Somebody Out There

by Kevin Lynch

Somebody out there wants to hurt them…

When Ben and Deborah leave the city to start a new life in the beautiful Irish countryside, they can almost taste their perfect future – growing their own food, the kids running free, peace and silence.

But as soon as they arrive in their new home bad things start to happen. And it becomes clear that somebody out there wants them gone.

But ex-crime reporter Deborah doesn’t scare easily. This is the life she’s dreamed of for her family and she’s not giving up on it without a fight.

As the campaign against the family intensifies and becomes truly terrifying, Deborah is determined to unmask the person behind it and starts to dig for the truth.

What she finds is more twisted and horrifying than she could ever have imagined.

Somebody Out There – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of K.L Slater, Miranda Rijks, Teresa Driscoll.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2021

About the author

I'm a Guidance Counsellor but have always written. I was shortlisted for the Hennessy new Irish Writers award and have won a number of poetry awards. I decided to write a novel about two years ago, set my main character up as a misanthropic, reclusive type, then sent him into the world to solve the mystery of his brother's disappearance. I've enjoyed living with the characters in the book but am glad the editing and proofing is over as that's a harder slog than the initial creation. I am now on my second novel which is a ground level thriller with a hearty dollop of dark humor.

Reviews

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben and Deborah and their two children are leaving the city life to start over in a very rural country area in Ireland to open a natural health store that they hope will be a nice addition to the community. Their new neighbors don't seem very receptive to the city family and it becomes hard for the children who are not very happy not having any friends in the new environment. It seems the family may have a stalker in their midst. Almost immediately strange things begin to happen that feel threatening but the police think it's probably teens playing pranks but the threats begin to get more serious and possibly dangerous and Ben and Deborah can't understand why they would be treated so poorly and it begins to take a toll non their marriage and Deborah thinks maybe they should move back to Dublin but Ben refuses to be intimidated by the locals but secretly wonders himself if they are in over heir heads.

I found this to be a very enjoyable and entertaining fast paced book taking place in Ireland. I loved how the country Irish folk had their own special phrasing and special ways of conducting themselves within the community. Really great fun. The daughter was only fifteen and had quite a mouth on her and the parents didn't seem to mind which was surprising to me. The son was a sweetheart and well behaved. I liked Ben's character but I didn't care for Deborah. She seemed very self involved to me and somewhat stand-offish even though she was supposed to be a warm personality. I just didn't find her likeable. There were some good twists to the book and the ending was quite a surprise to find out who their stalker really was.

Warning: There is some disturbing animal cruelty involved.

I want to thank the publisher "Inkubator Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I recommends this book to any reader who enjoys domestic thrillers and have given a rating of 3 Creepy 🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars from me here. I really, really struggled to keep up with this book. It did a good job of building tension and making me completely unsure of who was stalking Ben and his family. After all, when an entire town is made uneasy by your presence, anyone could be a potential suspect. And the final reveal wasn’t totally surprising, but I felt like the rationale came a bit out of left field. With all the build up, I was just hoping for a more concrete reasoning. But it was fine. The story just seemed to concentrate on Ben, who was not the most likeable or interesting character. This may have benefited from switching back and forth to different characters points of view throughout. So I think that may have been the biggest fault here. The plot itself was nothing groundbreaking, and it didn’t take any risks, but it was ok. City folk moving to a self-contained little town and getting harassed by the locals. Again, nothing new. And the story could have been shortened by a bit. It felt like a marathon with lots of unnecessary repetition. Sort of like a Saturday Night Live sketch, as the reader, I got the point after a time or two, and didn’t need it drilled into the ground. The transition from entertained to dulled was blurred a few times. Not sure if my POV shifting would have helped with all this, but it definitely couldn’t have hurt. The quality of the writing was the real star here, but beyond that, it was just a decent outing.

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben and Deborah and their two children are leaving the city life to start over in a very rural country area in Ireland to open a natural health store that they hope will be a nice addition to the community. Their new neighbors don't seem very receptive to the city family and it becomes hard for the children who are not very happy not having any friends in the new environment. It seems the family may have a stalker in their midst. Almost immediately strange things begin to happen that feel threatening but the police think it's probably teens playing pranks but the threats begin to get more serious and possibly dangerous and Ben and Deborah can't understand why they would be treated so poorly and it begins to take a toll non their marriage and Deborah thinks maybe they should move back to Dublin but Ben refuses to be intimidated by the locals but secretly wonders himself if they are in over heir heads.

I found this to be a very enjoyable and entertaining fast paced book taking place in Ireland. I loved how the country Irish folk had their own special phrasing and special ways of conducting themselves within the community. Really great fun. The daughter was only fifteen and had quite a mouth on her and the parents didn't seem to mind which was surprising to me. The son was a sweetheart and well behaved. I liked Ben's character but I didn't care for Deborah. She seemed very self involved to me and somewhat stand-offish even though she was supposed to be a warm personality. I just didn't find her likeable. There were some good twists to the book and the ending was quite a surprise to find out who their stalker really was.

Warning: There is some disturbing animal cruelty involved.

I want to thank the publisher "Inkubator Books" and Netgalley for the old to read this book and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I recommends this book to any reader who enjoys domestic thrillers and have given a rating of 3 Creepy 🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving from Dublin to a small rural village, Ben, his wife and two teenage children seek a new start. Their presence is not welcomed and strange things begin to occur to them. As pressure builds, the danger to the family increases, with the who and the why a mystery. Kevin Lynch has captured the Irish small-town life in fine detail and turns up the tension nicely. An enjoyable read of a psychological thriller that rates a three-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FANTASTIC psychological thriller!

It was a rollercoaster ride from the moment Ben and Deborah moved in until the perpetrator was apprehended. I had an inkling about who might have been involved but was blown away when the mastermind behind the plan was revealed. My heart was pounding and I was hyper-aware of outdoor noises as I flipped one page after the next in order to find out who wanted this family out of their neighbourhood and why they wanted them gone. I’d eagerly read another book by this author because; I was thrilled with a great story, I was invested in the family and understood their misery, I saw that they were adapting to change and willing to do whatever it took, I was excited about the high pacing and strong narrative, I loved that the author showed, not told, the action and I came away with empathy for their neighbour and those like him.

I was gifted this advance copy by Kevin Lynch, Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

A family of four move out into the country with hopes for a new and better future. Unfortunately, the new small town isn't very accepting. And then strange things start happening . . . sinister things.

I liked this interesting and mysterious thriller for the most part. My complaint? The female characters in this book were all unlikable. It really rubbed me raw trying to get through this story. Otherwise it was pretty good.

[Pauline]

Deborah leaves her job as a crime reporter. She sells the family home and moves to the country with her husband Ben and their two children.
They have bought a house with land to raise chickens and crops, and a small store to sell organic supplies.
Things don’t go to plan as the residents of the town are not welcoming and strange tings start to happen as soon as they move in. As the incidents escalate the family begin to fear for their safety.
This thriller is full of suspense and some really creepy moments.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living in a city versus living in the country? Well, there are advantages to both ways of living of course.

In the city you have access to everything in the blink of an eye: shops, takeaway, …, but you have to deal with traffic, noise,…

In the country you only have the small businesses in the centre of the village and you will have to travel a bit more if you are looking for the chain stores, but on the other hand you wake up to the sound of birdsong and you can smell the fresh air.

Home is where you lay your head is often determined by the kind of job you do, but if one day you wake up and realize that there is so much more to life than just your job? Maybe it’s time to leave the rat race and turn your life upside down? It’s time to slow down a bit and make time for what’s the most important: your family.

The solution? Chose country life over city life and start relaxing and enjoying… Right?

Ben and Deborah are looking forward to that, but it seems like someone might not agree with them…

I enjoyed this story. There were certainly some creepy scenes that made me look over my shoulder too and some that broke my heart in a thousand pieces.

In my opinion there was a thread that was not quite solved. I don’t know if it was done on purpose because in this case there is room for a sequel or not. I would not mind that at all. 4 stars.

Thank you, Kevin Lynch and Damp Pebbles Blog Tours

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somebody Out There opened with a chapter I thought was very good & I loved how the story unfolded in first couple of chapters. But from there it went downhill for me quickly. Everytime I thought something was about to happen I waited for the thrills that never showed up. There were so many good characters with a backstory that had so much potential, but they all sort of fell flat. I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters except the children. There was just nasty stuff happening one after the other & the reason revealed at the end did not make sense to me. I expected an extraordinary ending or twisted story given the voice in prologue. I didn't find either. I did not find that thrill build up in the last half of the book.
Thank you NetGalley, Kevin Lynch & Inkubator books for the arc!

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an advance copy of Somebody out there, a stand-alone thriller set in the West Coast of Ireland.

Ben and Deborah Higgins decide to slow down their busy Dublin life and uproot themselves and their children to a small town on the West Coast to open a health food shop, but it seems that somebody doesn’t want them there and organises an escalating series of events to scare them off.

I couldn’t get into Somebody out there and it didn’t hold my attention. I kept putting it down in favour of something else and didn’t hear the siren call luring me back. It has all the necessary ingredients for a thriller with creepy locals and a well imagined series of aggressions but, for me, it lacked the necessary tension and oomph for attention grabbing and immersion. Perhaps because the family are so normal and yet don’t pack up and go, like anyone sensible would or perhaps because it is told mostly from Ben’s point of view and Deborah is the little woman, when he’s an accountant and she’s an award winning crime reporter. Gender stereotyping?

Somebody out there is a solid read, just not for me.

[Lynsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Somebody Out There’ definitely plays into my fears about people watching you in the rural dark! This was a captivating, spine-tingly, nightmare of a thriller.

Ben and Deborah decided to uproot their family from Dublin and move into the country to gain that rural ideal life. Deborah is a crime reporter and recently was working on organised criminal gangs and wanted to move the family from that threat. They have decided to open a health shop in their new home, grow their veggies and return to a slower pace of life. But someone has different ideas - there are noises outside during the night and it's clear someone doesn't like them being there. Ben and Deborah are giving up without a fight.

The only thing I would say that surprised me about this book was going by the blurb I thought Deborah would be a more involved character and that's a shame, as I would have probably preferred her point of view. Also, be warned there are a few gory bits in this book. Kevin doesn't flinch on the shock factor!

I enjoyed this book, it was a multi-layered book as it deals with all the members of the family and how they react to events. However, it did feel as if the perpetrator was kind of plucked out of thin air. Maybe that was a good thing as it meant I didn't guess the ending. I do think that a few more clues could have been put in the narrative though. But, it was still a good thriller. There were lots of red hearings, the tension was well-paced and built up to a great showdown! I loved the character of the son - he had a steely core but was full of compassion, and empathy.

[BookMadLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Kevin Lynch and Inkubator for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

Kevin Lynch’s ‘Somebody Out There’ held my attention from the very start. It’s equally creepy, suspenseful and gruesome (TW: animal lovers might find elements hard to read!)

Ben and Deborah Higgins and their two children are looking for a fresh start by moving from Dublin to the rural idyll of the west of Ireland. Deborah, a former crime reporter, is fearful of the retribution of the criminal gangs she investigated. Buying a house and starting a new business seems to be the right choice for the family, but things are not going to be easy for them. Their home isn’t safe, the community is not as welcoming as they had hoped, they don’t know who to trust and have to figure out who is targeting them in a sustained campaign of stalking, harassment and threats. Who is after them and why? Is it the criminal gangs seeking their revenge or is the threat from somewhere much closer to home?

The Higgins try to fit in and become a part of the small close-knit community that they have moved into, but the cold reception that they receive from the local people adds to the anxious feeling that runs throughout this book (I had a knot in my stomach throughout the second half of this book!) I think anyone who has moved to a small community will know the feeling of trying to infiltrate the long-standing relationships between neighbours and friends.

I enjoyed the development of the characters in this novel, particularly the brooding figure of Jeremiah. There are a lot of stereotypes in this book- the “culchies” (country people) versus the city folk which at times was pushed a little too much by the author. There are many twists and turns throughout this book and Lynch successfully creates the sense of panic and fear resulting in the hairs standing up on the back of your neck in a number of pivotal moments in this book. A cleverly written and gripping thriller! Definitely a page-turner.

[Nikki Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

What initially drew me into this novel was the setting. Somebody Out There is set in Ireland, and if you haven't seen it before on my page, that is my dream vacation. So, I was able to armchair travel to Ireland with this one. Ben and Deborah decide to move out of Dublin and start over in the country. Deborah was a crime reporter in the city and with some scary encounters, she is ready for a quiet life. Their kids on the other hand are not so thrilled. To say that the townspeople were not welcoming is quite an understatement. Shortly after the family moves in things take a turn for the worse, and the whole family is at risk.

I really found that Lynch did an impeccable job at really making the reader feel uneasy. There was some town folk that made my skin crawl. I really wouldn't want to form a bond with these characters. With their lukewarm reception into town, the culprit really could have been anyone.

I wish there was more character development in this novel. I never ended up really forming any sort of connection with any of the characters. I don't care if I end up absolutely hating a character, I still want to feel something towards them. I also wish there had been more on Deborah and her crime reporting. Terrible things are happening to her family in this new town, and she really didn't bring much to the table. She did very little in the form of investigating and I think if that had been her profession she would have done much more.

I also do want to add a trigger warning on this one. I can look past a lot of things, but animal abuse is not one of them. This family had a dog, and their tormentor horrendously murdered and did other awful things to the pet. I know it was meant to add to the creep factor, but that is a strong no for me.

This one really had me guessing until the very end. While I was hoping for a bit more in regard to character development, and there was a twist at the end that made me ask more questions, I did enjoy this one, and loved that I was able to armchair travel to Ireland.

[AnneKR · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ben and Deborah decide to uproot their family from the city to the country, the townspeople didn't exactly welcome them with open arms. If anything they seem annoyed and bothered with their arrival. When they start receiving mysterious notes and hearing noises outside of their home at night, it seems like their escape to a new life is threatened and they have no clue as to what's happening. As ominous events escalate putting their son in danger, Ben has no choice but to figure out who is behind this in order to keep his family safe. But Ben's suspicions lead him to something - or rather someone - unexpected.

I thought this was a good thriller and kept me up all night trying to figure out who was behind everything. Many characters from the town were introduced, most shady and weird, which had me thinking it could be anyone. From people in Deborah's past to the creepy townsfolk not very receptive to their arrival, Ben does everything possible to find out who it could be. I like how it was set in Ireland but I'm not used to the dialogue from some of the characters. I had to reread some to figure out what they were saying. Overall a good read and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free in exchange for a true & honest review.

This is a rattling good page-turner!
I've read it in just a bit less than 24 hours, including sleeping, but as soon as I woke, I had this in my hand.

I confess, it wasn't my "kind of book" going by the first few pages, but within a very few pages I wanted to be on the next page, then the next...

Well plotted, well formulated characters, pacey story - I would definitely go for a book 2!

[Doreena Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book.
Very normal, likable family whom try to start a new life in a new town and find they don't seem liked or welcome.
The pace of the chapters and what goes on throughout this families experiences in acclimating themselves into this new life makes for a thrilling read.
A great whodunit that may or may not leave you guessing.
Thank you to Netgalley, Inkubator Books and the Author, Kevin Lynch for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rattling good page-turner!
I've read it in just a bit less than 24 hours, including sleeping, but as soon as I woke, I had this in my hand.

I confess, it wasn't my "kind of book" going by the first few pages, but within a very few pages I wanted to be on the next page, then the next...

Well plotted, well formulated characters, pacey story - I would definitely go for a book 2!

[ReadandRated · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars from me

Moving to a beautiful, completely rural, peaceful village with a new business venture and a wholesome lifestyle in mind, what starts of seeming like an idyllic dream soon turns into a nightmare for Ben, Deborah and their family.

Having left the city - and Deborah's career as a crime reporter - behind in order to run a health shop and integrate into village life, the family soon begin to wonder if they have made the right move.

What isn't clear, is whether the family are being targeted by the very people they moved away from. Are they under threat from criminals who weren't best pleased with Deborah's crime reporting, or are the local's just not a fan a newbie's moving into their village, or is there something else at play?

There seems to be a real air of menace throughout Somebody Out There and there were several times where it felt like things were about to spiral to a really dark conclusion within this skillfully plotted thriller.

Hats off to Ben and Deborah, I wouldn't have stayed beyond a week with everything that went on! 

And as soon I realised the family had a dog... well, let's just say I worked out pretty quickly that it wouldn't be a good idea to get too attached to him!

Overall, this is an edge of the seat read... not a book I would enjoy on a dark night in a holiday cottage for example!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody Out There keeps you guessing until the end. I finished this book in 24 hours, it's a quick read. The only part I didn't enjoy was the ending, I won't spoil it and tell you why. Recommended reading.

[Rachael Stray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben and Deborah move their family for a fresh start in the beautiful Irish countryside but they soon get much more than they bargained for.

As soon as they arrive in their new home bad things start to happen.

And it quickly becomes clear that somebody out there wants them gone.

The small town is a very close-knit community where everyone knows one another and the goings-on.

So who is after them and why?

As things start to go bump in the night, threatening text messages and weird pictures are sent to Ben, the couple begins to question their new life.

The police are little no help at all so Ben and Deborah are left to figure it out themselves.

There are incidents of animal cruelty that some readers might find particularly distressing. 

I really liked Kevin's writing style and found he described scenes really well. 

However, I felt that Deborah, as a crime reporter, could have been a very interesting character but she wasn’t fleshed out enough for me. As a former reporter myself, I would have liked to have more of a focus on her rather than Ben. 

This thriller has plenty of suspense and some really creepy moments.

It's a quick atmospheric read that does keep you on your toes. 

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to read and give an honest review. Here are my thoughts:

• This book, without giving any spoilers away, is about a family, the Higgins, who go after a fresh start in a new area, after some bother in their previous area. They have packed up from their city life and are starting fresh in the rural countryside. They find a house in a quiet little town and purchase a shop, here they plan to sell produce which they grow on their land and healthy foods that they purchase from local businesses. They buy hens and make a plan of how this new, idyllic life is going to be..... or so they think.

Soon, odd things start to happen, The locals are a tight-knit community, that don’t seem overly welcoming to their new inhabitants, and awful things begin to happen to this poor family. •

I liked the family, and as I read through the words on the pages, I was able to picture them clearly in my head, along with the other characters in the book. I enjoyed the story, with its shocking twists and turns throughout, and the sinister, creepy events that the poor Higgins family have to deal with. I could really feel the emotions of those characters in the family. The ending surprised me. I didn’t expect it; it kind of come out of no where, but it worked in its own way. I feel like it was wrapped up quite quick at the end and would have liked it to have been played out a bit longer.

As I mentioned before, I did enjoy the book, I thought it was okay, but I wouldn’t say it had me gripped on this occasion and It hasn’t left me eager to look into the authors other books, which is why I have rated it as I have. If you enjoy a thriller that has some psychological twists and turns and at times can be suspenseful, and a quick, and easy read, then I recommend giving this book a try. :)

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben, Deborah and their two children have just moved to the west coast of Ireland to set up a health food shop to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Deborah was a crime reporter and wants a fresh start in the countryside after the horrors she has seen in the city. They get a visit from Jeramiah whose family sold them the house. He and his mother, now deceased, used to live there and he is very protective over some items he has left in the house which he doesn't want distrubed. When things start to go bump in the night and much more, Ben and Deborah begin wondering who wants them gone- or worse. The small town is a very close community where everyone knows everyone else and what is going on. Who is after them and why? Oh boy! I quickly got into this and found myself turning ever faster- there is a cleverly written air of tension and just when you think it's safe to peep out…. I won’t spoil anything! (but nothing too scary). I liked Ben and Deborah who appeared to be normal well rounded people in a town of strangers ( although why didn't they just change the locks……??) A gripping, tense thriller of a read and one I very much enjoyed.

[Betty Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and it was interesting and kept me reading until the surprise ending.

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there’s ever been a Prologue to pull me straight in, this was it. It set an eerie tone that reminded me of Psycho.
Ben and Deborah Higgins move to the Irish countryside from Dublin along with their kids, teenage Molly and 12-year-old Jack, and their dog, Harry, for a fresh start. Deborah is an award winning crime reporter, and the family has made the move to escape the repercussions of her work, with a gang she reported on threatening violence. They hope to put the fears of the past behind them and start afresh.
The house they have moved into used to belong to a woman who died in it. Her mentally unstable younger son Jeremiah, who claims to hear the voice of his mother in his mind, resents them for living in his house.
They find themselves unwelcome in the town, with butcher Pat Doyle, pub owner Mossy Hennigan being openly unfriendly. Dave Breen, an upstanding town man, who handles the accounts of most of the establishments, is the only one who shows the Higgins any kind of welcome.
Pretty soon, strange things begin to happen to them. Two of their chickens get their heads cut off. Then their dog is killed brutally. With each case of harassment, they find themselves increasingly alone, with the Gardai (Irish police) refusing to take them seriously. The trouble causes a rift within the family, with Deborah and Molly, in particular, resenting Ben for not cutting his losses and moving away.
Ben is determined to find out who is trying to drive him off his property. Will he discover it in time or will he lose his family and his sanity in the process?

The story is written in the third person past tense point of view of Ben. Interspersed between the main narrative relating to the Higgins family are short chapters written in the second person. These are the thoughts of Jeremiah, and they are characterized with the feeling of an intense and unhealthy devotion of a son for his mother.
The desolation of the countryside is described very well and the pacing is good.

The dialogue in the past perfect tense sounded unnatural. Some sentences were rather awkward. Dave Breen put down…whatever product he was holding. The vagueness makes no sense. In another chapter, we are told that Ben had been really shook.

There’s a lot of swearing, with almost everyone, except Jack, swearing freely. I was put off by this aspect.
Since the PoV is Ben’s, we don’t really feel close to Deborah. The little that we see of her makes her feel distant towards her. She was totally unsupportive towards Ben, refusing to understand him at all.
Jack was really sweet, but Molly came across as insensitive. Even when she was deliberately rude and disrespectful to her father, neither parent called her out on her behaviour.
The Gardai were completely lame and useless; their whole attitude needed work.
The ending was wrapped up too soon, without being at all satisfying.
Ben was the only character that came across as real. I could form no connection with any of the others, except for Jeremiah. I would have liked to see more of him.

I guessed the identity of the culprit early on; it wasn’t difficult.

My biggest grouse is with the blurb at the back of the book. It was totally misleading. It tells us that Deborah doesn’t scare easily and that she starts to dig for the truth. It was odd that the author set her up as an award-winning reporter and then she did nothing for her family.

As it plays out in the book, Deborah shows none of the feistiness we expect from a crime reporter. It’s Ben who stands up for his family. Deborah is quite ready to compromise.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Somebody Out There’ is the first book by Kevin that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. The synopsis was enough to grab my attention and the story sounded like just my kind of read. So without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I really enjoyed reading ‘Somebody Out There’ but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this story from the very start. I can’t say that I warmed to any of the characters. I might have read too much crime fiction because I ‘assume nothing, believe nobody and check everything’. The main characters didn’t exactly endear themselves to me but that’s ok because it meant that I could remain neutral. I read this book in bursts rather than in one long reading binge. At times I would become so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. The storylines intrigued me and I had to keep reading to see if my suspicions were to be proved correct. All too quickly I reached the end of the story. I found ‘Somebody Out There’ to be an interesting and gripping read, which certainly kept me guessing and kept me entertained.
‘Somebody Out There’ is well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into what proves to be a compelling read with many twists and turns along the way. For me, ‘Somebody Out There’ is perfectly paced in that the story starts off as a slow burn but like a snowball rolling down a hill, the plot gathers momentum and leads to a tense and dramatic conclusion. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Kevin’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Somebody Out There’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will be reading more of Kevin’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Sue]

Synopsis:


Ben and Molly move from the city to escape the dangers that may be near if they stay. They take their children to a small little town where their arrival is not met with the hospitality they were hoping it would.



The danger they thought they were running shows up at their door. Who, where, and why are all these things happening and why are the local authorities blowing them off. Can they figure out what’s really going on before it’s to late?



Review:

This had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I was not able to figure it out until almost the end. There was a suspense that stayed with me throughout the whole book which I really loved. The townspeople really add to the creepy vibe.

I just kept thinking, “Why would you do that, Ben?” He is not the smartest at times and if he would just talk to his wife maybe things would have played out differently. Instead, he ends up making himself look bad.

This deals with bullying, attempted murder, a stalker, animal cruelty and so much more. I do not recommend if you have a weak stomach. One scene in particular is pretty gruesome with their dog.

If you enjoy mystery/ thriller/ suspense and you don’t mind some twisted elements in your books then I definitely advise you to check this out!

This book was given in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

[Richard Mendenhall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately predictable

The book wasn't bad, but I just found it to be too predictable. It wasn't stunning and it did not have a "nerve-shredding climax" as described. The book was okay but as I read on, I felt like I had read the same story several times before. Everything that happened was something I had experienced repeatedly in books before. For someone who hasn't done a lot of reading this might be a very good book, but anyone who has done a lot of reading would find this one stale. That's why I gave it a three Star rating. There did not seem to be anything original. It was kind of like a Hallmark Christmas movie. I'd seen it all before and knew how it was going to end but I pressed on. Finally, when the climax came around and the time came for the big disclosure, I was treated to a truly lame motive that depended on a truly unlikely coincidence. Would I read more from this author? Probably not. On the other hand, if you're new to thrillers, this one might inspire you to read more.

[J_McA 251 · Rating 3 out of 5]

What could have been a run-of-the-mill psych thriller is elevated by atmosphere. It was easy to be sympathetic to the family at the center of this story. Anybody who has ever moved knows how difficult it can be to adjust to a new location. When you move from the city to the countryside, it becomes even more difficult. I thought the author did a great job of weaving the story so that it was never quite clear if there was a personal vendetta (due to Deborah’s job) or if it was a crazy townsperson. Some of the tactics made me cringe, as I could imagine the horror that they would produce in real life. I also think that with the Irish countryside there’s an added level of remoteness. The book was a page-turner and the whole plot wraps up satisfyingly. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to Damp Pebbles and Inkubator Books for a digital ARC of the book.

[Robyn_reads1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben and Deborah have decided to move their family from the city to the country after things with Deborah’s job as a crime reporter get dangerous. Little did they know that they would be facing a different type of danger where they have moved. It’s a small town and not everyone is happy to have them there. When their dog (trigger warning) is brutally murdered, they must figure out who is threatening their family.
Somebody out there by Kevin Lynch is an atmospheric, creepy read. Deborah, as a crime reporter, could have been a very interesting character but I feel she wasn’t fleshed out enough. The ending was a nice surprise, one that I didn’t see coming. I’m glad I read Somebody Out There but I won’t necessarily be recommending it.

[Trisha Moynihan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben and Deborah move to the country with their 2 children to escape their troubled city life. It seems their idyllic life isn’t what it should be, somebody doesn’t want them there and is doing everything they can to get them out. Mysterious packages and stalking photographs appear, along with some gruesome goings on. I found the story went at a steady pace but it didn’t have me racing on through the pages. I didn’t like Bens thoughts being described, it seemed a bit un-necessary and didn’t give me credit as a reader for knowing what he would be thinking. I’d guessed who the culprit was early on, too many clues and too many cliches. This was a good idea for a story but it was a bit too predictable.