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The Houseshare
Her perfect new start just became her biggest nightmare…
Opening the door to her new home, Libby can’t believe she can afford such a beautiful place. As her new landlord follows her into the bright, open living room, watching her every more, she feels so lucky she spotted the ad online.
‘You’re just the tenant I’ve been looking for,’ the landlord tells her as he drops the keys into her hand. Libby smiles as she unpacks her small suitcase and thinks about the troubled life she has just walked out on.
Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As she listens to their angry words, she swears she hears her name mentioned. Why would they be talking about her?
As the weeks pass, Libby can’t help but feel that someone is watching her and when she hears that the last girl who rented her apartment before her vanished without trace, she starts to double lock her door every night. Then she finds a handwritten message in her apartment telling her she’s in danger, and her new home no longer feels like the safe haven it once was. Did someone from Libby’s past follow her here? And just how safe is she behind closed doors?
If you love gripping psychological thrillers like Gone Girl and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay, you’ll be blown away by The Houseshare. Addictive, tense and with an ending you won’t see coming, you’ll be up all night turning the pages.
The Houseshare is a rework of To Let, which was previously published by the same author.
Opening the door to her new home, Libby can’t believe she can afford such a beautiful place. As her new landlord follows her into the bright, open living room, watching her every more, she feels so lucky she spotted the ad online.
‘You’re just the tenant I’ve been looking for,’ the landlord tells her as he drops the keys into her hand. Libby smiles as she unpacks her small suitcase and thinks about the troubled life she has just walked out on.
Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As she listens to their angry words, she swears she hears her name mentioned. Why would they be talking about her?
As the weeks pass, Libby can’t help but feel that someone is watching her and when she hears that the last girl who rented her apartment before her vanished without trace, she starts to double lock her door every night. Then she finds a handwritten message in her apartment telling her she’s in danger, and her new home no longer feels like the safe haven it once was. Did someone from Libby’s past follow her here? And just how safe is she behind closed doors?
If you love gripping psychological thrillers like Gone Girl and Mark Edwards’s Here to Stay, you’ll be blown away by The Houseshare. Addictive, tense and with an ending you won’t see coming, you’ll be up all night turning the pages.
The Houseshare is a rework of To Let, which was previously published by the same author.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2022
194 people are currently reading
587 people want to read
About the author
Carla Kovach
33 books1,050 followersCarla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama 'Flame,' psychological thriller 'To Let,' crime thriller 'Whispers Beneath the Pines, and romantic comedy 'Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.' Carla also writes stage and screen plays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area.
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
Her new novel 'The Next Girl,' is available for preorder now. (Published by Bookouture).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
July 14, 2022
3.5 rounded down
Libby moves into a new flat for a fresh start and an escape from a toxic relationship with Gary. She knows it’s time to grow up and stand on her own two feet. As her landlord Tim shows her round she thinks how lucky she is to have found somewhere so good at such an affordable price. However, as the weeks progress there are some troubling signs as Libby senses she is being watched. Further troubling pieces of information bubble to the surface and she questions just how safe she is in the new home she wants to be a haven.
First of all, the start is really good as it tracks back to twenty years ago. It’s upsetting but done extremely well and proves to be the rationale behind all that develops in the present day. Libby’s toxic relationship is also done well as she tries to escape the control and mind games. She is a good character and is likeable although at times you do want to shout at her because she does some foolish and impetuous things. Haven’t we all?!!! I especially like her close relationship with her sister Olly who is another good character.
I really enjoy the first half and find it hard to put down as the atmosphere is well conveyed and is creepy and claustrophobic. There’s some tension and suspense and plenty of things to think about. There is one good twist at the end that I don’t see coming but does make sense!
However, I don’t the second half is as strong as the first hence the rounded down rating. Things start to go round and round like a stuck record, there seems to be too many coincidences and you can see the ‘big twist’ of the perpetrator a mile off though I live in hope to be wrong! It’s a shame the second part doesn’t live up the the promise of the first as the premise and setting are so good. If you’re looking for an easy, entertaining beach type read then this may fit the bill!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Libby moves into a new flat for a fresh start and an escape from a toxic relationship with Gary. She knows it’s time to grow up and stand on her own two feet. As her landlord Tim shows her round she thinks how lucky she is to have found somewhere so good at such an affordable price. However, as the weeks progress there are some troubling signs as Libby senses she is being watched. Further troubling pieces of information bubble to the surface and she questions just how safe she is in the new home she wants to be a haven.
First of all, the start is really good as it tracks back to twenty years ago. It’s upsetting but done extremely well and proves to be the rationale behind all that develops in the present day. Libby’s toxic relationship is also done well as she tries to escape the control and mind games. She is a good character and is likeable although at times you do want to shout at her because she does some foolish and impetuous things. Haven’t we all?!!! I especially like her close relationship with her sister Olly who is another good character.
I really enjoy the first half and find it hard to put down as the atmosphere is well conveyed and is creepy and claustrophobic. There’s some tension and suspense and plenty of things to think about. There is one good twist at the end that I don’t see coming but does make sense!
However, I don’t the second half is as strong as the first hence the rounded down rating. Things start to go round and round like a stuck record, there seems to be too many coincidences and you can see the ‘big twist’ of the perpetrator a mile off though I live in hope to be wrong! It’s a shame the second part doesn’t live up the the promise of the first as the premise and setting are so good. If you’re looking for an easy, entertaining beach type read then this may fit the bill!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 2, 2022
A new beginning...a new nightmare!
Speaking of the beginning- the beginning of this book which occurs twenty years earlier, opens with horrific bullying. It is both heartbreaking and gripping. It will leave you wanting to know more....
In the present - Libby feels so lucky to have a new home. Her new landlord has been wonderful, filling her home with furniture for her to use until she can purchase her own. She is looking forward to a new beginning after leaving a bad relationship.
Days later she hears arguing and possibly her name being said...why would people argue about her? She has also begun to feel as if someone is watching her. Could it be her horrible ex-boyfriend or someone else? Plus, she learns the previous tenant left without a trace. It feels as if someone has been in her apartment (at least treats were left) and she is feeling uneasy. Then she finds a note left behind.......
This book started strongly, and I read it in one day. I was curious to see how things would play out. I felt for Libby and her plight. I enjoyed seeing her close relationship with her sister and felt it was used nicely in the book. I enjoyed the Authors use of tension. As Libby begins to feel anxious and worried, so do readers.
I found this to be entertaining and gripping.
3.25/3.5 stars
#TheHouseshare #NetGalley
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
Speaking of the beginning- the beginning of this book which occurs twenty years earlier, opens with horrific bullying. It is both heartbreaking and gripping. It will leave you wanting to know more....
In the present - Libby feels so lucky to have a new home. Her new landlord has been wonderful, filling her home with furniture for her to use until she can purchase her own. She is looking forward to a new beginning after leaving a bad relationship.
Days later she hears arguing and possibly her name being said...why would people argue about her? She has also begun to feel as if someone is watching her. Could it be her horrible ex-boyfriend or someone else? Plus, she learns the previous tenant left without a trace. It feels as if someone has been in her apartment (at least treats were left) and she is feeling uneasy. Then she finds a note left behind.......
This book started strongly, and I read it in one day. I was curious to see how things would play out. I felt for Libby and her plight. I enjoyed seeing her close relationship with her sister and felt it was used nicely in the book. I enjoyed the Authors use of tension. As Libby begins to feel anxious and worried, so do readers.
I found this to be entertaining and gripping.
3.25/3.5 stars
#TheHouseshare #NetGalley
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
August 6, 2022
Libby is at an all time low,boyfriend abused her,job is far from perfect and she wants a change…..and the flat she is told about by her Sister seems perfect,great location,great price and yes it might be smaller than shes used to but hey you cant have it all…..excitedly she moves in and life seems,’seems’ to be picking up,even her landlord is great and she couldn’t ask for better neighbours,well apart from the mysterious Mr Bull downstairs…..and just as it seems life is on the up everything starts to go downhill,rapidly
This book has you and keeps you and the feeling of menace is there throughout,
Something is going on, something isen’t as it should be,someone has secrets but who?,and why?,there are quite a few that could be the culprit but the author keeps you guessing right till the end,and a very clever ending it is
Loved it being set in Birmingham and was good to re visit the places used to go to in my 20’s,Bought back great memories……and I really laughed at the Beyonce mention,in the thrust of a dark psychological thriller it was a very funny moment
Written really well and full of twists,turns and up’s and down’s it was altogether a enticing and ‘gave as it promised’read
10/10
5 Stars
This book has you and keeps you and the feeling of menace is there throughout,
Something is going on, something isen’t as it should be,someone has secrets but who?,and why?,there are quite a few that could be the culprit but the author keeps you guessing right till the end,and a very clever ending it is
Loved it being set in Birmingham and was good to re visit the places used to go to in my 20’s,Bought back great memories……and I really laughed at the Beyonce mention,in the thrust of a dark psychological thriller it was a very funny moment
Written really well and full of twists,turns and up’s and down’s it was altogether a enticing and ‘gave as it promised’read
10/10
5 Stars
August 9, 2022
Opening the door th her new home, Libby can't believe she can afford such a beautiful place. As her new landlord follows her into the bright, open living room. watching her every move, she feels lucky she spotted the ad online. "Your'e just the tennant I've been looking for," the landlord tells her. Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As sh listens to their angry words, she swears she heard her name being mentioned. Why would they be talking about her?
Fleeing from her boyfriend Gary, Libby takes her cat and moves to a flat online. Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective. The pace is slow to begin with and I was nearly a quarter way through before anything took place. Then strange things start happening in her flat, things go missing, she gets abusive phone calls, and someone is threating her at work. I figured out who the culprit was quite early in the book. It's a bit predictable.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #CarlaKovach for my ARC of #TheHouseshare in exchange for an honest review.
Fleeing from her boyfriend Gary, Libby takes her cat and moves to a flat online. Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective. The pace is slow to begin with and I was nearly a quarter way through before anything took place. Then strange things start happening in her flat, things go missing, she gets abusive phone calls, and someone is threating her at work. I figured out who the culprit was quite early in the book. It's a bit predictable.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #CarlaKovach for my ARC of #TheHouseshare in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
Libby is a victim in more ways than one. Thankfully, however, she has escaped a bad situation with her now ex-boyfriend, Gary. Glad that she has been able to find a new home, sharing a house with several other tenants, Libby is thankful to have a nice landlord, and has started to get to know at least a couple of the neighbors. However, it does not take long for her life to begin a downward spiral.
Things do not go smoothly for Libby. For starters, not only does she occasionally hear some of her neighbors argue, it seems that Gary has no inclination of letting her go. Then, after learning that the previous tenant had disappeared without a trace, her sense of danger grows exponentially.
While Libby strives to become comfortable, there is one neighbor that she has not met, the
mysterious Mr. Bull. A mystery begins to be formed as it seems that there a secret to be had in this new life that Libby has undertaken. This is most certainly something that she definitely is not happy about. One of the oddities that Libby is forced to deal with is her cat Einstein has started to take on strange behaviors. An indoor/outdoor cat, his disappearances do not worry her at first, but as strange is her new life has suddenly become, his actions become very concerning.
Feeling that she is being watched, readers of this engaging read might wonder if she’s actually being gaslighted. With incredible tension, surprising twists and turns, nefarious characters, as well as very even pacing, The Houseshare proved thrilling from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/L2swDdkVoZE
Things do not go smoothly for Libby. For starters, not only does she occasionally hear some of her neighbors argue, it seems that Gary has no inclination of letting her go. Then, after learning that the previous tenant had disappeared without a trace, her sense of danger grows exponentially.
While Libby strives to become comfortable, there is one neighbor that she has not met, the
mysterious Mr. Bull. A mystery begins to be formed as it seems that there a secret to be had in this new life that Libby has undertaken. This is most certainly something that she definitely is not happy about. One of the oddities that Libby is forced to deal with is her cat Einstein has started to take on strange behaviors. An indoor/outdoor cat, his disappearances do not worry her at first, but as strange is her new life has suddenly become, his actions become very concerning.
Feeling that she is being watched, readers of this engaging read might wonder if she’s actually being gaslighted. With incredible tension, surprising twists and turns, nefarious characters, as well as very even pacing, The Houseshare proved thrilling from beginning to end.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/L2swDdkVoZE
July 6, 2022
Libby has left her cheating and abusive boyfriend, Gary, and finds herself a nice new flat close to her work. The owner of the flat, Tim, is very friendly and likes Libby. She seems happy until she gets a visitor named Ricardo. He is the father of the last tenant, a girl named Bettina. Bettina has gone missing for some time and he promised his dying wife that he would look for her. Libby gets drawn into the case and finds herself in quite a situation that she didn't expect.
This was a pretty good book. It started creepy and slowly builds up to a great ending. Around the 70 percent mark, I had a hard time putting this one down. I am always amazed how authors come up with these incredible stories. This was a good one and I do recommend it to other thriller lovers like myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
This was a pretty good book. It started creepy and slowly builds up to a great ending. Around the 70 percent mark, I had a hard time putting this one down. I am always amazed how authors come up with these incredible stories. This was a good one and I do recommend it to other thriller lovers like myself.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
July 18, 2022
3.5 stars
Libby is ready for a fresh start after leaving her abusive ex and renting a new apartment in Canal House. The apartment is affordable and her landlord and neighbors are friendly and welcoming. She feels so lucky, however, as the days go by, bizarre things start happening: her belongings going missing, weird noises coming from the downstairs apartment, and the sense that someone is watching her. When she learns that the girl who lived in the apartment before her went missing, she starts to wonder just how safe is her new home.
I seem to be in the minority when it comes to the rating of this book. Personally, I found the story to be very predictable. The culprit and the motive were easy to figure out. The only twist that came as a surprise to me was the culprit's sister. I did enjoy the tension-filled atmosphere and the setting. Libby was a likable enough character and I was interested in how things would turn out for her. In the end, I thought the story wrapped up nicely. If you're looking for a quick entertaining thriller, then I recommend this one.
Thank you for NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Libby is ready for a fresh start after leaving her abusive ex and renting a new apartment in Canal House. The apartment is affordable and her landlord and neighbors are friendly and welcoming. She feels so lucky, however, as the days go by, bizarre things start happening: her belongings going missing, weird noises coming from the downstairs apartment, and the sense that someone is watching her. When she learns that the girl who lived in the apartment before her went missing, she starts to wonder just how safe is her new home.
I seem to be in the minority when it comes to the rating of this book. Personally, I found the story to be very predictable. The culprit and the motive were easy to figure out. The only twist that came as a surprise to me was the culprit's sister. I did enjoy the tension-filled atmosphere and the setting. Libby was a likable enough character and I was interested in how things would turn out for her. In the end, I thought the story wrapped up nicely. If you're looking for a quick entertaining thriller, then I recommend this one.
Thank you for NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2022
3.5 stars
The Houseshare by Carla Kovach is a psychological thriller (and apparently a re-work of “To Let” – which I have not read).
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Libby and her sister Olly had a rough life growing up, and they are really close.
Libby works as a recruitment agent for a company that doesn't seem to care that she is being harassed by Trevor, one of their workers (who also has a drinking problem). Chrissie, another employee at the firm, tries to help her.
Libby is also trying to escape her abusive boyfriend Gary.
She has found a new flat, but it looks like both Gary and Trevor have found her, and neither one of them is leaving her alone. She is making new friends though. Her new landlord Tim seems to be interested in her, but she isn't ready for a new relationship. Two other residents of the building, Kirsty and Micky both seem nice, and she hasn't yet met her downstairs neighbour, the elusive Mr. Bull.
When she discovers the last tenant of her room has disappeared, things start going a little wonky. Libby finds a note in the closet that makes it look like the last girl was afraid, and felt like she was being watched. Libby has started feeling that same way.
As she tries to delve deeper into the mystery, she realizes someone has been entering her apartment.
My Opinions:
This book had a fairly strong start, but dragged a bit in the middle.
I liked the relationship between the two sisters. It felt honest. Actually, all the characters were interesting. The abusive relationship and harassment from Gary and Trevor was really well done, but Libby's initial quiet acceptance of it really pissed me off. On the other hand, I think she always had Olly to protect her, so she didn't really ever have to stand up for herself. That changed.
The plot, however, was definitely too predictable. It was easy to determine the perpetrator right from the start, and there were no real surprises. However, I did like the eventual action.
So, overall, I still liked the book. It wasn't great, but it was quite good.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 17, 2022
“Her perfect new start… or her worst nightmare?”
..
You know when you get that strong feeling of deja vu? Well, that’s what happened to me almost as soon as I began reading this story. It definitely wasn’t that I had read the previously published version of the book, then titled The Let, so I can only conclude that the premise is very similar to that written by another author and I am still trawling through my review index to root it out, as I am a bit like a dog with a bone about things which niggle away at me!
However, coincidences aside, one of my favourite genres will always be that of heart-pounding, tense psychological thrillers and this one didn’t disappoint. Just to bring you up to speed a little, but not in too much detail, as ‘spoilers’ are never too far away from the surface here…
..
Libby Worthington, together with her cat Einstein, have finally taken the plunge and escaped from a mentally coercive and physically abusive relationship with Gary, although it soon becomes apparent that he isn’t going to let her get away from his clutches that easily, or without a fight. Libby’s older sister Olly, whom she idolises and looks up to, has managed to find her a small and anonymous house share flat, where she can take time to lick her wounds, before starting to rebuild a new life for herself. The set-up is just what Libby needs right now, four flats, one of which is lived in by the landlord Tim Simmons (who she has to admit is quite cute), making her feel safe and secure.
Everything would be great, if only technology and social media weren’t so darned good at keeping tabs on a person. Gary is never silent and on top of that, one of Libby’s clients, Trevor, who is on the books of the recruitment company where she works, has begun a personal vendetta against her for a minor error in his payroll, which was corrected almost immediately. The two girls, Kirsty and Michaela, who share one of the downstairs flats, together with Tim, Olly and Chrissie (one of Libby’s more mature work colleagues), all offer her their full support in moving forward with her life, so Libby takes the plunge and disconnects her private profile from prying eyes.
Even though the illusive fourth tenant of the house, one Mr Bull, has still never been seen, for a short while life moves on quite smoothly for Libby. Then things begin to go awry, as personal belongings inside her flat are misplaced or lost, Einstein goes missing and she gets the idea into her head that her every move is being watched. Olly and Libby had a very complicated and rather traumatic childhood, with Olly taking on more of the role of surrogate mother, rather than big sister, so she seeks to reassure a very vulnerable Libby that there is really nothing to worry about. However, when Ricardo makes contact with Libby, claiming that his daughter Bettina, the previous tenant in her flat, has gone missing without trace and what little information Ricardo does have to share doesn’t tally with Tim’s version of events, it is obvious that there is cause for concern, especially when Libby’s unwanted voyeur ups the ante, Ricardo himself goes missing and Olly is left for dead by an assailant she can identify.
Inexplicably, Libby discovers articles about events which took place during her own and Olly’s school days, which points to there being more than meets the eye to her landlord’s chequered past and indeed potentially, that of her own sister. A hidden message left by a clearly petrified Bettina, leads Libby to a discovery so terrible, it is clear that she will have to fight with all her strength to escape in one piece, if at all. Meanwhile Kirsty realises that her own judgement about people has been severely challenged and found wanting, when Michaela shows her true colours and her part in the scheme to trap Libby is revealed.
The end for some is dramatic, final and probably what they deserved. For others there are only answers and closure, as nothing can turn back the hands of time and change fate. For a small group there is a renewed strength of the bonds of family and friendship, which will inevitably last far beyond the trauma of the last few weeks.
..
I realise that doesn’t give you much to go on, however there are so many twists in this gripping, disturbing, swiftly evolving and multi-layered storyline, that to write anything else would be sure to give the game away to some degree.
I did get fooled by a craftily clever and deliberately vague prologue, which set me off on completely the wrong track for a while, although it made for an excellent opening sequence, as it tracked back twenty years to the beginning, with events which were never going to be forgotten by some or allowed to remain unavenged. The opening chapters were spent carefully setting the scene with more of those sneakily laid red herrings, which did exactly what they were supposed to do, tripping me up and sending my thoughts off at the wrong tangent every time. More creepy twists and turns led to a couple of “Wow! I never saw that coming!” moments right near the end, despite me knowing who the perpetrator was by then.
I did feel that the plot was maybe a little melodramatic in places, however that, together with some fluent and immersive writing, only helped to create a wonderfully oppressive tension and claustrophobic atmosphere, which ran throughout the book. That feeling of not being safe behind closed doors, of being constantly watched and ‘played’ by an unseen and unknown nemesis. This was a story built on lies, secrets, duplicity, long buried emotions and manipulated versions of the truth. No matter where Libby went, the air seemed thick with tension, as if she somehow managed to suck all the oxygen out of a space, with her permanent aura of impending dread and menace over just about everything, which was emotionally draining for us both, although her extreme angst was fully vindicated with the deeply dark and disturbing way events ultimately played out.
Author Carla Kovach explored many different psychological issues with her characters and illustrated the long-term effects, vulnerabilities and scars some of those events might have left. A fractured and abusive childhood which left both Libby and Olly distant from parents they know full well never wanted them. A perpetrator who had been relentlessly bullied by their fellow pupils and peers during those very formative years, with teachers finding it convenient to turn a blind eye to the truth, and who was still therefore unable to move on from the situation. Libby’s fear of being trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship with the manipulative powers of Gary’s gaslighting techniques making it almost impossible for her to disengage from the situation. The shame yet physical relief which came with Libby’s self-harming as an escape mechanism for her frustration and fear. The relentless pain which comes from having a child go missing in mysterious, unexplained and unusual circumstances on foreign soil.
For those readers who relish the ‘armchair traveller’ status which comes along with a good premise and interesting characters, this storyline might not be quite enough to satisfy. However, within the confines of its single location of Birmingham City, Carla made the most of the opportunity to use plenty of descriptive narrative and dialogue, to make me feel as though I was walking the streets alongside the characters, seeing what they were seeing and feeling what was happening to them.
Carla created an excellent cast of characters, who were obviously divided into two distinct halves. There were those who were complex, emotionally starved, vulnerable and even a little naive. Whilst this might have made them a somewhat unreliable, raw and passionate, they were nonetheless genuine or believable. Then there were those characters who were innately wickedly clever, genuinely twisted, manipulative and duplicitous, with the only certainty in this particular jigsaw of human emotions, being that their own volatility would be their eventual downfall. Whilst all were authentic to the roles they had been assigned and were well-defined and fleshed out, I felt that there was little or no synergy between them, offering me no compelling reason to relate to, invest in, or engage with any of them.
I always enjoy psychological thrillers written by an author who has a wonderfully twisted style of storytelling, making for an unputdownable reading experience, so this definitely won’t be my one and only foray into Carla Kovach’s book list!
..
You know when you get that strong feeling of deja vu? Well, that’s what happened to me almost as soon as I began reading this story. It definitely wasn’t that I had read the previously published version of the book, then titled The Let, so I can only conclude that the premise is very similar to that written by another author and I am still trawling through my review index to root it out, as I am a bit like a dog with a bone about things which niggle away at me!
However, coincidences aside, one of my favourite genres will always be that of heart-pounding, tense psychological thrillers and this one didn’t disappoint. Just to bring you up to speed a little, but not in too much detail, as ‘spoilers’ are never too far away from the surface here…
..
Libby Worthington, together with her cat Einstein, have finally taken the plunge and escaped from a mentally coercive and physically abusive relationship with Gary, although it soon becomes apparent that he isn’t going to let her get away from his clutches that easily, or without a fight. Libby’s older sister Olly, whom she idolises and looks up to, has managed to find her a small and anonymous house share flat, where she can take time to lick her wounds, before starting to rebuild a new life for herself. The set-up is just what Libby needs right now, four flats, one of which is lived in by the landlord Tim Simmons (who she has to admit is quite cute), making her feel safe and secure.
Everything would be great, if only technology and social media weren’t so darned good at keeping tabs on a person. Gary is never silent and on top of that, one of Libby’s clients, Trevor, who is on the books of the recruitment company where she works, has begun a personal vendetta against her for a minor error in his payroll, which was corrected almost immediately. The two girls, Kirsty and Michaela, who share one of the downstairs flats, together with Tim, Olly and Chrissie (one of Libby’s more mature work colleagues), all offer her their full support in moving forward with her life, so Libby takes the plunge and disconnects her private profile from prying eyes.
Even though the illusive fourth tenant of the house, one Mr Bull, has still never been seen, for a short while life moves on quite smoothly for Libby. Then things begin to go awry, as personal belongings inside her flat are misplaced or lost, Einstein goes missing and she gets the idea into her head that her every move is being watched. Olly and Libby had a very complicated and rather traumatic childhood, with Olly taking on more of the role of surrogate mother, rather than big sister, so she seeks to reassure a very vulnerable Libby that there is really nothing to worry about. However, when Ricardo makes contact with Libby, claiming that his daughter Bettina, the previous tenant in her flat, has gone missing without trace and what little information Ricardo does have to share doesn’t tally with Tim’s version of events, it is obvious that there is cause for concern, especially when Libby’s unwanted voyeur ups the ante, Ricardo himself goes missing and Olly is left for dead by an assailant she can identify.
Inexplicably, Libby discovers articles about events which took place during her own and Olly’s school days, which points to there being more than meets the eye to her landlord’s chequered past and indeed potentially, that of her own sister. A hidden message left by a clearly petrified Bettina, leads Libby to a discovery so terrible, it is clear that she will have to fight with all her strength to escape in one piece, if at all. Meanwhile Kirsty realises that her own judgement about people has been severely challenged and found wanting, when Michaela shows her true colours and her part in the scheme to trap Libby is revealed.
The end for some is dramatic, final and probably what they deserved. For others there are only answers and closure, as nothing can turn back the hands of time and change fate. For a small group there is a renewed strength of the bonds of family and friendship, which will inevitably last far beyond the trauma of the last few weeks.
..
I realise that doesn’t give you much to go on, however there are so many twists in this gripping, disturbing, swiftly evolving and multi-layered storyline, that to write anything else would be sure to give the game away to some degree.
I did get fooled by a craftily clever and deliberately vague prologue, which set me off on completely the wrong track for a while, although it made for an excellent opening sequence, as it tracked back twenty years to the beginning, with events which were never going to be forgotten by some or allowed to remain unavenged. The opening chapters were spent carefully setting the scene with more of those sneakily laid red herrings, which did exactly what they were supposed to do, tripping me up and sending my thoughts off at the wrong tangent every time. More creepy twists and turns led to a couple of “Wow! I never saw that coming!” moments right near the end, despite me knowing who the perpetrator was by then.
