Irreplaceable

by Nolon King, Sean Platt

Nina Turner loves two her fiancé and murder.

She subscribes to every true crime podcast, reads cold cases, and her Friday night is a bottle of wine and a true crime doc. Her fiancé thinks her interest in dead people is a bit weird, but he’s willing to let it slide, and together, they purchase a sprawling acreage.

It’s supposed to be their dream home.

But Nina’s unsettled. Everything about the house feels too familiar to be a coincidence. She does some digging and learns that the house was the site of a supposed murder – though only the girl’s blood was found. Not her body.

That’s why the acreage feels so familiar – Nina listened to the podcast episode.

But the episode didn’t mention the hidden room Nina discovered.

It didn’t mention the missing girl’s secret diaries.

And it didn’t mention the claustrophobic passageways in the walls.

The ones just big enough to creep through.

Something happened here.

Something darker than anyone knows.

And Nina’s determined to figure it out… even if it means looking into her fiancé’s past and discovering why he knows more about the house than he’s letting on.

Irreplaceable is the third psychological thriller from the best-selling team of Nolon King and Lauren Street. While it is thematically connected to Replaced, the books can be read in any order.

Genres: Thriller

278 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2024

About the author

Nolon King writes smart psychological thrillers designed to leave you on the edge of your seat. His stories are dark, twisty, and often decidedly close to home.

He’s not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature through stories featuring families torn apart by secrets and lies. If you enjoy reading authors like Darcey Bell and Harlan Coban, movies like A Simple Favor and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, or shows like Ozark and Dead to Me, you’ll love Nolon King.

When not writing you will find Nolon drinking black coffee and observing humans in their natural habitats.

Reviews

[Lana B- thrills_chills_and_frills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irreplaceable by Lauren Street and Nolan King. Thank you @netgalley and sterlingstone for my #gifted copy. My opinion is my own and voluntary.

Nina's fiancé decides to buy her a perfect country dream home and whisks her away from city life! It's been a whirl-wind romance and Nina feels like she will finally put roots down and marry the man of her dreams. Nina grew up in an orphanage and suffers from amnesia. She doesn't know her real name or where she came from. Arriving at the house, Nina has a sense of Deja-vu but how is that possible? Discovering her new home was actually the site of 3 gruesome murders, rumored to be connected to the occult, Nina, a true-crime fanatic realizes she's seen this home in a true-crime doc.

Strange and creepy happenings occur, open front door in the middle of the night, dead birds found in the house, strange noises and a hidden basement is discovered. Where is this keen sense of Deja-vu coming from? Is it really from her true-crime knowledge or something more. Why is Nicole's fiancé hiding something? Who is he because he sure doesn't seem like the man she thought he was. How is everything connected?

My thoughts:
☁️☁️☁️
This is the 3rd book in the Replaced series and I have loved them all! I was so excited to see this available to review! This duo is truly doing it up!!

🐈‍⬛So creepy and chilling. Gave me ghost story vibes! I love how everything comes together and all of the SHOCKING surprises! Sooo much going on in this book! I wish I could say more in my review, but I really don't want to give anything away! I LOVED it!

[Ashley Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really 4.5, rounded up.

First things first: this book is technically part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. I read it as a standalone and had no issues with it.

Nina is shocked when her fiance, Will, surprises her by buying her the dream home she’d been obsessing over online. But determined to make the best of things, she eagerly moves in. But the house feels strange to Nina as soon as she settles in. Then weird things begin happening. Soon, Nina learns the home was the site of an infamous true crime case she used to be obsessed with. Nina tries to figures out what’s happening before she becomes the next victim of the house, or whatever is still trapped inside.

This book is super creepy and an excellent, quick read. I absolutely had the shivers as I was reading this one. The atmosphere was perfectly set up: an isolated, large home, which was the setting of a heinous crime, with Nina being really on her own trying to figure things out, and not making the best decisions….but I’ll let you read to figure that part out.

And then once things start to really fall into place - man! It’s even more spooky. The story really unfolds quickly and easily, with some nice twists and great surprises that kept me enthralled.

