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The House Sitter
How much should you entrust to your house sitter? Your dog? Your clothes and jewellery? Your husband?
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
The House Sitter is multi-published author Jill Barry’s first venture into fiction’s dark side, although she admits the novel includes a romantic frisson. But it is Ruth’s creepy, manipulative intrusion into her friends’ lives driving the story towards its near-fatal conclusion.
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
The House Sitter is multi-published author Jill Barry’s first venture into fiction’s dark side, although she admits the novel includes a romantic frisson. But it is Ruth’s creepy, manipulative intrusion into her friends’ lives driving the story towards its near-fatal conclusion.
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First published July 20, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 30, 2016
I received a copy of The House Sitter by Jill Barry through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Cat Publishers and to Jill Barry for the opportunity.
A dead mouse can leave giant footprints........more on that later.
Eddie and Suzanne Deacon own a lovely country home on the outskirts of town in mid Wales. They wish to put the house on the market and move closer to their daughter and her family. They are an older couple and the demands of the house can be quite taxing at their age.
Sounds like a good plan, right? Not if you have the likes of Ruth Morgan living down the road. Ruth is the shadow behind you that never seems to leave the corner of your eye. She's taken with the Deacons and makes every excuse to be within the walls of their home on a daily basis. A rattle of a teacup and Ruth is already seated at the kitchen table.
Upon hearing the news that the Deacons will be moving, Ruth devises a plan to sabotage their efforts. Eddie and Suzanne hire Bethan Harley as their realtor. Oh, and Ruth won't be settling for any of that. Footprints will be left. Ruth and the dead mouse will see to that.
Jill Barry begins her story with the eerie touch that one would expect. The storyline moves along nicely and you get a good creep going on because of Ruth. However, the ending was like skidding flat out into one of those walls in the Deacons' diningroom. Boom! It was over, folded into an envelope, and tossed into the mailbox. This story had the potential to be ripe for a electric twist at the end. Never happened. The edgy cover promised something that it never quite delivered. I wanted so much more, Ms. Barry. I wanted so much more......
A dead mouse can leave giant footprints........more on that later.
Eddie and Suzanne Deacon own a lovely country home on the outskirts of town in mid Wales. They wish to put the house on the market and move closer to their daughter and her family. They are an older couple and the demands of the house can be quite taxing at their age.
Sounds like a good plan, right? Not if you have the likes of Ruth Morgan living down the road. Ruth is the shadow behind you that never seems to leave the corner of your eye. She's taken with the Deacons and makes every excuse to be within the walls of their home on a daily basis. A rattle of a teacup and Ruth is already seated at the kitchen table.
Upon hearing the news that the Deacons will be moving, Ruth devises a plan to sabotage their efforts. Eddie and Suzanne hire Bethan Harley as their realtor. Oh, and Ruth won't be settling for any of that. Footprints will be left. Ruth and the dead mouse will see to that.
Jill Barry begins her story with the eerie touch that one would expect. The storyline moves along nicely and you get a good creep going on because of Ruth. However, the ending was like skidding flat out into one of those walls in the Deacons' diningroom. Boom! It was over, folded into an envelope, and tossed into the mailbox. This story had the potential to be ripe for a electric twist at the end. Never happened. The edgy cover promised something that it never quite delivered. I wanted so much more, Ms. Barry. I wanted so much more......
December 9, 2016
3.5 stars for Jill Barry's The House Sitter.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" - William Shakespeare.
"Hast thou forgot me then; and do I seem now in thine eyes so foul?"
Milton - Paradise Lost
Ruth is angry. She has taken these people under her wing and cared for them, and now they are about to cast her aside. Well, not if she can help it. Ruth is quite sure she can scupper their plans and keep Suzanne and Eddie where they belong.
And no-one will stop her, not that persistent real estate agent Bethan; not any of the prospective buyers. She will see them all off and set her little world back to rights. And Suzanne and Eddie WILL be grateful.
I enjoyed this tale almost right to the end, which I felt was an anti-climax and let the whole book down. While it was not a suspenseful read, because it is partly told from Ruth's POV, and partly from Bethan's, it was interesting and had enough happening to keep me reading purely to see how evil Ruth would turn out to be.
But as I said previously, it was all a bit anti-climatic. A pity.
The other thing that I also believe let the book down was the very predictable romantic interest between Ray and Bethan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Cat Publishing, Black Line Edition for providing a digital ARC for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" - William Shakespeare.
"Hast thou forgot me then; and do I seem now in thine eyes so foul?"
Milton - Paradise Lost
Ruth is angry. She has taken these people under her wing and cared for them, and now they are about to cast her aside. Well, not if she can help it. Ruth is quite sure she can scupper their plans and keep Suzanne and Eddie where they belong.
And no-one will stop her, not that persistent real estate agent Bethan; not any of the prospective buyers. She will see them all off and set her little world back to rights. And Suzanne and Eddie WILL be grateful.
I enjoyed this tale almost right to the end, which I felt was an anti-climax and let the whole book down. While it was not a suspenseful read, because it is partly told from Ruth's POV, and partly from Bethan's, it was interesting and had enough happening to keep me reading purely to see how evil Ruth would turn out to be.
But as I said previously, it was all a bit anti-climatic. A pity.
The other thing that I also believe let the book down was the very predictable romantic interest between Ray and Bethan.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Cat Publishing, Black Line Edition for providing a digital ARC for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
December 31, 2019
Eddie and Suzanne Deacon have decided to put their house on the market, they are finding the weather in Wales harsh and want to move closer to their grandchildren.
Neighbour and friend Ruth Morgan is at first shocked and then annoyed at the news that they are moving away, she was hoping to move in with them and be their housekeeper/companion in a few years time.
Ruth has been a good friend, house sitting and looking after their dog when the Deacons go on holiday. Ruth is adamant she won’t lose her friends and will do anything to stop them selling their house.
Ruth is a great character coming up with cunning plans from telling prospective buyers the house is haunted, to getting a farmer to block their drive knowing a prospective buyer is coming around, her deviousness knows no bounds!!!
An easy to read book which will make you look at you’re neighbours in a new light. I’m glad Ruth isn’t our neighbour!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Neighbour and friend Ruth Morgan is at first shocked and then annoyed at the news that they are moving away, she was hoping to move in with them and be their housekeeper/companion in a few years time.
Ruth has been a good friend, house sitting and looking after their dog when the Deacons go on holiday. Ruth is adamant she won’t lose her friends and will do anything to stop them selling their house.
Ruth is a great character coming up with cunning plans from telling prospective buyers the house is haunted, to getting a farmer to block their drive knowing a prospective buyer is coming around, her deviousness knows no bounds!!!
An easy to read book which will make you look at you’re neighbours in a new light. I’m glad Ruth isn’t our neighbour!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
October 29, 2016
This book was really very so-so. I kept expecting it to get better, pick up pace, throw in some fantastic twists but sadly it just meandered along without a great deal of oomph behind it. The plot sounds great right? I was super eager to read this book and at first was enjoying it but it wasn't long before I began to feel that the plot was very unrealistic, almost laughably so at times and the eye-rolling began.
We have one couple that own a lovely big house in Wales. Nearby lives a "caring" neighbour who often house and dog sits and helps the family out. She is unstable but sadly not unstable nor dark enough a character to really make the plot go where it needed to. She is all messed up an entangled with this couple and does not want them to sell up and move back to England. So her games begin...but she is so darn predictable and a bit pathetic really.
The problem with this book is it just doesn't have that dark edge that you would expect. It is highly predictable and a lot of chapters really go on and don't cover a lot really at all. It's not a terrible read by any means but below par in comparison to other books I have read in this style and genre. It could have been really, really spectacular. There are just too many moments that border on cosy mystery and very unrealistic situations and scenarios. It's hard to really engage and believe the book.
I stuck with it all the way to the end really hoping for a sharp increase in action or some fantastic twist to find the ending to be so watery and weak that I asked myself why it had to be that way. So many great scenarios could have ended this book on a real high note with a shocking twist or two but it was just...meh. I contemplated 2 stars for this one but it was okay and I didn't give up on it, mediocre, lacking finesse, weaknesses in the plot and not enough grit and dark moments to have this book take flight. Take this one or leave it is my recommendation.
I received this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
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We have one couple that own a lovely big house in Wales. Nearby lives a "caring" neighbour who often house and dog sits and helps the family out. She is unstable but sadly not unstable nor dark enough a character to really make the plot go where it needed to. She is all messed up an entangled with this couple and does not want them to sell up and move back to England. So her games begin...but she is so darn predictable and a bit pathetic really.
The problem with this book is it just doesn't have that dark edge that you would expect. It is highly predictable and a lot of chapters really go on and don't cover a lot really at all. It's not a terrible read by any means but below par in comparison to other books I have read in this style and genre. It could have been really, really spectacular. There are just too many moments that border on cosy mystery and very unrealistic situations and scenarios. It's hard to really engage and believe the book.
I stuck with it all the way to the end really hoping for a sharp increase in action or some fantastic twist to find the ending to be so watery and weak that I asked myself why it had to be that way. So many great scenarios could have ended this book on a real high note with a shocking twist or two but it was just...meh. I contemplated 2 stars for this one but it was okay and I didn't give up on it, mediocre, lacking finesse, weaknesses in the plot and not enough grit and dark moments to have this book take flight. Take this one or leave it is my recommendation.
I received this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
October 11, 2016
This book was a creepy yet fun read that shows what happens when friendship and obsession go too far... The cover however is creepier than the story, which was a bit upsetting.
Ruth is Suzanne and Eddie’s neighbor, friend and house sitter. When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving the unstable Ruth in charge.
It was a suspenseful read without the whole whodunit mystery, which was refreshing as that is all I have been reading lately lol.
The growing relationship between estate agent and a prospective purchaser kind of put me off, whilst I enjoyed it and it added to the storyline, I believe it could have been portrayed better.
Also that ending… what was that?! This book makes me want to give out half stars. Instead it lost a star for what could have been an amazing end to the book but ended up being just an abrupt halt to the story and nearly ruining it all for me. *Whew, I’m out of breath* But seriously, that ending killed the story.
Likes:
In a time of psychological thrillers where you are always guessing who the bad guy is, this book stands apart. The ‘bad guy’ is known from the start. We get to see the reasoning and motive behind the actions and get to watch it all unfold.
Knowing who the bad guy is, doesn’t lessen the suspense in this book. I was still left on the edge of my seat wondering if they would ever realise that it was Ruth sabotaging them or if she was going to get away with it all.
Whilst I enjoyed the side relationship between estate agent and a prospective purchaser and I thought it added to the story, I believe that the developing relationship was in bad faith to other character and could have been portrayed differently. Nothing really happened between them, but I feel as though the relationship went beyond that of a professional or general friendship and although we barely met estate agent's husband, but I felt sorry for the guy. I mean he showed up to save the day and his girl only to meet her new eye candy. Don't try to hide it or anything guys!!
I loved Ruth; she is a nasty, unstable and manipulative woman. This made guessing her next move rather enjoyable, but at the same time kept me hoping that Suzanne and Eddie would catch on.
Dislikes:
I feel like the subject of cheating is broached a lot in this book. It's suggested throughout that Eddie has cheated on Suzanne, but she’s okay with it so its all good guys.*shakes head* It is never okay! Cheating should never be condoned!
All the characters are in on it. The estate agent and a prospective purchaser are falling hopelessly in love and can’t keep their eyes or hands off each other.*vomit* The prospective purchaser's girlfriend, a singer on a cruise ship, met another man on the ship and apparently has been seeing him. The estate agent's husband slept with another woman once and it was a mistake and will never happen again. Why are you still married to him?
I feel like something really bad has happened in all of the authors relationships.
Rant over, moving on...
THAT ENDING!
That wasn’t even an ending. It was like Jill got to a point in the book and was like, “Yeah, that’s good enough.” Well its not! I would have loved to have heard what happened to everyone after that night. Or there could have been a crazy twist such as Ruth’s love interest was helping her all long. Anything would have been better!
The ending, whilst was clean, really just didn’t feel final or well executed. It left a lot just balancing out there unfinished.
Okay so there were the bad bits, cheating spouses and that ending. But overall it was an enjoyable read. I was able to overlook all the adultery when reading the book as I really wanted to know what had happened!
It was a well written story that kept your attention throughout. Jill has really managed to flesh out the characters, they all have their bad points, but they also have some redeeming qualities.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2016
Originally reviewed on Becca's Books.
When I spotted Jill Barry's The House Sitter available to request on NetGalley, it caught my imagination immediately. The cover looked incredibly sinister and once I'd read the blurb I certainly felt that this was a book I wanted to add to my to-read pile. I've not read a single previous book by author Jill Barry before this point, but I couldn't wait to get started. I was curious as to what exactly would be taking place between the pages of this book and knew that Ruth sounded like the sort of character I really wanted to meet.
In The House Sitter by Jill Barry, readers are introduced to Suzanne and Eddie. Desperate to be closer to their family and worried about the bitter cold that the Welsh winter brought with it each year, selling their home The Sugar House and finding somewhere more comfortable was definitely on the cards. That is, of course, until Ruth, their long-time friend and house sitter, stumbles upon the 'for sale' sign after being summoned to the house for the news to be broken and really doesn't know quite how to take the shocking news.
It was evident from pretty early on in this book that there was something not quite right with dear Ruth Morgan. From the moment the selling of the house is mentioned, this novel begins its slippery downward spiral into hysteria and desperation, and the author really allows the true nature and intent of Ruth Morgan to shine through. I read about Ruth with a strange sort of prickling of my skin because there was something so 'off' with her, but it was one of those things that you're never able to quite put your finger on in order to understand what it is that is making you feel so unsettled. I read and watched Ruth incredibly keenly within this book, desperately trying to figure out what was going on in that mind of hers. She appeared incredibly vindictive and spiteful, and rather menacing too. Having said all of this, and having portrayed Ruth as this evil being, I still found her to be utterly compelling in how she presented herself not only to Suzanne and Eddie her close friends, but to the other characters who enter this novel too. It was, in a strange sort of way, fascinating.
It's not only Ruth Morgan who we meet in this book though. Suzanne and Eddie as characters were well-rounded and I thoroughly enjoyed following along on their journey of the sale of their home. Barry's descriptions of The Sugar House and the location of Wales itself for that matter were vivid and real, taking me right there to the action. It felt rugged and windswept and hit the nail right on the end in creating a tight and menacing atmosphere for this story to unravel within. As the sale of their home progressed, I read in shock as a collection of nasty events took place in order to halt any prospective buyers from moving forward. It was clever and spiteful and I wasn't quite sure of what to believe at some points, due to the madness of what was happening. While Suzanne and Eddie head off to view homes to perhaps consider moving into in the future, Ruth Morgan takes over the running of The Sugar House and things really begin to take a turn for the worst. When estate agent Bethan and prospective buyer Ray step onto the scene, the pace really bounces up a peg or two and I was excited to see how Ruth and these newcomers would collide. It seemed Ruth Morgan was intent on getting what she wanted, and she refused to let anyone stand in her way, no matter what the cost.
Overall, The House Sitter by Jill Barry was a tense and chilling read, urging readers to question the motives behind everyone and everything. There's a consequence for every action we choose to make in life, it all depends on which choice we make and how hungry we are for results. Ruth Morgan is definitely a character who'll stay with me for a long time to come. I only wish that the ending of this novel had come about later, for I felt it arrived a little too abruptly for me. Besides that, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a spine-chilling read with an undercurrent of mystery and deceit.
Becca's Books is awarding The House Sitter by Jill Barry with four of my bookish cupcakes. Special thanks to Crooked Cat Publishing and Jill Barry for providing me with a review copy of The House Sitter in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When I spotted Jill Barry's The House Sitter available to request on NetGalley, it caught my imagination immediately. The cover looked incredibly sinister and once I'd read the blurb I certainly felt that this was a book I wanted to add to my to-read pile. I've not read a single previous book by author Jill Barry before this point, but I couldn't wait to get started. I was curious as to what exactly would be taking place between the pages of this book and knew that Ruth sounded like the sort of character I really wanted to meet.
In The House Sitter by Jill Barry, readers are introduced to Suzanne and Eddie. Desperate to be closer to their family and worried about the bitter cold that the Welsh winter brought with it each year, selling their home The Sugar House and finding somewhere more comfortable was definitely on the cards. That is, of course, until Ruth, their long-time friend and house sitter, stumbles upon the 'for sale' sign after being summoned to the house for the news to be broken and really doesn't know quite how to take the shocking news.
It was evident from pretty early on in this book that there was something not quite right with dear Ruth Morgan. From the moment the selling of the house is mentioned, this novel begins its slippery downward spiral into hysteria and desperation, and the author really allows the true nature and intent of Ruth Morgan to shine through. I read about Ruth with a strange sort of prickling of my skin because there was something so 'off' with her, but it was one of those things that you're never able to quite put your finger on in order to understand what it is that is making you feel so unsettled. I read and watched Ruth incredibly keenly within this book, desperately trying to figure out what was going on in that mind of hers. She appeared incredibly vindictive and spiteful, and rather menacing too. Having said all of this, and having portrayed Ruth as this evil being, I still found her to be utterly compelling in how she presented herself not only to Suzanne and Eddie her close friends, but to the other characters who enter this novel too. It was, in a strange sort of way, fascinating.
It's not only Ruth Morgan who we meet in this book though. Suzanne and Eddie as characters were well-rounded and I thoroughly enjoyed following along on their journey of the sale of their home. Barry's descriptions of The Sugar House and the location of Wales itself for that matter were vivid and real, taking me right there to the action. It felt rugged and windswept and hit the nail right on the end in creating a tight and menacing atmosphere for this story to unravel within. As the sale of their home progressed, I read in shock as a collection of nasty events took place in order to halt any prospective buyers from moving forward. It was clever and spiteful and I wasn't quite sure of what to believe at some points, due to the madness of what was happening. While Suzanne and Eddie head off to view homes to perhaps consider moving into in the future, Ruth Morgan takes over the running of The Sugar House and things really begin to take a turn for the worst. When estate agent Bethan and prospective buyer Ray step onto the scene, the pace really bounces up a peg or two and I was excited to see how Ruth and these newcomers would collide. It seemed Ruth Morgan was intent on getting what she wanted, and she refused to let anyone stand in her way, no matter what the cost.
Overall, The House Sitter by Jill Barry was a tense and chilling read, urging readers to question the motives behind everyone and everything. There's a consequence for every action we choose to make in life, it all depends on which choice we make and how hungry we are for results. Ruth Morgan is definitely a character who'll stay with me for a long time to come. I only wish that the ending of this novel had come about later, for I felt it arrived a little too abruptly for me. Besides that, I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a spine-chilling read with an undercurrent of mystery and deceit.
Becca's Books is awarding The House Sitter by Jill Barry with four of my bookish cupcakes. Special thanks to Crooked Cat Publishing and Jill Barry for providing me with a review copy of The House Sitter in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 26, 2016
I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
I requested this book based only on the title and bookcover. I thought it would be a ghost story. I was completely wrong and pleasantly surprised. This is a fast paced psychological thriller.
I was taken in during the first chapter and had a roller coaster ride through the whole book. This was very different from thrillers I usually read. There weren't any murders but a very shady woman trying to prevent the sale of her neighbors house. The woman will stop at almost nothing.
I recommend this book if you are interested in something different than the usual murder thrillers.
I requested this book based only on the title and bookcover. I thought it would be a ghost story. I was completely wrong and pleasantly surprised. This is a fast paced psychological thriller.
I was taken in during the first chapter and had a roller coaster ride through the whole book. This was very different from thrillers I usually read. There weren't any murders but a very shady woman trying to prevent the sale of her neighbors house. The woman will stop at almost nothing.
I recommend this book if you are interested in something different than the usual murder thrillers.
October 20, 2017
Suzanne and Eddie Deacon aren't getting any younger. They have been very content in "The Sugar House", their comfortable, renovated house in mid Wales. However, they have decided that the time to downsize, and move on, has come. They find that winters in their remote home are long, and they miss their children and grandchildren. They make the decision to move back to England to be closer to their family.
"Somehow, they must be made to pay.
This was her future they were tossing out like a bundle of rags."
Ruth, their neighbour, is distraught at their decision to relocate. She is quite close to the couple and occasionally house-sits and dog sits for them when they travel. She had assumed that they would come to depend on her more and more as the years passed. Being fifteen years their junior, she wanted to act as their caretaker and move in to the Sugar House. A house she covets. Shortly after she learns of their decision to move, she hatches several devious plans to thwart the sale of house, thus making their move impossible. For instance, she enlists the help of a neighbouring farmer to block the driveway so that prospective buyers cannot enter the lane. At first we think it is just a lonely woman resorting to drastic measures to ensure company and a way to be needed. Then, we learn that she has history of such behavior and that she once went by a different name... She is clearly unstable - but to what lengths will she go?
"The more she contemplated Suzanne and Eddie's casual disregard of her feelings, the fiercer her indignation stung."
The story moves forward, with an increasing sense of menace, when Ruth is entrusted to look after the Sugar House when Suzanne and Eddie go away. Ruth's character seems more and more creepy as she dons disguises and different personas to manipulate events to her own agenda.
Meanwhile, Bethan Harley, the estate agent, wonders what, or who, is behind the events that are sabotaging the sale of The Sugar House. It is a gem of a property and is generating a lot of interest. Every time she schedules a viewing by prospective buyers - something goes awry. One interested party, Ray Kirby, is undaunted by the odd events that seem to be plaguing Bethan. Eventually an unlikely romance blossoms between Bethan and Ray as together they try to discover who is behind the sabotage and prevent the cunning, guilty party from proceeding further.
"Luxury. Security. Companionship. Control.
All these things were seductive. Addictive."
Ruth continues with her cunning plans. She is revealed to be a very lonely and delusional woman. Orphaned at a young age, and without any support system, she has built herself a fantasy world. Even though we begin to understand Ruth - she remains an unsympathetic character.
I found the cover of this novel to be very misleading. It makes you think it might be a ghost story or have other paranormal features. Nothing could be further from the truth. This novel was part 'cozy' mystery, part chaste romantic suspense. It was a 'light' enjoyable read. The premise held a lot of promise, but the weak ending let down the rest of the book. All in all, not great, but an okay read...
I gratefully received a digital copy of this novel from Crooked Cat Publishers via NetGalley. I was only too happy to provide this honest review.
"Somehow, they must be made to pay.
This was her future they were tossing out like a bundle of rags."
Ruth, their neighbour, is distraught at their decision to relocate. She is quite close to the couple and occasionally house-sits and dog sits for them when they travel. She had assumed that they would come to depend on her more and more as the years passed. Being fifteen years their junior, she wanted to act as their caretaker and move in to the Sugar House. A house she covets. Shortly after she learns of their decision to move, she hatches several devious plans to thwart the sale of house, thus making their move impossible. For instance, she enlists the help of a neighbouring farmer to block the driveway so that prospective buyers cannot enter the lane. At first we think it is just a lonely woman resorting to drastic measures to ensure company and a way to be needed. Then, we learn that she has history of such behavior and that she once went by a different name... She is clearly unstable - but to what lengths will she go?
"The more she contemplated Suzanne and Eddie's casual disregard of her feelings, the fiercer her indignation stung."
The story moves forward, with an increasing sense of menace, when Ruth is entrusted to look after the Sugar House when Suzanne and Eddie go away. Ruth's character seems more and more creepy as she dons disguises and different personas to manipulate events to her own agenda.
Meanwhile, Bethan Harley, the estate agent, wonders what, or who, is behind the events that are sabotaging the sale of The Sugar House. It is a gem of a property and is generating a lot of interest. Every time she schedules a viewing by prospective buyers - something goes awry. One interested party, Ray Kirby, is undaunted by the odd events that seem to be plaguing Bethan. Eventually an unlikely romance blossoms between Bethan and Ray as together they try to discover who is behind the sabotage and prevent the cunning, guilty party from proceeding further.
"Luxury. Security. Companionship. Control.
All these things were seductive. Addictive."
Ruth continues with her cunning plans. She is revealed to be a very lonely and delusional woman. Orphaned at a young age, and without any support system, she has built herself a fantasy world. Even though we begin to understand Ruth - she remains an unsympathetic character.
I found the cover of this novel to be very misleading. It makes you think it might be a ghost story or have other paranormal features. Nothing could be further from the truth. This novel was part 'cozy' mystery, part chaste romantic suspense. It was a 'light' enjoyable read. The premise held a lot of promise, but the weak ending let down the rest of the book. All in all, not great, but an okay read...
I gratefully received a digital copy of this novel from Crooked Cat Publishers via NetGalley. I was only too happy to provide this honest review.
December 1, 2021
So, straight up. The current cover is soooooo wrong. It gives the book a spooky appearance and there's nothing spooky about it.
That being said, it was a largely enjoyable little thriller. I don't think it was very disturbing - mostly because there's no mystery to it. Character A is doing this and you know why and you know how and you're just waiting for the other Characters to find out and yep that's it.
But it was a quick read and I did largely enjoy it.
That being said, it was a largely enjoyable little thriller. I don't think it was very disturbing - mostly because there's no mystery to it. Character A is doing this and you know why and you know how and you're just waiting for the other Characters to find out and yep that's it.
But it was a quick read and I did largely enjoy it.
August 19, 2016
The House Sitter is a quick read, and really enjoyable.
Suzanne and Eddie have decided to sell their beautiful home and live closer to their daughter and grandchildren, but Ruth has other ideas.
She has done a lot for the old couple and was hoping that one day she would move in and become a companion to them, helping them with their daily routine, after all Suzanne had practically said this was written in stone, hadn't she.....
Ruth is more dimensional than a rubiks cube, she has many sides to her and is delightfully,but scarily, nutty. She sets in motion a plan to ensure that she gets her own way and it makes for uncomfortable reading.
Jill Barry's novel is a fantastically plotted and twisty read. It gives an insight to the ways of people who have a seriously unhealthy edge to them. Although quite a short read I did feel that Barry could have made this a more thrilling tale if she 'filled' it out a bit more. The end was a bit sudden, and it was because of this I was a bit disappointed.
Ruth is a marvellous character, and I happened to enjoy her 'style'. She really does have quite an evil streak.
I liked this one.
Suzanne and Eddie have decided to sell their beautiful home and live closer to their daughter and grandchildren, but Ruth has other ideas.
She has done a lot for the old couple and was hoping that one day she would move in and become a companion to them, helping them with their daily routine, after all Suzanne had practically said this was written in stone, hadn't she.....
Ruth is more dimensional than a rubiks cube, she has many sides to her and is delightfully,but scarily, nutty. She sets in motion a plan to ensure that she gets her own way and it makes for uncomfortable reading.
Jill Barry's novel is a fantastically plotted and twisty read. It gives an insight to the ways of people who have a seriously unhealthy edge to them. Although quite a short read I did feel that Barry could have made this a more thrilling tale if she 'filled' it out a bit more. The end was a bit sudden, and it was because of this I was a bit disappointed.
Ruth is a marvellous character, and I happened to enjoy her 'style'. She really does have quite an evil streak.
I liked this one.
August 1, 2016
I loved the premise of a creepy house sitter, but found that the characters weren't quite fleshed out enough, and the story ended abruptly. I had expected some kind of twist at the end, but it didn't come. I also disliked the odd sentences, without pronouns, which were on every page. I couldn't see the point and it was distracting. Overall though it was an enjoyable read, despite the sudden ending.
A preview copy was provided by the publisher.
A preview copy was provided by the publisher.
September 25, 2016
I was drawn to Jill Barry's sinister-sounding The House Sitter for two reasons; firstly, I'm a sucker for an unusual thriller (a twist on the twisty, if you will) and secondly, its Welsh setting. As a Welsh expat in England, Barry's depiction of the land of my fathers was pleasingly evocative, I'm glad to say, and for that reason alone The House Sitter was a rewarding read. Happily, there were yet more layers of this chilling yarn to please and, well, tease.
Suzanne and Eddie aren't getting any younger, and the Welsh winters aren't getting any milder (tell me about it). It's time to put their extremely des res, the remote but lovely Sugar House, up for sale and move closer to the warmth of family and England's south coast. But Suzanne and Eddie haven't reckoned on friend and neighbour Ruth. The sale of The Sugar House doesn't fit with Ruth's plans - after all, she's fetched, carried and looked out for Suzanne and Eddie for years. Is this how she's rewarded? No, actually. Not on her watch, anyway.
What unfolds is a claustrophobic tale suffused with lashings of menace, which manages somehow to retain a warmth and humour while simultaneously chilling the reader to the bone - quite an achievement. While characterisation throughout is spot on, Ruth is especially well drawn; the reader is swept along as she unravels, her actions becoming ever more unpredictable and desperate. The writing is punchy and energetic, ramping up the tension and creating a tight, fizzing atmosphere.
While twists are slightly thin on the ground, The House Sitter delivers its thrills in a more leisurely way - a twist in itself in a world of jump-scare thrillfests. It's all the more menacing for it. The ending is slightly abrupt, leaving the reader feeling mildly cheated; the novel as a whole is so entertaining, however, one still feels rewarded.
An impeccably plotted tense tale, The House Sitter explores what lengths people go to in desperation. Deceitful and dark, it's a great novel to curl up with on these chilly autumn evenings. Just be sure to lock your door...
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Suzanne and Eddie aren't getting any younger, and the Welsh winters aren't getting any milder (tell me about it). It's time to put their extremely des res, the remote but lovely Sugar House, up for sale and move closer to the warmth of family and England's south coast. But Suzanne and Eddie haven't reckoned on friend and neighbour Ruth. The sale of The Sugar House doesn't fit with Ruth's plans - after all, she's fetched, carried and looked out for Suzanne and Eddie for years. Is this how she's rewarded? No, actually. Not on her watch, anyway.
What unfolds is a claustrophobic tale suffused with lashings of menace, which manages somehow to retain a warmth and humour while simultaneously chilling the reader to the bone - quite an achievement. While characterisation throughout is spot on, Ruth is especially well drawn; the reader is swept along as she unravels, her actions becoming ever more unpredictable and desperate. The writing is punchy and energetic, ramping up the tension and creating a tight, fizzing atmosphere.
While twists are slightly thin on the ground, The House Sitter delivers its thrills in a more leisurely way - a twist in itself in a world of jump-scare thrillfests. It's all the more menacing for it. The ending is slightly abrupt, leaving the reader feeling mildly cheated; the novel as a whole is so entertaining, however, one still feels rewarded.
An impeccably plotted tense tale, The House Sitter explores what lengths people go to in desperation. Deceitful and dark, it's a great novel to curl up with on these chilly autumn evenings. Just be sure to lock your door...
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2016
Suzanne and Eddie set their plans to move house into place before letting their friend and house-sitter, Ruth, know of their decision. Even if they had told her earlier, Ruth would have been far from happy, but this is beyond the pale. Ruth has plans for that house and they don't include her carefully-cultivated friends selling up.
What follows is an exciting and extremely well-written story enhanced by a clever and entertaining mixture of tension and humour. The tension derives from the well-constructed plot. The humour is in the writing - the words and expressions - as well as the situations. I loved the scenes in which I knew more than the characters, while also fearing for the safety of those left in the dark, including the dog.
In short, I highly recommend this novel.
What follows is an exciting and extremely well-written story enhanced by a clever and entertaining mixture of tension and humour. The tension derives from the well-constructed plot. The humour is in the writing - the words and expressions - as well as the situations. I loved the scenes in which I knew more than the characters, while also fearing for the safety of those left in the dark, including the dog.
In short, I highly recommend this novel.
July 16, 2017
Sorry DNF I gave up on this book it just wasnt for me :(
Thanks to Netgalley the Author and Publisher for a chance to try this book.
Thanks to Netgalley the Author and Publisher for a chance to try this book.
September 3, 2016
It's quite something to give the keys to your house, and effectively your life to someone, and have them look after the place whilst your away. Quite a bit trust....some people put their trust in the wrong person.
Ruth has some very strange ideas about what is owed to her by her friendly neighbours, she basically expects them to provide her with a decent way of living, whilst theoretically looking after them in their older year, so is a little cross to discover they've decided to move.
Ruth is essentially a nightmare, but having the story partly told from her point of view it all seems so reasonable, as she plots and schemes to block any chance of a sale. She even makes murder sound an ok idea.
There were parts I felt were too simple, where the characters had a totally unbelievable conversation,just to give the reader some information...the whole Julia storyline seemed pointless, and I'm stunned at the observational skills of every female in regards to nail varnish.
Entertaining enough.
Ruth has some very strange ideas about what is owed to her by her friendly neighbours, she basically expects them to provide her with a decent way of living, whilst theoretically looking after them in their older year, so is a little cross to discover they've decided to move.
Ruth is essentially a nightmare, but having the story partly told from her point of view it all seems so reasonable, as she plots and schemes to block any chance of a sale. She even makes murder sound an ok idea.
There were parts I felt were too simple, where the characters had a totally unbelievable conversation,just to give the reader some information...the whole Julia storyline seemed pointless, and I'm stunned at the observational skills of every female in regards to nail varnish.
Entertaining enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2016
The house sitter by Jill Barry is a mystery and thriller read.
How much should you entrust to your house sitter? Your dog? Your clothes and jewellery? Your husband?
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
This was a good read with good characters little slow in places but I managed to read it. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
How much should you entrust to your house sitter? Your dog? Your clothes and jewellery? Your husband?
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
This was a good read with good characters little slow in places but I managed to read it. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley
August 1, 2016
This was not what I was expecting and I really did not find it thrilling or suspenseful. I feel like the author was trying for something here that just didn't work at all.
This was a review copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
This was a review copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
July 19, 2020
Disappointing. Could have been great - sounded great in the review, but read as if the author forgot to put the guts into it and instead turned it into an episode of a 7.30pm tv show, the bones were there but there was no meat to it.
January 22, 2017
How much should you entrust to your house sitter? Your dog? Your clothes and jewellery? Your husband?
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
Told from the POV of Bethan, the estate agent, and Ruth, the house sitter, the story is author Jill Barry’s first venture into fiction’s dark side but it just didn't work for me. I didn't find it thrilling or suspenseful and while the idea behind the story was a good one, it just fell flat right through to the anti-climax of an ending. I think there could have been a bit more of a mystery around who and why the unfortunate incidents were happening which would have at least given it a bit of a who-dunnit style.
I did stick with it hoping beyond hope that some fantastic twist was coming but the ending was so weak, it felt like the author got fed up with the story too. There were so many scenarios that could have ended this book on a real high with a shocking twist thrown in for good measure but it just stopped!!
Really disappointed and really can't recommend this one at all.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
To read this and other reviews go to https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wor...
When Suzanne and Eddie decide to move house, they neglect to confide in their friend and house sitter, Ruth. Against the dramatic landscape of Mid-Wales, a series of unfortunate events seem destined to ruin the couple’s plans, especially when they go away, leaving Ruth in charge.
A tenacious estate agent and a prospective purchaser conspire to unravel the disturbing, malicious stunts. But how does a woman nursing a knee problem move so stealthily? Does she have an accomplice? Or is something far more sinister going on?
Told from the POV of Bethan, the estate agent, and Ruth, the house sitter, the story is author Jill Barry’s first venture into fiction’s dark side but it just didn't work for me. I didn't find it thrilling or suspenseful and while the idea behind the story was a good one, it just fell flat right through to the anti-climax of an ending. I think there could have been a bit more of a mystery around who and why the unfortunate incidents were happening which would have at least given it a bit of a who-dunnit style.
I did stick with it hoping beyond hope that some fantastic twist was coming but the ending was so weak, it felt like the author got fed up with the story too. There were so many scenarios that could have ended this book on a real high with a shocking twist thrown in for good measure but it just stopped!!
Really disappointed and really can't recommend this one at all.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
To read this and other reviews go to https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wor...
December 20, 2019
Ok, so the premise of this sounds amazing. I love a dark and twisty tale, and this one seemed like it would be so unique and creepy. Unfortunately, all of that potential is wasted, and the reality is underwhelming and unenjoyable.
The writing itself was decent enough - there was some good tension at the beginning, but sadly it quickly tailed off. The so called thrills never came, and it became essentially a quite boring narrative of a woman trying to stop her friends selling their home by inconveniencing potential buyers in increasingly bizarre ways. There’s no real build up, no big reveal at the end, and then an incredibly sudden ending that feels almost like the true ending is missing. It’s just a very flat and dull read.
I was lured in by the synopsis, which references a range of reviews calling it powerful, spine-chilling and fantastically plotted. Personally, I disagree on all three counts, and I struggle to understand why a novel that just about scraped a 3 star rating on GoodReads in 2016 has been rereleased with seemingly no improvements made.
Sadly this one is a miss for me - the cover was more creepy than the book itself, and judging by the abrupt ending, it seems like even the author had had enough and decided to bail out. I honestly would avoid this one, and spend your time and money on something better.
Disclaimer - I was provided with a reading copy by NetGalley for review purposes. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
The writing itself was decent enough - there was some good tension at the beginning, but sadly it quickly tailed off. The so called thrills never came, and it became essentially a quite boring narrative of a woman trying to stop her friends selling their home by inconveniencing potential buyers in increasingly bizarre ways. There’s no real build up, no big reveal at the end, and then an incredibly sudden ending that feels almost like the true ending is missing. It’s just a very flat and dull read.
I was lured in by the synopsis, which references a range of reviews calling it powerful, spine-chilling and fantastically plotted. Personally, I disagree on all three counts, and I struggle to understand why a novel that just about scraped a 3 star rating on GoodReads in 2016 has been rereleased with seemingly no improvements made.
Sadly this one is a miss for me - the cover was more creepy than the book itself, and judging by the abrupt ending, it seems like even the author had had enough and decided to bail out. I honestly would avoid this one, and spend your time and money on something better.
Disclaimer - I was provided with a reading copy by NetGalley for review purposes. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
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January 22, 2020A very creepy and atmospheric read. Well written and the plot was interesting, if not completely original. I would recommend this to a friend and read more by this author
October 4, 2020
Pretty good and hard to put down.. until the end! Weird and sudden ending with no resolution. Great plot and could have been awesome but missed the mark.
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