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The Intruder
Getting into their house was easy. The hard part was getting out.
Maria and William seem to have it all. Two happy children. A beautiful house. A thriving business.
But when their home is invaded by David, an ex-employee with a score to settle, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive.
During the course of one hellish night, David picks apart their carefully constructed life. Secrets are unearthed, truths revealed.
And soon David begins to wonder if he’s bitten off more than he can chew – because he’s discovering Maria and William are not the defenceless couple he imagined. By the time he realises who these people really are, it may already be too late…
Who will make it out alive?
One couple. One intruder. Several shocking secrets…
Maria and William seem to have it all. Two happy children. A beautiful house. A thriving business.
But when their home is invaded by David, an ex-employee with a score to settle, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive.
During the course of one hellish night, David picks apart their carefully constructed life. Secrets are unearthed, truths revealed.
And soon David begins to wonder if he’s bitten off more than he can chew – because he’s discovering Maria and William are not the defenceless couple he imagined. By the time he realises who these people really are, it may already be too late…
Who will make it out alive?
One couple. One intruder. Several shocking secrets…
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2022
3808 people are currently reading
4597 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Hurst
89 books3,979 followersDaniel Hurst is an Amazon #1 bestselling author of fast paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include Til Death Do Us Part, The Passenger and The Doctor's Wife, the latter title reaching #1 on the Amazon UK Kindle store in February 2023. A regular KDP Select All Star since he became a full-time author in 2021, Daniel prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
You can visit him at www.danielhurstbooks.com, where you can also download a copy of his FREE thriller 'Just One Second.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 441 reviews
June 26, 2023
Plenty of twists and turns in this one, so it was entertaining. I had to put aside some disbelief, but if it did happen in real life, I would have believed it.
August 28, 2022
I had a lot of fun reading this book. So grateful for netgalley and inkubator publishing for giving me an advanced copy. Fast-paced, full of action and although the twists were a bit predictable to me, it didn't take away the suspense nestled in every chapter.
William and Maria seem like the perfect couple, they own a successful Advertising business and reside in the biggest house overlooking a magnificent neighborhood. But someone is lurking in the shadow of their well heeled lives—someone who wants payback.
Thankfully, this book was an easy read. The story didn't stretch too long and there were no boring characters. I particulary liked how the story was told in different narratives, this allowed me to really get into the characters thoughts and motivations. It mirrored the vulnerability of a man's morality and desire for power and justice.
You'll hate one of the characters and that person truly deserved what happened to them at the end. Very nice read. Now I can sleep and let tomorrow decide what I'll read next!
William and Maria seem like the perfect couple, they own a successful Advertising business and reside in the biggest house overlooking a magnificent neighborhood. But someone is lurking in the shadow of their well heeled lives—someone who wants payback.
Thankfully, this book was an easy read. The story didn't stretch too long and there were no boring characters. I particulary liked how the story was told in different narratives, this allowed me to really get into the characters thoughts and motivations. It mirrored the vulnerability of a man's morality and desire for power and justice.
You'll hate one of the characters and that person truly deserved what happened to them at the end. Very nice read. Now I can sleep and let tomorrow decide what I'll read next!
October 12, 2022
Wow, what a cleverly drafted story this book is.
I haven't been very lucky with the stand alone thrillers I read over the last months, but Daniel Hurst's books sounded like good reads, so I decided to give this one a try. At first I found it not as dense as most of the thriller/police procedural series I love, but something kept me reading. It was a solid read and I thought I would give it 4 stars. Then, at about 60 % in, the story seemed to come to an end, but turned in another direction instead - and from there on the suspense increased until the climax in the last 10% of the book and my rating jumped from 4 to 5 stars. The different points of view and the different timelines let the reader get into the characters' thoughts and motivations, make them three-dimensional and drive the story forward adding to the suspense.
All in all, this is a gripping and twisty story filled with lies, secrets and deceit which I can recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my copy of this book.
I haven't been very lucky with the stand alone thrillers I read over the last months, but Daniel Hurst's books sounded like good reads, so I decided to give this one a try. At first I found it not as dense as most of the thriller/police procedural series I love, but something kept me reading. It was a solid read and I thought I would give it 4 stars. Then, at about 60 % in, the story seemed to come to an end, but turned in another direction instead - and from there on the suspense increased until the climax in the last 10% of the book and my rating jumped from 4 to 5 stars. The different points of view and the different timelines let the reader get into the characters' thoughts and motivations, make them three-dimensional and drive the story forward adding to the suspense.
All in all, this is a gripping and twisty story filled with lies, secrets and deceit which I can recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my copy of this book.
September 29, 2022
Daniel Hurst does it again with another fast moving,VERY enjoyable and action packed psychological thriller,as with all his books it starts with a bang and the story carries on as exciting throughout the whole book,his writing and scene setting and readability is so good it’s hard to stop reading once started
We meet Maria and William,successful,rich and very very happily married until an event at the business they own throws all this into chaos as an ex employee seeks his revenge and ‘intrudes’ into their perfect world…in more ways than one
What started as 1 problem to be dealt with turns into multiple problems and there can only be one winner
Tense and as always a satisfying ending with this brilliant authors work
We meet Maria and William,successful,rich and very very happily married until an event at the business they own throws all this into chaos as an ex employee seeks his revenge and ‘intrudes’ into their perfect world…in more ways than one
What started as 1 problem to be dealt with turns into multiple problems and there can only be one winner
Tense and as always a satisfying ending with this brilliant authors work
December 30, 2022
Get out the popcorn and ENJOY!
"Popcorn thriller" writer Daniel Hurst takes "disgruntled employee syndrome" to an exciting new level with this twisty and ultra-intriguing workplace drama.
Daniel Hurst is a prolific writer (over 15 books in one year!) and I have listened to them all.
Some of Daniel Hurst's books are better than others and this is one of his better ones.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all of the narrators did an over-the-top job with the narration.
I look forward to my next "popcorn" opportunity to enjoy Daniel Hurst's future titles.
"Popcorn thriller" writer Daniel Hurst takes "disgruntled employee syndrome" to an exciting new level with this twisty and ultra-intriguing workplace drama.
Daniel Hurst is a prolific writer (over 15 books in one year!) and I have listened to them all.
Some of Daniel Hurst's books are better than others and this is one of his better ones.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all of the narrators did an over-the-top job with the narration.
I look forward to my next "popcorn" opportunity to enjoy Daniel Hurst's future titles.
October 2, 2022
Wow. I hereby declare The Intruder my new favourite Daniel Hurst book!
I have previously loved The Break (and The Accident) by Hurst and this was even better!
The Intruder is one of those books where you think you know what will happen, but what actually plays out in the story is so far off the sphere you'd never have imagined any of it.
I loved the different POVs to give a varied experience for the reader, and the characters were fantastic. All clearly defined and so memorable as to never give the reader need to go back and check details as the story progresses.
There are so many twists in this book you'll laugh at how 'innocent' (ish!) it all starts out!
Fast paced and gripping, I absolutely raced through it and it couldn't be any more recommended by me.
Read it, I promise you'll love it.
I have previously loved The Break (and The Accident) by Hurst and this was even better!
The Intruder is one of those books where you think you know what will happen, but what actually plays out in the story is so far off the sphere you'd never have imagined any of it.
I loved the different POVs to give a varied experience for the reader, and the characters were fantastic. All clearly defined and so memorable as to never give the reader need to go back and check details as the story progresses.
There are so many twists in this book you'll laugh at how 'innocent' (ish!) it all starts out!
Fast paced and gripping, I absolutely raced through it and it couldn't be any more recommended by me.
Read it, I promise you'll love it.
September 21, 2022
Gripping, intense, and utterly binge-worthy!
With shocking secrets and multiple perspectives adding to the suspense, THE INTRUDER is another twisty, clever cat-and-mouse fast-paced thriller from Daniel Hurst—For readers of Kimberly Belle's My Darling Husband and Kaira Rouda's Somebody's Home.
Who is the cat, and who is the mouse?
Told from POVs: William, Maria (husband/wife), and David (their ex-employee). Timelines: From the present day, three years earlier, and 6/7 mos earlier.
A home intruder out for revenge, unraveling dark secrets and cracks in his former employer's marriage and business. Turning to murder—in this riveting multi-layered thrills by the minute psychological suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat to the final twisty delicious, and satisfying conclusion.
Meet the Gallaghers - William and Maria. They own a successful advertising company, Gallagher's Ad Agency, and live in a beautiful home with two children, Penny, age 6, and Edward, age 9. They appear to have a perfect marriage, but do they?
They have just won the Best Business Award for 2022.
While they are receiving their award, something more sinister is in the making which will change the course of Gallagher's life.
Meet David Hendricks; an ex-employee fired six months earlier from Gallagher's Ad Agency. He is holding a grudge and will make his employers pay. He wants revenge and is prepared to murder, equipped with a knife.
It involved an allegation against Adelina, another woman who worked in the company, for sexual harassment. But David says it is not valid, and he cannot afford to get an attorney. There was no investigation with HR. Something is not correct. Now he cannot find a job, lost his partner, and has nothing to lose. The Gallaghers will pay.
He dresses up in disguise and makes his way to the company where he worked, but after waiting in the office, the owners do not return from the award ceremony. He asks for their address under the disguise of an old friend and makes his way to their home, entering an unlocked door.
However, once inside the house, other events occur, leading them to a different home where William and David are in a house and Maria is left in the car trunk.
Lies, secrets, deceit, betrayal. Evil sins of the past.
