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The Murder House
When PC Helen Anderson takes the files for a forthcoming court case to study over the weekend, she commits a cardinal error. For those files are not supposed to leave the police station - and the moment they fall into the wrong hands, Helen's ordinary, uneventful life begins to spiral out of control. For one small lie will lead to another, then another - culminating in a rendezvous in an ordinary suburban house in an ordinary Bristol street ... the scene of a gruesome and extraordinary murder.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2013
5 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Simon Beaufort
26 books48 followersAKA Susanna Gregory with Beau Riffenburgh (her husband).
Simon Beaufort is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. She writes detective fiction.
Simon Beaufort is the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cruwys, a Cambridge academic who was previously a coroner's officer. She writes detective fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 16, 2014
A very different type of murder mystery in that you know the killer from the beginning; empathize with the killer in the beginning; see how the killer covers her tracks trying not to get caught; and a very unexpected surprise ending.
November 21, 2017
The Murder House is certainly a different genre and feel from this author's past novels. I find it challenging to come up with a word that represents this novel, so I will instead continue with what were my thoughts while reading. I am continually moved by the concept of liars and their lies, webs woven that eventually surround and destroy the liar, but not before destroying so many others in their wake. Unsettling is the word I have finally chosen to represent this book. Unsettling for the events, and for the truths apparent in the consequences of character actions. This book is well written and captivating.
December 28, 2018
This is the second novel I've read from this author, the first being "The Killing Ship" and again I am underwhelmed by the way the story is written.
The story itself has so much potential, but the way it is written is just too clinical with everything being closed off too neatly. The writing style is just a bit dry, with no natural feel in it - especially with the conversations.
The best way to describe the writing style is academic, as it feels like something that would come out of a research project and university.
It's therefore no surprise that Simon Beaufort is a pseudonym for two former academics from Cambridge university.
The story itself has so much potential, but the way it is written is just too clinical with everything being closed off too neatly. The writing style is just a bit dry, with no natural feel in it - especially with the conversations.
The best way to describe the writing style is academic, as it feels like something that would come out of a research project and university.
It's therefore no surprise that Simon Beaufort is a pseudonym for two former academics from Cambridge university.
March 25, 2020
Since I never give 5* ratings, this is definitely a 4.5*.
I've seen some reviews as saying the story moved slow. I didn't find it that way. It starts out with the killer stating, "My name is Helen Anderson and I'm a murderer. This is my story." (Wow!)
It was a very, very well-written book. It switched back and forth from 1st person to 3rd person throughout the story. I found this to be super interesting. Mr. Beaufort made me feel like I was in the mind of the killer. Is it possible to feel sorry for a murderer but, at the same time feeling he/she should get what's coming to them for taking a life? The answer is....yes.
What an ending!
I've seen some reviews as saying the story moved slow. I didn't find it that way. It starts out with the killer stating, "My name is Helen Anderson and I'm a murderer. This is my story." (Wow!)
It was a very, very well-written book. It switched back and forth from 1st person to 3rd person throughout the story. I found this to be super interesting. Mr. Beaufort made me feel like I was in the mind of the killer. Is it possible to feel sorry for a murderer but, at the same time feeling he/she should get what's coming to them for taking a life? The answer is....yes.
What an ending!
February 4, 2020
This book has so many ups and downs, twists and turns. It starts out seriously but towards the end, it is almost a farce. The murderer lives day to day, never knowing if she will be caught or if she'll get away scot-free. One day she is tense and afraid, the next day she is relaxed when the "evidence" points to someone else as the murderer. I was able to share her feelings. The twist ending was superb. I hope the authors will write another Inspector Neel Oakley novel. I think he was the most interesting and admirable character in the whole book.
October 12, 2014
Hmm up late night and just finished this book and wanted to get my thoughts down..so yea I was all set to give this book at least a three or four star like one hundred pages in because it moves so fast and its readable with a twist..its a murder mystery kinda story told from the murderer's point of view as well as the initial investigating officer's to see if she is going to be caught and how..So meet the police officer Helen Anderson and her tale of how as quiet and calm as she is that her life turns to make her become a cold blooded killer-as you meet her through her own point of view as she is entangled, blackmailed and basically pushed into murder and as she is a police officer she knows and is privy to the investigation and what the people looking to catch her are searching for, how lucky for her right, so this was a good read for that...and then she just kept going and going getting deeper and deeper and sloppier and crueler..It was like after the horror of the initial murder she just went buckwild crazy calculating and that was scary and silly, I respected the information I got to learn about England and their barristers and inspectors and detectives and police procedurals, hope to read more from this team of academics also just found the last 100 or so pages a little farfetched and crammed, I wish the book was either longer or less involved in certain areas so it could really shine as the story and portrait of a made psychopathic killer..I did like the story, sigh on the next...
July 5, 2014
Interesting.
I will be honest, it was a bit slow to start and a little slow in the middle.
We. the reader, know who the murderer is on the first page. Afterwards, is the story of how and why she got to be a murderer.
Setting is London, the main character is a cop and her journey.
It was a good story and lovely twist at the end.
I will be honest, it was a bit slow to start and a little slow in the middle.
We. the reader, know who the murderer is on the first page. Afterwards, is the story of how and why she got to be a murderer.
Setting is London, the main character is a cop and her journey.
It was a good story and lovely twist at the end.
February 7, 2016
I enjoyed this who dunnit, which was written from the two main character's train of thought as they worked on the murder case. The main characters are police; one a CID ,the higher up, and the other a newly transferred female officer. Did I mention that officer Helen Anderson is the murderer. Very interesting portrayal of a criminal mind at work.
March 8, 2016
Loved it! I actually accidentally found this book while looking for the James Patterson by the same title and enjoyed it much more! A young female police officer gets caught up in a tangled web with a frightening conclusion. I loved the pace of this book and how it was one surprise after another. My kind of book! I definitely recommend.
February 21, 2014
I have read the historical mysteries by this author and enjoyed them very much but this modern one didn't flow as well for me. I would read others by this author based on past enjoyment, but if this were the first I picked up not as likely
November 17, 2013
Hay que tener cuidado con las personas que lo arreglan todo a pedradas.
February 25, 2014
I feel like I give every book 4 stars, but I really did enjoy this one. The ending was not as twisty as I was led to believe, but it definitely kept me interested.
March 20, 2014
kind of a weird book. too unreal to really get lost in. but good
May 2, 2017
A Mediocre Read
This is a moderately interesting murder mystery told from the perspective of the murderer and the police officers trying to solve it. I could never become truly interested in the book; it was ponderous and reeked of self-importance that was undeserved. By the end of the book I really didn't care whether the murderer faced justice or not. In reading, while surprising, is anti-climactic in the extreme. It is not a bad book, per se, it is just very, very middle of the road.
This is a moderately interesting murder mystery told from the perspective of the murderer and the police officers trying to solve it. I could never become truly interested in the book; it was ponderous and reeked of self-importance that was undeserved. By the end of the book I really didn't care whether the murderer faced justice or not. In reading, while surprising, is anti-climactic in the extreme. It is not a bad book, per se, it is just very, very middle of the road.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews