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The Brother
My partner’s brother has just snatched my baby.
I thought I was lucky before all this happened. I have a beautiful baby boy. A man I want to make a life with. A gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds that we’re in the middle of doing up. Life’s good.
Then Ben drops a bombshell. His brother Adam is coming to stay.
‘Promise me something,’ Ben says as he gazes into my eyes. ‘Don’t believe everything Adam tells you.’
Ben’s not home when Adam turns up, with his waif-like girlfriend — and a suitcase full of secrets.
He looks me up and down, his mouth quirking into an amused smile. ‘You must be Sophie.’ Deep in my bones, I know this man is dangerous.
He says he won’t stay long.
But the lies come quickly.
First his girlfriend disappears — and I think he’s done something very bad to her.
I should have listened to my instincts . . .
I thought I was lucky before all this happened. I have a beautiful baby boy. A man I want to make a life with. A gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds that we’re in the middle of doing up. Life’s good.
Then Ben drops a bombshell. His brother Adam is coming to stay.
‘Promise me something,’ Ben says as he gazes into my eyes. ‘Don’t believe everything Adam tells you.’
Ben’s not home when Adam turns up, with his waif-like girlfriend — and a suitcase full of secrets.
He looks me up and down, his mouth quirking into an amused smile. ‘You must be Sophie.’ Deep in my bones, I know this man is dangerous.
He says he won’t stay long.
But the lies come quickly.
First his girlfriend disappears — and I think he’s done something very bad to her.
I should have listened to my instincts . . .
- GenresMystery
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2025
1152 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
E.V. Seymour
19 books65 followersSee the author's blogspot at http://www.evseymour.co.uk
Aka Eve Isherwood
Aka Eve Isherwood
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 2, 2025
This is the third book that I've read by this author and I really enjoyed my other 2 reads, The Nanny's Secret and The Widow's Boyfriend.
I love this author's writing style which really draws you in from the start and this book really did that in buckets!
Were plunged straight in ag the deep end as Sophie watches on as the car containing her kidnapped child, ploughs off the edge of a ravine!
This instantly had me on edge, intrigued and of course feeling heartbroken and panic stricken for poor Sophie.
Being a mum myself, this gave me goosebumps, imagining just how Sophie was feeling in that moment.
We then head right the way back to the start of the story and we work our way towards this explosive finale.
I love this format in a thriller as it instantly hooks me into the story and I think that knowing the outcome allows us to look out for clues and work out theories as the story gradually unfolds.
Unfortunately, there are some great twists in this one that kept me guessing and completely blowing away any chances that I could actually work this out early!
I loved/hated the characters.
I was shouting at Sophie trying to warn her what was happening and I hated that Adam seemed so unpredictable, always saying contrasting things.
But this definitely helps to build up the atmosphere and tension - which in turn, had me racing through this to discover how this would end.
I love this author's writing style which really draws you in from the start and this book really did that in buckets!
Were plunged straight in ag the deep end as Sophie watches on as the car containing her kidnapped child, ploughs off the edge of a ravine!
This instantly had me on edge, intrigued and of course feeling heartbroken and panic stricken for poor Sophie.
Being a mum myself, this gave me goosebumps, imagining just how Sophie was feeling in that moment.
We then head right the way back to the start of the story and we work our way towards this explosive finale.
I love this format in a thriller as it instantly hooks me into the story and I think that knowing the outcome allows us to look out for clues and work out theories as the story gradually unfolds.
Unfortunately, there are some great twists in this one that kept me guessing and completely blowing away any chances that I could actually work this out early!
I loved/hated the characters.
I was shouting at Sophie trying to warn her what was happening and I hated that Adam seemed so unpredictable, always saying contrasting things.
But this definitely helps to build up the atmosphere and tension - which in turn, had me racing through this to discover how this would end.
August 19, 2025
3.75! this storyline was fab but why so slowwwww!! the 30% was so good !
September 21, 2025
Really liked this book!
May 27, 2025
This book opens with a bang — a literal car accident that jolts you straight into the wreckage, then throws you back in time to the picturesque calm before everything unraveled. Sophie, her partner Ben, and their baby Rufus are renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds, baking in the glow of new family life. It’s sweet. It’s slow. It’s got future Christmas card energy. And then Adam arrives.
Adam is Ben’s estranged brother, and he doesn’t just bring baggage. He brings Brooke — his too-quiet, too-thin girlfriend — and a suitcase full of secrets that start oozing into Sophie’s world the second he steps through the door. He’s charming in that calculated, skin-crawling way. Brooke barely speaks. Sophie’s instincts go off like a fire alarm. And Ben? He’s a doctor, trained in calm, but suddenly distant, defensive, and full of half-answers.
What follows is domestic suspense with the walls slowly closing in. Adam begins inserting himself into their lives — too helpful, too watchful, and just a little too interested in Sophie’s every move. She’s nine years older than Ben, navigating the beautiful mess of postpartum life, and while she loves fiercely, she’s also doubting herself more than she wants to admit. That’s what makes the gaslighting land. She doesn’t unravel loudly. She second-guesses herself to pieces.
This is one of those thrillers where you want to scream, “Just tell the truth,” every five pages. Because so much of what goes wrong here? It could’ve been stopped. One hard conversation, one honest moment, and the dominoes don’t fall. But instead, silence stretches. Secrets deepen. And Sophie’s left holding the weight of everyone else’s refusal to face reality.
Thankfully, Sophie is not alone in the chaos. Her family is phenomenal — a little too trusting, maybe, but deeply present. Her dad is a soft-spoken antiques expert with a beautiful vintage car and a knack for showing up just when she needs grounding. Saskia, her sister, is running Sophie’s wildly successful cookie company while Sophie’s on maternity leave — juggling clients, custom orders, and crisis texts like they can all be smoothed over in the same sentence. Her mom? She’s straight out of a mid-century sitcom — the kind of 1950s housewife who makes multi-course dinners, avoids conflict, and genuinely believes politeness can overcome almost anything. And Auntie Fen? Larger than life and impossible to ignore, the kind of woman who walks into a room and resets the entire emotional temperature. They’re not just side characters — they’re Sophie’s tether.
Seymour builds suspense through proximity and unease. There’s no gore, no over-the-top villain monologue. Just dread, dread, and more dread… until the moment it isn’t quiet anymore. When the final pieces click into place, it’s not subtle. It’s explosive. It’s a face-punch. It’s the kind of climax that knocks the air out of you, even when you’ve known it’s coming.
This one lands at 3 stars for me — not because it was a miss, but because it hovered in that weird in-between space where the tension simmers, the stakes are real, but the payoff doesn’t quite go full throttle. Still, it hit the mark for what it is: a slow spiral into suspicion with just enough emotional shrapnel to leave a mark.
Whodunity Award: For Weaponizing a Guest Room and Turning Family Secrets into a Full-Blown Psychological Siege
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC. This one made me want to change my locks, start a cookie business, and get my own Auntie Fen.
Adam is Ben’s estranged brother, and he doesn’t just bring baggage. He brings Brooke — his too-quiet, too-thin girlfriend — and a suitcase full of secrets that start oozing into Sophie’s world the second he steps through the door. He’s charming in that calculated, skin-crawling way. Brooke barely speaks. Sophie’s instincts go off like a fire alarm. And Ben? He’s a doctor, trained in calm, but suddenly distant, defensive, and full of half-answers.
What follows is domestic suspense with the walls slowly closing in. Adam begins inserting himself into their lives — too helpful, too watchful, and just a little too interested in Sophie’s every move. She’s nine years older than Ben, navigating the beautiful mess of postpartum life, and while she loves fiercely, she’s also doubting herself more than she wants to admit. That’s what makes the gaslighting land. She doesn’t unravel loudly. She second-guesses herself to pieces.
This is one of those thrillers where you want to scream, “Just tell the truth,” every five pages. Because so much of what goes wrong here? It could’ve been stopped. One hard conversation, one honest moment, and the dominoes don’t fall. But instead, silence stretches. Secrets deepen. And Sophie’s left holding the weight of everyone else’s refusal to face reality.
Thankfully, Sophie is not alone in the chaos. Her family is phenomenal — a little too trusting, maybe, but deeply present. Her dad is a soft-spoken antiques expert with a beautiful vintage car and a knack for showing up just when she needs grounding. Saskia, her sister, is running Sophie’s wildly successful cookie company while Sophie’s on maternity leave — juggling clients, custom orders, and crisis texts like they can all be smoothed over in the same sentence. Her mom? She’s straight out of a mid-century sitcom — the kind of 1950s housewife who makes multi-course dinners, avoids conflict, and genuinely believes politeness can overcome almost anything. And Auntie Fen? Larger than life and impossible to ignore, the kind of woman who walks into a room and resets the entire emotional temperature. They’re not just side characters — they’re Sophie’s tether.
Seymour builds suspense through proximity and unease. There’s no gore, no over-the-top villain monologue. Just dread, dread, and more dread… until the moment it isn’t quiet anymore. When the final pieces click into place, it’s not subtle. It’s explosive. It’s a face-punch. It’s the kind of climax that knocks the air out of you, even when you’ve known it’s coming.
This one lands at 3 stars for me — not because it was a miss, but because it hovered in that weird in-between space where the tension simmers, the stakes are real, but the payoff doesn’t quite go full throttle. Still, it hit the mark for what it is: a slow spiral into suspicion with just enough emotional shrapnel to leave a mark.
Whodunity Award: For Weaponizing a Guest Room and Turning Family Secrets into a Full-Blown Psychological Siege
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC. This one made me want to change my locks, start a cookie business, and get my own Auntie Fen.
June 10, 2025
Here is my review for The Brother by E V Seymour
This was a terrific psychological story that had me hooked right from the start of the book. I found that I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. Sophie and Ben had only been together approximately fourteen months but Sophie fell pregnant quite early in their relationship, they have called their baby Ben. She moved into his cottage and is trying to sell her penthouse flat in Cheltenham where her parents live. Ben’s parents have died but he has an older brother Adam who is coming to visit them with his girlfriend Brooke. He tells Sophie to not believe anything that Adam tells her. When Adam turns up, he is full of smiles and charm while Brooke is very fragile. Sophie can’t wait for them to go but there is something going on between Ben and Adam but Sophie doesn’t know what it is. When Adam and Brooke finally leave Sophie and Ben, it doesn’t give them the peace they hope for. Instead, it causes more anguish. This is a brilliantly written psychological thriller that just draws you in from the start and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to finish it. The plot was superb and well thought out. The characters had been well planned, described and played their roles well. This was very descriptively written and everything was well described, I could picture everything as I was reading it with my mind. The synopsis was great and drew me to read this story, I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the author’s writing style and found it very easy to follow. I haven’t read this author before but I really enjoyed this story and I would like to read more of her books in the future.
Blurb :
My partner’s brother just snatched my baby. And I saw it coming.
I thought I was lucky before all this happened. I have a beautiful baby boy. A man I want to make a life with. A gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds that we’re in the middle of doing up. Life’s good.
Then Ben drops a bombshell. His brother Adam is coming to stay.
‘Promise me something — don’t believe everything Adam tells you.’
From the moment Adam shows up — all charm and dark smiles, his fragile girlfriend in tow — I know something’s wrong. Something is off.
He says they won’t stay long.
He lies.
First, his girlfriend disappears.
Then the stories start shifting.
And still, I let him close. Too close.
Because I never imagined he’d take my child.
A BREATHTAKING DOMESTIC THRILLER FULL OF BURIED SECRETS, CHILLING TWISTS, AND A HEARTSTOPPING FINALE YOU WON’T SEE COMING.
This was a terrific psychological story that had me hooked right from the start of the book. I found that I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. Sophie and Ben had only been together approximately fourteen months but Sophie fell pregnant quite early in their relationship, they have called their baby Ben. She moved into his cottage and is trying to sell her penthouse flat in Cheltenham where her parents live. Ben’s parents have died but he has an older brother Adam who is coming to visit them with his girlfriend Brooke. He tells Sophie to not believe anything that Adam tells her. When Adam turns up, he is full of smiles and charm while Brooke is very fragile. Sophie can’t wait for them to go but there is something going on between Ben and Adam but Sophie doesn’t know what it is. When Adam and Brooke finally leave Sophie and Ben, it doesn’t give them the peace they hope for. Instead, it causes more anguish. This is a brilliantly written psychological thriller that just draws you in from the start and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to finish it. The plot was superb and well thought out. The characters had been well planned, described and played their roles well. This was very descriptively written and everything was well described, I could picture everything as I was reading it with my mind. The synopsis was great and drew me to read this story, I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the author’s writing style and found it very easy to follow. I haven’t read this author before but I really enjoyed this story and I would like to read more of her books in the future.
Blurb :
My partner’s brother just snatched my baby. And I saw it coming.
I thought I was lucky before all this happened. I have a beautiful baby boy. A man I want to make a life with. A gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds that we’re in the middle of doing up. Life’s good.
Then Ben drops a bombshell. His brother Adam is coming to stay.
‘Promise me something — don’t believe everything Adam tells you.’
From the moment Adam shows up — all charm and dark smiles, his fragile girlfriend in tow — I know something’s wrong. Something is off.
He says they won’t stay long.
He lies.
First, his girlfriend disappears.
Then the stories start shifting.
And still, I let him close. Too close.
Because I never imagined he’d take my child.
A BREATHTAKING DOMESTIC THRILLER FULL OF BURIED SECRETS, CHILLING TWISTS, AND A HEARTSTOPPING FINALE YOU WON’T SEE COMING.
May 30, 2025
Absorbing, Intriguing, Entertaining
The Brother by E V Seymour is an engrossing study of how to avoid working for a living but live on your wits by becoming the house-guests from hell - at the same time as ensnaring your benefactors little by little into your lifestyle until favours they give to try to maintain a peaceful life become crimes for which you can blackmail them.
Sophie and Ben are living the perfect life with much-loved baby Rufus in “Lamb’s Leap”, a cottage they are expensively renovating and extending outside Cirencester. Ben Taylor is a respected doctor in the local hospital and Sophie, originally an accountant, has developed a flourishing chain of bakeries. So far Ben has had no family in evidence, Sophie has loving parents who live in nearby Cheltenham, together with quirky sister Saskia and very wealthy Aunty Fen.
The day that Ben’s long-lost brother Adam turns up on their doorstep with his outrageous attire, his winning ways, and his pitiful waif of a girlfriend is about to change their lives forever. When Adam and drug-addicted Brooke finally vacate Lamb’s Leap they leave unhappiness and turmoil behind, and the previously contented couple several thousand pounds poorer. Ben and Sophia are then horrified to find Adam has not only ingratiated himself with Sophie’s parents in their home, but has somehow offloaded Brooke and taken over Saskia’s life. Just to complicate the situation further, Sophie’s ex- fiancé, the police detective, puts in an appearance promising to help bring Adam to justice.
There is actually a very plausible and well thought out plot in this story which resolves extremely surprisingly in a nail-biting conclusion. The “why’s” are all logically explained – but not until the reader has enjoyed being unable to put the book down to see who does what next, been successfully astonished by the outcome, and been frightened by concluding events. This is a very well written and intriguing book that I thoroughly recommend reading.
The Brother by E V Seymour is an engrossing study of how to avoid working for a living but live on your wits by becoming the house-guests from hell - at the same time as ensnaring your benefactors little by little into your lifestyle until favours they give to try to maintain a peaceful life become crimes for which you can blackmail them.
Sophie and Ben are living the perfect life with much-loved baby Rufus in “Lamb’s Leap”, a cottage they are expensively renovating and extending outside Cirencester. Ben Taylor is a respected doctor in the local hospital and Sophie, originally an accountant, has developed a flourishing chain of bakeries. So far Ben has had no family in evidence, Sophie has loving parents who live in nearby Cheltenham, together with quirky sister Saskia and very wealthy Aunty Fen.
The day that Ben’s long-lost brother Adam turns up on their doorstep with his outrageous attire, his winning ways, and his pitiful waif of a girlfriend is about to change their lives forever. When Adam and drug-addicted Brooke finally vacate Lamb’s Leap they leave unhappiness and turmoil behind, and the previously contented couple several thousand pounds poorer. Ben and Sophia are then horrified to find Adam has not only ingratiated himself with Sophie’s parents in their home, but has somehow offloaded Brooke and taken over Saskia’s life. Just to complicate the situation further, Sophie’s ex- fiancé, the police detective, puts in an appearance promising to help bring Adam to justice.
There is actually a very plausible and well thought out plot in this story which resolves extremely surprisingly in a nail-biting conclusion. The “why’s” are all logically explained – but not until the reader has enjoyed being unable to put the book down to see who does what next, been successfully astonished by the outcome, and been frightened by concluding events. This is a very well written and intriguing book that I thoroughly recommend reading.
June 21, 2025
📚Book Review
The Brother by E.V. Seymour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
📖 Description:
Sophie’s life seemed perfect — a lovely cottage in the Cotswolds, a beautiful baby, and a man she’s ready to build a future with. Until Ben’s brother, Adam, shows up uninvited. Mysterious, dangerous, and unpredictable. From the moment he arrives, Sophie’s world begins to unravel. Lies, suspicion, and fear creep in... and when Adam’s girlfriend vanishes and Sophie’s baby is taken, she’s plunged into a waking nightmare where no one can be trusted — not even the man she loves.
My Thoughts:
The Brother is a whirlwind of psychological suspense that gripped me from the very first chapter. The tension builds like a slow-burning fire — then suddenly, everything explodes. I was hooked, confused, and completely invested.
Sophie is a character I rooted for, even when her choices made me yell in frustration. She’s thrown into a nightmare where the lines between right and wrong blur, and the people closest to her can't be trusted. Yet, she never stops fighting — driven by her instincts, her love for her child, and her will to survive.
The twists? Unpredictable. The pace? Relentless. The backstory? Chilling and powerful.
It’s one of those thrillers where you keep asking yourself: Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding what?
If you love books that mess with your mind and keep your heart racing, this one’s for you.
✅ Recommend: 100% for fans of domestic thrillers, psychological suspense, and twisty plots!
‘The Brother’ is now available on Amazon — go grab your copy and dive into this gripping thriller!
#TheBrother #EVSeymour #JoffeBooks #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #BookReview #ThrillerReads #EdgeOfSeat #Bookstagram #BookRecs #DomesticSuspense #TwistyReads #ThrillerBookReview
The Brother by E.V. Seymour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
📖 Description:
Sophie’s life seemed perfect — a lovely cottage in the Cotswolds, a beautiful baby, and a man she’s ready to build a future with. Until Ben’s brother, Adam, shows up uninvited. Mysterious, dangerous, and unpredictable. From the moment he arrives, Sophie’s world begins to unravel. Lies, suspicion, and fear creep in... and when Adam’s girlfriend vanishes and Sophie’s baby is taken, she’s plunged into a waking nightmare where no one can be trusted — not even the man she loves.
My Thoughts:
The Brother is a whirlwind of psychological suspense that gripped me from the very first chapter. The tension builds like a slow-burning fire — then suddenly, everything explodes. I was hooked, confused, and completely invested.
Sophie is a character I rooted for, even when her choices made me yell in frustration. She’s thrown into a nightmare where the lines between right and wrong blur, and the people closest to her can't be trusted. Yet, she never stops fighting — driven by her instincts, her love for her child, and her will to survive.
The twists? Unpredictable. The pace? Relentless. The backstory? Chilling and powerful.
It’s one of those thrillers where you keep asking yourself: Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding what?
If you love books that mess with your mind and keep your heart racing, this one’s for you.
✅ Recommend: 100% for fans of domestic thrillers, psychological suspense, and twisty plots!
‘The Brother’ is now available on Amazon — go grab your copy and dive into this gripping thriller!
#TheBrother #EVSeymour #JoffeBooks #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #BookReview #ThrillerReads #EdgeOfSeat #Bookstagram #BookRecs #DomesticSuspense #TwistyReads #ThrillerBookReview
June 7, 2025
Rounded up from 3.5
Sophie is a new mum and feels like she's finally got the life she wants with her partner Ben and their son and a flourishing business. That all changes when Ben's estranged brother Adam comes back into his lift, along with his girlfriend Brooke. At first Adam and Brooke seem nice enough, but there's a strange tension between the brothers, as if they hate each other. Adam seems intent on weaselling his way into their lives, which makes Sophie suspicious. Adam's girlfriend Brooke starts to act strangely before disappearing. Things unravel even more, plunging Sophie and Ben into a nightmare.
The Brother is a tense domestic noir, with a cast of characters you can't really trust.
The story builds slowly, gradually becoming more and more tense until you're almost biting your nails with anticipation before delivering a satisfying ending.
I felt for Sophie being a new mother, having her life turned upside down at a time where she's trying to run a business and cope with a baby too. I did, however, get a little frustrated with a lot of characters in the book, especially Sophie herself, just wishing they'd talk to each other instead of sniping.
Like with most thrillers in this genre, you really have to suspend your disbelief with the ending, but I think this author did a decent job of making it all seem like it could happen in real life.
If you're looking for a taut psychological thriller with flawed yet believable characters, then I'd highly recommend this to you.
Sophie is a new mum and feels like she's finally got the life she wants with her partner Ben and their son and a flourishing business. That all changes when Ben's estranged brother Adam comes back into his lift, along with his girlfriend Brooke. At first Adam and Brooke seem nice enough, but there's a strange tension between the brothers, as if they hate each other. Adam seems intent on weaselling his way into their lives, which makes Sophie suspicious. Adam's girlfriend Brooke starts to act strangely before disappearing. Things unravel even more, plunging Sophie and Ben into a nightmare.
The Brother is a tense domestic noir, with a cast of characters you can't really trust.
The story builds slowly, gradually becoming more and more tense until you're almost biting your nails with anticipation before delivering a satisfying ending.
I felt for Sophie being a new mother, having her life turned upside down at a time where she's trying to run a business and cope with a baby too. I did, however, get a little frustrated with a lot of characters in the book, especially Sophie herself, just wishing they'd talk to each other instead of sniping.
Like with most thrillers in this genre, you really have to suspend your disbelief with the ending, but I think this author did a decent job of making it all seem like it could happen in real life.
If you're looking for a taut psychological thriller with flawed yet believable characters, then I'd highly recommend this to you.
June 11, 2025
"Guilt is as corrosive on the mind as sulphuric acid is on the skin"
Well, that was a wild ride! Sophie and Ben are happily married, living in a beautiful home and are devoted parents to their 5 month old baby, Roofus. Ben is a Dr. and Sophie runs her own successful bakery business.
When Ben gets a call from his prodigal brother saying he is coming back to the UK and wants to visit him, Ben agrees but Sophie can tell he is not happy about it. When Adam arrives, all smarmy smiles and effortless charm he is accompanied by his meek and clearly troubled girlfriend Brooke. As Ben warns her to be wary of Adam, her concerns amass, especially considering the clear underlying tension between the brothers. As Sophie's family begins to fracture, she is determined to get to the bottom of what happened in the past. However, she has to tread carefully. She also has secrets and guilt galore at events from her recent past, and she is quickly made aware that Adam knows exactly what they are.
Loooved this one! I loved the fact that there were no excessive "filler" characters, everyone has their roles to play and the story was concise and straight to the point. No endless over detail for the sake of bumping up the words count. The story was well paced and flowed well. The suspicion and paranoia as well as the high speed twists and turns made this impossible to put down. A high quality and completely engrossing psychological thriller
Well, that was a wild ride! Sophie and Ben are happily married, living in a beautiful home and are devoted parents to their 5 month old baby, Roofus. Ben is a Dr. and Sophie runs her own successful bakery business.
When Ben gets a call from his prodigal brother saying he is coming back to the UK and wants to visit him, Ben agrees but Sophie can tell he is not happy about it. When Adam arrives, all smarmy smiles and effortless charm he is accompanied by his meek and clearly troubled girlfriend Brooke. As Ben warns her to be wary of Adam, her concerns amass, especially considering the clear underlying tension between the brothers. As Sophie's family begins to fracture, she is determined to get to the bottom of what happened in the past. However, she has to tread carefully. She also has secrets and guilt galore at events from her recent past, and she is quickly made aware that Adam knows exactly what they are.
Loooved this one! I loved the fact that there were no excessive "filler" characters, everyone has their roles to play and the story was concise and straight to the point. No endless over detail for the sake of bumping up the words count. The story was well paced and flowed well. The suspicion and paranoia as well as the high speed twists and turns made this impossible to put down. A high quality and completely engrossing psychological thriller
June 11, 2025
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.
Sophie lives with her partner, Ben, and they have a baby boy named Rufus. Sophie is very happy and satisfied with every aspect of her life, until Ben tells her that his estranged brother, Adam, is coming to visit them. Adam arrives with his girlfriend, Brooke, and despite Sophie's best efforts, she's constantly uneasy around them.
I took an immediate liking to both Sophie and Ben. When Adam and Brooke were introduced, I found them interesting as characters, and there was something about them that I couldn't put my finger on. With Adam in particular, I wondered what his intentions were, and more than half way through the story, I still couldn't figure him out. I felt he was a very interesting and well-written character; the author presented him as someone enigmatic, charismatic and attractive, but not very easy to like.
I enjoyed the subtle build-up of the suspense, and how the characters and their behaviour kept me guessing. This book had plenty of surprising twists, and it turned out to be a nail-biter. I wonder if fans of Lisa Jewell would like this, as it reminded me of a Lisa Jewell book.
Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Sophie lives with her partner, Ben, and they have a baby boy named Rufus. Sophie is very happy and satisfied with every aspect of her life, until Ben tells her that his estranged brother, Adam, is coming to visit them. Adam arrives with his girlfriend, Brooke, and despite Sophie's best efforts, she's constantly uneasy around them.
I took an immediate liking to both Sophie and Ben. When Adam and Brooke were introduced, I found them interesting as characters, and there was something about them that I couldn't put my finger on. With Adam in particular, I wondered what his intentions were, and more than half way through the story, I still couldn't figure him out. I felt he was a very interesting and well-written character; the author presented him as someone enigmatic, charismatic and attractive, but not very easy to like.
I enjoyed the subtle build-up of the suspense, and how the characters and their behaviour kept me guessing. This book had plenty of surprising twists, and it turned out to be a nail-biter. I wonder if fans of Lisa Jewell would like this, as it reminded me of a Lisa Jewell book.
Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
June 3, 2025
This is a superb Psychological Thriller from E.V.Seymour that will keep you riveted page after page.
The book starts at the closing chapter at every mothers nightmare. Sophie, the mother of five month old Rufus, watches in horror as the car containing her kidnapped son skids off the road at speed and plunges down a ravine! She dives out of the van shes following in and scrambles down the steep slope after the wreck. The unknown good samaritan who had picked her up and given chase follows her down and tries to restrain her as the car is about to explode in flames. Does Rufus survive, and who has kidnapped him? flashback to the start of the story, and the nightmare is gradually revealed.
Both Sophie and her new husband have secrets that they can not share even with each other. Their pasts catch up with them when Ben's brother Adam turns up their house in the cotswolds and cleverly insinuates himself into their lives and home. The threats and demands soon begin, and the fast-paced story twists and turns to a shocking reveal.
The book starts at the closing chapter at every mothers nightmare. Sophie, the mother of five month old Rufus, watches in horror as the car containing her kidnapped son skids off the road at speed and plunges down a ravine! She dives out of the van shes following in and scrambles down the steep slope after the wreck. The unknown good samaritan who had picked her up and given chase follows her down and tries to restrain her as the car is about to explode in flames. Does Rufus survive, and who has kidnapped him? flashback to the start of the story, and the nightmare is gradually revealed.
Both Sophie and her new husband have secrets that they can not share even with each other. Their pasts catch up with them when Ben's brother Adam turns up their house in the cotswolds and cleverly insinuates himself into their lives and home. The threats and demands soon begin, and the fast-paced story twists and turns to a shocking reveal.
June 6, 2025
The Brother is a pacy psychological thriller that I couldn’t put down. Seymour manages to create a sense of unease and tension in such a fantastic way. There’s no over the top villainy, no gore or bloody threats (not that I would have minded that) but instead there is a growing sense of unease created by the connection of the characters lives and ultimately the closeness or lack thereof of the characters.
I particularly liked the characters and the set up. I have to say despite my frustration, a bit of honest communication may have saved a lot of the issues, I have to say Seymour makes it completely believable. You can understand why characters are keeping things hidden, or not telling the full truth and it becomes believable even if frustrating.
If you love a good psychological thriller this is definitely one for you. With an interesting and well rounded cast of characters and memorable plot you are bound to enjoy this one.
As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
I particularly liked the characters and the set up. I have to say despite my frustration, a bit of honest communication may have saved a lot of the issues, I have to say Seymour makes it completely believable. You can understand why characters are keeping things hidden, or not telling the full truth and it becomes believable even if frustrating.
If you love a good psychological thriller this is definitely one for you. With an interesting and well rounded cast of characters and memorable plot you are bound to enjoy this one.
As always thank you to Zooloo’s Book Tours for the copy to review. My review is always honest, truthful and freely given.
June 7, 2025
Sophie and her husband Ben have what seems a picture perfect life. With new baby Rufus, the little family is happily renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds. Everything is wonderful. Until one day, Ben's estranged older brother Adam and his girlfriend Brooke show up unannounced. What was supposed to be a quick stay soon turns fraught with tension and animosity between the brothers. Soon some sinister secrets threaten to upend the peace once and for all. And then Brooke disappears. Sophie is worried that Adam has done something to her. If Adam is capable of Brooke's disappearance, what else is he capable of?
This was a pretty good thriller with a lot of tension and twists. I thought that I had it all figured out several times but then the story took a sharp turn and I was shocked! The way the story starts off is with a bang and it drew me in immediately. I did feel like it was a bit too long maybe but overall a suspenseful and twisty read!
Thank you to NetGalley, E.V. Seymour, and Joffe Books for this ARC! Publication date: June 5th 2025.
This was a pretty good thriller with a lot of tension and twists. I thought that I had it all figured out several times but then the story took a sharp turn and I was shocked! The way the story starts off is with a bang and it drew me in immediately. I did feel like it was a bit too long maybe but overall a suspenseful and twisty read!
Thank you to NetGalley, E.V. Seymour, and Joffe Books for this ARC! Publication date: June 5th 2025.
June 7, 2025
This book was chilling and certainly provided the shock factor. The concept is strong. It's every parent's worse nightmare!
The cover was creepy. It certainly sent chills up my spine. So that was a brilliant desgin job. The silhouette with the mum and her baby in the window was a great idea.
The book is written really well and flows nicely. The descriptions are strong. The writing is definitely done to the point when the reader is on edge the entire time.
The characterisation is excellent and adds to the overall tone of the book. The characters are really good. Adam made me feel physically sick. He was sinister. I liked Sophie and Ben and their wee baby Rufus.
The genre is domestic thriller and all the components mentioned previously means that this book did not disappoint. Thrillers are all in the reader's mind. Job well done E.V.!
There wasn't anything specific I didn't like so that was definitely a good thing.
I recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
The cover was creepy. It certainly sent chills up my spine. So that was a brilliant desgin job. The silhouette with the mum and her baby in the window was a great idea.
The book is written really well and flows nicely. The descriptions are strong. The writing is definitely done to the point when the reader is on edge the entire time.
The characterisation is excellent and adds to the overall tone of the book. The characters are really good. Adam made me feel physically sick. He was sinister. I liked Sophie and Ben and their wee baby Rufus.
The genre is domestic thriller and all the components mentioned previously means that this book did not disappoint. Thrillers are all in the reader's mind. Job well done E.V.!
There wasn't anything specific I didn't like so that was definitely a good thing.
I recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
June 10, 2025
E.V. Seymour delivers a gripping and intricately woven thriller in The Brother—a novel that demands and rewards close attention. From the very beginning, the story unfolds with an intensity that keeps readers guessing, layering suspense with well-crafted twists that challenge every assumption.
The narrative’s pacing is expertly managed, pulling the reader deeper into a web of secrets, betrayals, and shifting loyalties. Seymour’s writing is sharp and engaging, balancing action with psychological depth, and each development is both unexpected and satisfying. As the tension builds, so does the emotional complexity, making for a thoroughly immersive experience.
This is a head-spinning read in the best possible way—smart, unpredictable, and addictive. Fans of high-stakes thrillers will find The Brother an excellent choice, and it’s a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended.
The narrative’s pacing is expertly managed, pulling the reader deeper into a web of secrets, betrayals, and shifting loyalties. Seymour’s writing is sharp and engaging, balancing action with psychological depth, and each development is both unexpected and satisfying. As the tension builds, so does the emotional complexity, making for a thoroughly immersive experience.
This is a head-spinning read in the best possible way—smart, unpredictable, and addictive. Fans of high-stakes thrillers will find The Brother an excellent choice, and it’s a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended.
September 27, 2025
This is a story about Sophie, her partner, Ben and their baby Rufus. Sophie is very tight with her family - mom, dad and sister. Ben's parents are deceased and he has an estranged brother. One day the brother, Adam, shows up at Ben and Sophie's house with his girlfriend Brooke to stay. To stay for how long, no one knows. I found this confusing, half the time wasn't even sure what was going on. Sophie was just running all around trying to figure out who was lying. There is a whole section with her previous boyfriend, Leo. Something happened and she broke it off with Leo but it takes quite awhile to find out what happened. There's a part about her mom being sick. It didn't seem to tie into the story. I guess it showed that Ben lied, again. Ben lied again and again but then that is all glossed over. It took a very long time to wrap up and then when it finally did it felt disappointing.
May 30, 2025
Sophie and Ben are a successful couple with a young son. Sophie is still getting used to her new role as mother to Rufus. Sophie therefore becomes concerned when Ben tells her his long lost brother Adam is coming to stay, with his girlfriend Brooke. Her concern grows when he tells her not to believe everything his brother tells her. Upon arrival Ryan could not be anymore different than her husband Ben. There is an underlying tension between the brothers to start with. Sophie is desperate to discover if Adam has an agenda. Strange behaviour starts to show which really raises Sophie's suspicion. Then Brook disappears. Who is responsible? More importantly who can Sophie trust? This book is very mysterious and does keep you guessing. I found it slow in parts hence the reason for 4 not 5 stars. It is a good read though and it does come together well at the end.
June 9, 2025
Talk about family drama! I just finished The Brother by E.V. Seymour, and wow—what a wild ride. It took a few chapters for me to really get into it, but once the story finds its rhythm, the secrets start unraveling fast and never let up.
Every single character is hiding something in this layered domestic suspense, and it’s impossible to predict who to trust—or what anyone might do next. The short chapters keep the pace snappy despite the book’s longer length, and the writing is sharp and compelling throughout. The character development is rich and complex, and just when you think things can’t possibly get worse… they do. And then they do again.
If you love twisty, character-driven thrillers like Look Closer by David Ellis or The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your list.
Every single character is hiding something in this layered domestic suspense, and it’s impossible to predict who to trust—or what anyone might do next. The short chapters keep the pace snappy despite the book’s longer length, and the writing is sharp and compelling throughout. The character development is rich and complex, and just when you think things can’t possibly get worse… they do. And then they do again.
If you love twisty, character-driven thrillers like Look Closer by David Ellis or The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your list.
June 1, 2025
Brilliant book with past guilts in Sophie & Ben's lives, they fall in love, have a baby and live an idyllic life in a beautiful Cotswold home..
Out of the blue Ben announces his brother Adam is coming to visit with his partner, Sophie is shocked firstly as she was unaware that he had a brother and secondly because Ben warned her Adam was trouble .
What follows is a tale of pernicious sibling rivalry, greed, malevolent manipulative behaviours , violent abuse and crooked policemen. It ends with kidnapping , a car crash and the issues that haunted Sophie and Ben are finally shared between them while the instigators face long prison sentences.
I stayed up all night reading as I couldn't put it down until the very end.
Out of the blue Ben announces his brother Adam is coming to visit with his partner, Sophie is shocked firstly as she was unaware that he had a brother and secondly because Ben warned her Adam was trouble .
What follows is a tale of pernicious sibling rivalry, greed, malevolent manipulative behaviours , violent abuse and crooked policemen. It ends with kidnapping , a car crash and the issues that haunted Sophie and Ben are finally shared between them while the instigators face long prison sentences.
I stayed up all night reading as I couldn't put it down until the very end.
May 9, 2025
This tense thriller plunges us into the fragile world of a new family when Ben's manipulative brother and his girlfriend 'Brittle Brooke' arrive to stay. What starts as a seemingly welcome visit soon twists into a calculated attempt to dismantle the couple's life.
Sophie is determined to protect their baby, Rufus and get to the bottom of Adam's veiled threats. The suspense quickly builds, with Adam quickly wheedling his way into Sophie's family's lives.
The claustrophobic atmosphere builds when Sophie starts unravelling the past. Who can she trust?
The ending is tied up as neatly as a cake in a box.
This compelling story gets a strong 4⭐ from me.
My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
Sophie is determined to protect their baby, Rufus and get to the bottom of Adam's veiled threats. The suspense quickly builds, with Adam quickly wheedling his way into Sophie's family's lives.
The claustrophobic atmosphere builds when Sophie starts unravelling the past. Who can she trust?
The ending is tied up as neatly as a cake in a box.
This compelling story gets a strong 4⭐ from me.
My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
May 31, 2025
The Brother
Sophie, late thirties, and her much younger partner, GP Ben have new surprise baby Rufus together. They are blissfully happy renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds until one day, Ben‘s estranged for decades older brother Adam and his girlfriend Brooke turn up on their doorstep, inviting themselves to stay for what they claim is a flying visit. As soon as they set foot through the door, they insert themselves into Sophie and Ben’s lives, Sophie’s family and business. The tension and animosmity between the brothers grows and the women start to hate each other…This is a chilling unputdownable read, guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout.
Sophie, late thirties, and her much younger partner, GP Ben have new surprise baby Rufus together. They are blissfully happy renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds until one day, Ben‘s estranged for decades older brother Adam and his girlfriend Brooke turn up on their doorstep, inviting themselves to stay for what they claim is a flying visit. As soon as they set foot through the door, they insert themselves into Sophie and Ben’s lives, Sophie’s family and business. The tension and animosmity between the brothers grows and the women start to hate each other…This is a chilling unputdownable read, guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout.
May 6, 2025
Review of ‘The Brother’ by E.V. Seymour due to be published on 5 June 2025 by Joffe Books.
When Sophie’s partner Ben’s estranged brother, Adam, announces he’s coming to visit, their idyllic life with their baby is thrown into chaos and disarray.
Adam is a deeply unlikeable character, and his young girlfriend is strange and creepy. Throw Sophie’s previous fiancé into the mix and secrets and lies explode.
An excellent psychological thriller, that’s dark and full of twists you don’t see coming.
Highly recommended read.
When Sophie’s partner Ben’s estranged brother, Adam, announces he’s coming to visit, their idyllic life with their baby is thrown into chaos and disarray.
Adam is a deeply unlikeable character, and his young girlfriend is strange and creepy. Throw Sophie’s previous fiancé into the mix and secrets and lies explode.
An excellent psychological thriller, that’s dark and full of twists you don’t see coming.
Highly recommended read.
May 12, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC!
I did not like Adam from the start, he gave me the creeps. Also, who does bring his girlfriend along when coming to stay with his brother? Plus, the girlfriend made my skin crawl, as well. I always wanted siblings, but this would have very much overstepping my boundaries...
Anyway, I was hooked from page one by the book and more or less did read it in one sitting while being at home all on my own this sunday. Very much recommended, you should go and grab a copy once you get the chance!
I did not like Adam from the start, he gave me the creeps. Also, who does bring his girlfriend along when coming to stay with his brother? Plus, the girlfriend made my skin crawl, as well. I always wanted siblings, but this would have very much overstepping my boundaries...
Anyway, I was hooked from page one by the book and more or less did read it in one sitting while being at home all on my own this sunday. Very much recommended, you should go and grab a copy once you get the chance!
May 21, 2025
Sophie, a successful business woman, and her partner Ben, a GP, have moved into their Cotswold renovation home with baby Rufus when the estranged brother of Ben, Adam, makes an appearance. Everything with Adam is not as it seems but is Ben hiding something from his past too? But Sophie is traumatised by her past too when it suddenly resurfaces around the same time as Adam. A gripping read from the first chapter. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author & publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 30, 2025
The Brother is a exhilarating thrilling read that stole my breath away and had me screaming more! It starts off with a bang in the form of a car accident and it gets rather sweet and then the brother arrives along with a whole lot of trouble. I was desperate to find out the truth as more and more lies and secrets were told. I felt so sorry for some of the characters but I felt unsure if they could be trusted while others I despised from the start. It is a lengthy physcological thriller but I absorbed every single word!
June 9, 2025
Wow! What a ride this book is.
Grabs you from the first page keeps you hooked throughout with its suspense and takes you right to an explosive end.
Full of twists and characters to distrust
A thriller that’s thrilling and then some more thrills just to blow your mind.
No way I could guess where this was going
Can you let how excited I am about this book? I loved it 😍🤯
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on the tour
#evseymour #thebrother @joffebooks #bookstagram #ebookreview #thrillerbooks
Grabs you from the first page keeps you hooked throughout with its suspense and takes you right to an explosive end.
Full of twists and characters to distrust
A thriller that’s thrilling and then some more thrills just to blow your mind.
No way I could guess where this was going
Can you let how excited I am about this book? I loved it 😍🤯
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on the tour
#evseymour #thebrother @joffebooks #bookstagram #ebookreview #thrillerbooks
July 25, 2025
An excellent crime mystery that focuses more on the characters than on the police. There is a major twist about three quarters way through that was so unlikely - and avoidable - that I considered marking it down a star but the intriguing malevolence between family members and within communities is so well articulated that I can commend this book as definitely worthwhile.
Towards the end, the book took on much more of a whodunit fiction with lots of twists in the final chapters.
It's a good read. Buy it.
Towards the end, the book took on much more of a whodunit fiction with lots of twists in the final chapters.
It's a good read. Buy it.
October 8, 2025
As much as I enjoyed this book and was interested to see how the storyline would transpire I was disappointed in the abrupt ending. You know when a book just…finishes. We were told what happened and that was that. Somewhat of a build up to uncover who knew what and who was involved there but it was just this is it, the end.
It was a relief to know that Adam was always the bad brother and Sophie’s baby daddy Ben was in the clear.
The sudden arrival of Adam made sense with the sudden windfall Ben was going to receive. The part of Sophie’s ex Leo (a former copper) tied in nicely.
It was a relief to know that Adam was always the bad brother and Sophie’s baby daddy Ben was in the clear.
The sudden arrival of Adam made sense with the sudden windfall Ben was going to receive. The part of Sophie’s ex Leo (a former copper) tied in nicely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2025
Gripping
Sophie thinks she has everything. Her partner Ben and their baby boy live in a cottage in he Cotswolds and everything is going well until Ben announces his brother is coming to stay, and not to believe everything she is told. From the minute Adam and his girlfriend arrive there is tension in the house, although most people find Adam charming until they get to know him, but worse is to come. I found this book gripping with plenty of twists and turns.
Sophie thinks she has everything. Her partner Ben and their baby boy live in a cottage in he Cotswolds and everything is going well until Ben announces his brother is coming to stay, and not to believe everything she is told. From the minute Adam and his girlfriend arrive there is tension in the house, although most people find Adam charming until they get to know him, but worse is to come. I found this book gripping with plenty of twists and turns.
June 10, 2025
masks of so many
I loved this book and wish I understood proper English better! SO many twists and rips and highs and lows! Over two days’ time, I gave up sleep to try to figure out who was the worst! I challenge myself with every book I read to see if I’m right. With this book, I was wrong. Challenge yourself: read this book.
I loved this book and wish I understood proper English better! SO many twists and rips and highs and lows! Over two days’ time, I gave up sleep to try to figure out who was the worst! I challenge myself with every book I read to see if I’m right. With this book, I was wrong. Challenge yourself: read this book.
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