This is where things start heating up. You have no clue where the author is taking you but you are dying to see where it leads and on board for the ride. We soon realize David may be the victim, and William may have dark secrets and will stop at nothing, including murder, to keep those secrets buried.
However, Maria is smarter than William suspects. The twist at the end will keep your heart pounding to the conclusion, which left a smile on my face!
I thoroughly enjoyed THE INTRUDER! The author cranks up the tension with every page turn. I read in one sitting— my favorite Daniel Hurst book.
An utterly compelling thriller with jaw-dropping twists. I enjoy how the author takes readers to places you least expect with an element of surprise, showcasing his talent for exceptional domestic suspense.
I also love the dark humor, narcissistic characters, and multi-layering with the plot twists you do not see coming. All relatable characters. You will be rooting for Maria until the end. What is scary is this could actually occur in real life.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author and currently making my way through his backlist. Highly recommend!
A special thank you to #InkubatorBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5 stars
Pub Date: Sept 21, 2022
Sept 2022 Must-Read Books
With shocking secrets and multiple perspectives adding to the suspense, THE INTRUDER is another twisty, clever cat-and-mouse fast-paced thriller from Daniel Hurst—For readers of Kimberly Belle's My Darling Husband and Kaira Rouda's Somebody's Home.
Who is the cat, and who is the mouse?
Told from POVs: William, Maria (husband/wife), and David (their ex-employee). Timelines: From the present day, three years earlier, and 6/7 mos earlier.
A home intruder out for revenge, unraveling dark secrets and cracks in his former employer's marriage and business. Turning to murder—in this riveting multi-layered thrills by the minute psychological suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat to the final twisty delicious, and satisfying conclusion.
Meet the Gallaghers - William and Maria. They own a successful advertising company, Gallagher's Ad Agency, and live in a beautiful home with two children, Penny, age 6, and Edward, age 9. They appear to have a perfect marriage, but do they?
They have just won the Best Business Award for 2022.
While they are receiving their award, something more sinister is in the making which will change the course of Gallagher's life.
Meet David Hendricks; an ex-employee fired six months earlier from Gallagher's Ad Agency. He is holding a grudge and will make his employers pay. He wants revenge and is prepared to murder, equipped with a knife.
It involved an allegation against Adelina, another woman who worked in the company, for sexual harassment. But David says it is not valid, and he cannot afford to get an attorney. There was no investigation with HR. Something is not correct. Now he cannot find a job, lost his partner, and has nothing to lose. The Gallaghers will pay.
He dresses up in disguise and makes his way to the company where he worked, but after waiting in the office, the owners do not return from the award ceremony. He asks for their address under the disguise of an old friend and makes his way to their home, entering an unlocked door.
However, once inside the house, other events occur, leading them to a different home where William and David are in a house and Maria is left in the car trunk.
Lies, secrets, deceit, betrayal. Evil sins of the past.
This is where things start heating up. You have no clue where the author is taking you but you are dying to see where it leads and on board for the ride. We soon realize David may be the victim, and William may have dark secrets and will stop at nothing, including murder, to keep those secrets buried.
However, Maria is smarter than William suspects. The twist at the end will keep your heart pounding to the conclusion, which left a smile on my face!
I thoroughly enjoyed THE INTRUDER! The author cranks up the tension with every page turn. I read in one sitting— my favorite Daniel Hurst book.
An utterly compelling thriller with jaw-dropping twists. I enjoy how the author takes readers to places you least expect with an element of surprise, showcasing his talent for exceptional domestic suspense.
I also love the dark humor, narcissistic characters, and multi-layering with the plot twists you do not see coming. All relatable characters. You will be rooting for Maria until the end. What is scary is this could actually occur in real life.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author and currently making my way through his backlist. Highly recommend!
A special thank you to #InkubatorBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5 stars
Pub Date: Sept 21, 2022
Sept 2022 Must-Read Books
February 27, 2023
This was a very enjoyable book and I enjoyed it very much. Daniel Hurst has a way of making you care about his characters even if sometimes they are not liveable.
November 9, 2024
As always, Daniel Hurst crafted a beautifully intricate story. I love his style of writing, even if, at times, I’m not fully into the content. This has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, but bordered on becoming excessive. Also boasted just the right amount of characters. Again, not one part of the story was overcomplicated. And that’s a rarity for psychological thrillers. I thought that David, for instance, was somewhat underutilized here, when he should have been a primary focus throughout. Adelina’s role could have left with her leaving the country after the supposed issues with David and William, with all that unused space for David’s role to be developed more. I also was left a bit on the fence with how deep William’s character devolved, too. Like it mostly worked, but maybe could have been tapered a bit. I don’t want to spoil anything but there was already plenty to make the case against him, without adding so many additional layers on. Subtlety has a certain charm to it. And are there any stories in this genre without a cheating spouse?! Not perfect, with some questionable creative decisions, but still an enjoyable read. Hurst still remains the best thriller writer that I’ve found, to date.
May 21, 2023
The Intruder by Daniel Hurst.
Maria and William have a perfect family. Two kids, a common business, a partnership full with love and trust. Is it true to be real?
One night an intruder enters their house and threatens them at a knife point. And life is changed forever.
This book is an easy read and every page reveals something new.
This was the first book by Daniel Hurst that I have read and I hope it is only the beginning of what can be a long list of books by this author that can become one of favorite writers for me.
Maria and William have a perfect family. Two kids, a common business, a partnership full with love and trust. Is it true to be real?
One night an intruder enters their house and threatens them at a knife point. And life is changed forever.
This book is an easy read and every page reveals something new.
This was the first book by Daniel Hurst that I have read and I hope it is only the beginning of what can be a long list of books by this author that can become one of favorite writers for me.
September 12, 2022
Maria and William seem to have it all. Two happy children. A beautiful house. A thriving business. But when their home is invaded by David, an ex-employee with a score to settle, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive. During the course of one hellish night, David picks apart their carefully constructed life. Secrets are unearthed, truths revealed. And soon David begins to wonder if he's bitten off more than he can chew - because he's discovering Maria and Willliam are not the defenceless couple he imagined.
This book had that many twists my head was spinning. Filled with lies, secrets and deceit, I had to keep reading to find out if anyone was speaking the truth. The characters are well developed. complex and interesting. The story is told from multiple points of view. The action starts quickly and doesn't stop until the end. The suspense builds throughout. It's also told in different timelines - the present day, three days earlier and six/seven months ago. This is a quick and easy book to read. Once you've started this book you won't want to put it back down again.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #DanielHurst for my ARC of #TheIntntruder in exchange for an honest review.
This book had that many twists my head was spinning. Filled with lies, secrets and deceit, I had to keep reading to find out if anyone was speaking the truth. The characters are well developed. complex and interesting. The story is told from multiple points of view. The action starts quickly and doesn't stop until the end. The suspense builds throughout. It's also told in different timelines - the present day, three days earlier and six/seven months ago. This is a quick and easy book to read. Once you've started this book you won't want to put it back down again.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #DanielHurst for my ARC of #TheIntntruder in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2022
Maria and William have built a business together that has made them wealthy. They have two sweet children. What happens when William wrongs an employee? Will that person exact revenge? This is one of the few books that genuinely surprised me.
October 16, 2022
I wish the characters were more intimidating and twisted as they sound to be.
I like the writing. I have read a few books by the author and I had really high expectations of this new book! Maybe it affected my reading experience.
A story of work place assault, infidelity and the drama to hide them all with a theme of revenge in the plot.
A short, fast paced read. I would recommend this book for the casaul thriller readers.
Thank you, Inkubator Books, for the advance reading copy.
I like the writing. I have read a few books by the author and I had really high expectations of this new book! Maybe it affected my reading experience.
A story of work place assault, infidelity and the drama to hide them all with a theme of revenge in the plot.
A short, fast paced read. I would recommend this book for the casaul thriller readers.
Thank you, Inkubator Books, for the advance reading copy.
December 30, 2022
What a book! It is a book of 2 halves for sure. I thought I knew what to expect and then halfway through the book flipped itself on its head and was a complete game changer!!
I was hooked from the start, people handcuffed, someone in the boot, and what the heck was going to happen next?
It is a riveting read. I had to find out what was going to happen next, I had to know what William and Maria were going to do in their situation, is everything exactly what it seems? It is a thrilling ride for sure.
I am so excited by this book and it’s definitely one of my top books of the year! I loved Maria, despite how naive she was.
I was hooked from the start, people handcuffed, someone in the boot, and what the heck was going to happen next?
It is a riveting read. I had to find out what was going to happen next, I had to know what William and Maria were going to do in their situation, is everything exactly what it seems? It is a thrilling ride for sure.
I am so excited by this book and it’s definitely one of my top books of the year! I loved Maria, despite how naive she was.
September 29, 2022
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Daniel Hurst does it again! He never fails to disappoint and I know that whenever I open the pages of another of his books, he will take me on a ride pumped full of adrenaline that I will never forget. THE INTRUDER is an action-packed thriller from start to finish with a twist partway through that turns everything on its head and we wonder in which direction is this going to go now? What begins as pure unadulterated oblivion ends up a cat and mouse game of their lives. But just who will get out of it alive?
The perfect couple with the perfect marriage, a perfect house and a perfect business and working relationship, William and Maria Gallagher have it all. Their successful advertising agency has paid for their illustrious house offering magnificent views and their comfortable lifestyle. They have two children - Edward (7) and Penny (5) - both of whom they dote on and who want for nothing. Everything in their lives is as perfect as they are.
Or are they really?
When disgruntled ex-employee David breaks into their home one night in a revenge-seeking home invasion, their perfect lives are shattered and this is just the beginning of their troubles. He intends to ensure the Gallaghers admit that he was innocent of that which he was accused of and he was dismissed without a thorough and proper investigation. And he wants to know why. He has watched and waited for this moment and he resolves to see it through to a satisfying conclusion. So when he handcuffs them and bundles them into William's exclusive super-car, what is it that he has in mind for the couple? But he has nothing to lose, since he has already lost everything.
Little did he know, but David was about to begin the unravelling of dark secrets and cracks in his former employers' marriage...and ultimately, their business. Just who are William and Maria Gallagher really?
Events of the night lead the couple and their captor to a different house where William and David face off with Maria left in the car's boot. And suddenly the lies and deceit come to the surface threatening to uncover the betrayal and the sins of the past.
This is where things start to get interesting, wrapped up in workplace harassment, infidelity, betrayal laced with plenty of secrets, lies and deceit, you have no idea just who is going to come out on top in this cat and mouse game with a difference! One has secrets to hide and one is smarter than the other suspects. But who will outsmart the other?
WOW! Talk about an addictive jaw-dropping thriller! Daniel Hurst leaves no stone unturned as he cranks up the tension with every page in THE INTRUDER. Just when you think you know what's going on, he throws in another twist taking us in a completely different direction. And while you may have to suspend belief a little with some of the decisions made and actions taken, Hurst's writing is so compelling and addictive that it doesn't really matter because it is just soooo good!
The perspectives shift between Maria and David to begin with before progressing to those of Maria and William. And little by little, we watch as the perfect world of the Gallaghers gradually falls apart. I love the dark humour and the multi-layering of twists that keep coming keeping us engaged throughout until the final page. THE INTRUDER is another fine example of Hurst's completely compelling domestic suspense thrillers.
I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheIntruder in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Daniel Hurst does it again! He never fails to disappoint and I know that whenever I open the pages of another of his books, he will take me on a ride pumped full of adrenaline that I will never forget. THE INTRUDER is an action-packed thriller from start to finish with a twist partway through that turns everything on its head and we wonder in which direction is this going to go now? What begins as pure unadulterated oblivion ends up a cat and mouse game of their lives. But just who will get out of it alive?
The perfect couple with the perfect marriage, a perfect house and a perfect business and working relationship, William and Maria Gallagher have it all. Their successful advertising agency has paid for their illustrious house offering magnificent views and their comfortable lifestyle. They have two children - Edward (7) and Penny (5) - both of whom they dote on and who want for nothing. Everything in their lives is as perfect as they are.
Or are they really?
When disgruntled ex-employee David breaks into their home one night in a revenge-seeking home invasion, their perfect lives are shattered and this is just the beginning of their troubles. He intends to ensure the Gallaghers admit that he was innocent of that which he was accused of and he was dismissed without a thorough and proper investigation. And he wants to know why. He has watched and waited for this moment and he resolves to see it through to a satisfying conclusion. So when he handcuffs them and bundles them into William's exclusive super-car, what is it that he has in mind for the couple? But he has nothing to lose, since he has already lost everything.
Little did he know, but David was about to begin the unravelling of dark secrets and cracks in his former employers' marriage...and ultimately, their business. Just who are William and Maria Gallagher really?
Events of the night lead the couple and their captor to a different house where William and David face off with Maria left in the car's boot. And suddenly the lies and deceit come to the surface threatening to uncover the betrayal and the sins of the past.
This is where things start to get interesting, wrapped up in workplace harassment, infidelity, betrayal laced with plenty of secrets, lies and deceit, you have no idea just who is going to come out on top in this cat and mouse game with a difference! One has secrets to hide and one is smarter than the other suspects. But who will outsmart the other?
WOW! Talk about an addictive jaw-dropping thriller! Daniel Hurst leaves no stone unturned as he cranks up the tension with every page in THE INTRUDER. Just when you think you know what's going on, he throws in another twist taking us in a completely different direction. And while you may have to suspend belief a little with some of the decisions made and actions taken, Hurst's writing is so compelling and addictive that it doesn't really matter because it is just soooo good!
The perspectives shift between Maria and David to begin with before progressing to those of Maria and William. And little by little, we watch as the perfect world of the Gallaghers gradually falls apart. I love the dark humour and the multi-layering of twists that keep coming keeping us engaged throughout until the final page. THE INTRUDER is another fine example of Hurst's completely compelling domestic suspense thrillers.
I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheIntruder in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
December 2, 2022
If you’ve never read or watched a thriller before then maybe this was made you because not a single whisper of thrill was had over here. The characters, atmosphere and plot were underwhelming and the writing left me bored.
Imagine watching a stage play and every time someone comes to the front for their monologue while having the only spotlight focused on them.
That is literally what reading every moment of foreshadowing or plot twist felt like in this book. Basically, a bunch of "LOOK AT ME. Did you see what I planted there? No, well let me say it another five times."
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing a copy for an honest review.
Imagine watching a stage play and every time someone comes to the front for their monologue while having the only spotlight focused on them.
That is literally what reading every moment of foreshadowing or plot twist felt like in this book. Basically, a bunch of "LOOK AT ME. Did you see what I planted there? No, well let me say it another five times."
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing a copy for an honest review.
August 25, 2023
Marie and William run a successful ad agency together and have 2 children, they are wealthy and they are still very happily married after twelve years together.
When David an ex employee seeking revenge, invades their home, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive. During the course of one hellish night David picks apart their carefully constructed life. Secrets are revealed. David is beginning to see that Maria and William are not the defenceless couple he imagined.
This is such a great read. I was totally gripped and desperate to find out who was telling the truth.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
When David an ex employee seeking revenge, invades their home, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive. During the course of one hellish night David picks apart their carefully constructed life. Secrets are revealed. David is beginning to see that Maria and William are not the defenceless couple he imagined.
This is such a great read. I was totally gripped and desperate to find out who was telling the truth.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2023
3.5
It was going great. But the ending.... Why? 😐
It was going great. But the ending.... Why? 😐
October 24, 2022
This is my seventh Daniel Hurst book and again, three stars. This time, we meet David, William and Adeline. William and Maria own a successful advertising company, live in a nice house and have two young children. Their life is full of work and taking care of the children. In fact, the company is more or less their first and sometimes most important child, because they started it together and now there are a couple of dozen employees. David however, thought he would be part of their lives too, because he loved his work for the company. Until something terrible happened and now David has nothing left to live for. He’s lost his job, his wife, his home. He wants revenge!
Why did I mention the three stars in my first sentence? Because I do so hope that one day the author will write a book that merits the full four or five stars (I gave The Promotion four stars but in my review I said this was mainly because it was an easy read.) I think by now I would love to read a book by this author that is indeed gripping and intense. Because of the different POV’s there are some nice cliff-hangers but halfway in the story it’s just as if a whole new story is starting. I’m still missing the depth I’m seeking in characters although I liked the fact that one of the narrators is very unreliable.
What hindered me in reading is the way William and Maria seem to run their company. There are only a few dozen people, but they have lots of managers (and IT-manager, a HR manager). Everybody works very hard, but ‘only management is eligible for a bonus’. At payday, people are always happy – I think this is a sign that they just don’t earn enough. William and Maria are always first in and last out of the office, because they are fully convinced that the only way to have the staff working hard is to check them constantly, and not even on Friday they are allowed to leave a few minutes early. William and Maria each take half of the staff for a team building outing, because they don’t want to leave the office closed for just one day. How can you bond with your colleagues that way? And William is proud to pay for these outings, with his company card mind you, because ‘spending a load of money on food and drinks for staff might be a waste.’ Well, I wouldn’t want to work for a company that treats its staff like this, so I can relate to David a bit.
The fun thing is of course that I will probably pick up more of Daniel Hurst’s books, if only to see if he can fulfil his promise to become a very good thriller writer.
Why did I mention the three stars in my first sentence? Because I do so hope that one day the author will write a book that merits the full four or five stars (I gave The Promotion four stars but in my review I said this was mainly because it was an easy read.) I think by now I would love to read a book by this author that is indeed gripping and intense. Because of the different POV’s there are some nice cliff-hangers but halfway in the story it’s just as if a whole new story is starting. I’m still missing the depth I’m seeking in characters although I liked the fact that one of the narrators is very unreliable.
What hindered me in reading is the way William and Maria seem to run their company. There are only a few dozen people, but they have lots of managers (and IT-manager, a HR manager). Everybody works very hard, but ‘only management is eligible for a bonus’. At payday, people are always happy – I think this is a sign that they just don’t earn enough. William and Maria are always first in and last out of the office, because they are fully convinced that the only way to have the staff working hard is to check them constantly, and not even on Friday they are allowed to leave a few minutes early. William and Maria each take half of the staff for a team building outing, because they don’t want to leave the office closed for just one day. How can you bond with your colleagues that way? And William is proud to pay for these outings, with his company card mind you, because ‘spending a load of money on food and drinks for staff might be a waste.’ Well, I wouldn’t want to work for a company that treats its staff like this, so I can relate to David a bit.
The fun thing is of course that I will probably pick up more of Daniel Hurst’s books, if only to see if he can fulfil his promise to become a very good thriller writer.
August 22, 2025
with few pieces on the board
and many effective plot twists
a crazy game is played, full of
deception and surprises in
each of its dark turns. ♡
and many effective plot twists
a crazy game is played, full of
deception and surprises in
each of its dark turns. ♡
August 26, 2022
The Intruder by Daniel Hurst is another pacey read from this prolific author, and I was gripped from the very first page.
William and Maria Gallagher are married and run a very successful business together. After winning a coveted award for their work, the couple agree that life is very close to perfect. But someone from their past is watching, and is not content to let the wrongs of the past go unpunished while the Gallaghers bask in their success.
This novel will certainly appeal to the author's legions of fans. Compelling, surprising, and highly readable, this one is guaranteed to hit the spot.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
William and Maria Gallagher are married and run a very successful business together. After winning a coveted award for their work, the couple agree that life is very close to perfect. But someone from their past is watching, and is not content to let the wrongs of the past go unpunished while the Gallaghers bask in their success.
This novel will certainly appeal to the author's legions of fans. Compelling, surprising, and highly readable, this one is guaranteed to hit the spot.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
October 19, 2022
"I’ve made it easy for an intruder. And now they are in, anything could happen."
A rich couple are being hunted by their disgruntled employee. He wants revenge and he knows the best way to get it is to hit them where it hurts, where they're most vulnerable--at home.
Nothing is as it seems and he said/she said turns into pure manipulation. So many secrets and twists. A solid thriller with an unexpected ending.
A rich couple are being hunted by their disgruntled employee. He wants revenge and he knows the best way to get it is to hit them where it hurts, where they're most vulnerable--at home.
Nothing is as it seems and he said/she said turns into pure manipulation. So many secrets and twists. A solid thriller with an unexpected ending.
March 17, 2024
The king of revenge is at it again. Every single book by Daniel Hurst gets better and better. A disgruntled employee of a prestigious firm had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Lies, secrets, the conniving dark web world … oh my! I’ve never hated a character, William, more in my life. He is a piece of work!!! I despise him! lol I do think this might be new favorite book by Daniel. Don’t I say that to every book I read???? Looking forward to reading EVERY SINGLE BOOK by Daniel Hurst.
January 29, 2023
Getting into their house was easy. The hard part was getting out.
Maria and William seem to have it all. Two happy children. A beautiful house. A thriving business.
But when their home is invaded by David, an ex-employee with a score to settle, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive.
Who will make it out alive?
WOW! I will happily read anything by this author now! Well written, highly entertaining, addictive and unputdownable thriller. Told through past and present timelines and duel perspectives, its rich narrative weaves phenomenal twists and turns, tense, multiple (fabulous) layers to unpack, all arriving at a dramatic - holy heck conclusion. Read if you love a fast paced, clever psychological thriller.
Maria and William seem to have it all. Two happy children. A beautiful house. A thriving business.
But when their home is invaded by David, an ex-employee with a score to settle, the couple face a terrifying fight to survive.
Who will make it out alive?
WOW! I will happily read anything by this author now! Well written, highly entertaining, addictive and unputdownable thriller. Told through past and present timelines and duel perspectives, its rich narrative weaves phenomenal twists and turns, tense, multiple (fabulous) layers to unpack, all arriving at a dramatic - holy heck conclusion. Read if you love a fast paced, clever psychological thriller.
March 11, 2025
Daniel Hurst is my guilty pleasure. This one started out slow, but ended up being a solid 4⭐️domestic thriller.
January 22, 2023
Maria and William have a beautiful house, two lovely children and own an incredible business. One day they get a surprise when an ex-employee named David breaks into their house and wants payback for being fired. David was accused of sexual misconduct, which he is claiming never happened, and he is mad!! I don't want to give anything away, but THE INTRUDER threw me for a loop and I didn't know what or who to believe.
I want to say that I am definitely a fan of Daniel Hurst's books because I can trust that I will be getting a good story and some kind of crazy twist. I chose to listen to THE INTRUDER on audible and I am glad I did. It was excellent!! I was never bored and my mind didn't wander like I will admit it sometimes does, while listening to other books. Overall, I recommend this one if you enjoy a psychologically thrillers with many twists!
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future
I want to say that I am definitely a fan of Daniel Hurst's books because I can trust that I will be getting a good story and some kind of crazy twist. I chose to listen to THE INTRUDER on audible and I am glad I did. It was excellent!! I was never bored and my mind didn't wander like I will admit it sometimes does, while listening to other books. Overall, I recommend this one if you enjoy a psychologically thrillers with many twists!
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future
November 5, 2023
This was my second book by Daniel Hurst. I did not enjoy this book. It dragged on and had lots of marital drama in it. I am not a fan of that content.
I read The Passenger and thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars.
I like his writing style and I will read more of his books.
I read The Passenger and thoroughly enjoyed it and gave it 5 stars.
I like his writing style and I will read more of his books.
July 3, 2023
I have read so many of Daniel Hurst’s domestic thrillers that I’m either starting to think like him or at least I’m beginning to understand how his devious mind works. That’s why I was able to foresee at least one of the wicked surprises the author has waiting for his readers in his superb 2022 thriller, The Intruder. Like the clever writer he is he leaves clues, but you will need to read very carefully to find them.
