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The House Sitter
‘You’re just the girl I’ve been looking for,’ Iris told me, her blue eyes sparkling, when she offered me the job as her live-in helper. Little did she know, I thought the exact same about her. And she was wrong to trust me...
As I clean Iris’s large, old house in Pacific Heights, my boyfriend Seth works outside, tending to the lawn and fixing the broken gate. I can’t help but notice Iris’s steely eyes watching our every move. Does she know why we’re really here?
Most days we live in perfect harmony, but today Iris is confused. She thinks we moved in uninvited. I pass her a tablet from the medicine cabinet, knowing she’ll soon calm down and remember how lucky she is to have found us.
Later that night, the police arrive to find Iris’s perfect house turned upside down, the telephone lying on the floor, its cord severed. They walk through each room, calling out, but the house remains totally silent.
You will think you know what happened that night, but when the police discover something unexpected hidden amongst the wreckage in Iris’s bedroom, you’ll find you don’t know a thing.
This heart-stopping psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Minka Kent and Lucinda Berry. As soon as you start reading The House Sitter, you’ll be hooked!
As I clean Iris’s large, old house in Pacific Heights, my boyfriend Seth works outside, tending to the lawn and fixing the broken gate. I can’t help but notice Iris’s steely eyes watching our every move. Does she know why we’re really here?
Most days we live in perfect harmony, but today Iris is confused. She thinks we moved in uninvited. I pass her a tablet from the medicine cabinet, knowing she’ll soon calm down and remember how lucky she is to have found us.
Later that night, the police arrive to find Iris’s perfect house turned upside down, the telephone lying on the floor, its cord severed. They walk through each room, calling out, but the house remains totally silent.
You will think you know what happened that night, but when the police discover something unexpected hidden amongst the wreckage in Iris’s bedroom, you’ll find you don’t know a thing.
This heart-stopping psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Minka Kent and Lucinda Berry. As soon as you start reading The House Sitter, you’ll be hooked!
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
716 people are currently reading
1768 people want to read
About the author
Ellery A. Kane
17 books442 followersForensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing--professionally and creatively--for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she's heard her fair share of real life thrillers.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don't find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way--at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition and is the author of the Doctors of Darkness, Rockwell and Decker, and Legacy Series, with two standalone thrillers from Bookouture coming in 2022.
If you'd like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery's newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
Ellery lives in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, a picturesque setting that provides the backdrop for many of her novels. If you don't find Ellery interviewing murderers behind prison walls or pecking away at her latest novel, she is probably at the gym landing a solid jab-cross to a punching bag; riding bicycles with her special someone; or enjoying a movie the old-fashioned way--at the theater with popcorn and Milk Duds.
Ellery was previously selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition and is the author of the Doctors of Darkness, Rockwell and Decker, and Legacy Series, with two standalone thrillers from Bookouture coming in 2022.
If you'd like to receive a notification when new books are released, please sign up for Ellery's newsletter at ellerykane.com. Ellery also signs e-books on authorgraph.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
May 27, 2022
Ooh, I loved to hate the two house sitters in this one!
There is a whole lotta crazy going on in Iris's Pacific Heights home! Iris is a wealthy seventy year old widow who could use some help around her gigantic house. It is her lucky day (or not) when she meets Lydia, who arranges to move in and is more than happy to start helping out. She brews steaming pots of coffee, fills her medicine pillbox, makes her breakfasts that are fit for a queen, including blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes. She even convinces Iris that "seventy is the new forty".
One night there is a 911 call, a struggle and a gunshot. When the police arrive, Iris is missing. Now, the search is on. I loved the rookie cop, Maureen and her determination and zeal to find Iris. As a former musician, she always had a song title to fit the moment. Her ear never steered her wrong!
I enjoyed this one quite a lot! The mix of light and dark was an added plus. Yes, parts are outlandish, but great fun with some dark humor and warped minds that added suspense and laugh out loud moments.
Recommend to fans of pacy stories that keep you guessing as clues are scattered around. Be prepared for entering into the "stranger than fiction" land, though it is fiction. I don't mind if I do and will await this author's next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NG for my arc! OUT June 14, 2022
There is a whole lotta crazy going on in Iris's Pacific Heights home! Iris is a wealthy seventy year old widow who could use some help around her gigantic house. It is her lucky day (or not) when she meets Lydia, who arranges to move in and is more than happy to start helping out. She brews steaming pots of coffee, fills her medicine pillbox, makes her breakfasts that are fit for a queen, including blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes. She even convinces Iris that "seventy is the new forty".
One night there is a 911 call, a struggle and a gunshot. When the police arrive, Iris is missing. Now, the search is on. I loved the rookie cop, Maureen and her determination and zeal to find Iris. As a former musician, she always had a song title to fit the moment. Her ear never steered her wrong!
I enjoyed this one quite a lot! The mix of light and dark was an added plus. Yes, parts are outlandish, but great fun with some dark humor and warped minds that added suspense and laugh out loud moments.
Recommend to fans of pacy stories that keep you guessing as clues are scattered around. Be prepared for entering into the "stranger than fiction" land, though it is fiction. I don't mind if I do and will await this author's next book.
Thanks to Bookouture and NG for my arc! OUT June 14, 2022
May 26, 2022
3.75/5
Iris Duncan, an almost seventy-year-old widow lives alone in her posh Pacific Heights home. She is unable to take care of the property on her own and is in trouble with the HOA, a fact that she is constantly reminded of by her annoying neighbor in his pushy way. She also feels unsafe living alone and suspects that burglars enter her home frequently. A chance meeting with a clumsy waitress in a café leads to Iris offering Lydia and Seth McKay jobs as caretakers/house sitters to help her with the day-to-day work involved in the upkeep of her home as well as daily chores. She offers them room and board at her house and treats them, especially Lydia, like family, a feeling that is reciprocated, with Lydia taking care of her, cooking her meals and making sure she takes her medication on time.
Fast-forward a few months, the dispatcher receives a frantic 911 call for help from Iris and hears what sounds like a gunshot. When the police arrive there is evidence of a struggle and much more but no trace of Iris or her “house sitters”.
What happened to Iris? Are Lydia and Seth truly deserving of the special treatment they received from Iris or did they have hidden motives for befriending her? Was Iris truly as helpless as she projected or did she suspect Lydia and Seth?
With its crisp writing and well-paced narrative that switches between “Before” and “After” Iris’s disappearance, Ellery Kane’s The House Sitter is an engaging and suspenseful story that kept me interested till the end. I found the ending a bit lackluster and felt there should have more to the story. However, I enjoyed the build-up and the surprises along the way. Each of the characters was well fleshed out and I enjoyed former musician turned rookie cop Maureen Shaw’s trajectory and her dogged determination to unravel the mystery defying her superiors and risking her job to get to the truth. I hope we get more stories featuring her from the author. This was my first Ellery Kane novel and I would be interested in picking up more of her books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital review copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are mine.
Iris Duncan, an almost seventy-year-old widow lives alone in her posh Pacific Heights home. She is unable to take care of the property on her own and is in trouble with the HOA, a fact that she is constantly reminded of by her annoying neighbor in his pushy way. She also feels unsafe living alone and suspects that burglars enter her home frequently. A chance meeting with a clumsy waitress in a café leads to Iris offering Lydia and Seth McKay jobs as caretakers/house sitters to help her with the day-to-day work involved in the upkeep of her home as well as daily chores. She offers them room and board at her house and treats them, especially Lydia, like family, a feeling that is reciprocated, with Lydia taking care of her, cooking her meals and making sure she takes her medication on time.
Fast-forward a few months, the dispatcher receives a frantic 911 call for help from Iris and hears what sounds like a gunshot. When the police arrive there is evidence of a struggle and much more but no trace of Iris or her “house sitters”.
What happened to Iris? Are Lydia and Seth truly deserving of the special treatment they received from Iris or did they have hidden motives for befriending her? Was Iris truly as helpless as she projected or did she suspect Lydia and Seth?
