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The Intruders
They were told to leave. They should have listened.
It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2024
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April 26, 2024
EXCERPT: I've identified sounds, taste, touch and smells but now there's something else.
A feeling.
A slow crawl of trepidation from the tips of my toes to the top of my scalp.
I stop abruptly. 'James,' my tone is urgent now, 'I don't like this anymore . . .'
'Relax Cass. We're here.'
He fumbles to untie the blindfold and then I'm blinking in the unaccustomed brightness. Curved around me is a horseshoe shaped manor house. With its wings stretching either side of me I feel like the house is holding me.
Gripping me.
Despite the low temperature a flush of heat rushes through me. I push up the sleeves of my jumper. Stepping back, my eyes scan the black and white Tudor timberwork above the entrance. The iron 'Newington House' sign blistered with rust.
Ivy clings to the stone building. There's a sense of someone watching me through the small leaded windows.
This is not a tourist attraction. That much is clear from the unkempt courtyard. The tangle of weeds and nettles.
A crow lands in the tree to my left; he screeches, and it sounds like a warning.
ABOUT 'THE INTRUDERS': They were told to leave. They should have listened.
It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
MY THOUGHTS: There's no such thing as a free lunch - or, in this case, a free house.
The Intruders by Louise Jensen will put your spidey senses on high alert. There's an insidious creepiness to the storyline. Nothing major, or over the top, just little unexplained things. Things that eat into Cass's mind, but that James seems able to explain away. Logically. Calmly. The sounds of children playing. Singing. The smell of freshly cut lemons. The hairbrush that won't stay in the drawer. A window that opens itself. The clock that stops every day at 8.30 p.m. . . . .
I don't blame Cass for feeling spooked. Especially when James has to go away on business. And Cass has had problems in the past - a little mental disturbance, or two.
The story is told over two timelines - now and thirty years ago when the Madley family lived, and was murdered, in Newington House. Louise Jensen cleverly manipulates the storyline - I had no idea where she was taking me but was quite happy to go along for the ride - and throws in a few stunning twists. She creates a chilling atmosphere with a palpable air of mystery surrounding all the characters.
And the ending? - Twisted. You'll need to suspend your belief. It is disturbing but strangely fitting.
I listened to the audiobook of The Intruders which was superbly narrated by Helen Keeley.
And don't skip the author's note at the end where she relates how this book came about.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheIntruders #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: When I was little I was obsessed by Enid Blyton. Her characters were so real to me they became my friends. I often huddled under my covers, stifling my yawns and straining my eyes, as I read 'just one more page' by torchlight.
Mr Townsend, my primary school English teacher always encouraged my love of literature, and it wasn’t long before I’d read everything my school had to offer. The first book I created was six pages long, had stick-man illustrations and was sellotaped together. I was immensely proud of it. Writing was a huge part of my life, until one day it wasn’t.
I can’t remember ever making a conscious decision to stop writing but it became easier to act on the advice I was given - ‘grow up and get a proper job’ - and my dreams were tightly packed away, gathering dust for the next twenty years.
My thirties were a car crash. Literally. I sustained injuries which when coupled with a pre-existing condition forced me to radically change my lifestyle. I felt utterly lost and utterly alone. Always an avid reader I began to devour books at an alarming rate. ‘You’ll have read every book in here soon,’ my local librarian said. ‘You’ll have to write your own.’
And there was a flicker, a shift, a rising of hope. I grasped that nugget of possibility and I wrote. I wrote when I was happy. I wrote when I was sad. I wrote when I was scared and in-between writing, I read, read and read some more. Words have the power to lift, to heal. They have illuminated my world, which for a time became very dark.
As Anne Frank said ‘I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.’
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio, HQ via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Intruders written by Louise Jensen and narrated by Helen Keeley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
A feeling.
A slow crawl of trepidation from the tips of my toes to the top of my scalp.
I stop abruptly. 'James,' my tone is urgent now, 'I don't like this anymore . . .'
'Relax Cass. We're here.'
He fumbles to untie the blindfold and then I'm blinking in the unaccustomed brightness. Curved around me is a horseshoe shaped manor house. With its wings stretching either side of me I feel like the house is holding me.
Gripping me.
Despite the low temperature a flush of heat rushes through me. I push up the sleeves of my jumper. Stepping back, my eyes scan the black and white Tudor timberwork above the entrance. The iron 'Newington House' sign blistered with rust.
Ivy clings to the stone building. There's a sense of someone watching me through the small leaded windows.
This is not a tourist attraction. That much is clear from the unkempt courtyard. The tangle of weeds and nettles.
A crow lands in the tree to my left; he screeches, and it sounds like a warning.
ABOUT 'THE INTRUDERS': They were told to leave. They should have listened.
It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
MY THOUGHTS: There's no such thing as a free lunch - or, in this case, a free house.
The Intruders by Louise Jensen will put your spidey senses on high alert. There's an insidious creepiness to the storyline. Nothing major, or over the top, just little unexplained things. Things that eat into Cass's mind, but that James seems able to explain away. Logically. Calmly. The sounds of children playing. Singing. The smell of freshly cut lemons. The hairbrush that won't stay in the drawer. A window that opens itself. The clock that stops every day at 8.30 p.m. . . . .
I don't blame Cass for feeling spooked. Especially when James has to go away on business. And Cass has had problems in the past - a little mental disturbance, or two.
The story is told over two timelines - now and thirty years ago when the Madley family lived, and was murdered, in Newington House. Louise Jensen cleverly manipulates the storyline - I had no idea where she was taking me but was quite happy to go along for the ride - and throws in a few stunning twists. She creates a chilling atmosphere with a palpable air of mystery surrounding all the characters.
And the ending? - Twisted. You'll need to suspend your belief. It is disturbing but strangely fitting.
I listened to the audiobook of The Intruders which was superbly narrated by Helen Keeley.
And don't skip the author's note at the end where she relates how this book came about.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#TheIntruders #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: When I was little I was obsessed by Enid Blyton. Her characters were so real to me they became my friends. I often huddled under my covers, stifling my yawns and straining my eyes, as I read 'just one more page' by torchlight.
Mr Townsend, my primary school English teacher always encouraged my love of literature, and it wasn’t long before I’d read everything my school had to offer. The first book I created was six pages long, had stick-man illustrations and was sellotaped together. I was immensely proud of it. Writing was a huge part of my life, until one day it wasn’t.
I can’t remember ever making a conscious decision to stop writing but it became easier to act on the advice I was given - ‘grow up and get a proper job’ - and my dreams were tightly packed away, gathering dust for the next twenty years.
My thirties were a car crash. Literally. I sustained injuries which when coupled with a pre-existing condition forced me to radically change my lifestyle. I felt utterly lost and utterly alone. Always an avid reader I began to devour books at an alarming rate. ‘You’ll have read every book in here soon,’ my local librarian said. ‘You’ll have to write your own.’
And there was a flicker, a shift, a rising of hope. I grasped that nugget of possibility and I wrote. I wrote when I was happy. I wrote when I was sad. I wrote when I was scared and in-between writing, I read, read and read some more. Words have the power to lift, to heal. They have illuminated my world, which for a time became very dark.
As Anne Frank said ‘I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.’
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK Audio, HQ via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Intruders written by Louise Jensen and narrated by Helen Keeley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 10, 2024
House of horrors, perhaps? The story is told in two time-frames (now and 30 years ago) and from the POV of 3 or 4 characters during the periods. Two very similar families... a father, mother, teenager (from mother's prior marriage) and a new baby. In the present period, Cassandra and James buy the house where tragedy struck. In the past, we start to see connections and wonder how the two may fit in the with the past. Surely the family facts we've learned don't quite add up, so things went awry at a critical point. I thought the story might be too easy to solve, but then BOOM, it went astronomically higher to an unexpected place. I liked and disliked it, but I found myself breathless at many points. Who were the intruders? Which time period? Which family? How was it all connected? Another winner from Louise Jensen, and I am already eagerly awaiting her 2025 release.
April 11, 2024
Cass and James have found a great place to live! The best part - it is free in return for some house sitting. How lucky are they???? But the manor home comes with a sad history. Thirty years ago, a home invasion left many of the family members living there dead.
Then things begin to happen, things are moved to new locations, there is the strange feeling of being familiar with the home....
For me this was a slow burn until around the 50% mark. I felt for Cass as James became concerned about her mental health. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth in time, giving readers glimpses into the past. Things get very interesting near the end of the book as everything comes together. I was fully invested at the end and enjoyed having all the facts.
I listened to the audiobook and found it to be very done. I enjoyed the narration.
I just wished there were a few less characters and the plot was faster moving. I did enjoy the tension and the beginning of the book was fantastic! That got my attention and sucked me in! The ending was great as well. The middle part had me turning to other books.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Then things begin to happen, things are moved to new locations, there is the strange feeling of being familiar with the home....
For me this was a slow burn until around the 50% mark. I felt for Cass as James became concerned about her mental health. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth in time, giving readers glimpses into the past. Things get very interesting near the end of the book as everything comes together. I was fully invested at the end and enjoyed having all the facts.
I listened to the audiobook and found it to be very done. I enjoyed the narration.
I just wished there were a few less characters and the plot was faster moving. I did enjoy the tension and the beginning of the book was fantastic! That got my attention and sucked me in! The ending was great as well. The middle part had me turning to other books.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
February 8, 2025
Started off strong with lots of mystery and suspense, but then the plot started to draggg… and I kept thinking, ‘just get to the point!’ 😫 I really wanted to love it!
October 23, 2024
The Intruders is a dark and twisty dual timeline story that has you guessing at every turn. I really thought I had this book figured out many times throughout the story only to have the rug pulled from under me.
We follow Cass and James, who have only been dating for six months and who both have secrets. When an offer of inhabiting an old Manor house rent free in exchange for housesitting the place before it is turned into a retreat, James jumps at the chance - not only will it solve his pending homelessness since his landlord is selling up, but he can live with Cass and they can save up to buy a place of their own. Cass is hesitant at first, but with the option to start afresh away from past events, she soon agrees to housesit. The pair learn that the house had been inhabited for thirty years after a robbery gone bad that left three of the four people who lived there dead.
Cass soon discovers she's pregnant, and when strange things begin to happen, she begins to question her santity. Both James and Cass experience small things that make them feel a familiarity to the house; knowing a teddy-bears name, dejavu, etc.
I stopped afew times before the halfway mark, checking things I thought didn't make sense to then realising why after about halfway through the book. I never would have guessed nor seen the twist coming, and after the halfway mark, I couldn't put this book down!
We follow Cass and James, who have only been dating for six months and who both have secrets. When an offer of inhabiting an old Manor house rent free in exchange for housesitting the place before it is turned into a retreat, James jumps at the chance - not only will it solve his pending homelessness since his landlord is selling up, but he can live with Cass and they can save up to buy a place of their own. Cass is hesitant at first, but with the option to start afresh away from past events, she soon agrees to housesit. The pair learn that the house had been inhabited for thirty years after a robbery gone bad that left three of the four people who lived there dead.
Cass soon discovers she's pregnant, and when strange things begin to happen, she begins to question her santity. Both James and Cass experience small things that make them feel a familiarity to the house; knowing a teddy-bears name, dejavu, etc.
I stopped afew times before the halfway mark, checking things I thought didn't make sense to then realising why after about halfway through the book. I never would have guessed nor seen the twist coming, and after the halfway mark, I couldn't put this book down!
March 23, 2024
Ok Louise Jensen, you got me again! I was so convinced I had this one all sussed out… I could not have been more wrong if I tried 😆 I loved this twisty, creepy and addictive thriller and stayed up late to finish it.
Would you stay in a house that a family was murdered in 30 years ago? Newington House is known as the Murder House. An horrific house invasion ended with 3 members of a family being brutally murdered and the house has sat empty even since. Now, James and Cass have the opportunity to be caretakers for the house and live rent free. Too good to be true? Well, strange things start to happen in the house and Cass feels like she is being watched. You will never see what is really happening and it has an ending that will make your jaw drop!!
So very clever, the creaks and sounds of the house had me freaked out! I do love this author, she never fails to impress me with her stories. I loved the authors note on how she got the ide for this story. Well worth a read.
Thanks so much to HQ for my early copy of this book to read. Published on April 11th.
Would you stay in a house that a family was murdered in 30 years ago? Newington House is known as the Murder House. An horrific house invasion ended with 3 members of a family being brutally murdered and the house has sat empty even since. Now, James and Cass have the opportunity to be caretakers for the house and live rent free. Too good to be true? Well, strange things start to happen in the house and Cass feels like she is being watched. You will never see what is really happening and it has an ending that will make your jaw drop!!
So very clever, the creaks and sounds of the house had me freaked out! I do love this author, she never fails to impress me with her stories. I loved the authors note on how she got the ide for this story. Well worth a read.
Thanks so much to HQ for my early copy of this book to read. Published on April 11th.
May 8, 2024
Well this got dark and weird.
This starts as what seems a fairly standard thriller with some potential haunted house elements, but the second half just went off the rails and I'm really not sure it worked.
I really started to dislike this around the 25% mark but thought I would keep going to see if it would pick up (easy enough to do on audio), then it hit the 60% mark and things started getting weird so I kept going and wish I'd just stopped.
A lot of things just didn't make complete sense to me, but a few which stand out are:
- What was the point in the past storyline with Leon? Literally nothing came of it.
- Was there a point in her flashbacks of being in a cupboard? Why wasn't that linked to when she was actually trapped in a cupboard?
- When she was trapped, why did she wait a day to look for a way out? Even if you're terrified, that is the first thing you would do.
-
This was my first book from this author, but I do have another which I'll try before deciding if they're for me or not.
This starts as what seems a fairly standard thriller with some potential haunted house elements, but the second half just went off the rails and I'm really not sure it worked.
I really started to dislike this around the 25% mark but thought I would keep going to see if it would pick up (easy enough to do on audio), then it hit the 60% mark and things started getting weird so I kept going and wish I'd just stopped.
A lot of things just didn't make complete sense to me, but a few which stand out are:
- What was the point in the past storyline with Leon? Literally nothing came of it.
- Was there a point in her flashbacks of being in a cupboard? Why wasn't that linked to when she was actually trapped in a cupboard?
- When she was trapped, why did she wait a day to look for a way out? Even if you're terrified, that is the first thing you would do.
-
This was my first book from this author, but I do have another which I'll try before deciding if they're for me or not.
May 21, 2024
Multiple storylines to follow, which lead you down several rabbit holes. The problem with rabbit holes, you never solve them and one leads to the next. The multiple plots developed by the author are each intriguing. Yet most lead to a dead end. Too many ideas were presented and therefore different ways the story could have gone. Impossible to address and satisfy each one. The end leaves the reader with a lack of satisfaction.
August 23, 2024
3.5 rounded down. The first half of this book was superb. It then got a bit bizarre and hard to follow. The last 25% started to redeem itself but that ending was a no for me 🫢
November 3, 2024
“The Intruders”, by Louise Jensen
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I saw this book showcased in a book’s group and it did get my attention, especially it’s cover.
As soon as I started reading the prologue I thought it was very promising, as I loved the writing.
And what a concept!
The development of the storyline was well executed (although not flawless - some parts didn’t seem cohesive, perhaps because of the change of names, which I I didn’t like), with multiple POV and dual timeline structure (switching between the present and the past), and an uneven pace (slow but gripping during the first 30%, very slow in the middle to the point of making me lose focus, but to finally pick up my interest once again.
The storytelling was terrific, creating an eerie atmosphere full of suspense and anticipation, and the characters were well developed. I thought I had figured out the plot, but I was absolutely wrong. But I did predict the truth about some characters.
I can’t say I was pleased with the twists, but I can say that this book surpassed my expectations.
The story started very strong and held well for the first 70% (I would have rated 4 stars, based on that).
But stories that have coincidences to help the storyline will never get my maximum rate.
I thought that the last 30% was over the top and a bit chaotic. It felt like somebody else’s idea was inserted, or perhaps it was written before, as a draft (with very short chapters) hence my ratings.
This was my first book by this author and I’m now looking forward to reading her previous works.
Ebook (Kobo): 298 pages (default), 92k words
Paperback: 448 pages (69 chapters including the epilogue)
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I saw this book showcased in a book’s group and it did get my attention, especially it’s cover.
As soon as I started reading the prologue I thought it was very promising, as I loved the writing.
And what a concept!
The development of the storyline was well executed (although not flawless - some parts didn’t seem cohesive, perhaps because of the change of names, which I I didn’t like), with multiple POV and dual timeline structure (switching between the present and the past), and an uneven pace (slow but gripping during the first 30%, very slow in the middle to the point of making me lose focus, but to finally pick up my interest once again.
The storytelling was terrific, creating an eerie atmosphere full of suspense and anticipation, and the characters were well developed. I thought I had figured out the plot, but I was absolutely wrong. But I did predict the truth about some characters.
I can’t say I was pleased with the twists, but I can say that this book surpassed my expectations.
The story started very strong and held well for the first 70% (I would have rated 4 stars, based on that).
But stories that have coincidences to help the storyline will never get my maximum rate.
I thought that the last 30% was over the top and a bit chaotic. It felt like somebody else’s idea was inserted, or perhaps it was written before, as a draft (with very short chapters) hence my ratings.
This was my first book by this author and I’m now looking forward to reading her previous works.
Ebook (Kobo): 298 pages (default), 92k words
Paperback: 448 pages (69 chapters including the epilogue)
October 3, 2024
This was a very tense and creepy read, with the constant plot twists and brutal turn of events in Part 2. Jumping back and forth in time exposed links between the characters but it was slightly repetitive in parts. I didn’t see the end coming at all and finishing the book gave me chills.. 4 well deserved stars.
September 2, 2024
This reminded me of those half baked Netflix original thrillers with the casts of bland characters, paint by numbers plotting and ridiculous twists. Like those half baked Netflix thrillers, this book will have its fans. I'm not one of them.
June 24, 2024
Absolute trash. The first half is just a really cheesy thriller which was super corny and genuinely made me eye roll multiple times, but was readable. Then in the middle there's a big reveal which completely confused me for a moment. Full on '..what?' And flicking back through to try and make sense of it. It's such a ball of nonsense and there are so many characters and names that the 'dun dun dunnnn' moment does not land at all.
And then it takes an absolutely mad turn into snuff movies with pantomime villainry and every character just behaves with zero sense or reason. Ridiculous. Speed read the last 60 pages because I hated it.
And then it takes an absolutely mad turn into snuff movies with pantomime villainry and every character just behaves with zero sense or reason. Ridiculous. Speed read the last 60 pages because I hated it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2024
Good story with many layers.
There are three families involved in this story. All related in some way.
James and Cass decide to look after a manor house that has a hideous past which they don't know much about.
The story goes from past to future until the story comes together in the present.
The secrets the house holds entiwines each family.
There are many twists in this page turning thriller
There are three families involved in this story. All related in some way.
James and Cass decide to look after a manor house that has a hideous past which they don't know much about.
The story goes from past to future until the story comes together in the present.
The secrets the house holds entiwines each family.
There are many twists in this page turning thriller
June 22, 2024
Poorly written, confusing and disappointing
I didn’t really enjoy this book. First of all, none of its characters are particularly likeable, and from Part 2 onwards the plot is almost nonsensical; I found myself often trying to remember which character was which.
But worst of all are the countless typos and grammatical mistakes. For example, slipping from present to past tense *within the same sentence*.
Then there’s just the style. It’s cool when you end a chapter with an idea or sentence and then begin the next with that same idea or sentence, even when it’s from a different character’s POV. But it’s *not* cool when you do this for virtually every chapter.
Then there’s calling toddler James by the name Roo, *until* it’s revealed that his name is James. Then suddenly the name Roo is just forgotten, even in the continuing dialogue and monologues of the flashback scenes.
The ending was stupid. In fact the whole of the last 50 pages or so was stupid. Also, the title makes absolutely no sense either. Who exactly was meant to be intruding? And what was with the supernatural element of the house? It was neither confirmed nor denied int he end. I actually struggle to try and work out what genre this book belongs to.
This one was not for me. I shall not bother with this author again I’m afraid.
I didn’t really enjoy this book. First of all, none of its characters are particularly likeable, and from Part 2 onwards the plot is almost nonsensical; I found myself often trying to remember which character was which.
But worst of all are the countless typos and grammatical mistakes. For example, slipping from present to past tense *within the same sentence*.
Then there’s just the style. It’s cool when you end a chapter with an idea or sentence and then begin the next with that same idea or sentence, even when it’s from a different character’s POV. But it’s *not* cool when you do this for virtually every chapter.
Then there’s calling toddler James by the name Roo, *until* it’s revealed that his name is James. Then suddenly the name Roo is just forgotten, even in the continuing dialogue and monologues of the flashback scenes.
The ending was stupid. In fact the whole of the last 50 pages or so was stupid. Also, the title makes absolutely no sense either. Who exactly was meant to be intruding? And what was with the supernatural element of the house? It was neither confirmed nor denied int he end. I actually struggle to try and work out what genre this book belongs to.
This one was not for me. I shall not bother with this author again I’m afraid.
June 1, 2024
My first book by Louise Jensen. Sorry to say I found it badly written and crammed full of clichés. It's relatively short so at least I made it through to the end.
I found the characters were one dimensional but still seemed to flip flop wildly in their actions. It limped along to a conclusion that was neither thrilling nor satisfying.
Not sure where all these other good reviews are coming from.
I found the characters were one dimensional but still seemed to flip flop wildly in their actions. It limped along to a conclusion that was neither thrilling nor satisfying.
Not sure where all these other good reviews are coming from.
April 11, 2024
An intricate and puzzling plot, I enjoyed this thriller immensely. At first I was a bit disappointed because I had guessed one element of the plot development, but the manner in which Jensen then twists this knowledge made for a gripping and immersive page-turner.
Moving into a tragedy house, Cass is convinced that there is some sort of supernatural at work because things are being moved, windows mysteriously left opened and, most sinister of all, a grandfather clock that always stops at the same time every evening. I loved the atmosphere that Jensen creates and felt that I would not be someone who could occupy this strange house with awful memories. The creepy messages and music that are repeated throughout the novel sent shivers down my spine and I found this added to the intensity of the setting.
Through the use of clever flashbacks, readers begin to find out about what happened at Newington House, why it is a house famous for tragedy. This element really had me on tenterhooks and there were many points when I thought I was one step ahead of the author. This was certainly not the case! There were so many ambiguities about this part of the plot and I was pleasantly puzzled. However, the more I read, the more addicted I became to this mystery and how James and Cass are part of Newington House’s history.
As the story develops, the chapters become shorter and I felt breathless with reading it. You do experience chapters from a range of character perspectives however, Jensen does not introduced these all at once. By the time the newer voices are included in the narrative, this isn’t an issue in the slightest. In fact, I was desperate to have this extra information because I knew it would help fill in the gaps of the tragic night that Newington House is haunted by.
Another great read from Jensen that was highly enjoyable throughout. Jensen is fast becoming one of my favourite go-to authors for the thriller genre, as I know she always delivers a great story.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Moving into a tragedy house, Cass is convinced that there is some sort of supernatural at work because things are being moved, windows mysteriously left opened and, most sinister of all, a grandfather clock that always stops at the same time every evening. I loved the atmosphere that Jensen creates and felt that I would not be someone who could occupy this strange house with awful memories. The creepy messages and music that are repeated throughout the novel sent shivers down my spine and I found this added to the intensity of the setting.
Through the use of clever flashbacks, readers begin to find out about what happened at Newington House, why it is a house famous for tragedy. This element really had me on tenterhooks and there were many points when I thought I was one step ahead of the author. This was certainly not the case! There were so many ambiguities about this part of the plot and I was pleasantly puzzled. However, the more I read, the more addicted I became to this mystery and how James and Cass are part of Newington House’s history.
As the story develops, the chapters become shorter and I felt breathless with reading it. You do experience chapters from a range of character perspectives however, Jensen does not introduced these all at once. By the time the newer voices are included in the narrative, this isn’t an issue in the slightest. In fact, I was desperate to have this extra information because I knew it would help fill in the gaps of the tragic night that Newington House is haunted by.
Another great read from Jensen that was highly enjoyable throughout. Jensen is fast becoming one of my favourite go-to authors for the thriller genre, as I know she always delivers a great story.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2024
It's been a while since I've read a book by this author, and what better book to start with. We meet Cass and James who become caretakers looking after Newington House in return for living there rent free. Newington House has stood empty for years since the previous family was brutally murdered there 30 years before. Just after they move in strange things start to happen, shadows are seen, mysterious voices are heard and Cass, in particular, finds items being moved.
This was a fantastic read! It was so gripping that once I'd started it I couldn't put it down. It's told from several points of view, going backwards and forwards in time to tell the stories of everyone involved. Whilst it does move about a bit, it's not in the least bit complicated and moves seamlessly between the different stories. I liked Cass and James's characters although both of them seem to be hiding something. The storyline is dark and haunting and was enough to send shivers down my spine and had me watching over my shoulder as I read! I loved the "ghostly" theme, but really wasn't expecting where the author was going to take me with all the twists and turns that begin to appear as the story moves on.
I genuinely had no idea where the story was heading, although you can guess little bits of it as it goes. It was very cleverly written with all the different stories eventually linking into each other. It was amazing that nothing was how it seemed and the storyline moved quickly changing direction at the turn of every page. It was a spooky, chilling and atmospheric read which will have you hooked till the last page. Would definitely recommend.
This was a fantastic read! It was so gripping that once I'd started it I couldn't put it down. It's told from several points of view, going backwards and forwards in time to tell the stories of everyone involved. Whilst it does move about a bit, it's not in the least bit complicated and moves seamlessly between the different stories. I liked Cass and James's characters although both of them seem to be hiding something. The storyline is dark and haunting and was enough to send shivers down my spine and had me watching over my shoulder as I read! I loved the "ghostly" theme, but really wasn't expecting where the author was going to take me with all the twists and turns that begin to appear as the story moves on.
I genuinely had no idea where the story was heading, although you can guess little bits of it as it goes. It was very cleverly written with all the different stories eventually linking into each other. It was amazing that nothing was how it seemed and the storyline moved quickly changing direction at the turn of every page. It was a spooky, chilling and atmospheric read which will have you hooked till the last page. Would definitely recommend.
February 25, 2024
Cass and James are saving for their own home. They take a job as caretakers in a Manor House so they can earn some money.
After they move in they find out that the house has been empty for thirty years because of a gruesome murder that took place there.
A spooky story with lots of twist and turns that kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
After they move in they find out that the house has been empty for thirty years because of a gruesome murder that took place there.
A spooky story with lots of twist and turns that kept me guessing.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
Would you stay in a house that a family was murdered in 30 years ago? Even when creepy things start happening? This is the premise of Louise Jensen's latest psychological thriller and the various narrations across two timelines easily hold your attention. Every character has secrets. The question is how do they all fit together and what secrets are they hiding? I was enjoying the novel and the pacing until the last 20%. Here the novel took an incredibly dark turn which I couldn't get on board with as it was so disturbing. I finished the book and it's well concluded but the darkness of one of the turns tainted my view. Perhaps better suited to horror readers rather than a typical thriller reader. CW: torture, domestic abuse, murder, snuff, violence, violence against children (teenager)
June 19, 2024
Saw this recommended by a fellow thriller lover and bought it immediately. It seems like your average thriller: couple move into a creepy house and weird stuff starts happening.
But then it takes a turn I was not expecting. Talk about twists! I thought I had it figured out. I was wrong.
The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was it felt very repetitive in places. Run. Run. Run. How many times can that word appear in a book? Turns out...a lot!
Other than that, I loved this book. Had me glued to the page. And the ending? Chefs kiss!
But then it takes a turn I was not expecting. Talk about twists! I thought I had it figured out. I was wrong.
The only reason it didn't get 5 stars was it felt very repetitive in places. Run. Run. Run. How many times can that word appear in a book? Turns out...a lot!
Other than that, I loved this book. Had me glued to the page. And the ending? Chefs kiss!
July 30, 2024
2.5⭐️ Was the jawdropping ending worth 400 pages of annoying repetetive writing? No.
May 14, 2025
TW/CW: Language, drinking, cheating, toxic family relationships, scary scenes, unwanted pregnancy, death of parent, grieving, mourning, domestic abuse, physical abuse, alcoholism, smoking, sexual assault
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
They were told to leave. They should have listened.It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
Release Date: April 11th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 448
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. Atmospheric
3. Creepy scenes that scared me
What I Didn't Like:
1. Run run run 1,000 times mentioned
2. Ending was so odd
3. Things happen that make zero sense
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Hmmmm James just able to guess the bears name is so out there. I'd be suspicious of what's happening here.
Tess' dad hanging up the phone on Tess is heartless after she told him she was pregnant is sad. I wish I had more of an idea why he is feeling this way. I hope we get that explained other than he doesn't like James.
I'd be like freaking out if someone told me on a video call and someone told me there was someone behind me. No thank you.
Yeah, see what happens when you over shelter your child - they are so desperate for attention they think they are in love with someone the second they show them attention.
How bazare to want to name your unborn baby after the girl who was murdered that lived in the house you live in now. Like weird. They don't know her but she's like honoring her.
David sold the house back to the bank and is putting them into a hole.
Omg omg James is Roses' sibling - he survived the attack! He has to be since we just found out he is adopted.
So what is Samson doing to her? Omg he's making snuff movies. This took an odd turn in the book.
Roses' mom manages to escape the house and goes home. Rose listens to the story and this 15 year old breaks in to get the video back. This part felt so ridiculous. Why would a mother even let her child break into a house to get the video back when she knows what is going on in there? Why would the mother stay in the home where they know where she is? This all makes so little sense to me.
After all this we find out that Rose is really alive and okay. She's really Fran.
Sigh. Rose wanted to tell James she is his sister but for some reason she can't just say it so she comes up with this ridiculous plan to let him to stay in the old house to Jumpstart his memory of her. Why.??
In true thriller way we have these two idiots not telling one another who they are. James isn't the person he thinks he is and Tess doesn't want to tell him because she doesn't want to be judged.
Yep Tess holds Rose hostage because she killed her family but Tess' family tried to kill her mother. So make sense of that.
Final Thoughts:
This book took such a strange and odd turn. I thought we were getting a kind of ghost story but then it turned into a book about a man making snuff movies. Seriously did not expect that.
I know that thrillers have out of the world plots but this book is beyond crazy. So two people happen to meet and we find out they knew one another and happen to both be victims of one another's families. Then they happen to move into the same house with the guidance of one characters sister.
I hated that there would be things that happened but then were never explained further beyond that this is what is happening. I don't understand why Rose couldn't come out of hiding to James. He knew nothing of what she did in the past and neither did Tess, so why hide who you are? Most of this story was so extra for the sake of being extra with no reason.
Honestly I gave it 3 stars for creepiness but the actual story would be 1 star because it's just so ridiculous and outlandish that I had to actually laugh when I read certain things that happened.
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
They were told to leave. They should have listened.It should be the perfect opportunity: a manor house available rent free in exchange for a bit of housesitting. But when Cass and James dig deeper, they find the place has been abandoned since a robbery left almost all the inhabitants dead almost thirty years ago. But they’ve got to save for a deposit somehow, so they move in, and things quickly take a strange turn. Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, and the house is oppressive yet strangely familiar. Could it just be bad memories, or are the house’s secrets a little closer to home?
Release Date: April 11th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 448
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. Atmospheric
3. Creepy scenes that scared me
What I Didn't Like:
1. Run run run 1,000 times mentioned
2. Ending was so odd
3. Things happen that make zero sense
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Hmmmm James just able to guess the bears name is so out there. I'd be suspicious of what's happening here.
Tess' dad hanging up the phone on Tess is heartless after she told him she was pregnant is sad. I wish I had more of an idea why he is feeling this way. I hope we get that explained other than he doesn't like James.
I'd be like freaking out if someone told me on a video call and someone told me there was someone behind me. No thank you.
Yeah, see what happens when you over shelter your child - they are so desperate for attention they think they are in love with someone the second they show them attention.
How bazare to want to name your unborn baby after the girl who was murdered that lived in the house you live in now. Like weird. They don't know her but she's like honoring her.
David sold the house back to the bank and is putting them into a hole.
Omg omg James is Roses' sibling - he survived the attack! He has to be since we just found out he is adopted.
So what is Samson doing to her? Omg he's making snuff movies. This took an odd turn in the book.
Roses' mom manages to escape the house and goes home. Rose listens to the story and this 15 year old breaks in to get the video back. This part felt so ridiculous. Why would a mother even let her child break into a house to get the video back when she knows what is going on in there? Why would the mother stay in the home where they know where she is? This all makes so little sense to me.
After all this we find out that Rose is really alive and okay. She's really Fran.
Sigh. Rose wanted to tell James she is his sister but for some reason she can't just say it so she comes up with this ridiculous plan to let him to stay in the old house to Jumpstart his memory of her. Why.??
In true thriller way we have these two idiots not telling one another who they are. James isn't the person he thinks he is and Tess doesn't want to tell him because she doesn't want to be judged.
Yep Tess holds Rose hostage because she killed her family but Tess' family tried to kill her mother. So make sense of that.
Final Thoughts:
This book took such a strange and odd turn. I thought we were getting a kind of ghost story but then it turned into a book about a man making snuff movies. Seriously did not expect that.
I know that thrillers have out of the world plots but this book is beyond crazy. So two people happen to meet and we find out they knew one another and happen to both be victims of one another's families. Then they happen to move into the same house with the guidance of one characters sister.
I hated that there would be things that happened but then were never explained further beyond that this is what is happening. I don't understand why Rose couldn't come out of hiding to James. He knew nothing of what she did in the past and neither did Tess, so why hide who you are? Most of this story was so extra for the sake of being extra with no reason.
Honestly I gave it 3 stars for creepiness but the actual story would be 1 star because it's just so ridiculous and outlandish that I had to actually laugh when I read certain things that happened.
IG | Blog
September 26, 2025
Cass and James stumble upon the opportunity of a lifetime - residing in a house, rent-free, in exchange for house-sitting. If they can overlook the decades-old and unsolved murders that took place inside their new home and the creepy sounds that emanate throughout the house at night, then everything would be perfect!
This was such an unsettling read! This might have set itself up as a typical haunted house thriller but Jensen perfectly executed the tropes of the genre, leading this to be a creepy and chilling read that had me as restless and jumpy as the protagonist.
Despite this early love, I thought I knew exactly what the grand reveal was heading and whilst it didn't ruin my enjoyment, it didn't appear as if this story would have the most jaw-dropping conclusion. Wow, was I wrong! This took everything 'typical' about the novel and turned it on its head, leading to an unguessable reveal and a solidly enjoyable, a delightfully horrifying, story.
This was such an unsettling read! This might have set itself up as a typical haunted house thriller but Jensen perfectly executed the tropes of the genre, leading this to be a creepy and chilling read that had me as restless and jumpy as the protagonist.
Despite this early love, I thought I knew exactly what the grand reveal was heading and whilst it didn't ruin my enjoyment, it didn't appear as if this story would have the most jaw-dropping conclusion. Wow, was I wrong! This took everything 'typical' about the novel and turned it on its head, leading to an unguessable reveal and a solidly enjoyable, a delightfully horrifying, story.
February 6, 2024
Probably the best psychological thriller I've read from Louise Jensen! The atmosphere she creates in The Intruders is tense and creepy and I had no idea where it would end up. James and Cass are saving up to buy their own home when they are given the opportunity to stay in a large, long abandoned house for free. The story evolves over past and present timelines and gets pretty complicated but it ends with a great twist.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 1, 2024
I don't even know where to start with this one. I finished reading it because I needed to know where the plot was going - and I'm sorting of none the wiser. This feels like there are about 4 plotlines and stories meshed together that should really have been different books. I found it fantastical and hard to believe towards the end (latter third of the book, really) and it was page after page of senseless twists and turns. Wouldn't recommend, nor would I look to read anymore by this author. Not for me, I'm afraid.
April 10, 2024
This was SO TWISTY, a must read for fans of Frieda or Sager, some parts were slightly unbelievable but it was throughly enjoyable I had a hard time putting it down, I also didn't see the twists coming, my jaw was on the floor!
February 10, 2024
Newington House is a house with a past, a house where the Madley family were horrifically murdered. It was over thirty years ago, but now Cass and James have agreed to house-sit in this same house. After travelling on the train and becoming a victim of theft by an unlikely fellow passenger, Cass starts to wonder if she has done the right thing, especially on her own, while James has to work. When Cass is in the house on her own she starts experiencing some strange and unexplained things happening including the clock always stopping at half past eight, shattering lightbulb in the cellar, the swing in the garden moving of its own accord, the smell of lemons, her paintbrushes being hidden and her hearing Rose's name. Cass doesn't know if all these these are somehow related to the house's past or in her own imagination. Cass and James start to investigate the history behind the previous owners, the Madleys, Jess is always concerned about how this house is affecting their lives, but James is always dismissing her fears. As this story pans out, it is filled with secrets and lies
This is a really good story, yes it's fast paced with lots of secrets, twists and turns, its also captivating and will keep you up into the small hours, and I truly couldn't put it down. I thought I had worked what happened in the house and what was going to happen at the end, but I was so wrong! Another smash hit, I'm sure, for Louise Jensen with this book.
#louisejenson
#theintruders
This is a really good story, yes it's fast paced with lots of secrets, twists and turns, its also captivating and will keep you up into the small hours, and I truly couldn't put it down. I thought I had worked what happened in the house and what was going to happen at the end, but I was so wrong! Another smash hit, I'm sure, for Louise Jensen with this book.
#louisejenson
#theintruders
June 1, 2024
Phew, this was a slooow burner. It takes until past the halfway point for anything to really happen, before that it’s all ‘bumps in the night’ type of thing.
The real issue with this book is that with multiple points of view and multiple timelines, the storyline becomes blurred and difficult to follow. There are too many lead players to shake a stick at, so as a reader I didn’t feel any real connection to any of them.
I’ve read quite a few of Jensen’s books now and some I’ve really enjoyed. She can write well paced, intriguing thrillers, that’s been proven. Unfortunately this one became something of a ‘throw in everything but the kitchen sink’ type of novels. In the latter third of the book, I was tired of it as the plot became increasingly tangled and distracting. It just didn’t work for me this time.
The real issue with this book is that with multiple points of view and multiple timelines, the storyline becomes blurred and difficult to follow. There are too many lead players to shake a stick at, so as a reader I didn’t feel any real connection to any of them.
I’ve read quite a few of Jensen’s books now and some I’ve really enjoyed. She can write well paced, intriguing thrillers, that’s been proven. Unfortunately this one became something of a ‘throw in everything but the kitchen sink’ type of novels. In the latter third of the book, I was tired of it as the plot became increasingly tangled and distracting. It just didn’t work for me this time.
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