But the final surprise I don’t think anyone will see coming. It happens during a dinner and the irony could only be described as delicious.
William and Maria are an attractive married couple in their forties who lead what looks like an ideal life. They own and run a successful London advertising agency, and with their two young children enjoy a rich lifestyle as a result of their hard work.
All appears fine until a disgruntled former employee named David, seeking revenge for his wrongful termination from their company, breaks into their beautiful country home and after handcuffing them threatens them with a knife. The book opens with David driving them somewhere, contemplating killing the handcuffed William in the back seat and Maria who is handcuffed and locked in the trunk.
To say more would be to say too much and risk ruining your fun as a reader, but like all of the stories from Daniel Hurst I have enjoyed, you can expect that not everything is as it seems nor is everyone as they seem.
This is the best book of his I have read since Til Death Do Us Part. For anyone wanting to see magic performed in print, the final chapter in particular is a master class in how to write a thriller.
But the final surprise I don’t think anyone will see coming. It happens during a dinner and the irony could only be described as delicious.
William and Maria are an attractive married couple in their forties who lead what looks like an ideal life. They own and run a successful London advertising agency, and with their two young children enjoy a rich lifestyle as a result of their hard work.
All appears fine until a disgruntled former employee named David, seeking revenge for his wrongful termination from their company, breaks into their beautiful country home and after handcuffing them threatens them with a knife. The book opens with David driving them somewhere, contemplating killing the handcuffed William in the back seat and Maria who is handcuffed and locked in the trunk.
To say more would be to say too much and risk ruining your fun as a reader, but like all of the stories from Daniel Hurst I have enjoyed, you can expect that not everything is as it seems nor is everyone as they seem.
This is the best book of his I have read since Til Death Do Us Part. For anyone wanting to see magic performed in print, the final chapter in particular is a master class in how to write a thriller.
November 14, 2022
Having read "The Wrong Woman" and still having a Kindle Unlimited membership, I dived straight into reading another book by Daniel Hurst and I was left so disappointed. It really was like reading the work of a different author at times, a very "by numbers" thriller whereas "The Wrong Woman" really demonstrated a lot of attention to detail in the world and character building.
The characters were *so* paper thin and, honestly, even with David's adamant belief that he is innocent, his actions in taking revenge seem disproportionately extreme (threatening to murder two people in front of their children, really?) and, frankly, given his track record with women it was incredibly hard to sympathise with his plight. That left us with a round 0 characters to root for because both Maria and William were completely hollow. Having rich characters reduced to their wealth without real discernible character traits is a regular mistake in thrillers and here was a prime example. Even the twist was sign-posted so clearly about 20% of the way into the book that the whole thing felt completely anti-climatic.
I probably will try another Hurst book because they're so consumable, but it will be my last if it's along the lines of this book.
The characters were *so* paper thin and, honestly, even with David's adamant belief that he is innocent, his actions in taking revenge seem disproportionately extreme (threatening to murder two people in front of their children, really?) and, frankly, given his track record with women it was incredibly hard to sympathise with his plight. That left us with a round 0 characters to root for because both Maria and William were completely hollow. Having rich characters reduced to their wealth without real discernible character traits is a regular mistake in thrillers and here was a prime example. Even the twist was sign-posted so clearly about 20% of the way into the book that the whole thing felt completely anti-climatic.
I probably will try another Hurst book because they're so consumable, but it will be my last if it's along the lines of this book.
September 19, 2022
Maria and William are a happy couple who seem to have it all…until their ex-employee David invades their home and secrets start to be revealed.
After the first few chapters of THE INTRUDER, I found myself actually having to put it down for fear that I would have nightmares - I thought I had found the book that would freak me out, while also keeping me engaged from one page to the next! I was wrong.
After the first several chapters, the story completely unravels, and I found it extremely predictable and boring. I honestly felt hoodwinked by the synopsis and it felt like I had picked up an entirely different book.
If you’re new to the thriller genre, you may enjoy this one because it is fast-paced and has a lot of typical “twists” that one would encounter in this genre, but as someone who’s read a lot of thriller, mystery, and action-packed books at this point, it was a miss for predictability for me.
I wish those first few chapters were an actual impression of what the book would become…
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: September 21, 2022
After the first few chapters of THE INTRUDER, I found myself actually having to put it down for fear that I would have nightmares - I thought I had found the book that would freak me out, while also keeping me engaged from one page to the next! I was wrong.
After the first several chapters, the story completely unravels, and I found it extremely predictable and boring. I honestly felt hoodwinked by the synopsis and it felt like I had picked up an entirely different book.
If you’re new to the thriller genre, you may enjoy this one because it is fast-paced and has a lot of typical “twists” that one would encounter in this genre, but as someone who’s read a lot of thriller, mystery, and action-packed books at this point, it was a miss for predictability for me.
I wish those first few chapters were an actual impression of what the book would become…
Thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: September 21, 2022
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