The only slight downside was, as mentioned, some of the dumb decisions that Nina kept making as the story went on. I wanted to shake some sense into her at points. But hey, she’s young, and you have to read to understand that she has some special circumstances in her life that may lead her down that path. I don’t want to say too much more.

Overall, this is a very good book! It’s definitely one of my new favorite in the haunted house genre. I’ll definitely be checking out the two others in this series!

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by these authors and not my last! I chose to read it because of the blurb, cover, and title. I didn't even realise it was part of a series even! Do not worry if you haven't read the previous books, I loved this one and found it so readable!
A psychological thriller that had my imagination running at 1000%. The characters had me invested, and I really needed to know everything!
I definitely recommend this for any crime/psychological thriller reader out there.
Thanks to Lauren Street for my ebook to write my review today.

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Nolon King and Lauren Street. When I see their names, I know the book will be an intense page turner. This book has it all. It has creepy, haunted house vibes and a suspicious fiancé who seems controlling and sneaky. Add in a convenient “friendly” male neighbor and hidden rooms and you have the perfect thriller.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

Nina Turner, a true crime enthusiast, is obsessed with all things murder. Her Friday nights are dedicated to wine and true crime documentaries, while her fiancé, Will, finds her fascination with death peculiar but tolerable. Together, they purchase what they believe to be their dream home – a sprawling acreage with a dark history.

Nina's excitement turns to unease as she realizes the house feels eerily familiar. After some investigation, she discovers that the property was the site of a supposed murder, with only the victim's blood found and no body ever recovered. This gruesome detail had been covered in one of the many podcasts Nina had devoured, yet the story didn’t mention the hidden room she stumbles upon or the missing girl’s secret diaries she uncovers. Nor did it mention the claustrophobic passageways within the walls – passageways just big enough for someone to creep through.

Determined to unravel the dark mysteries of her new home, Nina delves deeper, even if it means scrutinizing Will’s past and his unsettling knowledge about the house. What follows is a chilling journey into the depths of the unknown, where secrets are buried deep, and the truth is darker than anyone could have imagined.

While the premise of the book is rich with potential and delivers a certain level of creepiness, the execution leaves much to be desired. Will’s decision to leave Nina alone in the strange house without transport felt odd and suspicious. I mean really, who does that?!? His motives, throughout the book, seem suspect and unconvincing. I didn't like him from the start! Not even a little. The character development was a huge weak point. Will’s obsession with his ex became tiresome, and Nina’s tolerance of his behavior seemed implausible.

The story, which started with great promise, lost its momentum and believability as it progressed. The mystery element, intended to be the book’s strength, fell flat as the major reveals were easily guessed early on. The predictability of the plot also detracted from the overall suspense. I was able to foresee most of the twists.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In “Irreplaceable,” Nolon King and Lauren Street craft a psychological thriller that grips you from the first page and doesn't let up..

This third installment in the Replaced series can stand alone, making it accessible even if you haven’t read the previous books.

Nina Turner, a true crime enthusiast, and her fiancé purchase what they believe to be their dream home. However, Nina’s fascination with the macabre leads her to uncover unsettling secrets about their new abode. The house, once the site of a mysterious disappearance, holds hidden rooms, secret diaries, and claustrophobic passageways that hint at a dark past. As Nina delves deeper, she begins to wonder how much her fiance knew about the house prior to purchase.

Nina is a compelling protagonist whose obsession with true crime adds a unique twist to the narrative. Her determination to uncover the truth, even at the risk of her own safety, increases your emotional investment in the story.

The supporting characters, including her enigmatic fiancé and the seemingly friendly neighbor, add layers of intrigue and suspicion to this novel.

King and Street’s writing is taut and suspenseful, with each chapter ending on a note that compels you to continue reading. Their ability to create a chilling atmosphere is evident in the detailed descriptions of the house and its eerie secrets.

“Irreplaceable” explores themes of trust, obsession, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth.

“Irreplaceable” is a masterful blend of psychological suspense and mystery. It’s a book with twists and turns that you won’t see coming. Whether you’re a fan of true crime or just love a good thriller, this book is a must-read.

[Shaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Nolon King and Lauren Street for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Irreplaceable coming out June 11, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

She subscribes to every true crime podcast, reads cold cases, and her Friday night is a bottle of wine and a true crime doc. Her fiancé thinks her interest in dead people is a bit weird, but he’s willing to let it slide, and together, they purchase a sprawling acreage.

It’s supposed to be their dream home.
But Nina’s unsettled. Everything about the house feels too familiar to be a coincidence. She does some digging and learns that the house was the site of a supposed murder – though only the girl’s blood was found. Not her body.
That’s why the acreage feels so familiar – Nina listened to the podcast episode.
But the episode didn’t mention the hidden room Nina discovered.

It didn’t mention the missing girl’s secret diaries.

And it didn’t mention the claustrophobic passageways in the walls.
The ones just big enough to creep through.

Something happened here.
Something darker than anyone knows.
And Nina’s determined to figure it out… even if it means looking into her fiancé’s past and discovering why he knows more about the house than he’s letting on.

This is the first book I’ve read by these authors. I didn’t realize there were other books in the series. I enjoy when two authors team up to write a book. I definitely thought this book was going a different direction. I thought it would be more of the old, dark house with a ghost story. But it was still pretty dark and I did love the craziness of the plot. Overall, it was a fun psychological thriller. I just wanted a little something different for the ending. I would read other books by these authors.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mind game stories!

[Amanda Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did enjoy the book. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. I did *sort of* figure out the ending. I mean girl with amnesia comes to a house and everything seems familiar was pretty obvious. I knew Will had something to do with it although, considering we never really determined if the writer of the journal was a boy or girl, I honestly thought Will was Panda. Having Steve show up randomly I knew he was involved but didn't see how and honestly am still confused as to why he had to be. There were a few unanswered aspects - such as how did the press know to call Rosie Panda? Was that common knowledge among family and maybe the uncle? And why did he just drop Nina off at an orphanage with no identification or anything? Why was she not murdered? Did Rosie poison her parents and if so why did the events of the night happen- did she tell Will she was staying because her parents would be dead? What is the coincidence that Steve happened upon all of this and raped and killed Rosie? Why was Will so afraid of basements- I thought he was one of the kids based on his fear of basements. And also how were there magazines in the room if it was boarded up and wasn't the tunnel in the room? If so how was the intruder coming in if it was blocked off?

Also the errors in the story were off-putting. At one point Will and Nina were eating dinner, had a fight and somehow Nina fell down the stairs into the basement floor.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nina and her fiance Will move into their dream home. It feels so familiar to Nina, but she cannot think why. She is a true crime podcast fan, and feels that may be the reason why she knows about certain features of the house, like the hidden room in the basement.

There was a certain amount of creepiness in this book, and the fact that Will left Nina alone in a strange house with no transport was odd.
I didn't particularly like Will, his motives were suspect.
I did predict most of what would happen in the book, and I was right. I didn't figure that Steve, the neighbour had a big part to play in the ending.

I must say, the first two books in this series were much better than this one. I award 2.5 stars, but obviously have to round up to 3.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Lauren Street's The Salazar Redwood Forest Thrillers and was super excited to have the opportunity to read a book she and Nolon co-authored. The story is full of chills and eerie situations. I transported myself into Nina's new home, and I believe, given the opportunity, I would have played little detective as well and tried to figure out what was going on with the place and the constant deja vu. Once the story really starts to unfold, it grabs you and creeps you out with some great twists. It is a book fit for the spooky season and I highly enjoyed it! Although this is the 3rd book in the series, it reads like a standalone and I had no problem going through it. Now, I must go back and read the other 2 in the series.

Many thanks to the authors and Netgalley for the ARC for an honest review.

[Shannon Beasley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quote: "Her new home seemed to hold its breath, with secrets on the lip of revelation."

Irreplaceable by Nolon King begins with Will and Nina travelling to North Dakota to celebrate their recent engagement. They have been together for six months and had fallen for one another immediately. Little did Nina know that they were going to see Nina's dream house. The dream house that Will had purchased - unbeknownst to Nina - as a wedding gift. Did I mention they have only been together for six months? Engaged for only a week? What could possibly go wrong? Not to mention, a dead girlfriend that Nina is unknowingly competing with.

If you like creepy houses and domestic thrillers, then I say give Irreplaceable by Nolon King a go.

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Micha ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Let’s begin!

Initially, I had no idea where this story was going. Nina and Will move into a house in the middle of nowhere that is somehow familiar to Nina. But how? She’s never been there before yet she seems to know the place. Paired with this eerie familiarity is the fact that the house appears to be haunted.

But this isn’t your average haunted house story. There are so many twists I couldn’t begin to figure out what was coming next. I was sucked in after the first few chapters when Will started to unravel before the readers’ eyes.

Twisty, suspenseful, and a little creepy, this book was a fast paced read that kept me turning pages til the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. One read of the book description and I knew I just HAD to read it. Upon going in to reading it, I didn’t realize it was a part of a series. With that being said, it was a great standalone read.
I am always invested in a good book that mentions a mystery/murder happening at a house especially when there as true crime podcast about it. This book delivered every single thing I look forward to in a book. Mystery, suspense, thrilling, and a good twists and turns. I enjoyed the backstory of what took place in the house. I love trying to solve a mystery as I am reading along. I was able to do that with this and loved guessing what happened and who was involved. I cannot wait to read the other books in the series!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for the copy of Irreplaceable by Nolon King and Lauren Street. I loved the first two books in the Replaced series and this one was the first one that was scary! I liked the spooky things that were happening and couldn’t wait to find out what was going on. The characters weren’t very interesting and I got bored with Will’s obsession with his ex. The story started off great, but as it went on it became really unbelievable that Nina would put up with Will. If you’re looking for a short fast book you might like this one but I’m not sure it was for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

[Rachel Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this as the blurb had me intrigued . Nina sounds just as intrigued by true crime as I am.

The plot was solid, with plenty of mystery and creepiness to go around. Like many thrillers we have the toxic characters, the cunning and gaslighting vibes, and of course, the secrets.

It doesnt have that repetitive feeling for the majority of the book, although Wills obsession felt almost too obsessive. But overall everything is fast paced and keeps the pages turning.

It was such a twist seeing all of the characters past and present interconnected in some way.

Definitely a good read for the day, and a potential to add to your TBR.

[Joy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

This is Book 3 of the Replaced series. It was just as good as the first two. I can only hope there is another and another eventually. All 3 of these books have grabbed my A.D.D attention and never let up. I kinda knew where the authors were going with this story, but it was still loaded with mystery and surprises nonetheless. Fantastic read.

[Kassandra Covarrubias · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed emotions

I didn’t feel like this book belonged in the Replaced series; I can see why it was, but it feels more like its own storyline. Whip I absolutely loved the plot and character development, the book was riddled with so many typos that it threw the entire thing off for me. I wanted to like it, but I felt like I was reading a high school English paper.

[Monique Fettkether · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely the best out of the series. I read this on my kindle and honestly the grammatical errors were HORRIBLE! There were words added where they shouldn't, which was super annoying! I think it needs to be reedited but if you can get past that you'll love the twists and turns!!!

[Winter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't recommend any of the books in this series. All the books suffer greatly from lack of editing, but Irreplaceable is the worst of the three because it actually has unfinished sentences in it. Also figured out the "mystery" very early on so it wasn't very twisty turny for me.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not as good as the other two. I honestly thought it was super slow and boring. The writing was obnoxious.

It could have been a good story. 2 stars for the idea of a plot. But the rest just fell flat. 👎🏻

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first 2 books in the series but still enjoyed.

[Fred Noe]

Don't stop!

A little slow start but definitely worth the read! Keep reading and not what you think! Will continue to read more from her!

[Amanda Palladino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would’ve given 5 stars if not for all of the typos and that they kept referring to the car as the “Infinity” not “Infiniti”. Stupid little thing but drove me nuts lol.

[Sierra Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but I'm only giving it 2 stars because there were so many typos in it.