Our House

by Louise Candlish

On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue.

Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it.

When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she's sure there's been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern co-parenting arrangement: bird's nest custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down.

Now Bram has disappeared and so have Fiona's children. As events spiral well beyond her control, Fiona will discover just how many lies her husband was weaving and how little they truly knew each other. But Bram's not the only one with things to hide, and some secrets are best kept to oneself, safe as houses.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Book Club

448 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2018

About the author

Hello and welcome to my page... You may already know my domestic noir thrillers or perhaps you're curious and not sure which to try first - either way, you're in the right place!

My latest is OUR HOLIDAY, a Sunday Times bestseller, WHSmith Richard & Judy Book Club pick and Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025 nominee. It features my favourite ever love-to-hate characters Perry and Charlotte, second home owners in the idyllic English beach resort of Pine Ridge. It's now in development for the screen - I'll share news on that as soon as I can.

Next up is A NEIGHBOUR'S GUIDE TO MURDER, published in July 2025 (UK) and 2026 (US), available to pre-order now.

Last year I celebrated my 20th anniversary as an author with the news of two prestigious awards for my 90s-set thriller THE ONLY SUSPECT: the Capital Crime Fingerprint Award for Thriller of the Year and the Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Fiction. Stay tuned for TV news on that one too - it will be the next of mine to hit our screens!

OUR HOUSE is the one you may know me for as it's now a major four-part ITV drama starring Martin Compston and Tuppence Middleton (watch the full series free on ITVX). This is the novel that turned my career around, winning the 2019 British Book Awards Book of the Year - Crime & Thriller and shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Best Crime Novel of the Year Award​, and the Audible Sounds of Crime Award. It was also longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and the Specsavers National Book Awards. A Waterstones Thriller of the Month, it recently received a Nielsen Bestseller Silver Award for 250,000 copies sold.

A bit about me: I live in a South London neighbourhood not unlike the one in my books, with my husband, daughter and a fox-red Labrador called Bertie who is the apple of my eye. Books, TV and long walks are my passions - and drinking wine in the sun with family and friends. Authors I love include Tom Wolfe, Patricia Highsmith, Barbara Vine, Agatha Christie and Evelyn Waugh. My favourite book is Madame Bovary.

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Reviews

[Felice Laverne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my God, it’s been a long time since I’ve suffered through a book that made me want to just BE DONE WITH IT ALREADY! But this book, Our House, by Louise Candlish, just seemed to just go on and ON. Seriously, there was NO reason for this book to be 400 pages. There were way too many asides throughout this novel, which slowed the pace greatly and contributed to the superfluous word count. Not to mention, those peanut gallery comments from the “viewers” of the crime podcast that Fiona Lawson is telling her story to (which allows for the author, Louise Candlish, to tell Fiona’s story under the guise of recounting her story to these podcast listeners) really burnt my biscuit! They were so annoying, ridiculous and distracting that I trained myself to skip them entirely whenever I encountered them.

Though it is a genre I tend to enjoy for the most part (see my reviews of Ruth Ware and Fiona Barton) this novel was everything that I hate in British cozy thrillers: centered around a meek woman who’s “gullible” and made a victim as she tries to take back the power in the end. It also was not very well-written, quite honestly. Candlish has obviously never heard of Hemingway’s “Iceberg Theory,” because, for this being a thriller, she certainly didn’t trust her reader to come to any conclusions on their own, which really took all of the bite and fun out of reading this book for me.

I recently joined a Twitter discussion where a very outspoken literary agent was asserting that reviewers should NEVER tag an author with a bad review because it’s “rude” and because these authors have already had countless people critiquing them and “professional editors” editing them. (This, by the way, was rather self-righteously stated as though literary agents and editors know best and as though their stamp of approval a good book makes. As a writer, former lit agent and former publishing intern, and current book reviewer I can confidently assert in response that this is not necessarily the case.)

Here, you’ll find a fantastic example of a book that needs further editing! Literally, my mind started wandering by page 60 as I started calculating how many paragraphs of text I’d just written that really could have been removed from my life altogether.

All in all, the premise of Louise Candlish’s Our House is phenomenal, the execution is mediocre if not terrible in parts, and the aside bits nearly drove me mad. If you’re looking for a streamlined, heart-pounding thrill of a ride, don’t waste your time with this one. I really don't have much else to say about this book because I've already turned my mind to finding my next book, which will have to be GREAT to wash away the annoyance I've built up from pushing through this one.

I have a friend who read my reviews and once told me it’d be SO hilarious if I just wrote the word “TRASH” as a book review for the next truly terrible book I encounter and then just dropped the mike. I won’t do that here, but there were parts where I was honestly tempted. 2 stars for premise and premise alone -- and maybe even because I fancy the cover; it's brilliant! ;) . **

**I received an advance-read physical copy of this book from the publisher, Berkley, in exchange for an honest review.**

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[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 STARS**

Fiona ( Fi ) Lawson lives in a very desirable London suburb, and she always gets a warm tingly feeling when she enters her street. However, on this particular beautiful winter's day she spots a removal van outside her house - but it can't possibly be her house, the house a few doors down has been on the market, it must be that one. As she reaches her house, the realisation that someone is moving their furniture in, their personal possessions, hits her like a sledge hammer, but she'll sort it out ( won't she?) it's just a ridiculous mistake surely. Well actually no it isn't a mistake, and she desperately needs to contact her estranged husband Bram - problem is, Bram is nowhere to be found, and not only that, but their two boys Harry and Leo aren't where they should be either!

Well goodness me, what a roller coaster ride of a story this is, and what avenues it takes us down as deceit becomes the major player. It isn't a thriller in the normal sense of the word, but it's gripping nevertheless. The characters speak to us through various mediums, ( Bram via Word document ) and in that respect we get to know much more about Bram's part in all this than Fi does. You know the old saying "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we set out to deceive"? Absorb that thought because this is deceit at its most profound. Add in numerous twists and turns and you've got a real winner. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

* Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for my ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

4.5 Stars!

Can you imagine coming home one day to find strangers moving their belongings into YOUR home? Unpacking and putting things away while you stand there in shock? Well, that’s exactly what has happened to Fiona Lawson in “Our House”.

The book starts off right at the heart of it. Our female protagonist, forty-two-year-old, Fiona Lawson is heading down her street and sees what looks like someone carrying items into her house. She thinks that she must be seeing things. But she’s not…two moving men are clearly walking down HER path, taking things into HER house.

She sees a woman who she thinks must be a friend of her estranged husband, Bram. But when she speaks to this woman she’s in no way prepared for what she hears.

“We’re just moving in. My husband will be here soon with the second van.”

She's also not prepared for what she sees inside the house. ALL of their things are gone. The house is empty…well except for the stranger’s things being moved in.

“I’m telling you – you must have made a mistake. I’m telling you it’s not possible for you to have bought a house that was never for sale.”

Prior to this, Fiona and her soon to be ex-husband, Bram have been sharing custody of their boys, as well as their house at 91 Trinity Avenue. Whoever's turn it is to be with the children stays in the house with them while the other parent stays somewhere else. It’s a fairly new and unique way of doing things. It’s called “ Bird’s nest custody”.

But right now Fiona has no idea what’s going on. Plus she can’t find Bram. She calls him but his phone is out of service. It’s like he’s fallen off the face of the earth. At that moment, she realizes her house is the least of her worries. Where is Bram? Where are her children?

“And in that instant, her waking nightmare becomes something so terrifying it has no name.”

This was such an interesting and unique read. I really enjoyed how the story was told with alternating perspectives. I also enjoyed the social media aspect. “The Victim” is a podcast where Fiona tells her story. Interspersed throughout the novel are comments from listeners of the podcast as well as excerpts from a word document that help to give readers another point of view.

“This was how human disaster worked: you began by trying to conceal a mistake and you finished up here, the perpetrator of a hundred further mistakes.”

Though I did figure out a couple of things ahead of time, I was still completely in the grip of this intriguing story. An interesting plot, some great characters, along with a few great twists made this a very enjoyable read. I really liked how everything came together in the end.

In my opinion, "Our House" was a well-written, intriguing domestic suspense novel that has me excited to see what Louise Candlish writes next!

I'd like to thank Berkley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our house is a very, very, very fine house, with two cats in the yard. Life used to be so hard. Now everything is easy 'cause of you.



On Trinity Avenue, the sort of domestic bliss described in the lyrics above, could not be further from the truth.

In this version of Our House, secrets and deception reign.



Our House by Louise Candlish is a taut domestic drama that follows the dual narrative of a husband and wife, Bram and Fi Lawson.

The book starts out with a crime, a fraud within a marriage, and the events leading up to it are then pieced together over the course of the book.



Through the excellent use of mixed media sources, you get both Fi's and Bram's perspectives.

Hers is told through an extensive interview done for a podcast called, The Victim, and his is told through a sort of confessional manifesto.



I have mentioned before that I am absolute TRASH for books that incorporate mixed media sources.



From Bram Stoker's Dracula, Stephen King's Carrie, Nick Cutter's The Troop, Marisha Pessl's Night Film and everything in between.

I just love how these different elements, such as journal entries, newspaper articles, psychologist's notes and police reports, can truly bring a story to life.



I find overall that this type of format enhances my commitment to a storyline.

In my opinion, Candlish did a really great job weaving the two perspectives together, whilst also running it along with a shorter 'present events' perspective.

If not done well, this type of formatting can often become disjointed and confusing, but I never felt that here.



As for our protagonists, Fi and Graham, I didn't like either one of them. Fi came off as weak and passive aggressive, while Bram is a total coward.

Did this keep me from enjoying story? Absolutely not. I am not a person who needs to like any or all of the characters in the books I read.

I mean, I only like about 50% of the people I meet IRL, so how can I expect to be enamored with all the book characters I meet?



This being said, although to me personally, Fi and Bram were far from likable, I did get drawn down the rabbit hole of deception and absolutely wanted to know the truth behind it!

I think if we can all learn a little something from this story it would be, honesty IS IN FACT the best policy.

The ending of this was fabulous! Just when I thought at least one thing was going to go the way I wanted...



Do I think you should read this book? Yes, definitely. I think this would be a great book to read around the holidays.

It will make your own family seem so much better by comparison and if that doesn't recommend a book, I don't know what will!



Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I had a lot of fun with it and look forward to reading more from this author!

[Christina Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4, thrillers are really bad for me trusting other people, everyone is a liar stars!!!

Roll·er coast·er (roll·er coast·er): a thing that contains or goes through wild and unpredictable changes. Aye, you're not wrong there Webster.

This starts right out of the gate and immediately draws the reader in. We begin our story with Fiona (Fi) Lawson arriving home earlier than expected to see strangers seemingly moving furniture in and out of her home without understanding why. Upon entering, she and these strangers quickly realize that something is amiss. The Vaughns have just completed their purchase of a beautiful home, in an incredibly desirable neighborhood in London unbeknownst to Fi (the now previous owner). With this information, the story begins and Fi's life, falls apart.

This was one of the most cleverly written and formatted stories I've read in a long time. I've honestly never encountered anything quite like this and I really enjoyed it for the most part. We are given alternating POVs between Fi and the husband she is currently separating from, Bram. Not just are we given alternating POVs but the formatting of those views changes as well. Fi is now participating in a podcast called The Victim (think Serial) and she's telling her story first hand. We're also given commentary from the viewers in re-tweet fashion. I really enjoyed the alternating points of view but I will say the commentary from the viewers and their tweets grew tiresome and felt unneeded. In the end, it felt a little kitschy to me.

I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that it's hard sometimes to tell the difference between weakness and strength. Between hero and villain.

We're also given Bram's POV through a word document letter that allows the reader to follow along with the information Fi knows and what Bram knows to actually be happening on his end. Bram is a decidedly unlikable and unreliable narrator. However, Candlish did a superb job of creating a lot of empathy through Fiona's emotion and her connection to her soon-to-be ex-husband. Despite knowing that he was a Grade-A wanker I still felt for his story and through that, I felt a deeper connection to Fi.

No, it's not the sense of coming home. It's the understanding that what or where or who you love is only ever borrowed. There is no permanent ownership, not for any of us.

This ultimately loses a star for me because while it was consistently paced it started to drag a bit in the middle. I normally blow through these types of novels and they tend to be very much edge-of-your-seat, don't-talk-to-me-must-finish-now, and I didn't feel that for the entirety of this read. There wasn't wasted time on unnecessary characters, but it did feel there was a lot of wasted time on unnecessary detail.

However, despite this, when things picked back up in the last third of the book they certainly packed quite the punch. The twists for the most part (aside from one which didn't feel it had all the proper development) were everything a reader could want. I was both surprised and satisfied in the end. I completed this as a Traveling Sisters read and I'd certainly suggest it to anyone to pick up. I hadn't originally thought property fraud would be all that thrilling, but I'm happy to report I was yet again wrong!

Thank you to Edelweiss for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions presented are my own.

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, because I've found I don't have much to say that hasn't been said already. This wasn't a bad read; the cover is inviting, the premise is brilliant, and there was even a nice twist thrown in, so I did enjoy this overall. My main issue was that the middle portion of the story felt bogged down. It could just be that I was in a funk when I picked this up and needed something a little more fast paced for the moment, but I felt the narrative was repetitive and that we were reading the same scenes again and again, which caused me to struggle for a bit. Overall, the majority has raved about this one and I think it's worth picking up to decide if you enjoy it for yourself. And by golly, that cover is quite stunning.

*I received a review copy via the publisher.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "our house" by Louise Candlish - I couldn't put it down, it was truly addictive, compelling and hypnotic. It was by far the best psychological thriller I've read for quite a while and I expect it to do extremely well in the bestsellers chart.

A family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue. Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it. Fiona (Fi) arrives home to find a removals van outside her house. Trinity Avenue has been her family’s home for years. Where are all her belongings? How could this have happened? Desperately calling her ex-husband Bram, Fi discovers he has disappeared. The more Fi uncovers, the more she realises their lives have been turned upside by a nightmare of their own making. A devastating crime has been committed, but who exactly is the guilty party? What has Bram hidden from her – and what has she hidden from him?

I enjoyed reading Fiona's recollection of the story through a podcast and Bram's through a letter/word document interspersed with the events as they happened. This was a unique way of story telling and very creative that was fun to follow and obviously very skilfully put together. Although Fi was perhaps a little too forgiving and nice towards her husband, it was believable considering her love for the children and the concern for their welfare. I personally haven't heard of the 'birds nest' set up before but can see how it could work by putting the child/children's needs first. Property fraud, murder, adultery, secrets, lies, betrayal, double crossing - this book has it all and much more, twists and turns along the way that keep the story exciting and entertaining. Many a time I was caught out at the sudden revelations.
The premise of the story is such a frightening scenario, especially with the fraudsters being so close to home and it really did have my stomach in a flutter of nerves thinking about it happening to me!
I will definitely be reading more by this brilliant author again, as far as I'm concerned Louise has reached the dizzy heights of psychological suspense with professionalism, creative imagination and tremendous storytelling. I was spellbound to the very last page and quite upset when it ended but wow!

With a beautiful cover too, this book just oozes to be read and it should come as no surprise that I highly recommend "our house" to psychological and thriller readers young and old, it's tantalisingly good and not to be missed!

5 stars

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5 STARS**

Fiona ( Fi ) Lawson lives in a very desirable London suburb, and she always gets a warm tingly feeling when she enters her street. However, on this particular beautiful winter's day she spots a removal van outside her house - but it can't possibly be her house, the house a few doors down has been on the market, it must be that one. As she reaches her house, the realisation that someone is moving their furniture in, their personal possessions, hits her like a sledge hammer, but she'll sort it out ( won't she?) it's just a ridiculous mistake surely. Well actually no it isn't a mistake, and she desperately needs to contact her estranged husband Bram - problem is, Bram is nowhere to be found, and not only that, but their two boys Harry and Leo aren't where they should be either!

Well goodness me, what a roller coaster ride of a story this is, and what avenues it takes us down as deceit becomes the major player. It isn't a thriller in the normal sense of the word, but it's gripping nevertheless. The characters speak to us through various mediums, ( Bram via Word document ) and in that respect we get to know much more about Bram's part in all this than Fi does. You know the old saying "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we set out to deceive"? Absorb that thought because this is deceit at its most profound. Add in numerous twists and turns and you've got a real winner. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Mackenzie - PhDiva Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A domestic noir novel that will pull you into the suspense and shock you with every last twist! Wow, I am beyond impressed with the new novel Our House by Louise Candlish! By 30% through this book, I couldn’t have put it down if I tried. I first was introduced to Candlish in her previous book The Sudden Departure of the Frasers. I loved that book, but this one shows a level of growth as a writer that has me positively glowing after reading it. This one took ahold of my life and didn’t release me. When I finally finished it, I couldn’t get over the ending for hours! I was shocked and excited—and I’m even more excited to share this with readers who will get to experience those twists for the first time!

About the Book

Fi and Bram have the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood. It’s the sort of neighborhood where outsiders clamor to get in, and insiders are desperate to stay in. The sort of neighborhood where all of the residents know how lucky they are to live there. And each time someone moves out, they are aware that none of them are truly entitled to that perfect life. They are all just barely able to afford it, and one wrong move could send it all tumbling down.

And for Bram and Fi, that wrong move comes from a marital indiscretion. Determined not to lose their dream home, even if she lost her dream husband, Fi and Bram set up a birds nest arrangement—the kids stay in the home, and Fi and Bram take turns living with them as the custodial parent. It’s the perfect arrangement—the boys get a stable environment, and Fi and Bram get to keep their perfect, just-out-of-reach home.

And then one day, Fi arrives home to see another family moving into her house. Frantic and assuming it is a mistake, Fi finds the nightmare only gets worse. The family claims they purchased the home from her and Bram. When Fi tries to reach Bram, his phone is disconnected. Even worse, the boys never arrived at school. As the details unfold, Fi realizes that she has become the victim of a crime most can only imagine, and the only way to hope to find justice means she’ll tell her story to the world…

Reflection

I loved the story-telling mechanisms that Candlish uses in this book to keep the pace moving and the story fresh. The book begins the day Fi arrives home to see another family moving into her house. Then the book actually moves forward in time, but also into the past. Several weeks after Fi discovers the new family in her house, she is on a podcast called #Victim. In the podcast, Fi recounts her story from the beginning, all the way back when Bram first moved out. Fi hopes to bring awareness to this sort of real estate fraud, and prevent others from falling victim to the crime she fell victim to.

And then we have Bram’s story, written in the form of a letter to an unknown recipient at the same time Fi is on the podcast. They tell the story of their marital break up and the crime itself in perfect pace with one another. In a style that I’ve come to realize is classically Candlish, the story from each person keeps up with the other, and a revelation in one person’s story is then picked up in the other’s. In this way, the plot moves steadily, and little tidbits of information come to light, with spin from each party. And you get the distinct impression neither is telling the full truth.

The only thing better than one unreliable narrator is two unreliable narrators, amirite??

This book is truly a slow-burning, domestic noir masterpiece. I read this one over only a few days, and when I reached the last page I couldn’t even sit still because my mind was buzzing from the final scene! Candlish has a way of dropping hints that the reader completely overlooks. But as each twist is revealed, the hints add up and make you realize you probably should have been able to tell what was going on the whole time. That is how you begin to empathize with the characters. When the same things that fooled them, fool you as well.

Candlish is truly a master of crafting a carefully constructed plot that showcases how easy it is to be tricked into your worst nightmare. I am still buzzing from the final reveal days later! I can’t wait for readers to begin this one and experience all of the twists themselves!

Many thanks to Berkley for sending me an advanced reader copy of this novel to review. I loved it!

[Holly B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, I wanted to love this book more. I was hooked after the first chapter, and I could feel the tension jumping off the page.

I thought it was a brilliant premise. Fiona pulls up to her house to find a moving van parked out front and strangers moving in! Just the thought of that is enough to make my heart race. Fiona will tell her story through a crime podcast and her husband, Bram tells his side through a typed word document. I really did enjoy both characters.

A wonderful, detailed plot and a good twist was not enough to keep the story from drowning in a repetitive narrative and somewhat tedious pace. I did figure out the twist, but I enjoyed being shocked as soon as I figured it out (if that makes any sense)!

I was left underwhelmed, but still a good twisty read. Thanks to Berkley/Netgalley for my ARC.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars Filled With Madness 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

🎵Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around

Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our

Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed
....🎵
-Madness-Our House 1982

Fiona was certainly house proud, but whether or not she liked a mess she certainly found herself in the middle of one... imagine returning home to find someone else has moved into your house... The problem? As far as you know your house was never for sale... and why can you not reach your ex-husband on his phone? Where is your stuff, where are your children? Sounds dreadful, doesn’t it?

The unraveling of this story was quite brilliant... told from Fiona‘s perspective through podcast episodes... Fiona was such a likable generous person who absolutely put her children before all else.... and truly this “bird nest “custody arrangement really played nicely into her house being sold right out from under her... BUT I’m absolutely not going to blame the victim here! We also got Brahm’s perspective through a letter/word doc.... now it was really hard for me to elicit any sympathy for him, he really was a reckless selfish individual.... The one good thing I can say about him is I do think he truly loved his wife and children, he just didn’t know how to go about it.... but what a horrible mess he left for Fiona to clean up!

Along with the podcast and word doc we also got the real time story... this was a TS read and some of the sisters found this to be repetitive.... however, I did not... I really liked getting to see events unfold from both Fiona and Brahm’s points of view... and I felt the use of different medias really kept it fresh....

This book was such a crazy ride! Such a rollercoaster... I got all buckled in and then... that huge hill that starts your heart kmbeating faster and fills you with anticipation... and just when you least expect it you’re headed down that huge hill being turned upside down and then you come to a screeching slamming jarring stop!.... that really is this book so many twists, so many turns, and an ending that will leave you reeling!

Strongly recommend this book to all psychological thriller lovers and I hope you enjoy the ride!

*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***

[Always Pouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona Lawson comes home to discover that there are other people moving into her home, taken aback she confronts the people moving in. When they insist that they have bought the house and now legally own it Fiona tries to get in contact with her husband Bram. Though Bram and Fiona are separated they have been maintaining a custody arrangement that allows one of them to stay with the children in the house on different days through out the week while the other stays at an apartment. Fiona begins to realize what a mistake she has made in suggesting this arrangement as the day progresses and she is unable to reach Bram or locate their children. Fiona struggles to find a solution as she faces the impending loss of her home and family.

Spoilers ahead blah blah. This was really good, like there was maybe one whole complaint I had about this one and that was it. This was definitely 4.5 stars. I was so engrossed through out, and honestly it really roped me in the way things escalated. Like it was just driving violations and the next thing you know Bram is committing fraud and laundering money. It also felt pretty believable and I have to say even though Bram had his faults I felt so bad for him through out. The way he just kept getting more boxed into the situation, I know he has created the situation, but it was still quite depressing especially knowing that in the end he ends up killing himself.

The whole plot was just amazing the way it unfolded and the twists and everything managed to stay believable at the same time. I also appreciate the sad but hopeful note at the end. Now the one thing that peeved me, the fact that it gets revealed that Merle is the one Bram slept with because it didn't feel foreshadowed. I'm mostly confused because I thought at one point in the book the women from HR comes to talk to him and tell him she's pregnant but now I'm thinking it clearly must have been Merle, unless he knocked them both up, and I just misread it. That just threw the whole thing off kilter because I wasn't even wondering who it had been and I had attributed the pregnancy as being with the women he slept with after the separation. I just felt taken aback and it was probably all my fault I just missed any foreshadowing.

Anyway definitely one of the best things I've read so far this year, unfortunately the list of things I have read is small this year because I have to go be responsible and all that bullshit. I'll be back when I finally read a few more books to write reviews but definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for their next read.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning draws the reader in, it is such a strange happening. When Fi returns early from an out of town trip, she is surprises and confused, to find a new family inhabiting her house. Going out of her way to be fair in regards to her cheating husband, aware of his love for his sons, she had agreed to share custody, and to retain the family home. The parent would move in and out, with the children having a stable environment. So how and why could this happen?

Secrets, intirgue, and a format using a television show and Twitter to tell the story. We sleep hear from the husband in alternating chapters. Twist after twist. One would expect this to be a quick moving story, but I found it anything but. I felt it dragged, read extremely slow. Plus, hearing the story from both viewpoints created much unwelcome repetition.

I appreciate how this story was put together, not sure if it was particularly realistic but the twists were entertaining and clever. Never felt any affiinity to the characters either, so I ended up thinking this was good, okay, but not more.

This was a sisters read, one in which we had various responses.

ARC from Edelweiss.

[j e w e l s · Rating 2 out of 5]

TWO STARS

I would never (in a million years) call this book a thriller. Is there a genre that crosses chick-lit with light domestic suspense? That's the word I'm searching for here. If you enjoy a light read with a little mystery OUR HOUSE is the book for you. Also, I would point you to any of the Mary Kubica or B.A. Paris novels.

But for me? I'm always looking for dark, dangerous and truly suspenseful plot lines. I love layered characters with personality disorders. I love mood. Setting. Atmosphere. I'm weird like that. So, I don't like this book.

Louise Candlish is a gifted writer and she did draw me into the book immediately. And then, the story never goes anywhere! So much talking, talking, talking. BORING. BORING. BORING.

Ugh. Sorry to report this. The cover is beautiful and Candlish has many fans already. I realize my opinions are on the jaded side and I accept this book is not for me. It might be perfect for you, so don't pay attention to my ramblings....😉

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Berkley Publishing for my very pretty galley. The book hits 🇺🇸 shelves on August 7, 2018. All opinions are obviously my own.

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*NOW AVAILABLE*


I had so many mixed feelings about this book and they changed as the book went on. Here’s how I felt:

I loved the premise, coming home to find someone else already moved into your house! Not very believable but I was good with it. Speaking with the people who are moving in and then eventually realizing it wasn’t just a mix up. No spoilers here.

This is at least the second book that I’ve read where parts were written as though they are on a podcast, the other being “Are You Sleeping” by Kathleen Barber and did end up enjoying that book. I think by adding a second “social media” situation with the emails was a little annoying. Add to that the fact that you are going back and forth in time. I got irritated with the book at times.

The main characters Fi and Bram Lawson are quite unlikable. Fi seems to have a very superior, selfish attitude about most things and Bram is just a loser and a cheater. I didn’t feel much emotion for either of them. Fi’s love interest seem too good to be true and their relationship is so insulated, no one even saw them together, or did they? I didn’t find that either parent had their kids best interests at heart, even though they verbally said that they did. Their actions didn’t display that love and concern.

There is another very sad, very important story going on at the same time. A mother and her young daughter are in an auto accident, they were blindsided and slammed into a tree. Throughout most of the book we don’t know how this will all turn out, one of our main characters is involved, but which one?

What I liked about the book ----- the up and down, in and out, twisty, turning nature of the plot. It was so well thought out and the reader is so “set up” that I had no idea that the novel would end the way that it did. That bumped the book up to a solid 4, just the last 25 pages were pretty amazing.

All together I would recommend this book, this is a very intelligent read with lots to try and figure out. Many of you may be younger, or just enjoy reading a book with a more up to date vibe to it and this might be just perfect for you!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars (rounded up)

Imagine walking down your street to find someone else moving into your home. The problem? You haven’t put it on the market! Yeah, that has just happened to Fiona Lawson.

Fiona’s terrifying discovery gets even worse when she tries and fails to get a hold of her estranged husband, Bram, only to find that his phone has been shut off and that he’s MIA.

What on earth is going on here? Is any of this for real? Getting to the bottom of it will make your head spin, it did mine!

“Our House” is told in alternating timelines and POV’s. Though I felt that it stretched the realm of believability, I was intrigued enough to keep reading and boy was there a payoff! The ending was like shazam!

A buddy read with Kaceey, so happy we read this together!

Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Louise Candlish for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 7.8.18.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Property is organized robbery." (George Bernard Shaw)

Fiona Lawson eyes a moving van parked in the street in front of her upscale home. Shockingly, she watches a sofa being carried into her own house with many additional pieces being transported like a strange furniture caravan. This can't be happening. She enters into her once familiar surroundings only to find strangers staring back at her. Arguing with these people serves up no results. She madly calls her husband, Bram, but his cellphone is no longer in service. And from here on out, Fi's life will no longer be in service as well.

Louise Candlish creates a mindboggling storyline that follows the lives of Fi and Bram Lawson who have separated after his infidelity. They have strategized a temporary custody module for their two young sons called "bird's nest" in which each parent takes turns living in an outside apartment and rotating residence in the family home so the boys will have stability. But life in the outside world will certainly have its trappings. Fi will be clueless as to what Bram has been up to. And Bram will be caught up in the quicksand of his own making.

I would gauge this one honestly at 3.5* and I kicked it up to 4* for its originality. The format of the story is told in alternating pages of Bram's Word Document responses and Fi's Story. It's recanted in the aftermath on a website called The Victim, a crime podcast, with viewers tweeting their theories. Prepare yourself for certain sections that go on a bit longer than necessary. We, as readers, seem to sit on a nest of eggs that linger and linger in the hatching stage. But it does pick up some speed towards the climatic ending with no good deed goes unpunished. And the Universe tends to straighten crooked paths all in good time. Well, now......

I received a copy of Our House through Berkley Publishers for an honest review. I would like to thank them and Louise Candlish for the opportunity.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

This book started out with a bang! Grabbed me right away. I only wish it could have held this intensity throughout. Midway I found it becoming repetitive and I just wanted the story to move on.

Bram and Fiona are estranged, though they continue to share their home for the sake of their children. Only... they don’t actually coexist in the home. With a completely different take on parenting, they take turns staying in the home with the kids. Strange... but ok!?🤷🏻‍♀️

Only when Fi comes home early one day she finds another couple moving their belongings into her home. All her furniture and personal possessions are gone! And when she tries to call Bram, his phone is no longer in service! Is this a bad joke? How could another couple be staking claim to her home?

One bad decision (after another) and the desperation that follows.

The premise hooked me. The first third had me glued to the pages as the story unfolded from both Bram and Fi’s POV, delivered in the most unique formats. After somewhat of a stall midway you’re dragged back to an ending that... Blahhh!!!! Definitely rounding up for that ending!!

A buddy read with Susanne!🌸

Thank you to NetGalley Berkley Publishing Group and Louise Candlish for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing: 3.5/5 | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: FFS!!!!!/5

SYNOPSIS

Fi and Bram have taken co-parenting to the next level with the bird nest: their kids stay in the family home full time, while Fi and Bram rotate days AND share an apt where they each spend their "off days." But when Fi goes to the family home she finds all her stuff is gone and a couple is moving in, claiming they bought the house. Meanwhile Bram is missing. What in the merciless hell is going on!?

MY OPINION

This is not a thriller. There are no thrills because Bram tells you what's really up and then you read about Fi finding out in her own time. I would classify this as a character-driven family drama with some light suspense. There is limited dialogue and a lot of retelling/internal rumination. If you don't want to explore the mindset of a compulsive liar and an uptight Stepford wife-esque character then this probably isn't for you.

Our House is written in an epistolary format composed of Fi's recording on The Victim podcast (not well done because what podcast just features 3 hours of one woman monologuing in fancy prose), Bram's suicide letter (not a spoiler), and then the classic third-person narration of Bram and Fi in present times from when Fi discovers her home has been sold without her consent. This can be a bit confusing as the podcast and Bram's letter provide background and then you jump to the present time already knowing what's happening just to witness the aftermath.

I gave this three stars because it fit what I was looking for. I had just DNFed the Chalk Man and was looking for something mindless and light that didn't center around murder, rape, etc. This book fit the bill. I wouldn't call it Honda Civic Reliable, because I can see why people don't really fk with this novel. I would call it an unrealized potential three stars.

As usual I wanted to fight the male MC, Bram (sorry but with a name like this you just know he's a little shit), but I won't lie, there's one scene with his kids that made a h0e (me) feel something other than hatred lol. I'm not sure if we were supposed to sympathize with Bram based on his childhood, but if he knew enough to go to the doc for meds, then he knew enough to get therapy to correct his destructive behaviour. Sympathize I will not!!!!

And then of course the ending. Goddammit!!! I won't say any more than that but I was ready to drop kick this book out the window.

Tbh I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. It's just fine. If you have it, read it. But don't go out of your way to pick it up. It won't change your life.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: interesting format, learned what bird nesting is (would never do it), easy and mindless read

Cons: repetitive—Bram tells us what's up and then we hear Fi's side of the same events

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

"They didn't tell us that the worst disasters would be those of our own making."

Imagine having the house of your dreams. The house you have always wanted. It's perfect for you in every way. You hope to live there forever. You plan to give this home to your children one day, keep it in the family as they say. Then imagine walking home one day to see a moving truck parked out front. Furniture is being moved in, and you did not arrange any of this. This must be a mistake. It must be!

But you quickly meet the new owner. What!?! You didn't sell this home. True, you are sharing the home with your soon to be ex-husband, but certainly there has been some mistake, hasn't there? That is what happens to Fiona "Fi" as she returns one day. Frantic, she phones her soon to be ex-husband, Bram, but can't get through to him. She has no idea where Bram is, and the new owner(s) have proof of a sale.

Our House is told both Fi and Bram's point of view but in different formats. Fi's point of view is told through a podcast called "The Victim". She tells her side of the story and the reader quickly learns why the couple are getting divorced and the events occurring from Fi's POV. It is obvious that Fi has not been told the truth about so many things that will eventually have an impact on her life. The reader is given Bram's POV through a word document. He has not been honest with Fi and is not a very like-able character. As both share their stories, the reader is privy to more information than Fi. What starts as one incident begins a chain reaction leading to downfall.

"I hate you, he thinks. I hate you with a depth that makes me see I have never hated before in my whole life. Only you."

This book started out strong for me but then slowed down drastically in the middle but then picked up the pace again when it gets to the home stretch. There are a few twists and turns to move the story along but again - the middle - it lagged. Overall, an enjoyable story even if it wasn't an edge of your seat page turner. Interesting premise and a unique way of telling the story which will work for some and not others. I think this would be a good book for books club as there are some interesting things to discuss - birds nest parenting/divorce/home-sharing, deceit, lies, the old "what would you do if this happened in your life" or "what would you do differently" questions, the ending, the twists, etc.

*Traveling Sisters read

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts can now be found on my blog post along with more for Louise Candlish's books
Penny For Our Thoughts

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Friday 13 January, 2017

London 12:30 p.m.

She must be mistaken, but it looks exactly like someone is moving into her house.

The van is parked halfway down Trinity Avenue, its square mouth agape, a large piece of furniture sliding down the ribbed metal tongue. Fi watches, squinting into the buttery sunlight - rare for the time of year, a gift - as the object is borne shoulder-high by two men through the gate and down the path.

My gate. My path.

No, that's illogical: of course it can't be her house. It must be the Reese's, two down from hers; they put their place on the market in the autumn and no one is quite sure if a sale has gone through. The houses on this side of Trinity Avenue are all built the same - red-bricked double-fronted Edwardians in pairs, their owners united in a preference for front doors painted black - and everyone agrees it's easy to miscount.

Once when Bram came stumbling home from one of his 'quick drinks' at The Two Brewers, he went to the wrong door and she heard through the open bedroom window the scrambling and huffing as her inebriated husband failed to fit his key into the lock of number 87, Merle and Adrian's place. His persistence was staggering, his dogged belief that if he only kept trying the key would work.

'But they all look the same,' he'd protested in the morning.

'The houses, yes, but even a drunk couldn't miss the magnolia,' Fi had told him, laughing. (This was back when she was still amused by his inebriety and not filled with sadness - or disdain, depending on her mood.)

Her step falters: the magnolia. It's a landmark, their tree, a celebrated sight when in blossom and beautiful even when bare, as it is now, the outer twigs etched into the sky with an artist's flair. And it is definitely in the front garden of the house with the van outside.

ABOUT 'OUR HOUSE': On a bright January morning in the London suburbs, a family moves into the house they’ve just bought in Trinity Avenue.

Nothing strange about that. Except it is your house. And you didn’t sell it.

When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she's sure there's been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern co-parenting arrangement: bird's nest custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down.

Now Bram has disappeared and so have Fiona's children. As events spiral well beyond her control, Fiona will discover just how many lies her husband was weaving and how little they truly knew each other. But Bram's not the only one with things to hide, and some secrets are best kept to oneself, safe as houses.

MY THOUGHTS: Plenty of twists and turns culminating in an unexpected and ironic ending.

I love Louise Candlish's talent for writing engrossing neighbourhood dramas! There is a lot more going on in this story than is immediately obvious.

The plot is as outlined above, and I am not going to elaborate on that in any way for fear of revealing spoilers. But let's just say that Candlish strung me along beautifully.

Bram is an awful husband. He is unfaithful to Fi, and those are not the only secrets he is keeping from her! I can't say that I really warmed to Fi either - she seemed to me to be a bit of a cold fish, concerned more about appearances and status than the reality of the situation.

But the story itself is delicious. It's told from the viewpoints of both Fi and Bram as their marriage crumbles and Bram is caught up in a web of deceit and blackmail. So we, the readers, know things about Bram that Fi doesn't and vice-versa. While ignorance may be bliss in some situations, that certainly isn't the case here.

I loved the ending.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.3

#OurHouse

I: @louisecandlish @wfhowes

T: @louise_candlish @WFHowes

#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama

THE AUTHOR: Sunday Times bestselling author ​Louise Candlish was born in Northumberland and grew up in the Midlands town of Northampton. She studied English at University College London and has lived in the capital ever since.

Louise lives in Herne Hill in South London with her husband, teenage daughter and fox-red Labrador, Bertie. Besides books, the things she likes best are: coffee; TV; salted caramel; tennis; lasagne; old heavy metal; 'The Archers' (but not the lockdown monologues); white wine; Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (or, failing that, a Starbar). Her favourite book is Madame Bovary.

DISCLOSURE: I listened to Our House written by Louise Candlish, narrated by Deni Francis and Paul Panting, published by W.F. Howes Ltd via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When fortyish Londoner Fiona Lawson catches her handsome husband Bram with another woman, in the children's playhouse no less, that's it! This is Bram's second offense, and divorce is the only answer.



Fiona is a modern woman, though, and proposes a 'bird's nest' custody arrangement. In this plan, the kids - Leo and Harry -remain in the family home, and the parents take turns living there.



On 'off days' the non-resident parent retires to a small apartment nearby, rented for that purpose.

Fiona is mainly concerned with the children's welfare, but that's not the whole story. The Lawsons own an elegant home on ritzy Trinity Avenue, where the houses are worth upwards of £2,000,000 -and Fiona LOVES her house: the furniture, accessories, garden, magnolia tree.....everything. Moreover, Fiona wants to retain her status, her friends, and her lifestyle. Since Fiona can't afford to buy Brad out of the property, the bird's nest plan is a good alternative.



The shared custody of the house (and boys) seems to be working well until Fiona returns from a brief getaway with her new boyfriend and observes a shocking sight. 😵 A moving van is parked in front of her abode, and workmen are carrying furniture inside.



Fiona rushes into the house to find that ALL of her possessions are gone, and a married couple she's never met, Lucy and David Vaughan, claim to be the new owners. What the hell? 😣



Fiona tries to call Bram, but there's no answer, and she can't locate him anywhere. Worse yet, when Fiona phones Leo and Harry's school, they're not there.



Before long Fiona learns that Bram has indeed sold the house. He masked the takeover from nosy neighbors by spreading the word that he was redecorating as a surprise for Fiona.....presumably in an attempt to win her back.



Fiona was away for only a short time, so Bram had to empty the entire house in a single day - to allow the Vaughans to take ownership before Fiona returned.

(I have to say this doesn't remotely ring true. I had professional movers when I relocated - who packed and moved everything - and the packing alone took a week. And my house wasn't nearly as grand as the Lawson place.)

The story is related in dual narratives, by Fiona and Bram. From their discourse, we get a glimpse of the couple's courtship, marriage, estrangement, and what happened after that.



Fiona's tale is presented (mostly) as an interview on a true crime podcast called 'The Victim', which exposes wrongdoing as a warning to the general public....in this case, real estate fraud.



The podcast is accompanied by sardonic tweets from interested listeners about Fiona's misplaced trust and naivety. Fiona was certainly inattentive and distracted - and overly besotted with her house - but I felt sympathy for her plight.



Bram's story is contained in a letter that explains his actions and what led up to them. Bram is a REAL piece of work - supremely self-centered and craven. To say more would be a spoiler.



The novel has an engaging plot, interesting characters, and surprising twists. For me, though, the story moved too slowly and the drip by drip revelations made me want to skip ahead. I didn't, however, which is a good thing because the book's ending is a corker. The word 'ironic' in the dictionary should be accompanied by the finale of this book.

Overall, I think many readers would enjoy this cautionary tale, and I'd recommend the book to fans of suspense novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author (Louise Candlish), and the publisher (Berkley) for a copy of the book.

You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our House by Louise Candlish is a novel of domestic suspense that is told in a rather creative way. The point of view in the story switches back and forth between the couple in question, Fiona and Abraham or Fi and Bram as they are more commonly known. This is done by Fi telling her side as a podcast complete with comments from the peanut gallery as I liked to refer to them or better known as the random internet viewers and then Bram's side is told through a letter he had written. 

The book begins with giving readers a huge glimpse at where the backstory will lead with Fi returning to the family home after a few days away to find a random family moving into her home. What couple have possibly led to such a huge mistake being made with these people thinking they had a right to be in her personal space??

So then readers are taken back to be given a better look into Fi and Bram's marriage or separation really. You see, they had not been happily together for quite a while but only doing as Fi had suggested and maintaining the family home together for the sake of the children. In a new trend a separating couple alternates times in the family home with the kids instead of a flat out divorce and uprooting the children's lifestyle completely. This may have worked well for the couple if only Bram didn't have so many secrets.

Our House had such an interesting premise and started off rather well in gaining my attention rather quickly. I will admit the style took a little getting used to but it is a rather creative way of doing a book that definitely brings it into this century and it was done rather well. However, at about 30% or so of the story this one really seemed to stall out yet again which unfortunately carries on for the biggest portion of the book making it drag quite a bit. Then flipping my feelings back around the ending to this one was actually quite a good wrap up so while the pacing was a big feeling of meh I still actually liked this one in the end. 

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Absolutely loved the concept for this one, a woman arrives at her house to find all of her stuff gone and a couple has moved in. The story goes back and forth between the wife who has no idea what is going on and her estranged husband who might be keeping a secret or two.

While I liked the idea of the book it was not an "edge of my seat, stay up until 2 am to finish" type of read. It was definitely a solid read but I wish it could have been something more. After finishing the book it still feels like the character of Bram, the husband, was not fully developed. The ending was the best part of the book although I might be in the minority with that opinion. Overall, it was an enjoyable read despite a few flaws.

Thank you to First to Read for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to love this one because let's just talk about THAT cover. OH my goodness... in love with it!

What a fantastic premise to this story... Fiona arrives home and finds a moving truck and strangers moving into her home?! YIKES... talk about anxiety attack 101 lol.

So, unfortunately this thriller fell extremely flat for me. UGH.... man I thought I was drowning half way through towards the end... I had to skim.... and skim... I was pretty bored and the story just lost me. I was hoping and praying SOMETHING would grab me back into the story... well let me tell you I was waiting a long time.

What I did enjoy? The story was well written but it just didn't have enough juice to the smoothie.

I can definitely see why readers may enjoy this one but I really like my dark, mysterious, on edge kind of thrillers with disturbing guts and characters.

2.5 stars.

Thank you so much to Elisha, Berkley, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Published to GR: 7/13/18
Publication date: 8/7/18

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

OUR HOUSE is a creative domestic thriller, about a wife, a husband, and their obsession with their fabulous and expensive home. When their marriage crumbles, they decide on "bird's nest custody" of their children, where the parents take turns living in the house so their sons' lives are minimally disrupted. Yeah, but wasn't it really about their love of the house?

Anyway, Fiona comes home one day and is shocked to discover another family moving into their house. She can't get a hold of her husband, Bram, and these strangers are insisting they are the rightful owners. Can you imagine having your home sold without your knowledge? What's going on?

This intriguing story is told in a unique way, including Fiona doing a podcast of the dilemma (with comments from listeners), and Bram writing up a document, though we're not sure who for. There's a lot of twisty back and forth about what lead up to the shocking discovery. There were parts that felt slow-ish or repetitive, but overall this crazy mystery kept me hanging on. A fun read, though also unsettling!

Oh, my. This book's ending. I was yelling no, no, no! Don't do it! And then, what comes next? I guess that's up to the reader to decide.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona (Fi) Lawson thought the worst thing to happen to her was her husband Bram's infidelity and their subsequent separation. But that's not the worst he will do to her as she discovers when she arrives home to find strangers in the process of moving into her house, the one she and Bram bought and then lovingly renovated all the while feeling smug about the rise in property prices in their exclusive suburb. Now Bram has disappeared and Fi is unable to find him just when she needs him t help unravel this mystery.

Fiona's story told through a popular podcast called 'The Victim', is interspersed with notes from a document written by Bram filling in the gaps of how this nightmare came about. Bram's actions are truly cringe-worthy as he digs himself a bigger and bigger hole from which he can't seem to escape. The story is tense and gripping and overshadowed with menace resulting in an excellent psychological suspense that draws the reader in. And Oh, that sting in the tail made me gasp!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Simon and Schuster for a digital copy of the book

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes getting to the very end of Our House to understand its cleverness, but it is clever. Very clever. And creepy. But without any violence. Our House tells the alternating stories of Bram and Fiona. They are separated, but continue to share the house in which they parent their two sons. Until Fiona comes home one day when it is her turn to live in the house, and new owners are moving in. What follows are Bram and Fiona’s alternating versions of how they got to that point, and how they both sought to fix things. There are a couple of good twists, especially the one at the very end. You have to be prepared for a fairly long read but I thought Candlish did a good job of pulling me along and surprising me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing that I love more than a good noir read and Our House, by Louise Candlish, is domestic noir at its finest.

Fiona “Fi,” arrives home from a trip to find her house is being occupied by a new couple and her kids are missing! Immediately one would think the worst – home invasion, kidnapping…. but no, this couple claims to have purchased Fi’s home from Fi and her husband, Bram. After this foundation is laid, the book continues the story of Fi and Bram told retrospectively: Fi tells her woeful tale via a podcast and Bram tells his version of events via a suicide note. This method of storytelling actually works and is an interesting way of presenting both sides of story.

Fi and Bram’s lives are so convoluted that, at times, it made it difficult to connect with the characters. On the other hand, Candlish created a character, in Bram, who was so well developed that I came to despise the man. It has been a while since I have felt so strongly about a book character. In the end, there is a twist – not one for the sake of twisting – but something we, as readers, should have figured out from the clues but I suspect most, like me, do not and will not see this coming. And then there is the ENDING. The last paragraphs of the book were brilliance. Nope, never ever would I have suspected that ending but, again, it was perfection.

Yes, I am being somewhat vague regarding the plot and storyline. There are too many reviews out there with subtle spoilers and this book is better read blindly with no preconceived ideas of the storyline. I am not going to be the reviewer that ruins the noir element for you.  Our House is one fabulous book for readers of noir fiction, especially if you like a darker domestic tale.