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The Beach House
The perfect place to hide. Or so she thought . . .
When Grace Jensen returns to her home in the ocean-front town of Lookout Beach one day, she finds a body in a pool of blood and a menacing gift left for her: a knife, a coil of rope and handcuffs.
The community of Lookout Beach are shocked by such a brutal intrusion in their safe, close-knit community - particularly to a family as successful and well-liked as the Jensens - and a police investigation begins to find the trespasser.
But Grace knows who's after her. She might have changed her name and moved across the world, deciding to hide on the Oregon coast, but she's been waiting seventeen years for what happened in the small Welsh town where she grew up to catch-up with her.
Grace might seem like the model neighbour and mother, but nobody in Lookout Beach - not even her devoted husband Elias - knows the real her. Or how much blood is on her hands.
When Grace Jensen returns to her home in the ocean-front town of Lookout Beach one day, she finds a body in a pool of blood and a menacing gift left for her: a knife, a coil of rope and handcuffs.
The community of Lookout Beach are shocked by such a brutal intrusion in their safe, close-knit community - particularly to a family as successful and well-liked as the Jensens - and a police investigation begins to find the trespasser.
But Grace knows who's after her. She might have changed her name and moved across the world, deciding to hide on the Oregon coast, but she's been waiting seventeen years for what happened in the small Welsh town where she grew up to catch-up with her.
Grace might seem like the model neighbour and mother, but nobody in Lookout Beach - not even her devoted husband Elias - knows the real her. Or how much blood is on her hands.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2021
21 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Beverley Jones
5 books158 followersI'm a former journalist who worked for The Western Mail newspaper and BBC Wales Today in Cardiff before becoming a press officer for the police.
My latest novel The Beach House is out in ebook and paperback now.. My previous novel, Wilderness has been adapted for TV by Firebird and Amazon Prime, starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. My previous books, Halfway and Where She Went are published by LittleBrown (Hachette) under the name BE Jones. Take a look at my second profile on here under BE Jones.
My latest novel The Beach House is out in ebook and paperback now.. My previous novel, Wilderness has been adapted for TV by Firebird and Amazon Prime, starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. My previous books, Halfway and Where She Went are published by LittleBrown (Hachette) under the name BE Jones. Take a look at my second profile on here under BE Jones.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 28, 2022
EXCERPT: Without warning, a ticking fills the afternoon, a countdown reverberating around the winter-light kitchen in segments sharp and clear. As it divides the bursts of my breath, I know I should bolt, but there's a delay between my brain and my anchored feet. It's only when the sun slants in through the picture window, filling it with the glowing weight of the afternoon ocean at my back, that I see the figure on the floor.
It's lying in a classic dead-body pose, invisible crime scene tape around the one bent leg, one arm out as if he's sleeping on his stomach. But no one could nod off with that much blood pooling around their head, so much blacker than the red of the ribbon on the rope, a shiny, jet slick the exact shade the edges of my vision is turning. My grocery bag escapes disloyally to the floor, leaving me exposed, as I see by my left foot the blunt, metal baton Eli calls 'the pewter penis', my name etched on the plaque at its base, smeared with blood.
ABOUT 'THE BEACH HOUSE': When Grace Jensen returns to her home in the ocean-front town of Lookout Beach one day, she finds a body in a pool of blood and a menacing gift left for her: a knife, a coil of rope and handcuffs.
The community of Lookout Beach are shocked by such a brutal intrusion in their safe, close-knit community - particularly to a family as successful and well-liked as the Jensens - and a police investigation begins to find the trespasser.
But Grace knows who's after her. She might have changed her name and moved across the world, deciding to hide on the Oregon coast, but she's been waiting seventeen years for what happened in the small Welsh town where she grew up to catch-up with her.
Grace might seem like the model neighbour and mother, but nobody in Lookout Beach - not even her devoted husband Elias - knows the real her. Or how much blood is on her hands.
MY THOUGHTS: The Beach House is full of tension. It's a short, fast paced read with an intriguing main character. Grace used to be Laura. She has moved halfway around the world and reinvented herself, but Laura is still very much with her. One of the things that I most enjoyed was the way nice Grace would be saying/doing something in keeping with her new life, and wild Laura will be whispering subversively in her mind. But that's the psychiatric nurse coming out in me.
Grace is certain that it is her past catching up with her when a body is found on her kitchen floor. Determined to brazen it out she puts her Grace face on for the world, but listens carefully to Laura.
There are more secrets in this neighbourhood than the one Grace hides, and these are slowly revealed as the police investigation proceeds. But, the big question is, can Grace keep her past secret and just how far is she prepared to go to do it?
