The Tiger in the House

by Jacqueline Sheehan

The case of a lost little girl forces a child services worker to confront her own past in the New York Times bestselling author’s “compelling page-turner” (Publishers Weekly). Though she loves her job at Portland, Maine’s child services agency, Delia Lamont is feeling burned out. In fact, it’s gotten bad enough that she’s ready to leave the job and start a seaside bakery with her sister. But then a call comes a five-year-old girl has been found at the side of the road. The girl reveals that her first name is Hayley, but little more. The only clues to her family lead to a shadowy web of danger that reaches unsettlingly close to Delia’s own life. As she seeks to discover where Hayley belongs, Delia is forced to reexamine her own painful history. With no guide but her own flawed instincts, Delia must decide how deeply she can afford to venture into Hayley’s case as it threatens to lead her into dark corners of her own soul.“The Tiger in the House is teeming with excitement and heart-stirring emotion. A natural storyteller, Sheehan will draw you in with her finely crafted characters and hold you tight until the very end.” —Heather Gudenkauf

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2017

About the author

Jacqueline Sheehan, Ph.D., is a fiction writer and essayist. She is also a practicing psychologist. She is a New Englander through and through, but spent twenty years living in the western states of Oregon, California, and New Mexico doing a variety of things, including house painting, freelance photography, newspaper writing, clerking in a health food store, and directing a traveling troupe of high school puppeteers.

Reviews

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books and Jacqueline Sheehan for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance reader copy of this book.

You can find my review on both Goodreads and Amazon. On Goodreads from today under Karen Whittard and on Amazon under k.e.whittard from publication date.

The Tiger in the house is an unputdownable novel. So clear your diaries and make sure that there is no one else in the house. Because once you start this book you will not want to stop reading until the very last page.

Jacqueline has a way with words and descriptions that tug at your heartstrings and make for one heck of an emotional read.

Delia works at the Portland, Maine"s children's services department. Delia has loved her time working their but it has also left her feeling exhausted, burned out and restless. She is extremely ready to give it all in to start up a bakery business at the seaside with her sister. The calm and quite life is exactly what she is crazing.

Delia just has one more job to do before her dreams can become a reality.

Delias last case is a five year old girl called Hayley who has been left at the side of the road. Delia's job is to find out where this little girl has come from. Delia never thought that finding out Hayley's history would make her take a walk down memory lane. A path she doesn't want to go down again in a hurry. This is a journey into drug cartels and murders. Delia is walking this road alone wth no one to guide her and hold her hand. Delia has to decide just how far she wants to venture into this dark and twisted world. It will not only bring her closer to the dangers that Hayley had to face on a day to day basis. But it will reface memories of Delias own troubled upbringing that were long buried. Delia has not told anyone about the secrets that haunt her not even her own sister. Can she be brace enough to walk into this lions den to protect the little girl with no last name.

This is a gripping page turner. It is both terrifying and tender all at the same time. Jacqueline is a master storyteller and certainly knows how to weave a dark ad twisted tale. This book has twists and turns that I dare anyone to see coming. The ending of this book is breathtaking. This is the book that I have been waiting for.

I have read so many crime and thriller books recently. But I have complained about so many of them because that just seem to skirt the surface of how good the author could be if they only went deep enough into the twisted, dark and grungy world that is around us. Jacqueline takes the bull by the horns and she is definitely not backwards in coming forwards and deals the blows again and again and again. I seriously had no idea where this book was going to go. Which is something I find refreshing and something that I completly love.

This book is hands down a must buy, must read for all. I really hope this does well for her. As she really deserves it.

Make sure you read this book this year.

Happy reading everyone

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrill ride!
This is my first book by this author & as much as my life got in the way - I read and read and finally finished tonight! I couldn't put this one down. Full of many different things - intense, sweet, loving, suspense, lots of emotions in one!
I think I found a new favorite author!

[Kristin Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wished there was more on the love story between mike and Delia! Ugh! Early in the book I was like forget the love interest…. what happens to the little girl?!?!

I cried with the ending.

Then she just forgot to include mike in the end? This book was phenomenal but she left mike out at the end and for that I take a star away lol

[Lidia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars
First book of this author that I have read, and wow, I couldn't put it down. The Tiger in the House is like many stories in one , different genres too and all wonderfully written. I liked the characters and like their complex personality are described, the limit between reality and fear of madness, past and present, hope and love. I liked like the many part of book are interwoven, the suspance, the twists that make me hold my breath and then cry and then smile. I liked the important part had by dogs ( Baxter and Chelsea) and cat (Luis). Delia and Jupiter are beautiful and smart characters and I loved Mike...Tyler on the other hand, no very much and from the start . Maybe, I 'm not been too clear, but if you search a love book, a mystery , a crime story, this is the book that made for you, so enjoy.

[Donia · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I was interested in this story; a little girl is found abandoned in a remote stretch of road by a young couple. I thought the story was going to be about the little girl and her plight but mostly the story digresses into the tragedies of the life of the social worker (Delia) assigned to the case.; the social worker Delia's life, the tragedies of Delia's sister's life and the other case worker's tragedies and on and on and on and on. I found the style of telling the story to be unappealing and annoying.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough! You will eat it up.

The Tiger in the House followed Delia, a social services worker, who is winding up her last few weeks at work before opening up a bakery/cafe with her younger sister, Juniper or J Bird who were orphaned when they were 19 and 13. Their parents, including their schizophrenic father, died in a fire set, presumably by their dad.

Delia is a compassionate social services worker, caring deeply about the kids she oversees, not wanting any of them to fall through the crack. And that is why she is leaving. Working in the system is hard, seeing kids and their families is tough. After a while, it wears on you. Before she gets too complacent, Delia wants out and what better reason than opening a cafe with her sister Juniper.

Her last case is tough, little Hayley is lost and cannot tell them what she has seen or what she knows, even with the aid of a wonderful foster mom and her delightful cat. She was found covered in blood, 3 bodies left behind in a house not far from where was discovered. Who are they? What were they doing there? Where are Hayley's parents? It is hard to get kids to talk,especially when they are traumatized. Kids regress quickly and Delia and her company have to work carefully in order not to cause the girl more pain.

Helping her is a gorgeous detective Mike Moretti, her boss Ira, and Hayley's foster mom, Erica. If only all foster parents could be like Erica. Foster care would be not quite so bad a place for the thousands of kids that enter into it every year.

While everything with Hayley is going on, Delia's ex boyfriend from childhood, Tyler, has returned. He moved away shortly after the fire and Delia hasn't seen or heard from him since.

Moretti thinks the deaths are related to drugs, sending Delia off on an adventure that will forever change the lives of everyone she knows.

This book is wonderful! Foster care and social services gets a bad rap and this shows the good side of it. Of course there is a bad side but it is not easy work for anyone, the foster parents, the social workers, and especially the kids who have it the hardest of all.

I look forward to reading more of Sheehan's work!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delia is a protector and a fixer, so natural at caring for her younger sister after the tragedy that claimed her parents that readers will wonder why on earth she wants to leave her work at a child's services agency. But the nurturing role that fell to her is not the role Delia longs to fill. A budding partnership with her sister, as co-owners of a bakery, will right the power disparity between them. Before moving on Delia must solve one last case, seeking the parents of a five-year-old girl who'd been caught up in a drug cartel power play.

As the case becomes more and more personal, dredging up memories and unanswered questions from Delia's past and awakening the possibility of love, the diverse cast of characters tightens until an ending that satisfyingly marries elements of romantic suspense, crime fiction, and domestic drama. While I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review, this novel passes my sign of a great read: I've been thinking about these characters for days since finishing.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tiger in the House by Jacqueline Sheehan was a wonderful read. It encompassed so many emotions and hopes that just stick with you for the whole book. The twists and turns in solving who Hayley is and why she was left open up to Delia a world of searching - not just for Hayley’s family, but for herself as well.

Delia lives in Portland Maine and works for the Maine’s child services agency. She is ready to be done and move on, but she catches one last case. A little girl named Hayley, found on the side of the road. Delia needs to uncover the truth about the little girl and where she belongs. The story is tied up with an old boyfriend returning and a new friend who interests her. On top of this Delia and her sister Jupiter are getting ready to open their own bakery with all sorts of work needed. The story leads to Delia discovering what is important, hopefully before it is too late for her.

The Tiger in the House by Jacqueline Sheehan is a book that leads each reader on Delia’s quest, not knowing or expecting what is going to happen next! A great read for certain.

[S S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great plot, a bit of everything. Suspense, interesting characters, wonderful plot twists. Got truly invested in finding the mother of this small delightful child. Loved characters Delia and JBird, and their sisterly dynamic. Couldn't wait to turn the next page. And the furry animals who populate most of this author's works were, as usual, very special and endearing. Think I may need to get a Maine Coon! jacqueline Sheehan has done it again.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I loved this book as I have all of Ms. Sheehan's novels. I highly recommend it!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those novels you can sit and read for a while and really enjoy. But there were a lot of loose ends that didn't get answered and I'm not necessarily a fan of everything being tied up together perfectly, but I would have liked better clarification on things. I luckily get to meet the author in a couple weeks and see if I can get some answers.

[Sonja Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all fight our own battles and sometimes we get help.
Likable, believable characters.
Excellent storyline, easy read. I recommend.
Just loved the dog!

[Irene Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this novel, the theme of sisters and devoted social worker was so uplifting, this book left me feeling hopeful.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little hard to describe, because it's almost like two different types of books grafted together. Part of the book is a character study/contemporary women's novel about two adult sisters in Maine who survived a difficult childhood, and are about to open a bakery together. But one of the sisters, Delia (who is more the main character of the book), has one last case before leaving her social work job, which involves a 5 year old girl who is found in the street, unharmed but covered in blood. So part of the book is also a mystery, as Delia tries to unravel what happened to Haley and if she has family to take her. So, not a straight mystery novel of the classic sort, but very interesting and suspenseful with little twists some of which I guessed and some of which I did not. There are a few times the tone of the book is a bit inconsistent, but overall, Jacqueline Sheehan is such a beautiful writer.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Tiger in the House was intriguing enough to read in the span of a day. The story line is convicting, and the characters are fairly likable (perhaps because most of them share the same personality). The novel follows a winding course of mystery revolving around a drug cartel and an abandoned child, mostly from the viewpoint of Delia, a caseworker with a traumatic childhood of her own. Delia's got a lot going on: trying to close out her social work career and start a bakery with her sister, occasionally reliving some childhood memories, getting reacquainted with her ex-boyfriend while also getting to know a new guy, and finding little Hayley's mother. The plot contains many threads, all of which are *probably* connected somehow.

Overall, the story is enjoyable and a very quick read; it pulls you right along without much effort. Yet I found myself extremely disappointed with the editor(s) and author for several reasons. It seems that the editor rushed through, neglecting many blatant errors in spelling, punctuation, and situational integrity. For an example of situational integrity: in one scene, it is noted that Juniper changed out of her old sweatpants into a tight black skirt...however, on the very next page (in the same scene), she is wearing a pair of jeans with "shredded knees." There were countless typos that made me seriously question how the book made it through the editing process. I also felt that many of the author's wording/phrasing choices were either too confusing, obscure, or long-winded to truly be cohesive. This phenomenon spread not only through the narration, but throughout all of the characters' voices. In fact, none of the characters except for the little girl, Hayley, has a distinct voice of their own; each shares the same intonations, syntax, and penchant for offbeat references as the narrator.

To be fair (and to avoid sounding like a scathing critic), I should acknowledge that this is a book with a happy ending -- a reassurance to anyone who worries about the welfare of fictional foster children, myself included. Many of the threads get tied up in pretty coincidental and/or serendipitous ways, and quite rapidly at the end of the book, but they are tied up nonetheless. The main bad guy is shot, but we never find out what happens with the rest of the drug cartel. Perhaps they just evaporate. I do wish that thread was tied up along with the rest. But rest assured, the final chapter jumps a few months ahead in time to confirm that all the good guys are, indeed, safe and sound and happy.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and different mystery: how to find a five year old's missing parents, told from the viewpoint of the social worker responsible for her welfare. Complications ensue when her old boyfriend shows up, her mentor is going off the rails, she and her sister are opening a new business, and the detective she is working with is a dreamboat
. I liked it, but two things prevent a fourth star: a few too many coincidences, and the author's continued harping on the heroine's extremely sensitive sense of smell. I thought it was going to be a plot point, but it wasn't, so why go on and on? Kudos to the author for setting it in the great state of Maine. And there are a dog and cat who are just wonderful.

[Brenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely a 3.5-3.75 book for me. While I did enjoy it mostly, some of the writing was just too cheesy for me. I also thought some of the extraneous things on the plot were just unnecessary. It was an entertaining book for sure, but I think my problem was that the book I read before this one was one of the best books I've read in a very long time, so this one didn't hold a candle to the other one.

[Elisabeth Bulitta · Rating 3 out of 5]

„Alles, was sie sagte, hörte sich irgendwie banal an und wurde dem emotionalen Moment nicht gerecht.“ (S. 378) – dieser im Roman geäußerte Satz könnte auch für diesen gesamten Spannungsroman gelten, der im Januar 2019 als Aufbau-Taschenbuch erschienen ist und 412 Seiten umfasst.
Delia Lamont arbeitet in einer Einrichtung für Pflegekinder und hat ihren Job gekündigt, um gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester ein Café zu eröffnen. Doch noch hat sie einen letzten Auftrag zu erfüllen: Auf einer Landstraße in Maine wird ein verwirrtes, mit Blut bespritztes fünfjähriges Mädchen gefunden. Fast zeitgleich werden in einem nahegelegenen Haus drei Leichen entdeckt. Nachdem sich herausstellt, dass das Blut am Mädchen von einer dieser Leichen stammt, machen die Ermittler sich auf die Suche nach Zusammenhängen – und Delia versucht, dem Mädchen seine Familie zurückzugeben.
Der Roman beginnt spannend mit dem Auffinden des Mädchens und der Leichen. Auch die Ermittlungsarbeiten der Polizei halten den Spannungsbogen auf einem angemessenen Level und lassen den „Fall Hayley“, wie das Mädchen heißt, als roten Faden das Geschehen durchziehen. Am Ende wird der Fall logisch nachvollziehbar aufgeklärt.
Einen zweiten Handlungsstrang stellt die Geschichte der Schwestern Delia und Juniper Lamont dar. Beide haben aufgrund der Krankheit ihres Vaters und des Verlustes ihrer Eltern ein mitleiderregendes Schicksal hinter sich. Wie nicht anders zu erwarten, begleitet der Schicksalsschlag die Frauen bis in die Gegenwart und sorgt auch in diesem Roman noch für einige Überraschungen. Insofern ist die Story an sich durchaus interessant und spannend zu lesen.
Allerdings ist es der Autorin leider nicht gelungen, das Potenzial des Plots vollends auszuschöpfen: Der Mittelteil des Romans ist stellenweise recht langatmig zu lesen, und – und das ist das wohl größte Manko des Buches – die Charaktere bleiben beim Lesen sehr distanziert, ja sogar fremd. Mir jedenfalls fiel es beim Lesen sehr schwer, mich mit den Handelnden zu identifizieren oder mich in sie hineinzuversetzen, was es wiederum erschwerte, mit ihnen mitzufühlen und mitzufiebern. Der Roman ist und war zweifelsohne interessant zu lesen, in seinen Bann ziehen konnte er mich indes nicht.
Sheehans Sprache ist leicht, gleichmäßig und schnörkellos zu lesen, allerdings versäumt es die Verfasserin, durch mehr Abwechslung im Sprachgebrauch den Spannungsbogen zu unterstützen und dem Lesen Tempo zu verleihen.
Integriert in die beiden Handlungsstränge sind noch Drogen- und Medikamentenmissbrauch bzw. –kriminalität sowie, anhand der Erkrankung des Vaters der Lamont-Schwestern, das Leben mit psychisch erkrankten Familienmitgliedern, was ebenfalls wichtige und ernste Themen sind.
Aufgefallen ist mir zudem, dass im Klappentext von „Dalia Lamont“ die Rede ist, im Inneren aber von Delia.
Alles in allem handelt es sich bei „Das namenlose Mädchen“ um einen Spannungsroman, der flüssig zu lesen ist, der es allerdings aufgrund der oben angeführten Minuspunkte nicht geschafft hat, seine guten Ansätze vollends zur Geltung zu bringen und beim Lesen wirklich mitzureißen: ein Vertreter aus der Kategorie „Spannungsroman“, dem es an Authentizität und Rasanz fehlt, den man gut lesen kann, aber nicht muss.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aufgrund der Kurzbeschreibung bin ich von einem rasanten Thriller ausgegangen, in welchem die fünfjährige Haley und die Suche nach ihrer Mutter im Vordergrund stehen. Das ist zwar ein Teil der Handlung, doch die Hauptperson ist eindeutig die Sozialarbeiterin Delia, die Pflegestellen für Kinder vermittelt und für Haley zuständig ist.

Delias Leben ist im Umbruch. Sie wird ihren Job aufgeben und gemeinsam mit ihrer Schwester Juniper ein Café eröffnen. Ausgerechnet jetzt läuft ihr nach 10 Jahren ihre Jugendliebe Tyler über den Weg, was ihre Gedanken ordentlich durcheinanderwirbelt.
Doch da ist ihr letzter Fall, die kleine Haley, die blutverschmiert und alleine am Straßenrand gefunden wurde. Was ist passiert und wo sind ihre Eltern? Haley ist traumatisiert und will nicht darüber reden. Dieser Fall geht Delia unter die Haut und sie will dem Mädchen unbedingt helfen.

Es hat mich etwas überrascht, als ich merkte, dass es in dem Buch viel um Delias traurige Vergangenheit geht, doch diese Überraschung war durchaus angenehm, denn die Geschichte hat mich trotz des ruhigen Erzählstils regelrecht gefesselt. Delias Vater war schizophren und so war es schon früh ihre Aufgabe auf ihre kleine Schwester Juniper aufzupassen und das Schlimmste von ihr fernzuhalten, wodurch die beiden ein sehr enges Verhältnis zueinander entwickelten, dass sie auch als Erwachsene noch verbindet. Deshalb sehen sie ihrer künftigen gemeinsamen Arbeit in ihrem eigenen Café voller Vorfreude entgegen.

Als ihr Jugendfreund Tyler auftaucht, wird damit die Vergangenheit wieder lebendig, denn er hat Haley verlassen, kurz nachdem sie ihre Eltern verloren hat. Er hat sich nie wieder bei ihr gemeldet und sie weiß nicht, was sie davon halten soll, dass er nun den Kontakt zu ihr sucht. Aber er ist nicht der einzige Mann, der unerwartete Gefühle in Delia weckt.
Doch eigentlich hat sie den Kopf gar nicht frei für romantische Gefühle, denn der Fall rund um Haley spitzt sich ungeahnt zu.

Ich gehe bewusst nicht detaillierter auf die Handlung ein, denn sonst gibt es ja für euch beim Lesen nichts mehr zu entdecken. Und es gibt einiges was man nach und nach erfährt. Egal ob es um Delias Arbeit geht, ihre Vergangenheit, oder ihr Leben in der Gegenwart, habe ich die Handlung gerne gelesen und fand vieles interessant und spannend. Die Autorin schafft es, dass man die handelnden Personen versteht und auch subtile Stimmungen spürt. Vor allem, wenn Delia die kleine Haley bei ihrer Pflegefamilie besucht, wird dies deutlich.

Am Ende wird es richtig spannend und es geht Schlag auf Schlag und an allen Ecken und Enden wird es dramatisch. Das war mir stellenweise etwas zu viel, auch wenn es für einen rasanten Leseendspurt gesorgt hat.

Die Thrillerelemente gibt es hauptsächlich am Anfang und am Ende des Buches, aber es war der etwas ruhigere Mittelteil, der mir besonders gut gefallen und mich überzeugt hat.

Fazit: Ein Thriller, der anders als erwartet ist, der mir aber trotzdem sehr gut gefallen hat.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author does it again! She hooked me right away by developing characters that I would enjoy knowing and a plot that took me along a twisting path that led me to places that were interestingly tied together. The first part of the journey is getting to know Delia and her sister Juniper, or J Bird, as they survive a life living with a father suffering from schizophrenia. Delia works for Children's Services in Portland, Maine, just submitting her resignation to go into the bakery/cafe business with her sister. But then the story turns and focuses on Delia's last case involving a little girl, Haley, found covered in blood and abandoned along a road. This is the point where the story becomes the mystery. Who is she? Where is she from? Why is she here?

Besides being a good story, I enjoy the author's style of writing. It's well-paced and her twists aren't so sharp that you wonder if you skipped a couple of paragraphs or picked up on the wrong page. I enjoyed riding from Maine to Massachusetts with Delia and her boss Ira. Having lived in New Hampshire for several years, their stop at the state liquor store just as you cross from Massachusetts into New Hampshire brought back some fun memories. And the author's animals...I love her animals. This story has Baxter, the most wonderful golden retriever who is just one big love fest. Then there is Louie, the Maine Coon cat who seems to be able to read people's minds as well as their emotions. Having a Maine Coon cat in our house, I could feel that whole connection. Overall, this was a delightful surprise of a novel!

Go Cards! L1C4!!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kensington Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Tiger in the House. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Delia Lamont has reached the end of the road, with regards to her chosen profession as a social services worker. When her sister Juniper comes up with the idea of the opening a seaside cafe together, Delia decides to acknowledge the burnout that she feels and move on to a happier vocation. She is given one last case, that of a lost child named Hayley. As she searches for the little girl's family, Delia has to confront her own painful past. Unmoored when a surprise new resident moves into town, will Delia be able to sort out the tragedy in her own life and move forward?

I was fully connected to The Tiger in the House from the first page, but the ending unfortunately fell flat for me. The conclusion seemed both rushed and not believable, especially in regards to the explosive events that transpired. I did like Delia, but her recklessness just did not seem all that realistic to me. Often books are very negative regarding social services, so I was pleasantly surprised that the pertinent characters were treated very well. There were too many side plots creating branches off the main story, which detracted from the book as a whole. Overall, The Tiger in the House was a good read and one that I would recommend to those who like mystery and romance.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the plotline, 3.5 for the narrative style. The story begins with a little girl wandering alone on a desolate road. She can provide few clues as to how she got there. Enter Delia, a social worker in the twilight of her career; she is set to retire from her draining job to open a Cafe with her younger sister. The sisters have considerable baggage from their childhood and keep a watchful eye on one another.

Finding the little girl's family becomes the focus of the plot, with subplots including the building of the cafe, the reemergence of an old boyfriend of Delia's, and the specter of heroine and prescription painkiller abuse. The story meanders along for about 60% of the book and then, bang, we're off to the races with a more exciting narrative. The plot itself was well crafted, pulling the threads of information together nicely in the end into a bow (maybe a little too neat of a bow in at least one case). My primary complaint is that the narrative could have been so much more compact. Word after word about Baxter the dog became redundant very quickly. As well, some of the inner thoughts of the sisters were useless and did nothing to further the plot (musings about Keurig K-cups, thoughts about the sign in the restroom admonishing employees to wash their hands).

[Denise Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The Tiger In the House by author, Jacqueline Sheehan

Two sisters, one little girl, and a plotline that held more than I could've imagined has made this an all consuming journey of life's struggles and successes...

The Tiger in the House is a fast-paced, compelling yet sensitive narrative centered around the Coast of Maine that left me breathless as I dug deeper into the family albums with what was exposing itself behind the many faces of these richly crafted characters.

This storyline touches on each and every emotion with its ability to draw you in and capture you with the tender yet stark reality of family ties and their secrets, the scars from loss, the helping hands of those who care, the need for hope, and how perseverance turns worry to solace, and darkness to light.

Ms. Sheehan spins an intriguing web of mystery, suspense and drama with a splash of romance along with the sensitive elements of mental illness, drug trafficking and addiction. By weaving together seamlessly these multi-faceted elements, this story of heartbreak and healing makes for an impressive, unforgettable read.

I thank the author for my personal copy of The Tiger in the House~ a story that I truly hope has not ended just yet...

5 Stars

#JacquelineSheehan
#TheTigerintheHouse

Wild Sage Book Blog

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE TIGER IN THE HOUSE is a compelling, emotional read that dives into the world of schizophrenia and the opioid crisis. It’s part family drama, part thriller, and 100% page-turner.

The story opens with a half-dressed five-year-old girl, covered in blood, walking along a roadside. She knows only her first name, Hayley, and the blood links her to a drug cartel execution. But why was she at the crime scene, and where is her family?

Hayley’s future is turned over to Delia, who is about to quit child services to open a bakery with her sister, Juniper. Hayley is Delia’s last case, a case that becomes increasingly personal and opens up a past both Delia and Juniper want to forget. It could also be dangerous.

As we learn the sisters' backstory, we understand why they are so close and why they have intriguing sensory gifts. (This was my favorite part of the novel. I loved that Delia's heightened sense of smell helped her understand people. Juniper has a similar gift with taste.) They also co-own an empathetic dog I would love to meet in real life.

Trauma and tragedy are important threads woven throughout the novel, but it’s full of heart and hope and second chances. I miss the characters!

[Brina · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

"Das namenlose Mädchen" hat nicht nur aufgrund des Covers direkt mein Interesse geweckt, sondern auch aufgrund der Kurzbeschreibung, die mich direkt angesprochen hat. Meine Erwartungen waren somit nicht gerade niedrig, allerdings wurde ich hierbei bitterlich enttäuscht, sodass ich das Buch leider nach etwas mehr als der Hälfte abgebrochen habe.

Dies liegt größtenteils an dem Schreibstil, denn der konnte mich leider gar nicht überzeugen. Die Dialoge wirken flach, es gibt viel zu viele Wiederholungen und auch sonst zieht sich die Geschichte leider wie Kaugummi, sodass für mich keinerlei Spannung aufkommen wollte.

Dabei hatte die Geschichte eigentlich alles, um richtig gut zu werden: Maine ist als Ort sehr gut, da es für mich auch schon immer bei Stephen King funktioniert hat. Dazu hat man mit dem Mädchen und drei Leichen, sowie die Suche nach der Mutter eine gute Thematik geschaffen, doch leider wollte der Funke nicht überspringen, da für mich niemals wirklich Spannung aufkam und ich mich auch mit den Figuren nicht anfreunden konnte.

Das ist zwar schade, aber manchmal soll es wohl einfach nicht sein.

[Gwendolyn Broadmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tiger in the House, by Jacqueline Sheehan, is so compelling I read it in one big gulp. Delia Lamont loves her job at Portland, Maine's child services; still, she's truly burnt out. Delia has given her notice (thirty days left). She is oh so ready to embrace a seaside bakery with her carefree sister, Juniper. Then a call comes in: a five-year-old girl, found at the side of the road, says her name is Hayley but discloses nothing else. "Everything" points to mystery and danger. Delia is the best at what she does. Even though she's leaving soon, her boss, Ira, assigns this new complicated case to her. As Delia seeks to uncover where Hayley belongs, intrigue (involving scary drug deals in this used-to-be-safe seaside town), in combination with Delia's heart-breaking past, threaten to derail her before she can embrace her dreams. Will she capture the solace of kneading her magnificently yummy breads, and the joy of creating her delectable homemade pasta? Go for this book, you won't be disappointed! Gwendolyn Broadmore, author, Life Came to a Standstill.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been awhile since a book captured my attention enough to give it a thorough, quick read. This one qualified, hence the four stars.

I read this in basically a single day. True enough, I had two hours of waiting in my retina specialists offices. Still....

I enjoyed the intertwining plot lines, many of the descriptive phrases, the currency of the topics (drug running and addiction threats, as well child endangerment), the currency of the mode of the characters (cell phones, texting, GPS, ....). the likeability of the characters, even a background providing a kind of empathy for the most villainous of the characters, the representation of the animal friends, especially Baxter (golden retriever) and Louie (huge coon cat).

Certain themes, like food, a sense of smell, heroin addiction, mental illness, need for independence, cultural dating patterns, .... were well developed and pursued. The author's own knowledge in social psychology was well demonstrated.

But most of all, it was an engaging read.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

It all begins when someone finds a five year old girl walking along a highway in Maine, blood-spattered and barefoot. She knows her first name, Hayley, but not much more. She's not even sure where she is and has no idea where her parents are. The case falls in the lap of Delia, who's in her last weeks as a caseworker for foster services and is ready to wind up her job and go to wrk with her sister Juniper, who's opening a bakery/cafe at the beach. As she works to try to discover who Hayley is and where her parents are, she crosses paths with a heroin-trafficking ring and involves detective Mike Moretti and runs into her teenage sweetheart Tyler Greene, now an ER doctor at the local hospital. How all these things intertwine is the subject of the story and a heart-shattering climax.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must say that I was honestly surprised by the ending. I did not expect Tyler to be the arsonist or a doctor who freely gives out prescription drugs. I always enjoy endings that are not predictable, but not completely unrealistic either. Usually, I would say that the author chose to make him a bad guy in order for the main character to have an easier time choosing her love interest (since she's split between two guys), which is a cop out, but I was not mad about that choice in this book. I don't know why, but it just worked for me.

Delia is clearly a decent person who is very good at her job, but I found Juniper to be a more intriguing character. I was not bored by Delia's character though. I also was interested in Ben and wish I learned a bit more about his back story.

[Lynnette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes one tires of reading about a young woman struggling and trying to overcome some childhood tragedy, but this book is multifaceted enough to keep your interest. A social worker is particularly moved by a 5-year old found wandering along a highway. Their search for her family leads them to suspect a link with the heroin trade... I would love to hear your ladies opinion as to how they talked to and questioned this 5-yr old. I thought it was more like how you would talk to
a today's 3-year old--pretending a stuffed animal was talking, etc.. Her not knowing her last name... What do you think?