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No. 28
Set in modern-day suburbia, the Victorian facade of No. 28 conceals the dubious activities of five women, who are trying to outrun the encroaching darkness that threatens to engulf them.
Cloistered in separate apartments, seeking ways to fill the hours of solitude, their privacy is assured, each woman remaining oblivious to a strange secret that binds them all.
The owner of No. 28, and occupant of the attic apartment, is unravelling at an alarming rate. Her psychiatrist, an enigmatic figure coaxed out of retirement, believes he is more than qualified to take on Alana’s case. But, as the sessions with his client dive deeper, the line between memory and fantasy blurs, and he begins to question his own view of reality.
Those who cross paths with the residents of No. 28 find themselves drawn into a growing maelstrom of deception and chaos. And when the storm breaks, lives will be claimed.
Darkly humorous and deliciously unsettling, No. 28 is a suspense-laced study of fractured minds and fragile alliances. A cautionary tale, it explores the tapestry of invisible strands that binds the fate of unsuspecting souls, and the destructive forces unleashed when the anchoring thread snaps.
Cloistered in separate apartments, seeking ways to fill the hours of solitude, their privacy is assured, each woman remaining oblivious to a strange secret that binds them all.
The owner of No. 28, and occupant of the attic apartment, is unravelling at an alarming rate. Her psychiatrist, an enigmatic figure coaxed out of retirement, believes he is more than qualified to take on Alana’s case. But, as the sessions with his client dive deeper, the line between memory and fantasy blurs, and he begins to question his own view of reality.
Those who cross paths with the residents of No. 28 find themselves drawn into a growing maelstrom of deception and chaos. And when the storm breaks, lives will be claimed.
Darkly humorous and deliciously unsettling, No. 28 is a suspense-laced study of fractured minds and fragile alliances. A cautionary tale, it explores the tapestry of invisible strands that binds the fate of unsuspecting souls, and the destructive forces unleashed when the anchoring thread snaps.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 24, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
You know when you read a really good book and you can not find the words to describe it? This is how I feel about this book at the moment, so bare with me as I try to put into words what the book meant to me.
I finished it in the early hours of this morning, and to say that it affected me would be an understatement. While you are reading the book, it is an uncomfortable insight into the unravelling of a troubled soul. There are so many layers and levels to the characters involved in this tale of madness, and the scale of what took place at No. 28, will hit you in a way you will not see coming. It is beautifully written, with a depth and understand of how destructive one's descent into madness truly affects those around them.
It will not be for everyone, but if you do get a chance to read this book, I hope that you can appreciate the message that it is trying to convey to the reader.
You know when you read a really good book and you can not find the words to describe it? This is how I feel about this book at the moment, so bare with me as I try to put into words what the book meant to me.
I finished it in the early hours of this morning, and to say that it affected me would be an understatement. While you are reading the book, it is an uncomfortable insight into the unravelling of a troubled soul. There are so many layers and levels to the characters involved in this tale of madness, and the scale of what took place at No. 28, will hit you in a way you will not see coming. It is beautifully written, with a depth and understand of how destructive one's descent into madness truly affects those around them.
It will not be for everyone, but if you do get a chance to read this book, I hope that you can appreciate the message that it is trying to convey to the reader.
February 4, 2026
It's like Agatha Christie, and Alfred Hitchcock had a baby and the grandfather is some how Edgar Allen Poe. This is brilliantly written. Absolutely brilliant. Not one plot hole, not one detail left out. There was a bit that I thought some more dialogue would have worked however, once you get to the end, you know it's better without in those places. All the characters are written to where you know something is gong on and nothing sits right with you about any of them. But pay attention! Read every word, even the ones that aren't there.
November 3, 2026
Raven Dubois’s prose is an absolute work of art. It’s rich and elegant and her powers of description are truly remarkable. The plot twists are expertly laid down with subtlety and by the time you reach the finale, it is truly satisfying. Needless to say, I will not betray the incredible ending! This superb psychological thriller is both haunting and unsettling. I truly admire both the novel and the author.
April 1, 2026
4.5 stars... so many stories, beautifully written, delicately interwoven and requiring attention to know what flowed where. I had spotted what I expected to be the ending and felt triumphant when I was correct, but then the detailed denouement provided additional surprises that left me chilled, as was the author's clear intent.
December 20, 2025
UPDATE: Raised my ranking to 4.5
I read this a 2nd time as a bookclub pick. And let me say this. If you've already read it, the best thing you can do now, is read it again. I enjoyed it immensely. Even more the 2nd time around. How you catch things you missed. Things that were muddled become clearer. How you didn't quite care for a POV the first time, but feel sorry for them this time. I can't tell you much because it would ruin it. Just know that you have to read it, at least once. If you like psychological thrillers, mixed with emotional distress from all angles pick this one up next.
The exquisite writing style of this debut author is top tier. It's beautiful. Descriptions have a poetic lilt to them.
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
I don't know where to start. From the poetic writing to the ride it takes you on. The things going on in No. 28 had me worried for the next guest. The "ladies" had a lot to say about it. I do know for sure that I don't want anything to do with No. 28.
I loved that it took me a hot minute to figure it out. The mind games that this book played on me was great. I loved it.
I read this a 2nd time as a bookclub pick. And let me say this. If you've already read it, the best thing you can do now, is read it again. I enjoyed it immensely. Even more the 2nd time around. How you catch things you missed. Things that were muddled become clearer. How you didn't quite care for a POV the first time, but feel sorry for them this time. I can't tell you much because it would ruin it. Just know that you have to read it, at least once. If you like psychological thrillers, mixed with emotional distress from all angles pick this one up next.
The exquisite writing style of this debut author is top tier. It's beautiful. Descriptions have a poetic lilt to them.
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
I don't know where to start. From the poetic writing to the ride it takes you on. The things going on in No. 28 had me worried for the next guest. The "ladies" had a lot to say about it. I do know for sure that I don't want anything to do with No. 28.
I loved that it took me a hot minute to figure it out. The mind games that this book played on me was great. I loved it.
January 28, 2026
No. 28 is one of those novels that slips under your skin before you even realise it’s happening. What begins as a seemingly ordinary suburban setup quickly becomes a deliciously unsettling study of fractured minds, fragile connections, and the secrets that seep through the walls of a once‑grand Victorian house.
The structure works beautifully: five women living in isolation under the same roof, each tucked away in her own apartment, each convinced her privacy is intact. The tension comes not from loud shocks but from the slow, creeping sense that something is deeply wrong—and that whatever binds these women together is far stranger than they know.
Alana, the unravelling owner of No. 28, is the gravitational centre of the story. Her sessions with the enigmatic psychiatrist are some of the most compelling moments in the book, blurring the line between memory and delusion in a way that keeps you constantly off balance. As he digs deeper into her psyche, the question becomes not just whether he can help her, but whether he can trust his own grip on reality.
The atmosphere is wonderfully crafted—darkly humorous at times, quietly claustrophobic at others. There’s a sense of inevitability as the threads connecting the residents tighten, twist, and finally snap. When the storm breaks, the fallout feels both shocking and perfectly earned.
If you enjoy psychological fiction that leans into mood, character, and slow‑burn dread, No. 28 is a compelling, unsettling read. It’s elegant, eerie, and full of the kind of tension that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
With thanks to Raven Dubois, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The structure works beautifully: five women living in isolation under the same roof, each tucked away in her own apartment, each convinced her privacy is intact. The tension comes not from loud shocks but from the slow, creeping sense that something is deeply wrong—and that whatever binds these women together is far stranger than they know.
Alana, the unravelling owner of No. 28, is the gravitational centre of the story. Her sessions with the enigmatic psychiatrist are some of the most compelling moments in the book, blurring the line between memory and delusion in a way that keeps you constantly off balance. As he digs deeper into her psyche, the question becomes not just whether he can help her, but whether he can trust his own grip on reality.
The atmosphere is wonderfully crafted—darkly humorous at times, quietly claustrophobic at others. There’s a sense of inevitability as the threads connecting the residents tighten, twist, and finally snap. When the storm breaks, the fallout feels both shocking and perfectly earned.
If you enjoy psychological fiction that leans into mood, character, and slow‑burn dread, No. 28 is a compelling, unsettling read. It’s elegant, eerie, and full of the kind of tension that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.
With thanks to Raven Dubois, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
July 14, 2026
Great phycological thriller
The biggest achievement of this novel is undoubtedly its writing style. Raven Dubois possesses an incredible ability to weave the storyline into a tapestry that is both brilliant and almost poetic. The prose is rich, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted, creating an unsettling mood that lingers throughout the book. Having said that, I can also see this being a drawback for readers who prefer straightforward, action-driven thrillers. This is a novel that takes its time, rewarding patience rather than rushing toward its destination. Personally, I admired—and honestly envied—the author’s writing ability.
It is nearly impossible to discuss the plot without spoiling the many twists hidden within the story. My advice to future readers would be to pay close attention during the first half of the book and don’t overlook the small details. Yes, the narrative can feel confusing at times, especially as you’re introduced to the different residents of House No. 28, but once those pieces begin falling into place, the payoff is incredibly satisfying. The carefully delivered plot twists are rewarding precisely because the groundwork has been laid so thoughtfully from the very beginning.
Overall, this was a great read. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy slowly unfolding psychological thrillers that rely on atmosphere, intricate storytelling, and carefully earned revelations rather than constant action, then “No. 28” is absolutely worth your time.
The biggest achievement of this novel is undoubtedly its writing style. Raven Dubois possesses an incredible ability to weave the storyline into a tapestry that is both brilliant and almost poetic. The prose is rich, atmospheric, and beautifully crafted, creating an unsettling mood that lingers throughout the book. Having said that, I can also see this being a drawback for readers who prefer straightforward, action-driven thrillers. This is a novel that takes its time, rewarding patience rather than rushing toward its destination. Personally, I admired—and honestly envied—the author’s writing ability.
It is nearly impossible to discuss the plot without spoiling the many twists hidden within the story. My advice to future readers would be to pay close attention during the first half of the book and don’t overlook the small details. Yes, the narrative can feel confusing at times, especially as you’re introduced to the different residents of House No. 28, but once those pieces begin falling into place, the payoff is incredibly satisfying. The carefully delivered plot twists are rewarding precisely because the groundwork has been laid so thoughtfully from the very beginning.
Overall, this was a great read. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but if you enjoy slowly unfolding psychological thrillers that rely on atmosphere, intricate storytelling, and carefully earned revelations rather than constant action, then “No. 28” is absolutely worth your time.
April 11, 2026
A hauntingly beautiful psychological thriller, or something close to it. It is a dark gothic story where the lines between psychosis, reality, and moral ambiguity begin to blur.
It may be harder to read in places if you are not used to more atmospheric, descriptive prose. For me, though, that was part of the appeal. I loved how the narrative style helped build the mood of both the story and its setting.
The cast of characters is intriguing, alluring, and enigmatic, while also showing clear signs of insecurity and instability. The shifts between characters, and the time jumps, may be confusing for some readers, and usually would be for me too. Here, though, it felt fitting. It added to the discombobulated nature of the narrative and created that sense of dissociation, where fiction and reality seem to bleed into one another.
I did suspect the ending, but only in a speculative way. It was not until the very end that I got the validation I had been craving, and I am still kicking myself for not connecting some of the dots sooner.
This book even had me looking up Rachmaninoff so I could listen alongside the story, which felt strangely perfect.
It may be harder to read in places if you are not used to more atmospheric, descriptive prose. For me, though, that was part of the appeal. I loved how the narrative style helped build the mood of both the story and its setting.
The cast of characters is intriguing, alluring, and enigmatic, while also showing clear signs of insecurity and instability. The shifts between characters, and the time jumps, may be confusing for some readers, and usually would be for me too. Here, though, it felt fitting. It added to the discombobulated nature of the narrative and created that sense of dissociation, where fiction and reality seem to bleed into one another.
I did suspect the ending, but only in a speculative way. It was not until the very end that I got the validation I had been craving, and I am still kicking myself for not connecting some of the dots sooner.
This book even had me looking up Rachmaninoff so I could listen alongside the story, which felt strangely perfect.
February 21, 2026
Prominent among the various elements of Raven Dubois’ “No. 28,” of which there are many, are a young woman with a troubled past and the psychiatrist to whom she is sent and into whose life her situation imparts the most interesting part of the novel for me, a vision or recollection or whatever of the First World War reminiscent for me of Katherine Arden’s “The Warm Hands of Ghosts.”
Saying much more would be giving away too much of the novel, other than to say that the titular residence is as much a character as Dubois’ actual dramatis personae, which include a woman writing a novel about a murderer.
An intriguing setup, at any rate, her tale, even if the confusion that its multiple parts made for me was never fully resolved to my satisfaction. But that may just be an indication of my disaffection in general with mysteries – too much artifice or contrivance for my taste – and readers more taken with the genre will undoubtedly find themselves more enthralled than I was with Dubois's book, which, for all my nits, is nevertheless a significant feat of the imagination.
Saying much more would be giving away too much of the novel, other than to say that the titular residence is as much a character as Dubois’ actual dramatis personae, which include a woman writing a novel about a murderer.
An intriguing setup, at any rate, her tale, even if the confusion that its multiple parts made for me was never fully resolved to my satisfaction. But that may just be an indication of my disaffection in general with mysteries – too much artifice or contrivance for my taste – and readers more taken with the genre will undoubtedly find themselves more enthralled than I was with Dubois's book, which, for all my nits, is nevertheless a significant feat of the imagination.
August 21, 2026
I am tapping this in at a 4.5 which, low and behold, rounds up to a clean 5
You cannot fault the writing, it is flawless and has a classic, elegant, slow gothic mystery style vibe to it.
It is a real slow burn though, so be prepared for that, things pull together nearer the end of the book.
In that way it reminds me of Jane Eyre. This slow sort of build and then everything comes crashing in all at once.
Hmm I was led to believe there was more horror elements to this than there was, so for that there was times where I found it slightly lacking, which is why I would put it at a 4.5.
Perhaps that is me though, as someone that has personal experience with the points in this book, I found it very tame.
But if you go into it expecting a slow, gothic mystery then you are golden.
And that is to whom I would recommend this book for.
Very enjoyable.
Intriguing and short chapters.
Absolutely FANTASTIC atmosphere.
100% worth the read.
You cannot fault the writing, it is flawless and has a classic, elegant, slow gothic mystery style vibe to it.
It is a real slow burn though, so be prepared for that, things pull together nearer the end of the book.
In that way it reminds me of Jane Eyre. This slow sort of build and then everything comes crashing in all at once.
Hmm I was led to believe there was more horror elements to this than there was, so for that there was times where I found it slightly lacking, which is why I would put it at a 4.5.
Perhaps that is me though, as someone that has personal experience with the points in this book, I found it very tame.
But if you go into it expecting a slow, gothic mystery then you are golden.
And that is to whom I would recommend this book for.
Very enjoyable.
Intriguing and short chapters.
Absolutely FANTASTIC atmosphere.
100% worth the read.
May 27, 2026
What is there to say about No. 28 besides you must simply experience it for yourself? I can’t say much, but I can say it’s unlike anything else I’ve read. I do tend to get lost when books jump between various characters from chapter to chapter, but in the end, it all tied together in a compelling third act that had me thinking long after I closed the book. Even when I wasn’t quite sure how everything fit together, it remained a delightful read because the writing is absolutely excellent. The prose has an old-world feel without ever feeling old itself; it feels alive and atmospheric, with equal doses of humor and melancholy. No. 28 is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, beautifully written gothic psychological mystery that will have you pondering the intricacies of life and death.
April 11, 2026
A couple of observations first.
This isn’t a thriller, it’s definitely a mystery wearing a thriller overcoat. Not a criticism, just a heads up.
The chapters are gloriously short. This works really well in the first 3rd of the book as it pulls you quickly into the story. It doesn’t work so well in the middle 3rd as it kind of scuppers any momentum that’s being generated, but it comes good again in the last act.
These definitely aren’t criticisms, just things I felt as I was reading.
It’s hard to say much about the plot without giving anything away, so I’ll just say thank you to Raven for giving us this story and advise anyone who’s got a taste for the mysterious to pop along to No.28 as soon as possible 🙂
This isn’t a thriller, it’s definitely a mystery wearing a thriller overcoat. Not a criticism, just a heads up.
The chapters are gloriously short. This works really well in the first 3rd of the book as it pulls you quickly into the story. It doesn’t work so well in the middle 3rd as it kind of scuppers any momentum that’s being generated, but it comes good again in the last act.
These definitely aren’t criticisms, just things I felt as I was reading.
It’s hard to say much about the plot without giving anything away, so I’ll just say thank you to Raven for giving us this story and advise anyone who’s got a taste for the mysterious to pop along to No.28 as soon as possible 🙂
February 9, 2026
Uniquely Captivating
I have not read anything quite like this intriguing book. Its prose is so hauntingly atmospheric I might have dreamt it rather than read it. The various layers of mystery kept me engaged wondering how such disparate and self-contained lives could integrate into a gelled story. Each have their own secrets and strange lives. And the ending blew me away as it came together piece by staggering piece. I could not have seen it coming. This book is to be read with attention to every detail for which you will be well rewarded. Brilliant!
I have not read anything quite like this intriguing book. Its prose is so hauntingly atmospheric I might have dreamt it rather than read it. The various layers of mystery kept me engaged wondering how such disparate and self-contained lives could integrate into a gelled story. Each have their own secrets and strange lives. And the ending blew me away as it came together piece by staggering piece. I could not have seen it coming. This book is to be read with attention to every detail for which you will be well rewarded. Brilliant!
March 12, 2026
I loved the story itself. For the first half of the book, I was really confused as to what was going on. I found it hard to keep the characters separated. I'm not sure what exactly made the book so hard to follow. I read a lot of books and I don't usually have this problem. I think it was the writing style. I was not crazy about the dual chapter titles.
It also took a minute to get the book within the book. It all eventually came together for a nice storyline.
I enjoyed the second half of the book and lot more.
It also took a minute to get the book within the book. It all eventually came together for a nice storyline.
I enjoyed the second half of the book and lot more.
February 24, 2026
Beautifully written, haunting, and descriptive. Following each of the characters was a clever little map of deception and sadness in being alone. Twisty until the very end, and even then I sat there for a bit thinking it all through. Unpredictable and I enjoyed it very much.
April 21, 2026
This book has a lot going for it. It is written in a style that lends to the gothic feel of this book. There is a large cast of characters that may be slightly confusing at first, but the language in this book draws you in and the story flows nicely. The reader must pay attention so they don’t miss a detail. The story really comes together in the end, but it’s hard to give too much detail about this book without giving anything away. Haunting and a bit melancholy at times, No 28 will draw you in and keep you hostage until the last line.
June 26, 2026
Mystery that is alive
Do you need a book that absolutely will leave you speechless? To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I feel I must thank every reader who left a review but never uttered a word to share the secret of No. 28. I promise you - this book is the true meaning of suspense!
Do you need a book that absolutely will leave you speechless? To say that I was shocked is an understatement. I feel I must thank every reader who left a review but never uttered a word to share the secret of No. 28. I promise you - this book is the true meaning of suspense!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews