La visita

by C.M. Ewan, Serena Tardioli (translator)

Restare sola con uno sconosciuto è la sua paura più grande. Da quando, due anni prima, Lucy ha subito un trauma di cui non ha ricordi, ogni giorno per lei è una sfida contro le sue insicurezze. Persino la sua stessa casa la mette a disagio, ecco perché ha deciso di venderla. Ma adesso Lucy non ha con il suo compagno bloccato al lavoro e l’agente immobiliare in ritardo, lei è l’unica che possa accogliere Donovan, un potenziale acquirente, e fargli fare la visita della casa. All’inizio, il turbamento che le provoca la presenza di quell’uomo sembra una «normale» reazione alle proprie fobie. A poco a poco, però, in Lucy si fa strada il sospetto che Donovan, così gentile e educato eppure così insistente, non sia lì per vedere la casa. C’è qualcosa che non torna nel suo atteggiamento, nelle sue domande, nel suo interesse per alcuni dettagli della vita privata di Lucy che va ben oltre quanto sarebbe lecito aspettarsi da un estraneo. E l’inquietudine si trasforma in terrore quando Donovan le rivela una verità sconcertante. Perché, in quel momento, Lucy si rende conto di essere in trappola…

Claustrofobico e ricco di tensione, La visita è un romanzo dal ritmo serratissimo che indaga con maestria gli angoli più oscuri dell’animo umano e in cui niente è come sembra.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2023

About the author

I write nerve-shredding thrillers about ordinary situations gone wrong -- the kind of thing that could happen to any of us!

My latest thriller THE INTERVIEW is about a seemingly normal job interview that turns out to be something very different and unexpected. It will be published in February 2022.

I'm also the author of A WINDOW BREAKS, a page-turning thriller that asks the question: what would you do if you woke up at 2 a.m. to hear somebody in your home?

I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.

You can contact me via:

my website www.chrisewan.com

on Twitter @chrisewan

on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor

or on Instagram @c.m.ewan

Writing as Chris Ewan, I'm also the author of SAFE HOUSE, DARK TIDES, DEAD LINE and LONG TIME LOST, as well as the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard.

THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... novels are warm, witty and perfect for fans of cosy mysteries. If you think you might like to try one, you can download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, a novella set during the Cannes film festival, by visiting my website www.chrisewan.com and joining my email newsletter.

I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.

Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! What a ride. This was seriously twisted and smart as well.

[Teju A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah..... this was very so so, not to talk of predictable as well. lots of plot holes and quite honestly a lot of "Yeah right, as if"😒

Wont bore you with the premise, I don't recommend it.

Solid 1.5 stars!

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunting for an intense and gripping thriller?

If so, this "Hunt" book is for you.

"The House Hunt" takes an ordinary moment — a simple house viewing — and twists it into a suffocating, addictive, and nerve-prickling thriller.

Characterizations were stellar.

Tension was built with microscopic precision.

The reveals came at exactly the right moments and hit with force.

Just when you thought you understood what’s happening, the narrative twisted AGAIN.

I dare you to guess the ending.

BE FOREWARNED:
The book showcased a heavy and disturbing psychological undercurrent -exploring trauma, manipulation, and the ways fear rewires the mind, very similar to books by author Lucinda Berry.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Christopher Bonwell and Tamaryn Payne.

Since the book unfolded from two POVs, the dual narration elevated the listening experience.

Both narrators gave outstanding performances.

Atmospheric, psychologically intense, and relentlessly suspenseful.

All the stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read and was shocked when saw I had just read 428 Pages, it seemed a lot less than that
It starts really well, a nervy character having to do her own house viewing while her boyfriend is running a self help group on phobias….and the man who comes to view the house is ‘off’ somehow, another one of those ‘something is about to happen please run away now’ kind of reads…as an aside the self help group chapters were very interesting, looking at the characters various phobias and how they were affecting their lives on a daily basis
Then we reach the crux of the matter and I don’t know, it’s viable and it was shocking but there was much, and I mean much adrenaline pumping, cortisol whizzing and varying descriptions of fear and anxiety that started to, tbh, get on my nerves!
A bit of a confusing last quarter and neat yet ‘oh right’ ending made this, for me,whilst at times a fascinating insight into the human mind at others an overly descriptive wordy read
I finished it though so on balance was just more positive than negative

[hollyreadit · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I say this book HOOKED me from the first page, that is not an exaggeration. I made the mistake of starting it last night, and I stayed up past my bedtime because I couldn’t put it down. This book is intense, thrilling, shocking and fast-paced. I’ve been looking for a book that was in the same realm as Look Closer by David Ellis - and this was it!

I had no idea where it was going and how everything was going to be connected, but everything came together perfectly and I just can’t recommend this book enough! I LOVED IT!

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 / 5

Beside being busy for this whole week, it took much longer to finish this book. It was like one confusing mind****. Honestly, the plot of this book and what Ewan wanted to do, did not work at all. It was messy, it was confusing and all round awkward to read. Just didn’t click with the book, got some serious off vibes.

The last book I’ve read of Ewan’s had a similar theme in this new book. Unpredictability. It’s like you turn up to a supermarket to grab some milk and end up with a toaster. It was that random. I hated how slow the book got at points. Just as the plot was building, developing at a cliff hanger Ewan would find ways to just dead the plot.

The book is centred around Lucy who’s in a relationship with Sam a professor at LSE. They’re planning on selling their house in London to go travelling across the world. One day whilst Sam is out to work, Lucy gets a call from her estate agent saying that she’s running late and asks if she can start the viewing alone with another man named Donovan. Somethings up, eventually Lucy asks Donovan to leave but he refuses. He begins to ask questions, when Lucy realises he was never interested in the house but Lucy herself.


Honestly, it’s not crazy bad but it’s not great. I wouldn’t recommend this book.

[Steve Denton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very good.
Nothing happens.
For a long time.

Read the blurb on this book’s page.
That is how the book is written.
One line.
Then another line underneath
Like a list.
Like a shopping list.
Or a to do list.

If this was written like a normal book.
It would only be 200 pages long.
Because
Every
Line
Is
A
Paragraph.

And
Nothing
Happens
For
Lots
And
Lots
Of
Pages.

Actual example - semi spoiler(there are so many):
That was when he heard it.
A low, humorous whisper.
A shushed giggle
Supressed giggles.
The Athlete and the Artist
Their bodies close
Their faces closer.
His hand circling her forearm just below the elbow.
The joint between her fingers

and another one (semi spolier)

I nudged him with my toe.
Nervous energy streaked up my leg.
No response.
I bent down and reached out immediately and then shook him by his shoulder.
Still nothing,
He wasn't faking.
He wouldn't be faking.
And not only that.
It wasn't accelerant.
It was blood.

Gripping, tense stuff eh.

I call this a supermarket book.
Some are good.
But I tend to stay away from them.
And this book is why.

Don’t
Buy
It

make a shopping list instead.

[Gina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Hunt
C.M. Ewan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This well crafted psychological thriller had my stomach in knots from start to finish. The chapters alternate between Lucy and Sam’s POV, pulling you deeper into a tense, twisty plot. I did figure out the twist but it didn’t take away from the ride one bit. If you love thrillers, this is a must read. Warning: if you’re prone to anxiety, prepare for some serious heart palpitations. Thanks to @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available Now! #BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #ThrillerBooks #BookTok #Bookstagram

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeitweise wollte ich das Buch echt an die Wand klatschen, weil der Text in den unmöglichsten (spannungs-)Situationen viel zu sehr in die Länge gezogen wurde. Den grossen Plottwist habe ich absolut nicht kommen sehen, daher war die Geschichte schon sehr raffiniert, auch, wenn ich ab der Hälfte einfach nurnoch fertig sein wollte. Dank der extrem kurzen Kapitel rast man glücklicherweise auch schnell durch die Seiten. Der Schreibstil war nicht so meins, aber wer Thriller mag, findet hier kurzweilige Unterhaltung.

[Alisonbookreviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different thriller. I didn't know where this was going.
Lucy and her bf were selling their house and the agent was going to be late.
When the buyer showed up, Lucy was hesitant to let him in.
Everything seemed normal until it wasn't.
The twist happens in the last three hours of the book. It was quite a twist and hard to predict.
Well written thriller that will leave you guessing

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I raced through this book in a few hours but it just didn't really work for me. Again, really interesting premise but the ending just didn't work.

No doubt some people will love it, but not for me

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn in by the cover of The House Hunt and this ended up being my first read by C.M. Ewan! I don’t know why I haven’t seen his books before, and I definitely want to read him again. I loved that this is told in two viewpoints, and the tension builds as we jump back and forth between Lucy and her boyfriend Sam. Lucy is freaked out at almost everything and you can feel the paranoia coming off her in waves. Sam’s POV was interesting as well thanks to the group he is leading where everyone has a phobia. Ewan did a great job at keeping the reader guessing, and the emotions were so vivid that I almost started looking behind my own self.

The audiobook was expertly voiced by Tamaryn Payne & Christopher Bonwell, and I loved them as the voices of Lucy and Sam. They portrayed their characters flawlessly and I especially loved Payne’s portrayal of Lucy. It made me a little jumpy, not gonna lie, and the audio is clearly the way to go here. The only thing I didn’t really understand is where the title The House Hunt came from, as it is someone trying to sell a house and not buy one. Never got that ah ha moment from the title, but that is a small thing. The storyline does get a little out there at the end and you do have to suspend disbelief, but the twists were twisty, and I loved the suspensefulness!

Read this if you are looking for a bingeable read with quick chapters, tension galore, and an over the top ending.

Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Hunt is a very fast paced thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. If I was a realtor I would think twice before showing a house these days. Lol I was a little confused at the end and for the reasons of the point of views but that’s why I’m giving this 4 stars. So many people said the end was jaw dropping but somehow I missed why it was jaw dropping. It’s also very long (432 pages) but I read the library book in 2 days. Could not put it down.

[Heather Cairns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and dragged on

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book is really short - for a reason. There isn’t a lot that can be said outside of the beginning, because this book will take you on a wild ride! Sam, a psychology professor, and Lucy, an interior designer, have been renovating a house that was given to Sam by his grandparents. The house is now done and perfect, but they realize they can’t afford to live there and decide to sell it.

Their real estate agent, Bethany, is running late, so she texted Lucy to tell her a man named Donovan is coming to look at the house. Lucy immediately panicked, as she has a lot of anxiety, especially about being around strangers. She was attacked in the past, and now has a lot of problems with PTSD, panic attacks, claustrophobia and amnesia.

Sam is at a group therapy session he runs for people with phobias, and won’t be home for hours, so after confirming with Bethany that the man standing at her door was the one interested in the house, she lets Donovan in, knowing Bethany will be there soon, and also knowing they need to sell they house as soon as they can. Soon, she realizes she’s made a potentially deadly mistake, when Donovan refuses to leave.

This was definitely a page-turner, and a quick read with a lot of suspense. What does Donovan want with Lucy? You’ll find out, and it’s slightly confusing at first, but intriguing. I’m not sure that I cared for the ending; it tried to tie everything up perfectly, but it felt a little forced. Still, this was quite the entertaining read! Four stars.

(Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, C.M. Ewan and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 27, 2024.)

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

From start to finish this was bonkers! 2.5 stars rounded up as I did want to see it resolved.
Our main character has anxiety and has been treated for her phobia of being watched. Her boyfriend, Sam, is a therapist specialising in phobias and seems reluctant to believe her fears. At the start of the book he is heading to a support group, and she is at their home waiting for someone to come and view it.
The estate agent calls to say she’ll be delayed. With reluctance, our main character agrees to show Donovan around.
Upon his arrival things seem okay. She soon becomes worried. When he disappears into the basement and then appears to have drugged the estate agent we fear the worst. We soon realise this is the beginning of the nightmare.
The structuring of the story is important as it did rather blindside me to what was actually happening. However, the plot went beyond preposterous and I kept reading to see just how beyond crazy this would go.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claustrophobic and tense read. Cleverly written and packed with twists.

Lucy and Sam are selling their newly renovated house and plan to go travelling. One day, estate agent Bethany rings to say she is held up so can Lucy start the viewing.

Lucy is extremely reluctant but hasn't told Bethany about her fears and anxiety. She manages to pull herself together enough to show the potential buyer around. Immediately her nerves are on edge but she tells herself she can't afford to put off the buyer by acting strangely.

Meanwhile, Sam is holding a support group to help people with their irrational fears. His knowledge has proved invaluable in understanding Lucy's condition too, but now it seems they are both in danger.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book! This is inevitable definitely not to be missed. It's cleverly written and keeps up a good pace throughout. There's an underlying atmosphere of tension and the storytelling is so vivid that it's like actually being there with the characters. Or at least watching it all play out on TV. The twists and turns in this are nothing short of masterful, ots amazingly well plotted out and executed. I read this whilst on the treadmill and I've never felt an hr fly by so quickly. It's impossible not to get completely lost in the story and to become invested in the outcome. The characters are so well written and human that it makes relating to them incredibly easy. This is what all other domestic thrillers aspire to be! An absolute must read

[Bookish_Aly_Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very first page! This fast-paced thriller was intense and had me on the edge of my seat. I was so curious how the dual POV was going to play into the plot and it came together perfectly in the end. There were quite a few twists in this one that really had me flipping pages fast to see how it was all going to come together.

Read this if you like:
→ Psychological thrillers
→ Tense atmosphere
→ Dual POV
→ Twists and turns

I absolutely loved this one and if you are a thriller lover like me, you should enjoy it too.

Thank you @grandcentralpub for sending me a gifted copy of the book.

[Kyky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich mochte "Etage 13" von C. M. Ewan nicht, wollte ihm aber noch mal 'ne Chance geben. Tja, das war's dann.
Der Thriller war unrealistisch und die Story kam ewig nicht voran. Man hätte den größten Teil eigentlich mit "Nein - Doch - Nein - Doch" abkürzen können, das Ergebnis wäre dasselbe.
Den Plottwist hab ich schon fast von Anfang an gesehen, also eine Überraschung gab's dann auch nicht.

[Lauryn]

So good!! The plot twists 🤯

[Naomi Coupland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another one where I just got a bit lost with the plot! Finished it in a couple of days as wanted to get to the end to be honest!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5



This was a pretty original thriller, I truly didn’t know where it was going at any point so it definitely kept me on my toes. The tension was really strong, especially in the beginning when you have no idea what is going on but as things progressed I got a little lost. It was slightly convoluted and almost too tied up in the very end but it was fast paced, unique and suspenseful.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy e Sam hanno deciso di vendere la casa in cui vivono nel centro di Londra, dopo averla ristrutturata da cima a fondo. Lucy fa molta fatica a restare da sola con persone sconosciute, dopo una vicenda traumatica avvenuta qualche anno prima, ma quando Bethany, l'agente immobiliare, la avverte che non riuscirà ad arrivare in tempo per l'appuntamento con un potenziale acquirente, capisce che non ha scelta: se vuole avere una possibilità di vendita la casa deve mostrargliela lei, perché Sam è occupato a condurre una riunione del gruppo di sostegno per persone con fobie all'università di psicologia, dove insegna. Quando la visita è quasi giunta al termine, però, Lucy capisce che l'interesse dell'acquirente non è esattamente per la casa...
Wow. Ho scelto di leggere un thriller psicologico perché di solito è il genere che più di tutti sa tenermi con il fiato sospeso e incollata alle pagine, ma questa volta davvero credo di aver battuto ogni mio record! Ho divorato questo romanzo in poche ore, come non mi capitava da tempo. La storia comincia lentamente, ma dopo le prime cinquanta pagine sfido chiunque a non voler capire che cosa abbia in mente Donovan, il "potenziale acquirente". Lo stile è essenziale e veloce, le parti con il punto di vista di Lucy sono incalzanti ma anche quelle con protagonista Sam non scherzano. L'ambientazione è claustrofobica al punto giusto, mi sono sentita in ansia con Lucy dall'inizio alla fine. Poi, non so se sono io che sono stata completamente ipnotizzata dalla vicenda, ma il colpo di scena non l'avevo proprio minimamente previsto, e a mio parere è stato perfettamente congegnato. Ragazzi, se cercate un libro adrenalinico, che vi tiri fuori da un blocco del lettore o che semplicemente non vi faccia pensare a nient'altro per tutta la sua durata (occhio se avete qualcosa sul fuoco!) leggete questo. Secondo me è davvero imperdibile.

