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The Locked Attic
There’s something in my neighbour’s attic.
Something steeped in shadows. A secret to everyone. Seen by no one…
He stands sometimes at the window. Hidden in the corner of my eye.
I know he’s there. I know he’s watching.
Now my son is dead. My neighbor is not.
And I’m going to find out why.
Wife and mother Stephanie wakes up disoriented in a hospital, with no idea as to why she’s there. But as her memories return, she realizes it all has to do with her neighbors… and whatever they’re hiding in the attic.
Something steeped in shadows. A secret to everyone. Seen by no one…
He stands sometimes at the window. Hidden in the corner of my eye.
I know he’s there. I know he’s watching.
Now my son is dead. My neighbor is not.
And I’m going to find out why.
Wife and mother Stephanie wakes up disoriented in a hospital, with no idea as to why she’s there. But as her memories return, she realizes it all has to do with her neighbors… and whatever they’re hiding in the attic.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2022
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November 24, 2022
The Locked Attic by B P Walter
I have mixed feelings about this story. There is such a random, scattered feeling to it, for me. There are explosions that affect Stephanie's neighborhood. There is a car wreck off scene that changes everything. There are the weird neighbors that are so gross it's not funny. And Stephanie makes supremely bad decisions that should never have happened no matter what excuse she makes for herself.
I'm thinking MORE is going to happen because it seems the explosions are almost a sort of white noise to the story. The wreck was just that, a wreck that changed things but nothing else to see there. And the weird family was just pitiful to me, not that it's the kids' fault who raised them.
The best part of the story is the friendship between Stephanie's son Danny and Jonathan, son of the weird couple across the street. Good kids, struggling with so many things, some the normal parts of growing up and some that should never ever happen. Best friends who are torn apart by several events. Danny spends months being very moody and depressed and Stephanie wants to know why, even after he dies, especially after he dies. Part of the book is narrated by Danny and he's a good kid, getting a bad deal in more ways than one.
Then we come to what's in the locked attic. Disgusting, ick, yuck, wash my brain with bleach. I did like the very end of the story and what it says for the future of three characters because I think it will be good when everything comes out in the wash. I wavered between 3 stars and 4 stars, 3 stars for the adult driven drama and 4 stars for the coming of age story. Danny and Jonathan make this 4 stars for me.
Publication: November 24th 2022
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for this ARC.
I have mixed feelings about this story. There is such a random, scattered feeling to it, for me. There are explosions that affect Stephanie's neighborhood. There is a car wreck off scene that changes everything. There are the weird neighbors that are so gross it's not funny. And Stephanie makes supremely bad decisions that should never have happened no matter what excuse she makes for herself.
I'm thinking MORE is going to happen because it seems the explosions are almost a sort of white noise to the story. The wreck was just that, a wreck that changed things but nothing else to see there. And the weird family was just pitiful to me, not that it's the kids' fault who raised them.
The best part of the story is the friendship between Stephanie's son Danny and Jonathan, son of the weird couple across the street. Good kids, struggling with so many things, some the normal parts of growing up and some that should never ever happen. Best friends who are torn apart by several events. Danny spends months being very moody and depressed and Stephanie wants to know why, even after he dies, especially after he dies. Part of the book is narrated by Danny and he's a good kid, getting a bad deal in more ways than one.
Then we come to what's in the locked attic. Disgusting, ick, yuck, wash my brain with bleach. I did like the very end of the story and what it says for the future of three characters because I think it will be good when everything comes out in the wash. I wavered between 3 stars and 4 stars, 3 stars for the adult driven drama and 4 stars for the coming of age story. Danny and Jonathan make this 4 stars for me.
Publication: November 24th 2022
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 13, 2022
What a freaking tense, heart throbbing, dark reading keeps you on your toes! You barely breathe! You can cut the atmosphere with a knife!
The book opens with awakening of Stephanie in her mid thirties at hospital bed! As series of explosions around the area threaten the people’s lives, Stephanie suffers from short term amnesia. She has no idea why she’s here but slowly her memory comes back and she starts remembering what happened at her neighbor’s house!
We return back to be introduced Stephanie’s family life: happily married with older husband Pete coming from upper class and raising their 15 years old Danny. They just move to their new house located outside of London to build a new life.
Stephanie’s gets disturbing vibes from their neighbors: upright, socially distanced Richard teaches at college and his pretentious, prosperous, condescending wife Janet introduce themselves. Luckily their son Jonathan is more relatable, befriending Danny! Danny also builds a secret crush for Jonathan’s older sister Mimi.
But later an incident affects both of the boys’ lives. They reject to talk about it. Danny starts acting weird, angry, resented. Before Stephanie finds out the source of his anger, another tragedy strikes the family.
Now in the middle of the explosions, Stephanie rings the bell, taking her steps into lion’s den a.k. a. her neighbor’s house. She lost her son and she is determined to find out what her neighbors are hiding from her!
Well, the ending twist was extremely disturbing! The characters could be a little layered. I easily connected with Stephanie by knowing her past and background. They explain her motivations. I cannot say the same about neighbors from hell!
The parts I mostly enjoyed: Danny’s POV, his blooming, complex relationship with Jonathan and their puberty, self exploration! Especially the last chapter of the book made me cry! I didn’t expect a twisty, disturbing, tense thriller could break my heart into pieces at the same time but it did! I loved those boys’ heart wrenching story a lot!
Overall: it’s still well written, captivating, riveting psychological thriller! If your stomach can absorb more darkness, this is absolutely great find for your thriller cravings!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The book opens with awakening of Stephanie in her mid thirties at hospital bed! As series of explosions around the area threaten the people’s lives, Stephanie suffers from short term amnesia. She has no idea why she’s here but slowly her memory comes back and she starts remembering what happened at her neighbor’s house!
We return back to be introduced Stephanie’s family life: happily married with older husband Pete coming from upper class and raising their 15 years old Danny. They just move to their new house located outside of London to build a new life.
Stephanie’s gets disturbing vibes from their neighbors: upright, socially distanced Richard teaches at college and his pretentious, prosperous, condescending wife Janet introduce themselves. Luckily their son Jonathan is more relatable, befriending Danny! Danny also builds a secret crush for Jonathan’s older sister Mimi.
But later an incident affects both of the boys’ lives. They reject to talk about it. Danny starts acting weird, angry, resented. Before Stephanie finds out the source of his anger, another tragedy strikes the family.
Now in the middle of the explosions, Stephanie rings the bell, taking her steps into lion’s den a.k. a. her neighbor’s house. She lost her son and she is determined to find out what her neighbors are hiding from her!
Well, the ending twist was extremely disturbing! The characters could be a little layered. I easily connected with Stephanie by knowing her past and background. They explain her motivations. I cannot say the same about neighbors from hell!
The parts I mostly enjoyed: Danny’s POV, his blooming, complex relationship with Jonathan and their puberty, self exploration! Especially the last chapter of the book made me cry! I didn’t expect a twisty, disturbing, tense thriller could break my heart into pieces at the same time but it did! I loved those boys’ heart wrenching story a lot!
Overall: it’s still well written, captivating, riveting psychological thriller! If your stomach can absorb more darkness, this is absolutely great find for your thriller cravings!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 19, 2022
Not at all what I expected… and that’s not a bad thing. Just a surprising, one-off kind of read.
The publishers’ blurb is completely misleading. (Very sneaky!) I was expecting a dark, twisty thriller but it really wasn’t that at all. Well...not really.💁♀️
Told in multiple timelines:
The present –Foggy and confused, Stephanie wakes in a hospital following a head injury. She has no idea why she’s there.
The past – The events leading up to the day of the “boom" heard around the neighborhood, as well as the actual day of the explosion.
That’s as far as I dare go…I’ll leave it there and let you discover this one on your own!
I found it strangely addictive and hard to put down, squeezing in a few chapters whenever I had a quiet moment.
Looking for something a bit different? Not your run of the mill thriller? This might be a good fit!
My second read by this author and will definitely be looking for his next. I’m always guaranteed something just a bit different!
Thank you to HarperCollins UK One More Chapter via Netgalley
The publishers’ blurb is completely misleading. (Very sneaky!) I was expecting a dark, twisty thriller but it really wasn’t that at all. Well...not really.💁♀️
Told in multiple timelines:
The present –Foggy and confused, Stephanie wakes in a hospital following a head injury. She has no idea why she’s there.
The past – The events leading up to the day of the “boom" heard around the neighborhood, as well as the actual day of the explosion.
That’s as far as I dare go…I’ll leave it there and let you discover this one on your own!
I found it strangely addictive and hard to put down, squeezing in a few chapters whenever I had a quiet moment.
Looking for something a bit different? Not your run of the mill thriller? This might be a good fit!
My second read by this author and will definitely be looking for his next. I’m always guaranteed something just a bit different!
Thank you to HarperCollins UK One More Chapter via Netgalley
October 22, 2022
"In some ways, London was more suited to me-nobody had much time for or interest in others... I might have got used to the comfortable way of life that Pete's money had brought me, but that didn't mean I could easily converse with those who had known nothing other than extreme wealth for their entire lives." "I couldn't help but dislike the Franklins living across the street at 54 Oak Tree Close, Kent.
Imagine Stephanie's disorientation and confusion when she awoke in the hospital. "I can remember snatches of what happened...vague memories start to take shape...Clarity begins to emerge." There had been an explosion...emergency announcements...stay indoors. Stephanie started to recall her calculated visit to the Franklins' house under the guise of "not wanting to be alone". The house held secrets, feeding into her son's strange behavior. The Franklins knew things.
A band practice, seven months prior, set this psychological thriller in motion. Janet Franklin, a pompous, control freak treated her new neighbor Stephanie with condescension. However, Richard, a overly critical college lecturer encouraged the friendship of his 15 year old son, Jonathan and Stephanie's son, Danny. The boys were now bandmates as well...but... life changed on a dime. The boys appeared different after a rehearsal. There was an "awkward tension" between them. "... this odd night...everything went spinning off in another direction."
It was a trip to the cinema, father and son. Pete hoped that Danny would confide in him, an attempt to address Danny's unsettling behavior of the past few months. A tragic car crash ensued leaving grief stricken Stephanie without her husband and son. Pete had been "her rock". Sitting on Danny's bed, Stephanie thought about Danny's quietude, behavioral changes and the secrets he would not share. On the day of the explosion, Stephanie was determined to find out what Jonathan knew. "I knew the answers to my questions lay within that house and the family who lived there."
"The Locked Attic" by B.P. Walter is a taut psychological thriller. The multi-layered story is both suspenseful and eerie. Danny's occasional voice provided the coming-of-age aspect, an exploration of the different forms of love. A question remains. What was housed in the locked attic, a room only Richard would access? The secret is mind-blowing! Highly recommended.
Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine Stephanie's disorientation and confusion when she awoke in the hospital. "I can remember snatches of what happened...vague memories start to take shape...Clarity begins to emerge." There had been an explosion...emergency announcements...stay indoors. Stephanie started to recall her calculated visit to the Franklins' house under the guise of "not wanting to be alone". The house held secrets, feeding into her son's strange behavior. The Franklins knew things.
A band practice, seven months prior, set this psychological thriller in motion. Janet Franklin, a pompous, control freak treated her new neighbor Stephanie with condescension. However, Richard, a overly critical college lecturer encouraged the friendship of his 15 year old son, Jonathan and Stephanie's son, Danny. The boys were now bandmates as well...but... life changed on a dime. The boys appeared different after a rehearsal. There was an "awkward tension" between them. "... this odd night...everything went spinning off in another direction."
It was a trip to the cinema, father and son. Pete hoped that Danny would confide in him, an attempt to address Danny's unsettling behavior of the past few months. A tragic car crash ensued leaving grief stricken Stephanie without her husband and son. Pete had been "her rock". Sitting on Danny's bed, Stephanie thought about Danny's quietude, behavioral changes and the secrets he would not share. On the day of the explosion, Stephanie was determined to find out what Jonathan knew. "I knew the answers to my questions lay within that house and the family who lived there."
"The Locked Attic" by B.P. Walter is a taut psychological thriller. The multi-layered story is both suspenseful and eerie. Danny's occasional voice provided the coming-of-age aspect, an exploration of the different forms of love. A question remains. What was housed in the locked attic, a room only Richard would access? The secret is mind-blowing! Highly recommended.
Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2022
The book begins with Stephanie waking up in the hospital following some traumatic event. Her thoughts are muddled and her memories fuzzy at best but as the book progresses we see how this all came to be.
It all started when her and her husband, Peter, and son, Danny, moved to their new quiet residential neighborhood far from the lights of London. Here they meet the Fitzpatrick's from across the street, Robert and Janet, along with their children, Mimi and Jonathan. At first Stephanie's delighted because Jonathan is Danny's age and she'd love for her son to make a friend before school starts up.
Danny and Jonathan do hit it off and over time become great friends. Stephanie is happy for her son but the more she gets to know Janet and Robert the more she dislikes them. Their snobby, pretentious, and condescending. Janet especially with her barbed comments and snide remarks usually aimed at Stephanie herself.
Then the boys seem to have a falling out and Danny becomes sullen and morose. Stephanie begs him to tell her what's wrong but Danny won't budge and makes it clear he doesn't want to talk about it. This drags on for months until a tragedy occurs taking her husband and child away. Now she'll never know what was bothering her son. One thing is for sure, the Fitzpatrick's know more than what their saying, Jonathan in particular. So when explosions at a near by electrical plant begin she decides this is her time to discover what's going on in the Fitzpatrick's home. With the excuse of not wanting to be alone while chaos ensues outside she finds herself on their doorstep and knocking on the door. She's certain that Janet will be unable to turn a grieving woman away in her time of need and she was right.
What she discovers is much more than she bargained for.
I've had an interesting relationship with this author. I loved his book The Dinner Guest and I wasn't even able to finish his book The Woman on the Pier so this book was my chance to see how I really feel about this author going forward.
This book had an intriguing beginning but I'll be honest and say that I figured out at the start what the secret was between the boys. It seemed very obvious to me but maybe other readers won't pick up on it as I did. We also have the mystery of what's in the attic and I have to say this part of the book is hardly mentioned until the very end of the story making me feel like the title and the synopsis are definitely misleading. Now I'm not saying there isn't a secret up in the attic, there is, but it was just totally lackluster and eye roll inducing. And not to mention, gross. I can't say that the pay off was worth my time I spent with this book unfortunately. In the future I won't be requesting arcs from this author anymore but I may grab a library / Overdrive copy if the reviews from my trusted friends are positive. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my complimentary copy.
It all started when her and her husband, Peter, and son, Danny, moved to their new quiet residential neighborhood far from the lights of London. Here they meet the Fitzpatrick's from across the street, Robert and Janet, along with their children, Mimi and Jonathan. At first Stephanie's delighted because Jonathan is Danny's age and she'd love for her son to make a friend before school starts up.
Danny and Jonathan do hit it off and over time become great friends. Stephanie is happy for her son but the more she gets to know Janet and Robert the more she dislikes them. Their snobby, pretentious, and condescending. Janet especially with her barbed comments and snide remarks usually aimed at Stephanie herself.
Then the boys seem to have a falling out and Danny becomes sullen and morose. Stephanie begs him to tell her what's wrong but Danny won't budge and makes it clear he doesn't want to talk about it. This drags on for months until a tragedy occurs taking her husband and child away. Now she'll never know what was bothering her son. One thing is for sure, the Fitzpatrick's know more than what their saying, Jonathan in particular. So when explosions at a near by electrical plant begin she decides this is her time to discover what's going on in the Fitzpatrick's home. With the excuse of not wanting to be alone while chaos ensues outside she finds herself on their doorstep and knocking on the door. She's certain that Janet will be unable to turn a grieving woman away in her time of need and she was right.
What she discovers is much more than she bargained for.
I've had an interesting relationship with this author. I loved his book The Dinner Guest and I wasn't even able to finish his book The Woman on the Pier so this book was my chance to see how I really feel about this author going forward.
This book had an intriguing beginning but I'll be honest and say that I figured out at the start what the secret was between the boys. It seemed very obvious to me but maybe other readers won't pick up on it as I did. We also have the mystery of what's in the attic and I have to say this part of the book is hardly mentioned until the very end of the story making me feel like the title and the synopsis are definitely misleading. Now I'm not saying there isn't a secret up in the attic, there is, but it was just totally lackluster and eye roll inducing. And not to mention, gross. I can't say that the pay off was worth my time I spent with this book unfortunately. In the future I won't be requesting arcs from this author anymore but I may grab a library / Overdrive copy if the reviews from my trusted friends are positive. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for my complimentary copy.
September 26, 2022
Stephanie awakes in hospital, disorientated, sore and unsure of how she got there. Memories fleetingly return and she realises its to do the the Franklins, her neighbours over the road on Oak Tree Close. Prickles shudder down her spine when she further realises it concerns what is hidden in their attic. The novel then backtracks seven months to when Stephanie picks up her son Danny and his friend Jonathan Franklin from a party in October. Both act oddly and it’s from that point things begin to spin out of control. The truth unfolds in various timelines, principally narrated by Stephanie but with some input from Danny.
I really like the way this latest novel from BP Walter is told. I am full of intrigue with the little pieces of the dramatic but elusive puzzle with many shocks and surprises that keep you reading on. The characterisation is very good especially of Stephanie but also of Janet and Richard Franklin and I’ll leave the ‘joy’ of them to future readers. The standout portrayal for me though is the teens, Danny and Jonathan and their friendship is conveyed so well. The Franklin family dynamics are fascinating and oh, to be a fly on their walls!
The plot is busy but not overloaded, there’s plenty of drama and one particular event gives the novel an almost dystopian feel, though it’s an intense backdrop to situations that are building to a head. There’s suspicion which changes to fear with suspense, tension, lies and strange behaviour that is hard to make sense off which gives the escalating confrontations a full head of steam. The ending is good and the last chapter is quite moving.
Overall, a good and well written psychological thriller that is very compelling.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2022
EXCERPT: As I lie here, vague memories start to take shape. Edges start to appear. Clarity begins to emerge. And the image of a house arrives, clear and fully formed at the front of my mind.
The Franklin's house.
54 Oak Tree Close.
I remember what my son said, the day he first visited that place. 'Something's not quite right.' It sent a prickle down the back of my neck at the time, and it does so again now. It's all to do with that house. The things that happened there. What's hidden in the attic.
I reach for another sip of water and realise my hands have started to shake.
ABOUT 'THE LOCKED ATTIC': There’s something in my neighbour’s attic.
Something steeped in shadows. A secret to everyone. Seen by no one…
He stands sometimes at the window. Hidden in the corner of my eye.
I know he’s there. I know he’s watching.
Now my son is dead. My neighbour is not.
And I’m going to find out why.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm not quite sure why The Locked Attic didn't really work for me. I know that I didn't relate to any of the adult characters. Danny, Jonathan and Mimi I had no problem with.
There were several plot devices used in the course of the book which, while they seemed a little OTT to me, were necessary to further the story. But they did feel a little heavy handed.
I didn't have a problem with the multiple narrators nor the nonlinear timeline - but, be warned, the timeline does jump all over the place.
I thought the reason behind the boys falling out was kind of obvious, but then it transpires that there is more to it than is immediately revealed. And the final revelation - the secret in the attic - is just downright gross.
The Locked Attic is a bit of a messy read. I had a couple of false starts before I actually got into reading it, and in the end, it was only an okay read for me.
⭐⭐.8
#TheLockedAttic #NetGalley
I: @bpwalterauthor @onemorechapterhc
T: @BarnabyWalter @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Born and raised in Essex, Walter studied Film and English at the University of Southampton before taking an MA in Film and Cultural Management. Whilst working as a bookseller for Waterstones he enrolled in the Faber Academy which led to the publication of his debut novel in 2019.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Locked Attic by B.P. Walter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The Franklin's house.
54 Oak Tree Close.
I remember what my son said, the day he first visited that place. 'Something's not quite right.' It sent a prickle down the back of my neck at the time, and it does so again now. It's all to do with that house. The things that happened there. What's hidden in the attic.
I reach for another sip of water and realise my hands have started to shake.
ABOUT 'THE LOCKED ATTIC': There’s something in my neighbour’s attic.
Something steeped in shadows. A secret to everyone. Seen by no one…
He stands sometimes at the window. Hidden in the corner of my eye.
I know he’s there. I know he’s watching.
Now my son is dead. My neighbour is not.
And I’m going to find out why.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm not quite sure why The Locked Attic didn't really work for me. I know that I didn't relate to any of the adult characters. Danny, Jonathan and Mimi I had no problem with.
There were several plot devices used in the course of the book which, while they seemed a little OTT to me, were necessary to further the story. But they did feel a little heavy handed.
I didn't have a problem with the multiple narrators nor the nonlinear timeline - but, be warned, the timeline does jump all over the place.
I thought the reason behind the boys falling out was kind of obvious, but then it transpires that there is more to it than is immediately revealed. And the final revelation - the secret in the attic - is just downright gross.
The Locked Attic is a bit of a messy read. I had a couple of false starts before I actually got into reading it, and in the end, it was only an okay read for me.
⭐⭐.8
#TheLockedAttic #NetGalley
I: @bpwalterauthor @onemorechapterhc
T: @BarnabyWalter @HarperCollinsUK
#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Born and raised in Essex, Walter studied Film and English at the University of Southampton before taking an MA in Film and Cultural Management. Whilst working as a bookseller for Waterstones he enrolled in the Faber Academy which led to the publication of his debut novel in 2019.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Locked Attic by B.P. Walter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 15, 2022
Stephanie wakes up in a hospital. Unsure of what happened and how she got there. What happened to her? As her memories slowly begin to make sense, she believes/suspects that her neighbors are behind her hospitalization.
When she, her husband and their son move into their new neighborhood away from London, Stephanie feels promise. But she soon begins to feel uneasy about her neighbors. Something isn't quite right. Their son, Jonathon, is nice and has becomes friends with her son, Danny. Jonathon's parents, on the other hand, are weird, uptight and pretentious.
Then something, as it usually does, happens and the boys are no longer the close friends they once were. Then there is a devastating car crash, an explosion, and a quest to find out the truth.
This was a psychological thriller which saw my attention going up and down like a child on a teeter totter. I liked it, I felt meh about it, I enjoyed it, I wasn't wowed. The characters in this book have questions, secrets and are dramatic. Stephanie goes looking for answers...
Again, I was all over the place with this book. It was a solid three stars for me. I can’t fault the writing or the pacing as both were very well done. This book does deal with various themes such as family, friendship, sexuality, secrets, and grief.
Many enjoyed this book more than I did, so please see out their reviews as well.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, 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
When she, her husband and their son move into their new neighborhood away from London, Stephanie feels promise. But she soon begins to feel uneasy about her neighbors. Something isn't quite right. Their son, Jonathon, is nice and has becomes friends with her son, Danny. Jonathon's parents, on the other hand, are weird, uptight and pretentious.
Then something, as it usually does, happens and the boys are no longer the close friends they once were. Then there is a devastating car crash, an explosion, and a quest to find out the truth.
This was a psychological thriller which saw my attention going up and down like a child on a teeter totter. I liked it, I felt meh about it, I enjoyed it, I wasn't wowed. The characters in this book have questions, secrets and are dramatic. Stephanie goes looking for answers...
Again, I was all over the place with this book. It was a solid three stars for me. I can’t fault the writing or the pacing as both were very well done. This book does deal with various themes such as family, friendship, sexuality, secrets, and grief.
Many enjoyed this book more than I did, so please see out their reviews as well.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, 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
October 20, 2022
I’m not sure if I’m being too harsh with this rating but I just didn’t think this was good. There were parts I enjoyed but it seemed to meander all over the place. For most of the time reading it I said to myself that the title of this book has nothing to do with this, or these, plots. It could have been something good I think. Thought the ending would redeem it all but I found it to be lackluster and said “that’s it?”
November 9, 2022
There will be mixed reactions to the book's format. I found this to be an intriguing domestic drama with a mystery attached. It meanders back and forth in various timelines in telling a multi-layered story. This structure added to the suspense and tension for me. There was also a coming-of-age storyline that provoked an emotional reaction. Its overall vibe was unsettling, sinister, and disturbing.
Stephanie, her husband Pete, and their son Danny had moved from London to a quiet, more suburban upscale neighbourhood. Stephanie was hoping to make friends with the mostly older women but was finding it difficult to fit in. Across the street lived the Franklin family consisting of the parents, Richard and Janet, and teenagers Jonathan and Mimi. The family dynamics seemed weird and dysfunctional to Stephanie. Janet was all about control. She dominated others with her opinions and attention-seeking behaviour. Toward Stephanie, she was rude, pretentious, condescending, and demeaning. Her husband, Richard, was quieter and unhappy in his marriage, and rumours hinted that he had a sleazy reputation. There was something not right within the household.
Danny and Jonathan become fast friends. This was because Danny was beginning to notice girls, which would get him closer to Jonathan's sister, Mimi, but the boys soon were happily enjoying each other's companionship. Stephanie and Pete were relieved as Danny would know someone when he must fit into a new school. Jonathan seemed like a nice, shy young man despite bad parenting. Later, on the night of a classmate's party, something happened that left Danny sullen, angry and depressed and avoiding his friend. He refused to confide in his parents about what was bothering him.
Some issues were addressed with sensitivity, such as sexual tensions and guilt, class divisions, snobbery, grief, family dysfunction, voyeurism, blackmail, threats, secrets and lies.
Stephanie's husband and son, Danny, were killed in a car accident, leaving her alone without support in her anguish. Her parents refused to attend the funeral. Still haunting her was why Danny had changed so drastically before his death, and she is determined to get the answer from Jonathan. Later, there was a major explosion at the power facility. People are warned to stay in their homes because of the danger of more explosions. The area is in darkness.
As much as she is uncomfortable around the Franklins, she plans to present herself as not wanting to be alone with her losses and grief. She hopes they will allow her into their home so she can confront Jonathan, demanding to know what happened to make Danny so miserable. There is a physical struggle between the young man and Stephanie. She discovers some shocking truths, but there is a misunderstanding. Her actions were misconstrued, and also a confrontation with Richard. Tensions spin out of control. What was hidden in the locked room in the attic? This added to the portrayal of Richard's mental instability and creepiness and played a part in the mystery.
Stephanie wakes up in the hospital. This is actually at the beginning of the book. She has no idea why she is there but is suffering from injuries. Little by little, fragments of her memory gradually return. She recalls her family is dead and that her injuries occurred at the Franklin house, but they are lying about what happened. The story concluded in a satisfactory manner. I enjoyed the author's previous Dinner Party and found The Locked Attic compelling and riveting, difficult to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, for an early edition of The Locked Attic.
Stephanie, her husband Pete, and their son Danny had moved from London to a quiet, more suburban upscale neighbourhood. Stephanie was hoping to make friends with the mostly older women but was finding it difficult to fit in. Across the street lived the Franklin family consisting of the parents, Richard and Janet, and teenagers Jonathan and Mimi. The family dynamics seemed weird and dysfunctional to Stephanie. Janet was all about control. She dominated others with her opinions and attention-seeking behaviour. Toward Stephanie, she was rude, pretentious, condescending, and demeaning. Her husband, Richard, was quieter and unhappy in his marriage, and rumours hinted that he had a sleazy reputation. There was something not right within the household.
Danny and Jonathan become fast friends. This was because Danny was beginning to notice girls, which would get him closer to Jonathan's sister, Mimi, but the boys soon were happily enjoying each other's companionship. Stephanie and Pete were relieved as Danny would know someone when he must fit into a new school. Jonathan seemed like a nice, shy young man despite bad parenting. Later, on the night of a classmate's party, something happened that left Danny sullen, angry and depressed and avoiding his friend. He refused to confide in his parents about what was bothering him.
Some issues were addressed with sensitivity, such as sexual tensions and guilt, class divisions, snobbery, grief, family dysfunction, voyeurism, blackmail, threats, secrets and lies.
Stephanie's husband and son, Danny, were killed in a car accident, leaving her alone without support in her anguish. Her parents refused to attend the funeral. Still haunting her was why Danny had changed so drastically before his death, and she is determined to get the answer from Jonathan. Later, there was a major explosion at the power facility. People are warned to stay in their homes because of the danger of more explosions. The area is in darkness.
As much as she is uncomfortable around the Franklins, she plans to present herself as not wanting to be alone with her losses and grief. She hopes they will allow her into their home so she can confront Jonathan, demanding to know what happened to make Danny so miserable. There is a physical struggle between the young man and Stephanie. She discovers some shocking truths, but there is a misunderstanding. Her actions were misconstrued, and also a confrontation with Richard. Tensions spin out of control. What was hidden in the locked room in the attic? This added to the portrayal of Richard's mental instability and creepiness and played a part in the mystery.
Stephanie wakes up in the hospital. This is actually at the beginning of the book. She has no idea why she is there but is suffering from injuries. Little by little, fragments of her memory gradually return. She recalls her family is dead and that her injuries occurred at the Franklin house, but they are lying about what happened. The story concluded in a satisfactory manner. I enjoyed the author's previous Dinner Party and found The Locked Attic compelling and riveting, difficult to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, for an early edition of The Locked Attic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2022
I’d enjoyed two well structured murder mysteries from this author (The Dinner Guest and The Woman on the Pier) and so was happy to grab this, his latest book, which seemed to offer something slightly different. It’s a taut psychological thriller set in a affluent town, in Kent. Stephanie had moved there with her husband and son, Danny, but tragedy then struck and both her husband and son were killed in a road accident. Stephanie is understandably struggling to come to terms with this devastating loss. The early pages are dramatic and disorientating as the fragments of this story slowly start to come together.
We are to learn more of the Stephanie’s background through a timeline that jumps back and forth between the present day and events that have taken place in the past, predominantly those that have occurred since the family moved into their current house. The cast list is very slim, pretty much limited to Stephanie, her immediate family and a similar family of three (husband, wife and a boy of a similar age to Danny) who live in the house on the opposite side of the road. To a large extent this is an agonising tale of loss, but it’s also a coming of age story and a mystery – the latter relating to Danny’s sudden change from a happy mid-teenage boy to one haunted by something to his parents cannot fathom. From its dramatic, disorientating beginning, the tale settles into a claustrophobic narrative in which we watch as a once happy family becomes something else.
It’s all really well written and I was nearly half way through before I realised I’d barely taken a break, so absorbed was I by this story. If I were to nitpick, there are a couple of elements that seem to be present only to allow the storyline to function, namely an unexplained explosion and the complete lack of a support group of friends and family for Stephanie. Also, the closing sections where we start to unravel the puzzle are, to my mind, somewhat less satisfying than what went before. However, it’s a book that I read in a trice and whenever I put it down couldn’t wait to get back to it, so that tells me something. In summary, it’s another enticing offering from this very talented British writer.
My sincere thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Ltd for supplying an early e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
We are to learn more of the Stephanie’s background through a timeline that jumps back and forth between the present day and events that have taken place in the past, predominantly those that have occurred since the family moved into their current house. The cast list is very slim, pretty much limited to Stephanie, her immediate family and a similar family of three (husband, wife and a boy of a similar age to Danny) who live in the house on the opposite side of the road. To a large extent this is an agonising tale of loss, but it’s also a coming of age story and a mystery – the latter relating to Danny’s sudden change from a happy mid-teenage boy to one haunted by something to his parents cannot fathom. From its dramatic, disorientating beginning, the tale settles into a claustrophobic narrative in which we watch as a once happy family becomes something else.
It’s all really well written and I was nearly half way through before I realised I’d barely taken a break, so absorbed was I by this story. If I were to nitpick, there are a couple of elements that seem to be present only to allow the storyline to function, namely an unexplained explosion and the complete lack of a support group of friends and family for Stephanie. Also, the closing sections where we start to unravel the puzzle are, to my mind, somewhat less satisfying than what went before. However, it’s a book that I read in a trice and whenever I put it down couldn’t wait to get back to it, so that tells me something. In summary, it’s another enticing offering from this very talented British writer.
My sincere thanks to HarperCollins Publishers Ltd for supplying an early e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2022
I’m not sure the title and the blurb do this book justice tbh, I almost ‘went past it’ when saw both and presumed it was about ‘someone locked in an attic’….without giving anything away its very much not that but what it is a hard hitting, no punches pulled excellently crafted story which features themes of discovered sexuality, grief, blackmail and big secrets,and best of all it is all written around a street environment and the residents who live there, for me there’s nothing better than these 2 things in a book
Characters ranging from slimy to emotive and featuring just the best snob ever who had me brilliantly horrified yet slightly in awe at her antics
Again this author has the magic of being able to bring alive situations that could be mundane but he has the ability to make a settee sound exciting, it’s hard to explain but it’s powerful, enticing and makes for a fine reading experience that manages to keep every page alive and the only disappointment being when it ends
Superb 🤗
Characters ranging from slimy to emotive and featuring just the best snob ever who had me brilliantly horrified yet slightly in awe at her antics
Again this author has the magic of being able to bring alive situations that could be mundane but he has the ability to make a settee sound exciting, it’s hard to explain but it’s powerful, enticing and makes for a fine reading experience that manages to keep every page alive and the only disappointment being when it ends
Superb 🤗
November 22, 2022
I didn’t really like this book. Once again I expected what the synopsis promised, a dark thriller and I was mislead. It was so slow and I did not like the multiple timelines.
Stephanie wakes up in a hospital without any recollection about what happened. She has a head injury and is confused.
The book goes into the days leading up to a gigantic explosion and the day of. Then there’s the mystery of what is locked away, hidden in the attic.
The Locked Attic is available November 24,2023.
Thank you to netgalley and harpercollinsuk for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Stephanie wakes up in a hospital without any recollection about what happened. She has a head injury and is confused.
The book goes into the days leading up to a gigantic explosion and the day of. Then there’s the mystery of what is locked away, hidden in the attic.
The Locked Attic is available November 24,2023.
Thank you to netgalley and harpercollinsuk for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
December 5, 2022
THE LOCKED ATTIC is a new mystery thriller by British author B.P. Walter
His Novels Include:
A Version of the Truth (2019)
aka The Couple's Secret
Hold Your Breath (2020)
The Dinner Guest (2021)
The Woman on the Pier (2021)
The Locked Attic (2022)
This is my review of The Locked Attic.
The story opens with Stephanie in the hospital in pain, with vague memories, after a series of explosions in the area. She doesn’t understand why she is here, but slowly she starts to remember
The novel alternates back and forth in time between the main characters. Stephanie is happily married to her older husband, Pete, a university professor, with a sixteen-year-old son, Danny.
They were new to the neighborhood, having moved from London to start a new life.
They soon are introduced to their new neighbors, Richard and wife Janet with son Jonathan (Danny’s age) and older sister, Mimi. Danny and Jonathan attend the same school and soon become friends, with Danny having a hidden crush on Mimi.
But then Danny starts acting weird and is totally withdrawn spending most of his free time in his bedroom. Stephanie tries to get Danny to talk, but he refuses to open up.
But then a tragedy hits the family… Pete and Danny have been killed in an explosion.
Stephanie knows that Jonathan knows more about why her son was so withdrawn before his death, and she is determined to find out the truth.
This was a well-written psychological thriller with a twisted ending.
Many thanks to harpercollins.co.uk and Net Galley for my digital copy.
His Novels Include:
A Version of the Truth (2019)
aka The Couple's Secret
Hold Your Breath (2020)
The Dinner Guest (2021)
The Woman on the Pier (2021)
The Locked Attic (2022)
This is my review of The Locked Attic.
The story opens with Stephanie in the hospital in pain, with vague memories, after a series of explosions in the area. She doesn’t understand why she is here, but slowly she starts to remember
The novel alternates back and forth in time between the main characters. Stephanie is happily married to her older husband, Pete, a university professor, with a sixteen-year-old son, Danny.
They were new to the neighborhood, having moved from London to start a new life.
They soon are introduced to their new neighbors, Richard and wife Janet with son Jonathan (Danny’s age) and older sister, Mimi. Danny and Jonathan attend the same school and soon become friends, with Danny having a hidden crush on Mimi.
But then Danny starts acting weird and is totally withdrawn spending most of his free time in his bedroom. Stephanie tries to get Danny to talk, but he refuses to open up.
But then a tragedy hits the family… Pete and Danny have been killed in an explosion.
Stephanie knows that Jonathan knows more about why her son was so withdrawn before his death, and she is determined to find out the truth.
This was a well-written psychological thriller with a twisted ending.
Many thanks to harpercollins.co.uk and Net Galley for my digital copy.
January 8, 2023
Not too sure how I feel about this book? So many different stories and accounts, with no actual ending? A very different thriller and if I’m being honest I couldn’t get into the characters, I would’ve liked more depth into Pete and heard parts of his story from his own perspective and maybe Jonathan? I’m also disappointed with the ending, I thought there would be a big twist in how Pete and Danny died in the crash? And Richard or Janet had something to do with it?
So I feel a little let down with this thriller and underwhelmed.
So I feel a little let down with this thriller and underwhelmed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2022
I'm unsure of how I feel on this one. It's told in three different timelines, before the explosion, day of explosion and after explosion, mostly told from Stephanie's point of view. We also have the POV of her son Danny, who I will say was my favorite of them all. This is not a thriller or much of a mystery, it flows more into impact of relationships and consequences. As with the author's last novel, The Woman on the Pier, the "Pier was not central to the story until the end and the same here. The "Attic" was not really prevalent to the last few chapters. Both also had a form of an event that seems like it will be central to the book but isn't. I feel like maybe the marketing of these seem a little more skewed as they are again more relationship/domestic driven. It took me a bit to get into but once I got into it I couldn't put it down but felt a bit let down by how it all played out. I do enjoy the writing style but how the plot plays out while good it seemed it went down a different path then what I was thinking.
I loved this author's first novel, but have been a bit underwhelmed by this one and the second one. While it held my attention it just doesn't have the depth I am looking for. As I said before I enjoyed Danny's and Jonathan's storyline but Stephanie, her husband along with the neighbors seemed very one dimensional. Also the author eluded to the explosion but to be a topic mentioned frequently especially as a notated timeline I was expecting more on that front.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This really was a 2.5 star for me but the quickness of it and writing style made me jump up a half star.
I loved this author's first novel, but have been a bit underwhelmed by this one and the second one. While it held my attention it just doesn't have the depth I am looking for. As I said before I enjoyed Danny's and Jonathan's storyline but Stephanie, her husband along with the neighbors seemed very one dimensional. Also the author eluded to the explosion but to be a topic mentioned frequently especially as a notated timeline I was expecting more on that front.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This really was a 2.5 star for me but the quickness of it and writing style made me jump up a half star.
October 21, 2022
Stephanie wakes up in hospital and at first she has no idea what has happened to her but slowly her memory starts to return.
A psychological thriller about family life and secrets that have life changing consequences for all evolved.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A psychological thriller about family life and secrets that have life changing consequences for all evolved.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
One word: pointless.
This book sounded right up my street and it just really failed to deliver.
Every single one of the characters has the morals of an alley cat and aren't likeable in the slightest.
The subplot of the explosions I was expecting to lead somewhere but just felt like there was no point whatsoever.
The blackmailing plot, couldn't care less.
And the secret thing in the attic was utterly laughable and unbelievable that the whole book would revolve around this.
Unfortunately a major disappointment.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and B. P. Walter for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*
This book sounded right up my street and it just really failed to deliver.
Every single one of the characters has the morals of an alley cat and aren't likeable in the slightest.
The subplot of the explosions I was expecting to lead somewhere but just felt like there was no point whatsoever.
The blackmailing plot, couldn't care less.
And the secret thing in the attic was utterly laughable and unbelievable that the whole book would revolve around this.
Unfortunately a major disappointment.
*Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and B. P. Walter for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*
November 18, 2022
THE LOCKED ATTIC
by B P Walter
HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter
Out Nov. 24.
My first but not the last by stellar thriller writer B P Walter. Grips with multiple timelines, deaths, attic mysteries, family secrets, and at its heart, psychological revealings. I read it through the night to its gobsmacking end. A winner!
Thanks to B P Walter, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
by B P Walter
HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter
Out Nov. 24.
My first but not the last by stellar thriller writer B P Walter. Grips with multiple timelines, deaths, attic mysteries, family secrets, and at its heart, psychological revealings. I read it through the night to its gobsmacking end. A winner!
Thanks to B P Walter, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.
November 19, 2022
The Locked Attic by B.P. Walter is a psychological thriller
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins - One More Chapter 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)
Stephanie, her husband Pete, and their son Danny move from London to a small town. She was used to the anonymity of a large city, but here everyone wants you involved, and they gossip. She'd prefer to be left alone.
The Franklin family across the street is strange, but Danny eventually makes friends with Jonathan, who is the same age, and in some of his classes. Danny finds the family strange as well. There is a lot of anger in that household, and the father spends a lot of time in the attic, supposedly working.
Danny starts acting a little strange himself. Neither Stephanie nor Pete can get to the bottom of what is troubling their son.
When Pete and Danny are killed, Stephanie retreats further into herself. She knows there is something wrong with the family across the street, and she is sure that Jonathan knows what was bugging her son. She desperately needs to find out.
My Opinions:
Although it felt rather disorganized, the overall story was quite good.
I usually don't mind when a story goes back and forth between time lines, but this was too much. From 7 months before the explosion, to the day of the explosion, to four months before the explosion, to two years before the explosion, to five months before the explosion, to one year, eight months before the explosion, to now...on and on, and back and forth. Just too much. I didn't mind that the story was told from both Stephanie's and Danny's perspective, but the shifting time-line was annoying....and almost had me giving the book a 2 star review.
However, about half way through, that no longer mattered. The story had me hooked. Yes, it was a long time to be frustrated, but apparently it was worth it. Everyone was keeping secrets, some of them not worth keeping, and others really creepy. I loved the relationship between Jonathan and Danny, and I loved how much Stephanie cared for her son.
The book is about secrets, and friendship, and love, and abuse. Some of it was sweet, some of it was creepy. Some had me smiling, some had me angry. It was those feelings that I got from the book that allowed me to give it a 4 star review.
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/
January 15, 2023
I just don't think B.P. Walter's books are for me.
The cover and blurb are misleading once again- I remember the same issue with The Woman on the Pier.
The timeline jump about rather a lot, and is difficult to follow, but the plot is enough to keep you reading. I didn't feel very connected to the characters either.
The cover and blurb are misleading once again- I remember the same issue with The Woman on the Pier.
The timeline jump about rather a lot, and is difficult to follow, but the plot is enough to keep you reading. I didn't feel very connected to the characters either.
December 4, 2022
Someone please tell me WTF I have just read... this is not a thriller! The blurb is completely missleading. I was expecting something dark and twisted but it was nothing like that. Do not waste your time reading it.
September 14, 2022
Another creepy, awesome book! The plot involves two couples and their children living across the street from each other outside of London. Stephanie and Pete are pleased when neighbors, Janet and Richard welcome them to the neighborhood as their son, Danny becomes friendly with Jonathan (but has a crush on daughter Mimi.
As the book opens, Stephanie is in the hospital after a series of explosions and has no memory of what transpired. But as the novel alternates between past and present, Walter exposes all the secrets and lies, including blackmail and hatred that envelops them all! Wildly entertaining, the book is fast-paced and addictive as it speeds toward the conclusion and we discover why the attic is locked! A truly propulsive read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
As the book opens, Stephanie is in the hospital after a series of explosions and has no memory of what transpired. But as the novel alternates between past and present, Walter exposes all the secrets and lies, including blackmail and hatred that envelops them all! Wildly entertaining, the book is fast-paced and addictive as it speeds toward the conclusion and we discover why the attic is locked! A truly propulsive read!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
November 21, 2022
I was so disappointed in this book. The plot was all over the place and and the storyline was so confusing. I almost gave up but I persevered, why do I keep doing this to myself!!!! Not one of the best books I have read by this author. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 16, 2022
More reviews: https://scepticalreading.com/2022/12/...
I get that thrillers thrive on secrets, but this story was full of rather obvious secrets. Not only that, the secrets were dangle in front of me like a carrot in front of a donkey; they were clearly just used to make me turn the pages.
I didn't mind the non-linear storytelling. I was much more peeved that the two POV read very similar; shouldn't a teenager sound different from his mid-thirties mother?
And why was the secret in the titular Locked Attic not the main topic of the story? The title and blurb are misleading.
I really liked the author's The Dinner Guest, but his last book The Woman on the Pier and this book didn't really work for me.
I get that thrillers thrive on secrets, but this story was full of rather obvious secrets. Not only that, the secrets were dangle in front of me like a carrot in front of a donkey; they were clearly just used to make me turn the pages.
I didn't mind the non-linear storytelling. I was much more peeved that the two POV read very similar; shouldn't a teenager sound different from his mid-thirties mother?
And why was the secret in the titular Locked Attic not the main topic of the story? The title and blurb are misleading.
I really liked the author's The Dinner Guest, but his last book The Woman on the Pier and this book didn't really work for me.
January 24, 2024
This was a bloody strange one and it was a struggle to actually finish. I must admit I started heavily skimming as I was just rather bored as it took forever to get to the point. It was also completely different from what I was expecting it to be, I'm not sure what I thought this was before reading but it fell far from that mark. The blurb is the only mildly interesting thing about this one and I guess I was expecting some sort of psychological thriller and what I got was a confusing domestic drama with some mildly suspenseful elements (and that's pushing it really) that didn't actually go anywhere. It was also so bloody depressing and very unsatisfying.
I disliked the choppy disjointed style of narration I get that it was meant to convey a sense of intrigue so you keep turning the page and I guess it did its job as I did finish but it was just so bizarre and the resolution felt anti-climatic and somewhat strange. This follows Stephanie a mid-thirties, married woman in the aftermath of losing her husband Paul and teenage son Danny. It jumps back and forth a lot as Stephanie attempts to find some answers about what was bothering her son before he died.
It's narrated mainly from Stephanie's POV with some of Danny's sprinkled in. It all had a very domestic drama feel as Stephanie feels she married up and is currently residing in successful suburbia. She's a hodgepodge of insecurity and has a bad case of imposter syndrome which is evident in all of her internal thoughts and inner monologue.
It's a weird one for sure I only kept going because I wanted to discover the secret and was wondering about the aforementioned attic which, to be frank, was a complete letdown. Then there's the bizarre explosion that foreshadows the whole narrative. Yep, this was a serious letdown and I definitely didn't enjoy any of it though the writing itself was fine, which is pointless for me if the story itself didn't hit home. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of the locked attic.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
September 26, 2022
This wasn’t a “can’t put it down” book for me and as a result I struggled to get through it. I kept waiting for the “wow!” moment only to find myself at the last page thinking “Is that it?” I’ve enjoyed other books by BP Walter but The Locked Attic missed the mark for me.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
January 26, 2023
This book had SO MUCH POTENTIAL! And then the ending didn’t fulfil. So frustrating!
October 5, 2022
I’d like to thank One More Chapter for sending me a proof of this book in exchange for my honest review. I love a locked room mystery and when you throw troublesome neighbours into the mix you know the story is going to be interesting. I have read and enjoyed B P Walter’s previous books and was thrilled to give this one a go.
The majority of the story is told from the POV of Stephanie who has woken up in hospital, feeling somewhat disorientated. From there we are told the story of the events leading up to her hospital visit as well as moments from her past that contribute to the final reveal. It becomes clear very quickly that Stephanie does not trust her neighbours and feels they hold they answers to some much needed questions she has.
This is one of those reviews where I can’t reveal much more than that about the plot, without giving away spoilers! It’s safe to say that there is so much more than meets the eye where Richard and Janet are concerned but Johnathan is the gem of the story. He ended up being my favourite and most memorable character.
I found this to be a very quick read, had I not been doing a readalong with some fellow bookstagrammers then I would of demolished it in one sitting. B P Walter has written a story that is fast paced, tense and kept me guessing until the final moments. I loved the complex relationship between Danny and Johnathan and how Stephanie reacted to each discovery.
What made this read more fun was chatting to other readers as I went. I loved hearing their thoughts and theories along the way as well as their final opinions.
The majority of the story is told from the POV of Stephanie who has woken up in hospital, feeling somewhat disorientated. From there we are told the story of the events leading up to her hospital visit as well as moments from her past that contribute to the final reveal. It becomes clear very quickly that Stephanie does not trust her neighbours and feels they hold they answers to some much needed questions she has.
This is one of those reviews where I can’t reveal much more than that about the plot, without giving away spoilers! It’s safe to say that there is so much more than meets the eye where Richard and Janet are concerned but Johnathan is the gem of the story. He ended up being my favourite and most memorable character.
I found this to be a very quick read, had I not been doing a readalong with some fellow bookstagrammers then I would of demolished it in one sitting. B P Walter has written a story that is fast paced, tense and kept me guessing until the final moments. I loved the complex relationship between Danny and Johnathan and how Stephanie reacted to each discovery.
What made this read more fun was chatting to other readers as I went. I loved hearing their thoughts and theories along the way as well as their final opinions.
March 10, 2023
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. Set between two timelines - before and after the explosion. It tells the story of a women who has recently suffered a bereavement and is trying to get to the bottom of what had been going on prior to this. I was confused by the title as the locked attic has very little to do with the actual story until the last few chapters. Would recommend this as an easy read.
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