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The Killer in the House
In this chilling domestic thriller debut, a young woman working as a housekeeper—for the subject of a trending true crime podcast—finds herself in a deadly mess when the truth catches up to the hype.
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. But just as her life starts to look up, personal tragedy knocks her back down. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
Ed Weatherup is a family man, successful, and the perfect employer—except for the fact that he may quite possibly be a murderer. He served five years for his wife’s death before the Innocent Blood podcast helped overturn his conviction. Now he’s back home with his second wife and blended family, vowing publicly to find the real killer.
With her past coming to collect, Renee has no choice but to become the Weatherups’ new housekeeper. Suddenly privy to their family secrets and furtive phone calls, she turns to the podcast to learn more about her mysterious employers. But the details don’t add up. And the closer Renee gets to the truth, the more sure she becomes that the killer will strike again.
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. But just as her life starts to look up, personal tragedy knocks her back down. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
Ed Weatherup is a family man, successful, and the perfect employer—except for the fact that he may quite possibly be a murderer. He served five years for his wife’s death before the Innocent Blood podcast helped overturn his conviction. Now he’s back home with his second wife and blended family, vowing publicly to find the real killer.
With her past coming to collect, Renee has no choice but to become the Weatherups’ new housekeeper. Suddenly privy to their family secrets and furtive phone calls, she turns to the podcast to learn more about her mysterious employers. But the details don’t add up. And the closer Renee gets to the truth, the more sure she becomes that the killer will strike again.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
Lauren Reding
1 book32 followersLauren grew up in rural Virginia. She earned a BA in English from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and an MFA in fiction from Johns Hopkins University. Lauren enjoys planting native perennials, playing video games, going for walks, and shooting the breeze.
A Novelist's Guide to Getting the Most out of Your Setting in Domestic Suspense from Crime Reads
Q&A with Campaign for the American Reader
Advance Praise for The Killer in the House
"Lauren Reding's chilling debut, THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE, is psychological suspense at its finest, with a propulsive plot to keep you guessing and layered characters you won't be able to look away from. THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE is the perfect thriller for fans of true crime podcasts. You'll feel like you're living inside one as you tear through this page-turner!"
- Kristin Offiler, author of The Housewarming
A Novelist's Guide to Getting the Most out of Your Setting in Domestic Suspense from Crime Reads
Q&A with Campaign for the American Reader
Advance Praise for The Killer in the House
"Lauren Reding's chilling debut, THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE, is psychological suspense at its finest, with a propulsive plot to keep you guessing and layered characters you won't be able to look away from. THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE is the perfect thriller for fans of true crime podcasts. You'll feel like you're living inside one as you tear through this page-turner!"
- Kristin Offiler, author of The Housewarming
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
March 24, 2026
Lauren Reding’s gripping debut in the domestic thriller genre, THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE, delves into the unsettling story of a young woman who accepts a housekeeping position in the home of a wealthy man who has just been acquitted of his wife’s shocking murder.
As Renee navigates the intricacies of her new role, the tension mounts, revealing dark secrets and hidden motives that make her question everything she thought she knew about her employer—and herself.
Highlights...
Renee Beale is desperate to leave her dead-end life on her family's Virginia tree farm. Following a personal tragedy, she accepts a housekeeping position for a wealthy couple in Richmond.
Her employer, Ed Weatherup, spent five years in prison for the murder of his first wife. His conviction was recently overturned with the help of a trending true-crime podcast called Innocent Blood.
He has since remarried and moved back into his home with his new wife and children. Renee finds herself in the middle of a tense environment as the family tries to reclaim a "normal" life despite their dark past.
While listening to the Innocent Blood podcast, Renee observes, sleuths, and overhears family secrets, reads Ed's so-called book, and overhears phone calls and realizes the details presented in the podcast do not coincide with the reality inside the house.
As Renee pieces together the mystery of this family, she becomes increasingly convinced that Ed might actually be a murderer and that the killer is prepared to strike again.
My thoughts...
THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE has a claustrophobic and unsettling vibe with Renee inside the wealthy house of the Weatherups. You feel for Renee and her tragic past as she seeks to find her place. But does she trust this man, who was once suspected of murdering his wife? Is she or his second wife safe?
As a housekeeper, Renee occupies a unique position—she is a bystander who is often ignored but sees everything. The novel uses her job to explore the secrets hidden in plain sight within wealthy household.
The tension builds, focused on Renee and her thoughts, making this a character-driven and introspective psychological thriller. The writing is evocative with the quaint setting of the family tree farm in Virginia and the contrast of the cold and mysterious Weatherby estate.
The true-crime podcast hook will draw readers in, while the major theme explores the power of media, specifically how the Innocent Blood podcast shapes public perception and legal outcomes. The story examines the mess created when hype and sensationalized storytelling clash with messy, real-world truths.
Both Renee and the Weatherup family are trying to outrun their pasts, but trauma and secrets eventually demand to be addressed
The audiobook...
I had the privilege of immersing myself in the audiobook, beautifully narrated by a talented star cast including Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning. Each narrator brought a unique energy to the storytelling, skillfully capturing the essence of the setting and the depth of the characters, as well as the podcast. Their performances heightened the tension throughout the narrative, transforming the experience into a truly immersive journey that made the story come alive in vivid detail. I highly recommend the audio.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Recs...
THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE is for fans of true crime podcasts and domestic thrillers such as:
~The Housemaid by Freida McFaden
~None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
~The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
~Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Special thanks to Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Mar 24, 2026
March Newsletter
As Renee navigates the intricacies of her new role, the tension mounts, revealing dark secrets and hidden motives that make her question everything she thought she knew about her employer—and herself.
Highlights...
Renee Beale is desperate to leave her dead-end life on her family's Virginia tree farm. Following a personal tragedy, she accepts a housekeeping position for a wealthy couple in Richmond.
Her employer, Ed Weatherup, spent five years in prison for the murder of his first wife. His conviction was recently overturned with the help of a trending true-crime podcast called Innocent Blood.
He has since remarried and moved back into his home with his new wife and children. Renee finds herself in the middle of a tense environment as the family tries to reclaim a "normal" life despite their dark past.
While listening to the Innocent Blood podcast, Renee observes, sleuths, and overhears family secrets, reads Ed's so-called book, and overhears phone calls and realizes the details presented in the podcast do not coincide with the reality inside the house.
As Renee pieces together the mystery of this family, she becomes increasingly convinced that Ed might actually be a murderer and that the killer is prepared to strike again.
My thoughts...
THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE has a claustrophobic and unsettling vibe with Renee inside the wealthy house of the Weatherups. You feel for Renee and her tragic past as she seeks to find her place. But does she trust this man, who was once suspected of murdering his wife? Is she or his second wife safe?
As a housekeeper, Renee occupies a unique position—she is a bystander who is often ignored but sees everything. The novel uses her job to explore the secrets hidden in plain sight within wealthy household.
The tension builds, focused on Renee and her thoughts, making this a character-driven and introspective psychological thriller. The writing is evocative with the quaint setting of the family tree farm in Virginia and the contrast of the cold and mysterious Weatherby estate.
The true-crime podcast hook will draw readers in, while the major theme explores the power of media, specifically how the Innocent Blood podcast shapes public perception and legal outcomes. The story examines the mess created when hype and sensationalized storytelling clash with messy, real-world truths.
Both Renee and the Weatherup family are trying to outrun their pasts, but trauma and secrets eventually demand to be addressed
The audiobook...
I had the privilege of immersing myself in the audiobook, beautifully narrated by a talented star cast including Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning. Each narrator brought a unique energy to the storytelling, skillfully capturing the essence of the setting and the depth of the characters, as well as the podcast. Their performances heightened the tension throughout the narrative, transforming the experience into a truly immersive journey that made the story come alive in vivid detail. I highly recommend the audio.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Recs...
THE KILLER IN THE HOUSE is for fans of true crime podcasts and domestic thrillers such as:
~The Housemaid by Freida McFaden
~None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
~The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
~Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Special thanks to Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Mar 24, 2026
March Newsletter
April 3, 2026
This "Killer" book was not the "killer thriller" I was expecting.
➡️ The book's premise was ultra-compelling:
A housekeeper's employer served five years in prison for his wife’s death. A podcaster helped overturn the employer's conviction, but was he really guilty or innocent?
The brilliant storyline quickly unraveled into a dreary, overextended, and deeply unsatisfying listening experience.
Dialogue was flowery with repetitive text. Plot twists felt more forced than shocking.
I kept waiting for the story to tighten and deepen, but it never got there.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning
I always love a full-cast narration, especially with Megan Tusing.
I enjoyed how the podcast-style narration was woven into the storyline—it added a fresh, immersive layer—but Megan Tusing’s whiny delivery was a letdown and sometimes pulled me out of the experience.
I wish I could thank Brilliance Audio for an ARC, but my request was declined.
April 29, 2026
[NetGalley Read #69]
4.00 ⭐️
"The tears she'd been holding back felt like they were poisoning her."
Very good. A character-focused mystery.
The story is good. The podcast episode (transcripts) structure at the end of the early chapters was really good. It didn't feel very exposition-heavy. And by the end of chapter 5, even I felt obsessed with this fictional podcast (a sentiment shared by Renee in the very first line of chapter 6). I liked all the twists, turns, and revelations and, in a way, the simplicity of the story. Also liked that there was no 'twist for the sake of a twist'. You sorta know, from the beginning, who the titular Killer is but the characters, especially Renee, are good enough to keep your attention throughout the story. I didn't really connect with the third act of the story (though only the final confrontation part). Felt like something was missing. Also, Renee was making some horrendous decisions. But the aftermath and the epilogue were really satisfying to read.
I liked Renee and her reasons behind investigating. Her grief, trauma, guilt and every emotion is written really well. Her protectiveness over the children (whether it's Caz, Oliver, Willow or Emma and Wyatt) really endears her, and this being subsequently used for emotional blackmail by Andrea makes it all the more heartbreaking to read. All of this makes the epilogue so much more satisfying when she finally stands up for herself. She goes through a full arc and grows as a character, as a person. One other character that deserves a mention is Ed. It's incredible how much hatred you can feel for a fictional character. Also liked Mariah, Kim, and the small but important appearance of Gert and Angus.
It's a short book (210+ pages). Easy to read. A good mix of character and plot. Will be on the lookout for more books from this author. I really liked the prose. Especially the way she writes emotions.
Recommended. 👍
4.00 ⭐️
"The tears she'd been holding back felt like they were poisoning her."
Very good. A character-focused mystery.
The story is good. The podcast episode (transcripts) structure at the end of the early chapters was really good. It didn't feel very exposition-heavy. And by the end of chapter 5, even I felt obsessed with this fictional podcast (a sentiment shared by Renee in the very first line of chapter 6). I liked all the twists, turns, and revelations and, in a way, the simplicity of the story. Also liked that there was no 'twist for the sake of a twist'. You sorta know, from the beginning, who the titular Killer is but the characters, especially Renee, are good enough to keep your attention throughout the story. I didn't really connect with the third act of the story (though only the final confrontation part). Felt like something was missing. Also, Renee was making some horrendous decisions. But the aftermath and the epilogue were really satisfying to read.
I liked Renee and her reasons behind investigating. Her grief, trauma, guilt and every emotion is written really well. Her protectiveness over the children (whether it's Caz, Oliver, Willow or Emma and Wyatt) really endears her, and this being subsequently used for emotional blackmail by Andrea makes it all the more heartbreaking to read. All of this makes the epilogue so much more satisfying when she finally stands up for herself. She goes through a full arc and grows as a character, as a person. One other character that deserves a mention is Ed. It's incredible how much hatred you can feel for a fictional character. Also liked Mariah, Kim, and the small but important appearance of Gert and Angus.
It's a short book (210+ pages). Easy to read. A good mix of character and plot. Will be on the lookout for more books from this author. I really liked the prose. Especially the way she writes emotions.
Recommended. 👍
April 1, 2026
I’m a sucker for a thriller that includes a podcast element, so I went into this one really excited… but I have to admit, this ended up being a bit of a mixed read for me.
The premise is honestly so intriguing—a housekeeper working for a man who may or may not be a killer, whose conviction was overturned thanks to a true crime podcast? Say less. I was in.
But unfortunately, the pacing really slowed things down. For a large portion of the book, not much actually happens, and I found myself waiting for the story to really kick in. When things do finally pick up, it’s mostly in the last few chapters—which made the payoff feel a little rushed after such a slow build.
I also expected the podcast element to add more to the story, but it didn’t feel as impactful as I’d hoped. It was there, but it never fully enhanced the tension or gave that extra layer of intrigue that I usually love in this kind of format.
Renee as a main character was… interesting. She’s on a one-woman mission to uncover the truth, but at times it felt a bit hard to believe that she was outpacing the police and experienced podcasters. I found myself having to suspend disbelief more than I would’ve liked, especially in some of the later reveals.
Another downside for me was the characters overall—I didn’t feel particularly connected to anyone, which made it harder to stay fully invested in what was happening.
That said, the ending was solid. It just took a while to get there.
The premise is honestly so intriguing—a housekeeper working for a man who may or may not be a killer, whose conviction was overturned thanks to a true crime podcast? Say less. I was in.
But unfortunately, the pacing really slowed things down. For a large portion of the book, not much actually happens, and I found myself waiting for the story to really kick in. When things do finally pick up, it’s mostly in the last few chapters—which made the payoff feel a little rushed after such a slow build.
I also expected the podcast element to add more to the story, but it didn’t feel as impactful as I’d hoped. It was there, but it never fully enhanced the tension or gave that extra layer of intrigue that I usually love in this kind of format.
Renee as a main character was… interesting. She’s on a one-woman mission to uncover the truth, but at times it felt a bit hard to believe that she was outpacing the police and experienced podcasters. I found myself having to suspend disbelief more than I would’ve liked, especially in some of the later reveals.
Another downside for me was the characters overall—I didn’t feel particularly connected to anyone, which made it harder to stay fully invested in what was happening.
That said, the ending was solid. It just took a while to get there.
March 19, 2026
I enjoyed this book But just as her life starts to look up, personal tragedy knocks her back down.
In this chilling domestic thriller debut, a young woman working as a housekeeper—for the subject of a trending true crime podcast—finds herself in a deadly mess when the truth catches up to the hype.
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
In this chilling domestic thriller debut, a young woman working as a housekeeper—for the subject of a trending true crime podcast—finds herself in a deadly mess when the truth catches up to the hype.
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
April 22, 2026
3.5 🌟
March 21, 2026
The Killer in the House 🏡
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Previously convicted of his wife’s murder, Ed has been released from prison with the help of a popular podcast. He’s coming home to his new wife, three kids, and their newly hired housekeeper Renee. Renee isn’t so sure of Ed’s innocence, or her safety.
Yeah, this wasn’t it for me. For a book just over 200 pages, dang did this one drag. I thought the podcast element was going to be good, and at first it was. Then they just continued to prove their incompetence and it was very frustrating to see happen.
The characters fell extremely flat, I didn’t feel invested in any of them. Renee came across extremely childish and naive, so reading from her POV got old fast. I think the baseline mystery itself did have promise and was interesting, the entire story telling was just not well done.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer, for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Previously convicted of his wife’s murder, Ed has been released from prison with the help of a popular podcast. He’s coming home to his new wife, three kids, and their newly hired housekeeper Renee. Renee isn’t so sure of Ed’s innocence, or her safety.
Yeah, this wasn’t it for me. For a book just over 200 pages, dang did this one drag. I thought the podcast element was going to be good, and at first it was. Then they just continued to prove their incompetence and it was very frustrating to see happen.
The characters fell extremely flat, I didn’t feel invested in any of them. Renee came across extremely childish and naive, so reading from her POV got old fast. I think the baseline mystery itself did have promise and was interesting, the entire story telling was just not well done.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer, for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I’m always excited to pick up a new debut thriller, and The Killer in the House turned out to be an engaging read—right from the first chapter, I could tell this story had potential, and Reding really leaned into the tension and family dynamics.
The story centers on a family trying to start fresh in a quiet town, only to find themselves caught in a wave of fear when a killer strikes close to home. As the police investigation ramps up, unsettling secrets begin to bubble to the surface, making it harder for anyone to trust who’s actually safe—or who might be hiding something.
This is Lauren Reding’s debut novel, and honestly, it’s an entertaining one. The premise hooked me right away—small-town secrets, a family under pressure, and that creeping sense that danger is closer than anyone wants to admit. It has that blend of domestic tension and slow-building suspense that keeps you leaning in even when the characters are trying their best to hold everything together.
What I enjoyed most is how Reding balances the mystery with the emotional strain within the family. You can feel the cracks forming between the characters, and those shifting dynamics give the story that extra layer of unease. Her writing is straightforward and easy to follow, which makes this a smooth, absorbing read.
If I had any critiques, it’s that a couple of reveals were ones I saw coming, and I occasionally wanted the tension to hit a slightly higher pitch. But for a debut, this is well crafted. Reding clearly knows how to create atmosphere, build character tension, and deliver an intriguing story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy in return for my honest feedback.
I’m always excited to pick up a new debut thriller, and The Killer in the House turned out to be an engaging read—right from the first chapter, I could tell this story had potential, and Reding really leaned into the tension and family dynamics.
The story centers on a family trying to start fresh in a quiet town, only to find themselves caught in a wave of fear when a killer strikes close to home. As the police investigation ramps up, unsettling secrets begin to bubble to the surface, making it harder for anyone to trust who’s actually safe—or who might be hiding something.
This is Lauren Reding’s debut novel, and honestly, it’s an entertaining one. The premise hooked me right away—small-town secrets, a family under pressure, and that creeping sense that danger is closer than anyone wants to admit. It has that blend of domestic tension and slow-building suspense that keeps you leaning in even when the characters are trying their best to hold everything together.
What I enjoyed most is how Reding balances the mystery with the emotional strain within the family. You can feel the cracks forming between the characters, and those shifting dynamics give the story that extra layer of unease. Her writing is straightforward and easy to follow, which makes this a smooth, absorbing read.
If I had any critiques, it’s that a couple of reveals were ones I saw coming, and I occasionally wanted the tension to hit a slightly higher pitch. But for a debut, this is well crafted. Reding clearly knows how to create atmosphere, build character tension, and deliver an intriguing story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy in return for my honest feedback.
January 30, 2026
*ebook
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
Thanks to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Overall it was an alright read. Not as gripping as I had hoped but it was decent enough for me to be invested and want to see how it ends.
There were parts I loved for instance when the witness who comes forward in the police interview room…that person’s behavior was creepy. Like you can’t write a scene much better than that it was so well done and gave me goosebumps.
This was just a little slow for me an I struggle with slow burn.
The last like 25% of the book I enjoyed though. The pace picked up and sucked me back in.
This appears to be the author’s debut, so I’m def interested in reading her future books to see how she hones in on her thriller writing style because I’m telling ya that interrogation scene was awesome.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
Thanks to the publisher for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Overall it was an alright read. Not as gripping as I had hoped but it was decent enough for me to be invested and want to see how it ends.
There were parts I loved for instance when the witness who comes forward in the police interview room…that person’s behavior was creepy. Like you can’t write a scene much better than that it was so well done and gave me goosebumps.
This was just a little slow for me an I struggle with slow burn.
The last like 25% of the book I enjoyed though. The pace picked up and sucked me back in.
This appears to be the author’s debut, so I’m def interested in reading her future books to see how she hones in on her thriller writing style because I’m telling ya that interrogation scene was awesome.
January 25, 2026
I LOVE the housekeeper/caretaker trope in books, and this domestic thriller does it so well! Renee is desperate to escape her parents’ house and jumps at the chance to take a housekeeping job in a home with a dark past. The man who owns it, Ed Weatherup, recently had his murder conviction overturned after spending five years in prison for the death of his wife, aided by the true crime podcast Innocent Blood. With the kids back under the same roof and Ed now remarried with a new baby, things feel tense as soon as Renee arrives.
Through press conferences, dinner parties, and family drama, Renee pays attention to EVERYTHING around her. As she dives into the podcast that set her employer free, her growing unease is impossible to ignore. As small details begin to pile up, one question lingers throughout the story: who really killed Ed’s wife?
The Killer In The House is a suspenseful, fast-paced read that had me flying through the pages to piece together the truth and solve the mystery!
Through press conferences, dinner parties, and family drama, Renee pays attention to EVERYTHING around her. As she dives into the podcast that set her employer free, her growing unease is impossible to ignore. As small details begin to pile up, one question lingers throughout the story: who really killed Ed’s wife?
The Killer In The House is a suspenseful, fast-paced read that had me flying through the pages to piece together the truth and solve the mystery!
November 30, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
The Housemaid meets Listen for The Lie.
The Killer in the House was a fast and enjoyable read. Reding does a good job keeping the reader engaged with her writing style and the atmospheric set up. I also think this book would especially pop on audio!
We follow Renee, who is stuck doing random jobs and living at her parents tree farm. After a traumatic incident in her peraonal life, she finda herself accepting a job as housekeeper for a wealthy family. Only issue: The father was recently exonerated for murder, and there are still many questions left unanswered...
I found myself entertained throughout the book and read it in just two sittings (and the author did fool me, which I love to see in a thriller!). However, I will say there were some storylines and leads that did not get resolved or felt unnecessary, so I was left feeling a little unsatisfied at the end.
Overall, this is a really solid debut thriller and I'm looking forward to see what else Lauren Redding writes on the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. This book publishes March 24, 2026.
The Housemaid meets Listen for The Lie.
The Killer in the House was a fast and enjoyable read. Reding does a good job keeping the reader engaged with her writing style and the atmospheric set up. I also think this book would especially pop on audio!
We follow Renee, who is stuck doing random jobs and living at her parents tree farm. After a traumatic incident in her peraonal life, she finda herself accepting a job as housekeeper for a wealthy family. Only issue: The father was recently exonerated for murder, and there are still many questions left unanswered...
I found myself entertained throughout the book and read it in just two sittings (and the author did fool me, which I love to see in a thriller!). However, I will say there were some storylines and leads that did not get resolved or felt unnecessary, so I was left feeling a little unsatisfied at the end.
Overall, this is a really solid debut thriller and I'm looking forward to see what else Lauren Redding writes on the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. This book publishes March 24, 2026.
December 9, 2025
This was an enjoyable book, especially for a debut author.
The storyline kept me interested and wanting to know what happened next. It was a quick read and I finished it in two sessions.
The author did a great job making Ed unlikable as well as portraying Kim as clueless. The characters were overall likeable. Or easy to hate depending on the character.
I very much enjoyed the podcast aspect of the story. It was something different and really added to the story.
There wasn’t a huge “twist” like many of the thrillers I’ve enjoyed in the past, but the story itself was enjoyable enough that the lack of twist didn’t take away from them overall story.
The storyline kept me interested and wanting to know what happened next. It was a quick read and I finished it in two sessions.
The author did a great job making Ed unlikable as well as portraying Kim as clueless. The characters were overall likeable. Or easy to hate depending on the character.
I very much enjoyed the podcast aspect of the story. It was something different and really added to the story.
There wasn’t a huge “twist” like many of the thrillers I’ve enjoyed in the past, but the story itself was enjoyable enough that the lack of twist didn’t take away from them overall story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
The Killer In The House by Lauren Reding is a gripping thriller. This debut novel has it all - well-developed characters, unexpected twists, and a perfect blend of mystery and family drama. Reding's writing is captivating and effortless to read. I'm so grateful to NetGalley and Lauren Reding for the advanced copy. Looking forward to more from this talented author!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Some housekeeping jobs involve light dusting and quietly judging someone’s fridge organization. This one involves wondering if your boss murdered his first wife and only got out of prison because a true crime podcast helped overturn his conviction.
That’s the setup of The Killer in the House by Lauren Reding, and honestly the moment I heard that premise my brain immediately went, oh good… we’re about to make some terrible life choices.
Renee Beale is stuck on her parents’ rural Virginia tree farm with a life that feels completely stalled out. After a personal tragedy knocks her plans sideways, she jumps at the chance to work as a housekeeper for the wealthy Weatherup family in Richmond. On paper it sounds like a solid reset, new city, steady paycheck, nice house.
The only complication is that the head of the household, Ed Weatherup, served five years in prison for murdering his first wife before the true crime podcast Innocent Blood helped overturn his conviction.
Now he’s back home with a new wife, a blended family, and a whole lot of people who are still not entirely convinced he didn’t do it. Renee is living in the house with them, which is objectively a terrible idea but also exactly why this story works.
Because Renee does what literally every true crime listener would do in this situation. She listens to the podcast about the case and starts paying attention. Conversations stop when she walks into the room. Family dinners feel tense in that polite, slightly suffocating way. The more time she spends in the house, the more little details start to feel off.
The entire Weatherup household feels like it’s running on carefully controlled anxiety. Ed is determined to present himself as the perfect family man who just wants justice for his late wife. His new wife is doing the strained smile of someone holding everything together through sheer determination. The kids are navigating the complicated dynamics of a blended family while their dad’s murder case still hangs over everything.
Meanwhile Renee is vacuuming corners while quietly building the world’s most uncomfortable mental conspiracy board.
Watching her slide into amateur detective mode is honestly half the fun of the book. The tension creeps up slowly as she starts connecting dots that other people seem perfectly happy to ignore. Every weird phone call and awkward interaction feels like another clue she probably should not be investigating while she is literally living in the suspect’s house.
The audiobook really elevates the whole experience. Because the story includes podcast segments, the full cast narration makes it feel immersive in a way that works perfectly for this format. Megan Tusing brings a great mix of curiosity and growing unease to Renee, while Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning step in for the podcast voices and other perspectives. At times it genuinely feels like switching between a thriller and an investigative true crime series.
Now the mystery itself did not completely knock me out. I had a fairly strong suspicion about where things were heading before the final reveal. This ends up being one of those thrillers where the tension comes less from a shocking twist and more from watching the main character slowly realize the thing you already started suspecting.
But the ride is still entertaining. The atmosphere inside the house is tense, Renee’s curiosity keeps pushing the story forward, and the audiobook format adds an extra layer of immersion that makes it easy to binge.
Also, and this is just a personal boundary, if I suspected my employer might have murdered someone I would quit that job so fast I would leave a cartoon-shaped puff of smoke behind me. Renee, however, commits to the investigation, and the slow burn of her uncovering the truth keeps the suspense moving.
The Killer in the House is a really solid domestic thriller debut with a great premise and an audiobook production that absolutely enhances the story. Even though the mystery reveals itself a little early, the tension and podcast format make it a genuinely fun listen. 3.5 stars.
Whodunity Award: For Making “Maybe My Boss Is a Murderer” The Most Stressful Workplace Environment Imaginable
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the audiobook that fully enabled my inner nosy true crime gremlin.
That’s the setup of The Killer in the House by Lauren Reding, and honestly the moment I heard that premise my brain immediately went, oh good… we’re about to make some terrible life choices.
Renee Beale is stuck on her parents’ rural Virginia tree farm with a life that feels completely stalled out. After a personal tragedy knocks her plans sideways, she jumps at the chance to work as a housekeeper for the wealthy Weatherup family in Richmond. On paper it sounds like a solid reset, new city, steady paycheck, nice house.
The only complication is that the head of the household, Ed Weatherup, served five years in prison for murdering his first wife before the true crime podcast Innocent Blood helped overturn his conviction.
Now he’s back home with a new wife, a blended family, and a whole lot of people who are still not entirely convinced he didn’t do it. Renee is living in the house with them, which is objectively a terrible idea but also exactly why this story works.
Because Renee does what literally every true crime listener would do in this situation. She listens to the podcast about the case and starts paying attention. Conversations stop when she walks into the room. Family dinners feel tense in that polite, slightly suffocating way. The more time she spends in the house, the more little details start to feel off.
The entire Weatherup household feels like it’s running on carefully controlled anxiety. Ed is determined to present himself as the perfect family man who just wants justice for his late wife. His new wife is doing the strained smile of someone holding everything together through sheer determination. The kids are navigating the complicated dynamics of a blended family while their dad’s murder case still hangs over everything.
Meanwhile Renee is vacuuming corners while quietly building the world’s most uncomfortable mental conspiracy board.
Watching her slide into amateur detective mode is honestly half the fun of the book. The tension creeps up slowly as she starts connecting dots that other people seem perfectly happy to ignore. Every weird phone call and awkward interaction feels like another clue she probably should not be investigating while she is literally living in the suspect’s house.
The audiobook really elevates the whole experience. Because the story includes podcast segments, the full cast narration makes it feel immersive in a way that works perfectly for this format. Megan Tusing brings a great mix of curiosity and growing unease to Renee, while Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning step in for the podcast voices and other perspectives. At times it genuinely feels like switching between a thriller and an investigative true crime series.
Now the mystery itself did not completely knock me out. I had a fairly strong suspicion about where things were heading before the final reveal. This ends up being one of those thrillers where the tension comes less from a shocking twist and more from watching the main character slowly realize the thing you already started suspecting.
But the ride is still entertaining. The atmosphere inside the house is tense, Renee’s curiosity keeps pushing the story forward, and the audiobook format adds an extra layer of immersion that makes it easy to binge.
Also, and this is just a personal boundary, if I suspected my employer might have murdered someone I would quit that job so fast I would leave a cartoon-shaped puff of smoke behind me. Renee, however, commits to the investigation, and the slow burn of her uncovering the truth keeps the suspense moving.
The Killer in the House is a really solid domestic thriller debut with a great premise and an audiobook production that absolutely enhances the story. Even though the mystery reveals itself a little early, the tension and podcast format make it a genuinely fun listen. 3.5 stars.
Whodunity Award: For Making “Maybe My Boss Is a Murderer” The Most Stressful Workplace Environment Imaginable
Huge thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the audiobook that fully enabled my inner nosy true crime gremlin.
May 2, 2026
Tired of life in her small town on her parent’s Christmas tree farm, Renée takes a job in Richmond for a family as a live-in housekeeper. But this family is a little different. The father, Ed, was recently exonerated for the death of his previous wife, and is now married to Kim, who married him all he was in prison. He was released after the viral success of a podcast, which advocated for his innocence. When Renee notices some strange behavior, and becomes fascinated with her new employers, she decides to listen to the podcast, and becomes obsessed with Ed’s case. And soon she begins doubting everything she thinks she knows. What’s really going on in the Weatherup household? Renee is determined to find out. And hopefully she can before things get dangerous.
I love books that involve historic true crime cases, I don’t know why, but there’s something fascinating about people who investigate cold cases to me, when they become obsessed with these old cases. Maybe it’s that it’s so different from a traditional crime story, or maybe it’s just a fun escapist, guilty pleasure, but I do love a good amateur sleuth. And Renée is a great example of this.
The case in question is really good, and I loved all the twist and turns that it took. The author does a really good job of creating a lot of suspense and using tension to keep readers turning pages. I was so hooked as the story went on, I was absolutely dying to figure out how it all turned out. Once I got about 60 percent of the way in, I completely binged the rest of the book to see how it ended, because I just want to know. And I definitely wasn’t disappointed! There’s enough clues to let readers suss out what’s going to happen as well as enough surprises to keep people guessing until the very last pages.
There’s also a lot of tension created that keeps readers guessing about how stable Renée is throughout the book. I liked that we never quite knew until the end if she was just being paranoid or if something was actually going to happen, and I won’t spoil it for you, which is the correct answer.
This was definitely a great five-star read for me, and I highly encourage fans of mystery thrillers to pick it up if they’re looking for a books of thrills packed with a great mystery!
I love books that involve historic true crime cases, I don’t know why, but there’s something fascinating about people who investigate cold cases to me, when they become obsessed with these old cases. Maybe it’s that it’s so different from a traditional crime story, or maybe it’s just a fun escapist, guilty pleasure, but I do love a good amateur sleuth. And Renée is a great example of this.
The case in question is really good, and I loved all the twist and turns that it took. The author does a really good job of creating a lot of suspense and using tension to keep readers turning pages. I was so hooked as the story went on, I was absolutely dying to figure out how it all turned out. Once I got about 60 percent of the way in, I completely binged the rest of the book to see how it ended, because I just want to know. And I definitely wasn’t disappointed! There’s enough clues to let readers suss out what’s going to happen as well as enough surprises to keep people guessing until the very last pages.
There’s also a lot of tension created that keeps readers guessing about how stable Renée is throughout the book. I liked that we never quite knew until the end if she was just being paranoid or if something was actually going to happen, and I won’t spoil it for you, which is the correct answer.
This was definitely a great five-star read for me, and I highly encourage fans of mystery thrillers to pick it up if they’re looking for a books of thrills packed with a great mystery!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Smart, intense, and beyond easy to binge, The Killer in the House was exactly what I was hoping for when I first read the eye-catching blurb. Centering around a housekeeper-turned-amateur sleuth and her boss—who might be a newly freed wife-killing ex-con—it was a fun, wild ride of shocking twists, well-hidden secrets, and dark family drama. You see, not only did this murder mystery have more than one revelation that made my jaw drop as I shouted “WTF?!” to myself, but it all felt like a completely believable tale. Between the ripped-from-the-headlines-esque feel and the whodunnit vibe, this true-crime podcast-centered plot played some serious games with my head. After all, I could easily see this story playing out for real exactly as it did on the page. No really…it felt like it could have been on Dateline.
What else did I love about this stellar debut? Well, first off, it absolutely didn’t feel like an author’s very first novel. Well-written and expertly plotted, it was a brilliant convo of domestic suspense and popcorn thriller. Both thought-provoking and inhale-able at the same time, the danger winking at me from the wings was what hooked me but good. And let me tell you, that all came out to play at the end. Explosive, riveting, and both deliciously unhinged and yet also with a decidedly real vibe, the last fifty or so pages were a true *chef’s kiss* move. Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter’s Murder in the Family, this book had everything I could want. All told, it was my favorite kind of read. Twisty, chilling, and easy to fly through in one single sitting, it was a gut-punch of a story with atmosphere to spare. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. But just as her life starts to look up, personal tragedy knocks her back down. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
Ed Weatherup is a family man, successful, and the perfect employer—except for the fact that he may quite possibly be a murderer. He served five years for his wife’s death before the Innocent Bloodpodcast helped overturn his conviction. Now he’s back home with his second wife and blended family, vowing publicly to find the real killer.
With her past coming to collect, Renee has no choice but to become the Weatherups’ new housekeeper. Suddenly privy to their family secrets and furtive phone calls, she turns to the podcast to learn more about her mysterious employers. But the details don’t add up. And the closer Renee gets to the truth, the more sure she becomes that the killer will strike again.
Thank you Lauren Reding and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 24, 2026
Content warning: murder, infidelity, violence, blood, knife violence, mention of: fatal car accident, adult/minor relationship
What else did I love about this stellar debut? Well, first off, it absolutely didn’t feel like an author’s very first novel. Well-written and expertly plotted, it was a brilliant convo of domestic suspense and popcorn thriller. Both thought-provoking and inhale-able at the same time, the danger winking at me from the wings was what hooked me but good. And let me tell you, that all came out to play at the end. Explosive, riveting, and both deliciously unhinged and yet also with a decidedly real vibe, the last fifty or so pages were a true *chef’s kiss* move. Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter’s Murder in the Family, this book had everything I could want. All told, it was my favorite kind of read. Twisty, chilling, and easy to fly through in one single sitting, it was a gut-punch of a story with atmosphere to spare. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Renee Beale is done settling for dead-end jobs and living on her parents’ tree farm in rural Virginia. But just as her life starts to look up, personal tragedy knocks her back down. Desperate for an escape, her only prospect is working for a wealthy Richmond couple with a deadly backstory.
Ed Weatherup is a family man, successful, and the perfect employer—except for the fact that he may quite possibly be a murderer. He served five years for his wife’s death before the Innocent Bloodpodcast helped overturn his conviction. Now he’s back home with his second wife and blended family, vowing publicly to find the real killer.
With her past coming to collect, Renee has no choice but to become the Weatherups’ new housekeeper. Suddenly privy to their family secrets and furtive phone calls, she turns to the podcast to learn more about her mysterious employers. But the details don’t add up. And the closer Renee gets to the truth, the more sure she becomes that the killer will strike again.
Thank you Lauren Reding and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: March 24, 2026
Content warning: murder, infidelity, violence, blood, knife violence, mention of: fatal car accident, adult/minor relationship
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧 Audio Review: Since the book has podcast episodes being played during it, I thought the audio worked really well for that aspect! Very realistic!
📝 Story Review: I enjoyed the ending, but it was very slow moving and didn’t really snag my attention till the last 30% of the story.
Dealing with her own tragic loss, the FMC takes a job as a housekeeper for a man who just got out of prison and has been acquitted of murdering his first wife. Now she’s on the inside, seeing the new family’s dynamics as his first wive’s kids are returned to him in the same house where his wife was killed and his new wife and baby are residing. But this isn’t one big happy family reunion and there are still secrets to be revealed and a killer to be found.
I wish this hadn’t been such a slow build… most of the book I just wanted something exciting to happen. But the outcome pleased me, so at least it wasn’t a waste of time due to that.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.5/5
Vibes: Slow moving; secretive.
Tropes 👇
- Unreliable narrators
- Broken family
- Podcast influence
- Slow build up
- Murder mystery
CW’s 👇
- Very brief scene of child abuse
- Mention of teen pregnancy
- Mention of relations with underage girl
- Marital cheating
- Mention of death from car accident
- Some violence/physical assault
Audio Release Date: March 24, 2026
Audio Run Time: 7 hrs, 42 mins
Narrated By: Megan Tusing; Caroline Hewitt; Luke Daniels & Marni Penning.
Genre: Domestic Thriller
POV: Third Person; Single (mostly)
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review.
📝 Story Review: I enjoyed the ending, but it was very slow moving and didn’t really snag my attention till the last 30% of the story.
Dealing with her own tragic loss, the FMC takes a job as a housekeeper for a man who just got out of prison and has been acquitted of murdering his first wife. Now she’s on the inside, seeing the new family’s dynamics as his first wive’s kids are returned to him in the same house where his wife was killed and his new wife and baby are residing. But this isn’t one big happy family reunion and there are still secrets to be revealed and a killer to be found.
I wish this hadn’t been such a slow build… most of the book I just wanted something exciting to happen. But the outcome pleased me, so at least it wasn’t a waste of time due to that.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2.5/5
Vibes: Slow moving; secretive.
Tropes 👇
- Unreliable narrators
- Broken family
- Podcast influence
- Slow build up
- Murder mystery
CW’s 👇
- Very brief scene of child abuse
- Mention of teen pregnancy
- Mention of relations with underage girl
- Marital cheating
- Mention of death from car accident
- Some violence/physical assault
Audio Release Date: March 24, 2026
Audio Run Time: 7 hrs, 42 mins
Narrated By: Megan Tusing; Caroline Hewitt; Luke Daniels & Marni Penning.
Genre: Domestic Thriller
POV: Third Person; Single (mostly)
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐️
This pulled me in right away—but honestly, it was the format doing the heavy lifting. The true crime podcast-style vignettes? Obsessed. That element gave it a fresh, immersive feel and kept me listening even when the story itself felt… a little basic.
Because at its core, this is a popcorn domestic thriller. Predictable? Yep. Still a fun ride? Also yep. It’s the kind of read that’s easy to throw on and just go along with, even if you’re calling some of the twists early.
That said, the pacing was slow and at times a bit disjointed. The transitions didn’t always flow smoothly, which pulled me out more than I would’ve liked.
The narration team—Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning—did a great job overall. Megan Tusing carries most of the story (I think!), with the others stepping in during the podcast/cast-style sections, giving it that duet-style feel that really worked for the concept.
But here’s the thing that really stuck with me… or didn’t.
This ended up being completely unmemorable for me. I actually forgot to post my review and had to go back and refresh myself on what even happened—which is rare for me. Usually, a quick glance at the synopsis brings it all back. This time? I had to reread the first few chapters and the ending to piece it together. And that says a lot.
Still, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. If you’re looking for a low-stakes, easy, true crime–infused domestic thriller that you can fly through without overthinking, this absolutely fits the bill.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
This pulled me in right away—but honestly, it was the format doing the heavy lifting. The true crime podcast-style vignettes? Obsessed. That element gave it a fresh, immersive feel and kept me listening even when the story itself felt… a little basic.
Because at its core, this is a popcorn domestic thriller. Predictable? Yep. Still a fun ride? Also yep. It’s the kind of read that’s easy to throw on and just go along with, even if you’re calling some of the twists early.
That said, the pacing was slow and at times a bit disjointed. The transitions didn’t always flow smoothly, which pulled me out more than I would’ve liked.
The narration team—Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels, and Marni Penning—did a great job overall. Megan Tusing carries most of the story (I think!), with the others stepping in during the podcast/cast-style sections, giving it that duet-style feel that really worked for the concept.
But here’s the thing that really stuck with me… or didn’t.
This ended up being completely unmemorable for me. I actually forgot to post my review and had to go back and refresh myself on what even happened—which is rare for me. Usually, a quick glance at the synopsis brings it all back. This time? I had to reread the first few chapters and the ending to piece it together. And that says a lot.
Still, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for others. If you’re looking for a low-stakes, easy, true crime–infused domestic thriller that you can fly through without overthinking, this absolutely fits the bill.
I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
While the plot itself was interesting enough to pull me in at first, the overall execution ended up being a letdown; especially considering what I had been expecting going in. The pacing was painfully slow, the character development was practically non-existent, and by the time things finally picked up, I found that I wasn’t nearly as invested as I should have been.
It did remind me of other books that use the same general trope; specifically the “hired help” turns investigator one, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t particularly enjoy those either. At this point, I’m starting to think that might just not be a trope that works for me.
One of my biggest issues, however, was the podcast element. I wasn’t a fan of how it was handled at all. The hosts repeatedly claimed they weren’t making accusations, yet they seemed entirely too comfortable heavily implying guilt without doing the kind of in-depth research you would expect from people presenting themselves as journalists. We’re supposed to believe that Renee, with limited access and knowledge, was able to uncover more information than two people who were actively investigating the case for public consumption? That alone strained credibility. Even more baffling was their failure to thoroughly investigate the person they were so determined to defend. That felt like the most obvious step, and yet it was glossed over.
At times, Renee’s ability to piece everything together so quickly, when even the police had failed, pushed the story out of psychological thriller territory and into something that felt closer to a mystery (and a cozy one at that). The tension never quite landed for me, and I unfortunately guessed the killer early on. With so many possible suspects available, that was one of the most disappointing things for me.
And then there’s the ending. It felt rushed, almost as though the story suddenly realized it needed to wrap up. The resolution didn’t entirely ring true given what had previously happened between certain characters (especially those who seemed included more for added drama than because they were essential to the plot). What stood out most was the lack of meaningful fallout. After such significant events, the minimal media coverage described felt unrealistic. We get the trial outcome and a brief look at how Renee moves on, but very little exploration of the broader consequences.
In the end, while the premise had promise, the pacing, shallow character work, and underwhelming resolution made this one miss the mark for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
It did remind me of other books that use the same general trope; specifically the “hired help” turns investigator one, but if I’m being honest, I didn’t particularly enjoy those either. At this point, I’m starting to think that might just not be a trope that works for me.
One of my biggest issues, however, was the podcast element. I wasn’t a fan of how it was handled at all. The hosts repeatedly claimed they weren’t making accusations, yet they seemed entirely too comfortable heavily implying guilt without doing the kind of in-depth research you would expect from people presenting themselves as journalists. We’re supposed to believe that Renee, with limited access and knowledge, was able to uncover more information than two people who were actively investigating the case for public consumption? That alone strained credibility. Even more baffling was their failure to thoroughly investigate the person they were so determined to defend. That felt like the most obvious step, and yet it was glossed over.
At times, Renee’s ability to piece everything together so quickly, when even the police had failed, pushed the story out of psychological thriller territory and into something that felt closer to a mystery (and a cozy one at that). The tension never quite landed for me, and I unfortunately guessed the killer early on. With so many possible suspects available, that was one of the most disappointing things for me.
And then there’s the ending. It felt rushed, almost as though the story suddenly realized it needed to wrap up. The resolution didn’t entirely ring true given what had previously happened between certain characters (especially those who seemed included more for added drama than because they were essential to the plot). What stood out most was the lack of meaningful fallout. After such significant events, the minimal media coverage described felt unrealistic. We get the trial outcome and a brief look at how Renee moves on, but very little exploration of the broader consequences.
In the end, while the premise had promise, the pacing, shallow character work, and underwhelming resolution made this one miss the mark for me.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
Renee takes a housekeeping job with a wealthy Richmond family. Edward, recently freed from prison after a podcast cast doubt on his conviction, is trying to rebuild his life. But as Renee settles in, she begins to suspect the truth about his late wife’s murder is much closer to home than anyone thinks.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
I think a podcast within a thriller needs to be listened to. Having the full cast makes it feel so much more authentic and entertaining. I think (it’s not specifically listed) Megan Tusing is the main narrator who plays Renee who gave an awesome performance and just added that extra layer of depth.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This thriller mixes a popcorn light vibe with a true crime documentary feel. I enjoyed that it stayed light without getting cheesy.
Even though it’s an easy read, the characters feel layered, and it made total sense why Renee stayed in the house and became so invested in the case. She’s smart and a genuinely strong amateur sleuth.
I enjoyed the whodunnit of it all, but it’s more steady reveal than a big shocking twist.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I really enjoyed this audio, the vibe was light without being cringe and it’s just what I needed after a much heavier read in the week.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Megan Tusing; Caroline Hewitt; Luke Daniels; Marni Penning
📖 Publishes 03•24•26 | 254 pages | 7h 42m
Renee takes a housekeeping job with a wealthy Richmond family. Edward, recently freed from prison after a podcast cast doubt on his conviction, is trying to rebuild his life. But as Renee settles in, she begins to suspect the truth about his late wife’s murder is much closer to home than anyone thinks.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
I think a podcast within a thriller needs to be listened to. Having the full cast makes it feel so much more authentic and entertaining. I think (it’s not specifically listed) Megan Tusing is the main narrator who plays Renee who gave an awesome performance and just added that extra layer of depth.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
This thriller mixes a popcorn light vibe with a true crime documentary feel. I enjoyed that it stayed light without getting cheesy.
Even though it’s an easy read, the characters feel layered, and it made total sense why Renee stayed in the house and became so invested in the case. She’s smart and a genuinely strong amateur sleuth.
I enjoyed the whodunnit of it all, but it’s more steady reveal than a big shocking twist.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
I really enjoyed this audio, the vibe was light without being cringe and it’s just what I needed after a much heavier read in the week.
Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Megan Tusing; Caroline Hewitt; Luke Daniels; Marni Penning
📖 Publishes 03•24•26 | 254 pages | 7h 42m
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an entertaining read overall, even if it did not completely blow me away. The premise immediately caught my attention. A housekeeper working for a man who may or may not have murdered his first wife, with the added layer of a true crime podcast that helped free him. It is the kind of setup that promises a lot of tension and secrets, and it definitely kept me curious enough to keep turning the pages.
I enjoyed following Renee as she tried to piece together the truth about the Weatherup family. Being inside the house with them and noticing little details and odd behaviors created a nice sense of unease. The podcast element was also a fun addition and brought an interesting modern true crime angle to the story.
That said, while it was entertaining, it did not fully stand out to me compared to other thrillers in the genre. Some parts felt a bit predictable and I was not completely surprised by where things ended up going. Still, it was a solid and fast paced read that kept me engaged and made for a good weekend thriller.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy read if you are in the mood for a domestic suspense story with a true crime twist.
Thank you NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the ALC!
I enjoyed following Renee as she tried to piece together the truth about the Weatherup family. Being inside the house with them and noticing little details and odd behaviors created a nice sense of unease. The podcast element was also a fun addition and brought an interesting modern true crime angle to the story.
That said, while it was entertaining, it did not fully stand out to me compared to other thrillers in the genre. Some parts felt a bit predictable and I was not completely surprised by where things ended up going. Still, it was a solid and fast paced read that kept me engaged and made for a good weekend thriller.
Overall, an enjoyable and easy read if you are in the mood for a domestic suspense story with a true crime twist.
Thank you NetGalley & Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for the ALC!
March 27, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC copy of this book!
I liked the premise of the story it is a common trope in mystery/ thriller novels the family hires help and then things go awry but I do love it lol! I will say I thought the podcast element of the book was really intriguing I wasn’t expecting it but it was a cool way to learn about what happened with the initial murder. Although I did like the podcast element I felt very underwhelmed about the rest of the book. The twists were very predictable and the ending while satisfying felt like it could have been fleshed out more. I also am not sure if this is just me and I missed it but at the end of the book there’s a moment when it seems like a secret is going to be revealed about our main character and the main character says “let them find out” or something to that effect. I’m not sure if we found out what the secret was earlier in the book so I was a little confused by that. Again that could be on me and I missed something. For a debut I thought it was well written it just could’ve been fleshed out a bit more. As always I recommend finding out for yourself if you like this book as reading is subjective it just wasn’t for me!
April 4, 2026
Another day with me reading a book about a podcast and another day with me having never listened to one.
A poor girl who accepts a job as a housekeeper to a wealthy family. The catch? The husband was just acquitted of his late wife's murder. Yikes, is that a premise. You have the housekeeper, the one that sees all and should tell none, and the wealthy family fighting hard to keep their secrets, secret. All while the podcast that freed the husband is nosing around for their next episode.
Whether it's the news or podcasts, the world is focused on sensationalized stories. That is pitted against wanting to keep a portion of your life private.
The audiobook was creepy and atmospheric as I tried to work out if the husband was a danger and to whom.
This is more character focused and the plot plays out slowly and falls a little more mystery than thriller. So if you are a fan of podcast fiction and slow burn mysteries, this should be right up your alley.
There is a full cast for the audiobook making it so easy to follow along with the multiple characters. They helped me see the story play out in my head.
A poor girl who accepts a job as a housekeeper to a wealthy family. The catch? The husband was just acquitted of his late wife's murder. Yikes, is that a premise. You have the housekeeper, the one that sees all and should tell none, and the wealthy family fighting hard to keep their secrets, secret. All while the podcast that freed the husband is nosing around for their next episode.
Whether it's the news or podcasts, the world is focused on sensationalized stories. That is pitted against wanting to keep a portion of your life private.
The audiobook was creepy and atmospheric as I tried to work out if the husband was a danger and to whom.
This is more character focused and the plot plays out slowly and falls a little more mystery than thriller. So if you are a fan of podcast fiction and slow burn mysteries, this should be right up your alley.
There is a full cast for the audiobook making it so easy to follow along with the multiple characters. They helped me see the story play out in my head.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The audiobook experience made it a 3.5 star. The podcast element and the multiple narrators made it a very immersive, engaging read. I flew through the listen. I do think the author made a good job building suspense and keeping the tension. How they managed to do it, when there was not a single surprise in the book is beyond me. I was so confused while listening because it seems pretty obvious from the beginning who done it... and yet, here I am unable to turn it off. I like how the vibes were there from the beginning, our main character felt the vibes and we just spent the book proving her right. I saw one comment saying there were so many twists... I would like to understand what they mean by that, because if you go into it expecting to be surprised with some shocking revelation I think you'll be disappointed. But if you're in this for a tense, suspension building listening experience, you should enjoy this!
I love an audiobook with a podcast in it though, so I might be biased. And maybe I should actually listen to a podcast...
Anyways, thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
I love an audiobook with a podcast in it though, so I might be biased. And maybe I should actually listen to a podcast...
Anyways, thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an entertaining thriller.
The premise is very interesting and grips you from the start. A housekeeper working for a man who may or may not have murdered his first wife. I loved Renee as she tried to piece together the truth about the family, noticing every little detail and weird behavior.
I had a lot of fun seeing he spiraling and wondering if she was really working for a killer or it was just all pure coincidences. The mystery definitely kept me curious about the whole murder situation and how he got cleared of the murder in the first place.
However, some parts felt a bit predictable and I was not surprised by the ending. Still, it was a solid and fast paced read. One of the best parts about the book was the mix media on it, with the interviews and podcast episodes and the audiobook narration which made the book a lot more fun and easy to follow.
Overall, an entertaining read if you are in the mood for a domestic thriller with a true crime vibe.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
The premise is very interesting and grips you from the start. A housekeeper working for a man who may or may not have murdered his first wife. I loved Renee as she tried to piece together the truth about the family, noticing every little detail and weird behavior.
I had a lot of fun seeing he spiraling and wondering if she was really working for a killer or it was just all pure coincidences. The mystery definitely kept me curious about the whole murder situation and how he got cleared of the murder in the first place.
However, some parts felt a bit predictable and I was not surprised by the ending. Still, it was a solid and fast paced read. One of the best parts about the book was the mix media on it, with the interviews and podcast episodes and the audiobook narration which made the book a lot more fun and easy to follow.
Overall, an entertaining read if you are in the mood for a domestic thriller with a true crime vibe.
Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for an ALC of this novel, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this free advance copy via Netgalley. Thank you to Lauren Reding and Thomas & Mercer. This review is being left voluntarily and the opinions are my own.
The premise intrigued me initially but I found the pacing to be incredibly slow. The bulk of the action happened in the last few chapters, but by this point I was struggling to stay invested. At times I felt I had to suspend belief as some scenes felt a bit far-fetched.
Renee was on a one woman crusade to get justice. In doing so, she outdid all those who had investigated before her, including the police and the podcasters. Again this felt a bit out there for me.
I don't think I truly liked any of the characters in this book. It just felt like you weren't able to build any real connection with them.
The ending was ok but it just took a lot to get there.
I feel this book may have been better as an audiobook due to the podcast element.
Overall, this book wasn't for me but would be good for those who enjoy a slow burn and like taking their time to get to the end.
The premise intrigued me initially but I found the pacing to be incredibly slow. The bulk of the action happened in the last few chapters, but by this point I was struggling to stay invested. At times I felt I had to suspend belief as some scenes felt a bit far-fetched.
Renee was on a one woman crusade to get justice. In doing so, she outdid all those who had investigated before her, including the police and the podcasters. Again this felt a bit out there for me.
I don't think I truly liked any of the characters in this book. It just felt like you weren't able to build any real connection with them.
The ending was ok but it just took a lot to get there.
I feel this book may have been better as an audiobook due to the podcast element.
Overall, this book wasn't for me but would be good for those who enjoy a slow burn and like taking their time to get to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧 I got the opportunity to listen to this audiobook which was narrated by Megan Tusing, Caroline Hewitt, Luke Daniels and Marni Penning. The full cast narration makes this thriller with a podcast pop!
Renee takes a housekeeping job for a wealthy family. Her employer, Ed Weatherup, was in prison for five years for the murd3r of his wife. Ed’s convinces overturned by a true crime podcast, Innocent Blood.
As Renee settles in with the new job, she is in the midst of the family dynamics and turns to the podcast to learn more about her employer. The more she learns and listens things don’t add up. What has Renee gotten herself in to?
A sleuthing housekeeper with access … front row seat to the story! True crime fanatics will love the tension as the story develops. I think listening to this one was perfect and added to the experience overall.
Thank you to the author, Lauren Reding, Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Renee takes a housekeeping job for a wealthy family. Her employer, Ed Weatherup, was in prison for five years for the murd3r of his wife. Ed’s convinces overturned by a true crime podcast, Innocent Blood.
As Renee settles in with the new job, she is in the midst of the family dynamics and turns to the podcast to learn more about her employer. The more she learns and listens things don’t add up. What has Renee gotten herself in to?
A sleuthing housekeeper with access … front row seat to the story! True crime fanatics will love the tension as the story develops. I think listening to this one was perfect and added to the experience overall.
Thank you to the author, Lauren Reding, Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book. I received a gifted copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Done with her predictable life on her parents farm in rural Virginia, Renee was looking for a change, and preferably one that offered a lot more excitement. The thing is, with everything that has landed on her plate, she may get more than she bargained for...
Her new job - taken as a last ditch option, given the difficulties she finds herself in - is as a housekeeper, and her current employer, Ed, is the subject of a true crime podcast. But while Ed was eventually cleared of engineering his first wife's death, he did serve time for it. Now, as a wealthy man with a second wife and family, it seems he is determined to go after the real culprit. Could it really be that easy?
The storyline is not entirely unpredictable, but the book is reasonably entertaining - if a little slow paced. A very respectable debut, overall.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Her new job - taken as a last ditch option, given the difficulties she finds herself in - is as a housekeeper, and her current employer, Ed, is the subject of a true crime podcast. But while Ed was eventually cleared of engineering his first wife's death, he did serve time for it. Now, as a wealthy man with a second wife and family, it seems he is determined to go after the real culprit. Could it really be that easy?
The storyline is not entirely unpredictable, but the book is reasonably entertaining - if a little slow paced. A very respectable debut, overall.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fantastic debut novel! Renee may be desperate enough to take the first position offered to her, but that does not mean that she is dumb. I loved how on top of things she was- even when everyone around her was willing to overlook the parade of red flags traipsing through the family room. Renee was such an enjoyable character that I didn't mind some of the more obvious twists because I wanted to see how she would handle them. And talk about fierce! She was doing the right thing no matter the cost to herself.
Reding has an incredible debut, and if her sophomore novel is anywhere near as strong I could see her being an auto-buy author for many. Strong characters, good plot, evocative and straight forward writing. Everything we need in a story!
thank you to NetGalley, the author Lauren Reding, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this book.
Reding has an incredible debut, and if her sophomore novel is anywhere near as strong I could see her being an auto-buy author for many. Strong characters, good plot, evocative and straight forward writing. Everything we need in a story!
thank you to NetGalley, the author Lauren Reding, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 stars
This is a debut and such a great beginning to the author's writing career. Reding created interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, and thrilling plotlines. The podcast angle was interesting. I do think it would have benefited me as a reader to listen to the audiobook just for the podcast chapters alone. When reading those chapters, the pace slowed down for me and seemed to drag. I don't think that would have been the case had I listened to it instead. Besides that the characters did what I love when reading a thriller/mystery. They had me infuriated at decisions made and trying to race to the end to see how it all worked out.
I will definitely read more from this author and do recommended this book to fellow thriller lovers, especially those that enjoy listening to murder podcasts.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for the advanced copy. This review is 100% my honest opinion.
This is a debut and such a great beginning to the author's writing career. Reding created interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, and thrilling plotlines. The podcast angle was interesting. I do think it would have benefited me as a reader to listen to the audiobook just for the podcast chapters alone. When reading those chapters, the pace slowed down for me and seemed to drag. I don't think that would have been the case had I listened to it instead. Besides that the characters did what I love when reading a thriller/mystery. They had me infuriated at decisions made and trying to race to the end to see how it all worked out.
I will definitely read more from this author and do recommended this book to fellow thriller lovers, especially those that enjoy listening to murder podcasts.
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for the advanced copy. This review is 100% my honest opinion.
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