With its crisp writing and well-paced narrative that switches between “Before” and “After” Iris’s disappearance, Ellery Kane’s The House Sitter is an engaging and suspenseful story that kept me interested till the end. I found the ending a bit lackluster and felt there should have more to the story. However, I enjoyed the build-up and the surprises along the way. Each of the characters was well fleshed out and I enjoyed former musician turned rookie cop Maureen Shaw’s trajectory and her dogged determination to unravel the mystery defying her superiors and risking her job to get to the truth. I hope we get more stories featuring her from the author. This was my first Ellery Kane novel and I would be interested in picking up more of her books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital review copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are mine.
June 19, 2022
‘You’re just the girl I’ve been looking for,’
Irish has been living alone in her old house in Pacific Heights. Her HOA has been breathing down her neck. She needs to keep up on things around her home but it's difficult being almost seventy and having to deal with her home and lawn’s upkeep after suffering a disturbing home robbery.
One day Iris meets Lydia at a café and offers her and Seth jobs as caretakers for her home. Lydia will help Iris out while Seth will take care of the lawn duties. This is a win-win situations for all involved especially since Iris has been confused lately.
Months later…
There is a disturbing 911 call. When the police arrive, they find Iris missing. Former musician turned police officer, Maureen is one of the first detectives on the scene and is unwilling to let this case go. Something isn't right, but what? Where is Iris? The crime scene is harrowing. Something bad happened here, but what?
This was a clever book that kept me on my toes. I loved how the book went back and forth between 'Before' and 'After'. This change in timelines kept me on my toes as the story went back and forth. Just when I thought I had things worked out, Kane gave just a little more info, threw in a twist or two, and had me questioning my suspect list. I was doing my own super sleuthing as Maureen did hers.
This was clever, fun, and intriguing. I enjoy books that keep me guessing and wondering who can be trusted. Plus, the underlying question about what happened to Irish kept me engaged. The pacing is spot on and kept things moving nicely. Nothing felt slow nor dragged out in this book.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Irish has been living alone in her old house in Pacific Heights. Her HOA has been breathing down her neck. She needs to keep up on things around her home but it's difficult being almost seventy and having to deal with her home and lawn’s upkeep after suffering a disturbing home robbery.
One day Iris meets Lydia at a café and offers her and Seth jobs as caretakers for her home. Lydia will help Iris out while Seth will take care of the lawn duties. This is a win-win situations for all involved especially since Iris has been confused lately.
Months later…
There is a disturbing 911 call. When the police arrive, they find Iris missing. Former musician turned police officer, Maureen is one of the first detectives on the scene and is unwilling to let this case go. Something isn't right, but what? Where is Iris? The crime scene is harrowing. Something bad happened here, but what?
This was a clever book that kept me on my toes. I loved how the book went back and forth between 'Before' and 'After'. This change in timelines kept me on my toes as the story went back and forth. Just when I thought I had things worked out, Kane gave just a little more info, threw in a twist or two, and had me questioning my suspect list. I was doing my own super sleuthing as Maureen did hers.
This was clever, fun, and intriguing. I enjoy books that keep me guessing and wondering who can be trusted. Plus, the underlying question about what happened to Irish kept me engaged. The pacing is spot on and kept things moving nicely. Nothing felt slow nor dragged out in this book.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 22, 2022
1.5 is all I can offer.
Lately, nearly seventy-year-old Iris Duncan, has become frightened in her own home, convinced someone is breaking in, and stealing from her. She’s also started forgetting things.
On a visit to a café, Iris strikes up a conversation with a young waitress, Lydia McKay. The two immediately hit it off, prompting Iris to offer Lydia, and her husband Seth, live-in positions of home-help/caretakers. Lydia is thrilled to accept, as she and Seth are struggling financially, and are currently living in a shabby motel. It’s a dream come truth, and the perfect solution, for all involved.
Until it isn’t. A frantic 911 call, shots fired, a bloody bedspread, no sign of Iris. Who would want to hurt a harmless elderly lady?
I’m going to keep this as brief as possible. I had a longer review planned, but it just contained too many spoilers. I would’ve loved to include some dialogue and writing examples to highlight my points, but this is an e-ARC so I’m unable to quote from it directly.
What I liked:
I have nothing positive to say I’m afraid.
What I didn’t like:
The Dialogue – Let’s say I wanted to teach a class in creative writing. This is the book I’d use to show examples of bad dialogue. It’s crammed to the brim with them.
The Writing – This book contained more similes and metaphors than a writer’s dictionary.
The Characters – All atrocious, every single one. I have no idea why the author chose to make every male character a misogynist condescending asshole? All the men were women haters, and vice versa. There are numerous insults by male characters that pregnancy equates to emotional, unfocused, and incompetent. And, if I hear ‘baby brain’ mentioned one more time… I’m also mighty sick of pathetic female characters who have no confidence in themselves. And, just to clarify, this is set in 2022. Then, there were the police officers – what an incompetent, unprofessional lot they were, especially rookie Officer Maureen Shaw. She just did whatever she pleased, bar the consequences, her superiors, or the law.
The Police Procedures – The lack of other avenues of investigation and analysis of forensic evidence astounded me. The entire focus was on Seth and Lydia as suspects. And don’t get me started on the police interviews. Also, there were things that seemed incorrect regarding the US justice system, and prosecution.
The Mystery Plot – Predictable.
The Title – I don’t get it? They weren’t House Sitter’s? And there were two of them, so why call it The House Sitter singular? At one stage they refer to themselves as such, but that doesn’t make it so. They were more like ‘squatters’ by this point.
If you do plan to read this, I’d avoid the official book blurb, as it contains several inaccuracies. Including that this bears any resemblance to Mark Edwards work!
With a Goodreads average rating of 4.24, I’m in the minority – again! Ceecee and I buddy read this, and it made for an interesting lively discussion. For perspective purposes, be sure to check out her glowing 4-star review.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Bookouture, and Ellery A. Kane for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 14th June, 2022.
Lately, nearly seventy-year-old Iris Duncan, has become frightened in her own home, convinced someone is breaking in, and stealing from her. She’s also started forgetting things.
On a visit to a café, Iris strikes up a conversation with a young waitress, Lydia McKay. The two immediately hit it off, prompting Iris to offer Lydia, and her husband Seth, live-in positions of home-help/caretakers. Lydia is thrilled to accept, as she and Seth are struggling financially, and are currently living in a shabby motel. It’s a dream come truth, and the perfect solution, for all involved.
Until it isn’t. A frantic 911 call, shots fired, a bloody bedspread, no sign of Iris. Who would want to hurt a harmless elderly lady?
I’m going to keep this as brief as possible. I had a longer review planned, but it just contained too many spoilers. I would’ve loved to include some dialogue and writing examples to highlight my points, but this is an e-ARC so I’m unable to quote from it directly.
What I liked:
I have nothing positive to say I’m afraid.
What I didn’t like:
The Dialogue – Let’s say I wanted to teach a class in creative writing. This is the book I’d use to show examples of bad dialogue. It’s crammed to the brim with them.
The Writing – This book contained more similes and metaphors than a writer’s dictionary.
The Characters – All atrocious, every single one. I have no idea why the author chose to make every male character a misogynist condescending asshole? All the men were women haters, and vice versa. There are numerous insults by male characters that pregnancy equates to emotional, unfocused, and incompetent. And, if I hear ‘baby brain’ mentioned one more time… I’m also mighty sick of pathetic female characters who have no confidence in themselves. And, just to clarify, this is set in 2022. Then, there were the police officers – what an incompetent, unprofessional lot they were, especially rookie Officer Maureen Shaw. She just did whatever she pleased, bar the consequences, her superiors, or the law.
The Police Procedures – The lack of other avenues of investigation and analysis of forensic evidence astounded me. The entire focus was on Seth and Lydia as suspects. And don’t get me started on the police interviews. Also, there were things that seemed incorrect regarding the US justice system, and prosecution.
The Mystery Plot – Predictable.
The Title – I don’t get it? They weren’t House Sitter’s? And there were two of them, so why call it The House Sitter singular? At one stage they refer to themselves as such, but that doesn’t make it so. They were more like ‘squatters’ by this point.
If you do plan to read this, I’d avoid the official book blurb, as it contains several inaccuracies. Including that this bears any resemblance to Mark Edwards work!
With a Goodreads average rating of 4.24, I’m in the minority – again! Ceecee and I buddy read this, and it made for an interesting lively discussion. For perspective purposes, be sure to check out her glowing 4-star review.
I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Bookouture, and Ellery A. Kane for the e-ARC.
Publication Date: 14th June, 2022.
June 14, 2022
In the present, a very scary 911 call summons officers to the Pacific Heights home of Iris Duncan where responding officers find blood, gun casings and other disturbing signs but no body. It then backtracks a few months to seventy year old Iris Duncan, a retired librarian with a broken arm courtesy of a seagull (but that’s another story!) meeting beleaguered Lydia in a cafe in San Francisco. She invites Lydia to call on her which she duly does arriving with her partner Seth. Iris asks the pair to help her with a caretaker role before the HOA further descend on her regarding the neglect of her house since her husband’s death. The drama is told Before and After with the two blending well and leading to a multitude of questions! The most basic being where is Iris? Is she dead? If so, who kills her and where is her body? What is Seth and Lydia’s story?
This is an engaging mystery with a never a dull moment storyline. The plot is darned intriguing and is told at a brisk pace. There’s plenty of tension, not least being the arrival of the officers responding to the 911 call and there are other suspenseful moments that keep you reading on. I love how the author drops in explosive pieces of information at chapter ends that leave you cliff hanging and desperately turning pages to get to the bottom of it!
The characterisation is very good especially if Iris as you are able to see her clearly but equally good is tenacious cop Maureen Shaw who is probably my favourite character. She well and truly gets the bit between her teeth. Seth and Lydia are well fleshed out and that pair take you on quite a rollercoaster journey. I’ll say no more about them!
The truth begins to emerge piecemeal, I do figure most of it out as the author leaves you a trail of bread crumbs along the path to the truth. There is one scene near the end that makes me hoot with delighted laughter - love it! I daresay the end could have had more kapow but that’s not to say it’s not entertaining and enjoyable.
This is my first Ellery Kane and it definitely won’t be my last. It would be great if Maureen features in future books too!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This was a buddy read with Lisa which was great fun despite being opposite ends of the spectrum!
This is an engaging mystery with a never a dull moment storyline. The plot is darned intriguing and is told at a brisk pace. There’s plenty of tension, not least being the arrival of the officers responding to the 911 call and there are other suspenseful moments that keep you reading on. I love how the author drops in explosive pieces of information at chapter ends that leave you cliff hanging and desperately turning pages to get to the bottom of it!
The characterisation is very good especially if Iris as you are able to see her clearly but equally good is tenacious cop Maureen Shaw who is probably my favourite character. She well and truly gets the bit between her teeth. Seth and Lydia are well fleshed out and that pair take you on quite a rollercoaster journey. I’ll say no more about them!
The truth begins to emerge piecemeal, I do figure most of it out as the author leaves you a trail of bread crumbs along the path to the truth. There is one scene near the end that makes me hoot with delighted laughter - love it! I daresay the end could have had more kapow but that’s not to say it’s not entertaining and enjoyable.
This is my first Ellery Kane and it definitely won’t be my last. It would be great if Maureen features in future books too!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This was a buddy read with Lisa which was great fun despite being opposite ends of the spectrum!
July 25, 2023
3.65⭐
Page Count ~ 302
Audio length ~ 8 hours and 35 minutes
Narrator ~ Kristin James
POV ~ multiple
Featuring ~ dual timeline, 2 part story, police procedural
Sweet, 70 year old, Iris is having trouble keeping up with her household chores. She meets Lydia at a diner and takes a liking to her, so she offers her a job and a place to live. Lydia accepts and brings along Seth to move in and help out too.
Told in the 'before' and 'after' as we follow Iris, Lydia and Maureen. I found this way easy to follow along with.
I thought Maureen was a top notch rookie cop and I really enjoyed her investigative skills. She didn't care that she skirted on the line when she was supposed to take a step back. Do we have a set up at the end for a series featuring Maureen? I wouldn't mind that at all.
Narration notes:
A nice job, I even liked her male voices.
Overall, a pretty solid read with some nice twists. This is my first time reading/listening to Ellery's work and I would be happy to read more from her.
*Thanks to Bookouture Audio, Ellery A. Kaneand NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Page Count ~ 302
Audio length ~ 8 hours and 35 minutes
Narrator ~ Kristin James
POV ~ multiple
Featuring ~ dual timeline, 2 part story, police procedural
Sweet, 70 year old, Iris is having trouble keeping up with her household chores. She meets Lydia at a diner and takes a liking to her, so she offers her a job and a place to live. Lydia accepts and brings along Seth to move in and help out too.
Told in the 'before' and 'after' as we follow Iris, Lydia and Maureen. I found this way easy to follow along with.
I thought Maureen was a top notch rookie cop and I really enjoyed her investigative skills. She didn't care that she skirted on the line when she was supposed to take a step back. Do we have a set up at the end for a series featuring Maureen? I wouldn't mind that at all.
Narration notes:
A nice job, I even liked her male voices.
Overall, a pretty solid read with some nice twists. This is my first time reading/listening to Ellery's work and I would be happy to read more from her.
*Thanks to Bookouture Audio, Ellery A. Kaneand NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
May 18, 2022
Widowed and living alone Iris finds herself needing some help in her very big and fancy house. She comes across Lydia at a Diner and after witnessing that the girl is out on her luck she offers that Lydia and her boyfriend Seth move in and become caretakers. Iris has some health problems and forgetfulness and thinks the help will ease both of their burdens.
One night Iris makes a call to 911 convinced that someone is in the house. Whilst on the call the 911 responder can hear gunshots go off. When the police arrive Iris is missing but leaves a trail of blood behind.
Was she murdered? If so, who did it? Lydia and Seth? The so called Burglar? And what was the reason behind it.
A very intriguing story. You can see that the author invested in a well thought out plan and it was amazingly executed. The book steers you in one direction but takes a complete opposite route. Its character development was on point, with each character coming to life and has their own focus. The book kept a really good pace from start to finish and the ending was very well thought out.
I highly recommend this book if you are after a past paced psychological thriller.
My thanks the Netgalley and Bookouture Publishing for this ARC.
One night Iris makes a call to 911 convinced that someone is in the house. Whilst on the call the 911 responder can hear gunshots go off. When the police arrive Iris is missing but leaves a trail of blood behind.
Was she murdered? If so, who did it? Lydia and Seth? The so called Burglar? And what was the reason behind it.
A very intriguing story. You can see that the author invested in a well thought out plan and it was amazingly executed. The book steers you in one direction but takes a complete opposite route. Its character development was on point, with each character coming to life and has their own focus. The book kept a really good pace from start to finish and the ending was very well thought out.
I highly recommend this book if you are after a past paced psychological thriller.
My thanks the Netgalley and Bookouture Publishing for this ARC.
September 16, 2022
From the very first chapter Ellery Kane's new novel The House Sitter grabs your attention. The heart-felt book is written in an easy to read style that is witty and suspenseful. Prepare to fall in love with Iris Duncan, the very charming and cute older adult in Ellery Kane's edge of your seat murder mystery.
Synopsis:
As a spunky widow Iris Duncan has been living all by herself until she meets a young couple willing to help with the gardening and everyday chores. Now that Iris' memory has started to fail Dean and Lydia appear to be the logical solution until a 911 call comes to emergency dispatch from Iris' house. The police respond and find the phone line cut and Iris missing. Can Dean and Lydia really be believed to be the trusting caretakers they appear?
Ellery Kane has taken a front row seat on my must read authors list. Kane incorporates her personal daily experiences as a forensic pathologist into her writing. "Real life is stranger than fiction and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job." (Goodreads Author Profile)
The House Sitter is available on June 14th. Don't miss this intriguing new book by the award winning author Ellery Kane. (4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review this outstanding book. Your kindness is appreciated.
Synopsis:
As a spunky widow Iris Duncan has been living all by herself until she meets a young couple willing to help with the gardening and everyday chores. Now that Iris' memory has started to fail Dean and Lydia appear to be the logical solution until a 911 call comes to emergency dispatch from Iris' house. The police respond and find the phone line cut and Iris missing. Can Dean and Lydia really be believed to be the trusting caretakers they appear?
Ellery Kane has taken a front row seat on my must read authors list. Kane incorporates her personal daily experiences as a forensic pathologist into her writing. "Real life is stranger than fiction and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job." (Goodreads Author Profile)
The House Sitter is available on June 14th. Don't miss this intriguing new book by the award winning author Ellery Kane. (4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐)
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review this outstanding book. Your kindness is appreciated.
June 15, 2022
The House Sitter is the story about 70 year old Iris, who after losing her husband and breaking her arm is unable to take care of her house. She meets a young waitress named Lydia and offers her and her husband, Seth, jobs helping her tend to her house which is just too big for her to manage all by herself. She even offers for them to live with her.
Iris has intermittent confusion and isn't always reliable, and she is convinced that someone has been breaking into her house. One night, she calls 911 reporting an intruder in her house, there is a gun shot and when the police arrive, Iris is nowhere to be found.
What I enjoyed the most were the parts of the book which involved Maureen, a former pianist turned police officer after experiencing the tragic loss of her parents. She was clever and I really liked her determination to find out what happened to Iris.
The pacing and book length were good, and the author made it easy to question the intentions of the house sitters. Now for my issues, parts were unbelievable, the dialogue unconvincing, and there were a few plot holes and unanswered questions, but my biggest issue was the narration, especially the male voices. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it rather than listening to the audiobook. 3 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced audiobook. Now available.
Iris has intermittent confusion and isn't always reliable, and she is convinced that someone has been breaking into her house. One night, she calls 911 reporting an intruder in her house, there is a gun shot and when the police arrive, Iris is nowhere to be found.
What I enjoyed the most were the parts of the book which involved Maureen, a former pianist turned police officer after experiencing the tragic loss of her parents. She was clever and I really liked her determination to find out what happened to Iris.
The pacing and book length were good, and the author made it easy to question the intentions of the house sitters. Now for my issues, parts were unbelievable, the dialogue unconvincing, and there were a few plot holes and unanswered questions, but my biggest issue was the narration, especially the male voices. I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it rather than listening to the audiobook. 3 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced audiobook. Now available.
June 4, 2022
I really liked this book, though I didn’t think it really matched the synopsis and also no one was really a house sitter (maybe more like a caretaker). The story centers on Iris, who is getting older and invites 2 strangers to live with her and help her take care of things are the house. Seth and Lydia are down on their luck and can’t believe their good fortune. However, things are too good to be true and you find out immediately that it seems like something has happened to Iris; the story takes you back and forth between the events leading up to her disappearance and the current search for her by an overzealous rookie cop named Maureen.
This was a well weaved story with little twists and surprises throughout. The end was fantastic and provided a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, though after it happened I was able to see the clues that the author expertly laid prior. The characters that were supposed to be likable were actually likable and there were also a few characters you love to hate. I appreciated Maureen’s dogged pursuit of justice for Iris despite her regularly getting in trouble for it. Lastly, I thought all of the loose ends were tied up in a satisfying way.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book. I read it over the course of an afternoon and the pace was quick the whole way through. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a well weaved story with little twists and surprises throughout. The end was fantastic and provided a twist that I definitely didn’t see coming, though after it happened I was able to see the clues that the author expertly laid prior. The characters that were supposed to be likable were actually likable and there were also a few characters you love to hate. I appreciated Maureen’s dogged pursuit of justice for Iris despite her regularly getting in trouble for it. Lastly, I thought all of the loose ends were tied up in a satisfying way.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book. I read it over the course of an afternoon and the pace was quick the whole way through. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2022
This psychological thriller is the epitome of a slow burn. It was a little slow to start, but once it took off there was one shocking twist after another. The conclusion totally took me by surprise. The plot is original, clever and totally entertaining as it switches from before and after the mysterious incident. The narration is spot on bringing the characters to life in this edge of your seat thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
November 7, 2022
I was pretty exciting when I read the description of this one, but I have to say overall I’m disappointed after reading it. It wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t great or memorable even. I also thought it was extremely predictable. The big reveal at the end I had figured out pretty much from the beginning. The book opens pretty well with Iris, an elderly women calling 911 and saying there are burglars at her home. When police arrive there is no one there. As the police investigate all clues point to Seth and Lydia, who recently moved in to help Iris and take care of the home. It’s also a silly thing, but I think the title was misleading. It would have been more apt to call it the caretakers or something. Overall I gave this one 2.5 stars rounded down since none of the characters were particularly likable or memorable.
May 11, 2022
Iris Duncan was getting on in years. Nearly 70 years old, Iris has difficulty in not only the managing of her posh three story home, but also managing her memory. Iris was slowly succumbing to dementia.
While at a nearby café, Iris is waited on by a frail looking girl. Iris immediately took a liking to her and after some chit chat, Iris learned that her waitress’ name was Lydia. Lydia was like a fish out of water at that café, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Iris. Being that Iris needed help with her domestic chores and memory issues, Iris offered Lydia a position as caregiver and/or house sitter if Lydia ever wanted or needed a change. A few days later and to Iris’ surprise, Lydia accepted the position at a very lucrative wage. Just one catch. Lydia wanted Seth McKay to be included in the deal, which would be the beginning of Iris’ downfall.
The House Sitter is the second book that I’ve read from Ellery Kane and it is a page turner! I was hooked from the beginning.
The characters are superbly developed, especially the main character of Iris. Kane has deftly fleshed out the main players in her novel. So much so that I began to despise a few of them.
Plotwise, the suspense is intense. There are a number of twists and turns that left me guessing as to what would happen next. The only issue I had was the ending as I expected something more intense for that “wow” factor. Other than that, The House Sitter lives up to its promise of being an unputdownable novel. Four rousing stars.
I received a digital ARC from Bookouture. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
While at a nearby café, Iris is waited on by a frail looking girl. Iris immediately took a liking to her and after some chit chat, Iris learned that her waitress’ name was Lydia. Lydia was like a fish out of water at that café, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Iris. Being that Iris needed help with her domestic chores and memory issues, Iris offered Lydia a position as caregiver and/or house sitter if Lydia ever wanted or needed a change. A few days later and to Iris’ surprise, Lydia accepted the position at a very lucrative wage. Just one catch. Lydia wanted Seth McKay to be included in the deal, which would be the beginning of Iris’ downfall.
The House Sitter is the second book that I’ve read from Ellery Kane and it is a page turner! I was hooked from the beginning.
The characters are superbly developed, especially the main character of Iris. Kane has deftly fleshed out the main players in her novel. So much so that I began to despise a few of them.
Plotwise, the suspense is intense. There are a number of twists and turns that left me guessing as to what would happen next. The only issue I had was the ending as I expected something more intense for that “wow” factor. Other than that, The House Sitter lives up to its promise of being an unputdownable novel. Four rousing stars.
I received a digital ARC from Bookouture. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 21, 2022
Sorry, but this one was a miss for me. It was one of those stories where I couldn't care enough to focus and couldn't focus enough to care. Ask me two days from now what it was about and I bet I won't remember anything.
There were many problems with this book. The unlikeable characters, weak, insecure women and misogynist men, average writing, dialogs that could have been so much better...
But worst of all - it was boring. Which was surprising considering the plot and how many things happen, but it felt like the author was just throwing at us one plot point after the other.
I also think the book would have been better without the detectives’ point of view, but that might be just me.
The ending was - ok. Not quite unpredictable, but still I liked how everything was wrapped up. Especially since I was prepared for something much worse, based on the rest of the book.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of The House Sitter by Ellery A. Kane in exchange for an honest review.
There were many problems with this book. The unlikeable characters, weak, insecure women and misogynist men, average writing, dialogs that could have been so much better...
But worst of all - it was boring. Which was surprising considering the plot and how many things happen, but it felt like the author was just throwing at us one plot point after the other.
I also think the book would have been better without the detectives’ point of view, but that might be just me.
The ending was - ok. Not quite unpredictable, but still I liked how everything was wrapped up. Especially since I was prepared for something much worse, based on the rest of the book.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of The House Sitter by Ellery A. Kane in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2022
First of all, huge thanks to netgally and bookoutore for this ARC
The novel follows Iris, a widow who rescues Lydia from her work at a diner. Early on we realize that something isn’t quite as it should be with Lydia and Seth, her companion.
This novel exceeded my expectations. You were drawn in from the first paragraph when someone calls 911, bearing witness to a murder. I loved the set-up and slowly seeing the story unfold. I was gobsmacked by the ending. So clever and surprising! Didn’t see it coming at all! It wasn’t too unbelievable either, even if it wasn’t the ending you expected.
I truly enjoyed myself reading the house sitter, and would love to read more books by the author.
Four solid stars from me.
The novel follows Iris, a widow who rescues Lydia from her work at a diner. Early on we realize that something isn’t quite as it should be with Lydia and Seth, her companion.
This novel exceeded my expectations. You were drawn in from the first paragraph when someone calls 911, bearing witness to a murder. I loved the set-up and slowly seeing the story unfold. I was gobsmacked by the ending. So clever and surprising! Didn’t see it coming at all! It wasn’t too unbelievable either, even if it wasn’t the ending you expected.
I truly enjoyed myself reading the house sitter, and would love to read more books by the author.
Four solid stars from me.
June 17, 2022
Review coming soon.
June 20, 2022
The book has a dual timeline, which keeps us guessing. It opens with a 911 call wherein an elderly lady is seeking assistance as she is on her own, and there a possible burglar in the house. Gunshots are head, the line goes silent and the dispatcher stays on the line listening.
Iris Duncan lives in a big beautiful house, in the affluent suburb of Pacific Heights. She has been on her own since her husband's passing a few years back and at 70 years of age she has been unable to keep up with the maintenance the house and beautiful garden requires. Iris has also been quite lonely since her husband's passing, and doesn't really have anybody to talk to.
Iris meets Lidia, a waitress at a local cafe, who Iris takes pity on. Lidia is clumsy and keeps getting in trouble with her boss, for spilling drinks and not keeping up with the orders. Iris sees an opportunity and offers Lidia and her husband Seth a job as housekeepers. Iris sees this as a win/win as Iris receives help around the house and companionship.
Lidia takes great care of Iris, cooking for her, assisting her with daily medications, and setting up little reminders around the house for every day tasks that Iris' is forgetting.
Suddenly Iris goes missing, police a called to the scene, the phone line is cut, there is pools of blood at the scene and broken glass. Seth and Lidia are considered suspects. Where is Iris, is she still alive, and what has happened to her.
This is a great thriller, the suspense is epic.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audio book. This book was available to purchase from 14 June, 2022
4 Stars: I enjoyed it and would recommend it to people who like the genre. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
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Iris Duncan lives in a big beautiful house, in the affluent suburb of Pacific Heights. She has been on her own since her husband's passing a few years back and at 70 years of age she has been unable to keep up with the maintenance the house and beautiful garden requires. Iris has also been quite lonely since her husband's passing, and doesn't really have anybody to talk to.
Iris meets Lidia, a waitress at a local cafe, who Iris takes pity on. Lidia is clumsy and keeps getting in trouble with her boss, for spilling drinks and not keeping up with the orders. Iris sees an opportunity and offers Lidia and her husband Seth a job as housekeepers. Iris sees this as a win/win as Iris receives help around the house and companionship.
Lidia takes great care of Iris, cooking for her, assisting her with daily medications, and setting up little reminders around the house for every day tasks that Iris' is forgetting.
Suddenly Iris goes missing, police a called to the scene, the phone line is cut, there is pools of blood at the scene and broken glass. Seth and Lidia are considered suspects. Where is Iris, is she still alive, and what has happened to her.
This is a great thriller, the suspense is epic.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audio book. This book was available to purchase from 14 June, 2022
4 Stars: I enjoyed it and would recommend it to people who like the genre. I will definitely want to read more books by this author.
Please visit my Facebook page and blog to see all of my past and future book reviews.
https://www.facebook.com/kyliesbookad...
https://kyliesbookaddictreviews.blogs...
June 14, 2022
4.5*
Having previously read and enjoyed Ellery A. Kane's Rockwell & Decker series, I was delighted to be selected as an early reader of her new release, The House Sitter. While it's currently presented as a standalone mystery-thriller, the seeds are sown in the final chapters for a new series featuring Maureen Shaw and her now-retired police superior Walter Greer.
A dramatic prologue foreshadows what is to come - a terrified elderly woman phones 911, reporting that there is an intruder in her Pacific Heights (San Francisco) home. The operator advises the woman to hide and wait for help to arrive, but hears a scream, then two gunshots before the line goes dead...
From that point, the narrative shifts back and forth between "Before" and "After" the dramatic 911 call.
Almost-70-year-old widow Iris Duncan gets chatting to a put-upon young waitress, Lydia McKay, at an Oakland diner, and it's not long before she's offered Lydia and her husband, Seth, employment as live-in caretakers at her palatial Pacific Heights property. Lydia and Seth's relationship is strained, and they have differing attitudes to the opportunities offered by their association with wealthy Iris. There are references to dark secrets in Lydia's past, involving an overbearing father and abusive "uncle". Seth is a gambling addict, frequently disappearing for hours to the horse-racing track whenever he has access to cash. Iris's behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic - is she entering the early stages of a dementia-related illness, or is her confusion caused by something else entirely? As readers, we're privy to the fact that there's financial manipulation and gaslighting going on - but who's really pulling the strings?
Meanwhile, virtuoso pianist-turned-rookie cop Maureen Shaw is one of the first responders to the elderly woman's frantic phone call. Her musical background provides the basis for an intriguing motif - Shaw assigns classical "theme tunes" in her mind for each person she meets, her intuition in this regard proving uncannily accurate. Shaw is fighting her own demons - she remains traumatised by a mass shooting she witnessed some years previously, in the course of which both her parents were killed. Testing her superior officer Walter Greer's forbearance, Shaw becomes obsessed with solving Iris Duncan's disappearance and presumed murder. She frequently follows up leads on her own time, trailing suspects and even entering the crime scene without authorisation. In spite of her questionable behaviour and lack of self-restraint, Shaw has a keen investigative sense, uncovering many important clues that she reluctantly passes on to the detectives managing the case.
An action-packed plot, throughout which author Ellery A. Kane skilfully manages the dual timeline and separate narrators, draws us towards a morally ambiguous, yet strangely satisfying ending. There are certain aspects of the plot which require the reader to suspend disbelief a little, but it's a great story exploring pertinent themes around elder abuse, coercive relationships, rising above one's past and the drive to seek retribution for past wrongs. While The House Sitter is separate from Kane's Rockwell & Decker series set in far-northern California, the Crescent Bay State Prison, Olivia Rockwell's workplace as a forensic psychologist, does rate a fleeting cameo appearance.
Ellery A. Kane's characterisations are complex, incorporating the impacts of early trauma, dysfunctional relationships, and multi-faceted personalities. We find ourselves sympathising with characters whose behaviour is, in many respects, morally reprehensible, cheering when they get the better of their foes, . Being familiar with this part of San Francisco - that area of Pacific Heights that abuts the woodland of the Presidio - I found the setting evocative and well-utilised by Ellery A. Kane throughout the plot.
I'd recommend The House Sitter as a compulsively-readable title to any reader who enjoys well-maintained suspense, mind-blowing twists and complex characters.
My thanks to the author, Ellery A. Kane, publisher Bookouture and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this engrossing title prior to its release on 14 June 2022.
Having previously read and enjoyed Ellery A. Kane's Rockwell & Decker series, I was delighted to be selected as an early reader of her new release, The House Sitter. While it's currently presented as a standalone mystery-thriller, the seeds are sown in the final chapters for a new series featuring Maureen Shaw and her now-retired police superior Walter Greer.
A dramatic prologue foreshadows what is to come - a terrified elderly woman phones 911, reporting that there is an intruder in her Pacific Heights (San Francisco) home. The operator advises the woman to hide and wait for help to arrive, but hears a scream, then two gunshots before the line goes dead...
From that point, the narrative shifts back and forth between "Before" and "After" the dramatic 911 call.
Almost-70-year-old widow Iris Duncan gets chatting to a put-upon young waitress, Lydia McKay, at an Oakland diner, and it's not long before she's offered Lydia and her husband, Seth, employment as live-in caretakers at her palatial Pacific Heights property. Lydia and Seth's relationship is strained, and they have differing attitudes to the opportunities offered by their association with wealthy Iris. There are references to dark secrets in Lydia's past, involving an overbearing father and abusive "uncle". Seth is a gambling addict, frequently disappearing for hours to the horse-racing track whenever he has access to cash. Iris's behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic - is she entering the early stages of a dementia-related illness, or is her confusion caused by something else entirely? As readers, we're privy to the fact that there's financial manipulation and gaslighting going on - but who's really pulling the strings?
Meanwhile, virtuoso pianist-turned-rookie cop Maureen Shaw is one of the first responders to the elderly woman's frantic phone call. Her musical background provides the basis for an intriguing motif - Shaw assigns classical "theme tunes" in her mind for each person she meets, her intuition in this regard proving uncannily accurate. Shaw is fighting her own demons - she remains traumatised by a mass shooting she witnessed some years previously, in the course of which both her parents were killed. Testing her superior officer Walter Greer's forbearance, Shaw becomes obsessed with solving Iris Duncan's disappearance and presumed murder. She frequently follows up leads on her own time, trailing suspects and even entering the crime scene without authorisation. In spite of her questionable behaviour and lack of self-restraint, Shaw has a keen investigative sense, uncovering many important clues that she reluctantly passes on to the detectives managing the case.
An action-packed plot, throughout which author Ellery A. Kane skilfully manages the dual timeline and separate narrators, draws us towards a morally ambiguous, yet strangely satisfying ending. There are certain aspects of the plot which require the reader to suspend disbelief a little, but it's a great story exploring pertinent themes around elder abuse, coercive relationships, rising above one's past and the drive to seek retribution for past wrongs. While The House Sitter is separate from Kane's Rockwell & Decker series set in far-northern California, the Crescent Bay State Prison, Olivia Rockwell's workplace as a forensic psychologist, does rate a fleeting cameo appearance.
Ellery A. Kane's characterisations are complex, incorporating the impacts of early trauma, dysfunctional relationships, and multi-faceted personalities. We find ourselves sympathising with characters whose behaviour is, in many respects, morally reprehensible, cheering when they get the better of their foes, . Being familiar with this part of San Francisco - that area of Pacific Heights that abuts the woodland of the Presidio - I found the setting evocative and well-utilised by Ellery A. Kane throughout the plot.
I'd recommend The House Sitter as a compulsively-readable title to any reader who enjoys well-maintained suspense, mind-blowing twists and complex characters.
My thanks to the author, Ellery A. Kane, publisher Bookouture and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review this engrossing title prior to its release on 14 June 2022.
May 19, 2022
The House Sitter was a very entertaining thrill ride! I thought I knew what was going on more than once, but didn't have it all quite figured out! I really enjoyed this book and it was my first by Ellery Kane. The book centers around a widowed woman in her 70's named Iris Duncan. She has a large home in a upscale neighborhood and is having trouble keeping up with the yard work and basic upkeep of the house. The neighborhood HOA has sent her warnings about the state of her yard/house.
Iris goes to a diner and meets a young waitress named Lydia who is down on her luck and hates her boss. She and Iris get talking and become fast friends. Iris actually asks Lydia to help her around the house as her boss at the diner fires her. Lydia brings her brother Seth with her to help with the yard work and outside upkeep. Things go well and eventually Iris invites the couple to move in. Lydia cooks for Iris, cleans the house, and helps her keep up with all of her meds. Iris has become very forgetful and often can't remember if she's taken her pills or not.
Things seem to be going well, but then a few months pass, and there's a frantic 911 call from Iris and a gunshot is heard.. When the police and paramedics arrive there's no body, but signs of a struggle and a lot of blood on Iris' bed. Seth and Lydia say they have no knowledge of what happened as the night before Iris had asked them to leave. There had been a dispute over a paint color for the porch railing. Seth painted it black and Iris was furious as she wanted it brown.
Seth and Lydia had lived with an older woman in the past, cared for her home, and she ended up dead. Coincidence or pattern? Are Seth and Lydia trouble or are they simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Seth has a gambling addiction and will do anything for money to place his next bet and he's got someone after him over a gambling debt. Does this lead to Iris' demise? Is Lydia as innocent as she seems?
This book will keep you reading late into the night as you will want to know answers to these questions. The book does a nice job of telling you part of the story before the disappearance, and part of the story after the disappearance. You learn more and more as you go. Do yourself a favor and get this book when it comes out if you enjoy a good mystery. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy.
Iris goes to a diner and meets a young waitress named Lydia who is down on her luck and hates her boss. She and Iris get talking and become fast friends. Iris actually asks Lydia to help her around the house as her boss at the diner fires her. Lydia brings her brother Seth with her to help with the yard work and outside upkeep. Things go well and eventually Iris invites the couple to move in. Lydia cooks for Iris, cleans the house, and helps her keep up with all of her meds. Iris has become very forgetful and often can't remember if she's taken her pills or not.
Things seem to be going well, but then a few months pass, and there's a frantic 911 call from Iris and a gunshot is heard.. When the police and paramedics arrive there's no body, but signs of a struggle and a lot of blood on Iris' bed. Seth and Lydia say they have no knowledge of what happened as the night before Iris had asked them to leave. There had been a dispute over a paint color for the porch railing. Seth painted it black and Iris was furious as she wanted it brown.
Seth and Lydia had lived with an older woman in the past, cared for her home, and she ended up dead. Coincidence or pattern? Are Seth and Lydia trouble or are they simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? Seth has a gambling addiction and will do anything for money to place his next bet and he's got someone after him over a gambling debt. Does this lead to Iris' demise? Is Lydia as innocent as she seems?
This book will keep you reading late into the night as you will want to know answers to these questions. The book does a nice job of telling you part of the story before the disappearance, and part of the story after the disappearance. You learn more and more as you go. Do yourself a favor and get this book when it comes out if you enjoy a good mystery. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy.
July 8, 2022
2.5 stars Just an average read for me. The audio narration was also average - a performance that will be easily forgotten in a few days.
The story jumped around a lot between past and present and character perspectives, which lessened the overall cohesiveness of the plot. I didn’t like the detective’s perspective much. And I found all of the characters bland and stereotypical. Some of the dialogue felt insincere and unbelievable. I tried hard to invest myself but just didn’t care much about any of the characters or what happened to them. They needed more depth and dimension.
The plot moved along at a gallop with many reveals along the way but lacked that emotional component needed to draw me in fully. I needed more tension, suspense or something.
Although this book didn’t really work for me, there are some higher reviews by other readers so it’s probably worth reading and forming your own opinion. Thank you to Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The story jumped around a lot between past and present and character perspectives, which lessened the overall cohesiveness of the plot. I didn’t like the detective’s perspective much. And I found all of the characters bland and stereotypical. Some of the dialogue felt insincere and unbelievable. I tried hard to invest myself but just didn’t care much about any of the characters or what happened to them. They needed more depth and dimension.
The plot moved along at a gallop with many reveals along the way but lacked that emotional component needed to draw me in fully. I needed more tension, suspense or something.
Although this book didn’t really work for me, there are some higher reviews by other readers so it’s probably worth reading and forming your own opinion. Thank you to Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2022
THE HOUSE SITTER is a psychological thriller by Ellery A. Kane. I was hooked from the beginning.
The novel opens with a woman calling through to emergency to advise that an intruder is in her house, while she hides in the bedroom. What follows is the sound of gunshot, a scream…and then the line went dead.
Iris Duncan, a seventy-year-old widower and retired librarian, who lives in large home in an upscale neighborhood, needs help with the maintenance and upkeep of the house and yard. Iris also is suffering with onset dementia.
Iris goes to a diner and meets a young waitress named Lydia who is struggling and hates her boss. They both start talking and become fast friends. And Iris immediately realizes that Lydia was just the girl she had been looking for to help her at home. Iris offered Lydia a position as caregiver/house sitter if Lydia wanted a change. Lydia accepted the position but wanted her boyfriend, Seth to be included in the deal.
Lydia was responsible for cleaning, cooking and assisting Iris as needed., while Seth works outside, tending to the lawn and fixing the broken gate and outside upkeep. Things go well and eventually Iris invites the couple to move in. Lydia becomes invaluable to Iris, as Iris has become very forgetful and often can't remember if she's taken her pills or not.
One night there is a 911 call, a struggle and a gunshot. When the police arrive, Iris is missing. Now, the search is on. I loved the rookie cop, Maureen, a regular Columbo and her drive to find Iris.
And slowly we see the story unfold.
Police suspect at least two gunshots were fired during the robbery and believe the missing woman was seriously, possibly fatally injured in the attack.
Seth and Lydia are identified as persons of interest in the suspected homicide of Iris Duncan.
So where is Iris? Is she dead or alive? Where is she?
This book will keep you reading late into the night as you will want to know answers to these questions. The book follows the story before the disappearance, and after the disappearance. Clues and information are relayed on a need-to-know basis. As soon as you start reading The House Sitter, you’ll be hooked! Very enjoyable read with lots of twists at the end.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Net Galley for my digital copy.
The novel opens with a woman calling through to emergency to advise that an intruder is in her house, while she hides in the bedroom. What follows is the sound of gunshot, a scream…and then the line went dead.
Iris Duncan, a seventy-year-old widower and retired librarian, who lives in large home in an upscale neighborhood, needs help with the maintenance and upkeep of the house and yard. Iris also is suffering with onset dementia.
Iris goes to a diner and meets a young waitress named Lydia who is struggling and hates her boss. They both start talking and become fast friends. And Iris immediately realizes that Lydia was just the girl she had been looking for to help her at home. Iris offered Lydia a position as caregiver/house sitter if Lydia wanted a change. Lydia accepted the position but wanted her boyfriend, Seth to be included in the deal.
Lydia was responsible for cleaning, cooking and assisting Iris as needed., while Seth works outside, tending to the lawn and fixing the broken gate and outside upkeep. Things go well and eventually Iris invites the couple to move in. Lydia becomes invaluable to Iris, as Iris has become very forgetful and often can't remember if she's taken her pills or not.
One night there is a 911 call, a struggle and a gunshot. When the police arrive, Iris is missing. Now, the search is on. I loved the rookie cop, Maureen, a regular Columbo and her drive to find Iris.
And slowly we see the story unfold.
Police suspect at least two gunshots were fired during the robbery and believe the missing woman was seriously, possibly fatally injured in the attack.
Seth and Lydia are identified as persons of interest in the suspected homicide of Iris Duncan.
So where is Iris? Is she dead or alive? Where is she?
This book will keep you reading late into the night as you will want to know answers to these questions. The book follows the story before the disappearance, and after the disappearance. Clues and information are relayed on a need-to-know basis. As soon as you start reading The House Sitter, you’ll be hooked! Very enjoyable read with lots of twists at the end.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Net Galley for my digital copy.
October 27, 2022
I listened to The House Sitter as an audiobook and I can't say that I particularly enjoyed it. Infact, the way the whole story plays out I don't think I would have been completely invested in the book even if I had chosen to read it instead. After a decent start, the entire plot seems to completely lose the plot with all the twists (most of the time I wondered if they were even necessary) in the story. Add to that a whole list of unlikeable, generic and stereotypical characters, an ending that basically shows a bad person getting away with the crime and a narration style that didn't do much to perk up the listening experience. Even though the pacing of the book is fast, I found my attention waning during most parts and by the end I just wanted to finish off with the audiobook.
I am also confused as to why the book is titled The House Sitter when Lydia and Seth are specifically asked to live in the house as hired help by Iris, with Iris also still living in the house. The blurb of the book is also a bit misleading.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture Audio and the author for the audio Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫
I am also confused as to why the book is titled The House Sitter when Lydia and Seth are specifically asked to live in the house as hired help by Iris, with Iris also still living in the house. The blurb of the book is also a bit misleading.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture Audio and the author for the audio Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐✨💫
June 2, 2022
When I read the synopsis I was hooked, but unfortunately it didn’t live up to the exceptions! I listened to this as an audiobook and found parts to be rather confusing and uninteresting. I felt that I would have liked reading the book more so than listening to it. The dual timeline makes it difficult to keep track of what was happenings. The ending was twisty so I kept the rating to 3 stars.
If you decide to put up this book please read it rather than opting for the audiobook version.
***** Many thanks to Bookouture (audio), Ellery Kane, and NetGalley for the gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
If you decide to put up this book please read it rather than opting for the audiobook version.
***** Many thanks to Bookouture (audio), Ellery Kane, and NetGalley for the gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
May 26, 2022
We open to a 911 call from an elderly lady. She's asking for help but all the dispatchers can do is stay on the line with her and listen on in horror, unable to help while she is viciously attacked.
We then go back to meet Iris, presumably the elderly lady on the emergency call. Iris is young at heart and lonely after the loss of her husband Dean.
Iris makes her way into a cafe and meets a clumsy waitress named Lydia. Lydia keeps talking about her partner Seth, who sounds like a real loser. She also makes some victim noises about her boss for asking her to do her job. Lydia is chatty and and over-sharer. That's like catnip for lonely old ladies.
Iris leaves her a big tip and her phone number and the next thing you know, Lydia and Seth are at her house to do some work. Iris has suffered an injury lately and needs a lot of extra help, but mostly companionship.
I followed along pretty well up to this point. Then we start dealing with cops and investigators at a crime scene and it's hard to follow because they're just not being clear about what happened or who is who and they're fighting amongst themselves. I understand it's intentionally vague but maybe it needed some extra editing to make it work.
Also, I recommend the book if you choose to read it. I had the audiobook and the narration was cartoonish with the shaky voice for Iris. It was too distracting.
As the police try to get to the bottom of what happened, things start to come out that make it seem as if this meeting was not by chance. Who would want to hurt Iris and why?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review.
We then go back to meet Iris, presumably the elderly lady on the emergency call. Iris is young at heart and lonely after the loss of her husband Dean.
Iris makes her way into a cafe and meets a clumsy waitress named Lydia. Lydia keeps talking about her partner Seth, who sounds like a real loser. She also makes some victim noises about her boss for asking her to do her job. Lydia is chatty and and over-sharer. That's like catnip for lonely old ladies.
Iris leaves her a big tip and her phone number and the next thing you know, Lydia and Seth are at her house to do some work. Iris has suffered an injury lately and needs a lot of extra help, but mostly companionship.
I followed along pretty well up to this point. Then we start dealing with cops and investigators at a crime scene and it's hard to follow because they're just not being clear about what happened or who is who and they're fighting amongst themselves. I understand it's intentionally vague but maybe it needed some extra editing to make it work.
Also, I recommend the book if you choose to read it. I had the audiobook and the narration was cartoonish with the shaky voice for Iris. It was too distracting.
As the police try to get to the bottom of what happened, things start to come out that make it seem as if this meeting was not by chance. Who would want to hurt Iris and why?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review.
May 4, 2022
Iris is now a widow in a big house and struggling to care for it. She meets a waitress, Lydia, and decides to hire her and her boyfriend, Seth, on as caretakers. I don't want to reveal much more, but everything is not what it seems. An engrossing read from start to finish, THE HOUSE SITTER will have you turning the pages quickly. If you like a good detective book, this is for you. I look forward to reading more from author Ellery Kane in the future.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on release day.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on release day.
June 8, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
I was pleasantly surprised by this thriller. It follows one of the unlikeliest of characters in books of this sort–Iris, a 70-year-old woman seemingly suffering from dementia. Normally domestic thrillers that have rich people drama are centered around young, vapid and envious people, so this was quite the surprise.
The story cuts back and forth between the present day, and the recent past. The former timeline follows Maureen, a detective trying to locate a missing Iris, as the book opens up with Iris calling a 911 dispatcher in a fearful and frantic state before subsequently vanishing. The latter timeline follows Lydia and Seth, a couple Iris hires as house-sitters to live with her in her palatial house and assist her in her old age. In the middle of all this is Iris, a wealthy elderly woman with a gentle disposition and an air of mystery.
We see how all these stories intermingle and come into play, and the results are surprising at times, but also tedious and familiar. The writing is good, and the book reads more like a cozy mystery if anything else. I found myself drawn to Lydia, Maureen, and Iris–three women who’ve lived hard lives, and whose struggles inform the decisions they make in the story. That, and the reveal at the end made the time reading worth it. But for all the craft on display, this thriller is very much content with existing within the safe, formulaic and inoffensive mould most other books in its genre seem to stay in.
And despite finding nuggets of fascination in its characters, I wasn’t able to find one I truly connected with on an emotional level. Not all the parts in this machine were well-oiled enough, and some red herrings felt obvious when they were presented and didn’t do much to sway us away from the main story and have us second-guess ourselves. It’s still not a bad book by any means, but not one I’d *highly* recommend.
I was pleasantly surprised by this thriller. It follows one of the unlikeliest of characters in books of this sort–Iris, a 70-year-old woman seemingly suffering from dementia. Normally domestic thrillers that have rich people drama are centered around young, vapid and envious people, so this was quite the surprise.
The story cuts back and forth between the present day, and the recent past. The former timeline follows Maureen, a detective trying to locate a missing Iris, as the book opens up with Iris calling a 911 dispatcher in a fearful and frantic state before subsequently vanishing. The latter timeline follows Lydia and Seth, a couple Iris hires as house-sitters to live with her in her palatial house and assist her in her old age. In the middle of all this is Iris, a wealthy elderly woman with a gentle disposition and an air of mystery.
We see how all these stories intermingle and come into play, and the results are surprising at times, but also tedious and familiar. The writing is good, and the book reads more like a cozy mystery if anything else. I found myself drawn to Lydia, Maureen, and Iris–three women who’ve lived hard lives, and whose struggles inform the decisions they make in the story. That, and the reveal at the end made the time reading worth it. But for all the craft on display, this thriller is very much content with existing within the safe, formulaic and inoffensive mould most other books in its genre seem to stay in.
And despite finding nuggets of fascination in its characters, I wasn’t able to find one I truly connected with on an emotional level. Not all the parts in this machine were well-oiled enough, and some red herrings felt obvious when they were presented and didn’t do much to sway us away from the main story and have us second-guess ourselves. It’s still not a bad book by any means, but not one I’d *highly* recommend.
July 6, 2022
Iris hires Seth and Lydia to take care of her house, after a burglary leaves her feeling scared alone. As they all get closer, hidden secrets start to become exposed. Seth's temper, Lydia's secrets and Iris suddenly becoming confused. Then Iris goes missing, a fatal amount of blood in the bedroom. What really happened that night?
A fantastic edge of your seat thriller! I flew through this, it's absolutely fantastic. The twists came slowly, with maximum impact.
A thriller that leaves you gasping at the ending... what more can you want?
A fantastic edge of your seat thriller! I flew through this, it's absolutely fantastic. The twists came slowly, with maximum impact.
A thriller that leaves you gasping at the ending... what more can you want?
June 16, 2022
I wanted a fast-paced psychological thriller about tension brewing between two women in a domestic setting like the synopsis suggests, but this book wasn't it. It's more like a police procedural involving a very incompetent rookie cop who is consistently defiant and can't seem to follow instructions. Maureen felt like an extra and we could have done without her POV.
The story also moved at a snail's pace. Despite being just shy of 300 pages, it took me days to plow through and I had to force myself to keep going. I'm glad I finished the book though as the twist was worth it and I never saw it coming. Unfortunately, I really disliked the ending. Lydia is not likeable enough for me to root for her.
Overall, an unremarkable read that I wish I hadn't bothered with.
The story also moved at a snail's pace. Despite being just shy of 300 pages, it took me days to plow through and I had to force myself to keep going. I'm glad I finished the book though as the twist was worth it and I never saw it coming. Unfortunately, I really disliked the ending. Lydia is not likeable enough for me to root for her.
Overall, an unremarkable read that I wish I hadn't bothered with.
May 7, 2022
“All you need is one sucker.”
Inspired by her career as a forensic psychologist and by an event witnessed within her own family, Ellery Kane brings a heap load of authenticity to this psychological thriller! Like the Delores painting of the Golden Gate you’ll read about, this fabulous novel had a “palette of colours so bright and bold that it required effort to look away.”
I enjoyed all the characters, but I loved Iris Duncan! It was interesting to note that they all walked a fine line between hero and villain, sometimes choosing one over the other. Officer Maureen Shaw offered a great perspective to the story, too. Kane has taken what she’s learned in her years evaluating violent criminals and treating victims of trauma and brought it to her writing. Everyone has secrets and a past they’d rather keep buried. Kane noted that, with regards to her clients, “some struggle to get over it; some learn from it; some are changed by it; some are haunted” and we see that with Seth and Lydia McKay as well as with Iris and Maureen. What separates these individuals is what they chose to do with their past. We should take note.
Although I guessed the twist mid-book, I wasn’t sure of how the author would get there and that kept me turning pages. I loved the humour Iris brought to the story as much as the evil that Seth brought. Both were needed. I also enjoyed the nod to the gothic novel, Rebecca, and the reminder that ‘when a taker meets a giver, it never ends well’ It was an entertaining novel, stuffed with great characters and propelled by intriguing suspense.
I’m hoping the ending means that there’s a sequel in the works! It sure had me scratching my head and wondering if justice was served.
I was gifted this advance copy by Ellery Kane, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Inspired by her career as a forensic psychologist and by an event witnessed within her own family, Ellery Kane brings a heap load of authenticity to this psychological thriller! Like the Delores painting of the Golden Gate you’ll read about, this fabulous novel had a “palette of colours so bright and bold that it required effort to look away.”
I enjoyed all the characters, but I loved Iris Duncan! It was interesting to note that they all walked a fine line between hero and villain, sometimes choosing one over the other. Officer Maureen Shaw offered a great perspective to the story, too. Kane has taken what she’s learned in her years evaluating violent criminals and treating victims of trauma and brought it to her writing. Everyone has secrets and a past they’d rather keep buried. Kane noted that, with regards to her clients, “some struggle to get over it; some learn from it; some are changed by it; some are haunted” and we see that with Seth and Lydia McKay as well as with Iris and Maureen. What separates these individuals is what they chose to do with their past. We should take note.
Although I guessed the twist mid-book, I wasn’t sure of how the author would get there and that kept me turning pages. I loved the humour Iris brought to the story as much as the evil that Seth brought. Both were needed. I also enjoyed the nod to the gothic novel, Rebecca, and the reminder that ‘when a taker meets a giver, it never ends well’ It was an entertaining novel, stuffed with great characters and propelled by intriguing suspense.
I’m hoping the ending means that there’s a sequel in the works! It sure had me scratching my head and wondering if justice was served.
I was gifted this advance copy by Ellery Kane, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 19, 2022
Overall, this was a decent story. I will admit it wasn’t as thrilling as the description lead on. By the end of the book, I was a bit bored. I listened to the audiobook - I liked the narrator, but the audio itself had an odd reverb or echo. It sounded almost like a weird filter was placed on the audio to alter the voice?
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