What do you think?
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 49 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.
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.
September 6, 2026
3🌟 This was a fun one to read, especially seeing places I actually know pop up throughout the story and even getting a little name check for my own village! I was gripped from the start and ended up finishing it in a day because it flowed so well. The different POVs and timelines worked really well too and kept the story feeling fresh
July 25, 2026
Great page turner and liked the journalistic angle!
July 9, 2026
Loved it. Brilliant, page turning thriller. Wished I’d been by a pool reading it instead of sweating in suburbia.
July 25, 2026
A really gripping crime thriller, neatly intertwining two murders in the same student house twenty years apart and the journalist trying to understand the connection. The only downside was the denouement, which took a huge turn for the implausible but, with the exception of the last couple of chapters, this was an excellent read.
July 14, 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.
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
August 26, 2026
This is another great debut for 2026 and an author I'll likely follow.
This is the story of two murders, twenty years apart. In 1999, Emily Pierce is at Leeds Uni, having the time of her life, until New Year's Eve when she is killed in her student house.
In 2019, Olivia has just moved into her student accommodation with her friends and finds out she resides in the room where Emily was previously murdered.
This story upholds a strong mystery and trickle-feeds you information about the cold murder case but focuses on the present time. It's atmospheric and provides you with some unsettling feelings.
With a dual timeline, the story works seamlessly, weaving between 1999 and 2019, blending the story together and drip-feeding you information at just the right points.
The story is drama-fueled and comes with a multi-POV narration. The characters slowly become unreliable, which encourages you into a "whodunit" turmoil.
The young characters came across as a bit naive and petulant at times. It matched the theme of university students but perhaps didn't represent them in the best light. However they were captivating.
Kate Marsden, the journalist, was a great addition to the story and stood out to me. She was the original journalist who reported Emily's death twenty years ago. Kate was convinced that the police had prematurely passed off Emily's murder as a burglary gone wrong, and even more so after the murder of another girl in the same circumstance just 20 years on. Kate becomes obsessed with finding out the truth and determined to find the killer.
If you're after a slow-burn mystery, focusing on two observational murder cases, with depth and unpredictable twists, then I'd say this one is for you.
This is the story of two murders, twenty years apart. In 1999, Emily Pierce is at Leeds Uni, having the time of her life, until New Year's Eve when she is killed in her student house.
In 2019, Olivia has just moved into her student accommodation with her friends and finds out she resides in the room where Emily was previously murdered.
This story upholds a strong mystery and trickle-feeds you information about the cold murder case but focuses on the present time. It's atmospheric and provides you with some unsettling feelings.
With a dual timeline, the story works seamlessly, weaving between 1999 and 2019, blending the story together and drip-feeding you information at just the right points.
The story is drama-fueled and comes with a multi-POV narration. The characters slowly become unreliable, which encourages you into a "whodunit" turmoil.
The young characters came across as a bit naive and petulant at times. It matched the theme of university students but perhaps didn't represent them in the best light. However they were captivating.
Kate Marsden, the journalist, was a great addition to the story and stood out to me. She was the original journalist who reported Emily's death twenty years ago. Kate was convinced that the police had prematurely passed off Emily's murder as a burglary gone wrong, and even more so after the murder of another girl in the same circumstance just 20 years on. Kate becomes obsessed with finding out the truth and determined to find the killer.
If you're after a slow-burn mystery, focusing on two observational murder cases, with depth and unpredictable twists, then I'd say this one is for you.
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.
September 22, 2026
This was a fun, gripping read that had me hooked with the premise. I was quite surprised to see this was a debut.
Told in multiple POV & timelines, the story follows the events of 2 murders in the exact same house, 20 years apart. In 1999, Leeds student Emily is having the time of her life studying hard, a blossoming romance and friendship forming strongly, until she is murdered in her student house on New Years Eve. Fast forward to 2019, Olivia has just moved into the same room Emily was murdered. Desperate to gain momentum in her own friendship, Olivia decides to uncover what really happened on that fateful night.
The timeline and POV switches worked really well here. There's a strong mystery at the heart, except the events of the murder isn't really the centre focus here, feeling a bit like background noise to the characters personal relationships and drama's. This worked well to drip feed clues along the way but i found it gave a more slow-burn effect than i hoped for. The characters are engaging and likeable (well most were) yet totally unreliable, leading to many raising suspicions along the way. Journalist Kate was quite an interesting addition, but I dont think she, or the story, needed the epilogue. I didn't feel it added anything to the conclusion at all. The setting in Leeds was enjoyable to read and I really liked the uncomfortable atmosphere that the writing style provided.
Overall, it was a decent debut that keeps you guessing until the end and wraps up nicely. I will probably read more from this author.
Told in multiple POV & timelines, the story follows the events of 2 murders in the exact same house, 20 years apart. In 1999, Leeds student Emily is having the time of her life studying hard, a blossoming romance and friendship forming strongly, until she is murdered in her student house on New Years Eve. Fast forward to 2019, Olivia has just moved into the same room Emily was murdered. Desperate to gain momentum in her own friendship, Olivia decides to uncover what really happened on that fateful night.
The timeline and POV switches worked really well here. There's a strong mystery at the heart, except the events of the murder isn't really the centre focus here, feeling a bit like background noise to the characters personal relationships and drama's. This worked well to drip feed clues along the way but i found it gave a more slow-burn effect than i hoped for. The characters are engaging and likeable (well most were) yet totally unreliable, leading to many raising suspicions along the way. Journalist Kate was quite an interesting addition, but I dont think she, or the story, needed the epilogue. I didn't feel it added anything to the conclusion at all. The setting in Leeds was enjoyable to read and I really liked the uncomfortable atmosphere that the writing style provided.
Overall, it was a decent debut that keeps you guessing until the end and wraps up nicely. I will probably read more from this author.
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.
August 1, 2026
The House on Otley Road
By Rosa Silverman
4 Stars
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…
This is a great read. It's pacy with some twists and turns along the way. Well written and an interesting read for me as I grew up in Leeds and know Otley Road well. Bonsi
By Rosa Silverman
4 Stars
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…
This is a great read. It's pacy with some twists and turns along the way. Well written and an interesting read for me as I grew up in Leeds and know Otley Road well. Bonsi
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.
August 22, 2026
Not a bad read, though I found that it dragged in places. As I studied in Leeds, a lot of the places were familiar to me and the book certainly gave a good impression of student life there. I did like the twistiness of the plot and did not really predict the ending. The multiple timelines and points of view were fine and I liked Kate, the reporter who was around in both of the time periods. For a first published author, it was certainly a great read and I look forward to reading more, hopefully with Kate . As I said previously, some of the book was too slow moving and perhaps repetitive and did not add much to the plot overall, though perhaps some of the scenes with Aidan confused the reader about the possible suspect.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from this author
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC, I look forward to reading more from this author
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.
July 23, 2026
Enjoyed it because it featured local places (although some mentioned weren't there till after 2019 -like the wetherspoons - so timeline wise was not totally correct), but found the movement between the stories confusing at times with the introduction of a lot of characters quite quickly.
Once it got going I enjoyed it and thought the Audio narration was great.
Guessed the ending at 85% the way through so I didn't crack it for a long time which was good.
Nice read but nothing too stand out for me.
Once it got going I enjoyed it and thought the Audio narration was great.
Guessed the ending at 85% the way through so I didn't crack it for a long time which was good.
Nice read but nothing too stand out for me.
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 25, 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
August 20, 2026
Ultimately slightly unsatisfactory.
Perfectly serviceable murder mystery on one level and I did like the first half, but I spotted the potential ending far too early. Now I am famously bad at this. I get real value for money from films with a sudden twist, and am the chump sitting with their jaw dropped because I NEVER see it coming. So if I was able to work this out....it's just not right.
Perfectly serviceable murder mystery on one level and I did like the first half, but I spotted the potential ending far too early. Now I am famously bad at this. I get real value for money from films with a sudden twist, and am the chump sitting with their jaw dropped because I NEVER see it coming. So if I was able to work this out....it's just not right.
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