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The Housemate
Three housemates – one dead, one missing and one accused of murder.
Journalist Olive Groves worked on the “Housemate Homicide” story as a junior reporter and became obsessed with the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property sparking controversy and begging the question – what really happened between the three housemates that night? Olive is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious and overly eager millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.
As Olive and Cooper unearth new facts about the story, a dark web of secrets is uncovered, forcing Olive to confront her own past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface. As she delves deeper than ever before, will Olive’s suspicions threaten her future happiness and even her sanity? And will her relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger?
Journalist Olive Groves worked on the “Housemate Homicide” story as a junior reporter and became obsessed with the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property sparking controversy and begging the question – what really happened between the three housemates that night? Olive is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious and overly eager millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.
As Olive and Cooper unearth new facts about the story, a dark web of secrets is uncovered, forcing Olive to confront her own past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface. As she delves deeper than ever before, will Olive’s suspicions threaten her future happiness and even her sanity? And will her relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger?
457 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2021
204 people are currently reading
4889 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Bailey
7 books831 followersSarah Bailey is a Melbourne-based writer with a background in advertising and communications. She has three sons and is currently the Managing Director of the Melbourne and Sydney offices of advertising agency VML and the founder of social media brand and podcast, He Read, She Read. Her internationally award-winning Gemma Woodstock series includes The Dark Lake, published in 2017 and winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction and the Davitt Award for Best Debut, followed by Into the Night in 2018, Where the Dead Go in 2019, and Body of Lies in 2024. Sarah has also published the bestselling The Housemate and Audible original Final Act in 2021. Click is the second book featuring journalist Oli Groves.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 574 reviews
August 9, 2024
The Housemate is an engrossing suspense-thriller read, the latest in a growing sub-genre featuring investigative journalists and podcasters as protagonist-sleuths.
Melbourne-based investigative journalist Olive "Oli" Groves was a junior reporter when she attended a brutal murder scene at a student share house in St. Kilda in 2005, ten years prior to the main narrative of The Housemate. The crime captured public attention at the time and has become notorious, referred to as "The Housemate Homicide" in the media, with one young woman dead, one missing and the other convicted of murder.
Now somewhat higher in the journalistic hierarchy, and based at a different news company, Oli is recalled to the story when an apparent suicide is reported in bush north of Melbourne, with evidence indicating that the victim is missing housemate, Nicole Horrowitz. However, on the orders of her editor, Oli is reluctantly paired with up-and-coming digital journalist Cooper Ng. He's about to start recording a podcast series focussed on the Housemate Homicide, and has snared an interview with the reclusive once-convicted killer, Alex Riboni, who was released on appeal after serving only three years of her sentence. Cooper is super-keen and excited to be paired with veteran journalist Oli, who finds him irritating in the extreme. However, their skills and strengths turn out to be surprisingly complementary, as they dig into the story surrounding the suicide and attempt to uncover where Nicole has been during the intervening 10 years.
Running parallel with Oli and Cooper's investigation of the Housemate Homicide is a narrative thread focused on Oli's rather pressured personal life. She's fairly recently entered into a domestic relationship with Dean, a man with whom she has a somewhat dishonourable romantic history, and his 6-year-old twin daughters from his first marriage. Dean's late wife was none other than Isabelle Yardley, the tenacious detective who originally investigated the Housemate Homicide. Oli's obsession with the case becomes inextricably tangled with her insecurities concerning the late Isabelle and her priorities begin to blur when she discovers Isabelle's own notebooks concerning the case.
There are plenty of shocking twists and turns as Oli probes the case, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with a devious criminal.
The Housemate is an engrossing and compulsive read from start to end, with engaging protagonists, a suitably twisted plot and an interesting insight into the pressures of working in print journalism in the digital age. I'd highly recommend the book to all lovers of contemporary Aussie Noir. Readers who enjoy Chris Hammer, Jane Harper and Val McDermid will love this!
Melbourne-based investigative journalist Olive "Oli" Groves was a junior reporter when she attended a brutal murder scene at a student share house in St. Kilda in 2005, ten years prior to the main narrative of The Housemate. The crime captured public attention at the time and has become notorious, referred to as "The Housemate Homicide" in the media, with one young woman dead, one missing and the other convicted of murder.
Now somewhat higher in the journalistic hierarchy, and based at a different news company, Oli is recalled to the story when an apparent suicide is reported in bush north of Melbourne, with evidence indicating that the victim is missing housemate, Nicole Horrowitz. However, on the orders of her editor, Oli is reluctantly paired with up-and-coming digital journalist Cooper Ng. He's about to start recording a podcast series focussed on the Housemate Homicide, and has snared an interview with the reclusive once-convicted killer, Alex Riboni, who was released on appeal after serving only three years of her sentence. Cooper is super-keen and excited to be paired with veteran journalist Oli, who finds him irritating in the extreme. However, their skills and strengths turn out to be surprisingly complementary, as they dig into the story surrounding the suicide and attempt to uncover where Nicole has been during the intervening 10 years.
Running parallel with Oli and Cooper's investigation of the Housemate Homicide is a narrative thread focused on Oli's rather pressured personal life. She's fairly recently entered into a domestic relationship with Dean, a man with whom she has a somewhat dishonourable romantic history, and his 6-year-old twin daughters from his first marriage. Dean's late wife was none other than Isabelle Yardley, the tenacious detective who originally investigated the Housemate Homicide. Oli's obsession with the case becomes inextricably tangled with her insecurities concerning the late Isabelle and her priorities begin to blur when she discovers Isabelle's own notebooks concerning the case.
There are plenty of shocking twists and turns as Oli probes the case, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with a devious criminal.
The Housemate is an engrossing and compulsive read from start to end, with engaging protagonists, a suitably twisted plot and an interesting insight into the pressures of working in print journalism in the digital age. I'd highly recommend the book to all lovers of contemporary Aussie Noir. Readers who enjoy Chris Hammer, Jane Harper and Val McDermid will love this!
December 20, 2025
Sarah Bailey is one of my very favourite Australian writers. Her Gemma Woodstock crime series is firmly up there in my all time favourite series. The Housemate is a standalone crime novel and it is fantastic.
I found it very hard to put down, needing to know what would happen next. It is full of twists and surprises so even though you might think you have it all worked out you will most likely be wrong. A cast of great characters and a story that could be ripped straight from the newspapers today, Sarah has another hit on her hands.
The Housemate is told from the pov of Olive Groves, an investigative journalist in Melbourne. 9 years ago she worked on The Housemates Homicide as it was dubbed by the papers. 3 women sharing a house in St Kilda - one murdered, one missing. Now, almost a decade later, the missing housemate is found dead on a property in rural Victoria. Olive has been obsessed with the case this whole time and now she gets the chance to write about it again. Her paper throws her together with Cooper Ng, who is working on a podcast on the case, something she is not happy about but they make a great team.
I loved the character of Cooper. He is was funny and smart and liked to wind Oli up. He is the future of news reporting and Oli just wants to stick with print media. Their relationship was really enjoyable. As they dig deeper, all is not as it first seemed and things get dangerous for all concerned.
It is hard to express just how great this story is. There is alot that I can't say without spoiling it so you are just going to have to get yourself a copy of The Housemate on August 31st to read for yourself. And while you are at it, grab the Gemma Woodstock series if you haven't already. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much to Allen and Unwin for sending me an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated books of 2021. It did not disappoint
I found it very hard to put down, needing to know what would happen next. It is full of twists and surprises so even though you might think you have it all worked out you will most likely be wrong. A cast of great characters and a story that could be ripped straight from the newspapers today, Sarah has another hit on her hands.
The Housemate is told from the pov of Olive Groves, an investigative journalist in Melbourne. 9 years ago she worked on The Housemates Homicide as it was dubbed by the papers. 3 women sharing a house in St Kilda - one murdered, one missing. Now, almost a decade later, the missing housemate is found dead on a property in rural Victoria. Olive has been obsessed with the case this whole time and now she gets the chance to write about it again. Her paper throws her together with Cooper Ng, who is working on a podcast on the case, something she is not happy about but they make a great team.