I did feel that the plot was maybe a little melodramatic in places, however that, together with some fluent and immersive writing, only helped to create a wonderfully oppressive tension and claustrophobic atmosphere, which ran throughout the book. That feeling of not being safe behind closed doors, of being constantly watched and ‘played’ by an unseen and unknown nemesis. This was a story built on lies, secrets, duplicity, long buried emotions and manipulated versions of the truth. No matter where Libby went, the air seemed thick with tension, as if she somehow managed to suck all the oxygen out of a space, with her permanent aura of impending dread and menace over just about everything, which was emotionally draining for us both, although her extreme angst was fully vindicated with the deeply dark and disturbing way events ultimately played out.
Author Carla Kovach explored many different psychological issues with her characters and illustrated the long-term effects, vulnerabilities and scars some of those events might have left. A fractured and abusive childhood which left both Libby and Olly distant from parents they know full well never wanted them. A perpetrator who had been relentlessly bullied by their fellow pupils and peers during those very formative years, with teachers finding it convenient to turn a blind eye to the truth, and who was still therefore unable to move on from the situation. Libby’s fear of being trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship with the manipulative powers of Gary’s gaslighting techniques making it almost impossible for her to disengage from the situation. The shame yet physical relief which came with Libby’s self-harming as an escape mechanism for her frustration and fear. The relentless pain which comes from having a child go missing in mysterious, unexplained and unusual circumstances on foreign soil.
For those readers who relish the ‘armchair traveller’ status which comes along with a good premise and interesting characters, this storyline might not be quite enough to satisfy. However, within the confines of its single location of Birmingham City, Carla made the most of the opportunity to use plenty of descriptive narrative and dialogue, to make me feel as though I was walking the streets alongside the characters, seeing what they were seeing and feeling what was happening to them.
Carla created an excellent cast of characters, who were obviously divided into two distinct halves. There were those who were complex, emotionally starved, vulnerable and even a little naive. Whilst this might have made them a somewhat unreliable, raw and passionate, they were nonetheless genuine or believable. Then there were those characters who were innately wickedly clever, genuinely twisted, manipulative and duplicitous, with the only certainty in this particular jigsaw of human emotions, being that their own volatility would be their eventual downfall. Whilst all were authentic to the roles they had been assigned and were well-defined and fleshed out, I felt that there was little or no synergy between them, offering me no compelling reason to relate to, invest in, or engage with any of them.
I always enjoy psychological thrillers written by an author who has a wonderfully twisted style of storytelling, making for an unputdownable reading experience, so this definitely won’t be my one and only foray into Carla Kovach’s book list!
August 14, 2022
The Houseshare
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/16/22
Author: Carla Kovach
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 291
Goodreads Rating: 3.88
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Her perfect new start just became her biggest nightmare… Libby cannot believe she can afford such a beautiful space. Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As she listens to their angry words, she swears she hears her name mentioned. Why would they be talking about her? As the weeks pass, Libby can’t help but feel that someone is watching her and when she hears that the last girl who rented her apartment before her vanished without trace, she starts to double lock her door every night. Then she finds a handwritten message in her apartment telling her she’s in danger, and her new home no longer feels like the safe haven it once was. Did someone from Libby’s past follow her here? And just how safe is she behind closed doors?
My Thoughts: This is a rewrite of a previous novel, To Let, by the same author. The book opens with a creepy bang followed by a strong first half. While the second half was good, it was not as strong as the first half. It did have a surprising twist at the end that tied everything together, which I enjoyed. While the story was somewhat predictable, it was still a good read. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and creatively written, I especially loved the tone set, made me feel like I was right there. I could relate to Libby, even if some of choices were not the best, she was highly likable. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, addictive, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. The characters were built by building their backstories, the plot had multifaceted twists, and the ending was brilliant. If you like Gone Girl, you will love this highly nail-biting psychological thriller that releases on Tuesday.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Genre: Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 8/16/22
Author: Carla Kovach
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 291
Goodreads Rating: 3.88
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Her perfect new start just became her biggest nightmare… Libby cannot believe she can afford such a beautiful space. Days later, Libby is woken by the sound of her neighbours arguing through the wall. As she listens to their angry words, she swears she hears her name mentioned. Why would they be talking about her? As the weeks pass, Libby can’t help but feel that someone is watching her and when she hears that the last girl who rented her apartment before her vanished without trace, she starts to double lock her door every night. Then she finds a handwritten message in her apartment telling her she’s in danger, and her new home no longer feels like the safe haven it once was. Did someone from Libby’s past follow her here? And just how safe is she behind closed doors?
My Thoughts: This is a rewrite of a previous novel, To Let, by the same author. The book opens with a creepy bang followed by a strong first half. While the second half was good, it was not as strong as the first half. It did have a surprising twist at the end that tied everything together, which I enjoyed. While the story was somewhat predictable, it was still a good read. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, and creatively written, I especially loved the tone set, made me feel like I was right there. I could relate to Libby, even if some of choices were not the best, she was highly likable. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, addictive, and kept me engaged from cover to cover. The characters were built by building their backstories, the plot had multifaceted twists, and the ending was brilliant. If you like Gone Girl, you will love this highly nail-biting psychological thriller that releases on Tuesday.
August 30, 2023
Libby moves into a new flat, a fresh start away from her toxic relationship with ex Garry. As her landlord shows her around she thinks how lucky she is to get somewhere so lovely at an affordable rent.
As she settles in however there are some worrying red flags and she feels like she is being watched. Is her new home as safe as it seemed!!
A great fast paced thrilling read. I just could not put this down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
As she settles in however there are some worrying red flags and she feels like she is being watched. Is her new home as safe as it seemed!!
A great fast paced thrilling read. I just could not put this down.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 25, 2022
I love this author's Gina Harte series and I was expecting more of the same. The nail biting tension I get from this very talented author was missing. The plot has been rehashed so many times. The perpetrator was standing there with a neon sign over their head saying IT'S ME!!! I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
August 31, 2022
It started off well, so promising, but the book's second half really let me down!
This is my first book from this author and the premise sounds right up my alley!
The book's first half was engaging, with lovely character building, lots of background, exploration of domestic abuse victimhood and self-harm, childhood abandonment, and plenty of space for speculations (my guess about the mystery Mr Bull (was it a reference to Bullcr@p?) was spot on, I always love when that happens). So far so good, right?
Well, around halfway in unfortunately the enjoyment dropped off, as the book became ever so repetitive and I just could not bear it... it seemed totally different pacing to the first half. Around 70% in we already know whodunit and from there it's just fluff to finish. I thought maybe the author is going on because there is a secret reveal or twist coming after the revelation, but no.
I have to give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars, but that's being generous, as the last part of the book really annoyed me in the way it messed up the whole of the book and my enjoyment of it.
I also was not aware of this book being a reprint of a 2014 book with the title "To Let".
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
This is my first book from this author and the premise sounds right up my alley!
