The Dream Home

by T.M. Logan

IF YOU HAD NEVER OPENED THE DOOR, YOUR FAMILY WOULD BE SAFE . . .

THE UNMISSABLE NEW THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING MASTER OF THE UP-ALL-NIGHT THRILLER

Adam and Jess, along with their three children, move into a beautiful new home: a rambling Victorian house in a nice neighbourhood, right at the top of their price range. Then Adam discovers a door hidden behind a fitted wardrobe, concealing a secret room . . .

But like the house, Adam has his secrets too. And soon he will find himself setting in motion a series of events that will place his family in terrible danger . . .

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

432 pages, Paperback

First published February 29, 2024

About the author

Tim’s thrillers have sold more than three million copies in the UK and are published in translation in 22 other countries including Italy, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, South Korea, Romania and the Netherlands.

His 2025 novel, THE DAUGHTER, opens as Lauren arrives to pick up her daughter from university at the end of her first term – only to find a stranger answering the door. Evie’s not there, has not been there for weeks, in fact she's vanished without trace. With her young son in tow, Lauren sets off on a desperate search into the dark heart of London to find Evie before she’s lost forever…

His previous novel, THE DREAM HOME, is about a family who move into a rambling Victorian house hoping it will be their 'forever home'. But it's not long before they start to uncover secrets contained within those walls, including a hidden room on the top floor. And by the time they realise the past is better left buried, it's already too late...

THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama starring Jill Halfpenny (currently available on Netflix UK).

THE CATCH, about a father convinced his daughter is about to marry a man with terrible secrets, has also been made into a TV drama starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton (also on Netflix UK).

His other books are THE MOTHER, THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.

Tim was born in Berkshire and studied in London and Cardiff before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children, and writes in a cabin in the corner of his garden.

For exclusive writing and new releases from TM Logan, sign up to the Readers’ Club: www.bit.ly/TMLogan.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars *

91 Regency Place is a rather down at heel rambling Victorian Villa, but it’s in the smartest part of town, and will eventually be brought back to its former grandeur by its new owners, Adam, Jess and their three kids - but 91 Regency Place has some hidden secrets, all of which are about to be revealed!

Adam discovers a hidden door behind some fitted wardrobes. Behind the door is a small room containing an old armchair, a side table and a dresser. Inside the dresser Adam finds a wallet, an antique watch, an old mobile phone, a scarf, a key, and a dog collar - and so the mystery begins! Why has someone taken such trouble to create a secret room, and exactly who did these items belong to, just what does it all mean?
Well, Adam is about to find out, much to his and his family’s cost!

T M Logan certainly knows how to write a terrific domestic thriller - this is fast paced, and full of tension. ‘The Dream Home’ is the epitome of a page turner! Highly recommended.

*Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favorite by the author. I couldn’t fully engage and wasn’t very curious about what had happened in the house. Still some thrilling moments, though.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
Adam and Jess Wylie and their three children move into a doer-upper Victorian Villa in The Park, Nottingham, which trust me, is THE place to live with its close proximity to the castle and the city. On the top floor, Adam dismantles a wardrobe which is fitted to some wall panelling, and here he finds a hidden door concealing a room behind. This contains some furnishings, including a Welsh dresser in whose drawer Adam discovers some random items, including a Rolex watch, an address and an old flip phone. Jess wants him to get rid of the items (maybe not the Rolex!) and get on with helping with the laborious moving in process, but Adam is intrigued and wants to find us answers to the mystery of the concealed room and the potential secrets it contains. Ultimately, he will sincerely wish he had done as Jess asks.

TM Logan never disappoints, I always look forward to reading what he comes up with next, and this is another cracking read. Right from the dismantling at the start, I’m hooked and just as intrigued as Adam, so I’d probably have egged him on! The more he digs the more questions than answers are revealed and as threat levels rise, it becomes clear this is not the dream home they wish for. It’s also fair to say that Adam is obsessed and it does cost him dearly.

Although tension and suspense is one of the authors trademarks, this one is an especially suspenseful, it’s creepy right from the start and the dial on the chill factor keeps getting turned up higher and higher. There’s a good mix of the deeply weird, there are some alarming discoveries and occurrences , an ever increasing sense of paranoia and constant questioning of who can be trusted. It’s all told at a good pace, there are plenty of plot elements to keep your gripped and page turning. As for the outcome, that is nicely played as I don’t see that coming, but it makes so much sense.

Finally, the setting of this is superb, The Park, the house itself and the Nottingham environs are utilised to the max in this very good mystery thriller. Highly recommended to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bonnier Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 8 by this author and have loved all previous 7
This one I liked, it was a fine story of a new house, a hidden room and secrets from the past
I found it a bit juddery as it randomly went to new characters ( new to the story but old as in the house’s history )and situations and also found it over descriptive and repetitive, however the writing is good so you don’t mind so much I guess
The author is fab and so will leave it there and look forward to Book 9 😎

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

There, easily read, I skipped about 250 pages in a 380 something pages book and in the end nothing much happened, or I couldn’t be bothered as I lost interest. The main character was flawed, lied to his wife (no spoilers as it is revealed early in the book) and other minor character short comings and nothing wrong in that, just watch the Tom Ripley series on Netflix, he is still fascinating and unpredictable, I haven’t read the book though, and I am not inclined to do it, I would rather watch the Matt Damon-version with Jude Law, actually I would watch anything with Jude Law, such a marvellous actor (do people still use this word? Or does my use of it show that I am boomer? I just read that Paul McCartney says in his book ‘Lyrics’ that he is being called a boomer and he is closer to my mum in age, anyway I am rambling😀)
So my main complaint is that this book is boring.

[Holly B]

Look who has a new book coming in Feb 2024! 🎉

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dream Home is a suspenseful and psychological novel about married couple Adam and Jess and their three children who have just moved into a Victorian property in Nottingham. While moving boxes, Adam discovers that one of the rooms is smaller than it should be and that there is a hidden room that has been boarded up.

After opening the hidden door, he finds a musty room that contains an bureau, a chair, and not much else apart from some knick-knacks in the drawers, including a Rolex watch, a dog collar, a scarf, and an old mobile phone. Adam becomes fixated with the items and the room, and he and Jess call the only number stored in the phone.

What happens next is a creepy turn of events including hidden cameras, items going missing, and noises in the house. Adam was about to wish he had never found the room, let alone mess with the items within.

The Dream Home is filled with twists, turns, and secrets aplenty. Adam was a strange character the more I read of him the less I liked him but I was also intrigued by the items he found and the room and couldn’t wait to discover why they had been hidden.

I loved that we also got to read some short chapters from the person who knows all about the room. These added to the overall creepiness of the story and kept me engaged and wanting to know more.

Overall, this fast-paced novel kept me entertained from beginning to end. The house might have started as a dream purchase but by the end, it certainly turned out more of a nightmare.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

🏠Adam and Jess are excited to move into their dream home. However, this dream home has secrets to reveal when a concealed room is found soon after Adam and Jess move in. What follows is an up-all-night style domestic thriller, where danger and risk become a part of this family’s life. T.M. Logan has composed yet another suspense-filled episode with his latest thriller.

🏠A Victorian home is always going to gain my attention, I have long been fascinated by these old housing plans since I lived in the UK some twenty years ago now. Old houses from the Victorian period were pretty common in the area I lived in and definitely provided plenty of imagination to this teenager growing up in a small south of London village. Although I don’t live in the UK anymore, I love to read books about these mysterious abodes. I loved that Logan tapped into this scenario in his latest novel.

🏠I was able to picture the location and specific home setting of this novel easily thanks to Logan's generous writing. I felt like I was a removalist there on the day that Adam, Jess and their young family begin their journey in their new home. I felt the rush of stress, nerves and tension associated with settling into a new pad. Logan makes us part of this big event and we are easily placed in the main character Adam’s shoes. Adam was an intriguing lead, making several mistakes following the discovery of a secret area of his home. In some ways I felt sorry for him and his wife, other times I was a little infuriated by his actions! However, the race to the finish line, where all is revealed about the home in question was well worth my time.

🏠For those who love a good property-based thriller, The Dream Home offers plenty of page appeal!

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed this author and his latest psychological standalone thriller is another addictive page turner.

I love the simple premise as Adam and his family move into a beautiful house that is at the top of their price range.
Adam soon discovers a hidden door fitted into a wardrobe with seven secret items concealed in a room.
Amongst the items includes a rolex watch and an old style mobile phone that triggers a series of events that will put his family in danger.

It's not just the house that holds secrets as Adam has just recently lost his job, so it's easy to see his motivation for selling the valuable watch to give him some breathing space.
Though the longer he hides the fact from wife Jess, the deeper trouble he gets into.

The tension is well realised as someone is desperate to get their items back, the stakes keep rising as the novel twists and turns as to who could be behind the threats.
The climax is well handled and and the conclusion is satisfying.
Another strong mystery with well written characters, a great intense read.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to start but ramps up to a wild ending

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was built on a great premise, and the early chapters really scaffolded the tension. But I found it a little slow in some parts. A very dramatic ending and one that didn’t disappoint.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

T.M. Logan is usually the master of pacing - I've been gripped by all his books except The Holiday - but The Dream Home is another rare Logan dud. The premise is promising. Adam moves into a new house with his family and discovers a secret room that looks like it hasn't been touched for decades. In the room, he finds a collection of strange and mostly valueless objects - a watch, an old Nokia phone, a scarf, an empty wallet. Having recently lost his job, Adam decides to investigate these objects, but when he receives a mysterious text message on the ancient phone, he starts to wonder if his family is in danger.

The Dream Home spins its wheels until we're almost halfway through, inexplicably holding back a key reveal about the objects that finally sets the plot in motion. There were the makings of a tense thriller here, but it takes so long to get going, and then doesn't spend enough time on the good stuff, as Adam puts the pieces together too easily. I was also annoyed by the lost-his-job plot, which doesn't go anywhere and felt like an awkward contrivance to explain why he spends so much time trying to work out where these objects came from, and why he gets rid of one of them early in the book. It's basically lampshading, as his behaviour still doesn't quite add up. Disappointing, but I'll still look out for more from Logan. If you want to read one of my favourites, I loved 29 Seconds, Trust Me and The Curfew.

I received a free proof copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read most of this author’s books and have enjoyed every one. In my view, Tim Logan is the UK’s Linwood Barclay. His books feature ordinary people in the most extraordinary of situations and The Dream Home is the most mysterious and menacing yet.

91 Regency Place, a large Victorian villa has dark secrets and when new owner Adam makes an unusual discovery, he should really have left well alone. But of course he doesn’t, he is that person who has to delve further. He and his wife Jess innocently make a call to a phone number which kicks off a string of events and puts the whole family in danger. The house of their dreams has led them into a nightmare. Adam is not perfect however and I was disappointed in him for hiding secrets of his own.

Interrupting the main story are short background snippets and it didn’t take long to suspect the relevance that these had to the story. Adam becomes obsessed with investigating the past and some of his actions cause events to spiral out of control. There were times when I worried for him and felt he was making bad decisions but that gives realism, after all he was just an ordinary bloke, not a superhero with experience of dealing with the darker side of life.

A good book for me is one that I want to keep picking up. I was hooked on this story, suspecting everyone and trusting no-one. I had suspicions about the what but the why and who kept me guessing. I think this is possibly the darkest of his books I’ve so far read and I very much enjoyed it. The descriptions of the house in its Nottingham setting give that atmospheric vibe. If you want a suspenseful thriller that has pace with underlying menace then do pick up The Dream Home.

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5

Honestly, I found this book extremely convoluted and exhausting to read through. It was slow, but just felt repetitive - not too sure if it’s the writing style which I didn’t click with as much. This book does play on your ability to trust, trust of your neighbours and the people you encounter. I found it boring at parts where the plot plateau. And to top that all up the plot was alittle too predictable, at first it low-key felt horror-esc paranormal activity style but as we learn more of
Adam and his family it strays away quickly.

The plot of this book isn’t anything different or unique, if someone were to ask me what’s the plot in the next 2 months I’ll most likely forget because nothing really stood out. It’s just meh, read at your own curiosity I suppose.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! Totally gripping from start to finish.

[Catherine Craig (Angelic Light) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this thriller, which is about a man called Adam, his wife Jess and their three children, who move into a new house. They find a secret hidden area in the house, which contains different treasures that hold secrets, and these treasures lead to surprises. The book is full of mystery, secrets, tension and suspense, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I have read other books by this author, and they have all been fantastic. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy going thriller read based in Nottingham, fast paced and enjoyable

[DJO · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was interesting and held my attention throughout, but in the grand scheme, it did not work for me. I think my biggest issue was the exasperating protagonist. He was overly flawed. He lied to his wife, endangered his family, and constantly put himself in danger. I definitely could not connect to him or his Scooby Doo proclivities. I was so over him by book's end.

The last 20ish% gave me whiplash trying to keep up with all the gotcha moments. I absolutely did not guess the bad guy which, okay, kudos to the author but then again I never guess the bad guy even when it’s obvious, so no big accomplishment there.

There were lots of things I didn’t understand and were left unanswered. The victim flashback chapters left me particularly confused. In these brief chapters, each victim alluded to someone in their life that they had either become close with or had recently met (Adrien and the girl with the lost dog, the gay young adult man who alluded to falling for someone, the older woman and her new love). I assumed these unknown alluded-to people were somehow involved in the murders but...apparently not?? Who was the girl with the lost dog? Who did the young man fall for?? I was so confused by this.

Not a terrible story but my exasperation with the MC and these other frustrating bits and bobs kept me from fully enjoying the story.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

When you are searching for a new dream home, then most houses have history from the family who have lived there before. Adam and Jess move into their new house with their three young children, and it won't take long for Adam to discover a secret room. He discovers there a wallet, an antique watch, an old mobile phone and a dog collar, all forgotten and left behind. Why? Adam is fascinated by all those items and start to look for the answers. How they came to be inside the hidden room? The more he learns, the more dangerous his search become because his dream house carry many dangerous secrets someone want to keep hidden at all cost...

This story hooked me from the beginning but then it got a bit slow and drawn out. I kinda miss T.M. Logan's thrillers that were written from a woman's perspective-somehow those were more compelling and relatable.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

TM Logan is one of those authors that always delivers and this was a very suspenseful mystery which I think fans of his will very much enjoy

After moving into his dream home with his family, Adam comes across a hidden room where he uncovers a few strange, random items. When he starts to look into them (and sell one of them) he quickly realises their importance to other people and the lengths that they will go to get them back.

Whilst some of his decisions were a bit dubious, by nature I am a very curious person so I was very much rooting for Adam in his search for the truth. Whilst I felt the story did get a little confusing at some points (it may just have been me) it was a thrilling climax.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Val Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that rocks you to your foundations!!

Wow, what a book, absolutely loved this. Might be TM Logan's best book yet.

Adam, Jess and their family have just moved to their dream home and find a hidden room behind a wardrobe with some unusual items, which Adam is keen to find out more about. The more he investigates, the more fascinated he becomes, with some very interesting and scary times ahead for all.

Incredibly spooky and so many twists, you'll end up lost, particularly that ending. Hope The Dream Home makes it the small screen too with a such a great storyline. I really felt like I was there. Great writing from TM Logan.

A big thanks to Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for the opportunity to read this fantastic review title ahead of publication date.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off well enough - family father discovers a hidden room in his new house and some random items - but soon had me squirming from boredom. That the family soon faces threats doesn’t help, I just couldn’t care less. This author has delivered consistently up to now, so I’m disappointed.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 1 out of 5]

T M Logan…… I picked up this book to get myself out of my book slump and this was unbelievably disappointing. You are usually a guaranteed go to for a great book but what was this chaos? A weak storyline, confusing jumping back and forth and a weak, abstract ending.

I do not recommend this book at all

[Mandy Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Couldn’t put it down and I read it in one go and only paused to eat my dinner 😂😂 It kept me guessing until the end and I had no idea who the killer was. Another brilliant book from TM Logan.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this story frustrated me at people's stupidity at allowing strangers into their home. Apart from that this was a good story with plenty of twists.

[Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 4*
Characters: 4*
Setting: 3*

Having only read one previous book by this author, I jumped at the chance to read this and it didn't disappoint. Ive recently been growing a bit tired of domestic thrillers, they can be a bit samey, and the whole lieing to your spouse thing is grating, but this was excellently done here. I liked all the characters, and there were a few, and was rooting for the MC throughout. The twists and turns were great and the big reveal at the end fooled me, I didnt see it coming. If youve read any of his others and enjoyed them you will not be disappointed with this fast paced read.

[WhatMichaelaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded down

Gold star domestic thriller!!

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit of a slow start, was enjoyable 3.5 stars

[Briony B (BE) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars from me! A real page turner!!

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twisty thriller, that was a little slow in the start, but a rollercoaster read by the end.