The Empty Room

by Brooke Linford

Emily and Mark have a perfect marriage, but they long for a baby. As infertility begins to take its toll on Emily, her world is thrown into chaos with the arrival of a beautiful new colleague, Victoria. It's only small things at the painted-on smile, the lingering stares at Mark, the intrusive questions. But things soon escalate, with random deliveries, an encounter with a brown snake, and a suspicious death. As a bushfire rages nearby, the threats pile up, and Emily becomes overwhelmed. Is Victoria as dangerous as she suspects? And why will no one believe her?

Genres: Fiction

138 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 12, 2021

Reviews

[Tanaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like to read short, fast paced thrillers with uncomplicated plot lines- this is your kind of book.
However, after reading so many thrillers with mind boggling stories, this book fell short of my expectations. The story is quite simple and I feel the author should have tried something more with the story as there was a potential for it to become a little bit more twisty. The title is amazing as the couple is trying for a baby and after multiple failed attempts they are heartbroken over how that one room in their house which could be a future nursery remains empty. The MC Emily has issues at her job with a new employee as she realises there is something not really right about her. The cliche concept of a person not being what they seem to be was used here, and I wish it would’ve been explored more.
There was not much room for suspense and the villain was quite clear from the start. Underwhelming and cliched, I would not recommend this book to seasoned thriller fans.
Thanks to author, NetGalley & the publisher BooksGoSocial for this ARC.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily and Mark have been trying to have a baby for two years with no luck. Emily feels like a failure, while Mark tries to interest her into going to a fertility specialist.

It doesn't help when Emily feels that she's being out of her job. Her boss hires a beautiful woman, Victoria, who immediately sets Emily's teeth on edge. There's just something not quite right about her. As time goes by, things get worse. She's seems to have a thing for Emily's husband and is always asking personal questions.

And then the situation escalates .... did she have a piece of baby furniture delivered to Tom and Emily's home? Why was there a venomous brown snake found in their kitchen? Who ran her off the road?

Why will no one believe Emily's belief that Victoria is dangerous .. not her husband, not her sister, not her boss? What is Victoria's end game ... does she want Emily's husband .. or her life?

This is one of those books that even if you know the 'who' ... you can't stop reading to see what happens next. It's like seeing an accident along the side of the road ... you don't want to look .. but you do. The story line is well constructed. Characters are either very likable .. or not. It's suspenseful from the start and it leads right to an explosive conclusion.

Many thanks to the author / BooksGoSocial / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story expressed a range of issues that are sure to be encountered by an average adult on a day to day basis. That's what made me admire the style with which this book was written. It wasn't overly detailed with backgrounds and motives. Just people going about their lives, laying out their problems, acting out, apologizing, bonding over a community crisis. Even meeting a person like the antagonist is something that happens way often in our lives. For them to plot such a nasty scheme, though. Probably, improbable at most.

Consequently, the lack of meticulous information made me question myself about my own assumptions. Have I read one too many dark thrillers? Did I rely too much on stereotyping? Would I have felt the same way for the main character if I didn't share some of her issues? I didn't expect for this book to affect me in the way it did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for this free ARC. This review is made of my own accord, and with no monetary compensation, whatsoever, from the names mentioned above and/or the rightful owners of this ARC.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
Emily and Mark are a happily married couple, but having unsuccessfully tried to conceive a child for two years, they decide to go to a specialist. At the same time, Emily's boss has hired a gorgeous woman, which adds to her distress; the woman threatens her job and seems to have taken a liking to Mark. Strange, ominous happenings occur...even a suspicious death. Then there's the threatening bushfire!
It's a very quick read, nothing really special - an easy beach read where you don't mind being interrupted once in a while.

[Jillian Duchnowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded this book because the main character, Emily, is struggling with infertility, something I'm familiar with. #ivfwarrior I enjoyed reading about her, her small town and her large, loving family. The plot pushes us through a series of awkward conflicts and internal strife as she acknowledges that she may need to see a fertility specialist and responds to the surprise of a new colleague who just seems ... off.⁠
⁠
I'd recommend this book as a nice read to relax before bed or as entertainment as a car ride, but honestly, I was only lukewarm about it. The pace seems a little off -- it's fairly slow in the beginning and I never really felt the suspense one might expect of a psychological thriller. It seemed like there should be plenty of themes to explore between fertility, motherhood, family and loss of a child, but if the storylines tried to connect those themes, I missed it. It felt like more of a Hallmark Channel movie than a novel that engages all the literary senses.⁠

(Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.)⁠

[Kay Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial, and Author Brooke Lunsford for this ARC.

This was far from the worst thriller I've ever read, but it certainly wasn't the best either. If you need to kill a few hours at the beach, camping, on a long car ride, in a waiting room, then this is perfect. But don't get a copy and settle in for intense characters or twisting plotlines. This was a short and simple story. The villain was easily detected. The story is one big cliche after another. And don't expect shocking twists or turns, the surprises are minimal at best and easily seen a mike away.

This story has potential but it's not quite there yet.

[Deacon D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging, tidy little thriller, perfect for a summer beach read.

[Margaret Duke-Wyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I enjoyed this book but not for it’s complicated plot, or fantastic characters or beautiful prose. What this is a simply told tale narrated in a simple style; do not expect literary genius. It is not overburdened in complex plots and schemes with intricate strategies and multiple agendas.

A simple story then; based in Australia, about a couple very much in love but unable to conceive the much wanted baby. She works in an art gallery and feels threatened when her employer introduces her to a beautiful young woman who is to work alongside her in the gallery – although there is hardly enough work for two people. As the plot unfolds it is fairly predictable.

In all honesty the star of the show (so to speak) is the fires that are threatening Australia. Spreading through the bush and creeping up to destroy and kill. I thought this was handled really well; subtle but threatening.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

[Labannya · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It seemed we could all be blind when we were teased with something we desperately wanted.”

This is a story about Emily and her husband Mark desperately trying for a baby but infertility are taking toll on them be it physically and mentally.

Em works in an art gallery there she meets with her assistant/ co worker Victoria, gorgeously beautiful woman and Em really something is fishy and off with this Victoria.

A mysterious murder took place in the neighbourhood of Em and Mark.

And, if you all want to know more and make sense out of what I’m talking about you really need to read this.

So, if you like to read short but fast-paced and less complicated thriller then this is your book.
Grab it. But I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It’s a psychological thriller fiction. The cover is apt for the book itself.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Thank you @NetGalley and @CloseUpBooks for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Scotney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting storyline.
However I did find it a bit slow and Emily repeats herself a lot. Emily has a new coworker, Victoria, who she just can’t seem to get along with. Victoria is all nice and smiles with everyone except when she is with Emily, and she only lets Emily see her darker side. With strange things happening around Emily, not long after the arrival of Victoria, she suspects that Victoria is behind it all. Now these are the parts that I find are not explained enough, or leave no intrigue, they are just sort of stated. I found that the ending was rushed. I was surprised by the reason behind all of Emily’s misfortune, which was good, but I still felt it could of been more elaborated. Saying that, it was still a good read.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers in exchange for a voluntary review.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Empty Room is a story about Emily and Mark, who have a seemingly perfect marriage, but struggle with infertility. The main couple are fairly likeable, as are some of the other characters. Unfortunately the storyline right from the start is extremely predictable; once the 'beautiful new colleague, Victoria' comes along, it is instantly clear that she is bad news and you can guess exactly what is going to happen. Due to the predictability of the plot, this made it a bit of a slog to read. Not only that, but once the climax came, it was so rushed that it seemed as though the author suddenly ran out of time to finish the book, and raced to the end. Furthermore, the mention of the 'empty room' is so brief that it doesn't seem to warrant being the title of the book. The only saving grace is that I really enjoyed the writing style, which made a predictable and lacklustre plot that little bit more bearable.

[reading with rylanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve had this book sitting on my NetGalley shelf for almost 4 years now, so it was time to get it read! I read it in less than 24 hours - binging it in two short sittings. It was a quick read at under 200 pages and held my attention just enough. Unfortunately, the plot felt very sporadic to me, and it seemed like a lot of the chapters had the same thing happen over and over again. I didn’t understand the motivations of any of the characters, nor did I connect with them. I think this story could’ve been so fascinating if it was told from Victoria’s POV. Instead, I was left not super invested in what happened by the end and confused by some of the plot points.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of The Empty Room by Brooke Linford.

[Kori Potenzone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Empty Room by Brooke Linford. This was the first book that I have read by Brooke Linford but it certainly wont be my last!

The Empty Room was expertly crafted and sure gave me a great thrill! I absolutely adored the characters and felt a personal connection to each of them.

This is the type of book you bring to the beach with you and can finish in one sitting.

Emily is struggling with infertility, but this soon becomes the least of her problems. Emily's world is completely turned upside down and a suspicious death soon takes place.

I dont want to give away any spoilers but I can tell you that you do not want to miss this! I would highly recommend this novel to family and friends .

[Shaye.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

🧨🧨 this may contain spoilers!
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Thankyou #netgalley for giving me a chance to read this arc for honest review!:)
#theemptyroom
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🧨 warning: it may trigger some of you.
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This is a story of a 2 couple longing for a child but having a hard time.. easy read but it actually a little slow up until chapter 17! That's where the part it gets intriguing but for the few chapters it's not my cup of tea.
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Not a hea. A lot of question about this book like what and why.
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Anyway, the author write this beautifully.
I can feel the pain through the main character.
Overall, it's a 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️ For me
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❤️Shaye.diariies

[Thriller Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one nice beach read!

The empty room has a strong side story about a couple, who is dealing with possible infertility. There is also the creepy side of it because of a stunning yet annoying and untrustworthy new coworker Victoria, that messes with Emily. Noone believes Emily, of course. Justified or not - I won’t tell ;)

The empty room is full of happening and creppy/annoying moments, which makes it a quick and interesting read.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

[Heaven Protsman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t get your hopes up for an exciting thriller. This was very short with no room to build the suspense.

That being said, the idea of the story was really good. But I’m left with a million questions. Why was Victoria obsessed with Emily’s sister? Where did she come from? What happened to her and her kid? Why did she come to the gallery?

I was seriously disappointed here. Like I said, the concept was great but the execution was terrible.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook.

[janine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of those books that really intrigued me, both by the premise and cover...

Unfortunately it just fell flat. Whilst the characters are fairly likeable the actual storyline is just too overly predictable.

There didnt feel like there was any room for suspense, it's a shortbread and there was only a very brief mention of 'The Empty Room' which personally I dont think warrants the book title.

Thanks to netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC .

[Dictionary101 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Emily crazy or is everyone else crazy for not listening to her?

Tense, nerve-wracking read, worth the time spent. My rating is only 4 stars because I have too many unanswered questions. SPOILER ALERTS BELOW.

How did Victoria know Emily has a daughter? Why did she target Emily instead of Rebecca?

Who was in the neighbor's house?

How did Victoria's daughter die? When?

How when did Victoria get into Emily's house?

Is there really a cot under the tarp in the shed?

[Diane 🌻 Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

Such potential! Really had a hard time with this book because I liked the premise of a couple struggling with infertility issues but, in the end, that had absolutely nothing to do with the overall story.

The “villain” was obvious as soon introduced. No hiding it, very stereotypical. The climax of the book was cliche and resolved way too easily.

Did I enjoy this book? I enjoyed the beginning but then became bored quite quickly.

Would I recommend it? I wouldn’t bother if I were you.

[Louise Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller which is based in a context which so many people will be able to relate to. We see a relationship fracture under the pressure of their desperate efforts to have a child and then watch the drama as the author brings a third party into the mix. The book captures emotion well, which adds to the sense of being a part of the story yourself.

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for suspense skip the prologue. It contains about the amount of suspense you'll get. There won't be many surprises afterwards.
What you'll get is a decent story about a young women feeling that something is awfully off but nobody believing her and a decent description what it feels like knowing there's a bush fire coming your way.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Empty Room is a story about a couple longing for a child after putting it off until they were ready. Fertility struggles are brought to the forefront but a new employee at the art gallery where Em works will quickly add to the drama.

This was a really quick read. The story is relatable and will hold your interest.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily and Mark have the perfect marriage just missing one thing a child of their own. When Emily's boss hires another assistant named Victoria strange things start happening to Emily. No one wants to believe her something is wrong with Victoria. Why does no one believe Emily? Your answers await you in The Empty Room.

I received this ARC via Macmillan Publishing for an honest review.

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Empty Room. It was a fast paced thriller which I devoured in one sitting. I liked the characters and the writing style and would highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my copy.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 3 out of 5]

As domestic thrillers go, this was pretty middle if the road to me. It was a slightly different concept which was a nice change and it does qll plod along quite nicely. I couldnt really pick and major faults, it's definitely a pretty easy beach read or such

[Erica smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lifetime movie

All I got from this book was " typical lifetime movie" . it was quite boring and the title empty room really has nothing to do with the story line . the title should have been something else . the writing was good just not my cup of tea.

[Collette Mcgaahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m glad this was a quick read because I didn’t particularly enjoy it. The plot was weak and predictable whilst the characters I liked ok but they failed to develop at all

[Stephanie Rumbarger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one. Although I found the FMC to be kind of annoying it was a good story.

[Karen Worrells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast moving thriller that kept me reading.

[Susan Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soap Opera

A well written Aussie thriller. It keeps you on your toes suspecting who was the problem. No overdoing sex and violence but it was written well.