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Enemy at the Window

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Someone knows what you did… and they’re watching you… 

Daniel is living the dream with a devoted wife, perfect job and adorable toddler. Until out of the blue, his wife accuses him of having an affair and stabs him in a frenzied attack with a kitchen knife. As his wife is sectioned in a psychiatric ward, Daniel returns home from intensive care to find his precious world is inexorably falling apart: 

Who is prowling around his house?

Why is someone sending threatening postcards?

And who is his son talking to in the dead of night?

As Daniel attempts to put his life back together, a merciless force just out of reach is unravelling it, bit by bit, until Daniel is plunged into his worst nightmare.

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2019

221 people are currently reading
410 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Waines

11 books482 followers
AJ Waines writes Psychological Thrillers with *over half-a-million* copies sold worldwide. She's a #1 International Bestselling Author: GIRL ON A TRAIN topped the full UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 & 2016.

Follow on Facebook, Instagram or AJ's Blog

All her books can be read in any order:
The Evil Beneath, Girl on a Train, Dark Place to Hide, No Longer Safe, Inside the Whispers, Lost in the Lake, Don't you Dare, Perfect Bones, Enemy at the Window, Cut you Dead Find them all at: AJ Waines' Books

Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, she has worked with ex-offenders from high-security institutions, giving her a rare insight into abnormal psychology. She is fascinated by secrets and lies, crimes of passion, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards.

*A Kindle (KDP) TOP 10 'MOST-READ AUTHOR' in UK (2016)*

AJ has book deals in UK, France, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Czech Republic and Canada (audiobooks). She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband.










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5 stars
270 (38%)
4 stars
228 (32%)
3 stars
138 (19%)
2 stars
28 (4%)
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30 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Profile Image for 8stitches 9lives.
2,853 reviews1,724 followers
June 27, 2019
Enemy at the Window is anything but your standard psychological thriller. It's an explosive, addictive and nail-biting page-turner which fully deserves the full five stars. It centres around Sophie who wakes up in a psychiatric hospital unable to remember what led to her being admitted. When the police turn up to arrest her for the attempted murder of husband Daniel, she is shocked and very confused. Eventually, she remembers an argument where she accused him of cheating yet he had not been unfaithful. A few months earlier Sophie was a fun-loving, chilled woman and now she has violently tried to an end a life. So what exactly has happened to her?

This a quick, easy read which is packed with intrigue and twists that force you to revise your guesses as the story constantly changes proving your previous predictions wrong. Right from the beginning Waines's writing rapidly pulls you into the story, and before long you are fully invested in both the plot and the characters. It's impossible to know who can be trusted as most are hiding some dark, disturbing secret and have skeletons in their closet just waiting to emerge. What is most unique about Enemy at the Window is the potent mix of compulsive plot, witty moments to lighten the mood and how poignant and powerful it was to read.

Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, Waines writes chilling suspense novels and is fascinated by secrets and lies, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards. Her previous experience leads to a detailed and sensitive exploration of mental health, manipulation and the secrets and lies people tell themselves through the eyes of fictional characters. The characters come alive on the page, and I particularly liked that Waines subverted the usual abuse storyline by making Daniel, a male, the victim. A wickedly clever and sizzlingly sinister thrill ride. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC.
Profile Image for Alan Cotterell.
561 reviews189 followers
June 16, 2019
First of all I must thank the author for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I think she has excelled herself, this time even by her standards.

This has the unusual and interesting concept of having a man as the “victim”, which I think affected how I perceived what was happening, and what I thought he could do to resolve what is happening to him and those around him. . As with most of Alison’s, novels I found myself not only asking who is the perpetrator, but why are they doing what they are doing. At the same time am I right in my assessment? Could it be I am wrong, if so who is the culprit, and why?

For me there were just about the right number of characters. Who were brought to life in front of you, entwinned in a very intense and cleverly thought out storyline. That moves along at an incredible pace.

Every now and again a book is published that reminds me why I enjoy reading, especially physiological thrillers. Ms Waines has easily hit that standard with this one. Can’t wait for the next one. Soon please …!
Profile Image for Sue.
1,417 reviews5 followers
June 28, 2019
ENEMY AT THE WINDOW is a stand alone riveting psychological suspense thriller by bestselling author A.J. Waines. This novel really packs a punch and is full of secrets, lies and deception. Another winner for this author, and one where I didn’t predict accurately the ending!

Someone knows what you did… and they’re watching you…

Daniel has the perfect life, a loving wife, Sophie, a perfect job and an adorable toddler, Ben. But then one day their lives all fall apart… when his wife flips out and accuses him of having an affair and stabs him in a frenzied attack with a kitchen knife. Daniel is treated at the hospital and returns home from intensive care to look after his son.

Sophie woke up in the wrong place. Not at home, but in a secure psychiatric hospital for stabbing her husband in the kitchen. Why? What had she done? She couldn’t remember anything, except strangers rushing into the house. When Sophie initially arrived at the psychiatric unit she was diagnosed as suffering from mental disorder, delirious, unable to walk or talk. She was told that she would remain there until her court date.

But what crime had she committed? She remembers being angry and shouting at her husband for having an affair! Then there were people suddenly in the house. They say that she stabbed her husband in the kitchen with the carving knife. But she had no history of violence.

Then strange things begin to happen in the house. Someone had been in the house. Why is someone sending threatening postcards? And who is his son talking to in the dead of night?

Daniel tries to put his life back together…but someone is playing a game on Daniel to punish him…For what?

This novel is a mystery on the surface, but layered with psychological suspense to completely involve the reader in the search for the truth. Information and clues are relayed on a need-to-know basis. I loved this book and found myself changing my mind constantly, as to the identity of the culprit.

So, what would you do in this situation? How would you handle it? Would you have solved the mystery?

Many thanks to the author and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.

Profile Image for A.J. Waines.
Author 11 books482 followers
Read
June 14, 2019
Hello lovely readers - I can't review my own book now can I?! But I can share an interview I did for Goodreads to tell you more about it! That you to avid reader, Lisa Shipman [no spoilers I promise!].

Take it away, Lisa!

How did you come up with the idea for Enemy at the Window? I assume there isn't an autobiographical element to the story...or is there?!

Given that, right at the start, one of the main characters finds herself in a psychiatric hospital for stabbing her husband in the kitchen – I hope not!

Seriously though, many psychological thrillers on the market these days have a female character in jeopardy and I wanted to ring the changes and have a male character as the target in the story. That’s not to assume all the female characters are safe! When I was playing with initial ideas for the book, I had an image of a ‘normal Sunday afternoon’ with a husband and wife in the kitchen. It could be your house, my house. From here, I watched as the woman stabbed her husband with a carving knife. I usually see the book in pictures, like I’m watching a film! I knew that image was going to underpin the entire book. But then I wanted the ‘why’ to be the question that perplexed everyone. Why – when Daniel and Sophie were such a dream couple and had such an amazing marriage – would she turn on him, like that? Why – when Sophie couldn’t even bring herself to hurt a fly – did she attack him? How could it possibly have happened? That’s one of the mysteries in the book, but not the only one…

What themes are there in the book?

There are lots my favourite themes in the novel, such as: deception, secrets and being led astray. Photographs are also a theme in the story, in particular, what you can find in a photo if you look closely enough. You know, those tiny little details you spot in the background that make you completely reconsider what was going on at the time. Also, what a snapshot can falsely imply, the assumptions we make seeing a picture that can often turn out to be entirely incorrect… I love that kind of uncertainty! There’s also a theme of ‘motives’: I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but I like playing with the dissonance between what it looks like we’re doing, on the surface, and what we really up to, underneath. I love writing in layers, like that!

Where is the book set and why?

I used to live in London; in Brixton, then Putney, renting a flat in an incredibly beautiful seven-bedroomed house near the Thames. That area left a lasting impression on me and I only moved when my husband was offered a job elsewhere in England. I love going back. In my mind, as well as in reality. London is glamour to me. When I step off the train at Waterloo, I feel fully alive, like I can do anything and be my best self, there. So, in order to relive the atmosphere of London life, I’ve set nearly all my books in London. Enemy at the Window is set in Sheen, just along from Putney and the story involves a number of places I used to frequent: the pubs on the river, Kew Gardens, the theatres. Daniel is a botanist at Kew and one of the other characters, Jody, is an actress who lives in Hampstead and stars at the West End. I was able to step into their shoes for much of the book and relish the escapism!

The novel is part of an established genre of psychological thrillers. Were there specific authors or books that inspired the story?

Absolutely. Novels by Nicci French (also set mainly in London) and those by Patricia Cornwell and Minette Walters were my introductions to the genre many years ago, before the category of psychological thrillers was fully recognised. I love creating a story that has a distinct mystery on the surface and a deeper psychological thriller lurking underneath. In my new stand alone, Enemy at the Window, the victim struggles to make sense of a series of odd and disturbing events in his life, while also being targeted for reasons he is unable to fathom. He’s completely in the dark! In writing from this position, I enjoyed posing the scary unspoken question to the reader: So, what would you do in this harrowing situation?

ENJOY!
Profile Image for Karen.
22 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2019
There should be a ten star option on ratings for this one. What an awesome, edge of the seat, page turner!! This book grabbed me right from the beginning and held me up to the very last page.

I loved trying to figure out what was going on, and who was to blame, through the entire story. Every time I was sure I had it figured out things would start changing and leading me in a different direction. Who was right? Him? Her? Uh oh, now what? Is that person involved? No? Yes? What in the world is happening?

This book would make an excellent movie!! A. J. Waines is my favorite author for these psychological thrillers.
41 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2019
Not Really Nail Biting

This book was just so so. Plenty of confusing parts. A lot of unnecessary dribble, like the babysitter being into him. Most of all, why does Sophie not seem to know about what she did? (Trying to avoid a spoiler). It seems like the author was so busy setting the stage for the next book she forgot to focus on this one. It ended abruptly. There was no closure. I won’t bother with the next one.
1 review
June 14, 2019
This book is so intriguing, nothing is predictable and it is very very hard to put down. The story is so gripping that you need to know more. An excellent read that you can't put down and would definitely recommend. Another amazing thriller!
Profile Image for Jackie.
67 reviews8 followers
March 26, 2020
I had trouble getting through this one. It just couldn’t hold my attention but I pressed through and made it to the end and couldn’t help but think, “literally nobody would ever do this” could apply to every single character in the book at any given point in the book.
Profile Image for Stacy .
110 reviews3 followers
July 3, 2019
I was a little torn about how I felt about this book. I'm a big fan of A.J. Waines' writing style and clinch endings but this left me wanting to get to the end to just finish the book...the who done it was secondary. Unlike some of her other psychological thrillers I felt Enemy At the Window lacked a bit of depth; not sure if that was character based or story line. I still can't get the ending of "No Longer Safe" out of my head and that's what I was craving. Either way, I will continue to read anything released in the future but this one left me feeling a little short.
Profile Image for Stacey Corbett.
25 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2019
I'm in the minority here but I really didnt rate this book. I guessed the villian from a few chapters in, halfway through reading, the villian is revealed and I ended up thinking there must be a twist somewhere because it cant be that obvious. The ending was abrupt and I felt the writer rushed it.
Profile Image for Michelle.
566 reviews61 followers
June 28, 2019
Review can be found on my blog here: https://booksonthebookshelf.wordpress...

....

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book.

....

I found this book to be so addicting. A loving married couple, with a young child at home. They appear to have the perfect marriage, a happy life. That is until the wife has been accused of stabbing her husband and trying to murder him! Why would a loving and devoted wife and mother do that to the man she loves? Maybe their life isn’t as perfect as everyone thought?

I loved how the novel began, as the woman wakes up and has no memory of what is going on. It added to the suspense and thrill of reading the book, and the suspense added more and more. We slowly get pieces of what truly happened that night and all is slowly revealed, which leads the reader to want to know more ASAP! I kept flipping pages to see what would happen next. I was hooked!

I thought I knew what was going on but wow was I wrong! This book is full of secrets, lies, betrayal and deception, and will keep you guessing until the very end. With a heart pounding ending, and a twist you won’t see coming your way, this book will appeal to suspense and thriller fans alike.

Be sure to read this novel, and add it to your TBR this summer. You will love it!
Profile Image for Wendy Cartmell.
Author 63 books168 followers
Currently reading
November 4, 2020
If you want to read a psychological thriller, the best thing to do is read one written by someone with experience of the field. A psychotherapist in another life, Alison’s detailed knowledge of her subject shines through and makes her stories comes alive. The Enemy at the Window is no exception.
Daniel is living the dream with a devoted wife, perfect job and adorable toddler. Until, out of the blue, his wife accuses him of having an affair and stabs him in a frenzied attack with a kitchen knife. As his wife is sectioned in a psychiatric ward, Daniel returns home from intensive care to find his precious world is inexorably falling apart.
This intriguing situation is the springboard for one of the author’s best books. By turn thrilling, heart wrenching, amusing and shocking, this is a roller coaster ride of a book and deserves to be a best seller! Trust me, you won’t want to put this down!
Profile Image for Michelle ~catching up slowly~.
760 reviews20 followers
April 25, 2021
Ok...WT** with that ending?! Or lack of ending??
This is the first book I’ve read by A. J. Waines, and I enjoyed well enough... slightly different than the typical suspense book, but the end just killed it for me.
I’m not sure I can say anything else right now about the story. Maybe there is another book that goes along with this one? Or maybe I’m just missing ... something. 3.5⭐️’s rounded up
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,083 reviews86 followers
June 16, 2019
Sophie finds herself in hospital. She has sketchy memories of what happened but can remember arguing with her husband about him having an affair and the kitchen being as if someone had split red paint. She soon discovers that she is in a secure psychiatric unit having stabbed her husband, fortunately he survived. Daniel has not been having an affair however Sophie claimed to have found several lots of “evidence” including some photographs, none of which anyone else ever saw. Before a few months ago she was a calm, collected fun loving person who wouldn’t hurt a fly, so to go to a violent person wielding a knife is totally out of character. Being at home alone with their young son Ben, Daniel starts to discover some anomalies, especially when Ben keeps giggling facing the window. What on earth is happening and why?
Oooh!! One of those reads where I wanted just another chapter, and then another. A tantalising cleverly thought out plot where I wasn’t sure who to trust and thought I knew who not to. I felt for Daniel being the innocent victim in all of this with his world circling and conspiring around him, and his closest friend being anything but supportive. A very cleverly thought out and well researched plot. One gripping read.
Profile Image for Susanne.
58 reviews
June 29, 2019
Have to admit - I have been a willing captive to all of AJ Waines books. First discovered the author when I bought a Kindle last year and have devoured every book since. I don't want to give away too much of the plot of Enemy at the Window - but have to say once you start and as the plot builds and builds you won't want to put it down. Her writing is exactly what I am looking for in a psychological thriller - it is solid and intelligent with realistic depth to the characters, and with twists and turns that you won't see coming. AJ Waines has an exceptional ability to see into the psyche and what motivates people beyond the "norm" then she digs deeper into the hidden, the darkness, before bringing their motives to light. For me that's a perfect combination for a stunning psychological thriller - thank you AJ Waines!
Profile Image for Debbie.
93 reviews
June 21, 2019
A.J. Waines knows how to draw you in especially with the opening paragraph. Once you start this amazing psychological thriller you won't want to stop to sleep, eat, or go to work. I enjoyed her detailed attention to mental health and the struggles people face and battle from within themselves. The alternating of characters for every chapter allowed me to become enthralled with their psyches and kept the pages turning at a fast rate. The novel is fantastic and a must read! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Profile Image for Gillian Moore.
197 reviews8 followers
July 19, 2019
Enemy at the Window by A.J Waines
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‘Someone knows what you did’. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Oh wow. I was expecting this to be good as I just love @ajwaines and everything she’s ever written. This book though was sensational. An exceptional story centred around a young mother’s mental health. Sophie is being accused of a terrible crime but she can’t remember. Can she trust anyone? A big fat five stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 xxxx
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Profile Image for Sheila.
285 reviews15 followers
June 15, 2019
4.5 stars. I've read a few of A.J. Waines books now and I always enjoy them. This gripped me right from the start. It was hard to know who to trust and I kept changing my mind as I turned the pages. I found that I cared about the characters and wondered how it would all play out.
Profile Image for Vina.
717 reviews16 followers
July 29, 2019
Once again, totally out of sync with other readers. Sorry to say “Enemy at the Window” by A.J.Waines is tepid at best, dull at worst. The villain is clear within the first few pages.Terribly bored.
1 Star
Profile Image for Donna George.
274 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2019
Kept my interest but wasn’t crazy about ending
Profile Image for Silvia.
10 reviews24 followers
April 2, 2021
Horrible plot. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything to like about this book.
Profile Image for Ryan Massey.
9 reviews
September 8, 2020
This was a tough review for me but as it neared the end it became more apparent this was 3 stars, can't even say 3.5. I was sure I knew who the villain was but it was so obvious that I kept waiting for a twist, and it truly never came. There are a few storylines that never get resolved (unless I fell asleep). Also, I realize this is fiction but c'mon, no way half of this stuff could actually happen. Who on earth would invite a complete stranger to stay the night or call them in the middle of the night if it's not a booty call. Let's get real!! Very meh for me, 3 stars.
Profile Image for Thriller.reading.raven.
163 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2023
This book had me hooked, a thrilling mystery for sure up until I got to the part where the mystery began to unfold. Ugh! I was hoping for something so much better...and bigger. I was waiting for the "WOW" that never came. It also ended with so many unanswered questions. 🫤 I felt like it was a letdown. That's my opinion anyway. However, I will be giving this author another chance.
Profile Image for Bruce.
11 reviews3 followers
July 1, 2019
Do we really know those closest and dearest to us? Are things really the way they appear?

In her latest offering, “Enemy at the Window”, author A.J. Waines provides her readers with a fresh and intriguing take on these two simple questions.

Her new book is a compelling read guaranteed to keep you guessing and reading long into the night.

Daniel seems to have it all, a beautiful and loving wife, a bright and healthy young son and a great job. This all changes in a heartbeat. Out of the blue his loving wife, Sophie, turns stone cold and distances herself from him. Accusing him of infidelity and she will not believe nor accept Daniel’s denials. Then, one evening, in a fit of rage, Sophie viciously stabs him, nearly fatally so, in the kitchen of their home.

Facing criminal charges for her act Sophie is committed to a hospital for psychiatric assessment. Daniel is left to fend on his own, with the care of their young son abruptly thrust upon his shoulders, along with a seemingly impossible list of difficult questions to answer, the top of which being “Why … why did Sophie commit this unspeakable act of violence upon him?’.

Luckily, Daniel, has a network of friends and acquaintances close at hand, who all seem able and willing to help him out as he works his way through this nightmare scenario. But, as the reader soon discovers, are Daniel’s friends really looking out for Daniel and attending to his best interests? Or, have they ulterior motives of their own? Are things really as they seem?

Cleverly plotted, beautifully scripted and peppered with many complicated and totally unanticipated twists, “Enemy at the Window” is guaranteed to entertain and keep, even the most attentive reader, guessing until the very end.

In closing, I wish to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC of “Enemy at the Window” in return for an honest review. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and, with no reservations whatsoever, heartily recommend.
Profile Image for Lynn.
152 reviews3 followers
June 28, 2019
I couldn’t believe how lucky I was when I was offered this book to read pre-publishing in return for an honest review.
I only discovered Alison’s books last year, and in 3 months I had read all of her books and she is now one of my most favourite authors.
Enemy at the window is another amazing book, and certainly does not disappoint.
As with all of Alison’s books she never fails to draw you into the book right from the first chapter.
I love trying to work out who is doing what and just when you think you know in which direction the she is taking you, you are literally taken in a new direction.
You always feel like you are walking in the same shoes as the characters and I like that.
I started this book on a Sunday afternoon and could not put it down until I had finished it.

There are several parts where I just could not read fast enough to find out what happens next, and although I didn't want it to end the way that it did, I understand why it finished that way.
But if there is a sequel, I will definitely be pre-ordering it.

As will all Alison’s books I would love to see them made into a film.
They would certainly be up there on my most watched list.
3 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2019
Sophie is the love of Daniel's life and they seem to have the perfect marriage so why does she try to murder him? This is the intriguing premise of AJ Waines's latest page-turning psychological thriller Enemy at the Window. While Sophie comes to terms with the state of her mind, and her marriage, in a psychiatric unit, bewildered Daniel attempts to work out why she wanted him dead. As usual, AJ Waines presents us with an intriguing cast of characters, any one of whom may have contributed to this surprising chain of events. Flashbacks from the past throw light on the present and just as we're starting to piece it together our theories fall into disarray and we have to start all over again. Meanwhile Daniel refuses to be a victim and is on the case, attempting to understand the troubling lies and oddball incidents that threaten his sense of the world and, like the reader, tries to work out who to trust. The plot keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last secret is revealed. Once again the twists and turns of an AJ Waines story keep you guessing and the ending is well worth the switchback ride!
Profile Image for Lel Budge.
1,367 reviews31 followers
June 28, 2019
Where do I start? When the publishers say this is gripping, they’re not kidding!

Sophie stabbed her husband Daniel, of that there is no doubt……but why?

She had seen a love letter hidden in his jacket pocket, seen photos of him with another woman, but these had gone when she later looked for them…….is she paranoid or is he hiding his tracks?

Sophie is sectioned due to her state of mind, Daniel was in hospital for a while but is now home with their young son Ben…, but then things are being moved in the house and he hears Ben talking to someone, but when he checks, no one’s there…..just what is going on?

Rick, Daniel’s old friend is there to try and get him to socialise a like, to relax after the recent events…….but his life starts to fall apart little by little…….! Who is the victim here?

This is one of the most intense thrillers I’ve read. Full of lies, secrets, fear and betrayal and is totally compelling from its start to it’s astounding end. Absolutely stunning and I loved it….

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
314 reviews8 followers
July 8, 2019
Enemy at the Window
By A.J. Waines

Excellently Gripping!
It took three attempts for me to read Girl on the Train by A.J. Waines and I still don’t see what all the hoopla was about. Enemy at the Window was a book I couldn’t put down from the very first few pages.
At the very beginning we learn that Daniel has been attacked by his wife; a frenzied attack with a kitchen knife. This puts Daniel in the hospital and his wife in the psychiatric ward awaiting results to see if she is going to go to prison.
How has a perfectly normal individual gotten to the point of attempted murder? Why has she attached her husband? You have to read Enemy at the Window to find out the answers to my questions.
Enemy at the Window is advertised as a psychological suspense thrilled. This it definitely is and more. Don’t start this book prior to going to bed unless you want to stay up all night to find out what is going on and what will the end bring for Daniel and his wife.
As soon as I turned the last page, I knew I had to read more books by A.J. Waines.
06.08.19
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