I loved the character of Cooper. He is was funny and smart and liked to wind Oli up. He is the future of news reporting and Oli just wants to stick with print media. Their relationship was really enjoyable. As they dig deeper, all is not as it first seemed and things get dangerous for all concerned.
It is hard to express just how great this story is. There is alot that I can't say without spoiling it so you are just going to have to get yourself a copy of The Housemate on August 31st to read for yourself. And while you are at it, grab the Gemma Woodstock series if you haven't already. I promise that you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much to Allen and Unwin for sending me an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated books of 2021. It did not disappoint
December 8, 2021
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The Housemate by Sarah Bailey. (2021).
3 housemates: 1 dead, 1 missing and 1 accused of murder. Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a baffling mystery. Melbourne-based journalist Oli worked on the story originally and 9 years later when the missing housemate turns up dead she is again assigned to it, this time with millennial podcaster Cooper. New facts show a dark web of secrets being uncovered and the revelations catapult Oli back in time and force her to confront past traumas and insecurities. What really happened with the housemates? Is Oli putting her new family in danger? Could her suspicion that the truth lies close to home threaten her happiness and sanity?
This book is by an author who has already cemented her place in the Australian crime scene, but this is her first that I've picked up. I'll have to aim to to read her backlist as I quite enjoyed this book. Alternating between 2005 and 2015, we follow Olive AKA Oli, a journalist who is assigned to the 'Housemate Homicide' case. The details of the case are complex and with many unknowns, which of course makes for a riveting tale full of big twists and huge secrets being revealed. Oli herself has some personal drama in adjusting to life with her partner and his two children and juggling her partner's expectations with what she really wants. Even though the book is over 450 pages long, I flew through it.
Overall: I'd happily recommend this novel to any reader that enjoys an engaging crime story.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Housemate by Sarah Bailey. (2021).
3 housemates: 1 dead, 1 missing and 1 accused of murder. Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a baffling mystery. Melbourne-based journalist Oli worked on the story originally and 9 years later when the missing housemate turns up dead she is again assigned to it, this time with millennial podcaster Cooper. New facts show a dark web of secrets being uncovered and the revelations catapult Oli back in time and force her to confront past traumas and insecurities. What really happened with the housemates? Is Oli putting her new family in danger? Could her suspicion that the truth lies close to home threaten her happiness and sanity?
This book is by an author who has already cemented her place in the Australian crime scene, but this is her first that I've picked up. I'll have to aim to to read her backlist as I quite enjoyed this book. Alternating between 2005 and 2015, we follow Olive AKA Oli, a journalist who is assigned to the 'Housemate Homicide' case. The details of the case are complex and with many unknowns, which of course makes for a riveting tale full of big twists and huge secrets being revealed. Oli herself has some personal drama in adjusting to life with her partner and his two children and juggling her partner's expectations with what she really wants. Even though the book is over 450 pages long, I flew through it.
Overall: I'd happily recommend this novel to any reader that enjoys an engaging crime story.
February 25, 2025
EXCERPT: Oli comes to an abrupt halt. Through the trees she spies the distinctive blue-and-white chequered police tape and, beyond that, a cluster of people. Two cops in uniform and two male detectives in suits and winter coats stand a little further along.
'Bowman.' Cooper points to the right of the group, where Gregory Bowman's white hair glows through the trees.
Oli's pulse picks up again. She ducks down and creeps further along the fence.
'Where are you going?' Cooper whispers.
She doesn't reply but keeps moving parallel to Bowman. He's homing in on something. She starts to jog, still bent at the middle. Not far from Bowman there's a blur of white: forensic technicians clad in body suits. She trips on a tree root and stumbles against the flimsy wire fence.
Bowman has stopped. Two of the techs are on their hands and knees a few metres from him, crouched over a synthetic sheet, but his face is fixed skyward. Oli knows what she is about to see.
She closes her eyes, opens them. Allows her gaze to scan up.
ABOUT 'THE HOUSEMATE': Three housemates.
One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.
Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade.
Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Oli is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.
As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.
What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli's relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?
MY THOUGHTS: The Housemates is a well-crafted tightly plotted Australian crime thriller in which the main character is journalist Olive Groves. Oli is dogged, determined but also slightly fanatical, and sometimes more than a little unbalanced. I often didn't like the way she treated Cooper Ng, the assistant she has thrust on her. Cooper is bright, enthusiastic, innovative and looks to the future. When Oli manages to climb down from her high horse and acknowledge Cooper's input, they work well together.
The story is told over two timelines - now (2015) and then, ten years earlier. Between numerous red herrings and the concurrently running threads of Oli's crumbling home life, the newspaper being under threat, and a state premier being charged with historical sex offences, there's a lot going on and it is easy to become distracted from the main storyline.
The denouement is a stunner and took me quite by surprise. Kudos to Sarah Bailey.
However, I do feel that the book blurb gives away too much. A less revealing rewrite would be a plus.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#TheHousemate #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner, three children and cat.
Sarah is currently working on her next novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Datura Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Housemate by Sarah Bailey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Bowman.' Cooper points to the right of the group, where Gregory Bowman's white hair glows through the trees.
Oli's pulse picks up again. She ducks down and creeps further along the fence.
'Where are you going?' Cooper whispers.
She doesn't reply but keeps moving parallel to Bowman. He's homing in on something. She starts to jog, still bent at the middle. Not far from Bowman there's a blur of white: forensic technicians clad in body suits. She trips on a tree root and stumbles against the flimsy wire fence.
Bowman has stopped. Two of the techs are on their hands and knees a few metres from him, crouched over a synthetic sheet, but his face is fixed skyward. Oli knows what she is about to see.
She closes her eyes, opens them. Allows her gaze to scan up.
ABOUT 'THE HOUSEMATE': Three housemates.
One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.
Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade.
Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Oli is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.
As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.
What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli's relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?
MY THOUGHTS: The Housemates is a well-crafted tightly plotted Australian crime thriller in which the main character is journalist Olive Groves. Oli is dogged, determined but also slightly fanatical, and sometimes more than a little unbalanced. I often didn't like the way she treated Cooper Ng, the assistant she has thrust on her. Cooper is bright, enthusiastic, innovative and looks to the future. When Oli manages to climb down from her high horse and acknowledge Cooper's input, they work well together.
The story is told over two timelines - now (2015) and then, ten years earlier. Between numerous red herrings and the concurrently running threads of Oli's crumbling home life, the newspaper being under threat, and a state premier being charged with historical sex offences, there's a lot going on and it is easy to become distracted from the main storyline.
The denouement is a stunner and took me quite by surprise. Kudos to Sarah Bailey.
However, I do feel that the book blurb gives away too much. A less revealing rewrite would be a plus.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.1
#TheHousemate #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner, three children and cat.
Sarah is currently working on her next novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Datura Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Housemate by Sarah Bailey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 19, 2024
It took me quite a while to get into this one, and the character I liked most was unceremoniously killed off midway through. Most of the characters were unlikeable until about 2/3 of the way through, and the plot felt mildly convoluted. In the end, it was almost enjoyable.
September 9, 2021
This is my first Sarah Bailey book and can I say wow what a story, a compelling, not putdown able page turner for me, this one had my mind thinking and changing direction throughout and I never guessed the ending, the characters are strong and believable and the story intriguing as journalist Oli Groves puts everything she has into investigating a cold case that she worked on as a rookie ten years earlier.
A lot has changed in ten years for Oli and when a cold case opens up and she is assigned the story, she is determined to get to the bottom of it, nine years ago a young woman was murdered in the home she shared in a Melbourne suburb with two female friends it was dubbed the Housemate Homicide but although one of the housemates was jailed and one went missing the reasons were never clear and Oli is like a dog with a bone to get the truth.
When the missing woman turns up dead Oli is assigned the story and given an assistant young Cooper Ng a podcaster to help. Investigating they uncover many secrets that has Oli reliving the past not only on the case but her personal life as well and as the web widens Oli finds that there is maybe other cases linked and maybe somehow her life as well, the plot thickens. Cooper and her work well together but danger is lurking the deeper they delve.
This is a thriller that is fast paced with lots of action Oli digs deep and causes friction not only at work but in her personal life which starts to take a personal toll on her, but she never gives up I loved how everything comes together in a very thrilling end for me, I thought Cooper was a fabulous character, I really liked him he added so much to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish and would highly recommend it.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review
A lot has changed in ten years for Oli and when a cold case opens up and she is assigned the story, she is determined to get to the bottom of it, nine years ago a young woman was murdered in the home she shared in a Melbourne suburb with two female friends it was dubbed the Housemate Homicide but although one of the housemates was jailed and one went missing the reasons were never clear and Oli is like a dog with a bone to get the truth.
When the missing woman turns up dead Oli is assigned the story and given an assistant young Cooper Ng a podcaster to help. Investigating they uncover many secrets that has Oli reliving the past not only on the case but her personal life as well and as the web widens Oli finds that there is maybe other cases linked and maybe somehow her life as well, the plot thickens. Cooper and her work well together but danger is lurking the deeper they delve.
This is a thriller that is fast paced with lots of action Oli digs deep and causes friction not only at work but in her personal life which starts to take a personal toll on her, but she never gives up I loved how everything comes together in a very thrilling end for me, I thought Cooper was a fabulous character, I really liked him he added so much to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish and would highly recommend it.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review
May 3, 2022
4.5★ rounded up. This book has really cemented Sarah Bailey's place in my shortlist of favourite Aussie authors. Each time I went to pick up my Kindle I felt a little thrill of pleasure in anticipation of immersing myself in this engrossing mystery/thriller. I didn't even notice how long it was (not outrageous, but a decent chunk above my average). Marketing describes this one as a standalone - which it is at this point in time - but fingers crossed it turns into a new series.
Oli Groves is a Melbourne journalist. An old-school print journalist (with principles), at that. She's been working at Melbourne Today (a thinly disguised The Age in my mind) for a while now, and as the story opens there is a new lead on a case that defined her early career - the Housemate Homicide. Instructed to team up with Cooper Ng, a rookie from the digital team, Oli heads out of the city to see if there's anything in this lead. There sure is! What they discover reignites public interest in the historic case and ramps up the urgency to get Episode 1 of Cooper's new podcast recorded and published, because quite coincidentally, he has lined up Alex Riboni as his first guest. Who is Alex Riboni? She's only the woman convicted of the original murder and then released three years later!!! What a scoop! But when things don't go quite to plan, it is Oli herself, with her low, husky voice, being interviewed for the podcast. After a rocky start Oli and Cooper make a pretty decent team and they begin to uncover some startling details about the original case. It goes in a very unexpected direction and a number of high profile people come into the spotlight.
I just loved Oli, and I loved this story. In particular, I was really interested in seeing a character who is successful in a traditional industry embracing change and learning new skills. She has a really interesting backstory, and this has a huge influence on how she conducts her relationships and lives her life. Cooper was something of a revelation too. It would have been so easy to just have him there as the annoying, almost comedic, Gen Z foil, but he brought a lot to the story and was a great work partner for Oli. The only thing that didn't really work for me was the speed with which her relationship with her life partner, Dean, spiralled as the case hurtled along.
Can't wait to meet Oli again one day! Hopefully she might even bump into Gemma Woodstock - wouldn't that be something.
Oli Groves is a Melbourne journalist. An old-school print journalist (with principles), at that. She's been working at Melbourne Today (a thinly disguised The Age in my mind) for a while now, and as the story opens there is a new lead on a case that defined her early career - the Housemate Homicide. Instructed to team up with Cooper Ng, a rookie from the digital team, Oli heads out of the city to see if there's anything in this lead. There sure is! What they discover reignites public interest in the historic case and ramps up the urgency to get Episode 1 of Cooper's new podcast recorded and published, because quite coincidentally, he has lined up Alex Riboni as his first guest. Who is Alex Riboni? She's only the woman convicted of the original murder and then released three years later!!! What a scoop! But when things don't go quite to plan, it is Oli herself, with her low, husky voice, being interviewed for the podcast. After a rocky start Oli and Cooper make a pretty decent team and they begin to uncover some startling details about the original case. It goes in a very unexpected direction and a number of high profile people come into the spotlight.
I just loved Oli, and I loved this story. In particular, I was really interested in seeing a character who is successful in a traditional industry embracing change and learning new skills. She has a really interesting backstory, and this has a huge influence on how she conducts her relationships and lives her life. Cooper was something of a revelation too. It would have been so easy to just have him there as the annoying, almost comedic, Gen Z foil, but he brought a lot to the story and was a great work partner for Oli. The only thing that didn't really work for me was the speed with which her relationship with her life partner, Dean, spiralled as the case hurtled along.
Can't wait to meet Oli again one day! Hopefully she might even bump into Gemma Woodstock - wouldn't that be something.
August 31, 2021
Loved this book . Great writing style, great characters to connect to. I especially loved the friendship between Oli and Cooper. It had so many topics in this book such as friendships, family drama, police procedures. I loved the way Sarah incorporated the new style of journalism ( podcast) as well as using old school style journalism. It is one of my favourite plots ever (cold cases) so it was a huge winner for me. I would never had guessed the ending never in a million years. Cant wait to read more of Sarah's books.
July 2, 2022
4.5★s
The Housemate is the first stand-alone novel by Australian author, Sarah Bailey. In the early hours of a Saturday morning in October 2005, Oli Groves, then a reporter for The Daily, is quick enough on the scene of a St Kilda murder to get a glimpse of Evelyn Stanley’s body lying in the hall of her share house. She watches as DS Isabelle Yardley arrives to head the case, and sees a blood-soaked Alex Riboni led from the scene. Their friend and housemate, Nicole Horrowitz, has disappeared.
Alex serves three years in prison before her successful appeal, but does not remember much about the events of that Friday night beyond a knife in her hand and a river of blood. Now, almost ten years on, she is ready to tell all she knows to Cooper Ng in a podcast for Melbourne Today.
Currently living with her lover of that time (and widower of Isabelle), Oli is the obvious choice to cover the shock announcement about the missing housemate: her editor sends her racing to the little village of Crystalbrook in the Dandenongs when the body of Nicole Horrowitz, apparently having committed suicide, is discovered. This turns upside-down many of the theories advanced about what happened that night.
She’s not overly pleased to have Cooper along: she isn’t convinced by the digital revolution taking over her industry. But the young man is enthusiastic, has initiative, and seems to have a knack for convincing people to participate in his podcast interviews. Together, they get some good photos and information about the young woman’s life as Natalie Maslan in Crystalbrook, including the existence of a daughter, Evie.
When an explosion and fire destroy the cabin that Natalie/Nicole was living in, with first responders injured, there’s speculation as to who might have set this up, and the whereabouts of ten-year-old Evie. But everyone is in for another shock: the body turns out to be Alex Riboni. Police surmise she was mentally disturbed and that guilt led her to suicide, but Cooper isn’t convinced, and his preliminary recordings with her reveal a woman ready to confront the truth, an unlikely suicide.
As Oli and Cooper conduct investigations and revisit and interview many of those present on the night of the murder, learning more about the housemates: close friendships under tension, arguments, drug use, possibly prostitution, and some mysterious source of cash. All this is happening against a background of a newspaper under threat, and a state premier charged with historical sex offences. As conflicting stories in this tangled web emerge, Oli often wonders just whom she can trust.
Bailey has once again crafted a tightly plotted crime thriller with plenty of red herrings and distractions to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. And while the reader may cheer Oli on in her dogged pursuit of the truth, her occasional poor behaviour proves her very humanly flawed. Rusty Frost easily endears himself to the reader, and Cooper Ng is a delight. Excellent Aussie crime fiction.
The Housemate is the first stand-alone novel by Australian author, Sarah Bailey. In the early hours of a Saturday morning in October 2005, Oli Groves, then a reporter for The Daily, is quick enough on the scene of a St Kilda murder to get a glimpse of Evelyn Stanley’s body lying in the hall of her share house. She watches as DS Isabelle Yardley arrives to head the case, and sees a blood-soaked Alex Riboni led from the scene. Their friend and housemate, Nicole Horrowitz, has disappeared.
Alex serves three years in prison before her successful appeal, but does not remember much about the events of that Friday night beyond a knife in her hand and a river of blood. Now, almost ten years on, she is ready to tell all she knows to Cooper Ng in a podcast for Melbourne Today.
Currently living with her lover of that time (and widower of Isabelle), Oli is the obvious choice to cover the shock announcement about the missing housemate: her editor sends her racing to the little village of Crystalbrook in the Dandenongs when the body of Nicole Horrowitz, apparently having committed suicide, is discovered. This turns upside-down many of the theories advanced about what happened that night.
She’s not overly pleased to have Cooper along: she isn’t convinced by the digital revolution taking over her industry. But the young man is enthusiastic, has initiative, and seems to have a knack for convincing people to participate in his podcast interviews. Together, they get some good photos and information about the young woman’s life as Natalie Maslan in Crystalbrook, including the existence of a daughter, Evie.
When an explosion and fire destroy the cabin that Natalie/Nicole was living in, with first responders injured, there’s speculation as to who might have set this up, and the whereabouts of ten-year-old Evie. But everyone is in for another shock: the body turns out to be Alex Riboni. Police surmise she was mentally disturbed and that guilt led her to suicide, but Cooper isn’t convinced, and his preliminary recordings with her reveal a woman ready to confront the truth, an unlikely suicide.
As Oli and Cooper conduct investigations and revisit and interview many of those present on the night of the murder, learning more about the housemates: close friendships under tension, arguments, drug use, possibly prostitution, and some mysterious source of cash. All this is happening against a background of a newspaper under threat, and a state premier charged with historical sex offences. As conflicting stories in this tangled web emerge, Oli often wonders just whom she can trust.
Bailey has once again crafted a tightly plotted crime thriller with plenty of red herrings and distractions to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. And while the reader may cheer Oli on in her dogged pursuit of the truth, her occasional poor behaviour proves her very humanly flawed. Rusty Frost easily endears himself to the reader, and Cooper Ng is a delight. Excellent Aussie crime fiction.
November 7, 2021
Although I liked the way all the loose ends were tidied up in the eleventh hour, I was confused at times while I was reading this book. There are so many characters, some just exisiting as memories, that I had to re-read sections to try and work out who was doing what to whom.
Protadonist Oli Groves is an endearing mix of sass and anxiety. She would probably feel a lot better if she ate more vegetables, fewer chips and donuts.
Protadonist Oli Groves is an endearing mix of sass and anxiety. She would probably feel a lot better if she ate more vegetables, fewer chips and donuts.
September 26, 2021
I really liked the author's previous two books so had high hopes that were just not met.
All started out well enough. It lost me a bit with the introduction of the sub-theme of true crime podcasts which, as I've mentioned before on this site, I as an audio professional despise for their exploitative nature and production values, not to mention ubiquity and the glorification of the 'citizen journalist'. Before long I felt that the whole book was either set in Oli's car or as she wandered around getting wet in rain storms - the weather metaphor was way overused especially in the denouement scene. Also Oli spent all her time either starving and feeling ill or gorging on junk food. I don't know how she got much done actually. There was way too much talk of people's appearances, including minor named characters who literally appear once to hand over a scrap of paper or some such. All this explains why the book really started to drag. It's SOOOO long, and I was getting pretty sick of it by chap 32. If it wasn't lockdown and I were living a normal life I would never have made it to the end but I pushed on because I wanted to see if she could overcome what I've mentioned above to bring a satisfying ending to the mystery at the core of the book. The answer is, no. When the denouement came it felt completely over the top and I found the attempt to try and tie all the elements together really unsatisfying.
All started out well enough. It lost me a bit with the introduction of the sub-theme of true crime podcasts which, as I've mentioned before on this site, I as an audio professional despise for their exploitative nature and production values, not to mention ubiquity and the glorification of the 'citizen journalist'. Before long I felt that the whole book was either set in Oli's car or as she wandered around getting wet in rain storms - the weather metaphor was way overused especially in the denouement scene. Also Oli spent all her time either starving and feeling ill or gorging on junk food. I don't know how she got much done actually. There was way too much talk of people's appearances, including minor named characters who literally appear once to hand over a scrap of paper or some such. All this explains why the book really started to drag. It's SOOOO long, and I was getting pretty sick of it by chap 32. If it wasn't lockdown and I were living a normal life I would never have made it to the end but I pushed on because I wanted to see if she could overcome what I've mentioned above to bring a satisfying ending to the mystery at the core of the book. The answer is, no. When the denouement came it felt completely over the top and I found the attempt to try and tie all the elements together really unsatisfying.
January 1, 2022
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
I am loving Australian crime fiction including this standalone thriller The Housemate by Sarah Bailey!
This is my first Sarah Bailey novel and I was impressed by the detail. I love how nothing is predictable in this story, it’s the perfect complex cold case investigation!
Year 2005 - Set in Melbourne, we have three housemates, one is dead, one has vanished and the third is accused of the brutal murder! The country is baffled!
Present - Oli Groves is an investigative journalist with the fictional Melbourne Today newspaper. She worked on the 'Housemate Homicide’ story almost a decade ago where she attended the scene. It’s now the year 2015 and the missing housemate turns up dead or is she?
Oli and precocious young reporter Cooper Ng, whose character I loved the most, pair up to report on the story and create a new true crime podcast series. Oli is reluctant to be paired up with this millennial podcaster who represents the evolving times of the industry.
As new clues are unearthed in their relentless search, dark secrets are discovered and the unimaginable happens.
A gripping and addictive crime read.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to read
I am loving Australian crime fiction including this standalone thriller The Housemate by Sarah Bailey!
This is my first Sarah Bailey novel and I was impressed by the detail. I love how nothing is predictable in this story, it’s the perfect complex cold case investigation!
Year 2005 - Set in Melbourne, we have three housemates, one is dead, one has vanished and the third is accused of the brutal murder! The country is baffled!
Present - Oli Groves is an investigative journalist with the fictional Melbourne Today newspaper. She worked on the 'Housemate Homicide’ story almost a decade ago where she attended the scene. It’s now the year 2015 and the missing housemate turns up dead or is she?
Oli and precocious young reporter Cooper Ng, whose character I loved the most, pair up to report on the story and create a new true crime podcast series. Oli is reluctant to be paired up with this millennial podcaster who represents the evolving times of the industry.
As new clues are unearthed in their relentless search, dark secrets are discovered and the unimaginable happens.
A gripping and addictive crime read.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for a copy of the book to read
May 20, 2021
An engaging thriller set in Melbourne that will keep you on your toes... But I had an issue with the diversity in the book which is unfortunately a spoiler, so that is all I can say without revealing the plot, and I couldn’t feel the same about the book after that.
I have really enjoyed Bailey’s past work and expected to really enjoy this one but all the clever mechanics of their plotting were overshadowed by my issue with diversity.
*SPOILERS, AVERT YOUR EYES*
I was really disappointed to see that Cooper Ng, one of the few culturally and linguistically diverse characters in the book and my favourite character, was killed off towards the end. He was a key character, a young Asian Australian journalist who started the podcast and he was a charming chatterbox who discovered the truth before the protagonist did. His death was used to prod vengeance in the straight white female lead. This perpetuates an all too common occurrence in literature, film and television where people of colour are killed off at proportionately higher rates than white people, despite not experiencing as much representation.
It felt like Cooper had so much potential as a character in this book and it was wasted. I assumed I might see him in a sequel because he felt so permanent. Some may argue that, that’s the point - the author killed off the character to show the dangerous stakes of their investigation and shock the audience. To which I ask them, but could that not be done in some other way? Did one of the few culturally and linguistically diverse characters in the book really only exist to challenge the protagonist with his youth and new ways of thinking about journalism and then in death, serve as a plot twist to shock the readers and fuel to motivate the protagonist to find the answers? Is that what we’re calling representation?
I have really enjoyed Bailey’s past work and expected to really enjoy this one but all the clever mechanics of their plotting were overshadowed by my issue with diversity.
*SPOILERS, AVERT YOUR EYES*
I was really disappointed to see that Cooper Ng, one of the few culturally and linguistically diverse characters in the book and my favourite character, was killed off towards the end. He was a key character, a young Asian Australian journalist who started the podcast and he was a charming chatterbox who discovered the truth before the protagonist did. His death was used to prod vengeance in the straight white female lead. This perpetuates an all too common occurrence in literature, film and television where people of colour are killed off at proportionately higher rates than white people, despite not experiencing as much representation.
It felt like Cooper had so much potential as a character in this book and it was wasted. I assumed I might see him in a sequel because he felt so permanent. Some may argue that, that’s the point - the author killed off the character to show the dangerous stakes of their investigation and shock the audience. To which I ask them, but could that not be done in some other way? Did one of the few culturally and linguistically diverse characters in the book really only exist to challenge the protagonist with his youth and new ways of thinking about journalism and then in death, serve as a plot twist to shock the readers and fuel to motivate the protagonist to find the answers? Is that what we’re calling representation?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2021
No Gemma but another excellent female lead in investigative journalist Oli Groves.
Sarah Bailey delivers another totally addictive crime thriller.
Excellent supporting cast in Cooper, Dean, Rusty, of course the housemates, and the “ghostly” presence of Dean’s ex-wife Isabelle – a detective who worked on the original “housemates” murder case 10 years before.
The original case had one housemate killed, another charged with the murder and a third one missing. Now it seems the missing housemate has re-surfaced.
Very clever plot that had me guessing (incorrectly) in so many different directions.
Sarah Bailey delivers another totally addictive crime thriller.
Excellent supporting cast in Cooper, Dean, Rusty, of course the housemates, and the “ghostly” presence of Dean’s ex-wife Isabelle – a detective who worked on the original “housemates” murder case 10 years before.
The original case had one housemate killed, another charged with the murder and a third one missing. Now it seems the missing housemate has re-surfaced.
Very clever plot that had me guessing (incorrectly) in so many different directions.
April 20, 2022
The latest Sarah Bailey novel The Housemate is a standalone thriller. Tragedy comes to three friends sharing a house, all young women and the police discover one dead, one missing and the other accused of murder. Ten years later, the missing woman’s body is discovered and journalist Olive Groves is assigned reporter for a Melbourne newspaper. She is assisted by millennial podcaster Cooper Ng and the generational differences collide. Having attended the original homicide scene, Olive is forced to revisit her past and her hidden connection to the three house mates. Secrets will be revealed as Olive’s health and happiness are threatened. A most enjoyable suspense thriller with a four-star rating.
October 25, 2021
Love a zesty Aussie crime novel and Sarah Bailey never disappoints. The Housemate is a really compelling read, the crime it explores is complex, and Bailey plays with past/present timelines to pace the unravelling effectively. I enjoyed the journalistic perspective, which made a change from a more standard investigative perspective. Lots to love here, and although at times there seemed to be too many fragments, they all come together in the end.
September 8, 2021
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
With three strong Australian crime novels under her belt, Melbourne based author Sarah Bailey returns with The Housemate. In this new standalone thriller, the reader is presented with a storyline filled with conjecture, misdirection, tangled relations, obsession and darkness. Well written, surprising and engrossing, The Housemate boosts Sarah Bailey’s status as a seasoned Australian crime fiction writer.
Sarah Bailey’s fourth novel follows a complex crime case labelled as the ‘Housemate Homicide’. This tragic and perplexing crime mystery has remained unsolved for almost ten years. A journalist who first worked on the case as a rookie reporter returns to this perplexing crime when one of three housemates involved in this ten year mystery turns up dead on a isolated property. Olive comes back to this case as a seasoned reporter and is assisted by a podcaster named Cooper Ng. It is up to Olive and Cooper to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and finally close this hard case. But as new information merges with old facts, a difficult line of circumstances arise. These disclosures send Olive back to the past, as she confronts her former life. The question remains, what really happened on the fateful night that changed three lives forever? Will Olive put her loved ones at risk by indulging in this strange crime investigation again?
Sarah Bailey is an author on the rise. Following the success of her Australian crime fiction trilogy which began with her well received debut novel The Dark Lake, Bailey has graced us with a brand-new standalone mystery. The Housemate produces thrill after thrill until the final moments of this engrossing crime case novel. I really enjoyed reacquainting myself with Sarah Bailey’s writing via The Housemate.
I appreciated the initial set up of The Housemate, although it did take a little bit of time to get settled into this new story. The premise was intriguing, complex and full of grey areas. For a standalone crime fiction novel, Sarah Bailey has incorporated all the essential elements that are required to guide a mystery thriller novel to success. With a cracking Aussie backdrop (Melbourne), a dogged lead character, a convoluted mystery and some fancy detective work, The Housemate is fantastic example of a solid crime novel. Expect plenty of thrills, heart stopping moments, strange revelations, red-herrings, detours, plot deviations and exciting eventualities as this book darts towards its finale. What impressed me about this novel was the inserted articles from the central reporter character Olive, which adds to the credibility of The Housemate. Along with the guiding date and time references heading each chapter, there was a strong degree of trust established between the reader and author, despite the murky nature of this story.
Exuding plenty of darkness, suspicion, misinterpretation and danger, The Housemate represents another absolutely thrilling story from an author on the rise.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Housemate is book #81 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
With three strong Australian crime novels under her belt, Melbourne based author Sarah Bailey returns with The Housemate. In this new standalone thriller, the reader is presented with a storyline filled with conjecture, misdirection, tangled relations, obsession and darkness. Well written, surprising and engrossing, The Housemate boosts Sarah Bailey’s status as a seasoned Australian crime fiction writer.
Sarah Bailey’s fourth novel follows a complex crime case labelled as the ‘Housemate Homicide’. This tragic and perplexing crime mystery has remained unsolved for almost ten years. A journalist who first worked on the case as a rookie reporter returns to this perplexing crime when one of three housemates involved in this ten year mystery turns up dead on a isolated property. Olive comes back to this case as a seasoned reporter and is assisted by a podcaster named Cooper Ng. It is up to Olive and Cooper to lay the ghosts of the past to rest and finally close this hard case. But as new information merges with old facts, a difficult line of circumstances arise. These disclosures send Olive back to the past, as she confronts her former life. The question remains, what really happened on the fateful night that changed three lives forever? Will Olive put her loved ones at risk by indulging in this strange crime investigation again?
Sarah Bailey is an author on the rise. Following the success of her Australian crime fiction trilogy which began with her well received debut novel The Dark Lake, Bailey has graced us with a brand-new standalone mystery. The Housemate produces thrill after thrill until the final moments of this engrossing crime case novel. I really enjoyed reacquainting myself with Sarah Bailey’s writing via The Housemate.
I appreciated the initial set up of The Housemate, although it did take a little bit of time to get settled into this new story. The premise was intriguing, complex and full of grey areas. For a standalone crime fiction novel, Sarah Bailey has incorporated all the essential elements that are required to guide a mystery thriller novel to success. With a cracking Aussie backdrop (Melbourne), a dogged lead character, a convoluted mystery and some fancy detective work, The Housemate is fantastic example of a solid crime novel. Expect plenty of thrills, heart stopping moments, strange revelations, red-herrings, detours, plot deviations and exciting eventualities as this book darts towards its finale. What impressed me about this novel was the inserted articles from the central reporter character Olive, which adds to the credibility of The Housemate. Along with the guiding date and time references heading each chapter, there was a strong degree of trust established between the reader and author, despite the murky nature of this story.
Exuding plenty of darkness, suspicion, misinterpretation and danger, The Housemate represents another absolutely thrilling story from an author on the rise.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Housemate is book #81 of the 2021 Australian Women Writers Challenge
January 12, 2022
This book disappointed me obviously written half-way to a film script and not intended for seasoned crime readers who like a bit more substance. The mechanics are okay but I felt no impact from the plot. Characters lean towards generic and I did not warm to them (even 'killing the darling') and I found journalist Oli Groves unendearing. Sense of place and city location, well, they are almost non-existent unless you count the continual traffic. The timeline and backstory works okay although there wasn't any real feeling of immersion for me. Basically the mystery didn't make me care enough. The potential of a gripping story dissolved into an ordinary read.
October 9, 2021
I have all 3 of Sarah Bailey's other books which I loved. For some reason I just couldn't get into this one. I read the first 6 chapters and gave up.
More than anything I think I just found it boring and the characters a bit on the weird side.
I hope I enjoy her next novel.
More than anything I think I just found it boring and the characters a bit on the weird side.
I hope I enjoy her next novel.
September 15, 2021
The Housemate is a standalone crime novel from Australian author Sarah Bailey, best known for her popular series featuring Detective Gemma Woodstock.
When the body of a woman is found on a property in rural Victoria, interest is revived in a decade old mystery. Olive Groves was a junior reporter when the ‘Housemate Homicide’ - where a dispute among three young housemates led to the murder of one and the disappearance of another - occurred, and now rumour suggests that the missing woman has resurfaced. Given her familiarity with the case, Oli is eager to investigate further, but annoyed when her editor insists she works with a young podcaster, Cooper Ng.
In what is a well-conceived and interesting plot, Oli, aided by Cooper, digs into what really happened between the housemates on the night of the murder, and slowly uncovers a cabal whose elite members are willing to kill to keep their secrets. While I found the complex mystery intriguing, I did feel the pace of the first two thirds or so of the novel was quite slow, with much of the tension and action being confined to near the end.
Oli is an intuitive, driven investigative journalist, her methods to unearth the story are sometimes uncomfortable, but I appreciated her determination to uncover the truth. I liked how Bailey explored the tension between old and new media through the relationship between Oli and Cooper.
Oli’s personal life is a bit of a mess though, and becomes more complicated when elements of the Housemate case forces her to face some difficult truths about her relationship, and herself. I wasn’t always sympathetic to her issues, but I thought she was a well-realised, complex character.
With its cleverly plotted, absorbing mystery, The Housemate is compelling crime fiction.
When the body of a woman is found on a property in rural Victoria, interest is revived in a decade old mystery. Olive Groves was a junior reporter when the ‘Housemate Homicide’ - where a dispute among three young housemates led to the murder of one and the disappearance of another - occurred, and now rumour suggests that the missing woman has resurfaced. Given her familiarity with the case, Oli is eager to investigate further, but annoyed when her editor insists she works with a young podcaster, Cooper Ng.
In what is a well-conceived and interesting plot, Oli, aided by Cooper, digs into what really happened between the housemates on the night of the murder, and slowly uncovers a cabal whose elite members are willing to kill to keep their secrets. While I found the complex mystery intriguing, I did feel the pace of the first two thirds or so of the novel was quite slow, with much of the tension and action being confined to near the end.
Oli is an intuitive, driven investigative journalist, her methods to unearth the story are sometimes uncomfortable, but I appreciated her determination to uncover the truth. I liked how Bailey explored the tension between old and new media through the relationship between Oli and Cooper.
Oli’s personal life is a bit of a mess though, and becomes more complicated when elements of the Housemate case forces her to face some difficult truths about her relationship, and herself. I wasn’t always sympathetic to her issues, but I thought she was a well-realised, complex character.
With its cleverly plotted, absorbing mystery, The Housemate is compelling crime fiction.
October 6, 2021
First and foremost, I need to let you know that I’m a Sarah Bailey super fan. Not a crazy one (seriously) but a dedicated one. I’ve read and reviewed all her books, with the most recent two releases sporting quotes from my reviews inside of their opening pages. I love crime fiction, but it’s the police procedural more than the psychological thriller that draws me in and that’s where Sarah Bailey comes in. Her crime fiction is the perfect balance of investigation, suspense, and the unexpected. The Housemate is her first standalone and it comes on the back of a very strong trilogy, so expectations were high. They were certainly met. This novel is just all shades of awesome. The main character, Oli, is an investigative journalist which ticks my boxes of interest since I am a journalist (even though I no longer work as one, I still have a heavy interest in the profession). I was so drawn into the daily grind of chasing the scoop with Oli and Cooper and I loved how Sarah captured that frenzied urgency that characterises live news. This, combined with the police investigation angle, made for an absorbing and gripping read from start to finish.
I like the whole cold case narrative of investigation, the new clue turning up that reopens an old case and turns everything from before onto its head. And wow, this case really got complicated, and the layers of intrigue just kept on piling up. I didn’t see the ending coming, I had one idea in my head, and while I was sort of headed in the right direction, I was also way off. That happens each time I read a novel by Sarah Bailey; there is never anything predictable going on! Both the characterisation and the story were excellent within The Housemate. It’s a big novel, both in length and content. There’s a lot going because we’ve got this cold case along with another cold case from the same era that warrants a mention from time to time, as well as another breaking case in the present day that is taking up airtime in the newsroom. Alongside all of this is Oli’s own personal life, which has changed rapidly within twelve months, leading to much introspection on her part as to whether she is on the right path, both personally and professionally. There is also some childhood trauma bubbling away in the background that has led to a fractious family dynamic. Definitely a lot going on in this novel, but the slow burn style and the length allows for a well-timed exploration of all these themes and topics, and really, when you write as well as Sarah Bailey does, everything just falls into place and it’s never too much all at once.
If you’ve never read Sarah Bailey before, The Housemate is an excellent place to start. I guarantee you’ll be immediately sourcing her trilogy as soon as you’ve finished reading it. Australian crime fiction is on fire at present, with so many truly excellent authors releasing high quality fiction. If it’s not your normal genre, it can be hard to know who to start with, but take my work for it, if you start with Sarah Bailey, you are starting with the best of the best.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
I like the whole cold case narrative of investigation, the new clue turning up that reopens an old case and turns everything from before onto its head. And wow, this case really got complicated, and the layers of intrigue just kept on piling up. I didn’t see the ending coming, I had one idea in my head, and while I was sort of headed in the right direction, I was also way off. That happens each time I read a novel by Sarah Bailey; there is never anything predictable going on! Both the characterisation and the story were excellent within The Housemate. It’s a big novel, both in length and content. There’s a lot going because we’ve got this cold case along with another cold case from the same era that warrants a mention from time to time, as well as another breaking case in the present day that is taking up airtime in the newsroom. Alongside all of this is Oli’s own personal life, which has changed rapidly within twelve months, leading to much introspection on her part as to whether she is on the right path, both personally and professionally. There is also some childhood trauma bubbling away in the background that has led to a fractious family dynamic. Definitely a lot going on in this novel, but the slow burn style and the length allows for a well-timed exploration of all these themes and topics, and really, when you write as well as Sarah Bailey does, everything just falls into place and it’s never too much all at once.
If you’ve never read Sarah Bailey before, The Housemate is an excellent place to start. I guarantee you’ll be immediately sourcing her trilogy as soon as you’ve finished reading it. Australian crime fiction is on fire at present, with so many truly excellent authors releasing high quality fiction. If it’s not your normal genre, it can be hard to know who to start with, but take my work for it, if you start with Sarah Bailey, you are starting with the best of the best.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
June 13, 2023
I enjoyed this one, I listened to it in audio. It was a bit long and repetitive but very enjoyable. 3.5 from me
July 2, 2022
4.5★s
The Housemate is the first stand-alone novel by Australian author, Sarah Bailey. The audio version is narrated by Felicity Jurd. In the early hours of a Saturday morning in October 2005, Oli Groves, then a reporter for The Daily, is quick enough on the scene of a St Kilda murder to get a glimpse of Evelyn Stanley’s body lying in the hall of her share house. She watches as DS Isabelle Yardley arrives to head the case, and sees a blood-soaked Alex Riboni led from the scene. Their friend and housemate, Nicole Horrowitz, has disappeared.
Alex serves three years in prison before her successful appeal, but does not remember much about the events of that Friday night beyond a knife in her hand and a river of blood. Now, almost ten years on, she is ready to tell all she knows to Cooper Ng in a podcast for Melbourne Today.
Currently living with her lover of that time (and widower of Isabelle), Oli is the obvious choice to cover the shock announcement about the missing housemate: her editor sends her racing to the little village of Crystalbrook in the Dandenongs when the body of Nicole Horrowitz, apparently having committed suicide, is discovered. This turns upside-down many of the theories advanced about what happened that night.
She’s not overly pleased to have Cooper along: she isn’t convinced by the digital revolution taking over her industry. But the young man is enthusiastic, has initiative, and seems to have a knack for convincing people to participate in his podcast interviews. Together, they get some good photos and information about the young woman’s life as Natalie Maslan in Crystalbrook, including the existence of a daughter, Evie.
When an explosion and fire destroy the cabin that Natalie/Nicole was living in, with first responders injured, there’s speculation as to who might have set this up, and the whereabouts of ten-year-old Evie. But everyone is in for another shock: the body turns out to be Alex Riboni. Police surmise she was mentally disturbed and that guilt led her to suicide, but Cooper isn’t convinced, and his preliminary recordings with her reveal a woman ready to confront the truth, an unlikely suicide.
As Oli and Cooper conduct investigations and revisit and interview many of those present on the night of the murder, learning more about the housemates: close friendships under tension, arguments, drug use, possibly prostitution, and some mysterious source of cash. All this is happening against a background of a newspaper under threat, and a state premier charged with historical sex offences. As conflicting stories in this tangled web emerge, Oli often wonders just whom she can trust.
Bailey has once again crafted a tightly plotted crime thriller with plenty of red herrings and distractions to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. And while the reader may cheer Oli on in her dogged pursuit of the truth, her occasional poor behaviour proves her very humanly flawed. Rusty Frost easily endears himself to the reader, and Cooper Ng is a delight. Excellent Aussie crime fiction.
The Housemate is the first stand-alone novel by Australian author, Sarah Bailey. The audio version is narrated by Felicity Jurd. In the early hours of a Saturday morning in October 2005, Oli Groves, then a reporter for The Daily, is quick enough on the scene of a St Kilda murder to get a glimpse of Evelyn Stanley’s body lying in the hall of her share house. She watches as DS Isabelle Yardley arrives to head the case, and sees a blood-soaked Alex Riboni led from the scene. Their friend and housemate, Nicole Horrowitz, has disappeared.
Alex serves three years in prison before her successful appeal, but does not remember much about the events of that Friday night beyond a knife in her hand and a river of blood. Now, almost ten years on, she is ready to tell all she knows to Cooper Ng in a podcast for Melbourne Today.
Currently living with her lover of that time (and widower of Isabelle), Oli is the obvious choice to cover the shock announcement about the missing housemate: her editor sends her racing to the little village of Crystalbrook in the Dandenongs when the body of Nicole Horrowitz, apparently having committed suicide, is discovered. This turns upside-down many of the theories advanced about what happened that night.
She’s not overly pleased to have Cooper along: she isn’t convinced by the digital revolution taking over her industry. But the young man is enthusiastic, has initiative, and seems to have a knack for convincing people to participate in his podcast interviews. Together, they get some good photos and information about the young woman’s life as Natalie Maslan in Crystalbrook, including the existence of a daughter, Evie.
When an explosion and fire destroy the cabin that Natalie/Nicole was living in, with first responders injured, there’s speculation as to who might have set this up, and the whereabouts of ten-year-old Evie. But everyone is in for another shock: the body turns out to be Alex Riboni. Police surmise she was mentally disturbed and that guilt led her to suicide, but Cooper isn’t convinced, and his preliminary recordings with her reveal a woman ready to confront the truth, an unlikely suicide.
As Oli and Cooper conduct investigations and revisit and interview many of those present on the night of the murder, learning more about the housemates: close friendships under tension, arguments, drug use, possibly prostitution, and some mysterious source of cash. All this is happening against a background of a newspaper under threat, and a state premier charged with historical sex offences. As conflicting stories in this tangled web emerge, Oli often wonders just whom she can trust.
Bailey has once again crafted a tightly plotted crime thriller with plenty of red herrings and distractions to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. And while the reader may cheer Oli on in her dogged pursuit of the truth, her occasional poor behaviour proves her very humanly flawed. Rusty Frost easily endears himself to the reader, and Cooper Ng is a delight. Excellent Aussie crime fiction.
August 30, 2021
Sensational! One of my absolute favourite authors is back and this is one you do not want to miss.
Three housemates. One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.
An almost decade-long mystery that baffled Australian's, dubbed the Housemate Homicide, is coming back into the headlines. Journalist Olive Groves (Oli) worked on the story as a junior reporter and when the case returns she is on the scene ready. The missing housemate has turned up dead on a remote property, nine years later and Oli is assigned to the story along with millennial podcaster Cooper Ng. As the pair work together they uncover new facts in the case, while Oli also deals with her past traumas. But as they get closer, will this threaten Oli's new family?
This was one that drew me in right from the beginning and I could not put it down. The characters and their past was so intriguing, along with the new beginning for Oli. I loved the mystery that Oli finds herself entwined in, along with Cooper Ng, with the pair having some playful jesting throughout. Bailey is a master at building suspense and while I thought I had some of the mystery figured out, I was wrong. There was so much I loved about this one but I can't reveal the details, save for spoilers. Definitely one I recommend and another sensational novel by the author
Thank you so much to the author & Allen & Unwin for my advance review copy.
Three housemates. One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.
An almost decade-long mystery that baffled Australian's, dubbed the Housemate Homicide, is coming back into the headlines. Journalist Olive Groves (Oli) worked on the story as a junior reporter and when the case returns she is on the scene ready. The missing housemate has turned up dead on a remote property, nine years later and Oli is assigned to the story along with millennial podcaster Cooper Ng. As the pair work together they uncover new facts in the case, while Oli also deals with her past traumas. But as they get closer, will this threaten Oli's new family?
This was one that drew me in right from the beginning and I could not put it down. The characters and their past was so intriguing, along with the new beginning for Oli. I loved the mystery that Oli finds herself entwined in, along with Cooper Ng, with the pair having some playful jesting throughout. Bailey is a master at building suspense and while I thought I had some of the mystery figured out, I was wrong. There was so much I loved about this one but I can't reveal the details, save for spoilers. Definitely one I recommend and another sensational novel by the author
Thank you so much to the author & Allen & Unwin for my advance review copy.
September 19, 2021
Definitely not this writer’s best work. The characters are annoying, and the protagonist makes increasingly poor choices. The narrative back-and-forth style is quite disjointed, and doesn’t lend itself to kindle reading IMO. Reading it in paper form would have given the advantage of being able to easily flick back to previous chapters. The denouement was quite awful, and probably should come with a trigger warning.
Overall, the best I can say is that the author has shone a light on what is a truly appalling practice. It is for that reason I bumped it up to 3 stars from my original 2 star rating.
Overall, the best I can say is that the author has shone a light on what is a truly appalling practice. It is for that reason I bumped it up to 3 stars from my original 2 star rating.
June 11, 2022
Journaliste Olive Groves werkte als junior-verslaggever aan het verhaal van 'De moord op de huisgenoot'. Ze raakte helemaal geobsedeerd door de zaak. Nu, negen jaar later, wordt de huisgenoot die vermist werd, dood aangetroffen op een afgelegen terrein...
Oli krijgt het verhaal opnieuw toegewezen, alleen zal ze dit keer moeten samenwerken met de jonge betweter Cooper, een bekende podcastmaker. Oli zit hier niet echt op te wachten, maar samen ontdekken ze nieuwe feiten over de drie huisgenoten en komen verborgen geheimen boven tafel.
Deze onthullingen brengen Oli terug naar de dood van de eerste huisgenoot en dwingen haar om trauma's en onzekerheden uit het verleden onder ogen te zien. Wat is er die nacht echt gebeurd tussen de drie huisgenoten? Oli probeert dit tot op de bodem uit te zoeken en hoopt zo de moordenaar te kunnen vinden...
En weer is daar een boek met een prachtige en uitnodigende cover! Ik werd er meteen door aangetrokken. Vol enthousiasme begon ik aan dit verhaal en ik moet zeggen dat ik het begin erg goed vond. Het lichaam van de vermiste huisgenoot wordt plotseling gevonden en er hangt dan ook meteen een duister sfeertje. Wat is er met deze vrouw gebeurd? En waar is ze al die jaren geweest?
Het verhaal wordt qua spanning daarna wel wat trager en er gebeuren niet heel veel dingen. Het is vooral de duistere en mysterieuze sfeer die er voor zorgt dat je verder wilt lezen. Er worden sprongen in de tijd gemaakt en langzaam vallen de puzzelstukjes op hun plek. Toch vond ik sommige stukken misschien net iets te traag, waardoor mijn enthousiasme wat afzwakte. Ook moet je goed je aandacht erbij houden, aangezien er behoorlijk wat personages voorbij komen.
'De huisgenoot' is zeker geen slecht verhaal en ik heb er voor een erg groot deel van genoten. Het plot was ook totaal anders dan dat ik had verwacht.
Ik wil @uitgeverijmarmer heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5/4,0 ⭐️
Oli krijgt het verhaal opnieuw toegewezen, alleen zal ze dit keer moeten samenwerken met de jonge betweter Cooper, een bekende podcastmaker. Oli zit hier niet echt op te wachten, maar samen ontdekken ze nieuwe feiten over de drie huisgenoten en komen verborgen geheimen boven tafel.
Deze onthullingen brengen Oli terug naar de dood van de eerste huisgenoot en dwingen haar om trauma's en onzekerheden uit het verleden onder ogen te zien. Wat is er die nacht echt gebeurd tussen de drie huisgenoten? Oli probeert dit tot op de bodem uit te zoeken en hoopt zo de moordenaar te kunnen vinden...
En weer is daar een boek met een prachtige en uitnodigende cover! Ik werd er meteen door aangetrokken. Vol enthousiasme begon ik aan dit verhaal en ik moet zeggen dat ik het begin erg goed vond. Het lichaam van de vermiste huisgenoot wordt plotseling gevonden en er hangt dan ook meteen een duister sfeertje. Wat is er met deze vrouw gebeurd? En waar is ze al die jaren geweest?
Het verhaal wordt qua spanning daarna wel wat trager en er gebeuren niet heel veel dingen. Het is vooral de duistere en mysterieuze sfeer die er voor zorgt dat je verder wilt lezen. Er worden sprongen in de tijd gemaakt en langzaam vallen de puzzelstukjes op hun plek. Toch vond ik sommige stukken misschien net iets te traag, waardoor mijn enthousiasme wat afzwakte. Ook moet je goed je aandacht erbij houden, aangezien er behoorlijk wat personages voorbij komen.
'De huisgenoot' is zeker geen slecht verhaal en ik heb er voor een erg groot deel van genoten. Het plot was ook totaal anders dan dat ik had verwacht.
Ik wil @uitgeverijmarmer heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5/4,0 ⭐️
August 31, 2021
Sarah Bailey is one of my favourite Australian novelists. I'm a fan of her Gemma Woodstock series which may - or may not - have ended after the third instalment last year.
Her new novel - a standalone - The Housemate, offers up a likeable but flawed female lead and bounces her off several strong personalities that bring out the best, and worst, in her. I know the whole journey analogy is wanky but I very much liked the journey (well, personal development arc!) Bailey takes our lead, Olive (Oli), on here and the way it complements the unfolding mystery.
I really really liked Oli. Bailey's development of her character and her interactions with those around her was certainly the strength of this novel for me. This is promoted as a standalone, but I'd love to meet her again.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Her new novel - a standalone - The Housemate, offers up a likeable but flawed female lead and bounces her off several strong personalities that bring out the best, and worst, in her. I know the whole journey analogy is wanky but I very much liked the journey (well, personal development arc!) Bailey takes our lead, Olive (Oli), on here and the way it complements the unfolding mystery.
I really really liked Oli. Bailey's development of her character and her interactions with those around her was certainly the strength of this novel for me. This is promoted as a standalone, but I'd love to meet her again.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
September 3, 2021
Three housemates. One Dead. One Missing and one accused of murder.
That's enough to pull you in right?!
While this one started out a bit of a slow burn and took me a while to warm into, it was an enjoyable read and had a twisty ending that I didn't see coming! Anyone that knows me well knows how much I love a twisty ending so this was a winner for me that way!
Bailey did a good job of keeping me guessing all the way! The investigative journalism side to this one was an interesting style and I liked how our main character Oli came to working on a case she'd worked on 9 years prior as a junior reporter.
This was the first book by this author and I'm now keen to get into the Gemma Woodstock trilogy by Sarah Bailey that everyone keeps insisting I must read!
Thank you to @allenandunwin for this #gifted advanced review copy.
That's enough to pull you in right?!
While this one started out a bit of a slow burn and took me a while to warm into, it was an enjoyable read and had a twisty ending that I didn't see coming! Anyone that knows me well knows how much I love a twisty ending so this was a winner for me that way!
Bailey did a good job of keeping me guessing all the way! The investigative journalism side to this one was an interesting style and I liked how our main character Oli came to working on a case she'd worked on 9 years prior as a junior reporter.
This was the first book by this author and I'm now keen to get into the Gemma Woodstock trilogy by Sarah Bailey that everyone keeps insisting I must read!
Thank you to @allenandunwin for this #gifted advanced review copy.
May 27, 2025
Honestly, as much as I hate saying this, I had to DNF at about 50%. I just couldn’t bring myself to keep picking up this book.
The characters felt very flat and the plot seemed to drag on and on.
I wish I would’ve liked this because it sounds like it could be such an interesting read.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.
The characters felt very flat and the plot seemed to drag on and on.
I wish I would’ve liked this because it sounds like it could be such an interesting read.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.
July 27, 2022
De cover wekte als eerste mijn interesse, twee doorgeknipte poppetjes en een heel poppetje. Betekent dat dat er twee dood zijn? Maar wie? Van Uitgeverij Marmer kreeg ik een mail met de vraag of ik dit boek wilde lezen. Toen ik erachter kwam dat Lilian hem ook zou krijgen, heb ik ja gezegd en tegelijk hadden Lilian en ik besloten om het boek samen te gaan lezen.
De Huisgenoot is een verhaal dat langzaam wordt opgebouwd. Hoofdstuk na hoofdstuk krijg je steeds meer informatie over wat er 9 jaar geleden is gebeurd op dé avond. Je leest vanuit het perspectief van Oli, een journaliste. De andere personages hebben allemaal een kleinere rol gedurende het boek. Toch is elk personages dat genoemd wordt belangrijk. De Huisgenoot is een enorme puzzel, maar uiteindelijk komen alle stukjes op hun plaats.
In De Huisgenoot is de spanning qua actie niet super hoog. Het is meer een detective, waarbij de zaak van vroeger opnieuw wordt onderzocht. Maar aan het einde is daar toch die actie waar je dan 400 bladzijden lang op hoopt.
Het boek las langzamer dan ik gewend ben, dat komt denk ik door de hoeveelheid informatie die je krijgt en daardoor ook moet verwerken. Ik zie dit niet echt als een minpunt, maar wel iets om rekening mee te houden. Je moet je echt kunnen concentreren op dit boek, anders raak je de draad kwijt. Al met al vond ik het een goede detective/thriller en heeft het boek 4 sterren gekregen van mij.
De Huisgenoot is een verhaal dat langzaam wordt opgebouwd. Hoofdstuk na hoofdstuk krijg je steeds meer informatie over wat er 9 jaar geleden is gebeurd op dé avond. Je leest vanuit het perspectief van Oli, een journaliste. De andere personages hebben allemaal een kleinere rol gedurende het boek. Toch is elk personages dat genoemd wordt belangrijk. De Huisgenoot is een enorme puzzel, maar uiteindelijk komen alle stukjes op hun plaats.
In De Huisgenoot is de spanning qua actie niet super hoog. Het is meer een detective, waarbij de zaak van vroeger opnieuw wordt onderzocht. Maar aan het einde is daar toch die actie waar je dan 400 bladzijden lang op hoopt.
Het boek las langzamer dan ik gewend ben, dat komt denk ik door de hoeveelheid informatie die je krijgt en daardoor ook moet verwerken. Ik zie dit niet echt als een minpunt, maar wel iets om rekening mee te houden. Je moet je echt kunnen concentreren op dit boek, anders raak je de draad kwijt. Al met al vond ik het een goede detective/thriller en heeft het boek 4 sterren gekregen van mij.
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