The book's first half was engaging, with lovely character building, lots of background, exploration of domestic abuse victimhood and self-harm, childhood abandonment, and plenty of space for speculations (my guess about the mystery Mr Bull (was it a reference to Bullcr@p?) was spot on, I always love when that happens). So far so good, right?
Well, around halfway in unfortunately the enjoyment dropped off, as the book became ever so repetitive and I just could not bear it... it seemed totally different pacing to the first half. Around 70% in we already know whodunit and from there it's just fluff to finish. I thought maybe the author is going on because there is a secret reveal or twist coming after the revelation, but no.
I have to give it 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars, but that's being generous, as the last part of the book really annoyed me in the way it messed up the whole of the book and my enjoyment of it.
I also was not aware of this book being a reprint of a 2014 book with the title "To Let".
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
July 8, 2022
This is a tense nail-biting story that made me feel exactly how I want to feel when reading a psychological thriller! Thirty-one year old Libby's life is a bit of a disaster and as time went on I really felt scared for her.
Canal house isn't a place where I'd like to live and I had so many different thoughts about why things were happening?
Twenty years ago someone is being treated so cruelly. I don't know who it was but it was very sad and my heart went out to them. I wanted to confront the bullies and felt angry that not one teacher helped.
As the story went on, in the present day, I tried to work out who could be the victim and who were the bullies but there was much more to it. For one, there is the reason why Libby wanted a fresh start, and two, where is the previous tenant who lived in the flat in Canal house that Libby is now living in?
I loved the tension, I felt scared and didn't want Libby to get involved.
The author wrote in such a brilliant way that made me feel suspicious of everyone and the plot was strong throughout.
It's a riveting read that I won't hesitate to recommend - it was so hard to put down and the ending was so shocking and totally unexpected, I loved it!
Canal house isn't a place where I'd like to live and I had so many different thoughts about why things were happening?
Twenty years ago someone is being treated so cruelly. I don't know who it was but it was very sad and my heart went out to them. I wanted to confront the bullies and felt angry that not one teacher helped.
As the story went on, in the present day, I tried to work out who could be the victim and who were the bullies but there was much more to it. For one, there is the reason why Libby wanted a fresh start, and two, where is the previous tenant who lived in the flat in Canal house that Libby is now living in?
I loved the tension, I felt scared and didn't want Libby to get involved.
The author wrote in such a brilliant way that made me feel suspicious of everyone and the plot was strong throughout.
It's a riveting read that I won't hesitate to recommend - it was so hard to put down and the ending was so shocking and totally unexpected, I loved it!
July 27, 2022
The Houseshare by Carla Kovach will keep you turning the pages well into the night. I read this book in 2 days because I couldn't put it down. The book revolves around Libby, who has left a bad relationship, and fled to a new home. The home is an apartment in a large house with several tenants. She and her cat Einstein are very happy in their new home as the landlord, Tim, has gotten her some furniture and made it very welcoming. Libby keeps getting threatening texts and calls from Gary, the boyfriend she left while he was at work. He was abusive to her and cheated on her, so Libby wants nothing to do with him.
Libby is looking for a fresh start and her sister, Olly, was able to find this houseshare on Facebook. Libby loves it and likes the other residents that she's met. The man that lives below her is a mystery as no one seems to have ever met him. He comes in at odd hours and makes a lot of noise breaking furniture and glass. Libby's cat has started to disappear for a couple days at a time as she leaves the window open for him to come and go. She spots Einstein in his apartment when she's outside one evening, but doesn't see anyone else.
Libby comes to find out that the young woman who lived in her apartment before her has gone missing. The landlord tells her that she left without paying up on her bills and that she had many noises complaints from other tenants. Her father comes looking for her as he thinks she lives where Libby does. He doesn't understand why he hasn't heard from her in over a year. They begin to help each other and investigate what happened to her. She felt like she was always being watched and Libby finds a note she wrote on the back wall of a wardrobe stating that. Libby has felt the same way since she moved in. Tim, the landlord, tries to put her at ease and Libby begins to like him. Things begin to go missing from her apartment and she finds out that the girls across the hall are having the same problem. Libby is getting threatening calls from an unknown number. Is it the guy from work who is mad at her, is it her ex trying to scare her, or someone else? What happened to the girl that was in Libby's apartment before her? Is Tim really a good guy?
When Libby's sister is attacked and the father of the previous tenant go missing it seems like someone is trying to scare Libby and attack those she's close to. Is Libby safe? I highly recommend you read this book as trying to guess who did it is a lot of fun and will have you reading this book way too quickly! I rate this book 5 stars and recommend you pick it up when it comes out on August 16, 2022! I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.
Libby is looking for a fresh start and her sister, Olly, was able to find this houseshare on Facebook. Libby loves it and likes the other residents that she's met. The man that lives below her is a mystery as no one seems to have ever met him. He comes in at odd hours and makes a lot of noise breaking furniture and glass. Libby's cat has started to disappear for a couple days at a time as she leaves the window open for him to come and go. She spots Einstein in his apartment when she's outside one evening, but doesn't see anyone else.
Libby comes to find out that the young woman who lived in her apartment before her has gone missing. The landlord tells her that she left without paying up on her bills and that she had many noises complaints from other tenants. Her father comes looking for her as he thinks she lives where Libby does. He doesn't understand why he hasn't heard from her in over a year. They begin to help each other and investigate what happened to her. She felt like she was always being watched and Libby finds a note she wrote on the back wall of a wardrobe stating that. Libby has felt the same way since she moved in. Tim, the landlord, tries to put her at ease and Libby begins to like him. Things begin to go missing from her apartment and she finds out that the girls across the hall are having the same problem. Libby is getting threatening calls from an unknown number. Is it the guy from work who is mad at her, is it her ex trying to scare her, or someone else? What happened to the girl that was in Libby's apartment before her? Is Tim really a good guy?
When Libby's sister is attacked and the father of the previous tenant go missing it seems like someone is trying to scare Libby and attack those she's close to. Is Libby safe? I highly recommend you read this book as trying to guess who did it is a lot of fun and will have you reading this book way too quickly! I rate this book 5 stars and recommend you pick it up when it comes out on August 16, 2022! I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.
July 25, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The Houseshare by Carla Kovach is a gripping new psychological thriller which takes us into an apartment complex in Birhingham, England.
Libby is a domestic abuse survivor who has recently moved into a flat in an apartment complex owned by Tim and is just starting to get settled into her independent life when strange things happening around her. She gets the feeling like she is being stalked, her stuff starts disappearing and someone keeps throwing stones at her windows. Mix in a intriguing landlord, a scorned workplace enemy and an estranged husband.
The mystery of the book kept me invested right from the start but it was clear enough that Gary wasn't the one doing the stalking or any harm. The past involving Louise and Olly was made sure to play a part in whatever was happening at present which ruled out a lot of suspects for me it seemed. And Tim's character, although it was tried to be portrayed as a bit mysterious and maybe clingy, I was pretty sure he's involved in Bettina's disappearance soon enough. I felt like there was something lacking in the book with respect to make the audience grasp the end of their seats.
Anyone who reads psychological thrillers on the regular would find it just a tiny bit lackluster but it is a perfect book for newbies.
The Houseshare by Carla Kovach is a gripping new psychological thriller which takes us into an apartment complex in Birhingham, England.
Libby is a domestic abuse survivor who has recently moved into a flat in an apartment complex owned by Tim and is just starting to get settled into her independent life when strange things happening around her. She gets the feeling like she is being stalked, her stuff starts disappearing and someone keeps throwing stones at her windows. Mix in a intriguing landlord, a scorned workplace enemy and an estranged husband.
The mystery of the book kept me invested right from the start but it was clear enough that Gary wasn't the one doing the stalking or any harm. The past involving Louise and Olly was made sure to play a part in whatever was happening at present which ruled out a lot of suspects for me it seemed. And Tim's character, although it was tried to be portrayed as a bit mysterious and maybe clingy, I was pretty sure he's involved in Bettina's disappearance soon enough. I felt like there was something lacking in the book with respect to make the audience grasp the end of their seats.
Anyone who reads psychological thrillers on the regular would find it just a tiny bit lackluster but it is a perfect book for newbies.
September 5, 2022
I have never house-shared but have lived in a tiny flat. I was a single parent back then, so it was just myself and my small son. Imagine my horror waking up one morning to find someone had broken in while we were sleeping, leaving a thin trail of blood behind them. Carla Kovach’s The Houseshare evoked all of the emotions I felt then. There was one way into that flat, one way out. I was living amongst people I knew, people I exchanged smiles and chatted with, every one of whom became a suspect. Libby, our main protagonist, has found the courage to leave her controlling relationship. Her room at Canal House is her haven, her new start, just as mine was. She’s amongst friends, her landlord is lovely: quiet, caring, possible future boyfriend material. The tenant below is noisy, but she can live with that and the sparse furnishings. If only her ex would stop stalking her. Or is he? Might her stalker be the disgruntled, drunken temp she’s failed to hire who’s been openly abusive?
There is a wonderful claustrophobic element running through the book, a feeling of not being safe behind closed doors. Of being watched. I felt Libby’s goosebumps when she realised someone had been in her room. And when she peeled back the wallpaper… I’m saying no more here. If you love a gorgeously twisty psychological thriller, I would highly recommend The Houseshare. The red herring in regard to the elusive Mr Bull is fabulous. Love it!
There is a wonderful claustrophobic element running through the book, a feeling of not being safe behind closed doors. Of being watched. I felt Libby’s goosebumps when she realised someone had been in her room. And when she peeled back the wallpaper… I’m saying no more here. If you love a gorgeously twisty psychological thriller, I would highly recommend The Houseshare. The red herring in regard to the elusive Mr Bull is fabulous. Love it!
August 22, 2022
Sharing a house… Whoohoo, right? There is almost always someone at home if or when you need help. There are shoulders to cry on or people to party with. People you can become the best of friends with or maybe even something more. 😊 You are never alone and you can feel safe.
On the other hand there are downsides, of course. Aren’t there everywhere though? You have to deal with the noise they make or sometimes you would rather not see anyone and hope no one comes and knocks on your door. From time to time you need your own space too.
I shared a house when I was a student and boy oh boy I hated every minute of it. I never felt safe and the mess some people leave behind in the communal rooms, it’s beyond belief. I was lucky my best friend rented a room there as well. We had each other to depend on. When she dropped college, I went home again. No way was I staying there on my own.
Maybe I was unlucky. Maybe I just picked the wrong house.
Now you all want to know about Libby’s experiences. Will she give this house share a 5 star rating or is she wishing she never set foot in there?
This is a psychological thriller. I suppose you more or less know the answer to the previous question already.
I can tell you it’s a great story with a few unexpected twists. That’s all you are going to hear from me. Sorry. 😉 I’ll leave it up to you to find out all the details from A to Z. There is only one thing left for you to do: get your copy and pick up your virtual key that opens the door to this house share.
One person was high on my list of suspects. To he honest they were the only one on my list. I did not know what had driven them though. Once again my heart was broken. I was a witness to what cruelty can do to someone. 4 stars
Thank you
On the other hand there are downsides, of course. Aren’t there everywhere though? You have to deal with the noise they make or sometimes you would rather not see anyone and hope no one comes and knocks on your door. From time to time you need your own space too.
I shared a house when I was a student and boy oh boy I hated every minute of it. I never felt safe and the mess some people leave behind in the communal rooms, it’s beyond belief. I was lucky my best friend rented a room there as well. We had each other to depend on. When she dropped college, I went home again. No way was I staying there on my own.
Maybe I was unlucky. Maybe I just picked the wrong house.
Now you all want to know about Libby’s experiences. Will she give this house share a 5 star rating or is she wishing she never set foot in there?
This is a psychological thriller. I suppose you more or less know the answer to the previous question already.
I can tell you it’s a great story with a few unexpected twists. That’s all you are going to hear from me. Sorry. 😉 I’ll leave it up to you to find out all the details from A to Z. There is only one thing left for you to do: get your copy and pick up your virtual key that opens the door to this house share.
One person was high on my list of suspects. To he honest they were the only one on my list. I did not know what had driven them though. Once again my heart was broken. I was a witness to what cruelty can do to someone. 4 stars
Thank you
July 31, 2022
The Houseshare is my second book by Carla Kovach. I enjoyed this layered mystery and found it easy to read and engaging. I liked the main character of Libby who the story focus on but we also get other POV from side characters. Personally, I'd have preferred to stay with Libby and didn't feel the others were necessary to the overall plot. Libby, a newly single woman leaving a domestic violence relationship moves into a houseshare with several other residences. She quickly starts to feel watched and things in her apartment go missing or are moved. Is it just her ex, or is there something more sinister going on? When Libby learns that the girl who rented the apartment before her left in the middle of the night and may be missing, she starts to realise she might be in more danger than she ever realised. The plot itself has been done before, missing girl, current girl might be about to become victim of the same killer but the author makes it fresh here by introducing us to a complex main character and offering us alternative red herrings and paths to follow. I enjoyed this mystery story and would likely read other books by this author.
July 26, 2022
It was OK, not my favorite and would give it 2.5 stars. I absolutely LOVE the Gina Harte Series, but the stand alone books always seem to be missing something. Didn't love any of the characters. Libby did the exact opposite of any normal person. She leaves an abusive partner and moves so he can't find her. So she keeps the window open because her cat likes to go outside, which means anyone can get inside her apartment. She leaves this window open all day long, even when she isn't home. The cat will survive staying in the apartment. Libby doesn't even seem scared when she realizes someone has been in her place when she isn't there. She never blocks her ex, so she keeps getting all his harassing messages. She deletes everything, so there goes her proof. The story wasn't much of a mystery/thriller just creepy. It would have been nice to know what was in the diary. That at least would have given the reader the reasons for everything that occurred.
Definitely give the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely give the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 24, 2022
Just wow. Thrilling and tense, this was a wonderfully fast paced and addictive read. I just could not put it down. Absolutely brilliant.
July 8, 2022
I received an e-ARC version of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
“The Houseshare” is a psychological thriller by Carla Kovach. At first this book moved a bit slowly in setting up the plot, but once it got rolling it moved a lot more quickly. Tim, the landlord, reminded me a lot of Norman Bates from the movie “Psycho”, a bit awkward, talking about his mother, and seemingly always there. Ms. Kovach threw in a number of suspects into this book though in the end I puzzled out who had done what and why - but I missed a connection (a tip of the hat to Ms. Kovach for that little zinger at the end). I liked the relationship between Libby and Olly, but I felt mentioning the backstory/reason why could’ve been stated once, opposed to it being mentioned a few times during the book. Overall, I liked the idea of this book and how the story played out. I’d rate this a 3.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
“The Houseshare” is a psychological thriller by Carla Kovach. At first this book moved a bit slowly in setting up the plot, but once it got rolling it moved a lot more quickly. Tim, the landlord, reminded me a lot of Norman Bates from the movie “Psycho”, a bit awkward, talking about his mother, and seemingly always there. Ms. Kovach threw in a number of suspects into this book though in the end I puzzled out who had done what and why - but I missed a connection (a tip of the hat to Ms. Kovach for that little zinger at the end). I liked the relationship between Libby and Olly, but I felt mentioning the backstory/reason why could’ve been stated once, opposed to it being mentioned a few times during the book. Overall, I liked the idea of this book and how the story played out. I’d rate this a 3.75 out of 5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
August 10, 2022
would like to thank netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this gripping and very disturbing book
libby moves into her new flat, a house split into flats with communal areas for anytime everyone wants to get together and at first its a godsend to libby as its everything she needs as she is escaping an abusive relationship
but as the days pass there are a few unsettling things happening....could her ex be stalking her as well as the harrassment she receives off him daily by phone
work also isnt exactly going well with the amount of abuse she has to take from her clients, could one of them be stalking her
its a powerful novel that hits several nerves and raises the blood pressure a few times and at times i had to walk away from it to calm down....its well written one of the best to date concerning this topic...
now to find a different genre to read to relax from this one
libby moves into her new flat, a house split into flats with communal areas for anytime everyone wants to get together and at first its a godsend to libby as its everything she needs as she is escaping an abusive relationship
but as the days pass there are a few unsettling things happening....could her ex be stalking her as well as the harrassment she receives off him daily by phone
work also isnt exactly going well with the amount of abuse she has to take from her clients, could one of them be stalking her
its a powerful novel that hits several nerves and raises the blood pressure a few times and at times i had to walk away from it to calm down....its well written one of the best to date concerning this topic...
now to find a different genre to read to relax from this one
July 9, 2022
As always I loved this book from Carla Kovach. Her psychological thrillers are just as engaging as her crime series. The familiarity of her writing shines through in her standalone psychological thrillers which makes them books I’m sure to love.
This novel gripped me right from the start. It was oozing suspicious characters, a fabulous plot that kept good pace and short snappy chapters that keep you interested enough to read every spare minute you have. It gave me all the feels that I expect from this genre. It was full of tension , had edge of your seat chapters and characters you’ll root for.
Another fabulous novel by this great thriller author.
August 6, 2022
This was such a great psychological suspense thriller. It’s one of these books that I just wanted to keep reading when I came to the end of every chapter as I was so eager to find out more and how everything was all going to end up. I did have my suspicions quite early on about who the culprit was and I was indeed proved right but it certainly in no way took away from my enjoyment of this book. A brilliant fast paced thriller with very well portrayed characters and I loved it.
November 3, 2022
Really good story there are so many twists to this story Libby is very excited to be moving into her flat on her own having left her boyfriend Gary who keeps stalking and messaging her and won’t leave her alone. She loves the flat but then she feels someone is watching her. She gets a very disturbing visitor who is looking for his daughter who used to live in Libby’s flat it’s a real page turner and definitely recommend.
August 8, 2022
This is a gripping psychological thriller.
We follow Libby as she moves into her new flat after fleeing from her boyfriend, Gary.
Libby and her cat Einstein soon settle in but then some strange things start to happen.
I won’t give too much else away as I don’t want to spoil it but this one will definitely have you racing through the pages.
I did guess who was behind all the things that were happening but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I do admit to being worried about Einstein several times though!
This is a great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
We follow Libby as she moves into her new flat after fleeing from her boyfriend, Gary.
Libby and her cat Einstein soon settle in but then some strange things start to happen.
I won’t give too much else away as I don’t want to spoil it but this one will definitely have you racing through the pages.
I did guess who was behind all the things that were happening but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book.
I do admit to being worried about Einstein several times though!
This is a great read.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 15, 2022
Libby moves into a new flat but it's not long before she starts experiencing strange happenings there; odd noises, peculiar phone calls and the like. Libby moved as she was fleeing from an abusive partner. She has a feeling that someone is watching her, or is her imagination running riot?
This tale certainly raised my blood pressure on a few occasions with the tension, chills and levels of creepiness. An all-around solid intriguing and compelling read with comfortable pacing and highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
This tale certainly raised my blood pressure on a few occasions with the tension, chills and levels of creepiness. An all-around solid intriguing and compelling read with comfortable pacing and highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 24, 2022
Just wow. Thrilling and tense, this was a wonderfully fast paced and addictive read. I just could not put it down. Absolutely brilliant.
August 16, 2022
When Lilly moves into a new apartment it was meant to be a brand new start, but when things start disappearing from her locked apartment and she discovers that the girl who lived there before her went missing and she feels like her every move is being watched she's not so sure...
Lilly is very insecure, needy and is quite vulnerable and her vulnerability is taken advantage of by a serial killer, an abusive ex boyfriend and stalker or are they one and the same? (No spoliers here) I kept second guessing my predictions, but did guess who the bad guy was.
This was a gripping, fast paced and creepy thriller with a last minute surprising twist.
With tension building from the very first page it had me unable to put the book down.
This is a republication of To Let by the same Author
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions
Lilly is very insecure, needy and is quite vulnerable and her vulnerability is taken advantage of by a serial killer, an abusive ex boyfriend and stalker or are they one and the same? (No spoliers here) I kept second guessing my predictions, but did guess who the bad guy was.
This was a gripping, fast paced and creepy thriller with a last minute surprising twist.
With tension building from the very first page it had me unable to put the book down.
This is a republication of To Let by the same Author
Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the arc copy in exchange for my honest opinions
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews