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The House Without A Key
When 17-year-old Maddy Pruitt vanishes from her sleepy town, word on the street is that she ran away. The daughter of an abusive alcoholic with a quick temper, she had every reason to leave in search of something better, and everyone who knew Maddy knew the type of company she kept wasn’t always ideal.
But when a second 17-year-old girl from a local, affluent family turns up missing shortly after Maddy’s disappearance, the circumstances become suspicious. Even though the girls are perfect strangers from opposite sides of town, attended separate schools, and traveled in different social circles, it turns out they have more in common than anyone could have imagined.
With the clock ticking, those closest to the girls lead a frantic search, uncovering secrets, lies, and a web of deceit that might have the girls paying an ultimate price…if they don’t find them in time.
But when a second 17-year-old girl from a local, affluent family turns up missing shortly after Maddy’s disappearance, the circumstances become suspicious. Even though the girls are perfect strangers from opposite sides of town, attended separate schools, and traveled in different social circles, it turns out they have more in common than anyone could have imagined.
With the clock ticking, those closest to the girls lead a frantic search, uncovering secrets, lies, and a web of deceit that might have the girls paying an ultimate price…if they don’t find them in time.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2019
376 people are currently reading
1268 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
June 25, 2020
EXCERPT: I'm staring at a hand that appears as if it's sticking out of a grave. Jumping back in horror as if someone branded me with a hot iron, I gasp for air. This can't be happening. It must be some kind of sick joke.
But the hand is small...and human. I count five fingers before my mind goes into overdrive.
An overabundance of flies swarm the open air around the skin, aiming for an empty spot to settle on. Their intent is to feed on her. I'm going to be sick from the stench, or maybe it's the fear of my discovery.
I stare at the olive fabric gathered around a wrist that's sticking up out of the garbage at a rest stop in Texas. After pawing through the trash on top to discover whose arm it is attached to, I make out the torso of a woman.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When 17-year-old Maddy Pruitt vanishes from her sleepy town, word on the street is that she ran away. The daughter of an abusive alcoholic with a quick temper, she had every reason to leave in search of something better, and everyone who knew Maddy knew the type of company she kept wasn’t always ideal.
But when a second 17-year-old girl from a local, affluent family turns up missing shortly after Maddy’s disappearance, the circumstances become suspicious. Even though the girls are perfect strangers from opposite sides of town, attended separate schools, and traveled in different social circles, it turns out they have more in common than anyone could have imagined.
With the clock ticking, those closest to the girls lead a frantic search, uncovering secrets, lies, and a web of deceit that might have the girls paying an ultimate price…if they don’t find them in time.
MY THOUGHTS: What can I say? Awkward writing about a very topical subject. Repetitive. I lost count of how many times in the prologue we were told it was a rest stop in Texas. I got absolutely no sense of suspense.
It is extremely confusing in parts, implausible in others. I seriously considered not finishing, and seriously wish I had listened to my inner voice. By the time I got to the end, I had completely lost interest which, perhaps was just as well as I found the ending to be absolutely implausible.
Not something I am going to recommend, but with a good edit and a bit of rewriting, it has the potential to be a good read.
🤨🤨
THE AUTHOR: Marin Montgomery grew up in the Midwest but traded in the cornfields for desert and now calls Arizona her home.
When she's not thinking up her next psych twist, she can be found playing a mean game of Scrabble, binge-watching a variety of television shows, and hanging with her Goldendoodle, Dashiell.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The House Without a Key written by Marin Montgomery, narrated by Charles Constant, Hilary Huber and Neva Navarre, published by Tantor Audion, 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 profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But the hand is small...and human. I count five fingers before my mind goes into overdrive.
An overabundance of flies swarm the open air around the skin, aiming for an empty spot to settle on. Their intent is to feed on her. I'm going to be sick from the stench, or maybe it's the fear of my discovery.
I stare at the olive fabric gathered around a wrist that's sticking up out of the garbage at a rest stop in Texas. After pawing through the trash on top to discover whose arm it is attached to, I make out the torso of a woman.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When 17-year-old Maddy Pruitt vanishes from her sleepy town, word on the street is that she ran away. The daughter of an abusive alcoholic with a quick temper, she had every reason to leave in search of something better, and everyone who knew Maddy knew the type of company she kept wasn’t always ideal.
But when a second 17-year-old girl from a local, affluent family turns up missing shortly after Maddy’s disappearance, the circumstances become suspicious. Even though the girls are perfect strangers from opposite sides of town, attended separate schools, and traveled in different social circles, it turns out they have more in common than anyone could have imagined.
With the clock ticking, those closest to the girls lead a frantic search, uncovering secrets, lies, and a web of deceit that might have the girls paying an ultimate price…if they don’t find them in time.
MY THOUGHTS: What can I say? Awkward writing about a very topical subject. Repetitive. I lost count of how many times in the prologue we were told it was a rest stop in Texas. I got absolutely no sense of suspense.
It is extremely confusing in parts, implausible in others. I seriously considered not finishing, and seriously wish I had listened to my inner voice. By the time I got to the end, I had completely lost interest which, perhaps was just as well as I found the ending to be absolutely implausible.
Not something I am going to recommend, but with a good edit and a bit of rewriting, it has the potential to be a good read.
🤨🤨
THE AUTHOR: Marin Montgomery grew up in the Midwest but traded in the cornfields for desert and now calls Arizona her home.
When she's not thinking up her next psych twist, she can be found playing a mean game of Scrabble, binge-watching a variety of television shows, and hanging with her Goldendoodle, Dashiell.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of The House Without a Key written by Marin Montgomery, narrated by Charles Constant, Hilary Huber and Neva Navarre, published by Tantor Audion, 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 profile page on Goodreads.com or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 21, 2019
First, I have to say that this is NOT an easy read. It's a captivating and breathtaking book, but the reality of what is happening to those girls is heartbreaking.
However, the book starts with a BANG and then it keeps detonating... It reads like a CSI episode. My jaw hurt from falling open too often from all the twists and turns, but in the 100 last pages, I felt dizzy. There was too much happening too fast. The end felt rushed (even if I was unable to put it down), but I understand all the detours that had to be done for tying up all the loose ends.
I enjoyed the book, but be aware that it deals with human trafficking.
Many thanks to the author for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, the book starts with a BANG and then it keeps detonating... It reads like a CSI episode. My jaw hurt from falling open too often from all the twists and turns, but in the 100 last pages, I felt dizzy. There was too much happening too fast. The end felt rushed (even if I was unable to put it down), but I understand all the detours that had to be done for tying up all the loose ends.
I enjoyed the book, but be aware that it deals with human trafficking.
Many thanks to the author for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2020
2.5 STARS
Two seventeen-year-old young women go missing, Madeline, a suspected runaway and Allegra, from the “right” type family.
THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY dives into the tragic world of human trafficking in this gritty, mystery/thriller. Told from multiple points of view, Marin Montgomery takes readers on a disturbing ride.
Due to implausible twists that didn’t feel true to some characters, the ending was the weakest part of THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY, so I have a hard time recommending this novel.
Two seventeen-year-old young women go missing, Madeline, a suspected runaway and Allegra, from the “right” type family.
THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY dives into the tragic world of human trafficking in this gritty, mystery/thriller. Told from multiple points of view, Marin Montgomery takes readers on a disturbing ride.
Due to implausible twists that didn’t feel true to some characters, the ending was the weakest part of THE HOUSE WITHOUT A KEY, so I have a hard time recommending this novel.
June 3, 2020
This book has an interesting and current topic. The first few chapters were great, then I felt it went downhill before it culminated in an implausible ending.
Had scope to be so much better.
Disappointing.
Had scope to be so much better.
Disappointing.
October 23, 2019
This book was interesting and crazy and I was totally into it and seeing how it all played out. But, saying this, there were still parts where I was very confused. Without going into two much plot detail, two teenage girls, Maddy and Allegra, disappear from their homes; one is not really noticed she is gone and the other one's mother is all over the media/police about her disappearance.
The prologue was so interesting and catchy, but after reading the rest of the story, it didn't really fit. I actually went back and read it after finishing the story. I can see what the author was trying to do, but I was so confused. And Maddy...her character needed to be fleshed out more. She had the first few chapters, but then we don't see her until the end. We get multiple POVs (including Maddy's) and the other missing girl, their parents, and the detective involved in finding Allegra.
The ending of the story didn't really work for me. Too far-fetched and unbelievable. There are so many thrillers out there and everyone needs a twist. Unfortunately, this one had me shaking my head about how the way the whole story came together.
Thank you to the author for sending me an arc to review in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be checking out more of her work as I did enjoy her writing and some aspects of this story.
The prologue was so interesting and catchy, but after reading the rest of the story, it didn't really fit. I actually went back and read it after finishing the story. I can see what the author was trying to do, but I was so confused. And Maddy...her character needed to be fleshed out more. She had the first few chapters, but then we don't see her until the end. We get multiple POVs (including Maddy's) and the other missing girl, their parents, and the detective involved in finding Allegra.
The ending of the story didn't really work for me. Too far-fetched and unbelievable. There are so many thrillers out there and everyone needs a twist. Unfortunately, this one had me shaking my head about how the way the whole story came together.
Thank you to the author for sending me an arc to review in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be checking out more of her work as I did enjoy her writing and some aspects of this story.
May 25, 2020
The idea was there, the execution and editing however were lacking.
December 3, 2020
What the heck was this convoluted mess? At first it's quite riveting and I'm thinking wow, another good read from this author who I've enjoyed previously. And then the ending begins.... I'm like what the heck is this craziness! Its all over the place. If it were a conversation the people would be tripping over their words, all speaking at the same time and no one would understand what was being said. That's this ending. It went from a four star book to a mess. There are loose ends that either don't get explained, or they do but they make little sense. Its pathetic. Two stars.
October 31, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is my personal 5 star rating system because I’m too lazy to write a review for every book.
5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.
4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.
3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.
2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.
1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.
5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.
4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.
3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.
2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.
1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.
November 23, 2024
I enjoyed The House Without A Key, told from multiple pov it was easy to get swept along with the story, however I have to admit I found the content to be deeply distressing, but it should be, it involves trafficked young women, and is told with a blow by blue account, directly from one of the girls. So perhaps it needs a trigger warning for this.
The plot was interesting, the multiple narrators each made the story come alive. The ending left me a bit confused it all seemed to rush to an end. Which was quite fitting.
Currently included with audible 🎧
The plot was interesting, the multiple narrators each made the story come alive. The ending left me a bit confused it all seemed to rush to an end. Which was quite fitting.
Currently included with audible 🎧
April 21, 2025
absolutely wild ride, lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending
May 7, 2020
2.5 stars.
I really struggled with reviewing this one. On one hand, it was a page turner and did keep me guessing throughout the story. The plot was there, however it felt unfinished. Or maybe rushed. Or both. With such an important topic (sex trafficking), I felt that the author had an opportunity to really shine a light on how scary it is and what these girls go through, but I didn't get that from this story. It did keep my interest all the way through, so that's a positive. Honestly, the whole thing was confusing. The story is told through multiple points of view (two missing girls, their parents, and a detective), which can work in some cases but didn't work for me in this book. There were too many undeveloped characters to keep track of and I didn't connect with any of them. So unfortunately, I had to keep going back and rereading to remember what was going on or who said what. The book blurb isn't true to the book -- Maddy goes missing after Allegra, not before. The synopsis makes it seem like both girls are major players in the story, but Maddy is barely even a character. She has a few chapters in the beginning and then doesn’t return until the end. The prologue... didn't really go with the book at all. I see what the author was trying to do, but it wasn't well executed. It set the tone for something completely different than the book actually ended up being about. Nothing in the plot ever tied back to the prologue. It was like the author just forgot about it. Lastly, the ending was rough. I could have dealt with all the other gripes I have with this book if the ending had been redeeming. But sadly, that was not the case. The ending left me in mass confusion, and days later I'm still not really sure what went down or who was responsible for anything or why. It was completely unrealistic and just had an all around feeling of being rushed or just thrown in there. Overall, I think this had the potential to be a great book, but it just felt unfinished to me. I am certainly going to give the author another try -- I currently have another one of her books on my Kindle app so we will see!
I would like to thank the author for sending me a free copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really struggled with reviewing this one. On one hand, it was a page turner and did keep me guessing throughout the story. The plot was there, however it felt unfinished. Or maybe rushed. Or both. With such an important topic (sex trafficking), I felt that the author had an opportunity to really shine a light on how scary it is and what these girls go through, but I didn't get that from this story. It did keep my interest all the way through, so that's a positive. Honestly, the whole thing was confusing. The story is told through multiple points of view (two missing girls, their parents, and a detective), which can work in some cases but didn't work for me in this book. There were too many undeveloped characters to keep track of and I didn't connect with any of them. So unfortunately, I had to keep going back and rereading to remember what was going on or who said what. The book blurb isn't true to the book -- Maddy goes missing after Allegra, not before. The synopsis makes it seem like both girls are major players in the story, but Maddy is barely even a character. She has a few chapters in the beginning and then doesn’t return until the end. The prologue... didn't really go with the book at all. I see what the author was trying to do, but it wasn't well executed. It set the tone for something completely different than the book actually ended up being about. Nothing in the plot ever tied back to the prologue. It was like the author just forgot about it. Lastly, the ending was rough. I could have dealt with all the other gripes I have with this book if the ending had been redeeming. But sadly, that was not the case. The ending left me in mass confusion, and days later I'm still not really sure what went down or who was responsible for anything or why. It was completely unrealistic and just had an all around feeling of being rushed or just thrown in there. Overall, I think this had the potential to be a great book, but it just felt unfinished to me. I am certainly going to give the author another try -- I currently have another one of her books on my Kindle app so we will see!
I would like to thank the author for sending me a free copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 10, 2019
Two teen girls - one from a life of luxury and privilege, the other from the wrong side of the tracks. They don't know each other but they both suddenly go missing. Maddy's dad suspects she ran away from his abusive alcoholic rages. Allegra's parents are frantically working with police to bring their daughter home. Are they runaways or did something more sinister happen? The truth is more terrible than you can imagine. Readers should be aware, this book deals with some difficult themes like abuse, drugs and sex trafficking. This was an interesting to read thriller and definitely twisted, but i'm not sure I would put it in the psychological category.
*I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. *
*I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. *
November 2, 2021
Interesting story, but poorly executed and not fully flushed out. The sensitive content was undercut by the stilted and often corny dialogue. I also didn’t particularly care for the narrative voice of the younger girls, which took away from the story for me.
September 22, 2025
I didn’t see the ending at all with the final twist. The only thing that concerned me was that I wish that we could of seen something of Dane after the shooting. When all the lies came out, I was hoping to have a chapter or so on Dane’s improvements and how he felt about everything from his perspective. Reading this book should teach people to be alert at all times about their surroundings, and not just to trust a person because of their smile or kindness; however I understand that being sold into sexual slavery is a very cunning trick that people pull over individuals eyes, and this is a real thing that young people face. I thank God that I have never experienced this kind of trauma, intimidation, and awful circumstances that people go through because of these sexual slavery rings.
September 3, 2025
Another quick thriller. I was wondering why I wasn’t quite into it, until I realized my issue: the chapters kept switching pov’s. The first one is a pov that you never get to hear from again, the next few are one of the girls, then she never appears again until the end. A new girl shows up as a pov, then her mom and the detective working the case.
It’s a lot of back and forth. The characters also weren’t … that deep(?). So while this could have been a really intriguing story with a plot that should definitely be talked about more, it sadly fell flat for me.
However, I didn’t think that the ending was over complicated, like some others did. I didn’t see it coming and I usually like that. Same for this one.
It’s a lot of back and forth. The characters also weren’t … that deep(?). So while this could have been a really intriguing story with a plot that should definitely be talked about more, it sadly fell flat for me.
However, I didn’t think that the ending was over complicated, like some others did. I didn’t see it coming and I usually like that. Same for this one.
October 17, 2024
This was part of the Audible plus library. Don’t waste your time.
January 26, 2025
Human trafficking which is not disclosed or described in the book summary.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2019
Wow this story took me on such a crazy wild ride! I was overall very impressed!
This story is about two girls (Madeline & Allegra) who seemingly have nothing in common and zero ties to each other. They get kidnapped and taken to a house where they live with other girls who are apart of a sex trafficking ring. This is obviously horrible and made my stomach turn at times just thinking about these poor young ladies (and also the girls it really happens to everyday).
It bothered me how long it took the parents to do something about their missing kids!!! Brian, Madeline's father, didn't care about her on a good day... after she goes missing he is a mix of annoyed that the police are bugging him and maybe worried? I couldn't tell at first. Allgera's mother is worried sick when she doesnt come home which is good, seems like a normal mom (however she takes awhile to contact anyone about it). Meanwhile, her rich daddy just doesnt care or show any interest in helping find her.
Aside from the parents annoying me throughout the story (Allegra's parents seemed more worried about what the press would say about their family than their daughter being missing.....) - I was taken on this rollercoaster of twists and turns. I was trying to come up with my own theories about who was the bad guy and who was involved and then each time my theory was wrong! Towards the end everything unravels and WOW I loved it!!!
My favourite character in the whole book was Detective Devon Delaney! He was just the perfect character for me. He was smart, witty, caring. He was also like the only rational adult in the book and seemed to be the only one who really cared that the girls were missing! He was rough around the edges at times and appeared to be a good cop. I also liked that he wasn't perfect. His emotions got the best of him, his past was messy and came back to get him but he was able to get through it!
I have to admit - I was a little nervous about this book at first. I tend to stay away from books about 'real life' things. One of my fears in life is being abducted or tortured or any of the horrible things that happen to kidnapped girls and women! The author did a good job of detailing what was happening to the girls but also was not SO detailed that it made me uncomfortable. I felt a sadness for them and at points I was like "shit, this happens to people" but at no point did I need to stop reading!
This was so well written! I loved that each chapter just pulled me in even more. I could not stop reading! The character changes throughout kept the story so entertaining and I loved knowing what the different characters were thinking! The plot twists and the detective work and secrets were amazing and always kept me on my toes and wondering what could happen next! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries/thrillers!
** I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This story is about two girls (Madeline & Allegra) who seemingly have nothing in common and zero ties to each other. They get kidnapped and taken to a house where they live with other girls who are apart of a sex trafficking ring. This is obviously horrible and made my stomach turn at times just thinking about these poor young ladies (and also the girls it really happens to everyday).
It bothered me how long it took the parents to do something about their missing kids!!! Brian, Madeline's father, didn't care about her on a good day... after she goes missing he is a mix of annoyed that the police are bugging him and maybe worried? I couldn't tell at first. Allgera's mother is worried sick when she doesnt come home which is good, seems like a normal mom (however she takes awhile to contact anyone about it). Meanwhile, her rich daddy just doesnt care or show any interest in helping find her.
Aside from the parents annoying me throughout the story (Allegra's parents seemed more worried about what the press would say about their family than their daughter being missing.....) - I was taken on this rollercoaster of twists and turns. I was trying to come up with my own theories about who was the bad guy and who was involved and then each time my theory was wrong! Towards the end everything unravels and WOW I loved it!!!
My favourite character in the whole book was Detective Devon Delaney! He was just the perfect character for me. He was smart, witty, caring. He was also like the only rational adult in the book and seemed to be the only one who really cared that the girls were missing! He was rough around the edges at times and appeared to be a good cop. I also liked that he wasn't perfect. His emotions got the best of him, his past was messy and came back to get him but he was able to get through it!
I have to admit - I was a little nervous about this book at first. I tend to stay away from books about 'real life' things. One of my fears in life is being abducted or tortured or any of the horrible things that happen to kidnapped girls and women! The author did a good job of detailing what was happening to the girls but also was not SO detailed that it made me uncomfortable. I felt a sadness for them and at points I was like "shit, this happens to people" but at no point did I need to stop reading!
This was so well written! I loved that each chapter just pulled me in even more. I could not stop reading! The character changes throughout kept the story so entertaining and I loved knowing what the different characters were thinking! The plot twists and the detective work and secrets were amazing and always kept me on my toes and wondering what could happen next! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries/thrillers!
** I recieved a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 11, 2019
*3.5 stars
First I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this story was interesting and definitly a wild ride!
This book has some pretty dark topics and can trigger some heavy emotions, if you are not prepared for it.
The book makes you think about things that could technically happen to anyone on the street, which is kinda disturbing, but also good to be aware of. Also, it makes you aware of that human trafficking is still something that is happening, even though it isn't in the news a lot or something.
To think about a whole world out there that is kinda 'in plain sight' and that there are people voluntarily participating in, is so mind blowing to me. I mean, yes of course it happens, but to think that this way of life is still how people make their money is just pff.
This story has multiple POVs, which I really like. At first I didn't get why some characters had a POV for themselves but later on after the connections were made I got it.
A couple of things I didn't like about the story;
- I wanted more chapters from Madelin's POV. After her kidnapping she kinda disappears (yes, i see the pun here) and you don't read about her until the end.
- All the characters in the book were in some way related to each other. Everyone had a connection with at least 1 or 2 other characters. Which I don't really know how to explain, but felt like it was all too close connected.
- The prologue hints at someone being killed, but the revealed, etc. of it was kinda disappointing.
Overall, it was a fast read and I am definitly going to check out more from the author.
And again, be aware that the story deals with some heavy stuff and can trigger heavy emotions if not prepared!
First I want to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this story was interesting and definitly a wild ride!
This book has some pretty dark topics and can trigger some heavy emotions, if you are not prepared for it.
The book makes you think about things that could technically happen to anyone on the street, which is kinda disturbing, but also good to be aware of. Also, it makes you aware of that human trafficking is still something that is happening, even though it isn't in the news a lot or something.
To think about a whole world out there that is kinda 'in plain sight' and that there are people voluntarily participating in, is so mind blowing to me. I mean, yes of course it happens, but to think that this way of life is still how people make their money is just pff.
This story has multiple POVs, which I really like. At first I didn't get why some characters had a POV for themselves but later on after the connections were made I got it.
A couple of things I didn't like about the story;
- I wanted more chapters from Madelin's POV. After her kidnapping she kinda disappears (yes, i see the pun here) and you don't read about her until the end.
- All the characters in the book were in some way related to each other. Everyone had a connection with at least 1 or 2 other characters. Which I don't really know how to explain, but felt like it was all too close connected.
- The prologue hints at someone being killed, but the revealed, etc. of it was kinda disappointing.
Overall, it was a fast read and I am definitly going to check out more from the author.
And again, be aware that the story deals with some heavy stuff and can trigger heavy emotions if not prepared!
October 14, 2025
This was well written, not my usual story but I’ve enjoyed it. Nice twist at the last two chapters
November 13, 2019
DISCLAIMER : I received an ARC of this book from the author Karin Montgomery in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Karin for sending me the review copy of the book.
DISCLAIMER : The book contains physical abuse, human trafficking, kidnapping and themes of rape. So if you are someone who might get triggered by any of these please proceed with caution.
The house without a key is a story of two young girls from opposite sides of life that goes missing. Their life situations are very different but the way they get kidnapped and the commonalities they have in their lives unravel as Detective chases after their captors. The story and the theme that runs the plot is heavy and grim. The plot itself needs a little bit of adjustment and refinement to bring the story to life. It is interesting and intriguing enough to keep the reader reading until the end. I wanted to see more from some characters to feel connected to it. Also, some elements in the book that were introduced didn't get utilized at all. The prologue was left unresolved leaving more questions than answers. Overall there is a mystery, intrigue and heavy topics that will keep the reader engaged. I personally didn't enjoy the story as much as I thought. But it could be the book for you. Make sure you check it out to see if its something you would be interested in. I have given the story 2.5 stars.
For the full review, check out my blog :
FULL REVIEW
DISCLAIMER : The book contains physical abuse, human trafficking, kidnapping and themes of rape. So if you are someone who might get triggered by any of these please proceed with caution.
The house without a key is a story of two young girls from opposite sides of life that goes missing. Their life situations are very different but the way they get kidnapped and the commonalities they have in their lives unravel as Detective chases after their captors. The story and the theme that runs the plot is heavy and grim. The plot itself needs a little bit of adjustment and refinement to bring the story to life. It is interesting and intriguing enough to keep the reader reading until the end. I wanted to see more from some characters to feel connected to it. Also, some elements in the book that were introduced didn't get utilized at all. The prologue was left unresolved leaving more questions than answers. Overall there is a mystery, intrigue and heavy topics that will keep the reader engaged. I personally didn't enjoy the story as much as I thought. But it could be the book for you. Make sure you check it out to see if its something you would be interested in. I have given the story 2.5 stars.
For the full review, check out my blog :
FULL REVIEW
October 25, 2019
This is the story of two teenagers, Allegra and Madeleine, who come from opposite ends of the economic spectrum. Allegra is from a wealthy, seemingly well put together upper-class family while Madeline lives on the wrong side of the tracks with her alcoholic father. The main plot is heavy and centres around human trafficking. This is not a subject that is written about a lot in fiction and I applaud Marin Montgomery for tackling such a heavy topic. The plot intrigued me and kept me reading but the characters were frustrating, there are a lot of bad people in this book. The pace of the book was fast, but I found myself scrolling back to re-read previous pages as I struggled a little with some of the grammar and sentence structure. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first. The story became interesting once the author started to detail what the girls were going through while being held by their kidnappers. I appreciate that the author kept the locale ambiguous. It was a terrifying reminder that this can happen anywhere to anyone. I'm glad that the note from the author contained information about how to get in contact with organizations who are trying to stop human trafficking. After reading this book I think my next read should be something a little lighter and fluff.
November 6, 2019
Here we follow Maddy Pruitt, and Allegra Atwater after they have gone missing. But the catch is, neither girl knows each other. Maddy from a very poor family, Allegra from one of the richest. As the town, the police and their parents are trying to find their daughters, we start to see this case isn’t exactly what you thought. As secrets and lies come out, the clock is ticking to find these girls. Where are they? Somewhere more terrible then you could ever imagine. 🗝 As much of a crazy, psychological, and disturbing book as this was, I really enjoyed it. Fair warning: this book deals with alcohol abuse, but it’s biggest thing is human trafficking. I didn’t see a lot of the twists and turns coming. The writing was so good, you really felt like you were in the head of all the characters, as you each chapter is alternating. I really recommend everyone picking this one up, especially if you’re into a psychological/mystery. Thank you so much to the author for sending me this copy! 💫
January 7, 2020
When 17 year old Maddy goes missing, it’s not hard to imagine that she probably ran away. Living with her abusive alcoholic father and constantly fighting, there’s not much to stick around for.
When Allegra, daughter of a wealthy town family fails to come home after a trip to the mall, suspicions arise.
With no obvious connection between the two girls, there’s not much to go on until a detective starts digging around.
This book was very fast paced with loads of crazy twists. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, surprise, you actually didn’t. Definitely full of “What???” moments. Majority of the book was very strong and entertaining and I really wanted to see how it would all come together. Towards the end however, there was a lot going on and I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. This book also deals with some heavy topics which might be hard for some to read. Over all I enjoyed reading this and looking forward to reading more of her books. 3.5 ⭐️
When Allegra, daughter of a wealthy town family fails to come home after a trip to the mall, suspicions arise.
With no obvious connection between the two girls, there’s not much to go on until a detective starts digging around.
This book was very fast paced with loads of crazy twists. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, surprise, you actually didn’t. Definitely full of “What???” moments. Majority of the book was very strong and entertaining and I really wanted to see how it would all come together. Towards the end however, there was a lot going on and I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. This book also deals with some heavy topics which might be hard for some to read. Over all I enjoyed reading this and looking forward to reading more of her books. 3.5 ⭐️
October 28, 2019
I was given an e-copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
The subject matter of this novel is incredibly hard to read, but also incredibly important to discuss. Although there is violence, the sexual imagery is minimal, and I appreciate MM was able to write this topic with grace. I hope her novel can start some much needed conversations about human trafficking.
It is written from multiple points of view, which usually doesn’t leave much to the imagination, but the author is still able to keep some secrets for twists and turns in the end. More of a “how could they?” rather than a standard “whodunnit?”
Even though I wish some things were written differently, overall I enjoyed this novel very much. I kind of wish the whole thing were written from the POV of Detective Delaney (but he’s my fave - I’m biased!)
The subject matter of this novel is incredibly hard to read, but also incredibly important to discuss. Although there is violence, the sexual imagery is minimal, and I appreciate MM was able to write this topic with grace. I hope her novel can start some much needed conversations about human trafficking.
It is written from multiple points of view, which usually doesn’t leave much to the imagination, but the author is still able to keep some secrets for twists and turns in the end. More of a “how could they?” rather than a standard “whodunnit?”
Even though I wish some things were written differently, overall I enjoyed this novel very much. I kind of wish the whole thing were written from the POV of Detective Delaney (but he’s my fave - I’m biased!)
January 31, 2021
One star for finding a publisher who was prepared to kill trees to print this terrible book. The author had a good start with an interesting story and managed to not only bore me nearly to death, but also decided to leave too much out while cramming the book full of unnecessary complications. Lingering too long on stuff that didn't need to be described in such detail then leaving out vital bits as if whole chapters have been taken out in the editing process. The book is terrible. I wouldn't suggest it to someone who is caught on a deserted island with only this book to read. All the characters are inconsistent and the book is very unclear as to who is actually talking in the early chapters. It's like a deliberate but badly executed walk up the garden path to disorient the reader. I did NOT enjoy this book at all. it had great potential which was just massacred by a bad writing. Sad.
March 1, 2024
This is an easy read for someone looking for what I would call a 'surface level' crime story. The concepts the story touches are certainly shocking, but all of the details are inferred. I appreciated this arm's length information as it made the novel easier to read and the story flow without unnecessary gore.
At times, I found the story a bit confusing and there were several 'twists'/details and storylines that were unnecessary or should have been fleshed out out more. This made for much explanation needed in the final 3 chapters. The ending was predictable, but not infuriating.
At times, I found the story a bit confusing and there were several 'twists'/details and storylines that were unnecessary or should have been fleshed out out more. This made for much explanation needed in the final 3 chapters. The ending was predictable, but not infuriating.
November 1, 2019
Was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this one right from the author herself..and oh my what a ride!! Intense, brutal and unpredictable..with a twist at the end I never saw coming..while the Sex trafficking angle and the details with the operation may feel a bit harrowing for a few..the overall experience is worth it to understand what the protagonists are up against..Author Marin Montgomery deserves all the love for this one 👏
November 4, 2019
⭐⭐⭐💫 (rounded to a 4)
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this one. I have children and it is terrifying to imagine one of them going through this type of situation. This was well written and had an easy flow to it despite the difficult topic covered. With multiple POVs there weren't many twists or secrets held quiet, however that did not take away from the underlying story itself. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this one. I have children and it is terrifying to imagine one of them going through this type of situation. This was well written and had an easy flow to it despite the difficult topic covered. With multiple POVs there weren't many twists or secrets held quiet, however that did not take away from the underlying story itself. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
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