A Place to Die For

by A.M. Strong, Sonya Sargent

A young couple’s dream apartment hides a deadly secret in a terrifying novel of psychological suspense by the authors of Gravewater Lake.

Jordan and her fiancé, Sam, can hardly believe their luck when they are accepted into the Glendale, an exclusive Boston co-op dripping in historic turn-of-the-century splendor. Still reeling from a devastating personal loss, the couple hopes their new digs will let them heal the past and build a brighter future. But Jordan’s joy soon turns to unease.

Spending long hours alone while her fiancé is at work, she starts to suspect that all is not right with the Glendale. There is the empty apartment on the ground floor that nobody wants to talk about, and the unnerving sensation that she is being watched. The haunting cries of a baby—even though there are none in the building—don’t help, either.

As their relationship falters and Sam grows ever more distant, Jordan comes to a terrifying conclusion. The Glendale won’t let her go…at least, not alive.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

332 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 17, 2026

About the author

A.M. Strong is a British-born writer living and working in the United States. He has worked as a graphic designer, newspaper journalist, artist, and actor.

He currently resides most of the year on Florida’s Space Coast, where he can watch rockets launch from his bedroom balcony, and part of the year on an island in Maine, along with his wife and two furry bosses, Izzie and Hayden.

A.M. Strong also writes under the pen name Anthony M. Strong.

Reviews

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im a big fan of these co authors so I will automatically read everything they write 🥹

For me, “a place to die for” took a little longer to get going / capture my interest, however when the couple moved into their new apartment inside a historical building full of quirky tenants, stunning artwork and original architecture.. I was fully invested.

Im all for an unusual building with unusual tenants and knew that we’d be in for a twisty ride. I enjoyed watching the couple face challenges and finding out whether their relationship could withstand all the chaos.

Although I enjoyed how the tenants tied together the ending was just a little too convenient for me.. despite all the drama it seemed to hit an end very quickly.

Overall I enjoyed this read and would recommend for others!

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer for gifting me with a copy of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Rebecca Reads Crime · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review
A Place To Die For By A.M. Strong & Sonya Sargent
Publication Date: March 17, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blending a dual timeline narrative and multiple POVs with stalker/serial killer themes and the unsettling atmosphere of a gothic apartment building, A Place To Die For is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from the early on!

The story is told through two perspectives: a stalker/serial killer whose chilling chapters ramp up the suspense, and Jordan, a self-employed interior designer.

When Jordan and her fiancé, Sam, land a dream apartment in an exclusive, highly-coveted co-op, it seems too good to be true. Jordan quickly begins to suspect that the building’s prestigious exterior hides something dark. From unexplained noises to strange occurrences that the other neighbors conveniently ignore, the "perfect" home begins to feel like a trap.

As the lines between reality and paranoia blur, Jordan descends into the role of an unreliable narrator a trope that was executed brilliantly here.

Trigger Warning: This book deals heavily with themes of grief and trauma from a miscarriage.

[Lupita_333 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was bland. It had too much unnecessary description of the apartment they wanted to live in and other people living there. I only liked the POV of “Him” during this part of the story. I loved the dual POV between “Him” and Jordan. The story gained my interest starting around 27%.

The setting being mainly in an apartment was chilling with Jordan being the only one able to see and hear certain things. At different parts of the story it made me question what was really going on with Jordan whether she was experiencing paranormal activity or if it was the result of her painful past resurfacing. The true reasoning for it was mind blowing. I had suspected it halfway through the story but I was surprised how naive Jordan was to it. I was confused at first with certain things in the story but towards the middle of the story everything started making more sense. Certain decisions she made frustrated me. I liked the ending. The story was very predictable but enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick, short and easy but it was a slow start at first. I didn't really care for the main character, she was lowkey insufferable. I was more interested in the stalker! Joe Goldberg vibes.
Plot was a little weak, it was just so far-fetched! I was hoping the stalker chapters would tie in nicely with our MC but unfortunately, it fell a little flat.
It was predictable but nonetheless, it's a perfect palate cleanser book in between heavier reads.

*ARC

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! Just the right amount of emotional drama and suspenseful horror! It was not at all what I was expecting and that turned out to be a good thing! Lots of ups and downs, twists and turns! Another great book that I was happy to read!

[Gemma Pizzey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book follows a couple who move into the apartment of their dreams, at quite a cheap price. But is the apartment and the residents all they seem?

This book was gripping from the get go with dual timelines. While it gripped me from the beginning, I did find it a was a little slow to get into the main storyline.

The authors did a great job at setting up little twists and turns in the story, and I definitely didn’t guess the ending.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoy all this author duo works on together. This novel was the perfect mixture of eerie and stalker vibes along with mischief. A dual POV, grieving mom, and a cooky cast.

When a place comes available which seems too good to be true, you should trust your instincts! Is this a haunting, revenge or something more sinister. You can still sleep with the lights off.

Trigger warning. Miscarriage

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this novel.

A brilliant domestic thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and your jaw on the floor with the reveal. After a burglary, The Glendale seems like the perfect place for Sam and Jordan until mysterious things start occurring without warning. Readers will love the mystery of what goes bump in the night, and get their answer to the age old adage - if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

[Danielle Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book a lot. It had some paranormal elements to it, I liked the stalker pov it made it interesting, and all the Characters were well written and very fun to try and figure out. The twist was very fun and not something I guessed at all. Overall very good read.

[Kelly Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fast paced, with tension that was off the charts and had me guessing throughout - my brain was doing somersaults trying to work out how all the characters were connected and the motives behind a lot of the actions they took. There was some very clever plotting and I did not see that ending coming!

Such a great read!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for an E-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

[Ruthie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Book Not to Die For

My Vibe Check

* My emotional state while reading: 🥱😶‍🌫️🙄

This slow-paced story is an alternating POV between a killer and the fmc, Jordan.

* If this book were a snack, it'd be... maybe salami. I hate salami. It looks good but I don’t like the taste.

The Good Stuff

1. Easy to read. Flows well. Short chapters. Digestible.

Things That Made Me Go Meh

1. The psycho stalker sounds like Joe Goldberg (You) talking, all stalker-ish and contemplative. Not exactly a bad thing, but now I’m imagining it’s him.
2. The writing is bland and doesn’t really make me feel anything. Not hooked enough. I’ve read longer books in a shorter time.
3. The characters are flat and one-dimensional. I don’t care what happens to them. I don’t even like Jordan (fmc).
4. The plot is not plotting. Halfway through the book and nothing significant is happening. It starts to pick up at about 82% of the book.
5. The misdirection is a bit obvious. I’m no longer surprised because I already expect that all it’s building up to involves the weird residents and the building in relation to the killer.
6. This would work better as a movie. I would love it as a movie.

My Overall Thoughts

* Would I recommend this book? I’m not sure I would even remember it…

* Who should read this? Anyone who likes slow-paced predictable reads.

* My super-scientific rating: 2. Moving on.

—MAJOR SPOILERS START HERE.—

The Gist (or else I’ll forget)

The book opens with a flashback of an unknown psycho stalker attacking a girl (with glasses) in her apartment.

We switch to Jordan’s POV in the current time. She is devastated that her loan application with her fiancé Sam for their dream house has been rejected (a problem with Sam’s credit). On the same unfortunate day, their apartment gets robbed and vandalized. They go to stay at Jordan’s parents’ house.

Flashback: We see the psycho stalker again, finding his next victim (Raven tattoo). We also find out that he’s a resident physician at Mass General.

Back to Jordan. She receives a too-good-to-be-true housing deal (Glendale). She sends an application. They get called in for an interview (the board: Catherine, Ron, Dr. Burgress) and take a tour of the grand apartment. A week later, their application is approved and they move in. Jordan notices weird sounds (crying baby). She meets a neighbor, Kalina.

Jordan and Sam attend the Glendale’s cocktail party for the residents. Kalina seems to take to Sam and it makes Jordan uncomfortable/jealous, despite that Kalina is hiring him. Meanwhile, Catherine hires her to design an empty space for a coffee shop.

Flashback: Psycho killer orchestrates a meet-cute with Raven tattoo girl at her workplace.

Jordan meets with the board about the coffee shop then Catherine takes her to the basement to check out stored furniture. She gets locked in and has a creepy experience (weird sounds, stuffed toy moving place to place). She is let out by Catherine who doesn’t believe it’s possible to get locked in.

Flashback: Psycho killer is tormented that Raven tattoo girl is on a date.

Weird moments. Neighbors cancels brunch, but at least Jordan and Sam meets new friends (Dawn and Jamie). Catherine gaslights Jordan about forgetting a meeting. Kalina flirts more with Sam. Catherine being weird at the empty first-floor apartment. Angelo being cryptic. Her new friend Dawn being weird with the clothes shop owner.

Jordan goes on a date with Sam in her new dress and asks him to stop catering to Kalina. They have a good date, go home, and Jordan is still obsessing over that first-floor apartment.

Flashback: Psycho killer murdered Raven’s date. Cops question Raven.

The next morning, Jordan hears the crying baby again and Sam thinks she’s cuckoo. The next day, she goes to the client she wasn’t able to meet because of Catherine only to be told that she’d been replaced because she canceled, which she can’t remember happening.

Jordan’s issue with Kalina escalates. Sam keeps saying he isn’t interested in Kalina.

Flashback: Psycho killer secretly attends the funeral of the guy he killed and found out the guy was actually gay as he talks with Raven who’s actually named Luna.

Jennifer comes over for drinks at Jordan’s and hints at something about the apartment as she leaves.

More weirdness. Sam’s been acting sketchy. The apartment’s dark corners feel ominous. Jordan’s mood board for the coffee shop mysteriously goes missing and reappears. The board is dissatisfied with her design presentation.

Flashback: Psycho killer steals Luna’s PJs and leaves her a moon necklace.

Jordan encounters an unsettling painting in the building. It’s not there later when she tries to show Sam. He is fed up and tells her all the ridiculous things she’s been saying, convinced that she’s regressing and needs help again.

Jordan thinks Sam is acting sus. And then one morning she finds Kalina’s earring in their bedroom. She throws him out of the apartment. Jennifer visits her that night and encourages her not to stay alone in the apartment.

The next day while clearing boxes, she finds a diary stuck behind the drawers. The woman wrote about the strange things in the apartment, which are similar to Jordan’s experiences. She talks to Frank about it and he asks her to leave the diary with him.

Jordan discovers that another ex-resident killed himself in the apartment because he was hearing voices. Freaked out about everything, she plans to stay at her parents’ house, but she got a mysterious text inviting her to the first-floor apartment.

Flashback: Psycho killer gets ready to end Luna.

Jordan sends a text to Sam then goes to the first floor apartment that first looks abandoned, but then sees the bloody bedroom and flees to Dawn’s. Dawn and Jamie offer to take a look again with her and then call the police if necessary. She agrees. They go.

It’s a trap. Catherine and her cohorts arrive, and even Dawn and Jamie are in on it. The apartment used to be Catherine’s daughter’s (Luna). They say that she was murdered there, which is why Jordan has to die.

Turns out Jordan’s dad was the psychiatrist of the killer and his assessment got the killer thrown in an institution instead of jail. He’s killed someone related to the residents of the Glendale.

Apparently, the Glendale is a slaughterhouse for a relative of those involved with the psycho killer’s sentencing. “So they would feel what we feel.”

After much ruckus, they are about to stage her suicide, but Sam arrives with a couple of cops. Catherine gets accidentally shot and her cohorts get arrested. It’s a wrap.

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 EARLY BUZZ BOOK REVIEW 📚

A Place To Die For By A.M. Strong & Sonya Sargent
Publication Date: March 17, 2026
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer | Amazon Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, Amazon Publishing, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

When I saw A Place To Die For pop up on NetGalley, I immediately had to grab it and start reading, as Strong & Sargent are my favorite powerhouse author duo! With its immediate "You"-like stalker vibes and its unsettling happenings in a creepy old building, this book was a great addition to my Spooky October Reads!

This is told in dual POVs: an unknown stalker, whose chapters add another layer of tension to the book; and FMC Jordan, who is a self-employed interior designer. Jordan and her fiance Sam snag an incredible opportunity to move into an apartment in a highly-desirable co-op building. Jordan senses something is off about the building, with its unexplained noises and mysterious happenings that nobody seems to notice except her. However, the residents are all so welcoming, and when the co-op board hires her to renovate the building's retail space, it feels like things may finally be going their way. But eerie and spooky things just keep happening in the building, like Jordan hearing a crying baby despite the fact no children live there, and she can't shake her feelings that there's a secret about their new apartment and this creepy building that nobody wants them to know.

Jordan's character becomes an increasingly unreliable narrator as the book goes on, and I'm a huge fan of this trope. But I really struggled with its use here. Trigger warning: Jordan experienced a second trimester miscarriage a couple years ago and (understandably) struggled with her emotional stability afterward. As someone who experienced the same thing, I could completely relate to the themes of grief and loss woven into the book.

While I love an unreliable narrator who raises questions about her reliability through her own actions, I've grown tired of female characters with emotions being gaslighted by males BECAUSE of their emotions. ESPECIALLY when those emotions involve a miscarriage. Honestly, that aspect of this book left me really disappointed with the way it was used in the plotline. It's a personal thing for me and likely won't impact every reader the same way, but I needed to say it.

When the dual POVs and dual timelines finally came together, it was not what I expected at all and I had to suspend my disbelief a little bit. There were so many secrets revealed so quickly at the end that it made my head spin.

Did I like this book? Overall, yes. Was it my favorite by this author duo? No. But I'm not sure anything they write could be better than The Last Girl Left, one of my favorite reads. And with my own personal infertility struggles, this book just wasn't my jam. That's me though, and I definitely recommend you check it out - especially if you're a fan of these authors too!

𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒚? Yes, it definitely has its moments.
𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕? Nope.

#APlaceToDieFor #Strong&Sargent #AMStrong #SonyaSargent #ThomasAndMercer #AmazonPublishing #SpookyOctoberReads #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookaddict

[Valerie Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

In A Place to Die For, Strong and Sargent plunge readers into a quietly unsettling psychological thriller, centred around Jordan and her fiancé Sam, who believe they’ve hit the jackpot when they move into the historic and exclusive Glendale building in Boston. Instead of healing from past wounds, Jordan quickly senses that something is deeply wrong: mysterious sounds, unanswered questions around the empty apartment on the ground floor, and an increasing sense of isolation as Sam grows distant.
Barnes & Noble

What worked well
The setting is a strong asset: the gleaming turn-of-the-century co-op transforms into a character of its own, the grandeur and hidden corners feeding the suspense-atmosphere effectively. Jordan’s internal struggle — her grief, her guilt, her vulnerability — is convincingly drawn. The authors do a good job of making the reader feel her tension and uncertainty. The pacing keeps things moving: there are enough unsettling clues (the cries of a baby in a building with none, the mysterious empty apartment) to keep you turning pages. It’s a solid pick for a thriller fan who enjoys atmospheric tension rather than nonstop action. The framework , couple, new home, hidden danger, is familiar but executed with enough twists to hold interest.

What could have been stronger
Some of the secondary characters and subplots feel a bit under-developed. For a novel of this length, I found myself wanting deeper back-stories or motivations for certain players in the building. The sense of dread is effective, but the “reveal” or turning-point tends toward the predictable side — the premise sets you up for what’s coming and you might see some beats in advance. A few pacing lapses occur, especially when Jordan is alone in the building and descriptions of dread accumulate without enough new plot movement; the tension occasionally stalls.

Overall impression
I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars. A Place to Die For offers a well-crafted psychological suspense that leans heavily on atmosphere and character internalization. For readers already comfortable with the genre, it delivers enough chills and intrigue to be satisfying. However, for those looking for major surprises or a fully fleshed ensemble cast, it falls just short of being exceptional.

Recommendation
If you’re a fan of authors like Ruth Ware or Lisa Jewell (who use haunted spaces and psychological tension rather than full-blown gore), this is a good choice. It’s especially appealing if you enjoy reflecting on how trauma, memory, and isolation play out in seemingly everyday settings. On the other hand, if you prefer more plot-driven thrillers with explosive twists and large casts, you might feel it’s slightly under-powered.

#netgalley

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

🏛️ In A Place to Die For, A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent craft a psychological thriller as elegant as it is unsettling. Set in the opulent confines of the Glendale, a historic Boston co-op, this novel transforms architectural grandeur into a gothic trap—where grief, paranoia, and ambition collide.

Jordan and her fiancé Sam are still reeling from a devastating personal loss when they’re accepted into the Glendale, a dream apartment that promises a fresh start. But as Jordan spends long hours alone while Sam works, the building’s charm curdles into menace. Whispers in the walls, cryptic neighbors, and a growing sense that the past isn’t done with her—all conspire to unravel Jordan’s fragile peace.

The authors tap into a classic haunted-house motif, but with a psychological twist: the real terror may not be supernatural, but emotional and relational. The Glendale becomes a mirror for Jordan’s grief, amplifying her doubts and fears in ways that feel eerily plausible.

🧩 Strong and Sargent’s collaboration yields a narrative that’s intimate and cinematic. Their prose is clean and evocative, with a slow-burn pacing that rewards patience. The tension builds not through jump scares, but through subtle shifts in tone, character behavior, and the creeping realization that something is deeply wrong.

Jordan’s perspective is rendered with empathy and nuance. Her descent into suspicion is neither hysterical nor heroic—it’s human. The authors resist the urge to make her a victim or a savior, instead presenting her as someone trying to make sense of a reality that keeps shifting beneath her feet.

🧱 A Place to Die For is about the spaces we inhabit—physically and emotionally—and how they shape our sense of safety. The Glendale, with its turn-of-the-century splendor, represents both aspiration and entrapment. The novel probes how grief can distort perception, how relationships can fracture under pressure, and how institutions (even housing boards) can conceal rot beneath polished surfaces.

The title is a clever double entendre: the apartment is desirable to the point of obsession, but it may also be deadly. That ambiguity fuels the novel’s psychological complexity.

📝 A Place to Die For is a stylish, slow-burning thriller that trades gore for atmosphere and cheap twists for emotional depth. It’s ideal for readers who appreciate suspense rooted in character and setting, and who enjoy peeling back layers of domestic perfection to reveal the chaos underneath.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jordan and Sam have moved into a co-op after their previous apartment was broken into, leaving them afraid to return. The Glendale in Boston is pure luxury, and they are surprised they were able to afford it, but thanks to some financial finagling and, frankly, confusing explanations, they were accepted. Of course, it seems too good to be true, and it is.

Jordan works from home while Sam is away for long hours as an attorney, so she’s around a lot more and notices little things that start bothering her. She hears sounds no one else does, she’s convinced she’s being watched, and the co-op board members run hot and cold with their interactions.

It’s a bit disappointing that the plot takes a turn for the worse – gaslighting. Sam is her fiancé, yet he doubts almost everything she says because she suffered some past heartaches and tragedies. And if he doesn’t believe her, you can bet everyone else she interacts with doesn’t either. Can nothing ever happen to a woman without everyone thinking she’s going crazy??

So you know where this is headed: the more people doubt her, the more she starts doubting herself, and the stranger things get, etc. What saves this story is that there are tons of little hints here and there about something being very off with the Glendale, but the conclusion is just out of reach. And when you put it all together, it’s like AHA! Everything has a logical explanation, and you almost feel bad for the bad guys. But not quite.

[Senara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book always had me desperate to find out what happened next! It was perfect to stay up all night reading, and of course that plot twist tied everything together amazingly.

Jordan and her fiance Sam move into a new apartment, ready to start the next chapter in their life after going through a heartbreaking tragedy. With their finances not being in a great place, it almost seems too good to be true that they were offered this apartment in the first place. And Jordan soon starts realising that maybe it is too good to be true, when suspicious and concerning events start to occur involving her, her fiance and other residents of the apartment.

The authors built the tension in the book perfectly, with each small thing that happened adding to the tense atmosphere of the book. The main character was always someone you could root for, and both of these things made the book captivating and easy to read on. You could never really tell what the mystery surrounding the apartment was, the authors did a great job in keeping the plot engaging but not too predictable. And of course, that ending! It wasn't what I expected, but thinking back to every clue that had been hinted throughout the book, it also made perfect sense. The ending was exciting and satisfying.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced thriller and would definitely recommend it to those who love this genre!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place to Die For is a slow-burning psychological thriller that wraps its dread in turn-of-the-century elegance. When Jordan and her fiancé Sam move into the Glendale—a historic Boston co-op with gilded charm and a suspiciously vacant ground-floor apartment—they believe they’ve found the perfect place to heal and start anew. But the building has other plans.

The story unfolds with quiet tension, as Jordan, left alone for long stretches, begins to sense something watching her. The cries of a baby echo through the halls, though no infants live there. Her relationship begins to fray, and the Glendale’s secrets tighten around her like ivy on brick.

Strong and Sargent write with a restrained elegance, letting the unease build gradually. The setting is richly atmospheric—antique fixtures, shadowed corridors, and a creeping sense that history isn’t just preserved here, it’s alive. Jordan’s emotional journey is as compelling as the mystery itself, making this more than just a haunted house tale—it’s a meditation on grief, isolation, and the cost of ignoring intuition.

Perfect for readers who love The Little Stranger or The Watchers, and who appreciate thrillers that whisper before they scream.

With thanks to A,M Strong, Sonya Sargent, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Briana (TheBookWorm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam and Jordan are newly engaged and are looking forward to having their own home, but just as fast as the offer was approved, it was declined. Already down, their apartment has now been robbed but their sales agent calls with an out of this world offer that's too good to pass up. Now residing in their new condo in the Glendale strange things have began to take place.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a nice psych thriller. I think the author fell flat in the middle of the story. It seemed repetitive with no action and didn't bringing forth any answers. I thought the back and forth POV was okay. After revealing who it was, I don't think it needed to be in the story actually. I mean it was nothing wrong reading his parts; it just did nothing for the story. The characters were all quite interesting, but the main character, Jordan is annoying at times, especially as she is investigating, it's like do you not see these people acting weird. She always bites her tongue which in some cases, it helps, but in other cases like her mom saying little things about Sam, she should have spoken up.
This book definitely has some creepy moments, they way the author writes makes you feel unsettled like when Jordan was trapped in the basement. The ending had a lot of action and it moved very fast. I would recommend this book to my peers.

[Taylor Boutwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of A Place to Die For.

This novel ultimately fell short for me. The narrative included so many extra details that they often distracted from the central storyline rather than enhancing it. That said, I did appreciate the way Jordan’s psychological unraveling was portrayed. As the events surrounding her intensified, she increasingly came across as an unreliable narrator, gradually slipping into instability. Given the character’s past, it becomes difficult to discern whether her experiences are grounded in reality, which adds some intrigue.

I personally would not classify this book as a true thriller. The most suspenseful moment occurs within the final ten percent, and while there is a minor twist explaining why Jordan becomes the primary focus, the overall plot felt largely predictable. The climax, despite its build-up, concluded abruptly and left me wishing for a more developed resolution. Additionally, the chapters from “Him” felt noticeably reminiscent of Joe Goldberg from You.

This story may be more enjoyable for readers who are newer to the thriller genre, but for me, it lacked the tension and originality I was hoping for.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me in the dark for longer than I expected. A stalker chasing women for nefarious purposes appears between chapters about a young engaged couple looking to buy a home. How they’re interconnected is unclear, but both storylines kept me equally intrigued. Jordan is the protagonist and, despite being a little too emotional for me to like much, I had no problem rooting for her. Sam, her fiancé, seems like a nice, supportive man, but he may be up to no good. They both find a coop that sounds too good to be true and move in full of hope. Shortly, things start going bump in the night. Jordan hears a baby crying and feels like she’s being watched. Sam won’t believe her and their creepy new neighbors seem to be too interested in their lives. Some parts were very spooky, with Jordan alone in her flat. I thought I knew what was going on, even if I wasn’t sure how, but I was surprised by the twist. Now, the whole explanation took a big suspension of disbelief and seemed a little convoluted, but I liked it. The last part is super-suspenseful and I kept screaming at Jordan in my head. A satisfying, solid read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. It was creepy, spooky and tantalizing. I had to know what happienef in this captivating psychological thriller.

A young soon-to-be married couple, Sam and Jordan, are looking for their first house together. When their first bid falls through, their agent finds them a condo in an exclusive part of Boston. It’s gorgeous and they are thrilled. In the meantime, a serial killer is stalking women. For Jordan, a budding interior designer, the board offers a contract to renovate a former gym into a coffee shop. Things are going well when Jordan starts experiencing strange things. And, you the reader, wonder is Jordan the serial killers next victim. The tension mounts, the events spiral out of control and then Jordan uncovers the deadly secret. No spoilers here, you have to read the book to find out what that secret is.

I really enjoyed this one! I think the authors built the tension beautifully. I didn’t see that ending coming. And while some might find the motivation for all the scariness weak, I thought it clever! I simply had a wonderful time reading this - and I think that’s what the authors wanted.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this ARC

[Dawn Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC and I voluntary leave this my honest review.
I have followed this author duo for many years. Their next psychological thriller comes out in March next year. A place to die for is just as good as previous books The last girl left and Gravewater Lake.
There is two storylines running along side each other. One is of a man who gives off You vibes from the famous TV series. The other is of a couple Jordan and Sam who after a house purchase falls through they are offered a place at the Grendale. They think they have landed on their feet but they soon find out nothing as it seems. I thought the story was brilliant. Having both storylines against each other didn't confuse me! The book is interesting and grabbed me from the start! I didn't see the twists before they happened! There were some deep emotional themes in the book miscarriage for one. I think the book is brilliant!! I loved the story and how it developed and the conclusion! If you like a twisty thriller you will love this!
I was honoured to find out that a couple in the book had been named after me and my husband Jamie!! I got a mention in the acknowledgements too!

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the start. Really quick paced short chapters had me wanting to read more. Jordan and Sam move into their dream apartment after a string of unlucky events. They love their new place and the residents are so friendly until things start going wrong and Jordan starts to feel this apartment might not be all that it seems.

I was suspicious of all of the characters in this book and trusted no one. I guessed they were all linked but couldn’t work out why until the reveal. I felt the reveal and some other parts of the story were a bit far fetched. How did they set up this murder club? How can so many people be ok with killing people who are very vaguely linked to the OG killers sentencing? How do they have so much influence over potential tenants?

Jordan, the main character, let a lot of things slide which she should have questioned, but the gaslighting and manipulation probably made her doubt her gut instincts. The ‘Him’ chapters gave me Joe Goldberg vibes from the Netflix show ‘You’, so creepy! Overall really enjoyed this read, and could not put this book down. Thank you to net galley and the publishers for my advanced copy!

[Kelly Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this thriller! It kept me hooked into the storyline right from the start and I could not put it down. The story follows Jordan and Sam, who, when down on their luck, are given the opportunity to live in a lavish building on a nicer side of Boston, in an apartment they normally otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. Soon after moving in, strange things begin to occur, driving Jordan and Sam apart and leaving Jordan to question everything about her mental health and what is going on around her - whatever it is, it isn't normal and she knows she isn't losing her mind. With a few chapters glimpsing into the past of an anonymous man who stalks victims "then", the story weaves together, leaving the reader to wonder how he is connected to the present timeline, and what it means for Jordan.

I was on the edge of my seat as the storyline unfolded, and I didn't expect the twists and turns to take me where it did. What a fun, gripping thriller!

[lacie goodlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and thomas & mercer for this arc! i love a good ‘apartment with secrets’ plotline, so i was really excited for this one. aside from the very slow buildup, i really loved the majority of this book and i thought the dual pov/timeline was really well done. this book reminded me a LOT of ‘the paris apartment’ by lucy foley, so if you like that one or ‘lock every door’ by riley sager, you will probably like this one as well. the only thing i really didn’t like was the ending. i thought the explanation for what was going on felt both too far-fetched and like a cop out at the same time. add that to the fact that the book didn’t really start picking up until about 80% of the way through, and i’m not really sure i would recommend this to just anyone. like i said, if you liked the previous books i mentioned and you want a predictable, slower-paced thriller, i think this would be a good pick, but if you want something fast-paced and twisty, i wouldn’t recommend.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent domestic thriller, but dragged a little in the middle for me.

A Place to Die For followed a couple who is down on their luck and found an affordable apartment in a lovely historical building to move into. However, the tenants are strange, and concerning things begin happening. I truly wasn’t sure where this would end – unreliable narrator? The boyfriend? The neighbors? Supernatural? The ending was a true surprise that I couldn’t have predicted!

I had similar thoughts with Gravewater Lake as I did with this one: the bulk of the read drug on quite a bit with day-to-day details and not a lot of action. The dual timeline in this kept me engaged, and I was itching to know what how the novel would end, but I would have loved to be a bit more on the edge of my seat. The second POV with the “Him” individual is definitely what will keep you invested in this!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found A Place to Die For had a nice steady pace for a slow burner. There are two stories here, the main protagonist, Jordan, lives her life in the "now" and a deranged serial killer lives his in the "then". The way the two intersect is interesting to say the least. The story is full of quirky characters sharing a historic building converted into a posh co-op and welcome Jordan and Sam to their little family of tenants. There seems to be a bit of gaslighting going on as the story progresses and Jordan's fiancé, Sam, believes that a tragedy in their past is beginning to affect her mind, again. I enjoyed the story, found it to have a very subtle dark undertone with some exciting passages thrown in to keep the reader intrigued as we realize that all is not as it seems.
I received a copy via the authors and NetGallery and leave my voluntary opinion of the tale.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Place To Die For is an engaging thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and had a surprising twist at the end! The authors do a great job of building tension and suspense, as well as making the setting very eerie and unsettling. The main characters paranoia starts to infect you as the reader as well, and helps to create a constant sense of dread and distrust in the other characters. The pace is slow but the writing keeps you immersed in the story and is difficult to put down. Also the side-plot stalker kept me confused and intrigued up until the end. The ending is a little wild and unbelievable but everything wraps up in a satisfying way which I appreciate in any thriller. Fans of eerie, suspenseful, thrillers who like being creeped out will love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early copy!

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this more than I did. It was still enjoyable, but not as exciting or twisty as I was expecting/wanting.

This follows a couple who move into an apartment with a very very cheap rent...and they start to learn why. Everyone is suspicious and everything is weird. And then even more things are revealed.

I think the way this story slowed down towards the end is what made moments that were supposed to feel exciting feel less exciting. I feel like it took quite a while to get to the main point/situation/mystery.

I just wanted a little more oomph!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[The Final Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC read!

A Place to Die For started off slowly for me, but once the story found its footing, the tension picked up and kept me engaged. There’s a solid sense of unease woven through much of the book, and I appreciated the buildup once things got moving. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t quite deliver on that promise—the final twist felt rushed and a bit too convenient, arriving so quickly that it didn’t have the emotional payoff I was hoping for. I landed at 3⭐ overall: a decent read with moments of intrigue, but one that didn’t fully stick the landing for my taste.