The Room Under the House

by Skye Arden

Some rooms should stay sealed.

Dr. Tessa Marlowe has spent her life trying to escape one truth: her father was a serial killer. Now someone is killing again.

A woman is found dead on an operating table. Tessa’s hospital badge opened the door. Her surgical knot sealed the body. And one hour of her life, 2:13 a.m., is missing.

She knows she didn’t do it. But the police have the evidence. The media has her name. And the hospital where she saves lives is ready to hand her over.

Then a message appears. I know what you did at 2:13 a.m.

As more bodies appear, Tessa realizes she isn’t just being framed. Someone is inside her life. Following her shifts. Using her past. Learning how to step into her skin.

And when she finds a sealed room beneath her childhood home, she realizes the murders are only the beginning.

Because the killer doesn’t just want her blamed. They want her life.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2026

Reviews

[Marietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and I found I could not put it down until I finished it. The main character is starting question her own mind as to what was going on. The first thing that goes wrong is one hour is missing from her memory and she can not find what she was doing at that time. There have been two women killed and it is starting to look like Dr. Tessa Marlowe is going to be charged with these murders if she can not figure out what is happening. She finds things have been moved just bit from where she put them and she thinks someone has been in here apartment but can not prove it. Thank goodness that detective Adrian Park does believe her and they start to do some investigation together as the DA & the police chief want this case close before it goes much further. I could she how Tessa would start to doubt her own mind as she as seems video with her in them even though she knows that it isn’t her. If you enjoy a lot of action and tension this a great book to read. I look forward to next book to see what Ivy does with those characters.

[Sally Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of psychological thrillers, and this one genuinely stood out. The Room Under The House hooked me early and kept that uneasy feeling going the whole way through. The tension felt real, the atmosphere was creepy without overdoing it, and there was always that sense that something was badly wrong just under the surface.

What I liked most was that it didn’t rely on cheap twists. The story kept building in a way that felt controlled and smart, and when things started to come together, it really paid off. It was tense, unsettling, and very easy to keep turning pages.

If you like dark, claustrophobic thrillers with a strong sense of dread, this is well worth reading. Definitely a 5-star read for me.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. If I could give fraction stars on here this would probably rate 3.75. The main female character, Tessa, was cold which, I believe, was by design so you almost didn’t care what happened to her and I have to admit I was really rooting for her to be the killer the whole time. This book had few surprises and little character development. I didn’t really understand Tessa’s relationship with the detective. Also her colleagues, except for Dana, seemed to care little for her. I liked the author’s writing so I would be willing to try another book by this author. This was a short read and I was able to read it quickly but I hope to say in the future that it just wasn’t my favorite of this author’s.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Room Under The House: A psychological thriller, my sixth read from author Skye Arden. I enjoyed the 265-page conspiracy thriller story-line about a surgeon consultant at a hospital. I was given a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Owning 6 other books by her, I'm going back to the first books I got from her and look forward to reading more from this author with The Substitute & Insomnia already high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Valorie J. Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller was well written! Tessa is fighting to clear her name and only has one person on her side Det. Adrian. Can she clear her name ?! Is it her that's doing it? With the Marlowe name everyone is jumping to conclusions!
This story grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down until I finished! Tessa comes off cold as does Detective Adrian but is he?! Or is he trying to help?
Grab this book to find out!
I received a ARC copy of this book. I am voluntarily giving my honest review of this book.

[Bren]

Imagine your father's in prison cause he's a serial killer and you become a Doctor to escape the stigma of your father's doings and now Dr. Tessa Marlowe has an hour missing from her memory and crimes are being committed and the finger points at her. 1st and foremost this book is chilling and has totally unexpected twists that keeps your mind trying to process the clues around you and 2nd I like the fact you don't find out the complete story till the end.

[Jacquetta Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sit on the edge of your seat, try to be the Detective, figure out the clues...Are there clues? Tessa's father in prison as a serial killer. Suddenly all the clues point to her, the Kline suture knot, more clues appear as more murders happen. Then comes the moment she finds a room under the house in her childhood home, what did she find and does it point to her or to the real killer?
Wonderful story by Author Skye Arden.

[Annemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How frightening would that be to have someone take over your life in such a manner? So easy for people to say that she was just like her father. It took a lot of strength for Tessa to do the things she did to try and prove her innocence. Luckily for her, she had someone who believed in her innocence too.

I received a free Advance Reader Copy of this book through BookFunnel, and have chosen to leave a review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Marlowe, the daughter of a imprisoned serial killer, is being set up to look like she's following in her father's footsteps. Somebody is impersonating her, using her pass to access the hospital, framing her for killings that have happened, and testing her ability to judge what is real. There is a surprise ending to this story, although there are clues along the way.
I was hooked from the first paragraph and couldn't put it down until the conclusion!

[Amy Marnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a 3.5 for me but I rounded up. The story idea was good, but some parts were a bit confusing. I was lucky enough to get an ARC, but was more than half way through when I received a revised version. I did not go back to the beginning and just picked up where I was in the new version. Maybe if I had gone back and restarted I would have been a solid 4.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story that started intense and got better as you went through the book. Knowing Tessa's Father is a serial killer and that she is being set up to take that fall for a murder that action is powerful. This was an exciting book that you will not be able to put down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amberly Depue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this books was so mind boggling and kind of scary at the same time because this could happen in real life!

The twists and turns that this book takes you on, you start to think you might be going crazy!

This is a definite must read if you love a thrilling, mind boggling story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really good book I enjoyed reading it.

Dr Tessa father is in a jail as an accused serial killer. There is another death and it looks like Dr Tessa has been accessing things she shouldn't with her hospital badge. Is she just like her father or does someone want you to think that.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Princesspint · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a total page-turner! From the very beginning, the mystery of the missing hour at 2:13 a.m. hooked me, and I found myself flying through the chapters to find out the truth.
I felt so bad for Tessa throughout the story. It was heartbreaking to watch her get framed for such a gruesome crime, especially since she uses her surgical skills to save lives. Knowing her father’s dark history made the situation feel even more unfair and tense.
While the plot was exciting, it didn't quite give me the chills. Even with the "sealed room" and the creepy premise, I found it to be more of an intriguing mystery than a scary horror story.
Overall, it’s a great read if you want a fast-paced puzzle. I’d give it a solid rating for how much it kept me guessing until the very end!

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller provided an exceptionally engaging experience. The suspense surrounding the stalker's identity and the narrative's progression to its conclusion were captivating. I found this book to be a compelling read. Skye Arden consistently delivers outstanding thrillers, and this particular work fully met my expectations.

[B E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her father was a serial killer and the killings have started again. She is missing time from her life . The killer wants them to blame her and leaves incriminating evidence leading to her. They have infiltrated her life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marisa 🌻 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author uses way too many metaphors as a way to increase the effectiveness of the story, but it had the opposite effect on me. This book felt like a bunch of little ideas strung together to create a bigger story. It was hard to follow, lacked explanation, and didn’t have any wow factor or reasoning behind what happens in the end. Overall, wouldn’t waste my time on this one!

[Suzan Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would it feel to have a serial killer for a father! Then for clues to start piling up to make it look like you might be following in his footsteps. Tessa is a respected surgeon and her life is being ruined by someone! Great read!

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surgeon that had a father that was a serial killer. Now someone is killing and making it look like Dr Tessa Marlowe is doing it. Tessa works to clear her name, but is doubting herself. This is a page turning thriller.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I found this to be a story that quickly pulled me in and I found this to be a fast read. I will be watching for more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel as an ARC and this is my review. A hospital is losing patients, A doctor is alarmed and sets out to find where they have gone. The higher ups try to dissuade her. A fast-paced story with great character development and an interesting storyline.

[Candy Turk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read, though it didn’t quite deliver any big surprises for me. While I still enjoyed the story overall, it lacked that standout “wow” moment I was hoping for. Not my favorite from this author, but still a decent read.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

As psychological thrillers go, this one isn’t the best I’ve read. I liked Tessa, the main character, but I felt the storyline dragged a bit in places. It is still worth your time to read but this author has better stuff.

[Mitsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Detailed. Frightening. Story that should be a movie and a warning.

[Cddk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read but leaves gaps

Good psychological thriller but leaves the "why" a little vague. At least that's how it was for me. Maybe I missed something.

[Sandi Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Twists and turns. Would recommend. Received this as an ARC.