I was completely hooked by Behind Closed Doors! The story sneaks under your skin with its quiet, creeping tension, and I found myself holding my breath at key moments. The characters are layered and complex, making every revelation hit harder than expected. Sarah Denzil’s writing draws you in so completely that you can’t help but keep turning the pages. This is a psychological thriller that stays with you long after the last chapter I can’t wait to recommend it to anyone who loves a gripping, twist filled read.

I have read most of the writing of Sarah A. Denzil, be they books, novellas or short stories. Her books are often dark but always gripping and this book certainly fits that description. Recommended to those who like psychological suspense thrillers. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Rate 3.5

Honestly the plot was alright to me and I say that because there wasn’t a lot of twist we get a idea of where the plot is going and the basis of the plot , a school teacher who goes to visit a friend / mentor and finds some news that rocks her world but the hints that give a idea of who and who not to trust . It just didn’t have a lot of wow moments I just felt like you could put together a lot of it , the only thing that was a interesting mystery of who was the masked man but other than that not much . I did enjoy the story it read like a lifetime thriller and I enjoy them but if your looking for something to keep you on the edge of you seat this may not be the one , I’m going to pick up more from the author because I enjoyed the story overall just don’t think there wasn’t a lot to figure out if I’m making sense down to the son who was working my nerves 🙃😂

Sarah Denzil cannot write a bad book! This was dark and twisty and I loved it. It was fast-paced and kept me engaged and anxious, To me that is what makes a great thriller. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

I must admit that I came away quite disappointed with this one. Sarah A. Denzil is usually an author who wows me, who pulls the rug out from under my feet, or who gives me that sharp intake of breath moment when the twist finally lands. Sadly, this just didn’t deliver in the same way. From the very start, it felt a little flat, as though the edge had been blunted, and that sense of originality I usually associate with her work was missing.
It’s not even that I went in with high expectations. When I first picked it up, I’d actually forgotten who had written it and assumed it was by someone else. The style had that generic, almost “anyone could have written this” tone, and when I checked and realised it was Denzil, I was surprised. By any other author, this would have been fine — a serviceable thriller with some tension and an ending that ties things up neatly — but because it was hers, I felt let down.
The twist was far too obvious. I clocked it very early on, and once you see where it’s going, the suspense drains away. The pacing didn’t help either; it was quite slow in the middle, and I found myself struggling to keep turning the pages. Normally, I’ll reach for one of her books eagerly, wanting to know what happens next, but here I was dragging my feet and leaving it untouched for days at a time. That’s never a good sign with a thriller.
That said, I will give credit where it’s due — the ending was handled well. It felt more engaging, and the threads came together in a satisfying way. It didn’t redeem the whole experience, but it did leave me with a sense of closure. I just wish the journey to get there had been more compelling.
If this had been my first Denzil book, I think I’d probably have rated it as a decent, middle-of-the-road thriller. Nothing spectacular, but perfectly fine to pass the time. The problem is that I know what she’s capable of. I’ve read her at her best, and I know how sharp, clever and shocking her writing can be. Compared to that, this felt watered down.
So, while new readers may enjoy it as an introduction, for long-time fans it might come across as underwhelming. I wanted more twists, more tension, and more of that unforgettable punch that Denzil usually delivers. This time, unfortunately, it just didn’t happen.

Behind a Locked Door is tense, unsettling, and full of mystery. I was hooked right from the start when Lucy Foster stumbles upon a teenage girl and a newborn locked away in a cellar. That discovery spirals into a media frenzy and turns the whole town against her, and from there the story really leans into secrets, suspicion, and the feeling that someone is always watching.
What I loved: the atmosphere, the unease, and the constant question of whether Alice (the girl Lucy found) was telling the truth or spinning her own version of events. That unreliable edge kept me glued to the pages.
Then came the twist at about 75%. I didn’t see it coming at all—but honestly, my eyes rolled. I struggled with how it could be possible and felt like there needed to be more connective tissue for it to land. I know fiction doesn’t have to mirror reality, but I just couldn’t see how the revelation wouldn’t have been obvious to the people around these characters.
That said, the ending more than made up for it—absolute chef’s kiss. It pulled everything together in a way that was both satisfying and chilling.
Overall, this is a suspenseful, bingeable thriller with a few bumps in believability, but the tension and final payoff were worth the ride.

Read this book in a day and couldn’t put it down.
My first by this author and would definitely read more! Brilliant read

Thank you NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my free and honest review. What a marvelous novel of suspense that kept me guessing until the end. Well written and I was truly caught up in the story itself, not to mention the emotions and feelings of the characters. Amazing novel that I highly recommend to any psychological thriller fan!

This one’s a tense, twisty thriller that grabs you from the first scream behind the cellar door. Lucy’s quiet life explodes into chaos when she uncovers a hidden girl and baby and the town’s reaction is just as chilling as the secret itself

"She opened the wrong door. Now her life will never be the same."

Behind a Locked Door by Sarah A. Denzil
Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
Pub Date: September 4, 2025
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers

Description:
When Lucy Foster visits her old friend, she doesn’t expect to hear a baby crying behind a locked cellar door. But what she finds shatters everything she thought she knew: a terrified teenage girl and a newborn, hidden away like a secret shame.

As Lucy’s quiet life spirals into a media frenzy, and as the town turns against her, one thing becomes clear—someone is watching. And they want Lucy to stop helping the girl in the cellar.

Because the truth is darker than anyone imagines. And unlocking it may cost Lucy everything.

A gripping psychological thriller packed with secrets, lies, and jaw-dropping twists, Behind a Locked Door is perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell, and Shalini Boland.

Thoughts:
This book is chilling, tense, and brilliantly layered. Sarah A. Denzil pulls you into a storm of secrets and doesn’t allow you a moment to breathe. The twists hit hard—gruesome, shocking, and completely unpredictable. I found myself turning pages late into the night, unable to walk away.

I especially liked Lucy’s determination and Chitra’s presence in the story—both added depth and heart to the chaos unfolding. And the villain? Absolutely terrifying. Their presence alone gives you chills and makes the danger feel all too real.

The story feels fresh, relentless, and haunting in a way that lingers long after the final chapter. An absolute 5⭐ read for me.

Thank you! @victoryeditingngcoop and @NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Tags
#BehindaLockedDoor #NetGalley #SarahADenzil #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryAndThrillers #DarkReads #BookReview #ThrillerReaders #september42025.

First, thank you Netgalley & Victory Editing for this ARC!

I did hear about the book first on tiktok, so honestly, I have been pretty excited about the change to read it early. Also, the cover did catch my attention quickly, as well.

The book itself was as dark and creepy as I have suspected it to be from both knowing the author and reading the blurb. I really have no idea what I would have done when being in Lucy's shoes. The whole atmosphere of the story was filled with unease, making me want to stop reading while at the same time, I just needed to know what would happen next. This is one of those books you surely only want to read with all the lights on, while also needing to check if your doors are locked. And the twists, oh, they just kept coming! The image of Lucy hearing the cries of the baby behind a locked cellar door did follow me into my dreams, and I still have to shudder thinking about this book! Very well done!

If you like stories that make you shake your head with a "WTH" thought, then this is the book for you. There were times when I was wondering what Lucy was thinking and even her son Theo. This story is definitely twisted and then some. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. Get your own copy!!!

When Lucy Foster visits her old friend and colleague Miriam she is shocked to discover a teenaged girl , Alice, and her newborn baby in locked cellar. Lucy and her 15 year old son visit Alice in hospital and it soon becomes apparent that Alice regards her as almost a mother figure. However strange things start happening to Lucy and she becomes convinced someone is watching her. She's also concerned that her son Theo is becoming too friendly with Alice. This is a very enjoyable read which pulls you in from the start. There are plenty of twists and turns and I really didn't see the first of these coming! Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

When Lucy Foster visits her old friend she doesn’t expect to find a terrified teenage girl and her newborn baby locked up in the cellar.

I have to say, this is a very fresh take on the ‘locked in the basement’ theme. It starts with a bang and the multiple threads keep it interesting.

Lucy finds herself drawn in to the teenage girl’s life and recovery, the Police investigation is stalling and things are about to get much darker and more twisted.

An original plot, well written and believable characters and plenty of unexpected shocks and twists make this another winner from Sarah A. Denzil.

Recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

a great psychological thrilles with many twists and great characters. It was hard to resonate sometimes with Lucy but it was a great book.

Sarah Denzil is a psychological genius! My favorite book of hers to date! Imagine finding a young girl and her newborn locked in a basement and you decide you must help them. However, something far more sinister is happening. Twists and turns you will never see coming. When I say I could not put this book down, believe me! A true masterpiece.

This one is going to be a massive hit, so don't sleep on your copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author for my eArc.

"She opened the wrong door. Now her life will never be the same."

Whenever I sit down to read a book by Sarah A Denzil I know I will not be disappointed and this book is no exception.

This book gets straight into the action and keeps you engaged and wanting to know more the whole way through not knowing who you can trust. The characters are well thought out and I personally felt the story was paced perfectly at no point was I ever bored or felt that the book was dragging.

Thank you so much to netgalley, Victory Editing and Sarah A Denzil for trusting me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The opening of Behind a Locked Door really grabbed me. Lucy Foster visiting an old friend and hearing a baby crying behind a locked cellar door is such a chilling and effective hook. The setup immediately pulled me into the story and kept me curious about where it was headed.

What worked best for me was the premise and the overall atmosphere. There is a strong sense of unease running through the story, and Lucy felt like a believable character whose reactions made sense.

Where I struggled a little was with the pacing. The middle section slowed down, and some of the tension I hoped for did not carry all the way through. Even so, the idea was compelling, and I think readers who enjoy slower, character-driven suspense will really connect with this book.

For me, this lands at about 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Sarah A. Denzil, delivers a dark, twisted, and utterly addictive thriller that had me holding my breath from the very first chapter.

The setup is chilling in its simplicity: Lucy visits an old friend, hears a baby crying behind a locked cellar door, and suddenly her life fractures in ways she could never have imagined. What begins as a shocking discovery quickly snowballs into a psychological nightmare filled with secrets, small town whispers, and the gnawing sense that Lucy is being watched.

What I loved most about Behind a Locked Door is how Denzil masterfully blends claustrophobic tension with deeply human emotion. Lucy is an ordinary woman caught in extraordinary circumstances, and watching her unravel while still fighting for the truth makes her an incredibly compelling character. The atmosphere is suffocating at times, in the best possible way, making me feel like I was right there with Lucy, second guessing every sound, every shadow, every “friendly” face in town.

And the twists? They just kept coming. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, Denzil flipped the story on its head, leading me somewhere darker, stranger, and more shocking than before.

This book is about secrets locked away, literally and metaphorically and the terrifying cost of pulling them into the light. If you love psychological thrillers that make your pulse race while also keeping you emotionally invested, Behind a Locked Door is one you won’t want to miss.

This was an amazing thriller full of mystery, deception, suspense, and twists. I really enjoyed this book and read it in just a few days. It could be a bit repetitive but overall was an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing. I never saw the twist at the end coming!!!

Available September 4th, 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.