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The Woman at 46 Heath Street
The last letter is addressed to me. No stamp, swirly handwriting in black ink. I pull out a piece of paper, stiffening when I read the message. Hands trembling, the note slides to the floor.
Your husband is having an affair.
Six words written in neat block letters.
Six words slipped through her letterbox, destroying her marriage, exposing Ella’s perfect life as perfect lies.
But Ella has a Alice is the answer to her problems. A lodger, to help keep her afloat, a friend, to keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street…
Your husband is having an affair.
Six words written in neat block letters.
Six words slipped through her letterbox, destroying her marriage, exposing Ella’s perfect life as perfect lies.
But Ella has a Alice is the answer to her problems. A lodger, to help keep her afloat, a friend, to keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street…
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2019
384 people are currently reading
635 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Sanderson
14 books120 followersLesley Sanderson spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and also works as a librarian in a multicultural school. She has lived and worked in Paris and speaks four languages.
She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.
Follow Lesley Sanderson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleysande...
She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.
Follow Lesley Sanderson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleysande...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
March 24, 2019
This one is a quick, easy and totally engrossing read. There are edge of the seat scary moments and very few occasions when you feel able to put the book down - in my mind I kept saying "just one more chapter, just one more...."
Ella is an interesting main character. Although she stresses out totally when she discovers her husband's affair and goes on wishing to get him back long after she should have written him off, she still has a back bone and manages to deal with him in a satisfactory way. She also copes better than I think I would with scary nights on her own and numerous nasty little events.
The story is good if a little predictable. Even though I guessed what was going to happen it did not spoil my enjoyment at all. I can recommend this totally to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Ella is an interesting main character. Although she stresses out totally when she discovers her husband's affair and goes on wishing to get him back long after she should have written him off, she still has a back bone and manages to deal with him in a satisfactory way. She also copes better than I think I would with scary nights on her own and numerous nasty little events.
The story is good if a little predictable. Even though I guessed what was going to happen it did not spoil my enjoyment at all. I can recommend this totally to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 6, 2019
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
A suspense novel bent on revenge? Sign me up, take my money, leave me gasping for breath and dialing 9-1-1. A little dramatic? Perhaps. But I found this to be a compelling read that I just couldn't put down. Despite the fact that I knew exactly what all the reveals were going to be as the momentum built.
Ella may have been a tad more impressionable than I usually accept in my protagonists, but I decided to go down the rabbit hole with her. She was a woman who had just discovered that her idiot husband started an affair after she had taken care of his dying mother. I mean, that's just really nasty!
But the vengeance vein seemed to fizzle out by the end and I was a bit disappointed that the book didn't live up to its promises.
Goodreads review published 06/03/19
Expected Publication 28/03/19
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
A suspense novel bent on revenge? Sign me up, take my money, leave me gasping for breath and dialing 9-1-1. A little dramatic? Perhaps. But I found this to be a compelling read that I just couldn't put down. Despite the fact that I knew exactly what all the reveals were going to be as the momentum built.
Ella may have been a tad more impressionable than I usually accept in my protagonists, but I decided to go down the rabbit hole with her. She was a woman who had just discovered that her idiot husband started an affair after she had taken care of his dying mother. I mean, that's just really nasty!
But the vengeance vein seemed to fizzle out by the end and I was a bit disappointed that the book didn't live up to its promises.
Goodreads review published 06/03/19
Expected Publication 28/03/19
July 1, 2020
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
This leans more to domestic suspense than thriller but I still enjoyed reading it!
The title could easily have been ‘The Women at 46 Heath Street’ because several female characters called this address home. They left their mark and the house reciprocated by touching their lives during difficult circumstances.
Told in two timelines, one in the present and one as a diary, I confess that I found Nancy’s journal portions more engaging than Elle’s story. Overall this was a quick and easy read.
I was leaning toward four to four and a half stars but a pet was killed. Luckily, there were no details and the ‘mystery’ wasn’t solved, but I wish the murdered pets trend would die its own death.
This leans more to domestic suspense than thriller but I still enjoyed reading it!
The title could easily have been ‘The Women at 46 Heath Street’ because several female characters called this address home. They left their mark and the house reciprocated by touching their lives during difficult circumstances.
Told in two timelines, one in the present and one as a diary, I confess that I found Nancy’s journal portions more engaging than Elle’s story. Overall this was a quick and easy read.
I was leaning toward four to four and a half stars but a pet was killed. Luckily, there were no details and the ‘mystery’ wasn’t solved, but I wish the murdered pets trend would die its own death.
June 30, 2020
The premise was enticing...
Ella receives a letter, no stamp, swirly handwriting in black ink. “Your husband is having an affair”.
SIX words that changed her life.
And, when she confronts her husband, Chris, he doesn’t even try to deny it-immediately agreeing to move out.
“Has she held on to her house too, kicked the husband out and taken mine in his place?” Ella wonders about the NEW woman..”Is she dolled up for him, all cleavage and crimson lips?”
Ella will have to take in a lodger, now-to pay the mortgage and have any chance at remaining in the house at 46 Heath Street.
But, Alice, the new lodger has her own reasons for wanting to move in..
While not a BAD book, it just didn’t feel fresh or original after these first few pages. I guessed who Alice was, well before the 50% point.
There was no misdirection even attempted-this story was too obvious for those of us who read a LOT of suspense.
And, once again, a pet is killed 😾!
Deducted points for that as well as for the lack of red herrings and misdirection.
Ella receives a letter, no stamp, swirly handwriting in black ink. “Your husband is having an affair”.
SIX words that changed her life.
And, when she confronts her husband, Chris, he doesn’t even try to deny it-immediately agreeing to move out.
“Has she held on to her house too, kicked the husband out and taken mine in his place?” Ella wonders about the NEW woman..”Is she dolled up for him, all cleavage and crimson lips?”
Ella will have to take in a lodger, now-to pay the mortgage and have any chance at remaining in the house at 46 Heath Street.
But, Alice, the new lodger has her own reasons for wanting to move in..
While not a BAD book, it just didn’t feel fresh or original after these first few pages. I guessed who Alice was, well before the 50% point.
There was no misdirection even attempted-this story was too obvious for those of us who read a LOT of suspense.
And, once again, a pet is killed 😾!
Deducted points for that as well as for the lack of red herrings and misdirection.
March 28, 2019
What on earth is going on at 46 Heath Street? A lovely home that has been owned by the same family for years may have some secrets hiding behind it's doors.
It took me a hot minute to figure out that the story was revolving around the residents of this address. When I realized this, my first thought was wow this is such a unique approach and it really worked! We get to live in the present with Ella struggling to cope with her marriage falling apart. We also get to live in the past with Nancy's diary entries that had me dying to know what the connection was.
I felt my heart strings being tugged on as Ella tried to understand why her husband Chris had suddenly changed in every way. He had a drastic personality change and suddenly wanted to force her out of the home that she loved. Was there another woman? As things started to spiral out of control, Ella tried to hang on to 46 Heath Street with all her power.
I loved the past and the present aspect of this story. It made me ponder how each home has a story to tell. If only those walls could talk. There was an added bonus of a creep factor woven into the story that I loved! As Ella received creepy notes, things left on her doorstep and visitors in the night I felt a growing concern for her safety. I found myself wanting to scream at Ella as she would want to investigate the late night noises in the dark overgrown garden. No Ella, do not go outside!
A shocking ending that managed to bring past and present together. This book not only told a story of the woman living at 46 Heath Street, but in fact all the women that had lived at that address. A fascinating story that kept me flipping the pages late into the night. Find out what secrets are hiding within the walls of 46 Heath Street!
February 27, 2019
I absolutely loved and was blown away by The Orchid Girls which was one of my favourite reads of last year. I couldn't wait to find out what Lesley Sanderson would come up with for her second book and if it would live up to the brilliance of its predecessor. I'm sure many readers have experienced that sense of second book apprehension. But I needn't have worried because The Woman At 46 Heath Street is just as twisty,compelling and brilliant as The Orchid Girls.
Ella lives in a beautiful house that her husband Chris inherited from his mother Nancy. Ella has the perfect life until the day she receives a letter informing her that her husband is having an affair. She is totally devastated when Chris not only admits that he is cheating on her but also informs Ella that he wants to sell the house and that she will have to move out. Ella can't believe that Chris could be so cruel,he knows how much she adores the house. So Ella comes up with a plan,she will ask her friend,Alice to move in,to help keep her afloat and keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street.
The chapters alternate between Ella and Alice in the present day and Nancy's diary entries set in the past. Each character was vivid and realistic and their stories had me totally enthralled and frantically turning the pages. What was Alice up too? Was she,Chris or both of them behind all the mysterious occurrences at Ella's house? What secrets were hidden behind the front door of 46 Heath Street? The descriptions of the house and Hampstead Heath were stunning,it was like the setting for the story was a character in its own right.
The woman At 46 Heath Street is a edge of your seat,compelling,twist packed thriller with an added dash of poetic justice that had me hooked in from the very first page. Lesley Sanderson's words flow with ease,drawing the reader into her characters fictional world. Captivating the reader throughout her gripping story. Well worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Ella lives in a beautiful house that her husband Chris inherited from his mother Nancy. Ella has the perfect life until the day she receives a letter informing her that her husband is having an affair. She is totally devastated when Chris not only admits that he is cheating on her but also informs Ella that he wants to sell the house and that she will have to move out. Ella can't believe that Chris could be so cruel,he knows how much she adores the house. So Ella comes up with a plan,she will ask her friend,Alice to move in,to help keep her afloat and keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street.
The chapters alternate between Ella and Alice in the present day and Nancy's diary entries set in the past. Each character was vivid and realistic and their stories had me totally enthralled and frantically turning the pages. What was Alice up too? Was she,Chris or both of them behind all the mysterious occurrences at Ella's house? What secrets were hidden behind the front door of 46 Heath Street? The descriptions of the house and Hampstead Heath were stunning,it was like the setting for the story was a character in its own right.
The woman At 46 Heath Street is a edge of your seat,compelling,twist packed thriller with an added dash of poetic justice that had me hooked in from the very first page. Lesley Sanderson's words flow with ease,drawing the reader into her characters fictional world. Captivating the reader throughout her gripping story. Well worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review
November 24, 2021
I had never read a book by author Lesley Sanderson but was drawn to this one after reading the synopsis. An intriguing description that made me want to know more and I am so glad I have added a new author to my reading list. This is a fast paced psychological thriller that is a quick enjoyable read.
Ella receives a letter that informs her that her husband Chris is having an affair. The couple live at 46 Heath Street which was Chris’s family home that he inherited following the death of his mother. Because of his history with the house he feels that it should be Ella that leaves and not him so gives her a few weeks to vacate the property. Ella grew up in care so 46 Heath Street is the only real home she has ever known and because of that is reluctant to leave. She decides to take in a lodger named Alice to help with the costs but little does Ella know that Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street.
This fast paced thriller is a page turner full of suspense, interesting characters and a well thought out plot making it a very good read. Lesley Sanderson is a new author to add to my reading list.
Ella receives a letter that informs her that her husband Chris is having an affair. The couple live at 46 Heath Street which was Chris’s family home that he inherited following the death of his mother. Because of his history with the house he feels that it should be Ella that leaves and not him so gives her a few weeks to vacate the property. Ella grew up in care so 46 Heath Street is the only real home she has ever known and because of that is reluctant to leave. She decides to take in a lodger named Alice to help with the costs but little does Ella know that Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street.
This fast paced thriller is a page turner full of suspense, interesting characters and a well thought out plot making it a very good read. Lesley Sanderson is a new author to add to my reading list.
March 7, 2019
What if everything you ever believed in was just a dream?
Enter 46 Heath Street, a beautiful house overlooking London's gorgeous Hampstead Heath. But when Ella takes in a lodger after she and her husband seperate, things go down hill rapidly. So much dark history, so many hidden agenda's.
This is a fast paced psychological thriller. I was pulled in from the start and couldn't put it down.
The couple are cry babies, but the supporting characters are true gems. They held my attention to the very end.
Excellent writing. An exciting read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
Enter 46 Heath Street, a beautiful house overlooking London's gorgeous Hampstead Heath. But when Ella takes in a lodger after she and her husband seperate, things go down hill rapidly. So much dark history, so many hidden agenda's.
This is a fast paced psychological thriller. I was pulled in from the start and couldn't put it down.
The couple are cry babies, but the supporting characters are true gems. They held my attention to the very end.
Excellent writing. An exciting read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
April 4, 2019
The Woman at 46 Heath Street by Lesley Sanderson is one of those books that I’m a bit hesitant to completely label a thriller but maybe more of a drama with some suspense. The story in this one is told from different points of view and different timelines.
Ella is the housewife at 46 Heath Street who thought she had a wonderful marriage and life since moving into the home. Hard times had hit when Ella’s mother in law had passed after the two had grown close but Ella never expected to lose her husband too until she finds a note that suggests he is cheating.
Once Ella confronts her husband he doesn’t make any attempt to deny the affair and almost happily packs up and leaves. The problem though? 46 Heath Street belongs to Ella’s husband and Ella is not ready to leave having been the first real home and family she had known.
The story in this book was easy to follow despite changing POVs and flashing back to the past. However, maybe that was one of the problems with The Woman at 46 Heath Street, it’s very straight forward which doesn’t lead to an overly thrilling read. While the writing was solid I longed to be shocked and awed instead of seeing right where I was going to end up. I also thought Ella was a bit too weak of a character for me to fall in love with so that also didn’t help my excitement and left me with a bit of a meh feeling.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Ella is the housewife at 46 Heath Street who thought she had a wonderful marriage and life since moving into the home. Hard times had hit when Ella’s mother in law had passed after the two had grown close but Ella never expected to lose her husband too until she finds a note that suggests he is cheating.
Once Ella confronts her husband he doesn’t make any attempt to deny the affair and almost happily packs up and leaves. The problem though? 46 Heath Street belongs to Ella’s husband and Ella is not ready to leave having been the first real home and family she had known.
The story in this book was easy to follow despite changing POVs and flashing back to the past. However, maybe that was one of the problems with The Woman at 46 Heath Street, it’s very straight forward which doesn’t lead to an overly thrilling read. While the writing was solid I longed to be shocked and awed instead of seeing right where I was going to end up. I also thought Ella was a bit too weak of a character for me to fall in love with so that also didn’t help my excitement and left me with a bit of a meh feeling.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 4, 2019
EXCERPT: Edward put his coat on and said he was going for a drink. I tried not to mind but he knew I didn't like being alone in the evenings with the expanse of the heath out there. The sound of the wind whipping up the trees and the house groaning and protesting unsettles me. I couldn't relax and I kept looking at the grandfather clock, which ticked loudly but never seemed to move. Nine o'clock came and then ten, and eventually I gave up and went to bed. But I couldn't sleep with the howling gale making the trees sound as if they were whispering horrible words to me.
I laid awake feeling scares and it was gone midnight when Edward came home and stumbled about downstairs. The worst thing was I wasn't just frightened of what was out there, I was also frightened of Edward and what he might do. He's different now and I don't know why. What have I done?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The last letter is addressed to me. No stamp, swirly handwriting in black ink. I pull out a piece of paper, stiffening when I read the message. Hands trembling, the note slides to the floor.
Your husband is having an affair.
Six words written in neat block letters.
Six words slipped through her letterbox, destroying her marriage, exposing Ella’s perfect life as perfect lies.
But Ella has a plan: Alice is the answer to her problems. A lodger, to help keep her afloat, a friend, to keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street…
MY THOUGHTS: This book was in fact better than my star rating may indicate....it kept me reading into the night, wondering just what was tying the residents, past and present, of this house together.
The reason it didn't get 5 stars is that because in places it was a little predictable.....or is that just because I read too much?
A good solid psychological thriller written over two timelines - Ella in the present and Nancy in the past. Both coping with errant husbands in their own way.
A good, quick read that manages to be both captivating and a little predictable. I will definitely read more by this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: Lesley Sanderson graduated from the Curtis Brown Creative six-month novel writing course in March 2016 before her debut novel, The Orchid Girls, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2017. She works as a secondary school librarian in King’s Cross, after studying French & Theatre Studies at Warwick University.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Woman at 46 Heath Street for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
I laid awake feeling scares and it was gone midnight when Edward came home and stumbled about downstairs. The worst thing was I wasn't just frightened of what was out there, I was also frightened of Edward and what he might do. He's different now and I don't know why. What have I done?
ABOUT THIS BOOK: The last letter is addressed to me. No stamp, swirly handwriting in black ink. I pull out a piece of paper, stiffening when I read the message. Hands trembling, the note slides to the floor.
Your husband is having an affair.
Six words written in neat block letters.
Six words slipped through her letterbox, destroying her marriage, exposing Ella’s perfect life as perfect lies.
But Ella has a plan: Alice is the answer to her problems. A lodger, to help keep her afloat, a friend, to keep the loneliness at bay.
Only Alice has her own reasons for wanting to live at 46 Heath Street…
MY THOUGHTS: This book was in fact better than my star rating may indicate....it kept me reading into the night, wondering just what was tying the residents, past and present, of this house together.
The reason it didn't get 5 stars is that because in places it was a little predictable.....or is that just because I read too much?
A good solid psychological thriller written over two timelines - Ella in the present and Nancy in the past. Both coping with errant husbands in their own way.
A good, quick read that manages to be both captivating and a little predictable. I will definitely read more by this author.
****
THE AUTHOR: Lesley Sanderson graduated from the Curtis Brown Creative six-month novel writing course in March 2016 before her debut novel, The Orchid Girls, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2017. She works as a secondary school librarian in King’s Cross, after studying French & Theatre Studies at Warwick University.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Woman at 46 Heath Street for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
March 17, 2019
The Woman at 46 Heath Street was a book that I read very quickly. I loved The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson so I was super keen to see how she followed it up. Despite picking the ending early on it was a great read. It had me hooked and if I hadn't had such a busy weekend I would have finished it sooner. I am definitely a fan of this author and will be keeping an eye out for what she brings us next.
Ella receives a hand written letter at home, addressed to just her. To her shock when she opens it all it says is "Your husband is having an affair" He whole work comes crashing down and her husband Chris moves out. Struggling to cope and lonely in her big, beautiful house in Hampstead Heath she asks a friend from yoga Alice to move in with her. Chris is threatening to sell the house but she is determined to fight it. Strange things start to happen around the house but Alice is there to help her. Between all of this we get glimpses into the past with the diary of Nancy, Chris' late mother.
This book will have you reading just a bit more as you need to know what happens next. Plenty of twists and turns.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinons are my own and are in no way biased.
Ella receives a hand written letter at home, addressed to just her. To her shock when she opens it all it says is "Your husband is having an affair" He whole work comes crashing down and her husband Chris moves out. Struggling to cope and lonely in her big, beautiful house in Hampstead Heath she asks a friend from yoga Alice to move in with her. Chris is threatening to sell the house but she is determined to fight it. Strange things start to happen around the house but Alice is there to help her. Between all of this we get glimpses into the past with the diary of Nancy, Chris' late mother.
This book will have you reading just a bit more as you need to know what happens next. Plenty of twists and turns.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinons are my own and are in no way biased.
July 2, 2019
Snap. Crackle. Pop. The Woman at 46 Heath Street is a winner, winner!❤️
It was a read that as you digest the words on the page, is fizzles, it snaps and breaks you apart!
The Woman at 46 Heath Street, kept me shaking my head, saying WTF to myself and totally guessing till the end! 5+ stars for this sweet treat to which I enjoyed on the beach; much to the dismay of my skin! I got a nice sunburn courtesy of this can’t put it down read!❤️❤️
It was a read that as you digest the words on the page, is fizzles, it snaps and breaks you apart!
The Woman at 46 Heath Street, kept me shaking my head, saying WTF to myself and totally guessing till the end! 5+ stars for this sweet treat to which I enjoyed on the beach; much to the dismay of my skin! I got a nice sunburn courtesy of this can’t put it down read!❤️❤️
March 26, 2019
A Fast Paced, Captivating Read!
The answer to my question, of how to carry out the perfect revenge, was to be found in the library. Within the pages of none other than a thick medical textbook , would you believe, in the reference section: Not To Be Taken Away. I had no intention of absconding with the book, only with the information inside, which I pored over, squirrelling the contents away in my memory. After many hours of research, I found the perfect answer.
The perfect answer for perfect revenge. Revenge for tainting the house that I once loved. Revenge for robbing me of the best friend I ever had. Such wicked things have taken place within the walls of my home and can never be undone.
Oh yes, it was the perfect answer. I laughed out loud in the middle of the fusty old reading room, causing an inebriated man with tattered clothes and a dubious smell to rouse from his slumber and stare at me with bleary eyes before returning his head to the desk.
The solution had been in front of me all the time. Within view of my kitchen window, in fact, and it required no alteration of my daily routine or behaviour that might arouse suspicion. Everything I needed was out there on Hampstead Heath, that magnificent space that lay behind my house in Heath Street, giving a stunning view that could be seen from any north-facing window. All I needed to do was to go and collect it, and then exact revenge.
********
I raced through The Woman at 46 Heath Street by Lesley Sanderson! The characters and storyline had me hooked from page one and held me completely absorbed throughout as I tried to work out how it would turn out in the end. I did put many of the pieces of the puzzle together correctly but I was still pleasantly surprised by the tidbit I didn't see coming at the conclusion. This is my first novel by this author and I will be reading more of her books in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Lesley Sanderson, for the advanced digital copy of this book for me to read and review.
The answer to my question, of how to carry out the perfect revenge, was to be found in the library. Within the pages of none other than a thick medical textbook , would you believe, in the reference section: Not To Be Taken Away. I had no intention of absconding with the book, only with the information inside, which I pored over, squirrelling the contents away in my memory. After many hours of research, I found the perfect answer.
The perfect answer for perfect revenge. Revenge for tainting the house that I once loved. Revenge for robbing me of the best friend I ever had. Such wicked things have taken place within the walls of my home and can never be undone.
Oh yes, it was the perfect answer. I laughed out loud in the middle of the fusty old reading room, causing an inebriated man with tattered clothes and a dubious smell to rouse from his slumber and stare at me with bleary eyes before returning his head to the desk.
The solution had been in front of me all the time. Within view of my kitchen window, in fact, and it required no alteration of my daily routine or behaviour that might arouse suspicion. Everything I needed was out there on Hampstead Heath, that magnificent space that lay behind my house in Heath Street, giving a stunning view that could be seen from any north-facing window. All I needed to do was to go and collect it, and then exact revenge.
********
I raced through The Woman at 46 Heath Street by Lesley Sanderson! The characters and storyline had me hooked from page one and held me completely absorbed throughout as I tried to work out how it would turn out in the end. I did put many of the pieces of the puzzle together correctly but I was still pleasantly surprised by the tidbit I didn't see coming at the conclusion. This is my first novel by this author and I will be reading more of her books in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Lesley Sanderson, for the advanced digital copy of this book for me to read and review.
March 19, 2019
A structure of brick and mortar can raise so much passion in a person when it is the only home she has ever known. This book is proof of that as Ella loved living in 46 Heath Street. Orphaned at a young age, rejected by her mother, thrown into foster homes, then finding love with her husband Chris and a mother figure in Nancy, her MIL, Ella was happy with what life had brought to her until the death of her MIL.
Then came a note - Your husband is having an affair!!
On confronting, husband accepted it and walked out, and then kept pressing her to sell the house. Ella took in a lodger Alice as she hated being alone. But Alice too had her own secrets regarding the house. The house was the focal point of everyone's lives.
My first book by Lesley Sanderson, the book was slow to start with. I could feel Ella's pain, her loneliness and her sense of betrayal. The book was a bit moody, it gripped me at times, then looked at me indifferently, then caught hold of me in a clinch. We had a love-hate relationship going on with a constant ebb and flow. There was another parallel storyline happening so I could guess the story and the reason for the house being so important to Ella, Chris, and Alice.
Ah my niggles, repetitive scenes, no twists, no sharp turns, no exclamations from me, Ella was too needy and the story was predictable.
A domestic mystery of sorts, the plot line had its suspenseful scenes, physical abuse described made me want to whack the man - ah, those were the good moments!!
Then came a note - Your husband is having an affair!!
On confronting, husband accepted it and walked out, and then kept pressing her to sell the house. Ella took in a lodger Alice as she hated being alone. But Alice too had her own secrets regarding the house. The house was the focal point of everyone's lives.
My first book by Lesley Sanderson, the book was slow to start with. I could feel Ella's pain, her loneliness and her sense of betrayal. The book was a bit moody, it gripped me at times, then looked at me indifferently, then caught hold of me in a clinch. We had a love-hate relationship going on with a constant ebb and flow. There was another parallel storyline happening so I could guess the story and the reason for the house being so important to Ella, Chris, and Alice.
Ah my niggles, repetitive scenes, no twists, no sharp turns, no exclamations from me, Ella was too needy and the story was predictable.
A domestic mystery of sorts, the plot line had its suspenseful scenes, physical abuse described made me want to whack the man - ah, those were the good moments!!
January 30, 2020
3.5. It was well written & went down easy, but.. I just didn’t feel like the justification for pretty much the entire premise of the book, was enough.
March 23, 2019
Having read Ms Sanderson's previous novel, The Orchid Girls (TOG), and not being particularly enamoured by it I was apprehensive about trying this, her standalone follow-up. Luckily, I liked it much more and found it immersive and compelling. Again it was a little slow and repetitive, but the plot is better crafted than TOG. The characters are developed well enough to be party to both their good and bad personality traits, and although the conclusion is predictable from early on it didn't totally spoil my enjoyment. I found myself living every moment alongside the characters - the highs and the lows - making it an emotive, intense read.
Sanderson has woven a thrilling, excitement-filled story with multiple threads that are all tied up perfectly in the end. Like many other books, the setting becomes a character in itself and the descriptions were vivid and alluring. This is a quick, easy read that sadly was missing something that would make it shine in the overcrowded market for these type of novels. All in all, this is an entertaining way to pass a few hours and escape reality. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers and domestic noir/family dramas.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Sanderson has woven a thrilling, excitement-filled story with multiple threads that are all tied up perfectly in the end. Like many other books, the setting becomes a character in itself and the descriptions were vivid and alluring. This is a quick, easy read that sadly was missing something that would make it shine in the overcrowded market for these type of novels. All in all, this is an entertaining way to pass a few hours and escape reality. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers and domestic noir/family dramas.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
April 9, 2019
I am the biggest fan of anything published by #Bookcouture and now I'm a fan of @LesleySanderson too, being this was my first book by her. I want more.
This book had so much depth and the more I think about it, its more like the WOMEN at 46 Heath St.
Ms Sanderson did a damn good job at introducing the characters and following up on them. I really loved the relationship between the original neighbors Doris and Nancy. I could just picture it..sitting outside with lemonade in the garden in the 70s in their shift dresses. It was just a beautiful and timeless friendship. And I loved that she followed up on it in the end. I had so many feels.
I thought this book was going one way and it went that way and then another. This was truly a book that makes you feel with your heart and every other emotion, including the heart pounding OMG moments we have come to expect from #Bookcouture books. It was definitely a psychological thriller, and had SO much more going on to hit on all the emotions. I absolutely loved that we got to witness the same house and the secrets it held from the 70s to the present.
The author did an amazing job at setting the scene. I could picture the house so perfectly. But she also brought the characters to life. There were characters to love and characters to hate. Many of the feels in this book were disheartening. But, we know that going into it.
I can promise you that you will NOT be able to put this book down. I cringed, cried, and turned my kindle pages with fury.
Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookcouture, and the author for my opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.
Cover: 5 stars
This book had so much depth and the more I think about it, its more like the WOMEN at 46 Heath St.
Ms Sanderson did a damn good job at introducing the characters and following up on them. I really loved the relationship between the original neighbors Doris and Nancy. I could just picture it..sitting outside with lemonade in the garden in the 70s in their shift dresses. It was just a beautiful and timeless friendship. And I loved that she followed up on it in the end. I had so many feels.
I thought this book was going one way and it went that way and then another. This was truly a book that makes you feel with your heart and every other emotion, including the heart pounding OMG moments we have come to expect from #Bookcouture books. It was definitely a psychological thriller, and had SO much more going on to hit on all the emotions. I absolutely loved that we got to witness the same house and the secrets it held from the 70s to the present.
The author did an amazing job at setting the scene. I could picture the house so perfectly. But she also brought the characters to life. There were characters to love and characters to hate. Many of the feels in this book were disheartening. But, we know that going into it.
I can promise you that you will NOT be able to put this book down. I cringed, cried, and turned my kindle pages with fury.
Thank you #NetGalley, #Bookcouture, and the author for my opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.
Cover: 5 stars
March 11, 2019
I couldn’t even get halfway through this one. The writing is awful. From the main character rambling on about her dead mother-in-law the entire time to the lack-lustre storyline, this “thriller” is completely uninspiring. Trust me and just skip this one.
November 21, 2019
A quick and easy read but I’d probably place it in the genre of suspense/drama.
I found this second novel by Sanderson lacking an overall message or moral value. Unlike the first book which dealt with bullying, children’s nature’s and behaviours, this was more a wife-scorned, mild and tepid 91/2 weeks (bunny/mouse slaying)..
Told from multiple view points and different time periods the author successfully navigates the reader through these segues with ease. The plot, however, is on the predictable side. Characterisation is rather formulated and I didn’t feel any emotional connection to Ella or Alice, therefore I wasn’t vested in a resolution for any of them.
That said it’s a great, quick, and easy holiday read.
I found this second novel by Sanderson lacking an overall message or moral value. Unlike the first book which dealt with bullying, children’s nature’s and behaviours, this was more a wife-scorned, mild and tepid 91/2 weeks (bunny/mouse slaying)..
Told from multiple view points and different time periods the author successfully navigates the reader through these segues with ease. The plot, however, is on the predictable side. Characterisation is rather formulated and I didn’t feel any emotional connection to Ella or Alice, therefore I wasn’t vested in a resolution for any of them.
That said it’s a great, quick, and easy holiday read.
April 19, 2019
Plenty of twist and turns in this book to keep one entertained. A good read, with a great character at the heart of it. Although i find think that the ending was a tad weird and odd. But other than that it’s wasn’t bad.
March 26, 2019
This is a great psychological thriller that will have you hooked from the first few pages.
Ella receives a letter that simply says “Your husband is having an affair.”
This comes as a complete shock to Ella as in her mind, she has a happy marriage.
She confronts Chris and he openly admits to the affair which leaves Ella devastated.
Chris leaves to give her some space but Ella doesn’t like living alone so asks a friend she recently met to move in with her.
Alice loves the house as much as Ella and soon they are getting on well together and make plans for the house.
It soon becomes clear to Ella that Chris is having money problems and whilst she sympathises with him, she doesn’t want to lose the house.
Someone starts leaving more messages for Ella and she assumes it Chris’ new woman and becomes more and more frustrated.
Events soon come to a head and secrets are revealed, leading to a breathtaking conclusion.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Ella receives a letter that simply says “Your husband is having an affair.”
This comes as a complete shock to Ella as in her mind, she has a happy marriage.
She confronts Chris and he openly admits to the affair which leaves Ella devastated.
Chris leaves to give her some space but Ella doesn’t like living alone so asks a friend she recently met to move in with her.
Alice loves the house as much as Ella and soon they are getting on well together and make plans for the house.
It soon becomes clear to Ella that Chris is having money problems and whilst she sympathises with him, she doesn’t want to lose the house.
Someone starts leaving more messages for Ella and she assumes it Chris’ new woman and becomes more and more frustrated.
Events soon come to a head and secrets are revealed, leading to a breathtaking conclusion.
This is a great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
March 15, 2019
Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The description of this book sounded as if it would be right up my alley and it started off strong, pulling me into the story quickly. Unfortunately, it became predictable pretty quickly, which made me lose interest.
The description of this book sounded as if it would be right up my alley and it started off strong, pulling me into the story quickly. Unfortunately, it became predictable pretty quickly, which made me lose interest.
March 28, 2019
My second book by this author and I was even more convinced about the ability she has to capture my attention and to make me forget about everything around me because I am too engrossed in her story.
From the start until the finish the writer has created a kind of creepiness mixed with a very big dose of different emotions. Once again I am confronted by some people’s viciousness. Nobody’s life is a bed of roses, but jeez some really got the short end of the stick.
I applauded Nancy for what she did. Maybe she should have done it a lot sooner. 🙂 I liked every character. By this I mean I loved the way the author created them because they were perfect for the role they had to play.
I was as intrigued by what happened in the past as I was by what was going on in the present.
This story made me feel like my senses were on a trampoline : heartbreaking, heartwarming and back again and again.
There is only one thing left to say : I absolutely enjoyed it. 5 stars.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
From the start until the finish the writer has created a kind of creepiness mixed with a very big dose of different emotions. Once again I am confronted by some people’s viciousness. Nobody’s life is a bed of roses, but jeez some really got the short end of the stick.
I applauded Nancy for what she did. Maybe she should have done it a lot sooner. 🙂 I liked every character. By this I mean I loved the way the author created them because they were perfect for the role they had to play.
I was as intrigued by what happened in the past as I was by what was going on in the present.
This story made me feel like my senses were on a trampoline : heartbreaking, heartwarming and back again and again.
There is only one thing left to say : I absolutely enjoyed it. 5 stars.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
May 27, 2019
A family drama that slowly unfolds by combining present day with events from the past that played out inside 46Heath Street. It is an enjoyable story that kept my interest throughout. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 17, 2022
The Woman at 46 Heath Street
By: Lesley Sanderson
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ella is home alone when she receives an ominous note saying “Your husband is having an affair.” The home Ella lives in is has been in her husbands family for generations.
When she confronts him, he admits to an affair and wanting to get a divorce and sell the home and wants her out quickly.
Ella meets Alice and she lets her into the home as a boarder and changes the locks. Little does she know she did not meet Alice by accident!
This novel has so many surprise elements that kept me engaged until the end! Who will end up in the home?
#bookouture, #lesleysanderson, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
By: Lesley Sanderson
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ella is home alone when she receives an ominous note saying “Your husband is having an affair.” The home Ella lives in is has been in her husbands family for generations.
When she confronts him, he admits to an affair and wanting to get a divorce and sell the home and wants her out quickly.
Ella meets Alice and she lets her into the home as a boarder and changes the locks. Little does she know she did not meet Alice by accident!
This novel has so many surprise elements that kept me engaged until the end! Who will end up in the home?
#bookouture, #lesleysanderson, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
January 2, 2020
This is the second book which I have read by this author. The first book, The Orchid Girls, was a tense thriller which sets your nerves on edge, and this book was no different! In this story, we meet Ella. Ella is having problems with her husband Chris following the death of his mother. They all lived together in Chris’s family home, but when Ella receives an anonymous note saying her husband is having an affair, Chris has no choice but to admit it. He also says that he wants Ella to leave so he can sell the house. Not willing to accept that, Ella asks her new friend, Alice to move in with her to help her with the bills. But is Alice everything she seems to be?
Having read the author’s previous book I was interested to see whether I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Happily I did, and it was certainly as tense and full of nerve wracking moments as the previous book was! I found Ella’s character difficult to work out though. On one hand I felt so sorry for her – her husband leaving her and then faced with the prospect of losing her home. She was also still obviously grieving for her husband’s mother, Nancy, who Ella thought of as her own mother. On the other hand, I thought Ella was so naive when it came to choosing her new lodger, quite happily inviting some woman who she barely knew to move in with her. My inner voice was screaming at her to at least check some sort of references or something before letting her have a key!!
Ella’s husband Chris was a complete idiot and I really didn’t like him. There was obviously a lot more going on than what met the eye, and as the book moved on all was revealed! Now, Alice was a completely different story! It was plain to see that she had an ulterior motive for being in Ella’s house, but again we weren’t told what that was until the big reveal at the end, and to be honest whilst I guessed something was going on, I didn’t work out what it was!
The whole story sent shivers up my spine and had me biting my nails in anticipation of what was happening. It definitely played on my emotions and had me not knowing who to trust as none of the characters appeared to be quite as they seemed. Told from different characters perspectives, and with diary entries from Nancy’s earlier years, the story kept a strong and steady pace throughout the book right through to the big reveal at the end.
This was definitely an enthralling thriller and as it was a relatively short book it kept me hooked for a few hours until I’d finished it. Full of secrets, lies and betrayal, this book will have you not trusting anyone, not even those close to you! Would definitely recommend!
Having read the author’s previous book I was interested to see whether I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Happily I did, and it was certainly as tense and full of nerve wracking moments as the previous book was! I found Ella’s character difficult to work out though. On one hand I felt so sorry for her – her husband leaving her and then faced with the prospect of losing her home. She was also still obviously grieving for her husband’s mother, Nancy, who Ella thought of as her own mother. On the other hand, I thought Ella was so naive when it came to choosing her new lodger, quite happily inviting some woman who she barely knew to move in with her. My inner voice was screaming at her to at least check some sort of references or something before letting her have a key!!
Ella’s husband Chris was a complete idiot and I really didn’t like him. There was obviously a lot more going on than what met the eye, and as the book moved on all was revealed! Now, Alice was a completely different story! It was plain to see that she had an ulterior motive for being in Ella’s house, but again we weren’t told what that was until the big reveal at the end, and to be honest whilst I guessed something was going on, I didn’t work out what it was!
The whole story sent shivers up my spine and had me biting my nails in anticipation of what was happening. It definitely played on my emotions and had me not knowing who to trust as none of the characters appeared to be quite as they seemed. Told from different characters perspectives, and with diary entries from Nancy’s earlier years, the story kept a strong and steady pace throughout the book right through to the big reveal at the end.
This was definitely an enthralling thriller and as it was a relatively short book it kept me hooked for a few hours until I’d finished it. Full of secrets, lies and betrayal, this book will have you not trusting anyone, not even those close to you! Would definitely recommend!
April 3, 2019
Ella Rutherford loves the house she lives in with her husband, Chris, at 46 Heath Street. The couple came there to stay with the ailing Nancy, Chris's mother, until she died. Ella finds such comfort in the old family home having been raised in foster care and never having family ties. Her blissful life is shattered, however, when she finds that her husband is having an affair and when she is told she must move out. Ella is having none of that for the house was refinanced with her money so she's part owner, and she is happy when Chris leaves her there alone long enough for Ella to find a friend to move in with her temporarily to share expenses. Alice is such a blessing and helps Ella deal with all manner of things. But nothing is as it seems and Ella soon discovers that the house holds secrets.
This is a mystery wrapped in domestic drama. Though predictable in every way and not really suspenseful, I enjoyed seeing how the narrative played out against my guesses. I do get irritated, however, when the female characters are so weak-minded and easy to push around as their emotions get the better of them. It's also annoying to have the main character go on and on with stream of consciousness angsting that is repetitive and pitiful. Instead of stirring up empathy, I just want to shake them. Since the main focus of the tale was wrongs done to women, the male characters as written were deliberately horrid jerks. All seemed one-dimensional and I found it hard to relate or to get too invested in the outcome. It was a quick, easy read that provided a few hours of entertainment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a mystery wrapped in domestic drama. Though predictable in every way and not really suspenseful, I enjoyed seeing how the narrative played out against my guesses. I do get irritated, however, when the female characters are so weak-minded and easy to push around as their emotions get the better of them. It's also annoying to have the main character go on and on with stream of consciousness angsting that is repetitive and pitiful. Instead of stirring up empathy, I just want to shake them. Since the main focus of the tale was wrongs done to women, the male characters as written were deliberately horrid jerks. All seemed one-dimensional and I found it hard to relate or to get too invested in the outcome. It was a quick, easy read that provided a few hours of entertainment.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.
February 25, 2019
Ella and Chris are married. However things are not going so well. Chris is leaving Ella for an (unspecified) other woman. Chris' mother, Nancy, had passed away less than a year ago. Ella had helped her with all of her physical and emotional struggles. Ella felt as if Nancy was a true mother to her - Ella was in foster care as a child and teen. Ella did not want to leave that house.
Nancy had been married to Edward in 1976. They had bought the house Chris and Ella now live in. Chris wants his "new love" to move in with him but needs money in excess of his pay. He puts the house that Ella loves (and rightfully owns, as well) up for sale.
Ella finds a renter at her yoga class to take a room in the house for the time being . Alice (the renter) and Ella become friends and Ella leans heavily for on Alice for emotional support. But, the reader is quickly on to the fact that Alice has some sort of hidden agenda.
Where/why is Chris spending so much money that the mortgage is again due, he has to sell his car and has maxed out the credit cards? Who is this'new "love"?
A very fast-paced brilliant novel in which character development is strong and a plot that keeps you in suspense until that last page! To me, one of 2019's best!
Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a splendid thrill-ride!
Nancy had been married to Edward in 1976. They had bought the house Chris and Ella now live in. Chris wants his "new love" to move in with him but needs money in excess of his pay. He puts the house that Ella loves (and rightfully owns, as well) up for sale.
Ella finds a renter at her yoga class to take a room in the house for the time being . Alice (the renter) and Ella become friends and Ella leans heavily for on Alice for emotional support. But, the reader is quickly on to the fact that Alice has some sort of hidden agenda.
Where/why is Chris spending so much money that the mortgage is again due, he has to sell his car and has maxed out the credit cards? Who is this'new "love"?
A very fast-paced brilliant novel in which character development is strong and a plot that keeps you in suspense until that last page! To me, one of 2019's best!
Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a splendid thrill-ride!
March 6, 2019
The Woman at 46 Heath Street by Lesley Sanderson
Genre: Suspense, Psychological Thriller
BUG Rating: 4/5
Overall: A slowish start - but you will see, the build up, the finer details, are all incredibly important, and worth it. This book is amazing. The plot focuses around the lovely little house at 46 Heath Street and the women that live/have lived in it. I was surprised by this book, very surprised, and in a good way. Lesley’s writing was exciting and captivating. I was hungry for more. I loved what this book was really all about, for me, it’s about love, a man’s obsession to keep his wife all to himself, it’s about domestic abuse, both mental and physical, and it’s about secrets … dark secrets that take place behind closed doors. If you want an utterly gripping, haunting and riveting read, you will not be disappointed, this book is for you!
Full review on the blog next week
Genre: Suspense, Psychological Thriller
BUG Rating: 4/5
Overall: A slowish start - but you will see, the build up, the finer details, are all incredibly important, and worth it. This book is amazing. The plot focuses around the lovely little house at 46 Heath Street and the women that live/have lived in it. I was surprised by this book, very surprised, and in a good way. Lesley’s writing was exciting and captivating. I was hungry for more. I loved what this book was really all about, for me, it’s about love, a man’s obsession to keep his wife all to himself, it’s about domestic abuse, both mental and physical, and it’s about secrets … dark secrets that take place behind closed doors. If you want an utterly gripping, haunting and riveting read, you will not be disappointed, this book is for you!
Full review on the blog next week
March 29, 2019
I love a good, twisty psychological thriller and this one will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the two stories centred around a house overlooking the Heath and the connections between them. The trope of the lodger turning out to have an ulterior motive is a familiar one but the author manages to throw in a few red herrings and deliver a twist at the end. The protagonist, Ella, is shown at her most vulnerable at the start, so of course, the reader is rooting for her, especially when we see what a cold and manipulative person her cheating husband is. Ella however, manages to find an inner strength to deal with what life has thrown at her. Some great supporting characters and a marvellous insight into the male and female psyche.
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