[Francine Shine · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t put it down. suspense at its finest. worth the read for sure if you like stories where you’re never quite sure who is behind the hunt.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook 4 stars! This was a great psychological thriller.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad I received a finished copy of this book - many thanks to @grandcentralpub #partner

The House Hunt

The start of this book really started to irritate me. It was like a rollercoaster that’s trying to build enough momentum to make it over that hill lift but it just can’t seem to. So it gets really close to finally hitting that downward rush but then just rolls back down. Now repeat this by 483838838283.

If you find yourself feeling this way push through it. I promise it will be worth it. Because WOW! This book was so good once it got going.

What I thought were practical twists that we could see coming turned out to be mind blowing twists instead. What is predictable — what you think is coming — is not where the story goes.

And this is why I love this authors work. Specifically his thrillers. I first heard of this author when I got the audiobook for A Window Breaks but now I’ve ordered a few other of his books and can’t wait to read them. Thanks to Amazon UK! Because I had a hard time finding copies a year ago.

This story is expertly plotted and deals with many phobias. I enjoyed the scientific aspect of this book just as much as the thrill.

Not to steal Lee Child’s words (but I totally am because it describes this author and his work to a tee) “Ewan is a genius.”

Def recommend this one!

#grandcentralpub #thehousehunt

[Anja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Den Twist hab ich nicht kommen sehen, trotzdem hat mir die erste Hälfte besser gefallen. Mir hat ein bisschen ein ausführlicherer Grund dafür gefehlt warum er tat, was er tat.

[Jukebook_juliet · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5/5 🌟

[Bookstarreviews_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

An incredibly enticing and fast paced thriller! 😍

I absolutely love this type of thriller with really short and snappy chapters, multiple POVs and so much curiosity-inducing action. I was hooked immediately and Ewan never lost my attention.

Your estate agent calls. She’s running late and needs you to show a man around your home. You let him in and begin the tour. But something about him feels wrong... You ask him to leave and he refuses.
Then he tells you something about you. Something inconceivable. And then you realize... He doesn’t want your house. He wants YOU.

Ewan built an ever-increasing claustrophobic atmosphere and I really enjoyed this. I was frightened for Lucy and this atmosphere further ramped up the proximity I felt with her as I also felt trapped in not only the house, but also the tension.

I really liked Sam’s chapters and found the phobia and obsessive thoughts sections really interesting. I wondered how everything would connect as I could not truly pinpoint what was occurring and was constantly guessing. I thought it was cleverly delivered.

There were a few big twists in this psychological thriller and this alongside the suspense worked incredibly well. I found myself annoyed at the first big twist, but as I continued reading, I became more fond of it. By the last quarter, I truly whizzed through the pages, scrambling to uncover everything. The plot became slightly far fetched, but this had no impact on my enjoyment of the read.

I buddy read this with @mynextreads for our first buddy read of the year, and we both enjoyed this book. I loved Ewan’s writing style and I am really looking forward to exploring more of his work as it’s addictive!

I recommend this thriller that makes a brilliant and quick read! 🔥

💬: ‘Because just as a tiny flying insect might irritate you but can't do you any real harm, neither can the thoughts you're having. They're just that. Thoughts.’

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️