows more than they're letting on. Is she simply missing? Or has something far more sinister occurred within these walls?

I'm not leaving until I find out if Nikki is alive or dead.
...

At the heart of the story is Alex, on leave from a very successful career in the army, a quietly determined and morally upright protagonist, who moves into a shared house under tense, uneasy circumstances. His housemates are withdrawn and unsettling, and the atmosphere crackles with unspoken tension. But Alex is not there to socialize. His true motive is to uncover the truth behind the sudden disappearance of Nikki, his dearest friend and pseudo sister who, having left her family home to make an independent life for herself, had once lived in this very house. Alex is certain that at least one of the housemates knows more than they’re letting on and he is determined to find the answers.

Eventually, events even begin to take their toll on a usually robust and resilient Alex, to the point where he has almost reached the end of his tether, especially when he knows that he is being played and manipulated, yet he can't quite manage to explain, even to himself, how. When he finally realises that he is getting too close to discovering the heinous truth, it becomes obvious to him that someone just isn't going to allow that to happen, even if it means making his stay in the house, his last move!
...

The pace is of the storyline is steady rather than breakneck, just the way I like my thrillers, as this allows for a tense and chilling, slow-burn atmosphere, which deepens the psychological angst, keeping me on my toes and completely invested. It delves deep into the fragile bonds of family, memory, and identity, with a compelling blend of suspense, intensity and depth. There are plenty of well-timed and disturbing plot twists, none of which seem wasted or unnecessary and whilst the often distressing clues are there, tantalisingly scattered throughout the unfolding layers of deceit and depravity, tying the loose ends together and arriving at the correct conclusion, was a challenge which unfortunately I didn't quite live up to, needing the big reveal at the end to set the truth straight.

The story is narrated predominantly from the joint perspectives of Alex and Nikki and in several timelines from the early 2000s, right up to the present day - and there is even a sneak preview ahead by a few weeks, to Autumn 2025. The past and present are seamlessly woven together into well-signposted chapters, which are just the right length, dealing with some unpalatable, but all too realistic issues, relating to our present day lives. Coercion, gas-lighting, familial dysfunction, drugging, abduction, human trafficking and ultimately murder, all rear their ugly heads to one degree or another, leading to a constant sense of unease and claustrophobia which is impossible to shake off.

The house itself becomes a character and indeed, the major reference to any tangible location, cloaked in shadows, secrets, and dread. The tension never feels forced, instead simmering beneath the surface as Alex unravels each layer of deceit. Despite the darkness of the subject matter, Alex stands out as a refreshingly grounded and good-hearted lead, whose quiet resolve and moral compass, despite the chaotic and distressing start to his life, lend the novel a calm and strong emotional anchor. His personal backstory of hardship, resilience, and his enduring connection to Nikki, is portrayed with care and authenticity. Similarly, the bonds, both emotional and practical, which Nikki and her mother Julia forge with the young and terrified Alex, only strengthen over the ensuing years, to the point where it seems that nothing can tear them apart. If the deep character dynamics between Alex, Julia and Nikki, are the mainstay of the story, the way in which the author really made me want to hate the additional small supporting cast of characters, was equally well drawn and defined, to the point where 'taking sides' was an easy and natural progression as the story unfolded.

This is the first book I have read by author Diane Saxon, however, I can confidently say that I am already thoroughly invested in her style of writing and storytelling, so it will not be the last.

I have spent a lovely afternoon in the garden completely engrossed in this fabulous novel by the very talented author Diane Saxon. I ploughed through the chapters and couldn’t wait to see what the cunning plot twists would be. I am definitely not going to spoil these for you but believe me the wait is worth it!

Told in a dual perspective and over a dual timeline we meet Alex and Nikki. They meet as Alex has been left by his abusive father at the park and Nikki and her mother take pity on him. Despite the 5 year age gap the pair become close and when the unthinkable happens and Alex needs to be fostered it is Nikki and her mum that take him in. Present day sees the two correspond by her leaving voice notes, of increasing discontent at the house share she has moved to. Alex returns to find her gone and the past seems to be returning through his dreams and reality.

Great characters and a plot that really keeps the reader interested. The house share residents were so dark that they all seemed like likely suspects for wrong doing. I loved the final reveal and definitely did not guess what it would be. The ending wrapped it up really well.

One I will be recommending and happy to give a solid 5 star review.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've moved into a shared house. My three new housemates aren't just reserved, there's a distinct chill in the air, an unspoken tension that makes me uneasy.
I'm not here to make friends, though.
I have my own secrets.
Nikki is like a sister to me and I'm here to find out what happened to her.
Where is she?
I'm convinced someone knows more than they're letting on. Is she simply missing? Or has something far more sinister occurred within these walls?

This is an easy read, if a little slow in places. Well written with good characterisation, nice short chapters which are well defined.

This was the first book of Diane Saxon's I've read and it did not disappoint! Extremely gripping the whole way through! A heart wrenching story with a lovely ending! 4stars

4.5 stars

Alex has just moved into a flatshare, but he has ulterior motives - he's trying to find out what happened to Nikki, his adoptive sister, who suddenly up and vanished one day with no warning. She had been living in the same shared house with Alex's now-current flatmates and he's convinced that she didn't just leave without telling anyone; he knows deep down that something bad happened. But with the police unwilling to open an investigation, can Alex figure out what's really going on before something terrible happens again?

The book shifts perspectives between Nikki and Alex throughout, bouncing back and forth in time from when they first met as kids to current day where Nikki is missing and Alex is searching for her. I found this a bit of a slow burn to begin, really setting up the family's early days and giving us real insight into both characters. The ramping up of tension as the story progresses is quite satisfying, and I have to admit that while I had partially figured out what had happened to Nikki, I was completely unprepared for the denouement of the final reveals. It is well-written and very easy to follow; I was able to finish it in a couple days because it was so hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Diane Saxon, and Boldwood Books for giving me access to a free digital ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided here voluntarily.