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheBeachHouse #NetGalley
I: @bevjoneswriting @littlebrown
T: @bevjoneswriting @Little BrownUK
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #psychologicalthriller
THE AUTHOR: I'm a former journalist who worked for The Western Mail newspaper and BBC Wales Today in Cardiff before becoming a press officer for the police.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Beach House by Beverley Jones for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
It's lying in a classic dead-body pose, invisible crime scene tape around the one bent leg, one arm out as if he's sleeping on his stomach. But no one could nod off with that much blood pooling around their head, so much blacker than the red of the ribbon on the rope, a shiny, jet slick the exact shade the edges of my vision is turning. My grocery bag escapes disloyally to the floor, leaving me exposed, as I see by my left foot the blunt, metal baton Eli calls 'the pewter penis', my name etched on the plaque at its base, smeared with blood.
ABOUT 'THE BEACH HOUSE': When Grace Jensen returns to her home in the ocean-front town of Lookout Beach one day, she finds a body in a pool of blood and a menacing gift left for her: a knife, a coil of rope and handcuffs.
The community of Lookout Beach are shocked by such a brutal intrusion in their safe, close-knit community - particularly to a family as successful and well-liked as the Jensens - and a police investigation begins to find the trespasser.
But Grace knows who's after her. She might have changed her name and moved across the world, deciding to hide on the Oregon coast, but she's been waiting seventeen years for what happened in the small Welsh town where she grew up to catch-up with her.
Grace might seem like the model neighbour and mother, but nobody in Lookout Beach - not even her devoted husband Elias - knows the real her. Or how much blood is on her hands.
MY THOUGHTS: The Beach House is full of tension. It's a short, fast paced read with an intriguing main character. Grace used to be Laura. She has moved halfway around the world and reinvented herself, but Laura is still very much with her. One of the things that I most enjoyed was the way nice Grace would be saying/doing something in keeping with her new life, and wild Laura will be whispering subversively in her mind. But that's the psychiatric nurse coming out in me.
Grace is certain that it is her past catching up with her when a body is found on her kitchen floor. Determined to brazen it out she puts her Grace face on for the world, but listens carefully to Laura.
There are more secrets in this neighbourhood than the one Grace hides, and these are slowly revealed as the police investigation proceeds. But, the big question is, can Grace keep her past secret and just how far is she prepared to go to do it?
⭐⭐⭐.8
#TheBeachHouse #NetGalley
I: @bevjoneswriting @littlebrown
T: @bevjoneswriting @Little BrownUK
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #psychologicalthriller
THE AUTHOR: I'm a former journalist who worked for The Western Mail newspaper and BBC Wales Today in Cardiff before becoming a press officer for the police.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Beach House by Beverley Jones for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 22, 2021
Beverley Jones is a first-time author for me and I had no idea what to expect other than that blurb which was terribly exciting. Psychological thrillers are dime a dozen nowadays and even though most of them manage to raise the bar in the genre, there’s a common factor in all of them, that of the reveal and truth being known by everyone around in the climax. The author has used a markedly different technique in this story and I didn’t know how happy I was with that ending. Huh, what does that say about me and my moral code? 🤔 🤔 🤔
Grace Jensen has reinvented her life in the small oceanside town of Look Out beach in Oregon. Growing up with tales of pirates and princesses in the small village of Gwyn Mawr on the Welsh coast, she has come a long way in erasing her past and recreating Lolly as Grace, the epitome of ‘good’; good mother, good wife, good friend and woman extraordinaire, designing an eco-friendly beach house that has caught the notice of the press and the community alike.
The readers are made aware of a past coming calling from the first chapter itself and the truth is revealed piecemeal by piecemeal as we grapple with the dilemma of catastrophe that has destroyed Lolly’s young life. The intensity of lurking danger is comparatively milder in the book but what ups the ante is the stunning description of the place. The atmospheric ambiance creates a feeling of claustrophobia as Grace decides to face her darkest fears. The author provides a detailed look into the surroundings and the background of the ocean provides a larger than real feel to the story. There’s also the connection to Grace’s friends and neighbors MK and Belle, whose secrets are also revealed saying much about the hidden depths a person could have behind a cheerful face.
Intriguing 4.5 stars 💦 💦 💦 💦 💧
Highly recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Grace Jensen has reinvented her life in the small oceanside town of Look Out beach in Oregon. Growing up with tales of pirates and princesses in the small village of Gwyn Mawr on the Welsh coast, she has come a long way in erasing her past and recreating Lolly as Grace, the epitome of ‘good’; good mother, good wife, good friend and woman extraordinaire, designing an eco-friendly beach house that has caught the notice of the press and the community alike.
The readers are made aware of a past coming calling from the first chapter itself and the truth is revealed piecemeal by piecemeal as we grapple with the dilemma of catastrophe that has destroyed Lolly’s young life. The intensity of lurking danger is comparatively milder in the book but what ups the ante is the stunning description of the place. The atmospheric ambiance creates a feeling of claustrophobia as Grace decides to face her darkest fears. The author provides a detailed look into the surroundings and the background of the ocean provides a larger than real feel to the story. There’s also the connection to Grace’s friends and neighbors MK and Belle, whose secrets are also revealed saying much about the hidden depths a person could have behind a cheerful face.
Intriguing 4.5 stars 💦 💦 💦 💦 💧
Highly recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
June 25, 2021
All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/
I am a HUGE fan of Beverley Jones's writing. Her previous two books, written as B.E. Jones, Halfway and Wilderness (as a side note, Wilderness has since had a bit of a make-over and is now called The Perfect Break) have both featured on my top books of the year list. They're intelligently written psychological thrillers with a strong sense of place, and characters who stand tall from the page. I am delighted to confirm that The Beach House is no exception. Jones has produced another dark and engrossing thriller which I devoured with glee.
Grace Jensen has worked hard to create the perfect life for her and her family. Returning to her gorgeous beach front house on Lookout Beach one day, she makes a shocking discovery. A body on her kitchen floor, covered in blood. The body is distressing enough, but the objects carefully placed on her kitchen worksurface send a very clear message. Grace knows it's time. After seventeen years of being careful, of building a new life, her past is finally catching up with her. No one knows what Grace did all those years ago, not even her devoted husband, Elias. And Grace will do anything to keep it that way...
Jones has excelled herself once again in creating an intriguing psychological thriller where character and setting have equal batting. I loved Grace. I was instantly attracted to the dark edge the character exudes. There's just something about her which appealed to me (not sure what that says about me!) and if memory serves, something similar happened with the main character in The Perfect Break. Jones is able to create characters who worm their way under your skin. Whether you like them or loathe them doesn't really matter, you certainly won't be able to forget them! I thoroughly enjoyed discovering Grace's secrets, which are intriguingly drip-fed to the reader over the course of the book. The need to find out what catastrophic event had led Grace halfway around the world had me turning the pages faster than most other books I've read recently. I couldn't put The Beach House down, nor did I want to!
The author has set the story on the coast of Oregon and it's clear Jones is both familiar and fond of her chosen backdrop. Despite never having visited myself, I was able to picture the dramatic landscape easily. Regular readers of damppebbles may be aware that I'm very much a character focussed reader but when an author completely captures the feel and the atmosphere of their setting, particularly one as dramatic and striking as this, it deserves to be mentioned. The author transported me to a different location and in these COVID-restricted times, I'm very grateful for that.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Beach House is a gripping tale of secrets, lies and obsession and I devoured it in a couple of short sittings. I found Grace, as the book's lead character, to be intriguing and utterly captivating. I think I'm a little bit in love . As the story unfolds, the tension ramps up with a dramatic and thrilling denouement which I thought was a perfect conclusion to Grace's story. I loved The Beach House and I know that it will be the third book by this author, in as many years, to make an appearance on my top books of the year list. Compelling, addictive and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended.
I am a HUGE fan of Beverley Jones's writing. Her previous two books, written as B.E. Jones, Halfway and Wilderness (as a side note, Wilderness has since had a bit of a make-over and is now called The Perfect Break) have both featured on my top books of the year list. They're intelligently written psychological thrillers with a strong sense of place, and characters who stand tall from the page. I am delighted to confirm that The Beach House is no exception. Jones has produced another dark and engrossing thriller which I devoured with glee.
Grace Jensen has worked hard to create the perfect life for her and her family. Returning to her gorgeous beach front house on Lookout Beach one day, she makes a shocking discovery. A body on her kitchen floor, covered in blood. The body is distressing enough, but the objects carefully placed on her kitchen worksurface send a very clear message. Grace knows it's time. After seventeen years of being careful, of building a new life, her past is finally catching up with her. No one knows what Grace did all those years ago, not even her devoted husband, Elias. And Grace will do anything to keep it that way...
Jones has excelled herself once again in creating an intriguing psychological thriller where character and setting have equal batting. I loved Grace. I was instantly attracted to the dark edge the character exudes. There's just something about her which appealed to me (not sure what that says about me!) and if memory serves, something similar happened with the main character in The Perfect Break. Jones is able to create characters who worm their way under your skin. Whether you like them or loathe them doesn't really matter, you certainly won't be able to forget them! I thoroughly enjoyed discovering Grace's secrets, which are intriguingly drip-fed to the reader over the course of the book. The need to find out what catastrophic event had led Grace halfway around the world had me turning the pages faster than most other books I've read recently. I couldn't put The Beach House down, nor did I want to!
The author has set the story on the coast of Oregon and it's clear Jones is both familiar and fond of her chosen backdrop. Despite never having visited myself, I was able to picture the dramatic landscape easily. Regular readers of damppebbles may be aware that I'm very much a character focussed reader but when an author completely captures the feel and the atmosphere of their setting, particularly one as dramatic and striking as this, it deserves to be mentioned. The author transported me to a different location and in these COVID-restricted times, I'm very grateful for that.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Beach House is a gripping tale of secrets, lies and obsession and I devoured it in a couple of short sittings. I found Grace, as the book's lead character, to be intriguing and utterly captivating. I think I'm a little bit in love . As the story unfolds, the tension ramps up with a dramatic and thrilling denouement which I thought was a perfect conclusion to Grace's story. I loved The Beach House and I know that it will be the third book by this author, in as many years, to make an appearance on my top books of the year list. Compelling, addictive and hugely entertaining. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2021
This is an exciting book. You never know what’s going to happen next and however bad it is, Grace can never tell anyone. Because no-one, not even Elias, her lovely, giant bear of a husband, has any idea what happened one Halloween night in the Welsh village where she grew up.
Seventeen years ago, Grace was Laura Llewellyn, a teenager with a huge imagination and a knack for telling scary stories.
It used to be just Laura, Silas and Liam until Priss’s widowed father asks if Priss can join their ‘gang’. They are not keen but they don’t really have a choice. And Priss can be a rather nasty piece of work, though it’s not really surprising after losing her mother at such a young age. Laura, known to her friends as Lolly Pop, is teased by Priss who calls her Pissy Pants and shows everyone at school a photo of her after she spilled a drink down the front of her shorts, saying she wet herself. And she tries to ‘steal’ Silas from her, knowing how much Laura adores him. And that’s just for starters.
Then one night things turn much darker and Laura leaves the UK and moves to the Oregon coast, where she reinvents herself as Grace, marries Elias and has her daughter lovingly known as Terrible Tilly. They are well off and have an idyllic lifestyle with a beautiful house and a second home they are building, known as ‘the Project’.
But when Grace comes home one day and finds a body on the floor of her kitchen, lying face down in a pool of blood, the police become very interested in everyone, but for all the wrong reasons. And why did the intruder leave his special gifts – gifts that would only mean something to Grace or anyone who was there the night of the murder. How can Grace tell the police what or who she suspects when even her husband doesn’t know about that fateful night. Grace, however, is not the only one with secrets and eventually it must all come out. Unless Grace can keep it buried.
Always exciting, with more twists and turns than the Monte Carlo rally, this is a book that you won’t want to put down. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
Seventeen years ago, Grace was Laura Llewellyn, a teenager with a huge imagination and a knack for telling scary stories.
It used to be just Laura, Silas and Liam until Priss’s widowed father asks if Priss can join their ‘gang’. They are not keen but they don’t really have a choice. And Priss can be a rather nasty piece of work, though it’s not really surprising after losing her mother at such a young age. Laura, known to her friends as Lolly Pop, is teased by Priss who calls her Pissy Pants and shows everyone at school a photo of her after she spilled a drink down the front of her shorts, saying she wet herself. And she tries to ‘steal’ Silas from her, knowing how much Laura adores him. And that’s just for starters.
Then one night things turn much darker and Laura leaves the UK and moves to the Oregon coast, where she reinvents herself as Grace, marries Elias and has her daughter lovingly known as Terrible Tilly. They are well off and have an idyllic lifestyle with a beautiful house and a second home they are building, known as ‘the Project’.
But when Grace comes home one day and finds a body on the floor of her kitchen, lying face down in a pool of blood, the police become very interested in everyone, but for all the wrong reasons. And why did the intruder leave his special gifts – gifts that would only mean something to Grace or anyone who was there the night of the murder. How can Grace tell the police what or who she suspects when even her husband doesn’t know about that fateful night. Grace, however, is not the only one with secrets and eventually it must all come out. Unless Grace can keep it buried.
Always exciting, with more twists and turns than the Monte Carlo rally, this is a book that you won’t want to put down. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to @damppebbles for inviting me to be part of #damppebblesblogtours
July 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick, fast paced, and addictive psychological thriller. It is well thought out and cleverly plotted right through to the end. I love a book where all the characters have their part to play in the twists and turns of the story and these characters definitely do that. I particularly liked the two timelines in this book, I thought they worked well together and gave the story an extra edge, particularly given the distinctive contrast between the two locations and people, which without giving any spoilers, is in a way an important part of the story.
June 25, 2021
The Beach House is a compelling read, with past secrets coming out and people doing what they need to in order to keep their new life.
Grace Jensen loves her home. It’s a retreat, the perfect place for her family. Unfortunately, when a neighbour is found attacked in the kitchen and there are ropes near the body it seems there’s something odd going on. The community is scared, her husband is acting strangely (and lying to the police about his whereabouts doesn’t help) and Grace is convinced that her past is catching up with her.
As the police investigate this attack, we get glimpses into Grace’s past and know she’s hiding something. How it links to the events of the present do not get revealed straight away.
The novel takes a while to hit its stride, but once certain facts are established and we can make sense of Grace’s behaviour it was hard to put down. There’s a few grey areas where we are led to believe Grace is not the only one keeping secrets (suggesting they are so self-obsessed they don’t notice anyone else’s issues), but it was good to have predicted who was behind Grace’s attack…though the way that was resolved shows sometimes people will do things you wouldn’t imagine to keep their position.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this prior to publication.
Grace Jensen loves her home. It’s a retreat, the perfect place for her family. Unfortunately, when a neighbour is found attacked in the kitchen and there are ropes near the body it seems there’s something odd going on. The community is scared, her husband is acting strangely (and lying to the police about his whereabouts doesn’t help) and Grace is convinced that her past is catching up with her.
As the police investigate this attack, we get glimpses into Grace’s past and know she’s hiding something. How it links to the events of the present do not get revealed straight away.
The novel takes a while to hit its stride, but once certain facts are established and we can make sense of Grace’s behaviour it was hard to put down. There’s a few grey areas where we are led to believe Grace is not the only one keeping secrets (suggesting they are so self-obsessed they don’t notice anyone else’s issues), but it was good to have predicted who was behind Grace’s attack…though the way that was resolved shows sometimes people will do things you wouldn’t imagine to keep their position.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this prior to publication.
June 10, 2021
This book starts with an intruder at the home of Grace Jensen. Her neighbour has been seriously injured and some 'gifts' left for Grace including robe, handcuffs and ribbon. Grace believes this incident is linked to her past - 17 years ago in Wales something terrible happened and someone wants revenge. Grace is frightened but can't tell police because to do so she would have to make some admissions of her own. She's now in America, married and with a completely different name... surely the past can't have caught up with her?
Im struggling a little with the review for this. There were so many things that just weren't believable able at all. I had lots of eye roll moments where I could hear myself thinking 'really?' There are some really fortunate coincides that help the plot along too - a huge one at the end which brought everything nicely to a close- but it was all a bit too neat given what happened. I thought Grace's behaviour at the end was really unlikely. We also have huge 'scooby doo' sections where a couple of the characters make really significant confessions when they really didn't have to - these confessions were necessary for the plot, as you'd never guess what happened otherwise, but were really unlikely and unconvincing....
But, despite all these things, I read this book in no time and literally didn't put it down till it was finished! Therefore, although there was a lot I'd say I didn't like, its an easy read, it's got pace, its well written and its different! I loved the Welsh connection. Overall I've given 4 stars because it clearly held my interest throughout, despite the rather convenient far fetched explanations and events.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Im struggling a little with the review for this. There were so many things that just weren't believable able at all. I had lots of eye roll moments where I could hear myself thinking 'really?' There are some really fortunate coincides that help the plot along too - a huge one at the end which brought everything nicely to a close- but it was all a bit too neat given what happened. I thought Grace's behaviour at the end was really unlikely. We also have huge 'scooby doo' sections where a couple of the characters make really significant confessions when they really didn't have to - these confessions were necessary for the plot, as you'd never guess what happened otherwise, but were really unlikely and unconvincing....
But, despite all these things, I read this book in no time and literally didn't put it down till it was finished! Therefore, although there was a lot I'd say I didn't like, its an easy read, it's got pace, its well written and its different! I loved the Welsh connection. Overall I've given 4 stars because it clearly held my interest throughout, despite the rather convenient far fetched explanations and events.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2022
So much more than just a summer read! This is yet another engrossing story from this author. A great mix of thriller and drama with fascinating characters and an ingenious plot. One of those books you just can’t put down because you just have to know how it ends! Jones always manages to wrong-foot and surprise me. A great summer thriller but so much more than just a ‘beach read’, this clever mystery will keep you guessing right through to the last twist.
July 7, 2021
My Thoughts: When I realised that this book was only 181 pages I did worry that it would feel rushed in places, and although it didn’t I also felt that some parts could have been fleshed out a little more, but that is just a preference of mine, I don’t like to feel like I don’t knw the whole story!
the story was fast paced and had lots of different elements that left you constantly on your toes and second guessing who Grace could trust and who she was going to turn to next.
I found myself very mistrusting of ALL the main characters at some point within the book and felt it could’ve been any one of them trying to spook Grace, or maybe even Grace herself trying to get attention, possibly as a way to reveal her past because keeping a secret was now proving just too difficult for her because she has now found a place she belonged..
Even now after reading the book and knowing the conclusion i don’t feel like there were any hints within the writing that would’ve led me in the direction it took… that could just be me but there you are.
This is my first dive into Beverley’s work and after looking on Goodreads I can see that this is definitely not her first book and it makes me want to go through her back catalogue and give them all a read! So if you have ever read anything else by Beverley then please let me know which ones you would recommend i pick up next!
The Beach House was solid psychological thriller that I will be recommending to my friends and urge you all to pick up if that is a genre that you enjoy!
the story was fast paced and had lots of different elements that left you constantly on your toes and second guessing who Grace could trust and who she was going to turn to next.
I found myself very mistrusting of ALL the main characters at some point within the book and felt it could’ve been any one of them trying to spook Grace, or maybe even Grace herself trying to get attention, possibly as a way to reveal her past because keeping a secret was now proving just too difficult for her because she has now found a place she belonged..
Even now after reading the book and knowing the conclusion i don’t feel like there were any hints within the writing that would’ve led me in the direction it took… that could just be me but there you are.
This is my first dive into Beverley’s work and after looking on Goodreads I can see that this is definitely not her first book and it makes me want to go through her back catalogue and give them all a read! So if you have ever read anything else by Beverley then please let me know which ones you would recommend i pick up next!
The Beach House was solid psychological thriller that I will be recommending to my friends and urge you all to pick up if that is a genre that you enjoy!
October 11, 2021
This is by far one of the most “thinking-person” thrillers that I have read in a long time. From the opening paragraphs to the thrilling ending, the author delivers a page-turning, thought-provoking, claustrophobic story. I couldn’t put it down – and pretty much ignored everything else I was supposed to be doing in favor of reading this book. One of the things that stood out to me while reading this was that the author did a phenomenal job of conveying the fear that Grace was feeling. Towards the beginning, Grace refers to how people were always part of the little plays she made up in her mind. That could not be truer for the other characters. Of course, there are big revelations and some excellent plot points as well. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was based on a digital copy of the book from Little, Brown Book Group.
March 10, 2022
I read this in one, very quick setting. It is well written with a compelling narrative, gripping storyline, beautiful setting and well developed characters that were realistic and relatable. It was fast paced with a good level of unpredictability and twists. I really enjoyed it.
January 17, 2023
Quite a slow book, but got good towards the end
April 7, 2023
bit confusing couldnt really get a grip of it might re read in the future
May 28, 2025
Enjoyed it once I got past the slow start, the switches from past to present also took a bit of getting used to, found it slightly confusing to start with.
October 2, 2023
don’t read many thriller/murder mystery type books but rly enjoyed this!!!
July 4, 2022
The Beach House by Beverley Jones has to be one of my favorite thrillers of 2022. It’s addictive and I found myself glued to the story, unable to put it down. Unusually for me I raced through it in two sittings and can honestly say it is a compulsive page turner.
Having read Wilderness by the same author, I jumped at the chance to read and review The Beach House, because I knew that Beverley Jones writes stories that are the best in her genre. I was right, because she has delivered a novel that contains all the best elements of a thriller, a fabulous story, a main character that has a lot to lose, multiple characters that draw you into the story and creates a set piece that defied my already high expectations when I started the book.
Here we have a story about the cost of keeping secrets, of the price to be paid to protect the carefully constructed web of lies Grace Jenson has constructed around herself. Now that might just feel like your average run of the mill thriller and it is true that The Beach House follows a well trod formula, but what lifts it above the ordinary, is a story that is cleverly assembled and which had me as a reader utterly taken in by the misdirection’s the writer littered her story with.
Thrillers are at their best when they are full of oodles of tension and create an atmosphere that grips the reader. Not all thrillers achieve this, they are too formulaic, the protagonist is devoid of any likeability and the story has too many twists and turns. They become all action and no character. The Beach House has a lead character who is it’s crowning glory, you know she is not perfect, you suspect she has done wrong and yet you can’t help liking her, wanting her to survive the nightmare unfolding around her. You are willing to accept her flaws, because you believe in her as a character. Grace and her predicament, real you in and keeps you hooked until the final page. Best of all you never know, until the end, if she will survive or her life and those that care for her will be shattered against the rocky coast she loves so much.
There is a sense of snobbery from some towards thrillers, put down as having mass market appeal, as if that in some way, is an insult. But the reason this genre has such appeal is because it can create a sense of excitement in the readers, so many other genres can’t and when done well, they are cracking reads. The Beach House is an example of this, the story vibrates with tension, it doesn’t run along out of control, but like a ticking clock, slowly counts down to an ending that has you holding you breath!
I have read so many thrillers in the last few years that I became overwhelmed with a sense of sameness, The Beach House by Beverley Jones reminded me why I loved them so much! When they are as good as this, when you lose time in a quality page turner, there really is no better feeling.
Having read Wilderness by the same author, I jumped at the chance to read and review The Beach House, because I knew that Beverley Jones writes stories that are the best in her genre. I was right, because she has delivered a novel that contains all the best elements of a thriller, a fabulous story, a main character that has a lot to lose, multiple characters that draw you into the story and creates a set piece that defied my already high expectations when I started the book.
Here we have a story about the cost of keeping secrets, of the price to be paid to protect the carefully constructed web of lies Grace Jenson has constructed around herself. Now that might just feel like your average run of the mill thriller and it is true that The Beach House follows a well trod formula, but what lifts it above the ordinary, is a story that is cleverly assembled and which had me as a reader utterly taken in by the misdirection’s the writer littered her story with.
Thrillers are at their best when they are full of oodles of tension and create an atmosphere that grips the reader. Not all thrillers achieve this, they are too formulaic, the protagonist is devoid of any likeability and the story has too many twists and turns. They become all action and no character. The Beach House has a lead character who is it’s crowning glory, you know she is not perfect, you suspect she has done wrong and yet you can’t help liking her, wanting her to survive the nightmare unfolding around her. You are willing to accept her flaws, because you believe in her as a character. Grace and her predicament, real you in and keeps you hooked until the final page. Best of all you never know, until the end, if she will survive or her life and those that care for her will be shattered against the rocky coast she loves so much.
There is a sense of snobbery from some towards thrillers, put down as having mass market appeal, as if that in some way, is an insult. But the reason this genre has such appeal is because it can create a sense of excitement in the readers, so many other genres can’t and when done well, they are cracking reads. The Beach House is an example of this, the story vibrates with tension, it doesn’t run along out of control, but like a ticking clock, slowly counts down to an ending that has you holding you breath!
I have read so many thrillers in the last few years that I became overwhelmed with a sense of sameness, The Beach House by Beverley Jones reminded me why I loved them so much! When they are as good as this, when you lose time in a quality page turner, there really is no better feeling.
June 19, 2025
A dead body in your kitchen is the last thing you would ever expect finding upon your return home. But this is the predicament that our lead Grace Jensen finds herself in. When the community of Lockout Beach find out, they’re rocked to their very core. But no one is more so than Grace when she realises that this is personal and deeply buried secrets from her past are about to catch up with her and be exposed. Whatever could she be hiding?
I had such a great time with this cleverly spun tale as I was carried into the pages watching it all unfold from the sidelines. The mystery of the dead body and the secrets that Grace has been hiding, fuelled my curiosity and had me eagerly reading until I knew all. It was well worth the all nighter that’s for sure!
This is the first book that I have read from Beverley Jones and I am excited to read more! She had me captivated and hooked right from the very first page with this one. Her writing is engaging and fluid, the characters skilfully crafted and its setting is just perfect. There is nothing I love more than a when a backdrop of the ocean is used in a story.
All up The Beach House is a very entertaining read. It is gratifyingly wicked, dark, atmospheric and will have you flicking the pages long into the night!
I had such a great time with this cleverly spun tale as I was carried into the pages watching it all unfold from the sidelines. The mystery of the dead body and the secrets that Grace has been hiding, fuelled my curiosity and had me eagerly reading until I knew all. It was well worth the all nighter that’s for sure!
This is the first book that I have read from Beverley Jones and I am excited to read more! She had me captivated and hooked right from the very first page with this one. Her writing is engaging and fluid, the characters skilfully crafted and its setting is just perfect. There is nothing I love more than a when a backdrop of the ocean is used in a story.
All up The Beach House is a very entertaining read. It is gratifyingly wicked, dark, atmospheric and will have you flicking the pages long into the night!
March 26, 2022
I was drawn by that stunning cover. Unfortunately what was underneath was rather disappointing for my taste.
This follows Grace who lives in Portland, America. One day she comes home and finds a man murdered in her home. She calls the police and they discover that he was actually her neighbour. But why was he in her home? Suspicion falls on Grace.
This narrated from Grace’s POV and as a result you get a claustrophobic feel, which could be tense and compelling, however I found Grace rather dull. Rich, Grace. I’m not sure what she really does but she has a massive house and a wealthy husband. I found the way the past is weaved into the present confusing with Grace having “flashbacks”, and the switch from America to Wales. Also all the characters blended in, and the detectives was stupid 🤦🏻♀️ There wasn’t much pace nor thrills. Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me.
This follows Grace who lives in Portland, America. One day she comes home and finds a man murdered in her home. She calls the police and they discover that he was actually her neighbour. But why was he in her home? Suspicion falls on Grace.
This narrated from Grace’s POV and as a result you get a claustrophobic feel, which could be tense and compelling, however I found Grace rather dull. Rich, Grace. I’m not sure what she really does but she has a massive house and a wealthy husband. I found the way the past is weaved into the present confusing with Grace having “flashbacks”, and the switch from America to Wales. Also all the characters blended in, and the detectives was stupid 🤦🏻♀️ There wasn’t much pace nor thrills. Unfortunately this didn’t do it for me.
June 9, 2023
This is an intelligent and gripping thriller.
I did enjoy it but it did take me a while to settle into it because of the title.
Completely the wrong title for the book...and gives the wrong impression of what the book is about which always throws me.
Grace is not an easy character and there wasn't a single point where I rooted for her or even vaguely liked her.
I found the reveal of the past very well done. Though I would have liked it sooner.
I also figured out who the antagonist was going to be quite early on and kept hoping I was wrong.
Overall a very good thriller...just would have settled into it more had the title been better and more indicative of what the book is actually about.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy it but it did take me a while to settle into it because of the title.
Completely the wrong title for the book...and gives the wrong impression of what the book is about which always throws me.
Grace is not an easy character and there wasn't a single point where I rooted for her or even vaguely liked her.
I found the reveal of the past very well done. Though I would have liked it sooner.
I also figured out who the antagonist was going to be quite early on and kept hoping I was wrong.
Overall a very good thriller...just would have settled into it more had the title been better and more indicative of what the book is actually about.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2022
The Beach House jumps straight into a mysterious start when Grace finds a bloodied body in her house. Grace appears to be in shock but what the police fail to realise is that this isn't the first time that things have gotten bloody in the presence of Grace. The book flips from the present time when Grace is living in Lookout Beach in Oregon to Grace's childhood in South Wales, where in another life Grace spent her childhood sharing the local legends with her friends. Beverley does a fantastic job weaving the past and the present into one storyline, keeping you constantly on your toes wondering what secrets Grace has hidden away.
Growing up Grace had a small group of friends who would often pass the time sharing the local welsh legends, but when a new girl appears on the scene, things take a drastic turn and Grace's world is thrown upside down.
Grace hides away from her past by running to Lookout Beach in Oregon, where she manages to create herself in the image she wishes, but the secrets refuse to stay hidden and someone is desperate to make Grace confront her past.
I absolutely loved reading about Grace's childhood, Beverley does a wonderful job describing the perfect Welsh scenery and local legends that I grew up loving myself. It was really refreshing to read a book that really puts Wales in the spotlight and Wales is incredibly lucky to have an author like Beverley Jones to represent them.
This book is the perfect nail-biting suspense novel which every mystery lover will find unputdownable.
Growing up Grace had a small group of friends who would often pass the time sharing the local welsh legends, but when a new girl appears on the scene, things take a drastic turn and Grace's world is thrown upside down.
Grace hides away from her past by running to Lookout Beach in Oregon, where she manages to create herself in the image she wishes, but the secrets refuse to stay hidden and someone is desperate to make Grace confront her past.
I absolutely loved reading about Grace's childhood, Beverley does a wonderful job describing the perfect Welsh scenery and local legends that I grew up loving myself. It was really refreshing to read a book that really puts Wales in the spotlight and Wales is incredibly lucky to have an author like Beverley Jones to represent them.
This book is the perfect nail-biting suspense novel which every mystery lover will find unputdownable.
May 1, 2022
Though I don’t read a lot of psychological thrillers, I have read several of Beverley Jones’s novels and was, once again, gripped right from the start, when Grace Jensen returns to her picture-perfect Oregon home to find a body in a pool of blood. As the story cleverly unfolds it becomes clear that seemingly model mum and wife Grace has a secret in her past that’s about to catch up with her! With a mix of flashbacks to South Wales and present day incidents on the dramatic Pacific Northwest coast, the story gradually sheds light on Grace's past, and the truth comes to light in a series of surprising twists that I never saw coming. Atmospheric, dark and chilling, I couldn’t put it down!
August 7, 2023
3 ⭐️
Not a lot to say on this one. The storyline was great, could have been really griping, but it just felt like a very slow burner. Everything was there for this one but it was also just missing a whole lot of something.
Picked up in the last 2/3 chapters but overall the book was okay, wasn’t bad but wasn’t exactly good either.
Not a lot to say on this one. The storyline was great, could have been really griping, but it just felt like a very slow burner. Everything was there for this one but it was also just missing a whole lot of something.
Picked up in the last 2/3 chapters but overall the book was okay, wasn’t bad but wasn’t exactly good either.
January 4, 2025
I’m not sure how I feel about this book, the first 12 chapters were a little boring for me, a lot of story filling, quite slow. I did enjoy the latter half of the book, it just took a lot to get there.
July 22, 2022
Once I got used to the tone of voice I actually quite liked it. The plot was well structured although the end was a little outlandish… a nice filler book.
January 28, 2023
2.5 ⭐️ I found this book really hard to read, and it took me a while to finish. Really sad because there were some parts i enjoyed however overall I just couldn’t get into this book.
February 3, 2023
Just couldn’t really get into it
March 15, 2023
3 stars got better right at the end
March 21, 2023
A bit of a slow start to this book, but once it took off I couldn't put it down and loved all the twisted in this story.
September 4, 2023
One of the best books that I have read. Kept me on edge with so many twists and turns. Loved it 😊
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