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The House on Otley Road
Everyone heard the story. But no one knows the truth.
Two murders. Twenty years apart. One truth to be uncovered.
1999. Emily Pierce is at uni in Leeds having the time of her life. On New Year’s Eve her plans to have the best night ever are brutally cut short when she is killed in her student house. The police conclude her murder was a burglary gone wrong and never find the killer.
2019. When Olivia Kavanagh discovers that twenty years earlier a girl was murdered in her bedroom, she becomes obsessed. But her questions end with another dead body.
Journalist Kate Marsden is sent to cover the story. She reported on Emily’s murder twenty years earlier and finds the similarities staggering and eerie. She is determined to discover the link. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to a murderer. Because this isn’t just a story, it’s a well-hidden crime and there’s someone out there who will do anything to stop her from ever unearthing the truth…
Two murders. Twenty years apart. One truth to be uncovered.
1999. Emily Pierce is at uni in Leeds having the time of her life. On New Year’s Eve her plans to have the best night ever are brutally cut short when she is killed in her student house. The police conclude her murder was a burglary gone wrong and never find the killer.
2019. When Olivia Kavanagh discovers that twenty years earlier a girl was murdered in her bedroom, she becomes obsessed. But her questions end with another dead body.
Journalist Kate Marsden is sent to cover the story. She reported on Emily’s murder twenty years earlier and finds the similarities staggering and eerie. She is determined to discover the link. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to a murderer. Because this isn’t just a story, it’s a well-hidden crime and there’s someone out there who will do anything to stop her from ever unearthing the truth…
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 8, 2026
Another fantastic debut in 2026! i read this book in an afternoon, unable to put it down, I was so engrossed in the story. It is filled with not so likeable characters and that was half the fun. I loved the dual timelines and how we were drip feed the story in both of them.
In 2019, Leeds University student Olivia discovers that she is sleeping the same room that another student, Emily, was murdered. 20 years earlier. The killer was never found, the police closing the case as a burglary gone wrong but that story is filled with of holes. Olivia is determined to find out what really happened to Emily.
I loved Kate, the seasoned journalist who was there 20 years earlier and never believed the police’s theory. She is back in Leeds and wants to get the truth finally. I hope we get more from Kate.
I never would have believed that this was a debut author. It was dark and twisty and so well constructed .
Thank you to HQ for the chance to read this exceptional story. A must read, out on June 18th.
In 2019, Leeds University student Olivia discovers that she is sleeping the same room that another student, Emily, was murdered. 20 years earlier. The killer was never found, the police closing the case as a burglary gone wrong but that story is filled with of holes. Olivia is determined to find out what really happened to Emily.
I loved Kate, the seasoned journalist who was there 20 years earlier and never believed the police’s theory. She is back in Leeds and wants to get the truth finally. I hope we get more from Kate.
I never would have believed that this was a debut author. It was dark and twisty and so well constructed .
Thank you to HQ for the chance to read this exceptional story. A must read, out on June 18th.
July 10, 2026
The book is divided into three parts. The first part sets up the mystery and it reads more like an YA novel. The second part revolves around the investigation conducted by a newspaper reporter. In the final part, the mystery is disclosed. The author describes both murders through out the book. She moves from the present, 2019, and the incidents that took place 20 years ago. This can be distracting at times. On the other hand the characters are well developed. An interesting plot that keeps your interest.
July 9, 2026
Loved it. Brilliant, page turning thriller. Wished I’d been by a pool reading it instead of sweating in suburbia.
February 7, 2026
I received an digital advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
This novel is marketed as a crime story, but the murder never truly takes centre stage. For most of the book, it remains in the background while the narrative focuses on the personal dramas and relationships of its characters.
There are a few brief moments where tension and danger finally appear, but they are fleeting and quickly defused. These isolated spikes are not enough to generate sustained suspense or a sense of real consequence.
The characters are introduced with detail, yet they remain largely unchanged by the end of the story. Despite the presence of a serious crime, there is little meaningful development or transformation, which leaves the narrative feeling static and emotionally distant.
The writing is competent and controlled, but the tone remains cold and observational. Opportunities for deeper psychological exploration are often passed over, and the novel never fully commits to either its crime elements or its character study.
Overall, this felt less like a crime novel and more like a collection of loosely connected life stories with a crime element attached. Readers looking for sustained tension or character growth may find it underwhelming.
This novel is marketed as a crime story, but the murder never truly takes centre stage. For most of the book, it remains in the background while the narrative focuses on the personal dramas and relationships of its characters.
There are a few brief moments where tension and danger finally appear, but they are fleeting and quickly defused. These isolated spikes are not enough to generate sustained suspense or a sense of real consequence.
The characters are introduced with detail, yet they remain largely unchanged by the end of the story. Despite the presence of a serious crime, there is little meaningful development or transformation, which leaves the narrative feeling static and emotionally distant.
The writing is competent and controlled, but the tone remains cold and observational. Opportunities for deeper psychological exploration are often passed over, and the novel never fully commits to either its crime elements or its character study.
Overall, this felt less like a crime novel and more like a collection of loosely connected life stories with a crime element attached. Readers looking for sustained tension or character growth may find it underwhelming.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The House on Otley Road is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends cold‑case intrigue with the unsettling feeling that the past is never quite as buried as we’d like to believe. Rosa Silverman delivers a story that moves seamlessly between 1999 and 2019, weaving together two murders, two young women, and one truth that refuses to stay hidden.
The 1999 storyline is instantly compelling. Emily Pierce is full of life, celebrating New Year’s Eve with all the optimism of a student who believes the world is just beginning to open up for her. When she’s brutally killed in her own house, the shock reverberates through the narrative. The police write it off as a burglary gone wrong, but the unanswered questions linger like a shadow.
Fast‑forward twenty years, and Olivia Kavanagh discovers that her bedroom once belonged to Emily. What starts as curiosity quickly spirals into obsession—and then into danger. Her storyline adds a modern, relatable lens to the mystery, showing how easily the past can entangle the present.
Enter journalist Kate Marsden, who covered Emily’s murder two decades earlier and is now back on the case. Kate is the glue that holds the timelines together, and her determination to uncover the truth gives the novel its driving force. As she digs deeper, the parallels between the two deaths become impossible to ignore, and the tension ratchets up beautifully.
Silverman excels at atmosphere: student houses with creaking floorboards, the eerie familiarity of a street that hasn’t changed in twenty years, and the creeping sense that someone is watching. The pacing is tight, the twists well‑timed, and the final stretch genuinely gripping.
The House on Otley Road is a chilling, cleverly constructed thriller about buried secrets, dangerous obsessions, and the stories we think we know. Perfect for readers who love cold‑case mysteries with emotional depth and a strong investigative thread. A tense, addictive read that kept me turning pages late into the night.
My thanks to Rosa Silverman, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The 1999 storyline is instantly compelling. Emily Pierce is full of life, celebrating New Year’s Eve with all the optimism of a student who believes the world is just beginning to open up for her. When she’s brutally killed in her own house, the shock reverberates through the narrative. The police write it off as a burglary gone wrong, but the unanswered questions linger like a shadow.
Fast‑forward twenty years, and Olivia Kavanagh discovers that her bedroom once belonged to Emily. What starts as curiosity quickly spirals into obsession—and then into danger. Her storyline adds a modern, relatable lens to the mystery, showing how easily the past can entangle the present.
Enter journalist Kate Marsden, who covered Emily’s murder two decades earlier and is now back on the case. Kate is the glue that holds the timelines together, and her determination to uncover the truth gives the novel its driving force. As she digs deeper, the parallels between the two deaths become impossible to ignore, and the tension ratchets up beautifully.
Silverman excels at atmosphere: student houses with creaking floorboards, the eerie familiarity of a street that hasn’t changed in twenty years, and the creeping sense that someone is watching. The pacing is tight, the twists well‑timed, and the final stretch genuinely gripping.
The House on Otley Road is a chilling, cleverly constructed thriller about buried secrets, dangerous obsessions, and the stories we think we know. Perfect for readers who love cold‑case mysteries with emotional depth and a strong investigative thread. A tense, addictive read that kept me turning pages late into the night.
My thanks to Rosa Silverman, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4* Great until almost the end. Pay attention to the cleverly done prologue.
This tale ends in a bit of an anticlimactic, slightly lazy, literal scramble, as the killer in 2019 flees but ends up awaiting trial. I felt sorry for the female journalist at the end, who ended up becoming part of the story that'd stayed with her for 20 years. The 2 female students, Olivia in 2019, and Wotsername from 1999 weren't the most empathetic, the latter with her lies, thefts, deceit, user tendencies, and married lecturer lover, and Olivia always wondering how she might be perceived, how she looked, her insecurities, her envy of more outgoing females, and her resentment of her middle-class background. I couldn't connect with any of the females, but that didn't spoil the tale.
The ending revealed a conscience-free killer living in anyone's, well, 2019 regular life. Not a sensationalist one, not a really noticeable one, not one that stood out, but a devious one with no qualms. I kind of didn't believe that with all 2019's tech, with so many journalists on the case, that their identity didn't get dug into and they didn't get pulled into the investigation. It felt a bit KISS, but it technically worked.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and HQ for my reading pleasure.
This tale ends in a bit of an anticlimactic, slightly lazy, literal scramble, as the killer in 2019 flees but ends up awaiting trial. I felt sorry for the female journalist at the end, who ended up becoming part of the story that'd stayed with her for 20 years. The 2 female students, Olivia in 2019, and Wotsername from 1999 weren't the most empathetic, the latter with her lies, thefts, deceit, user tendencies, and married lecturer lover, and Olivia always wondering how she might be perceived, how she looked, her insecurities, her envy of more outgoing females, and her resentment of her middle-class background. I couldn't connect with any of the females, but that didn't spoil the tale.
The ending revealed a conscience-free killer living in anyone's, well, 2019 regular life. Not a sensationalist one, not a really noticeable one, not one that stood out, but a devious one with no qualms. I kind of didn't believe that with all 2019's tech, with so many journalists on the case, that their identity didn't get dug into and they didn't get pulled into the investigation. It felt a bit KISS, but it technically worked.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and HQ for my reading pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s 2019 and Olivia is starting her 2nd year at university in Leeds, moving into a ground floor flat with a group of friends she’s hoping to get closer to. But she soon finds out that another student, Emily, was murdered in her very room 20 years ago.
Olivia starts delving into the murder, sure she can be the one to solve what really happened. But then another murder is committed.
Meanwhile, journalist Kate covered Emily’s murder in 1999 and has never stopped thinking about it. Now she’s back in Leeds investigating another murder with strong similarities, and she’s determined to find the truth.
This took me a bit of getting into – I really didn’t like any of the student characters, particularly Emily! But in the second half, when Kate started to delve into her investigation, it became super suspenseful and twisty. I much preferred Kate’s character!
I really enjoyed the investigation from the perspective of a journalist, as a change from the police perspective. Kate could get away with a bit more!
Emily evoked strong feelings in a lot of people, giving a lot of characters a potential motive to be the killer! I began to suspect everyone! Switching between the 1999 and 2019 timelines was great, and I loved the turn of the millennium nostalgia!
Olivia starts delving into the murder, sure she can be the one to solve what really happened. But then another murder is committed.
Meanwhile, journalist Kate covered Emily’s murder in 1999 and has never stopped thinking about it. Now she’s back in Leeds investigating another murder with strong similarities, and she’s determined to find the truth.
This took me a bit of getting into – I really didn’t like any of the student characters, particularly Emily! But in the second half, when Kate started to delve into her investigation, it became super suspenseful and twisty. I much preferred Kate’s character!
I really enjoyed the investigation from the perspective of a journalist, as a change from the police perspective. Kate could get away with a bit more!
Emily evoked strong feelings in a lot of people, giving a lot of characters a potential motive to be the killer! I began to suspect everyone! Switching between the 1999 and 2019 timelines was great, and I loved the turn of the millennium nostalgia!
June 29, 2026
The House On Otley Road by Rosa Silverman is a totally gripping murder suspense that I could not put down.
The action is set in 1999 and 2019, focusing on a house in Otley Road in Leeds. The action alternates between the two time periods. It also looks backwards speculating on what happened at the time.
Two murders, twenty years apart, one murder site – seemingly nothing in common, and everything in common – are they linked? Or random?
We follow the action in 2019 through the eyes of reporter, Kate. The reader gets to know what she knows – but we have the benefit of watching the action unfold in 1999 too.
The book is superbly written. As I read onwards towards the conclusion, I began to join the dots! My heart rate rose as the penny dropped!
Rosa Silverman has created a well thought out and executed plotline which is superb. Her characters were all well drawn and believable. It was innocence vs. experience at times, as those who should have been protecting, didn’t.
The House On Otley Road was an all-consuming read that I read in just two sittings. It is superb.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The action is set in 1999 and 2019, focusing on a house in Otley Road in Leeds. The action alternates between the two time periods. It also looks backwards speculating on what happened at the time.
Two murders, twenty years apart, one murder site – seemingly nothing in common, and everything in common – are they linked? Or random?
We follow the action in 2019 through the eyes of reporter, Kate. The reader gets to know what she knows – but we have the benefit of watching the action unfold in 1999 too.
The book is superbly written. As I read onwards towards the conclusion, I began to join the dots! My heart rate rose as the penny dropped!
Rosa Silverman has created a well thought out and executed plotline which is superb. Her characters were all well drawn and believable. It was innocence vs. experience at times, as those who should have been protecting, didn’t.
The House On Otley Road was an all-consuming read that I read in just two sittings. It is superb.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2026
Review of ‘The House on Otley Road’ by Rosa Silverman, due to be published on 18 June 2026 by HQ, Harper Collins.
One house used as student accommodation. One girl found dead in the front bedroom 1999. One girl dead in the same bedroom in 2019. Coincidence or related? That’s what journalist Kate is determined to uncover.
Kate has been haunted by the first death, ruled a bungled robbery, her first big story as a reporter, no one ever found responsible. Now a new girl has been killed, and the few people who are prepared to speak to Kate, give her tiny morsels of information that give her threads to pull, in an attempt to uncover the mysteries of both deaths.
Told over split timelines for 1999 and 2019, from the point of view of the killed girls, the housemates at both times and Kate.
This was an exceptionally well written and well executed story, with good character development. It is a story littered with clues, red herrings and twists, leading to the final reveal that leaves you realising that the evidence was there in plain sight all along. A highly recommended read.
One house used as student accommodation. One girl found dead in the front bedroom 1999. One girl dead in the same bedroom in 2019. Coincidence or related? That’s what journalist Kate is determined to uncover.
Kate has been haunted by the first death, ruled a bungled robbery, her first big story as a reporter, no one ever found responsible. Now a new girl has been killed, and the few people who are prepared to speak to Kate, give her tiny morsels of information that give her threads to pull, in an attempt to uncover the mysteries of both deaths.
Told over split timelines for 1999 and 2019, from the point of view of the killed girls, the housemates at both times and Kate.
This was an exceptionally well written and well executed story, with good character development. It is a story littered with clues, red herrings and twists, leading to the final reveal that leaves you realising that the evidence was there in plain sight all along. A highly recommended read.
January 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The House on Otley Road by Rosa Silverman
This was a compelling and skilfully constructed crime novel built around a chilling premise. One student house. One young woman found dead in the front bedroom in 1999. Twenty years later, another girl is killed in the same room. Coincidence, or something far darker?
Journalist Kate, haunted by the first case which was dismissed as a bungled robbery and never solved, is determined to uncover the truth behind both deaths. As she revisits the past, small fragments of information begin to surface, each one offering a new thread to pull. The story is told across dual timelines in 1999 and 2019, with perspectives from the victims, their housemates and Kate herself, which adds depth and emotional weight.
The writing is assured, the character development strong, and the plotting sharp. Clues and red herrings are carefully placed, leading to a final reveal that feels both surprising and entirely earned. A thoughtful, unsettling and very well executed debut. A solid four star read.
This was a compelling and skilfully constructed crime novel built around a chilling premise. One student house. One young woman found dead in the front bedroom in 1999. Twenty years later, another girl is killed in the same room. Coincidence, or something far darker?
Journalist Kate, haunted by the first case which was dismissed as a bungled robbery and never solved, is determined to uncover the truth behind both deaths. As she revisits the past, small fragments of information begin to surface, each one offering a new thread to pull. The story is told across dual timelines in 1999 and 2019, with perspectives from the victims, their housemates and Kate herself, which adds depth and emotional weight.
The writing is assured, the character development strong, and the plotting sharp. Clues and red herrings are carefully placed, leading to a final reveal that feels both surprising and entirely earned. A thoughtful, unsettling and very well executed debut. A solid four star read.
July 15, 2026
Aggressively mediocre. And I’m being generous with 2 stars.
It wasn’t even well edited. A whole two lines are repeated with a line in between.
The way both students were written - the girl from a poorer background and the middle class girl - really felt as though it was an approximation of how the author THINKS they would be. It was cringy at times and I only kept reading to see if it would get worse.
The main character, Kate, was probably the best and most well-rounded but her epilogue was excruciatingly cringy and not at all earned.
Sadly this was also predictable and twists were more because things and names were kept from us than actually good.
I went to uni a couple of years after the characters here in a diff part of the UK but Emily should not have been having her dad steal her student loans. That isn’t easy. They have to go into a bank account belonging to the student.
Overall this had a great cover and blurb but was awful.
It wasn’t even well edited. A whole two lines are repeated with a line in between.
The way both students were written - the girl from a poorer background and the middle class girl - really felt as though it was an approximation of how the author THINKS they would be. It was cringy at times and I only kept reading to see if it would get worse.
The main character, Kate, was probably the best and most well-rounded but her epilogue was excruciatingly cringy and not at all earned.
Sadly this was also predictable and twists were more because things and names were kept from us than actually good.
I went to uni a couple of years after the characters here in a diff part of the UK but Emily should not have been having her dad steal her student loans. That isn’t easy. They have to go into a bank account belonging to the student.
Overall this had a great cover and blurb but was awful.
June 11, 2026
A great debut from Rosa and definitely a book you can fly through in a couple of days!
I love a dual time line as I feel you get a great build up of the story and for me something that helps me feel a bit more investigative myself and like I’m solving what’s happening 😂
So many suspect-able (not a word, I know) characters in this book it will leave you questioning who the murderer is and are the murders linked?!
There’s a fab twist to this one as well which I did guess, there’s a couple of clues throughout the book as well if you retain certain bits of information as you read you might work it out too.
I enjoyed Kates character the most as I liked her passion for wanting to get justice for the victims and how she was wanting to dig more into the story.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I love a dual time line as I feel you get a great build up of the story and for me something that helps me feel a bit more investigative myself and like I’m solving what’s happening 😂
So many suspect-able (not a word, I know) characters in this book it will leave you questioning who the murderer is and are the murders linked?!
There’s a fab twist to this one as well which I did guess, there’s a couple of clues throughout the book as well if you retain certain bits of information as you read you might work it out too.
I enjoyed Kates character the most as I liked her passion for wanting to get justice for the victims and how she was wanting to dig more into the story.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kate is sent by her paper to cover a story in Leeds, a student has been murdered in her digs in Otley Road, Leeds. Kate remembers a different murder 20 years before, the millennium, a young student Emily found murdered in her room in Otley Road, it couldn’t be the same place, surely? No one was caught for that crime, officially burglary gone wrong, but was it.
Kate is determined to cover the story even after she receives an ominous threat, the paper send someone to help her colleague Smith, also the person whose bed she was in when the call to go to Leeds came in.
A story that has many twists and turns as Kate tries to follow leads that seem to be knocked back by Smith. I was gripped from the start and had no idea how it would turn out in the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
Kate is determined to cover the story even after she receives an ominous threat, the paper send someone to help her colleague Smith, also the person whose bed she was in when the call to go to Leeds came in.
A story that has many twists and turns as Kate tries to follow leads that seem to be knocked back by Smith. I was gripped from the start and had no idea how it would turn out in the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc
June 22, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed The House on Otley Road by Rosa Silverman. The split timeline and multiple POV storytelling were handled brilliantly, gradually revealing secrets and connections that kept me turning the pages. Every character felt fully developed and believable, making it easy to become invested in their stories.
As someone who is fairly local to Leeds and familiar with many of the places mentioned, I especially appreciated how vividly the setting was brought to life. The descriptions captured the atmosphere of the area perfectly and added an extra layer of authenticity to the novel.
Packed with memorable characters, unexpected twists, and a compelling narrative, this was a fascinating read from start to finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys character driven stories with mystery, secrets, and a strong sense of place.
As someone who is fairly local to Leeds and familiar with many of the places mentioned, I especially appreciated how vividly the setting was brought to life. The descriptions captured the atmosphere of the area perfectly and added an extra layer of authenticity to the novel.
Packed with memorable characters, unexpected twists, and a compelling narrative, this was a fascinating read from start to finish. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys character driven stories with mystery, secrets, and a strong sense of place.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The synopsis and title drew me to The House on Otley Road and I was not disappointed. It’s set over two timelines - in 1999 when Emily is at university in Leeds, living in a shared flat on Otley Road and twenty years later in 2019 when student Olivia is living in the same flat.
This was a gripping and compelling read, it is well paced and moves seamlessly between the two timelines and I was really drawn into the lives of both Emily and Olivia. The later timeline also introduces the reader to journalist Kate Mardsen who was a young journalist when the first murder took place in 1999. The characterisation throughout is excellent and I particularly loved the character of Kate and hope she returns in future novels, At times this reminded me of the early novels of Fiona Barton which I loved.
An excellent debut which I’d highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,
This was a gripping and compelling read, it is well paced and moves seamlessly between the two timelines and I was really drawn into the lives of both Emily and Olivia. The later timeline also introduces the reader to journalist Kate Mardsen who was a young journalist when the first murder took place in 1999. The characterisation throughout is excellent and I particularly loved the character of Kate and hope she returns in future novels, At times this reminded me of the early novels of Fiona Barton which I loved.
An excellent debut which I’d highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Journalist Kate Marsden gets the call to attend a shared student flat in Leeds where a young girls body has been found she can't help but recall a similar case she covered early in her career. What she wasn't expecting was it to be the same road and the same flat.
Told across different timelines The House on Otley Road was an intriguing read with well written characters and a cleverly executed storyline. The pacing was perfection, it kept me on my toes and once started I found it impossible to put down. A great read.
My thanks to the publisher for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.
Told across different timelines The House on Otley Road was an intriguing read with well written characters and a cleverly executed storyline. The pacing was perfection, it kept me on my toes and once started I found it impossible to put down. A great read.
My thanks to the publisher for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.
May 25, 2026
What an amazing debut novel. Have to admit part of me wanted to read this novel as I’m familiar with the locations, but I was also intrigued by the plot. Two murders. Twenty years apart. One truth to be uncovered. Kate Marsden is a journalist who reported on the death of Emily Pierce twenty years ago. Determined by police as a burglary gone wrong, Kate isn’t so sure, especially as almost two decades later, another body is discovered. Finding out the truth almost becomes an obsession but Kate is determined to uncover the truth. Gripping, tense and unputdownable - a fast paced novel that will have you hooked. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
May 30, 2026
Two murders occur, twenty years apart. In the same house. On the same road. Is it just a coincidence, or is there more to the story?
This novel had me absolutely captivated!
From the multiple POV aspect, to the dual timelines, it really gripped me, as I was constantly trying to link the past to the present and see how it all fit together.
The characters all seemed unreliable, which made the ‘whodunnit’ reveal that much more satisfying due to all of them seeming plausible.
The fact that this was a debut for the author is all the more impressive.
This novel had me absolutely captivated!
From the multiple POV aspect, to the dual timelines, it really gripped me, as I was constantly trying to link the past to the present and see how it all fit together.
The characters all seemed unreliable, which made the ‘whodunnit’ reveal that much more satisfying due to all of them seeming plausible.
The fact that this was a debut for the author is all the more impressive.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2019 and Olivia is starting her second year at university, This time sharing a house with 3 others.
Hoping for a great year Olivia is dismayed to find that on New Years Eve 1999 another student was murdered in her bedroom.
Told over the two time periods by the people involved, this is a slow build to the end.
It was a bit to slow for me, but I'm sure it will be a big hit.
#NetGalley #HQ #TheHouseOnOtleyRoad #RosaSilverman
Hoping for a great year Olivia is dismayed to find that on New Years Eve 1999 another student was murdered in her bedroom.
Told over the two time periods by the people involved, this is a slow build to the end.
It was a bit to slow for me, but I'm sure it will be a big hit.
#NetGalley #HQ #TheHouseOnOtleyRoad #RosaSilverman
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a fairly slow but well paced story, and I was quite hooked throughout. It had balanced past and present POVs, and I enjoyed the viewpoint from a journalist, which felt unusual in a good way. Unfortunately, I had worked out the twist from early on, however there were lots of little reveals that had me second guessing myself slightly. The ending could’ve been padded out a bit more. Overall a great read.
March 26, 2026
Wow for a debut novel this was amazing I was hooked from the very first page I loved a different timeline thriller and this was easy to follow, couldn’t put it down every spare minute I was reading eager to find how it ended this definitely didn’t disappoint and will definitely read more from this author
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very intriguing cold case book.
Journalist Kate Marsden digs into deaths in the same house 20 years apart.
Well paced, tense and well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review
Journalist Kate Marsden digs into deaths in the same house 20 years apart.
Well paced, tense and well written.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital copy, but I’m afraid this book was not for me. I didn’t find it interesting or exciting, and it seemed to be packed with lots of unnecessary information about all the many characters. Sorry!
March 15, 2026
Kate Marsden 20 years ago reported on a student murder 20 years later there is a another student murder in the same flat. Is there a connection?
Fast paced story, lots of characters however well written.
Fast paced story, lots of characters however well written.
June 26, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. Set in Leeds, 2 murders happen 20 years apart in the same house. A good murder mystery and one that kept me guessing right to the end. A great debut novel and will keep an eye out for the next one.
June 26, 2026
I enjoyed this debut thriller so much! The pacing was great, and loved the split narrative between 1999 and 2019. I did see the twist coming… sort of… but the writing was so good and I was so engaged, it really didn’t matter. 100% recommended, and looking forward to more from this writer!
July 4, 2026
Brilliant page-turner, well-developed characters including a pleasingly authentic journo - and a great reveal. Also loved the Leeds setting. Couldn't go to sleep until I had finished the last section. Bravo!
July 12, 2026
A gripping whodunnit that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I loved all the twists and turns, and although the culprit became fairly predictable towards the end, the conclusion was still satisfying and well worth the journey.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 rounded up
July 8, 2026
I always enjoy reading a book set in a familiar location as a reader and I spent many happy, summer evenings doing the Otley run in Leeds.
This debut thriller novel was well paced with distinct characters you either love or loathe, told over two time periods ten years apart, 1999 and 2019 in the same student flat in Leeds.
It's 2019 and Olivia Kavanagh is away from home for the first time and apprehensive at settling in and making friends in her student flat with the seemingly more popular girls, Millie, Abi and Bella. One night after a few drinks, Millie explains she heard gossip that a student, Emily Pierce had been found dead in their flat. Unnerved Olivia decides to try and discover more about what happened.
When another student is found murdered in similar circumstances, journalist Kate Marsden is sent to cover the story and Kate has her own interests in the story as she had reported on Emily’s murder twenty years earlier. As Kate starts digging into the murder and the past, interviewing previous housemates of both Emily and Olivia, secrets and lies start to become uncovered and someone doesn't want the truth to be told.
The sense of place in The House on Otley Road was strong, the realistic scenes of the students socialising and their budding relationships were very reminiscent of my student days.
The tension builds well through the story as you follow the dual timeline and learn more about the two university girls and the secrets they are keeping. There is one particularly suspenseful scene where you as a reader know more than Kate and you are screaming "no, don't do it" and you read with one eye closed to see what will play out.
A very readable crime thriller, yes I guessed the main twist, but that is probably because I read a lot of crime thrillers and it did not spoil the story for me, a great summer read.
This debut thriller novel was well paced with distinct characters you either love or loathe, told over two time periods ten years apart, 1999 and 2019 in the same student flat in Leeds.
It's 2019 and Olivia Kavanagh is away from home for the first time and apprehensive at settling in and making friends in her student flat with the seemingly more popular girls, Millie, Abi and Bella. One night after a few drinks, Millie explains she heard gossip that a student, Emily Pierce had been found dead in their flat. Unnerved Olivia decides to try and discover more about what happened.
When another student is found murdered in similar circumstances, journalist Kate Marsden is sent to cover the story and Kate has her own interests in the story as she had reported on Emily’s murder twenty years earlier. As Kate starts digging into the murder and the past, interviewing previous housemates of both Emily and Olivia, secrets and lies start to become uncovered and someone doesn't want the truth to be told.
The sense of place in The House on Otley Road was strong, the realistic scenes of the students socialising and their budding relationships were very reminiscent of my student days.
The tension builds well through the story as you follow the dual timeline and learn more about the two university girls and the secrets they are keeping. There is one particularly suspenseful scene where you as a reader know more than Kate and you are screaming "no, don't do it" and you read with one eye closed to see what will play out.
A very readable crime thriller, yes I guessed the main twist, but that is probably because I read a lot of crime thrillers and it did not spoil the story for me, a great summer read.
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