What do you think?
Rate this book
The Secret Attic
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26The past isn't just haunting her—it's hunting her.
Addison Lowe knew her mother-in-law despised her, but inheriting Barb's massive estate after her death feels less like closure and more like a trap. Barb's hoarded rooms aren't just filled with clutter—they're filled with secrets. And it's Addison's job to unearth them while Luke grieves the loss of the mother he could never let go of.
But Luke grows stranger with every box they open—restless, secretive, cruel in ways Addison has never seen. And the house itself seems to breathe with Barb's presence. Ivy claws through the windows. A murder of crows drops trinkets at her feet. Dolls stare from the shadows, labeled with names Addison doesn't recognize—until she does. One doll bears the name Cassidy Warren, a girl who vanished years ago. And the more Addison uncovers, the more Barb's legacy seems tied to the streak of "bad luck" that has haunted Rockside Bay for decades.
The deeper Addison digs, the clearer it some secrets were meant to stay buried. And the husband she thought she knew may be hiding the darkest one of all…
Addison Lowe knew her mother-in-law despised her, but inheriting Barb's massive estate after her death feels less like closure and more like a trap. Barb's hoarded rooms aren't just filled with clutter—they're filled with secrets. And it's Addison's job to unearth them while Luke grieves the loss of the mother he could never let go of.
But Luke grows stranger with every box they open—restless, secretive, cruel in ways Addison has never seen. And the house itself seems to breathe with Barb's presence. Ivy claws through the windows. A murder of crows drops trinkets at her feet. Dolls stare from the shadows, labeled with names Addison doesn't recognize—until she does. One doll bears the name Cassidy Warren, a girl who vanished years ago. And the more Addison uncovers, the more Barb's legacy seems tied to the streak of "bad luck" that has haunted Rockside Bay for decades.
The deeper Addison digs, the clearer it some secrets were meant to stay buried. And the husband she thought she knew may be hiding the darkest one of all…
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 9, 2026
12 people are currently reading
18106 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Conradt
3 books153 followersChelsea Conradt is the USA Today bestselling author of The Farmhouse and The Secret Attic. She writes twisty speculative thrillers and psychological horror. Her short fiction has appeared in The Sunday Morning Transport and the Fractured Reveries anthology. Her stories are packed with both murder and kindness because we can be more than one thing.
When not writing stories that make you question what’s real, she is likely watching a baking show or a true-crime documentary. She is nothing if not on brand. Chelsea lives in Texas with her husband, son, and two big dogs.
When not writing stories that make you question what’s real, she is likely watching a baking show or a true-crime documentary. She is nothing if not on brand. Chelsea lives in Texas with her husband, son, and two big dogs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay — this is genuinely a great concept: a slow-burn mystery with supernatural undertones wrapped inside a domestic thriller, all set in a recently deceased mother-in-law’s house in Oregon. And when I say mother-in-law, we could just as honestly say monster-in-law — the kind of unnerving presence that gives off serious Weapons Gladys vibes (memorably played by Amy Madigan). From the very beginning, the setting delivers eerie, gothic energy in abundance.
Addison Lowe, still reeling from a miscarriage caused by a bizarre accident, travels with her husband Luke to clean out the massive estate of his late mother, Barb — a woman Addison had a strained, ill-fated relationship with from day one. Addison can’t quite say she’s grieving, but she is determined to support her husband. What she doesn’t anticipate is the overwhelming scale of the house — not just in size, but in clutter. Barb wasn’t simply difficult; she was a hoarder. And the estate is packed with an unreasonable amount of items that will take days — possibly weeks — to sort through.
But as Addison digs deeper into Barb’s belongings, the story takes a darker turn.
Inside Barb’s bedroom closet, Addison discovers a hidden compartment. It doesn’t open into Narnia — but what she finds may be worse. A concealed attic space filled with boxes. Each box is labeled with a person’s name. When Addison opens one marked “Cassidy Warren,” she finds a porcelain doll alongside deeply personal belongings — and the horrifying suggestion that the doll may be crafted with real human hair.
Yes. Things escalate quickly from unsettling to deeply disturbing.
What was Barb really doing in this house? Why did she keep these boxes? And how many names are there?
As the tension tightens, Luke begins acting increasingly suspicious. His grief feels complicated — maybe even performative. The more Addison uncovers, the more isolated she becomes. Is she uncovering a horrifying truth about her late mother-in-law? Or about her husband? And the most pressing question: will she escape this house — emotionally and physically — unharmed?
Overall, I truly loved the concept. The gothic atmosphere is one of the novel’s strongest elements. The house feels alive — not in an overt supernatural way, but as a suffocating presence, heavy with secrets and rot. Addison herself is a compelling protagonist. She’s fragile yet determined, grieving yet clear-eyed. You want to root for her. You want her to outsmart the sinister shadows of this household — both past and present.
However, my main issue was pacing.
The story leans very heavily into the “slow” in slow-burn. At times, it felt too restrained. Large stretches pass where very little happens, and I found myself wishing the tension would spike earlier. I genuinely had to push myself through the first half, hoping the momentum would build faster. While the eerie tone and unsettling discoveries kept me intrigued, the narrative didn’t fully hook me from the beginning.
When the twists finally arrive, they are intriguing — but they feel somewhat abrupt, almost as if the story shifts gears too suddenly after such a measured buildup. A stronger rhythm and sharper escalation could have elevated this from solid to unforgettable.
That said, the core idea is excellent. The creepy dollmaker element, the hoarder-house horror, the fragile marriage under strain — all of it works on a conceptual level. The execution simply needed tighter pacing and more sustained tension to prevent early stagnation.
In the end, I’m giving this a solid three stars. I appreciated the atmosphere, the tension, and Addison’s character arc. And I have to admit — the author’s imagination is undeniably creative and bold. I’m curious to read more of her work and hopeful that future novels maintain this eerie intensity while refining the pacing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital review copy of this haunting mystery in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
Addison Lowe, still reeling from a miscarriage caused by a bizarre accident, travels with her husband Luke to clean out the massive estate of his late mother, Barb — a woman Addison had a strained, ill-fated relationship with from day one. Addison can’t quite say she’s grieving, but she is determined to support her husband. What she doesn’t anticipate is the overwhelming scale of the house — not just in size, but in clutter. Barb wasn’t simply difficult; she was a hoarder. And the estate is packed with an unreasonable amount of items that will take days — possibly weeks — to sort through.
But as Addison digs deeper into Barb’s belongings, the story takes a darker turn.
Inside Barb’s bedroom closet, Addison discovers a hidden compartment. It doesn’t open into Narnia — but what she finds may be worse. A concealed attic space filled with boxes. Each box is labeled with a person’s name. When Addison opens one marked “Cassidy Warren,” she finds a porcelain doll alongside deeply personal belongings — and the horrifying suggestion that the doll may be crafted with real human hair.
Yes. Things escalate quickly from unsettling to deeply disturbing.
What was Barb really doing in this house? Why did she keep these boxes? And how many names are there?
As the tension tightens, Luke begins acting increasingly suspicious. His grief feels complicated — maybe even performative. The more Addison uncovers, the more isolated she becomes. Is she uncovering a horrifying truth about her late mother-in-law? Or about her husband? And the most pressing question: will she escape this house — emotionally and physically — unharmed?
Overall, I truly loved the concept. The gothic atmosphere is one of the novel’s strongest elements. The house feels alive — not in an overt supernatural way, but as a suffocating presence, heavy with secrets and rot. Addison herself is a compelling protagonist. She’s fragile yet determined, grieving yet clear-eyed. You want to root for her. You want her to outsmart the sinister shadows of this household — both past and present.
However, my main issue was pacing.
The story leans very heavily into the “slow” in slow-burn. At times, it felt too restrained. Large stretches pass where very little happens, and I found myself wishing the tension would spike earlier. I genuinely had to push myself through the first half, hoping the momentum would build faster. While the eerie tone and unsettling discoveries kept me intrigued, the narrative didn’t fully hook me from the beginning.
When the twists finally arrive, they are intriguing — but they feel somewhat abrupt, almost as if the story shifts gears too suddenly after such a measured buildup. A stronger rhythm and sharper escalation could have elevated this from solid to unforgettable.
That said, the core idea is excellent. The creepy dollmaker element, the hoarder-house horror, the fragile marriage under strain — all of it works on a conceptual level. The execution simply needed tighter pacing and more sustained tension to prevent early stagnation.
In the end, I’m giving this a solid three stars. I appreciated the atmosphere, the tension, and Addison’s character arc. And I have to admit — the author’s imagination is undeniably creative and bold. I’m curious to read more of her work and hopeful that future novels maintain this eerie intensity while refining the pacing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing a digital review copy of this haunting mystery in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Secret Attic” is one of those slow-burn gothic thrillers that starts off feeling like a tense domestic drama and then slowly slides into something much darker and creepier.
The story follows Addison, who travels with her husband Luke to clean out his late mother’s huge estate in Oregon. Addison never had a great relationship with her mother-in-law Barb; honestly, Barb made it pretty clear she didn’t like her from the start. Still, Addison is trying to be supportive, especially since Luke is grieving. On top of that, Addison is dealing with the trauma of a recent miscarriage, so she’s already in a really fragile place emotionally.
At first, the situation just feels uncomfortable. The house is massive, packed with stuff because Barb was basically a hoarder, and the whole place has this weird, heavy atmosphere. But then Addison starts noticing things that feel off. Neighbors mention seeing strange figures in the windows, Luke gets strangely defensive whenever Addison asks questions about his mom, and there are creepy little details scattered throughout the house, like dolls that feel way too unsettling to just be decorations.
Things really escalate when Addison discovers a hidden attic space filled with boxes labeled with people’s names. Inside them? Dolls made with personal items, including human hair as well as crow feathers. From there, the mystery deepens: what exactly was Barb doing in this house, and how many people might have been affected by it?
One thing I really liked about this book was the atmosphere. The house itself feels almost like a character; it’s dark, cluttered, and full of secrets. There are also some genuinely creepy moments (especially involving the dolls), and the tension slowly builds as Addison digs deeper into what her mother-in-law might have been capable of.
Addison is also a pretty compelling main character. She’s grieving, vulnerable, and dealing with a husband who constantly dismisses her concerns. Luke spends a lot of the book gaslighting her and brushing off the weird things she discovers, which honestly makes him pretty frustrating to read about. But Addison keeps pushing forward anyway, determined to figure out what’s really going on, even when it starts putting her relationship and her safety at risk.
One of the more interesting elements is the group of crows that hangs around the house. Addison ends up forming this strange connection with them, and it adds another eerie layer to the story that makes you wonder just how supernatural everything really is.
The biggest downside is probably the pacing. The book leans heavily into the “slow” part of slow-burn, and there are definitely sections where things feel repetitive or drag a bit. It takes a while for the big reveals to kick in, and when they finally do, they come pretty quickly after such a long buildup.
That said, the final twists are really satisfying and tie together a lot of the strange details, like the dolls, the crows, and Barb’s disturbing influence over the family. There’s even one last surprise at the end that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The ending wraps up the mystery but still leaves things a little open when it comes to Addison and Luke’s future.
Overall, “The Secret Attic” is a creepy, atmospheric thriller with strong gothic vibes and a really interesting central mystery. If you like haunted-house stories, unsettling family secrets, and slow-building supernatural tension, this one is definitely worth checking out; just be prepared for a patient buildup before everything finally falls into place.
“The Secret Attic” is one of those slow-burn gothic thrillers that starts off feeling like a tense domestic drama and then slowly slides into something much darker and creepier.
The story follows Addison, who travels with her husband Luke to clean out his late mother’s huge estate in Oregon. Addison never had a great relationship with her mother-in-law Barb; honestly, Barb made it pretty clear she didn’t like her from the start. Still, Addison is trying to be supportive, especially since Luke is grieving. On top of that, Addison is dealing with the trauma of a recent miscarriage, so she’s already in a really fragile place emotionally.
At first, the situation just feels uncomfortable. The house is massive, packed with stuff because Barb was basically a hoarder, and the whole place has this weird, heavy atmosphere. But then Addison starts noticing things that feel off. Neighbors mention seeing strange figures in the windows, Luke gets strangely defensive whenever Addison asks questions about his mom, and there are creepy little details scattered throughout the house, like dolls that feel way too unsettling to just be decorations.
Things really escalate when Addison discovers a hidden attic space filled with boxes labeled with people’s names. Inside them? Dolls made with personal items, including human hair as well as crow feathers. From there, the mystery deepens: what exactly was Barb doing in this house, and how many people might have been affected by it?
One thing I really liked about this book was the atmosphere. The house itself feels almost like a character; it’s dark, cluttered, and full of secrets. There are also some genuinely creepy moments (especially involving the dolls), and the tension slowly builds as Addison digs deeper into what her mother-in-law might have been capable of.
Addison is also a pretty compelling main character. She’s grieving, vulnerable, and dealing with a husband who constantly dismisses her concerns. Luke spends a lot of the book gaslighting her and brushing off the weird things she discovers, which honestly makes him pretty frustrating to read about. But Addison keeps pushing forward anyway, determined to figure out what’s really going on, even when it starts putting her relationship and her safety at risk.
One of the more interesting elements is the group of crows that hangs around the house. Addison ends up forming this strange connection with them, and it adds another eerie layer to the story that makes you wonder just how supernatural everything really is.
The biggest downside is probably the pacing. The book leans heavily into the “slow” part of slow-burn, and there are definitely sections where things feel repetitive or drag a bit. It takes a while for the big reveals to kick in, and when they finally do, they come pretty quickly after such a long buildup.
That said, the final twists are really satisfying and tie together a lot of the strange details, like the dolls, the crows, and Barb’s disturbing influence over the family. There’s even one last surprise at the end that I genuinely didn’t see coming. The ending wraps up the mystery but still leaves things a little open when it comes to Addison and Luke’s future.
Overall, “The Secret Attic” is a creepy, atmospheric thriller with strong gothic vibes and a really interesting central mystery. If you like haunted-house stories, unsettling family secrets, and slow-building supernatural tension, this one is definitely worth checking out; just be prepared for a patient buildup before everything finally falls into place.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Genre: Psychological thriller/Mystery/Suspense
Title: The Secret Attic
Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, child loss
Is it possible to love someone too much? This is the question Addison Lowe should be asking herself, but she thinks she's being the perfect wife to Luke and is just back in his hometown of Rockport, Oregon to support him as they clear through his late, pack-rat mom's three-story estate. The mother-in-law from Hell, Barb. What Addison discovers will test her faith in Luke, in her own sanity. But she's determined to find answers and with the help of a strange source, a murder ... of crows.
The Secret Attic has plenty of mystery and great writing skills to like in this work from Chelsea Conradt. Imagine trying to support the husband you adore as you put his strong-willed mother's hoard-filled house to rights then finding out her darkest secrets? That's what's in store for doting Addison in this dark look at the relationship between an adoring wife and the other woman in his life - mom.
This is a great mystery at its heart and a fun, sly poke at the old trope of the evil monster that is some mother-in-laws. I found the whole setting: the foggy, Pacific coast, and the "mystery room" very atmospheric and a perfectly dreadful opening to this novel. As we dove further into the exploration of this beautiful manor house, the greater the tension this skilled author ratcheted up in me, and yes, I loved it. 😍
My favorite moment in this book occurs when Addison has the house to herself for a couple of hours. Luke is off to attend a business lunch with someone he doesn't mention. By this point, I'm thinking affair despite Addison's constant gushy inner monologues over this dude. But Cordant has done a fabulous 👌 job of building up a delicious sense of anticipation within me. I almost yelled at the book, "Go find out what (or who!!??) the hell else is up in that secret room beyond that weird little door? It caused a pit in my stomach - showing great skill at tension building here! 👍👏
The carving on the door that led into an Alice in Wonderland experience for Addison was very clever as well, too, I thought, and I admit I never saw the ending twist coming, bravo!
Some aspects occasionally drew me out of the story. Specifically, the overuse of the term overwhelm. There were many instances of it and missed opportunities to use a different word. And yeah, I get that it's "creative license" but if you're going to do something like this, you must do it quite well, or not at all.
I am sorrow in the moment - odd phrase 🤔 but this one was unique and smart to me within the sad context.
Overall, I thought Secret Attic was a nice, interesting read that could benefit from a closer edit, and a book that anyone who enjoys mystery (or ever had a terrible MIL) could easily fall into and enjoy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌙 3.5 stars
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC and the opportunity to review it. My views are my own.
Some people collect momentos. Other people collect oddities. My late mother-in-law did neither, she simply amassed. And a tiny part of me relishes the petty joy of getting to throw it all out. <-great quote! 👍
Title: The Secret Attic
Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, child loss
Is it possible to love someone too much? This is the question Addison Lowe should be asking herself, but she thinks she's being the perfect wife to Luke and is just back in his hometown of Rockport, Oregon to support him as they clear through his late, pack-rat mom's three-story estate. The mother-in-law from Hell, Barb. What Addison discovers will test her faith in Luke, in her own sanity. But she's determined to find answers and with the help of a strange source, a murder ... of crows.
The Secret Attic has plenty of mystery and great writing skills to like in this work from Chelsea Conradt. Imagine trying to support the husband you adore as you put his strong-willed mother's hoard-filled house to rights then finding out her darkest secrets? That's what's in store for doting Addison in this dark look at the relationship between an adoring wife and the other woman in his life - mom.
This is a great mystery at its heart and a fun, sly poke at the old trope of the evil monster that is some mother-in-laws. I found the whole setting: the foggy, Pacific coast, and the "mystery room" very atmospheric and a perfectly dreadful opening to this novel. As we dove further into the exploration of this beautiful manor house, the greater the tension this skilled author ratcheted up in me, and yes, I loved it. 😍
My favorite moment in this book occurs when Addison has the house to herself for a couple of hours. Luke is off to attend a business lunch with someone he doesn't mention. By this point, I'm thinking affair despite Addison's constant gushy inner monologues over this dude. But Cordant has done a fabulous 👌 job of building up a delicious sense of anticipation within me. I almost yelled at the book, "Go find out what (or who!!??) the hell else is up in that secret room beyond that weird little door? It caused a pit in my stomach - showing great skill at tension building here! 👍👏
The carving on the door that led into an Alice in Wonderland experience for Addison was very clever as well, too, I thought, and I admit I never saw the ending twist coming, bravo!
Some aspects occasionally drew me out of the story. Specifically, the overuse of the term overwhelm. There were many instances of it and missed opportunities to use a different word. And yeah, I get that it's "creative license" but if you're going to do something like this, you must do it quite well, or not at all.
I am sorrow in the moment - odd phrase 🤔 but this one was unique and smart to me within the sad context.
Overall, I thought Secret Attic was a nice, interesting read that could benefit from a closer edit, and a book that anyone who enjoys mystery (or ever had a terrible MIL) could easily fall into and enjoy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌙 3.5 stars
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this ARC and the opportunity to review it. My views are my own.
Some people collect momentos. Other people collect oddities. My late mother-in-law did neither, she simply amassed. And a tiny part of me relishes the petty joy of getting to throw it all out. <-great quote! 👍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many things to unpack here. A way to get any thriller/mystery/suspense to work, you need a goofy main character (maybe they aren't smart, maybe too hard-headed) and a secret outcome that absolutely no one will guess because the plot wasn't developed enough to encompass that outcome. This book had that.
I enjoyed our main character. I thought she was much braver than I could ever be. She asked the right questions, but she remained too loyal to her husband that she should've left. After one too many secrets, I think she should've recognized that her husband is a complete wadball and doesn't deserve her. Yes, he loves her, but does he really if he keeps lying to her?
I'll admit the beginning was promising - except the OMG (it's a personal thing I don't care for), but once we kept having to repeat the word 'boxes' I kinda zoned out. This book would be much better as a movie, imo, than having to read the word box a million times because there's really only so many ways to say it. So the redundancy was taking away part of the immersion for me.
This is probably a misstep on my part but why do the birds care? Were they alive the many years ago when the girl's body was buried? Was Barb simply plain mean to them? If the birds weren't alive back then, is it a learned trait to distrust Barb? The birds help move the plot forward but it's over my head how they could've collected some of the most important breadcrumbs to the story.
The most frustrating part. Her husband was downright dirty. A straight up liar. Kept doing things that she would brush off once she got a simple 'i'm sorry'. Said he didn't know about the dolls but then later confesses he knew. But he didn't think to connect it with the accidents that would happen to people and definitely didn't know that his momma off'd someone? A very special someone. ***The death of that young girl was very dark, seemed like it was there for a shock factor, and it seems to cut short the heinous act that was committed against that girl (meaning, what did the town say when they found out miss perfect barb did what she did? did the family get any closure besides the officer that was her cousin? what did her older sister think of them now? We didn't get any of that in the story) EXCEPT we got a doll that was in the likeness of barb in her husband's closet.... but wait, I thought he said his mom never would've hurt his wife, that she wouldn't do something to hurt him that way. THEN WHY HAVE THE DOLL - it makes it seem that maybe he off'd her.. if he off'd her then that means he once again lied by telling his wife 'no, mom would NEVVVVVER hurt you or me'. It's a little hazy on that part because the husband is so annoyingly stupid and a big liar.
I wouldn't say that my reading experience was all negative - I found myself needing to know what happened and also if miss girl would end up being killed by her husband. However, there were a lot of issues I had with the plot, the characters, and the use of a secret pregnant 14 year old dead girl.
I enjoyed our main character. I thought she was much braver than I could ever be. She asked the right questions, but she remained too loyal to her husband that she should've left. After one too many secrets, I think she should've recognized that her husband is a complete wadball and doesn't deserve her. Yes, he loves her, but does he really if he keeps lying to her?
I'll admit the beginning was promising - except the OMG (it's a personal thing I don't care for), but once we kept having to repeat the word 'boxes' I kinda zoned out. This book would be much better as a movie, imo, than having to read the word box a million times because there's really only so many ways to say it. So the redundancy was taking away part of the immersion for me.
This is probably a misstep on my part but why do the birds care? Were they alive the many years ago when the girl's body was buried? Was Barb simply plain mean to them? If the birds weren't alive back then, is it a learned trait to distrust Barb? The birds help move the plot forward but it's over my head how they could've collected some of the most important breadcrumbs to the story.
The most frustrating part. Her husband was downright dirty. A straight up liar. Kept doing things that she would brush off once she got a simple 'i'm sorry'. Said he didn't know about the dolls but then later confesses he knew. But he didn't think to connect it with the accidents that would happen to people and definitely didn't know that his momma off'd someone? A very special someone. ***The death of that young girl was very dark, seemed like it was there for a shock factor, and it seems to cut short the heinous act that was committed against that girl (meaning, what did the town say when they found out miss perfect barb did what she did? did the family get any closure besides the officer that was her cousin? what did her older sister think of them now? We didn't get any of that in the story) EXCEPT we got a doll that was in the likeness of barb in her husband's closet.... but wait, I thought he said his mom never would've hurt his wife, that she wouldn't do something to hurt him that way. THEN WHY HAVE THE DOLL - it makes it seem that maybe he off'd her.. if he off'd her then that means he once again lied by telling his wife 'no, mom would NEVVVVVER hurt you or me'. It's a little hazy on that part because the husband is so annoyingly stupid and a big liar.
I wouldn't say that my reading experience was all negative - I found myself needing to know what happened and also if miss girl would end up being killed by her husband. However, there were a lot of issues I had with the plot, the characters, and the use of a secret pregnant 14 year old dead girl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Addison faces one last trip to her awful and now late mother in law's, Barb's, house - this time to clean the place up and get it ready for being rented out. But what should be a much easier trip without constantly being reminded of how she'll never be good enough, turns into its own kind of nightmare, when Addison starts discovering things her husband immediately tells her to just forget about. And it's not only the creepy doll collection, the hated murder of crows outside or the hoarder's treasure trove Addison has to deal with - like, her husband clearly isn't just grieving with how aggressive he gets about certain questions he's asked or things he's shown. With a mother in law keeping a whole secret attic worth of dark secrets and plants that slowly start to invade the house, Addison has her work cut out for her.
Honestly, this wasn't really my favourite book - it had potential, that's for sure, but the writing style was simply not for me. I know it's supposed to be more modern and young, but reading things like OMG frequently or the whole rant Addison went on about some glitter (please don't get me wrong, I like jokes! But this just went on for too long).. Or the whole thing about naming the birds, then the two of them calling each other "context king", "queen of whatever" etc constantly.. Addison seemingly having to mention at least once per chapter how in love she is, while Luke behaves how he does.. I just couldn't enjoy that which made this story just a little bit hard to get through.
The setting itself was well done - the whole small town feeling, everyone knowing everything about everyone and therefore even just going out to eat is a pain.. Absolutely believable, even though we barely spend time there. Also the plot itself had premise - the whole finding the mysterious hidden attic, Luke's reaction, the pull to find out more.. The whole build up of that mystery was interesting. It was the supernatural elements, that felt a little bit disjointed to me - especially the random wounds or the size of that room, without giving too much away. The plants invading the house somehow still felt connected because we tie that up in the end, I just wish we'd have gotten some closure for the rest as well. Same goes for things like the random slippers in Addison's size - why were they there? - or the random clothes in different sizes, or even just that apple dish, that I guess I just would have liked to get some answers about in the end. The birds as a spooky element were very nice though, I like how they added some natural drama to the plot and then even had a reason to be there, even if that was just a bit of another unanswered question in the end.
The end itself.. Again, I just wish we'd have gotten more proper answers. Leaving the story where we did though was a nice touch, gives the reader something to think about.
Overall, the story has potential, but I just had a few issues with the writing style and I think I would have just wanted a few more answers by the end of it.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Honestly, this wasn't really my favourite book - it had potential, that's for sure, but the writing style was simply not for me. I know it's supposed to be more modern and young, but reading things like OMG frequently or the whole rant Addison went on about some glitter (please don't get me wrong, I like jokes! But this just went on for too long).. Or the whole thing about naming the birds, then the two of them calling each other "context king", "queen of whatever" etc constantly.. Addison seemingly having to mention at least once per chapter how in love she is, while Luke behaves how he does.. I just couldn't enjoy that which made this story just a little bit hard to get through.
The setting itself was well done - the whole small town feeling, everyone knowing everything about everyone and therefore even just going out to eat is a pain.. Absolutely believable, even though we barely spend time there. Also the plot itself had premise - the whole finding the mysterious hidden attic, Luke's reaction, the pull to find out more.. The whole build up of that mystery was interesting. It was the supernatural elements, that felt a little bit disjointed to me - especially the random wounds or the size of that room, without giving too much away. The plants invading the house somehow still felt connected because we tie that up in the end, I just wish we'd have gotten some closure for the rest as well. Same goes for things like the random slippers in Addison's size - why were they there? - or the random clothes in different sizes, or even just that apple dish, that I guess I just would have liked to get some answers about in the end. The birds as a spooky element were very nice though, I like how they added some natural drama to the plot and then even had a reason to be there, even if that was just a bit of another unanswered question in the end.
The end itself.. Again, I just wish we'd have gotten more proper answers. Leaving the story where we did though was a nice touch, gives the reader something to think about.
Overall, the story has potential, but I just had a few issues with the writing style and I think I would have just wanted a few more answers by the end of it.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m going to agree with other reviewers about the slow burn being a just a liiiittle too slow. I felt like some scenes were repetitive, with names changed, and that we could have done without them. Then again, maybe the author was trying to really drive the creepy and “how deep does this go” element.
Anyway. I found the writing enjoyable. The story is, at first glance, your typical evil mother-in-law dies, and wife must help support spouse by cleaning out the house. The mother-in-law kept her first floor immaculate, but the other floors… it probably would have just been easier to call in Hoarders, honestly.
I can’t honestly say much more about the plot without giving spoilers, but the big thing is that Addison, the wife, starts to experience and finds some very weird, very uncomfortable stuff.
I liked Addison. She was a lot more patient and kinder than I would have been, I can say that, lmao. I like that she didn’t give up, I like that she was determined to get answers no matter how much of a pain her husband was being at any given time and most of all… I like that she made friends with the crows. Boo to you, Luke. Crows are a gift. Which Addison learns.
I know the summary says that Luke ‘begins’ to act like a jerk whilst working through his mother’s house, but because I don’t have enough of his behaviour before or after the house, he just came off as a really unlikable character to me. Like, full stop, I would have paid Addison $10 to just have turned to him and said, “You know what? You got this. I’m gonna go get a massage. Text me when you remember how to be nice again.”
Luke’s behaviour made no sense to me, honestly. Was something in the house making him a jerk? Was it the stress of dealing with his mom’s stuff? Her death? I didn’t like how he repeatedly gaslit Addison throughout the book, constantly telling her the (spoiler) that she had found in the attic were either nothing or didn’t exist. Sign my petition to get Addison a better man, please.
Anyway. Overall, I found the book to be unique. It went places I didn’t even consider and that ending—I’m going to be honest. I feel like that’s the point where I should have been cheering for Luke and realized he was some hero or something, but I just kind of whispered to myself, “Addison, get out of the house.” It was completely unexpected, though, and there’s nothing more I love than an unexpected ending.
I would definitely recommend people give this book a try if they can manage the patience it takes for the story to really pick up. I think it’s worth it.
Anyway. I found the writing enjoyable. The story is, at first glance, your typical evil mother-in-law dies, and wife must help support spouse by cleaning out the house. The mother-in-law kept her first floor immaculate, but the other floors… it probably would have just been easier to call in Hoarders, honestly.
I can’t honestly say much more about the plot without giving spoilers, but the big thing is that Addison, the wife, starts to experience and finds some very weird, very uncomfortable stuff.
I liked Addison. She was a lot more patient and kinder than I would have been, I can say that, lmao. I like that she didn’t give up, I like that she was determined to get answers no matter how much of a pain her husband was being at any given time and most of all… I like that she made friends with the crows. Boo to you, Luke. Crows are a gift. Which Addison learns.
I know the summary says that Luke ‘begins’ to act like a jerk whilst working through his mother’s house, but because I don’t have enough of his behaviour before or after the house, he just came off as a really unlikable character to me. Like, full stop, I would have paid Addison $10 to just have turned to him and said, “You know what? You got this. I’m gonna go get a massage. Text me when you remember how to be nice again.”
Luke’s behaviour made no sense to me, honestly. Was something in the house making him a jerk? Was it the stress of dealing with his mom’s stuff? Her death? I didn’t like how he repeatedly gaslit Addison throughout the book, constantly telling her the (spoiler) that she had found in the attic were either nothing or didn’t exist. Sign my petition to get Addison a better man, please.
Anyway. Overall, I found the book to be unique. It went places I didn’t even consider and that ending—I’m going to be honest. I feel like that’s the point where I should have been cheering for Luke and realized he was some hero or something, but I just kind of whispered to myself, “Addison, get out of the house.” It was completely unexpected, though, and there’s nothing more I love than an unexpected ending.
I would definitely recommend people give this book a try if they can manage the patience it takes for the story to really pick up. I think it’s worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Secret Attic is a wonderfully eerie, slow‑creeping gothic thriller that blends domestic tension with supernatural dread in a way that feels both elegant and deliciously unsettling. It’s the kind of story where the house itself becomes a character—breathing, watching, remembering—and the further Addison wanders into its shadows, the more you feel the walls closing in around her.
Addison’s inheritance of her mother‑in‑law’s estate sets the tone immediately: this isn’t a gift, it’s a warning. The hoarded rooms, the ivy clawing through the windows, the dolls labelled with names she shouldn’t recognise—each discovery adds a new layer of unease. What I loved is how the book keeps its horror grounded in emotion. Addison is grieving, Luke is unraveling, and the house seems to feed on everything they’re too afraid to say out loud.
The tension between Addison and Luke is especially compelling. His shift from grieving son to someone secretive and sharp-edged gives the story a creeping psychological menace. You’re never quite sure whether the danger is supernatural, marital, or something tangled between the two. And the mystery of Cassidy Warren, the missing girl whose name appears on one of the dolls, ties the whole narrative together with a chilling inevitability.
The atmosphere is rich and oppressive in the best way—crows dropping trinkets, reflections that feel wrong, rooms that seem to rearrange themselves around Addison’s fears. It’s a story about legacy, obsession, and the kind of secrets that rot a family from the inside out.
A dark, elegant, and compulsively readable gothic thriller that kept me turning pages long after I should have stopped. Perfect for readers who love haunted houses with teeth, complicated marriages, and mysteries that refuse to stay buried.
With thanks to Chelsea Conradt, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Addison’s inheritance of her mother‑in‑law’s estate sets the tone immediately: this isn’t a gift, it’s a warning. The hoarded rooms, the ivy clawing through the windows, the dolls labelled with names she shouldn’t recognise—each discovery adds a new layer of unease. What I loved is how the book keeps its horror grounded in emotion. Addison is grieving, Luke is unraveling, and the house seems to feed on everything they’re too afraid to say out loud.
The tension between Addison and Luke is especially compelling. His shift from grieving son to someone secretive and sharp-edged gives the story a creeping psychological menace. You’re never quite sure whether the danger is supernatural, marital, or something tangled between the two. And the mystery of Cassidy Warren, the missing girl whose name appears on one of the dolls, ties the whole narrative together with a chilling inevitability.
The atmosphere is rich and oppressive in the best way—crows dropping trinkets, reflections that feel wrong, rooms that seem to rearrange themselves around Addison’s fears. It’s a story about legacy, obsession, and the kind of secrets that rot a family from the inside out.
A dark, elegant, and compulsively readable gothic thriller that kept me turning pages long after I should have stopped. Perfect for readers who love haunted houses with teeth, complicated marriages, and mysteries that refuse to stay buried.
With thanks to Chelsea Conradt, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Some mothers will never accept who their son marries. No one will be good enough. Not for their little boy. Addison understands that. She’s lived it. Barb never approved of her and let her know that from day one. Despite that, Addy and Luke have done their best to make their marriage work.
Addy isn’t really that sad when Barb dies. However, she is not a big fan of cleaning out Barb’s house. But whatever it takes to support her husband during his grief. Well, double grief. Addy had an accident that caused her to have a miscarriage [TRIGGER WARNING: If you have had a miscarriage, that is mentioned quite a bit throughout this novel as Addy deals with the loss.]
Then, strange things start happening. And Addy finds things that she is pretty sure she, or anyone else for that matter, was never supposed to find. Addy sure wasn’t prepared for the impact that these discoveries would have on Luke.
“The Secret Attic” is dark and creepy. It is well written and is one of those novels you won’t want to put down and stay up waaaay too late reading. With a light on, of course. Because you will be hearing creaking in your house and bumps in the attic.
My only issue was that there were a few times the author was repetitive in their thoughts. That may be normal for a person going through all Addison is going through but can take you out of the scene while readding. To me, that should have been cleaned up in editing. But with that minor quibble, it is definitely worth the read. If nothing else, for the last chapter alone. So good.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Addy isn’t really that sad when Barb dies. However, she is not a big fan of cleaning out Barb’s house. But whatever it takes to support her husband during his grief. Well, double grief. Addy had an accident that caused her to have a miscarriage [TRIGGER WARNING: If you have had a miscarriage, that is mentioned quite a bit throughout this novel as Addy deals with the loss.]
Then, strange things start happening. And Addy finds things that she is pretty sure she, or anyone else for that matter, was never supposed to find. Addy sure wasn’t prepared for the impact that these discoveries would have on Luke.
“The Secret Attic” is dark and creepy. It is well written and is one of those novels you won’t want to put down and stay up waaaay too late reading. With a light on, of course. Because you will be hearing creaking in your house and bumps in the attic.
My only issue was that there were a few times the author was repetitive in their thoughts. That may be normal for a person going through all Addison is going through but can take you out of the scene while readding. To me, that should have been cleaned up in editing. But with that minor quibble, it is definitely worth the read. If nothing else, for the last chapter alone. So good.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📚Book: The Secret Attic
Author: Chelsea Conradt
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Atmospheric Thriller
Pages: 368
Coming June 9, 2026
🚨Trigger warning🚨 Miscarriage
📚My Book Review:
The Secret Attic by Chelsea Conradt is a gothic, atmospheric thriller about a woman, Addison Lowe, who knew her mother—in—law despised her, but inheriting Barb's massive estate after her death feels less like closure and more like a trap. Barb's hoarded rooms aren't just filled with clutter—they're filled with secrets. But her husband grows stranger with every box they open—restless, secretive, cruel in ways Addison has never seen. And the house itself seems to breathe with Barb's presence.
The deeper Addison digs, the clearer it becomes: some secrets were meant to stay buried.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The book is a very slow moving thriller but scares the crap out of the reader. Very creepy, odd and bizarre things occur. Don’t read with the lights off. I’m not sure how Addison keeps it together … I would run the first chance I got. My only minor issue with the book is that the author is repetitive with some of the things that happen. Also, Addison doesn’t tell her husband about a lot of the odd that she finds which seemed odd when I was reading it.
I rated this book 4 stars. If you like to get scared and like a slow building thriller, this book is for you! And I included a trigger warning about miscarriage in case for those who may be upset by it.
Author: Chelsea Conradt
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Atmospheric Thriller
Pages: 368
Coming June 9, 2026
🚨Trigger warning🚨 Miscarriage
📚My Book Review:
The Secret Attic by Chelsea Conradt is a gothic, atmospheric thriller about a woman, Addison Lowe, who knew her mother—in—law despised her, but inheriting Barb's massive estate after her death feels less like closure and more like a trap. Barb's hoarded rooms aren't just filled with clutter—they're filled with secrets. But her husband grows stranger with every box they open—restless, secretive, cruel in ways Addison has never seen. And the house itself seems to breathe with Barb's presence.
The deeper Addison digs, the clearer it becomes: some secrets were meant to stay buried.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The book is a very slow moving thriller but scares the crap out of the reader. Very creepy, odd and bizarre things occur. Don’t read with the lights off. I’m not sure how Addison keeps it together … I would run the first chance I got. My only minor issue with the book is that the author is repetitive with some of the things that happen. Also, Addison doesn’t tell her husband about a lot of the odd that she finds which seemed odd when I was reading it.
I rated this book 4 stars. If you like to get scared and like a slow building thriller, this book is for you! And I included a trigger warning about miscarriage in case for those who may be upset by it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Psychological thriller 🕯️
TW: Miscarriage, death
Rating: 3.5/5
"Cassie's mouth opens, but it isn't humor that spills out. Dirt-dark and teeming with worms-falls from her lips."
Married couple Addison and Luke return to Luke's hometown to settle his late mother's estate, but what begins as a straightforward task quickly takes a dark turn. As Addison sifts through the home, she uncovers unsettling hoards left behind by her mother-in-law — most notably a collection of pincushion dolls that bear an eerie resemblance to people around town, each one seeming to mirror accidents those same people have experienced. Meanwhile, Luke grows increasingly on edge as strange things continue to surface throughout the estate.
The crows were my favorite element of this book. They're remarkably intelligent animals, and knowing that Addison's mother-in-law despised them told me everything I needed to know about her character almost immediately. There's also something deeply relatable about Addison's early morning moments spent connecting with nature — it grounded the story in a way that made the creepiness hit even harder.
Conradt's writing style kept me completely hooked, and I genuinely couldn't put it down. That said, I felt the ending was drawn out, and I wish the book had scattered more breadcrumbs along the way. A few more scares woven throughout would have made the payoff feel more earned. There's a lot of potential in this premise, and with a tighter build of dread, it could have been truly haunting.
TW: Miscarriage, death
Rating: 3.5/5
"Cassie's mouth opens, but it isn't humor that spills out. Dirt-dark and teeming with worms-falls from her lips."
Married couple Addison and Luke return to Luke's hometown to settle his late mother's estate, but what begins as a straightforward task quickly takes a dark turn. As Addison sifts through the home, she uncovers unsettling hoards left behind by her mother-in-law — most notably a collection of pincushion dolls that bear an eerie resemblance to people around town, each one seeming to mirror accidents those same people have experienced. Meanwhile, Luke grows increasingly on edge as strange things continue to surface throughout the estate.
The crows were my favorite element of this book. They're remarkably intelligent animals, and knowing that Addison's mother-in-law despised them told me everything I needed to know about her character almost immediately. There's also something deeply relatable about Addison's early morning moments spent connecting with nature — it grounded the story in a way that made the creepiness hit even harder.
Conradt's writing style kept me completely hooked, and I genuinely couldn't put it down. That said, I felt the ending was drawn out, and I wish the book had scattered more breadcrumbs along the way. A few more scares woven throughout would have made the payoff feel more earned. There's a lot of potential in this premise, and with a tighter build of dread, it could have been truly haunting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After the death of her mother-in-law, Addison accompanies her grieving husband to the estate to clean it out. It was no secret to Addison that the woman hated her and she isn't exactly grieving Barb's death, but her husband Luke was very close to Barb and she knows he is taking his mother's loss hard. As soon as she can clean out Barb's house, the sooner they can go home. Strange secrets are held in the various rooms of this large home, but it is the discovery of a secret attic that wakes Addison up to how weird Barb was. With her long standing feud with crows in her yard, her creepy crafting habits, and her hatred of pretty much everyone who wasn't her son Luke, there seems to be something darker about Barb, and the more Addison learns, the more terrified she becomes.
This was really masterful. Conradt can really spin a story and I am here for it. Addison is such a great protagonist. She is intelligent and capable. The feelings of inadequacy she struggles with when it comes to Barb, the woman who means so much to the man who means so much to her. I felt that! Also, I'm a big fan of crows and their various little funny habits, so having that be a significant part of the story was delightful. The deeper, darker mystery at the heart of this book was so well done. There were many elements that came together for this spooky thematic thriller and I loved it! From the start of this book, to the very end... so good.
This was really masterful. Conradt can really spin a story and I am here for it. Addison is such a great protagonist. She is intelligent and capable. The feelings of inadequacy she struggles with when it comes to Barb, the woman who means so much to the man who means so much to her. I felt that! Also, I'm a big fan of crows and their various little funny habits, so having that be a significant part of the story was delightful. The deeper, darker mystery at the heart of this book was so well done. There were many elements that came together for this spooky thematic thriller and I loved it! From the start of this book, to the very end... so good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Secret Attic by Chelsea Conradt is a well-written and suspenseful mystery novel that slowly reveals its secrets as the story unfolds. The book follows a woman who is helping her husband clean out the home of her late mother-in-law. This task is emotionally difficult for her because her mother-in-law openly disliked her, even though her husband had always been very close with his mother.
At the same time, the main character is struggling to recover emotionally from the devastating loss of a pregnancy, which adds another layer of grief and vulnerability to her situation. As she begins sorting through the house and its belongings, she starts to uncover strange and unsettling secrets hidden within the home.
These discoveries create an eerie sense of mystery and tension. At the same time, her husband’s behavior begins to change in ways that make the situation even more unsettling, leaving the reader questioning what is really going on.
The author carefully reveals clues piece by piece, building curiosity and tension throughout the story. However, the pacing feels a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, which made it somewhat difficult for me to stay fully engaged.
While it was a good read, it wasn’t my favorite mystery book I’ve read recently. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars, as the story is engaging but the slower pacing may not appeal to every reader.
Huge thank you to the Poison Pen, and Netgalley for the eARC copy of this book.
At the same time, the main character is struggling to recover emotionally from the devastating loss of a pregnancy, which adds another layer of grief and vulnerability to her situation. As she begins sorting through the house and its belongings, she starts to uncover strange and unsettling secrets hidden within the home.
These discoveries create an eerie sense of mystery and tension. At the same time, her husband’s behavior begins to change in ways that make the situation even more unsettling, leaving the reader questioning what is really going on.
The author carefully reveals clues piece by piece, building curiosity and tension throughout the story. However, the pacing feels a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, which made it somewhat difficult for me to stay fully engaged.
While it was a good read, it wasn’t my favorite mystery book I’ve read recently. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars, as the story is engaging but the slower pacing may not appeal to every reader.
Huge thank you to the Poison Pen, and Netgalley for the eARC copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, i finished the secret attic in the span of 2 days.. i was hooked. It is a slow burn but full of some much creepiness and darkness especially the dolls in a good way!
It follows Addison and her husband Luke as they are going to clean out her mother in law's house after she passed away. Barb had never liked addison and she made sure to let her know so going through the huge estate feels like a final aha to her but little does she know as she is going through she finds a hidden attic that has boxes of dolls with names of people from the small town and they have dark meanings as you learn what happened to some of these residents. Right from the get go i immediately knew what the dolls were and how they had been used. Barb was a character that straight away was not a good person.
I also really liked the crows and how addison would interact with them, they seemed like a bad omen to Luke as he went into detail why he didn't like them but i did enjoy the moments we were with the crows and how they subtly gave hints. This read definitely kept me on my toes and i did enjoy it especially at the ending; it was something i didn't see coming but also maybe did see coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.
It follows Addison and her husband Luke as they are going to clean out her mother in law's house after she passed away. Barb had never liked addison and she made sure to let her know so going through the huge estate feels like a final aha to her but little does she know as she is going through she finds a hidden attic that has boxes of dolls with names of people from the small town and they have dark meanings as you learn what happened to some of these residents. Right from the get go i immediately knew what the dolls were and how they had been used. Barb was a character that straight away was not a good person.
I also really liked the crows and how addison would interact with them, they seemed like a bad omen to Luke as he went into detail why he didn't like them but i did enjoy the moments we were with the crows and how they subtly gave hints. This read definitely kept me on my toes and i did enjoy it especially at the ending; it was something i didn't see coming but also maybe did see coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.
February 20, 2026
First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC copy for my unbiased review.
We all hear stories about the Mother-in-law and how no one will ever be good enough for their child. Imagine your mother-in-law dies and now you and your spouse are tasked with cleaning up and preparing the estate for sale. This is where we find our main character Addison. She’s willing to do whatever she can for her husband to help him through this difficult time, but she’s not the first person to feel or do things for her husband, his mother was the first woman in his life.
Full of atmospheric suspense, puzzle piecing, and just sheer creepiness, the slow and steady discoveries keep you wondering what’s going to happen next. From a home that contains years of family history, a small town that is full of stories, dolls, and crows, there’s so much to be unpacked…literally. Can a marriage already suffering from a loss, survive a mother-in-law even if she’s dead? Join Addison as she pieces together a family history, struggles with the memory of her mother-in-law, and a husband she thought she knew.
This book has so many creepy elements and twists that keep you going, because just like Addison, you want to know what’s really going on.
We all hear stories about the Mother-in-law and how no one will ever be good enough for their child. Imagine your mother-in-law dies and now you and your spouse are tasked with cleaning up and preparing the estate for sale. This is where we find our main character Addison. She’s willing to do whatever she can for her husband to help him through this difficult time, but she’s not the first person to feel or do things for her husband, his mother was the first woman in his life.
Full of atmospheric suspense, puzzle piecing, and just sheer creepiness, the slow and steady discoveries keep you wondering what’s going to happen next. From a home that contains years of family history, a small town that is full of stories, dolls, and crows, there’s so much to be unpacked…literally. Can a marriage already suffering from a loss, survive a mother-in-law even if she’s dead? Join Addison as she pieces together a family history, struggles with the memory of her mother-in-law, and a husband she thought she knew.
This book has so many creepy elements and twists that keep you going, because just like Addison, you want to know what’s really going on.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Secret rooms in old houses are stories like catnip to this reviewer. When the invitation to read The Secret Attic hit my mailbox, I accepted and dove right into the book. Empathizing with protagonist Addison Lowe was easy. Who wouldn't feel protective of a woman with a mother-in-law from hell?
When Addison's mother-in-law dies, she helps her husband, Luke, clean out his childhood home in preparation for sale. Along the way, Addison discovers more idiosyncrasies about her husband's mother than she could have imagined. The older woman's attraction to crows and fascination with old dolls both lure and repel Addison. As the meaning behind the symbols becomes apparent, Addison's revulsion for her late mother-in-law intensifies. Although she has a strong and loving marriage with Luke, her perception of him wavers. The Secret Attic is well written and paced. Even though this reviewer is not creeped out by old dolls, the novel kept me entertained.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
When Addison's mother-in-law dies, she helps her husband, Luke, clean out his childhood home in preparation for sale. Along the way, Addison discovers more idiosyncrasies about her husband's mother than she could have imagined. The older woman's attraction to crows and fascination with old dolls both lure and repel Addison. As the meaning behind the symbols becomes apparent, Addison's revulsion for her late mother-in-law intensifies. Although she has a strong and loving marriage with Luke, her perception of him wavers. The Secret Attic is well written and paced. Even though this reviewer is not creeped out by old dolls, the novel kept me entertained.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW — I was hooked from the very beginning.
The Secret Attic takes a simple premise — a couple cleaning out a home after a death — and turns it into a compelling and atmospheric mystery that keeps the reader guessing throughout.
I really appreciated the author’s restraint with character development. The characters felt authentic and real without being over-described, which helped maintain the sense of mystery running beneath the story. The protagonist’s first-person voice also had a natural personality that made her easy to connect with — moments like her describing a situation as a “creepshow” felt genuine and grounded.
I also loved the subtle role of the crows throughout the story. They added an eerie layer to the atmosphere without ever pushing the narrative into something overly fantastical.
While the twists weren’t shocking for me, they felt believable and unique, which I often find far more satisfying. The pacing kept the story moving, and I especially appreciated that the conclusion didn’t drag on — it wrapped up efficiently while still leaving a hint of lingering intrigue.
Thank you NetGalley for a thoroughly enjoyable read! Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of atmosphere and subtle dark suspense will likely enjoy this story.
The Secret Attic takes a simple premise — a couple cleaning out a home after a death — and turns it into a compelling and atmospheric mystery that keeps the reader guessing throughout.
I really appreciated the author’s restraint with character development. The characters felt authentic and real without being over-described, which helped maintain the sense of mystery running beneath the story. The protagonist’s first-person voice also had a natural personality that made her easy to connect with — moments like her describing a situation as a “creepshow” felt genuine and grounded.
I also loved the subtle role of the crows throughout the story. They added an eerie layer to the atmosphere without ever pushing the narrative into something overly fantastical.
While the twists weren’t shocking for me, they felt believable and unique, which I often find far more satisfying. The pacing kept the story moving, and I especially appreciated that the conclusion didn’t drag on — it wrapped up efficiently while still leaving a hint of lingering intrigue.
Thank you NetGalley for a thoroughly enjoyable read! Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of atmosphere and subtle dark suspense will likely enjoy this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Addison has had to endure her mother-in-law Barb's less than warm relationship for years, never being good enough to marry her son. After Barb's death, Addie is still feeling the heavy judgment of Barb as she is forced to clean out Barb's hoarder house. While going through Barb's bedroom, Addison finds a hidden door leading to a secret attic. Nothing could have prepared Addison for what she found inside.
The first part of this book I was really frustrated with Addison. She lets her husband gas light her every time she questions the strange things she's found in his mother's home. He goes behind her back to meet up with his ex-girlfriend and never once defends her when we see the flashbacks of Addison's memories of interactions with Barb. Finally though, Addison grows a back bone and stands up to her husband, really letting him have it for never once coming to her defense against his mother. The slow unraveling of what's in the secret attic and the uncovering of Barb's secrets left me guessing what was going on, and when the reveal happens, it's in a satisfying way. I really enjoyed this story and will be reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
The first part of this book I was really frustrated with Addison. She lets her husband gas light her every time she questions the strange things she's found in his mother's home. He goes behind her back to meet up with his ex-girlfriend and never once defends her when we see the flashbacks of Addison's memories of interactions with Barb. Finally though, Addison grows a back bone and stands up to her husband, really letting him have it for never once coming to her defense against his mother. The slow unraveling of what's in the secret attic and the uncovering of Barb's secrets left me guessing what was going on, and when the reveal happens, it's in a satisfying way. I really enjoyed this story and will be reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Secret Attic is one of those stories that gives you the heebie-jeebies right from the start. The eerie house, unsettling discoveries, and creeping tension create this constant feeling that something just isn’t quite right. The story follows Addison and her husband as they return to his hometown to handle his mother’s estate after she passes. Addison and her mother-in-law never really got off on the right foot, but they “tolerated” each other for Luke’s sake.
At first, Addison and Luke seem like the kind of couple who would do anything for one another, and Addison ends up taking on most of the mental load to make things easier on him.
What starts as a simple task quickly spirals into something much more disturbing. Strange dolls, hidden rooms, and mysterious clues begin to surface, and the uneasiness just keeps building.
The pacing is definitely more of a slow burn, but if you enjoy thrillers with gothic vibes, hidden secrets, and a mystery that unfolds little by little, this one might be for you.
Admittedly I caught myself skipping ahead and going back and forth between chapters (something I don’t usually do) because parts felt a bit slow for me. For me this story rates about 3.5 stars. The plot itself is good though, I enjoyed the twist at the end.
At first, Addison and Luke seem like the kind of couple who would do anything for one another, and Addison ends up taking on most of the mental load to make things easier on him.
What starts as a simple task quickly spirals into something much more disturbing. Strange dolls, hidden rooms, and mysterious clues begin to surface, and the uneasiness just keeps building.
The pacing is definitely more of a slow burn, but if you enjoy thrillers with gothic vibes, hidden secrets, and a mystery that unfolds little by little, this one might be for you.
Admittedly I caught myself skipping ahead and going back and forth between chapters (something I don’t usually do) because parts felt a bit slow for me. For me this story rates about 3.5 stars. The plot itself is good though, I enjoyed the twist at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2026
I read this as an ARC from NetGalley, and it turned out to be an interesting slow‑burn suspense with a strong sense of atmosphere. The premise hooked me right away: a woman inherits her mother‑in‑law’s cluttered, secret‑filled home, and nothing about the place—or the people around her—feels quite right. The book leans into that creeping unease, mixing family tension with a steady build of unsettling details.
What I enjoyed most was the blend of dark, foreboding moments with small flashes of humor. Those lighter touches kept the story from feeling too heavy and gave the main character some welcome personality amid the strangeness unfolding around her.
The writing style was a bit uneven for me. Some descriptions were vivid and perfectly timed, really pulling me into the setting, while others felt drawn out and slowed the pace. Once the story found its footing, though, it held my attention and delivered a decent, atmospheric read with a lingering sense of mystery.
A good pick for readers who like slow‑building suspense with a moody, slightly uncanny edge.
What I enjoyed most was the blend of dark, foreboding moments with small flashes of humor. Those lighter touches kept the story from feeling too heavy and gave the main character some welcome personality amid the strangeness unfolding around her.
The writing style was a bit uneven for me. Some descriptions were vivid and perfectly timed, really pulling me into the setting, while others felt drawn out and slowed the pace. Once the story found its footing, though, it held my attention and delivered a decent, atmospheric read with a lingering sense of mystery.
A good pick for readers who like slow‑building suspense with a moody, slightly uncanny edge.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I mean, is any woman really ever good enough for her mother-in-law? When Addison's MIL passes away, she vows to put her own feelings about the woman who never accepted her away, to focus on supporting her husband in his grief. But as family secrets and paranormal frights creep into the mix, can Addison hold her tongue?
Conradt's exquisite prose sets such a creepy mood that I just had to keep reading -- preferably with a light on. I loved the reverse symbolism of the crows and the undercurrent of draw-you-in suspense. My only hesitations were a few moments of over-psychoanalysis that made the plot drag at times.
Overall, this one is a keeper and I am thankful to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance read!
The Secret Attic: ★★★★3/4
https://bookchicklit.blogspot.com/202...
Conradt's exquisite prose sets such a creepy mood that I just had to keep reading -- preferably with a light on. I loved the reverse symbolism of the crows and the undercurrent of draw-you-in suspense. My only hesitations were a few moments of over-psychoanalysis that made the plot drag at times.
Overall, this one is a keeper and I am thankful to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance read!
The Secret Attic: ★★★★3/4
https://bookchicklit.blogspot.com/202...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3 and ½ stars
An interesting book with an interesting premise. The novel is not what I expected. While it was filled with tension and surprises, it felt a little off.
I kept questioning the relationship between husband and wife. How odd the relationship was. By the end of the book, I was questioning just what I read and the significance of it. I was confused . Just who was the monster here? Just Barb? Or someone else?
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding this book to me so that I had an opportunity to read it. The confusion expressed in this review is solely my own.
An interesting book with an interesting premise. The novel is not what I expected. While it was filled with tension and surprises, it felt a little off.
I kept questioning the relationship between husband and wife. How odd the relationship was. By the end of the book, I was questioning just what I read and the significance of it. I was confused . Just who was the monster here? Just Barb? Or someone else?
I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding this book to me so that I had an opportunity to read it. The confusion expressed in this review is solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress for the opportunity to read and review this book.
✨️My thought✨️
The Secret Attic is absolutely terrifying and spooky at the same time. I read this book in 8 hours and when I got the ending, I read that last page twice. My brain literally went WTH and I had to stop what I was doing. Not gonna lie, I became a Lil sus of several characters in the story but I was SOO wrong. I love that the plot twists absolutely got me.
Creepy dolls, family secrets and rooms👀, a very hard to please mother in law and birds... I love how everything ties in together and how shocking it was. Such a fantastic and terrifying thriller. You dont want to miss it.
✨️My thought✨️
The Secret Attic is absolutely terrifying and spooky at the same time. I read this book in 8 hours and when I got the ending, I read that last page twice. My brain literally went WTH and I had to stop what I was doing. Not gonna lie, I became a Lil sus of several characters in the story but I was SOO wrong. I love that the plot twists absolutely got me.
Creepy dolls, family secrets and rooms👀, a very hard to please mother in law and birds... I love how everything ties in together and how shocking it was. Such a fantastic and terrifying thriller. You dont want to miss it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After Luke’s mother Barb dies, Luke and Addison return to clear out her home, a task made heavier by Addison’s lingering feeling that Barb never truly accepted her. What begins as a difficult family obligation turns unsettling when Addison discovers strange boxes labeled with women’s names and handmade dolls with crow feathers hidden away in a secret attic.
As Addison digs deeper, the crows on the property begin bringing her odd objects, as if guiding her toward a past Barb tried to bury. With every discovery, Addison begins to wonder how much of Luke’s past she truly knows.
February 27, 2026
I don’t enjoy leaving negative reviews, but unfortunately this was a challenging read for me. I struggled to stay engaged and found it difficult to make it through to the end. The narrative often felt repetitive, revisiting the same points without adding meaningful development, which slowed the overall pacing considerably.
Additionally, the supernatural elements lacked credibility and depth, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. While the premise had potential, the execution ultimately fell flat for me, and I found the overall experience rather underwhelming.
2⭐️⭐️
Additionally, the supernatural elements lacked credibility and depth, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. While the premise had potential, the execution ultimately fell flat for me, and I found the overall experience rather underwhelming.
2⭐️⭐️
February 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️
The Secret Attic was a disappointment for me. I called the entire plot just a handful of chapters in, and after that it felt like chapters and chapters of the same boring concept repeating itself with random things thrown in to try and keep it interesting. The husband and wife were both so annoying that I found myself more frustrated than invested. I honestly couldn’t wait to finish it just so I never had to pick it up again. The ending was predictable and underwhelming, and overall it was miserable to get through.
The Secret Attic was a disappointment for me. I called the entire plot just a handful of chapters in, and after that it felt like chapters and chapters of the same boring concept repeating itself with random things thrown in to try and keep it interesting. The husband and wife were both so annoying that I found myself more frustrated than invested. I honestly couldn’t wait to finish it just so I never had to pick it up again. The ending was predictable and underwhelming, and overall it was miserable to get through.
March 3, 2026
I really wanted to like this book, but it just didn’t work for me. It’s a slow thriller and a lot of the chapters felt repetitive. The main point of the story doesn’t really show up until the very end, and even then it wasn’t very satisfying.
The paranormal parts didn’t feel believable, they weren’t scary or spooky like I expected. I also didn’t like the relationship between the husband and wife. She made some frustrating choices/talked to herself or the damn crows a lot, and both him and his mother are weird as hell.
Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Chelsea Conradt for this ARC 🫶🏽
The paranormal parts didn’t feel believable, they weren’t scary or spooky like I expected. I also didn’t like the relationship between the husband and wife. She made some frustrating choices/talked to herself or the damn crows a lot, and both him and his mother are weird as hell.
Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Chelsea Conradt for this ARC 🫶🏽
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I enjoyed this book. I didn’t know what to think, going into this book. I always try to figure out a book as I’m reading it. I did not figure this one out. This book was different from what I was expecting. This is the first time that I’ve read a book by Chelsea Conradt. It will not be the last. It will not be the last. I like her writing style. This was the first time that I won a Goodreads contest. I hope I win another. I was so excited to see that I had won.
February 22, 2026
ARC NetGallery / Poisoned Pen Press
Secret Attic is a very slow burn mystery. Addison and her husband, Luke are preparing his late mother’s home for sale when Addison starts hearing strange noises and seeing weird stuff in the home while walking on eggs shells around her husband. When Addison discovers porcelain dolls and scattered doll parts. Honestly I’d be out of that house in a heartbeat.
Secret Attic is a very slow burn mystery. Addison and her husband, Luke are preparing his late mother’s home for sale when Addison starts hearing strange noises and seeing weird stuff in the home while walking on eggs shells around her husband. When Addison discovers porcelain dolls and scattered doll parts. Honestly I’d be out of that house in a heartbeat.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The main character thinks about everything way to much. Just had a conversation? Need to think about it again and again. And so, I skim-read most of this book. YES, we get it, Barb hates Addison, Addison love her man, and her man keeps calling her 'Gorgeous', etc, etc, etc. It was too much.
I liked the doll aspect and the end.
I liked the doll aspect and the end.
Read
February 17, 2026Wow! An amazing intense read. The dolls were so creepy and well described. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next while reading. My jaw was constantly on the floor. I couldn’t stop reading once I started! Great characters and an amazing plot!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews