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The Strange Lives of Eleanor Teague: A totally unputdownable gothic psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Blimey, what a gripping and heart-racing read. The story is split into two halves, and honestly, both were as captivating as each other. What I loved about the first part was that you genuinely didn’t know where it was heading. Once you hit the midpoint, you get a glimpse of what’s happening, but certainly not the whole truth. Part two then delivers the rest with revelation after revelation. If your heart isn't thumping by the end like mine was, I’ll be judging you
Blimey, what a gripping and heart-racing read. The story is split into two halves, and honestly, both were as captivating as each other. What I loved about the first part was that you genuinely didn’t know where it was heading. Once you hit the midpoint, you get a glimpse of what’s happening, but certainly not the whole truth. Part two then delivers the rest with revelation after revelation. If your heart isn't thumping by the end like mine was, I’ll be judging you
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It’s 1986 and Eleanor Teague lives in a secluded manor house, far from the busy London society she is used to. Trapped within the confines of Haddon Hall due to crippling agoraphobia, plagued with nightmares of her daughters death and riddled with guilt over a terrible crime she committed, her only company is the houses servants and her husband Ezra, who on the surface is kind, patient and forgiving, but underneath it all is incredibly controlling. When a strange apparition starts appearing at her bedside and she starts to hear strange voices, Eleanor starts to think that the house is haunted and that the staff are lying to her about these occurrences. They on the other hand, fear that Eleanor is descending once more into the madness that led to her confinement at Haddon Hall.
This is absolutely one of the best books I’ve read this year. From start to finish it has you on the edge of your seat, heart racing and unwilling to stop reading. It is split into two parts and part one hooks you in and has you wondering exactly where things are heading, building up tension that has you questioning Eleanor’s reality alongside her. Then at the cusp of the second part you get a glimpse of the truth that the rest of the book goes on to fully explain with revelation after revelation that leaves your jaw on the floor, racing through to a conclusion that despite wrapping everything up nicely, does leave the very very end open to interpretation. I’m being deliberately vague so as not to spoil anything as I definitely think this is one you need to go into blind! One of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given
This is absolutely one of the best books I’ve read this year. From start to finish it has you on the edge of your seat, heart racing and unwilling to stop reading. It is split into two parts and part one hooks you in and has you wondering exactly where things are heading, building up tension that has you questioning Eleanor’s reality alongside her. Then at the cusp of the second part you get a glimpse of the truth that the rest of the book goes on to fully explain with revelation after revelation that leaves your jaw on the floor, racing through to a conclusion that despite wrapping everything up nicely, does leave the very very end open to interpretation. I’m being deliberately vague so as not to spoil anything as I definitely think this is one you need to go into blind! One of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given
March 4, 2026
Aghh I loved this! If The Yellow Wallpaper and Don’t Wake Up by Liz Lawler had a baby, it would feel a bit like this.
This book is a tale of two halves, which works brilliantly. The tone in the first half really sets up a strong gothic feel, that old Victorian house, the isolation from London society, and the creeping question of whether Eleanor is truly going mad. Or maybe you are?
From there it turns into this twisty, tense psychological thriller where the revelations just keep coming. I loved the author’s writing style and how the tension builds. There’s this constant play between safety and protection versus feeling trapped, which makes everything feel uneasy in the best way.
Both halves are gripping in their own way, and once you’re in it’s completely moreish. I kept telling myself just one more chapter... A really clever concept with twists that genuinely surprised me. I couldn’t get enough of it.
This book is a tale of two halves, which works brilliantly. The tone in the first half really sets up a strong gothic feel, that old Victorian house, the isolation from London society, and the creeping question of whether Eleanor is truly going mad. Or maybe you are?
From there it turns into this twisty, tense psychological thriller where the revelations just keep coming. I loved the author’s writing style and how the tension builds. There’s this constant play between safety and protection versus feeling trapped, which makes everything feel uneasy in the best way.
Both halves are gripping in their own way, and once you’re in it’s completely moreish. I kept telling myself just one more chapter... A really clever concept with twists that genuinely surprised me. I couldn’t get enough of it.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews