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The Open House
‘Oh my goodness… There were so many twists and turns… I wish I could award it more than five stars.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home. But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave. Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…
From bestselling author Sam Carrington, who also writes as Alice Hunter, comes a gripping, twisty page-turner about secrets, lies and relationships. Perfect for fans of Date Night, Gone Girl and The Woman in the Window.
What readers are saying about The Open House…‘Holy smokes, this was a fantastic book! Never would have guessed the ending!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow… I devoured this book in one sitting. So much going on it's just crazy wonderful. Great to the very end.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Holy s***, this book is crazy good… I made the mistake of starting to read it at bedtime… An impressive mystery, with twists and turns you will never see coming up until the last page.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow, Sam Carrington you really went to the park with this one… the suspense was killing me… had me on the edge of my seat guessing who it was, who done it, what was going to happen. An excellent thriller!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG, I'm blown away…! Absolutely brilliant, gripping, chilling, creepy & left you thinking right til the very end.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Well I certainly will not be planning any open houses in my future… A truly gripping, spine-chilling, compelling read that was a definite page-turner with it's shocking twists and turns. HIGHLY recommend this one!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home. But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave. Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…
From bestselling author Sam Carrington, who also writes as Alice Hunter, comes a gripping, twisty page-turner about secrets, lies and relationships. Perfect for fans of Date Night, Gone Girl and The Woman in the Window.
What readers are saying about The Open House…‘Holy smokes, this was a fantastic book! Never would have guessed the ending!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow… I devoured this book in one sitting. So much going on it's just crazy wonderful. Great to the very end.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Holy s***, this book is crazy good… I made the mistake of starting to read it at bedtime… An impressive mystery, with twists and turns you will never see coming up until the last page.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow, Sam Carrington you really went to the park with this one… the suspense was killing me… had me on the edge of my seat guessing who it was, who done it, what was going to happen. An excellent thriller!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘OMG, I'm blown away…! Absolutely brilliant, gripping, chilling, creepy & left you thinking right til the very end.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Well I certainly will not be planning any open houses in my future… A truly gripping, spine-chilling, compelling read that was a definite page-turner with it's shocking twists and turns. HIGHLY recommend this one!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2020
257 people are currently reading
2514 people want to read
About the author
Sam Carrington
11 books479 followersSam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE, her debut psychological thriller, published in September 2016. It became a Kindle eBook bestseller, with the paperback hitting The Bookseller Heatseeker chart at #8. Sam was named an Amazon Rising Star of 2016.
Her 6th book - The Open House - publishes in December 2020.
Her 6th book - The Open House - publishes in December 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 562 reviews
October 15, 2020
Oh nooooooo! I was enjoying myself so much but WTH kind of ending it was!
Why something starting sooooo good, smart, nail bitingly, gut twistingly exciting turns into something frustrating and disappointing!
After a few pages later, this book started blinking and giving me signal that I’m holding a true five starred mystery in my hands.
You know I love twists, surprises, jaw dropping, heart shattering, eyes popping , breath holding WTF moments! When a book gave me more of them and author’s IQ at least 10 points higher than me, I tell myself, “yes, I’m so close to fall for this book!”
I can truly admit this book’s beginning gave me those picture perfect signals:
The delicious, well calculated twists that killed my spidey spider senses! ( nearly half of them slapped me against my face but I didn’t care, I screamed: bring out more!)
Great characterization, Agatha Christie vibes meets whodunnit theme, intriguing mystery
Fast pacing, whirlwind, jumpy story telling.
A catchy, fresh storyline: MCs Amber and Nick want a divorce, selling their family house to go their parted ways after getting their equal share but nobody shows any interest to buy the place. So they should stop being prideful and organize an open house event by ignoring their noisy, prying people who are soulmates of Gossip Girl (I’m taking this back after remembering the real identity of Gossip Girl! Dear Penn Badgley , what have you done? ) 13 people attend to the open house event and one of them cannot leave the place. Creepy, disturbing and extremely entertaining, isn’t it?
But when we reach the last third, the book’s direction changes ( you keep asking yourself, it starts so good, it moves so fast but where will it end? I hoped it wouldn’t reach at someplace unacceptable but it did! )
And at the end, our heroine makes a decision makes you SCREAM and hate the guts of her. Yes, Amber, you are big disappointment and I barely hold myself not to beat the hell of you!
Don’t get me wrong! The author is so smart puppet master pulling the strings of the characters at the right time and presents us unique, enjoyable, original, promising story but I wish the ending could be different and Amber makes another decision!
I’m cutting my points because of the unsatisfying ending but I have to admit this normally deserves more than three stars ( especially first half) but there’s an important fact I have to emphasize: this kind of moving thriller highly deserves better heroine and fairer ending. So I’m giving 3.25 stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of the author.I truly enjoyed his writing style and I’m so open to read his other novels with better conclusions.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon UK for sharing this intriguing arc with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Why something starting sooooo good, smart, nail bitingly, gut twistingly exciting turns into something frustrating and disappointing!
After a few pages later, this book started blinking and giving me signal that I’m holding a true five starred mystery in my hands.
You know I love twists, surprises, jaw dropping, heart shattering, eyes popping , breath holding WTF moments! When a book gave me more of them and author’s IQ at least 10 points higher than me, I tell myself, “yes, I’m so close to fall for this book!”
I can truly admit this book’s beginning gave me those picture perfect signals:
The delicious, well calculated twists that killed my spidey spider senses! ( nearly half of them slapped me against my face but I didn’t care, I screamed: bring out more!)
Great characterization, Agatha Christie vibes meets whodunnit theme, intriguing mystery
Fast pacing, whirlwind, jumpy story telling.
A catchy, fresh storyline: MCs Amber and Nick want a divorce, selling their family house to go their parted ways after getting their equal share but nobody shows any interest to buy the place. So they should stop being prideful and organize an open house event by ignoring their noisy, prying people who are soulmates of Gossip Girl (I’m taking this back after remembering the real identity of Gossip Girl! Dear Penn Badgley , what have you done? ) 13 people attend to the open house event and one of them cannot leave the place. Creepy, disturbing and extremely entertaining, isn’t it?
But when we reach the last third, the book’s direction changes ( you keep asking yourself, it starts so good, it moves so fast but where will it end? I hoped it wouldn’t reach at someplace unacceptable but it did! )
And at the end, our heroine makes a decision makes you SCREAM and hate the guts of her. Yes, Amber, you are big disappointment and I barely hold myself not to beat the hell of you!
Don’t get me wrong! The author is so smart puppet master pulling the strings of the characters at the right time and presents us unique, enjoyable, original, promising story but I wish the ending could be different and Amber makes another decision!
I’m cutting my points because of the unsatisfying ending but I have to admit this normally deserves more than three stars ( especially first half) but there’s an important fact I have to emphasize: this kind of moving thriller highly deserves better heroine and fairer ending. So I’m giving 3.25 stars!
I’m looking forward to read more works of the author.I truly enjoyed his writing style and I’m so open to read his other novels with better conclusions.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon UK for sharing this intriguing arc with me in exchange my honest opinions.
December 12, 2020
EXCERPT: No one will find out.
Those were the words I'd spoken. It was what I'd believed then, that day. The day after. The week after. Every time.
Until now.
Now I knew them to be a lie. I had no idea what would happen though. Everyone makes mistakes. It was just unfortunate that several of them came to light all at one point in time. And the lies, untruths - whatever you want to call them - had a knock-on effect.
One event started it. One I hadn't known about - couldn't possibly have been aware of, even.
ABOUT 'THE OPEN HOUSE': Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…
MY THOUGHTS: I was wanting sinister and creepy. Instead I got soap-opera.
Amber is self-obsessed, whiny and insecure. I thought Nick should be glad to be divorced by her. But his manipulative mother, Barb, manages to make even Amber look good in comparison. Honestly, the only characters I liked in this book were the children, Finley and Leo. This seems to be a common thread in the last few books that I have read.
The plot of The Open House by Sam Carrington was all over the place. My most recurrent thought was 'wtf?' I couldn't understand Amber's thought processes or decisions. I know that at times of great stress we tend not to act rationally, but this was taking it to the extreme. I really had to suspend all belief at the ending, which just left me shaking my head in disbelief.
The story is told in first person from the points of view of Amber, Barb, and an unknown person. But even then I failed to get the sense of being there. I felt remote, removed from the storyline.
I didn't enjoy this author's writing style. It was repetitive and flat. I wouldn't class this as a mystery, nor a psychological thriller, or any kind of thriller really. Nor did I find it at all suspenseful. So I have settled on a classification of family drama.
On the positive side, the chapters are short, and the book is a quick read. I know that this will appeal to a lot of people, unfortunately I am not one of them.
⭐⭐.5
#TheOpenHouse #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Open House by Sam Carrington for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Those were the words I'd spoken. It was what I'd believed then, that day. The day after. The week after. Every time.
Until now.
Now I knew them to be a lie. I had no idea what would happen though. Everyone makes mistakes. It was just unfortunate that several of them came to light all at one point in time. And the lies, untruths - whatever you want to call them - had a knock-on effect.
One event started it. One I hadn't known about - couldn't possibly have been aware of, even.
ABOUT 'THE OPEN HOUSE': Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…
MY THOUGHTS: I was wanting sinister and creepy. Instead I got soap-opera.
Amber is self-obsessed, whiny and insecure. I thought Nick should be glad to be divorced by her. But his manipulative mother, Barb, manages to make even Amber look good in comparison. Honestly, the only characters I liked in this book were the children, Finley and Leo. This seems to be a common thread in the last few books that I have read.
The plot of The Open House by Sam Carrington was all over the place. My most recurrent thought was 'wtf?' I couldn't understand Amber's thought processes or decisions. I know that at times of great stress we tend not to act rationally, but this was taking it to the extreme. I really had to suspend all belief at the ending, which just left me shaking my head in disbelief.
The story is told in first person from the points of view of Amber, Barb, and an unknown person. But even then I failed to get the sense of being there. I felt remote, removed from the storyline.
I didn't enjoy this author's writing style. It was repetitive and flat. I wouldn't class this as a mystery, nor a psychological thriller, or any kind of thriller really. Nor did I find it at all suspenseful. So I have settled on a classification of family drama.
On the positive side, the chapters are short, and the book is a quick read. I know that this will appeal to a lot of people, unfortunately I am not one of them.
⭐⭐.5
#TheOpenHouse #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Open House by Sam Carrington for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 28, 2020
A compelling tale with creepy moments and a crazy ending!
Amber and her husband, Nick, are divorcing. She’s in the process of trying to sell their house so they can split the proceeds and move on with their lives. When her dodgy real estate agent suggests an open house to try and attract interest (and a buyer), Amber grudgingly agrees...as long as she’s not there while it’s taking place.
Things take a suspenseful turn when she’s watching the folks arrive to the open house from her doorbell camera app. Thirteen people enter the house that day, but she’s pretty sure she only sees twelve people leaving.
That is all I will say, as I don’t want to spoil anything. This is a suspenseful read that has more than one chilling moment. There’s a lot of subplots, and it’s very interesting to see how creatively everything ties together in the end. Kudos to author Sam Carrington. While you may anticipate some of the surprises, you will not fully put together the who, what , and why.
There’s a lot going on at the end. I may have had to suspend disbelief just a bit at a few revelations. However, it’s a fun and mysterious read, and it kept me entertained. One thing is for sure...I would’ve been out of that house so fast if I lived there. Bye, Felicia! 👋
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Avon Books UK, Sam Carrington, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Amber and her husband, Nick, are divorcing. She’s in the process of trying to sell their house so they can split the proceeds and move on with their lives. When her dodgy real estate agent suggests an open house to try and attract interest (and a buyer), Amber grudgingly agrees...as long as she’s not there while it’s taking place.
Things take a suspenseful turn when she’s watching the folks arrive to the open house from her doorbell camera app. Thirteen people enter the house that day, but she’s pretty sure she only sees twelve people leaving.
That is all I will say, as I don’t want to spoil anything. This is a suspenseful read that has more than one chilling moment. There’s a lot of subplots, and it’s very interesting to see how creatively everything ties together in the end. Kudos to author Sam Carrington. While you may anticipate some of the surprises, you will not fully put together the who, what , and why.
There’s a lot going on at the end. I may have had to suspend disbelief just a bit at a few revelations. However, it’s a fun and mysterious read, and it kept me entertained. One thing is for sure...I would’ve been out of that house so fast if I lived there. Bye, Felicia! 👋
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Avon Books UK, Sam Carrington, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2020
Amber Miller has separated from her husband Nick and has met Richard and wishes to move in with him. So, their house goes up for sale but after little interest the estate agent suggests and Open House viewing. From then on her life derails and some unnerving things happen .... The story is told by Amber and her mother in law Barb.
First of all, I like the premise of the book and as the storyline progresses there is some tension and suspense especially in the second half. It is an easy read and entertaining in places. There are some characters that are very easy to picture however, there are far too many to get your head around. I can’t say I warm to either Amber and especially to Barb who is a more than annoying mother in law, in fact she definitely has a dark side and I wouldn’t wish to cross her!! Amber gives us a lot of unnecessary information which gets on your nerves and interrupts the flow of the story. The pace is not quick enough, the plot becomes too busy and I can’t say I especially like the style of writing although that is obviously a personal preference. The end is not very good, it falls flat and the author takes massive jumps to get us there. Some things are unresolved and leave you with questions.
Overall, a mixed experience, there are some really good parts that I enjoy but others that are disappointing. I’m left feeling that there are opportunities that have been missed here as this should have been a cracking read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc copy in return for an honest review.
First of all, I like the premise of the book and as the storyline progresses there is some tension and suspense especially in the second half. It is an easy read and entertaining in places. There are some characters that are very easy to picture however, there are far too many to get your head around. I can’t say I warm to either Amber and especially to Barb who is a more than annoying mother in law, in fact she definitely has a dark side and I wouldn’t wish to cross her!! Amber gives us a lot of unnecessary information which gets on your nerves and interrupts the flow of the story. The pace is not quick enough, the plot becomes too busy and I can’t say I especially like the style of writing although that is obviously a personal preference. The end is not very good, it falls flat and the author takes massive jumps to get us there. Some things are unresolved and leave you with questions.
Overall, a mixed experience, there are some really good parts that I enjoy but others that are disappointing. I’m left feeling that there are opportunities that have been missed here as this should have been a cracking read.
With thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc copy in return for an honest review.
November 11, 2020
For the first three quarters of this novel, I was in it! I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.
Then, it was suddenly like nails on a chalkboard. TOO much. Too, too much. Twist after twist after twist...when there are that many, it dilutes the one before it until pretty soon, you're sitting there like, "What the hell was that?
It's a shame too, because the red herrings were expertly done. Although I suspected a few things, I had no idea where some of the clues were going...and I was truly invested in getting to the end so I could find out all the gritty details. The story was creepy too...although I confess, I couldn't understand why they stayed in the house when so many scary things where happening. I would have taken my kids and run.
And, as mentioned above, the conclusion was, unfortunately, a shit show.
Overall, though, I still think this is probably worth reading...I'd recommend it. And if you're the type of reader who loves never-ending twists, this just might be a five-star read for you.
Available December 10, 2020.
My heartfelt appreciation to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my review copy.
Then, it was suddenly like nails on a chalkboard. TOO much. Too, too much. Twist after twist after twist...when there are that many, it dilutes the one before it until pretty soon, you're sitting there like, "What the hell was that?
It's a shame too, because the red herrings were expertly done. Although I suspected a few things, I had no idea where some of the clues were going...and I was truly invested in getting to the end so I could find out all the gritty details. The story was creepy too...although I confess, I couldn't understand why they stayed in the house when so many scary things where happening. I would have taken my kids and run.
And, as mentioned above, the conclusion was, unfortunately, a shit show.
Overall, though, I still think this is probably worth reading...I'd recommend it. And if you're the type of reader who loves never-ending twists, this just might be a five-star read for you.
Available December 10, 2020.
My heartfelt appreciation to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my review copy.
October 6, 2020
3.5
I couldn’t resist the FRESH premise of this one!
(or that cover!)
Nick and Amber Wilson are divorcing and selling the family home, but despite the great location, it isn’t garnering much interest. Their real estate agent, Carl suggests the “dreaded” Open House.
Not thrilled with the idea of the neighbors snooping through her home, Amber agrees but is secretly watching from her SmartRing App. She counts 13 people entering her home.
But, only 12 leave.
How can this be?
I was completely captivated for the first 75% of the book!
But, I had a few suspicions on where this was going and I was so hoping that it wouldn’t go there.
It went there.
Although, I had guessed a couple of things- it was impossible to guess all of the twists-which is a good thing-if you LOVE your psychological thrillers, super twisty and there is “NO SUCH THING” as too many twists for you!
If that is you, my friend, the author has a very engaging writing style.
I prefer my suspense a bit more plausible, AND I was so disappointed in a decision that Amber makes in the end, that the final rating dropped for me.
But, there is no denying that this one is entertaining!
Thank You to the publisher for providing a gifted copy, through NetGalley!
It was a pleasure to provide a candid review!
And, to buddy read this one with Dita so we could discuss it as we read!
Available Dec. 10, 2020
I couldn’t resist the FRESH premise of this one!
(or that cover!)
Nick and Amber Wilson are divorcing and selling the family home, but despite the great location, it isn’t garnering much interest. Their real estate agent, Carl suggests the “dreaded” Open House.
Not thrilled with the idea of the neighbors snooping through her home, Amber agrees but is secretly watching from her SmartRing App. She counts 13 people entering her home.
But, only 12 leave.
How can this be?
I was completely captivated for the first 75% of the book!
But, I had a few suspicions on where this was going and I was so hoping that it wouldn’t go there.
It went there.
Although, I had guessed a couple of things- it was impossible to guess all of the twists-which is a good thing-if you LOVE your psychological thrillers, super twisty and there is “NO SUCH THING” as too many twists for you!
If that is you, my friend, the author has a very engaging writing style.
I prefer my suspense a bit more plausible, AND I was so disappointed in a decision that Amber makes in the end, that the final rating dropped for me.
But, there is no denying that this one is entertaining!
Thank You to the publisher for providing a gifted copy, through NetGalley!
It was a pleasure to provide a candid review!
And, to buddy read this one with Dita so we could discuss it as we read!
Available Dec. 10, 2020
November 30, 2020
Nick and Amber Miller’s marriage has been over for nearly a year. Nick, who was caught having an affair, has moved out to a small rented flat while Amber has stayed in the house with their two young sons. The separation has been amicable and Nick and Amber have shared parenting but now Amber has met someone else and wants to move on. However, first they will need to sell their house so she can start afresh with her new partner.
So far there’s been little interest in the house. It could be that Carl, the creepy real estate agent (the only one in the village) is useless, or that the proposed development in the field behind their street is putting people off, but more and more Amber suspects that someone might be meddling with would be buyers.
In desperation Amber allows the real estate agent to organize an Open House inspection to stimulate interest. Watching remotely on the front door camera she’s pleased to see thirteen people go into the house but is puzzled when only twelve leave before the real estate agent locks up and leaves.
From there events start to become quite creepy. Amber wonders if the thought of an intruder being in her house is making her become paranoid and imagining weird noises and happenings in the house. She’s also not sure who she can trust. The real estate agent definitely seems to be up to something and Amber’s mother-in-law Barb isn’t above interfering to prevent her grandsons moving away.
Narrated alternately from Amber’s and Barb’s points of view interspersed with occasional comments from an unknown person, the plot is a slow boiler skillfully building up the intrigue steadily with weird events while keeping us in the dark about what really is going on with Amber’s house. The main characters, Amber and Barb are well portrayed, with Amber always slightly on edge and jumpy, trying to protect her sons and Barb the noxious and interfering mother-in-law, trying to make Amber see that she should get back together with Nick and stay in Devon.
The ending when it comes is unexpected with shocking secrets and revelations, taking the plot in a different direction to where it seemed to be heading and may seem too sudden a change and somewhat overdramatic for those enjoying the slow build up of the creepy atmosphere. While I didn’t love the ending, it was certainly plausible and explained all the weird goings on in Amber’s house. I did very much enjoy the unique plot and especially the atmospheric tension in the build up.
With thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read. Original review posted at Mystery & Suspense Magazine.
So far there’s been little interest in the house. It could be that Carl, the creepy real estate agent (the only one in the village) is useless, or that the proposed development in the field behind their street is putting people off, but more and more Amber suspects that someone might be meddling with would be buyers.
In desperation Amber allows the real estate agent to organize an Open House inspection to stimulate interest. Watching remotely on the front door camera she’s pleased to see thirteen people go into the house but is puzzled when only twelve leave before the real estate agent locks up and leaves.
From there events start to become quite creepy. Amber wonders if the thought of an intruder being in her house is making her become paranoid and imagining weird noises and happenings in the house. She’s also not sure who she can trust. The real estate agent definitely seems to be up to something and Amber’s mother-in-law Barb isn’t above interfering to prevent her grandsons moving away.
Narrated alternately from Amber’s and Barb’s points of view interspersed with occasional comments from an unknown person, the plot is a slow boiler skillfully building up the intrigue steadily with weird events while keeping us in the dark about what really is going on with Amber’s house. The main characters, Amber and Barb are well portrayed, with Amber always slightly on edge and jumpy, trying to protect her sons and Barb the noxious and interfering mother-in-law, trying to make Amber see that she should get back together with Nick and stay in Devon.
The ending when it comes is unexpected with shocking secrets and revelations, taking the plot in a different direction to where it seemed to be heading and may seem too sudden a change and somewhat overdramatic for those enjoying the slow build up of the creepy atmosphere. While I didn’t love the ending, it was certainly plausible and explained all the weird goings on in Amber’s house. I did very much enjoy the unique plot and especially the atmospheric tension in the build up.
With thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read. Original review posted at Mystery & Suspense Magazine.
November 21, 2020
Amber and Nick are getting divorced. Nick has been kicked out of the marital home for cheating on Amber. She finds love online and plans to sell the house. Her new boyfriend, Richard (who lives a few hours drive away) is splitting up with his wife and plans to sell his house whereupon they will move in together in loved-up bliss. So Amber has the open house her selling suggests. She watches proceedings on her doorbell camera app as 13 people enter the house but only 12 leave 😳.
So the book starts pretty well but the open house is when it all kicks off and Amber finds herself as the proverbial meat in a shit sandwich! She is being pulled in opposite directions. Her mother-in-law, the very opinionated Barb, doesn’t want her to sell the family home and move away with her grandchildren. But it seems other forces are very keen for her to sell. And then the weirdness starts! It’s all the usual stuff - things that go bump in the night, things being moved around the house, feelings of being watched and so on.
And for a while it was all ok. Amber is actually quite a likeable character, she doesn’t act (very) crazy and she is quite feisty. Many of the characters are larger than life stereotypes - the nosy neighbour, the pushy mother-in-law and the shifty real estate agent to name a few. Ok, no worries, I can buy into that but it went too far. There was (at least) one twist too many, and the ending... let’s just say I didn’t like Amber so much after that! Overall, this was a book that I mostly enjoyed. It could have better with a bit more finesse, especially towards the end. Dear authors - you don’t need to throw in the kitchen sink! Sometimes less is more. Still, it was very readable and will appeal to those who enjoy domestic noir, psychological thrillers and lots of twists! Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Sam Carrington for providing a copy. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded down.
So the book starts pretty well but the open house is when it all kicks off and Amber finds herself as the proverbial meat in a shit sandwich! She is being pulled in opposite directions. Her mother-in-law, the very opinionated Barb, doesn’t want her to sell the family home and move away with her grandchildren. But it seems other forces are very keen for her to sell. And then the weirdness starts! It’s all the usual stuff - things that go bump in the night, things being moved around the house, feelings of being watched and so on.
And for a while it was all ok. Amber is actually quite a likeable character, she doesn’t act (very) crazy and she is quite feisty. Many of the characters are larger than life stereotypes - the nosy neighbour, the pushy mother-in-law and the shifty real estate agent to name a few. Ok, no worries, I can buy into that but it went too far. There was (at least) one twist too many, and the ending... let’s just say I didn’t like Amber so much after that! Overall, this was a book that I mostly enjoyed. It could have better with a bit more finesse, especially towards the end. Dear authors - you don’t need to throw in the kitchen sink! Sometimes less is more. Still, it was very readable and will appeal to those who enjoy domestic noir, psychological thrillers and lots of twists! Thanks to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Sam Carrington for providing a copy. My opinions are my own. 3.5 stars rounded down.
December 4, 2020
That yellow door on the cover looked so inviting I had no other choice but to enter this story as one of the people who entered the Open House. As the 13th people who didn't come out of the house, I stayed inside for the most part, but sadly I was shown the exit in the last 20% (in fact, I was kicked my ass out).
Amber and Nick are getting a divorce, so they're selling their house. It is Nick's childhood home and Barb, Amber's monster-in-law, sorry, mother-in-law, is not so happy with this sale. When the estate agent proposes an Open House, Amber begrudgingly agrees and secretly watches from her doorbell cam app who goes into her house. 13 people enter. Only 12 people leave. How could this be? Was it just a misscount or is something more sinister afoot?
I was loving this one from the get go. The creepy incidents inside the house, Barb's antics, the annoying neighbor... It was so fast paced that when I realized I was already halfway through. With so many characters and subplots I had lots of theories in my head.
It was a 4 stars read all along, but then the ending happened. WTF!? I could not have been more disappointed. The first part of the ending, the one about the house, felt so simple and pedestrian I could not believe that was all there was to it. The second part was like being in the middle of a soap opera. It went on for far too long. I kept saying to myself "please, stop there" with every new twist, but no, another twist was thrown in. This book is the perfect example of a story suffering from the "too many twists" disease.
I won't talk about Amber's final decision, but it was so out of character that it kinda ruined all the previous good parts.
Entertaining and fast paced domestic suspense with a not so satisfaying ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Amber and Nick are getting a divorce, so they're selling their house. It is Nick's childhood home and Barb, Amber's monster-in-law, sorry, mother-in-law, is not so happy with this sale. When the estate agent proposes an Open House, Amber begrudgingly agrees and secretly watches from her doorbell cam app who goes into her house. 13 people enter. Only 12 people leave. How could this be? Was it just a misscount or is something more sinister afoot?
I was loving this one from the get go. The creepy incidents inside the house, Barb's antics, the annoying neighbor... It was so fast paced that when I realized I was already halfway through. With so many characters and subplots I had lots of theories in my head.
It was a 4 stars read all along, but then the ending happened. WTF!? I could not have been more disappointed. The first part of the ending, the one about the house, felt so simple and pedestrian I could not believe that was all there was to it. The second part was like being in the middle of a soap opera. It went on for far too long. I kept saying to myself "please, stop there" with every new twist, but no, another twist was thrown in. This book is the perfect example of a story suffering from the "too many twists" disease.
I won't talk about Amber's final decision, but it was so out of character that it kinda ruined all the previous good parts.
Entertaining and fast paced domestic suspense with a not so satisfaying ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2021
Wooooooo
My main genre to read are thrillers so of course you get books with similar tropes.
This story isn’t unique.
This plot is not unique.
BUT, this book by Sam Carrington shines out from the many.
Why?
Because it drew me in and spat me out.
Her writing is such that you can’t help but ‘live’ within these pages. You can’t help but get involved with the characters.
Superb premise as it opened up to more dilemmas that added to the already intense feelings I had, the anxiety I had putting myself in the main characters shoes.
Toward the middle of the book I had a short list of names that I should have suspicion over. Reading on......I then cut them down to three likely candidates.
The multiple whammy left my jaw on the floor. WHAT!
They say you never fully know a person, not even if you live with them.
Decisions that had to be made blew my mind, the decisions that some made, rocked my world, when I thought they’d not do this.....they did.
A very good book that I’ll remember for a long time.
A beacon of light amongst similar thrillers.
The ending though did take a star off due to it being a bit unbelievable.
My main genre to read are thrillers so of course you get books with similar tropes.
This story isn’t unique.
This plot is not unique.
BUT, this book by Sam Carrington shines out from the many.
Why?
Because it drew me in and spat me out.
Her writing is such that you can’t help but ‘live’ within these pages. You can’t help but get involved with the characters.
Superb premise as it opened up to more dilemmas that added to the already intense feelings I had, the anxiety I had putting myself in the main characters shoes.
Toward the middle of the book I had a short list of names that I should have suspicion over. Reading on......I then cut them down to three likely candidates.
The multiple whammy left my jaw on the floor. WHAT!
They say you never fully know a person, not even if you live with them.
Decisions that had to be made blew my mind, the decisions that some made, rocked my world, when I thought they’d not do this.....they did.
A very good book that I’ll remember for a long time.
A beacon of light amongst similar thrillers.
The ending though did take a star off due to it being a bit unbelievable.
November 21, 2020
Sam Carrington is an author that I no longer need the blurb for, I know that I need to read her books. The Open House is a fantastic page turner, full of twists and unlikeable characters.. it is hard to know who to believe. It kept me up late into the night as ai had to know how it was going to finish,,, and absolutely no regrets 😃
Amber and Nick are splitting up and selling the family home. She wants the house sold so she can move away and start again with her new man. Her mother in law is not so keen to have it sold and tries everything she can to prevent it. When the realtor suggests an Open House, Amber is nervous but gives the go ahead. This is where the nightmare begins, believing that one of the visitors did not Ileave the house that day. Strange things start to happen but is she just paranoid?
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Amber and Nick are splitting up and selling the family home. She wants the house sold so she can move away and start again with her new man. Her mother in law is not so keen to have it sold and tries everything she can to prevent it. When the realtor suggests an Open House, Amber is nervous but gives the go ahead. This is where the nightmare begins, believing that one of the visitors did not Ileave the house that day. Strange things start to happen but is she just paranoid?
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
October 19, 2020
This was a solid domestic suspense story that perfectly captured a creepy vibe the whole way through. It centers primarily on Amber, who is selling her house after a split with her husband Nick and planning to move herself and her 2 boys a few hours away to be closer to her new boyfriend, Richard. The house is not selling and Amber is suspicious that her mother-in-law, Barb, has something to do with it, as she has made it clear she doesn't want them to move away. There are some chapters also narrated by Barb, as well as by an unknown 3rd party.
The story gets almost immediately creepy when Amber watches guests come and go to her house from the privacy of her Ring doorbell camera. She believes she sees one less person leave than arrive, then things start being moved around the house and the realtor refuses to give back her key, leaving her and her kids terrified that someone is hiding somewhere in the house. The author captured the scariness of her experiences within the house perfectly.
This book is a slow burn up until the end, when a whole bunch of things happen all at once. I thought there were some good twists but some of the stuff that happened was a bit confusing to me, and I felt that the pacing of the book drastically changed in an effort to provide shock value as well as wrap up the story. I think I would have preferred less surprises at the end in order to maintain the pace of the book.
Overall, a great book that I would reco0mmend to those who enjoy the domestic suspense and psychological thriller genres. While the end caught me off guard a bit and didn't seem to match the rest of the storytelling, it was still a good overall story and I always appreciate being surprised. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story gets almost immediately creepy when Amber watches guests come and go to her house from the privacy of her Ring doorbell camera. She believes she sees one less person leave than arrive, then things start being moved around the house and the realtor refuses to give back her key, leaving her and her kids terrified that someone is hiding somewhere in the house. The author captured the scariness of her experiences within the house perfectly.
This book is a slow burn up until the end, when a whole bunch of things happen all at once. I thought there were some good twists but some of the stuff that happened was a bit confusing to me, and I felt that the pacing of the book drastically changed in an effort to provide shock value as well as wrap up the story. I think I would have preferred less surprises at the end in order to maintain the pace of the book.
Overall, a great book that I would reco0mmend to those who enjoy the domestic suspense and psychological thriller genres. While the end caught me off guard a bit and didn't seem to match the rest of the storytelling, it was still a good overall story and I always appreciate being surprised. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2020
Who knew so much drama could happen from selling a house?
And not normal drama you would expect in this situation but full on life altering drama
It all starts when Amber decides to go along with an ‘Open House’ idea that her Estate Agent is pressing for, she decides to watch who is going in via her doorbell vid app
She sees 13 figures going in
And only 12 leaving
Of course she hasn’t paid the upgrade to rewind or to keep the footage so then she is on a herculean mission to get someone, anyone to believe her including her soon to be ex, her new beau, Davina opposite, her best friends and her small but very imposing Mother In Law
But when she digs deeper and people from the past start to appear she will wish she hadn’t started what will eventually lead to gruesome discoveries and ‘murders’
A good, well told story if slightly far fetched in parts but great characters and fast moving story let you forgive that and join in on what is the strangest story of selling a house you will read
Enjoyable
8/10
4 Stars
And not normal drama you would expect in this situation but full on life altering drama
It all starts when Amber decides to go along with an ‘Open House’ idea that her Estate Agent is pressing for, she decides to watch who is going in via her doorbell vid app
She sees 13 figures going in
And only 12 leaving
Of course she hasn’t paid the upgrade to rewind or to keep the footage so then she is on a herculean mission to get someone, anyone to believe her including her soon to be ex, her new beau, Davina opposite, her best friends and her small but very imposing Mother In Law
But when she digs deeper and people from the past start to appear she will wish she hadn’t started what will eventually lead to gruesome discoveries and ‘murders’
A good, well told story if slightly far fetched in parts but great characters and fast moving story let you forgive that and join in on what is the strangest story of selling a house you will read
Enjoyable
8/10
4 Stars
December 10, 2020
Nick and Amber Miller are separating and selling their Devon family home. But no one has come to view their home despite it's desirable location. The Estate Agent suggests holding an open house event. Amber agrees even though she's worried about nosey neighbours showing up. But Amber had more to worry about! Thirteen people entered her house that day but only twelve leave.
This is a well written, gripping and twisted thriller. The suspense and tension grows throughout the book. The pace is fast and you will keep turning the pages needing to find out more. There were times when I was on the edge of my seat. The story is told from Amber and her mother-in-law perspectives. It's full of twists and an ending I didn't see coming. A quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SamCarrington for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a well written, gripping and twisted thriller. The suspense and tension grows throughout the book. The pace is fast and you will keep turning the pages needing to find out more. There were times when I was on the edge of my seat. The story is told from Amber and her mother-in-law perspectives. It's full of twists and an ending I didn't see coming. A quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #SamCarrington for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2020
A crazy story with a fascinating premise that took me on a wild ride, and I didn't see the ending coming! I read this book in one evening; I couldn't put it down! Amber Miller is selling her house to be able to move in with her new boyfriend, Richard. Her husband, police detective, Nick, cheated on her, and now they are divorcing, which does not sit well with her nosy mother-in-law, Barb. Carl, her real estate agent, is sketchy and isn't doing a decent job selling her house. Throw in the eccentric neighborhood gossip, Davina, and you have a full cast of curious, if not suspicious, characters.
Due to Amber's concern about the house's lack of interest, Carl arranges for an open house. During said open house, she stays at a friend's house down the street and, using her doorbell app, monitors how many people show up and counts thirteen people beside Carl entering the house. Afterward, Amber only counts twelve people leaving the house. She checks the house out carefully before letting her children back in but doesn't find anything suspicious.
Here is where it gets crazy. Strange things start happening. Weird noises, furniture moved in the middle of the night, her children seeing a man in their rooms are just a few of the creepy things that occur. I would have been out of that house so fast, your head would spin! To her credit, Amber is scared, but she sticks it out. I won't go on further because I don't want to give anything away. As I was reading, I was mesmerized, waiting to find out who was behind everything and why. I thought I knew, and I did guess partly, but in no way did I guess the whole wild ending. A lot is going on in this book, but it is not hard to follow, and the suspense is palpable. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon Books, UK, for the opportunity to read this exciting book! I gave it four stars!
Due to Amber's concern about the house's lack of interest, Carl arranges for an open house. During said open house, she stays at a friend's house down the street and, using her doorbell app, monitors how many people show up and counts thirteen people beside Carl entering the house. Afterward, Amber only counts twelve people leaving the house. She checks the house out carefully before letting her children back in but doesn't find anything suspicious.
Here is where it gets crazy. Strange things start happening. Weird noises, furniture moved in the middle of the night, her children seeing a man in their rooms are just a few of the creepy things that occur. I would have been out of that house so fast, your head would spin! To her credit, Amber is scared, but she sticks it out. I won't go on further because I don't want to give anything away. As I was reading, I was mesmerized, waiting to find out who was behind everything and why. I thought I knew, and I did guess partly, but in no way did I guess the whole wild ending. A lot is going on in this book, but it is not hard to follow, and the suspense is palpable. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon Books, UK, for the opportunity to read this exciting book! I gave it four stars!
April 1, 2021
I really liked the interesting premise of your home is still your sanctuary even during the process of trying to sell it and move on.
Amber is desperate to start a new life after her split with Nick.
It's been agreed that she can stay in the family home with the two boys until it's sold.
Wanting to be closer to new boyfriend Richard, she agrees to allow the estate agents to an open house event.
Curious to see how many perspective buyers show, Amber watches her 'SmartKey' app to count the various people in that morning - she's convinced that 13 people entered but only 12 leave.
The author brilliantly conveys a sense of unease as various unexplained instances occur each night.
Surly there's not an unwelcomed guest staying in the house?
I had plenty of theories on how this was going to play out, I loved how even the smallest little detail had me wondering if it was significant.
The various jumps between the different POVs including Amber's Mother in Law Barb (who doesn't want the family home sold to developers) really helped add to the tension and thrills.
Amber is desperate to start a new life after her split with Nick.
It's been agreed that she can stay in the family home with the two boys until it's sold.
Wanting to be closer to new boyfriend Richard, she agrees to allow the estate agents to an open house event.
Curious to see how many perspective buyers show, Amber watches her 'SmartKey' app to count the various people in that morning - she's convinced that 13 people entered but only 12 leave.
The author brilliantly conveys a sense of unease as various unexplained instances occur each night.
Surly there's not an unwelcomed guest staying in the house?
I had plenty of theories on how this was going to play out, I loved how even the smallest little detail had me wondering if it was significant.
The various jumps between the different POVs including Amber's Mother in Law Barb (who doesn't want the family home sold to developers) really helped add to the tension and thrills.
December 9, 2020
The cover excited me. The blurb excited me. But the plot did not. I felt like it was really slow to get started and my attention waned more and more as the chapters flew by. Although I have enjoyed another Carrington read in the past, this book did not have me thrilled in the slightest.
I found this plot to be rather convoluted. It is clear from the beginning that Amber is paranoid that someone is lurking in her house, especially when items go missing or things are moved in the middle of the night. Despite changing the locks and even having a doorbell camera, Amber no longer feels safe in the home she is trying to sell. She is fixated on the idea that one of the viewers from the open house viewing is stalking her, setting her on edge, and Amber has plenty of suspects in mind.
The list of suspects that Carrington wants you to focus on is rather lengthy. From the nosey neighbour, to the dodgy estate agent, there’s plenty of characters in between that could have a motive for making Amber feel uncomfortable. Carrington provides enough ammunition that leaves you to suspect the cast although, I personally found it too obvious what was driving the plot forwards.
I think this is what I found most disappointing in this narrative: the climax was not as surprising as I had hoped. Yes, there are some twists along the way but because I had worked out some of the narrative, I did not feel as invested in the perpetrators. I had become distanced from Amber over the narrative because I felt she was too accepting of the things happening around her. As for her strained relationship with her mother-in-law, I thought this was a messy connection that she should walk away from.
There are some clever ideas in the story but it took far too long to get going. Amber did not feel like a believable protagonist and I was not convinced that there was a threat to her safety. Indeed, the stigmatism I have to house-selling from personal experience made me immediately dislike the estate-agent. I did not feel endangered by him but felt that Carl simply fulfilled the image of estate agents that I have seen in the past.
Overall, I am quite disappointed in this read. There was so much potential and I think this could have been capitalised on with a punchier narrative. Although the chapters are short and flip between Amber, the mother-in-law and a mysterious character, I did not get a feel for any suspense or tension. I hope my next Carrington read surpasses this one.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this plot to be rather convoluted. It is clear from the beginning that Amber is paranoid that someone is lurking in her house, especially when items go missing or things are moved in the middle of the night. Despite changing the locks and even having a doorbell camera, Amber no longer feels safe in the home she is trying to sell. She is fixated on the idea that one of the viewers from the open house viewing is stalking her, setting her on edge, and Amber has plenty of suspects in mind.
The list of suspects that Carrington wants you to focus on is rather lengthy. From the nosey neighbour, to the dodgy estate agent, there’s plenty of characters in between that could have a motive for making Amber feel uncomfortable. Carrington provides enough ammunition that leaves you to suspect the cast although, I personally found it too obvious what was driving the plot forwards.
I think this is what I found most disappointing in this narrative: the climax was not as surprising as I had hoped. Yes, there are some twists along the way but because I had worked out some of the narrative, I did not feel as invested in the perpetrators. I had become distanced from Amber over the narrative because I felt she was too accepting of the things happening around her. As for her strained relationship with her mother-in-law, I thought this was a messy connection that she should walk away from.
There are some clever ideas in the story but it took far too long to get going. Amber did not feel like a believable protagonist and I was not convinced that there was a threat to her safety. Indeed, the stigmatism I have to house-selling from personal experience made me immediately dislike the estate-agent. I did not feel endangered by him but felt that Carl simply fulfilled the image of estate agents that I have seen in the past.
Overall, I am quite disappointed in this read. There was so much potential and I think this could have been capitalised on with a punchier narrative. Although the chapters are short and flip between Amber, the mother-in-law and a mysterious character, I did not get a feel for any suspense or tension. I hope my next Carrington read surpasses this one.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC. Wow! This was a roller coaster ride! Amber is desperately trying to sell her house and begin the new chapter of her life. Recently divorced, she is ready to move on. Her path to a new beginning is filled with many obstacles. Her shady real estate agent, nosey neighbor, over bearing ex-mother-in-law and aloof new boyfriend are just a few barriers standing in the way of her new life. There are several creepy moments that definitely gave me a chill. The ending was one twist after another. Suspenseful, slightly predictable, and spine-chilling describe this very enthralling thriller.
November 26, 2020
A crazy story with a fascinating premise that took me on a wild ride, and I didn't see the ending coming! I read this book in one evening; I couldn't put it down! Amber Miller is selling her house to be able to move in with her new boyfriend, Richard. Her husband, police detective, Nick, cheated on her, and now they are divorcing, which does not sit well with her nosy mother-in-law, Barb. Carl, her real estate agent, is sketchy and isn't doing a decent job selling her house. Throw in the eccentric neighborhood gossip, Davina, and you have a full cast of curious, if not suspicious, characters.
Due to Amber's concern about the house's lack of interest, Carl arranges for an open house. During said open house, she stays at a friend's house down the street and, using her doorbell app, monitors how many people show up and counts thirteen people beside Carl entering the house. Afterward, Amber only counts twelve people leaving the house. She checks the house out carefully before letting her children back in but doesn't find anything suspicious.
Here is where it gets crazy. Strange things start happening. Weird noises, furniture moved in the middle of the night, her children seeing a man in their rooms are just a few of the creepy things that occur. I would have been out of that house so fast, your head would spin! To her credit, Amber is scared, but she sticks it out. I won't go on further because I don't want to give anything away. As I was reading, I
was mesmerized, waiting to find out who was behind everything and why. I thought I knew, and I did guess partly, but in no way did I guess the whole wild ending. A lot is going on in this book, but it is not hard to follow, and the suspense is palpable. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon Books, UK, for the opportunity to read this exciting book! I gave it four stars!
Due to Amber's concern about the house's lack of interest, Carl arranges for an open house. During said open house, she stays at a friend's house down the street and, using her doorbell app, monitors how many people show up and counts thirteen people beside Carl entering the house. Afterward, Amber only counts twelve people leaving the house. She checks the house out carefully before letting her children back in but doesn't find anything suspicious.
Here is where it gets crazy. Strange things start happening. Weird noises, furniture moved in the middle of the night, her children seeing a man in their rooms are just a few of the creepy things that occur. I would have been out of that house so fast, your head would spin! To her credit, Amber is scared, but she sticks it out. I won't go on further because I don't want to give anything away. As I was reading, I
was mesmerized, waiting to find out who was behind everything and why. I thought I knew, and I did guess partly, but in no way did I guess the whole wild ending. A lot is going on in this book, but it is not hard to follow, and the suspense is palpable. Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher, Avon Books, UK, for the opportunity to read this exciting book! I gave it four stars!
December 8, 2020
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
So, when their estate agent suggests an open house event, despite her initial hesitation Amber agrees. But after the event Amber has more to worry about.
Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
The premise was so intriguing and I was excited to read it.
Initially the book started out really good, there was everything that one could want in a psychological thriller. The pace of narration of the plot was good, there were suspicious characters, an interesting open house event as well as some unexpected twists at regular intervals.
But then suddenly towards the end it felt that everything was all over the place. Some of the characters just went missing from the plot without any explanation and the twists introduced to create a spectacular end were kind of too unreal and lacking substance.
Overall an interesting plot which missed the mark for me because of flat ending.
Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!
So, when their estate agent suggests an open house event, despite her initial hesitation Amber agrees. But after the event Amber has more to worry about.
Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
The premise was so intriguing and I was excited to read it.
Initially the book started out really good, there was everything that one could want in a psychological thriller. The pace of narration of the plot was good, there were suspicious characters, an interesting open house event as well as some unexpected twists at regular intervals.
But then suddenly towards the end it felt that everything was all over the place. Some of the characters just went missing from the plot without any explanation and the twists introduced to create a spectacular end were kind of too unreal and lacking substance.
Overall an interesting plot which missed the mark for me because of flat ending.
Thank You to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC!
December 9, 2020
The Open House is the latest psychological thriller from bestseller Sam Carrington and follows separated and soon to be divorced couple Nick and Amber Miller. Having lived in their home throughout their married life, when they decide to split up the family home, a decent-sized terraced house on Apple Grove in the village of Stockwood, Devon, must be sold and the proceeds divided between them, as with all shared property in this defunct marriage consumed by Nick's infidelity with a police sergeant colleague. This will give them both a fresh start with some cash available to enable them to get back on their feet. 38-year-old Amber is to co-inhabit in Kent with her new flame, Richard, who she met on Facebook, meaning her mother in law Barbara ”Barb” Miller will not be able to see her grandchildren, 8-year-old Finley and six-year-old Leo, anywhere near as much as before. She's overbearing, interfering and the epitome of ”the mother in law from hell"; she certainly isn't happy at the prospect of selling the house given it belonged to her some time ago, but they bought it off her so what's the problem? Nick has been pretty amicable letting her stay in the house with their two sons while he moved out, whilst Barb has been relentlessly telling Amber that she is making a mistake by leaving her police detective son for the past 10 months.
Frustrated and desperate to move on from this part of her life to a better chapter she takes the advice of her estate agent at Move Horizon, Carl Anderson, and decides to hold an open house. Barb clearly doesn't want to house to sell, Carl, the estate agent seems indifferent about it, developers are looking to buy the land and tear down the house and neighbours also begin acting oddly, especially Davina. She surveils the those who attend through her SmartRing doorbell camera app and notices that one person entered but never exited. Then things begin to happen: unexplained noises in the night. Furniture moved. Items disappearing. The doorbell smashed to smithereens. Someone is making sure they cause a commotion to scare potential buyers from wanting to make an offer on the house, but who would go so far as to sabotage the sale and why? This is a nail-biting, compulsive and exciting domestic thriller told from the often very different perspectives of Amber and Barb, which creates a fully rounded and immersive story from the word go. There are plenty of twists, clever plotting, good use of misdirection and some real shocks in store as the drama and tension become more and more intense. The cast is well developed and engaging, and I found myself enjoying every single second of this page-turner. Highly recommended.
Frustrated and desperate to move on from this part of her life to a better chapter she takes the advice of her estate agent at Move Horizon, Carl Anderson, and decides to hold an open house. Barb clearly doesn't want to house to sell, Carl, the estate agent seems indifferent about it, developers are looking to buy the land and tear down the house and neighbours also begin acting oddly, especially Davina. She surveils the those who attend through her SmartRing doorbell camera app and notices that one person entered but never exited. Then things begin to happen: unexplained noises in the night. Furniture moved. Items disappearing. The doorbell smashed to smithereens. Someone is making sure they cause a commotion to scare potential buyers from wanting to make an offer on the house, but who would go so far as to sabotage the sale and why? This is a nail-biting, compulsive and exciting domestic thriller told from the often very different perspectives of Amber and Barb, which creates a fully rounded and immersive story from the word go. There are plenty of twists, clever plotting, good use of misdirection and some real shocks in store as the drama and tension become more and more intense. The cast is well developed and engaging, and I found myself enjoying every single second of this page-turner. Highly recommended.
July 10, 2021
The premise for this book was really intriguing and I did enjoy the story quite a bit. My one complaint is that it was very obvious where the storyline was going so towards the end of the book it seemed to be taking a little too long to go where you know it’s been going for quite some time now. It gets a little frustrating when a story is stretched out longer than it needs to be. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 2, 2021
Soooo good! Going to dig into a few others of hers.
October 8, 2020
I hate giving negative reviews but honestly this was possibly the biggest load of rubbish I've ever read.
We don't ever really get to know our lead character, Amber. I don't think we even found out any details about what she looks like but we definitely don't find out anything deep about her personality, likes, dislikes etc so from the off it's hard to care about what happens to her.
And then the story.. my goodness. I was really intrigued by the concept and it had potential but at the end of the book it's like the author tried to just fling as many twists as possible in, kind of like a child telling a story: 'And then there were dinosaurs and then an explosion and then flying pigs and then alien robots' - that kind of thing. The central mystery of the book was explained quickly and brushed to one side to make way for various outlandish things to happen, it was far too much.
I did read to the end because I wanted to find out what happened, and the concept of 13 people entering a house and only 12 coming out could have been really interesting, but unfortunately this was a big miss for me.
We don't ever really get to know our lead character, Amber. I don't think we even found out any details about what she looks like but we definitely don't find out anything deep about her personality, likes, dislikes etc so from the off it's hard to care about what happens to her.
And then the story.. my goodness. I was really intrigued by the concept and it had potential but at the end of the book it's like the author tried to just fling as many twists as possible in, kind of like a child telling a story: 'And then there were dinosaurs and then an explosion and then flying pigs and then alien robots' - that kind of thing. The central mystery of the book was explained quickly and brushed to one side to make way for various outlandish things to happen, it was far too much.
I did read to the end because I wanted to find out what happened, and the concept of 13 people entering a house and only 12 coming out could have been really interesting, but unfortunately this was a big miss for me.
December 3, 2020
Thirteen people came to attend your open house viewing, but you are sure that only twelve have left the house. So where is the thirteenth person hiding out? And what do they want from you? This was such a fantastic premise for a book! I even chatted to my husband about it when I started reading, because the concept of a stranger hiding out in my house totally freaked me out. And once things started going bump in the night, I was totally hooked.
Up to around the 70% mark of the story, I couldn’t put it down. I was wondering who had it in for Amber, and feared for her safety. And then – BANG! The book turned into a total car wreck with pieces flying everywhere. Drowning in a sea of plot twists that churned like the Atlantic in a hurricane, I could no longer see the shore, let alone where the novel was headed. Who, what, where, how????I frantically waved like a swimmer in distress but the lifelines weren’t forthcoming. Some abandoned plot strands drifted gently out to sea, never to be seen again. Whilst the rest was frankly so unbelievable that I felt like flinging the book from me in genuine pain. And when the one person you have been rooting for the whole time betrays you in the end, that is the final nail in the coffin for me.
So how do you rate a book that was 70% riveting and original page-turner, and 30% frustrating beyond belief? Furthermore, written by an author you greatly respect and like? It breaks my heart to write this review because ultimately the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. Worst of all, the story had so much potential to be great. It was all there: the original premise, the captivating writing style, characters who were relatable and interesting, and some moments of genuine tension and danger. I admit that I am not a fan of too many plot twists, so it may work out much better for readers who like their mysteries unpredictable to the extreme and want that final WTH???? moment to finish off the story for them. Sadly that’s just not my cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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Up to around the 70% mark of the story, I couldn’t put it down. I was wondering who had it in for Amber, and feared for her safety. And then – BANG! The book turned into a total car wreck with pieces flying everywhere. Drowning in a sea of plot twists that churned like the Atlantic in a hurricane, I could no longer see the shore, let alone where the novel was headed. Who, what, where, how????I frantically waved like a swimmer in distress but the lifelines weren’t forthcoming. Some abandoned plot strands drifted gently out to sea, never to be seen again. Whilst the rest was frankly so unbelievable that I felt like flinging the book from me in genuine pain. And when the one person you have been rooting for the whole time betrays you in the end, that is the final nail in the coffin for me.
So how do you rate a book that was 70% riveting and original page-turner, and 30% frustrating beyond belief? Furthermore, written by an author you greatly respect and like? It breaks my heart to write this review because ultimately the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. Worst of all, the story had so much potential to be great. It was all there: the original premise, the captivating writing style, characters who were relatable and interesting, and some moments of genuine tension and danger. I admit that I am not a fan of too many plot twists, so it may work out much better for readers who like their mysteries unpredictable to the extreme and want that final WTH???? moment to finish off the story for them. Sadly that’s just not my cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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December 10, 2020
The Open House by Sam Carrington is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Amber Miller is trying to sell her home and move on with her life after splitting up with her husband Nick. She has a new man in her life, and she and her two small boys plan to move in with him....as soon as the house sells.
Unfortunately, Amber is running into problems.
Barb, her soon-to-be ex-mother-in-law refuses to accept the breakup, and to make it worse, refuses to accept that the house will be sold, as once upon a time, it had been her home.
Amber's real estate agent Carl seems to be dropping the ball. When he finally has an open house, Amber notices that of the 13 people that went into her house that day, only 12 exited.
Things are being moved around in her house, and her sons believe there is someone in the house at night.
Nick, her ex, doesn't seem very concerned.
Richard, her new boyfriend lives far away, and isn't really any help at all.
Nosy neighbour Davina may not be as much help as Amber would hope.
Amber just wants it all to stop. Maybe she should just sell to the big development firm no matter what everyone tells her.
My Opinions:
This was good. Not great, but good. The book is about family, and lies, and secrets.
The story alternates between different points of view - Amber, Barb, and an unknown character.
The characters were okay, although I found Amber very weak, and the decisions she made were terrible. She just pissed me off, as she always bowed to her mother-in-law, her ex, her real estate agent.... She made excuses for everyone. Everyone just took advantage of her. Her last decision was the worst.
As well, although the suspense was great, there were almost too many suspects, too many red herrings. Everyone had their own agenda. While I did guess some things correctly, there were certainly others I missed.
The final outcome of the story was just disappointing.
I'll probably be in the minority, but I didn't enjoy this as much as some of her other books, but it certainly won't stop me to jumping on the next one she writes. I love her style.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 4, 2021
3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding up)
#TheOpenHouse #psychologicalthriller #BookReviewer #AudioBook #HarperCollinsAudio
After publication my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@sam_carrington1
#TheOpenHouse #psychologicalthriller #BookReviewer #AudioBook #HarperCollinsAudio
After publication my reviews can be found at Amazon, Twitter, GoodReads, Barnes and Noble, BookBub, NetGalley, and Edelweiss
@sam_carrington1
December 10, 2020
The story started well with Nick and Amber splitting up, the reasons of it were hinted at, and the mother-in-law opposing the split. The house was put up for sale and no bites. That made the MIL happy as she was hiding something which was kept in shadows until the end.
The estate agent suggested an open house to build up interest. 13 people entered and only 12 left. Where was the last one? The children soon complained of someone watching them at night.
What can I say about this book?! Author Sam Carrington started the story with a bang, building up the intrigue in every page.
And then…
It frittered away when the main character Amber made weird (read: dumb) choices. I was ready to prod and push her to the right ones. But her world existed on a viewpoint from a fishbowl.
The story had intrigue and suspense
Until
The scenes became repetitive…
I had many theories about the reasons of her house not selling
Until
The same suspects were pushed to the forefront.
The characters showed promise and made me curious about them
Until
They became caricatures and the depth in them disappeared.
The writing was great, fast paced and suspenseful
Until
It lost its steam
The plot line appeared strong and exciting
Until
The ending spoiled it all. It was so unbelievable
I read and enjoyed most parts of it. I wished it kept to the same vein it started out with. The last few chapters left me way out of the ballpark which might be a good thing for some.
Read it to believe it!!
The estate agent suggested an open house to build up interest. 13 people entered and only 12 left. Where was the last one? The children soon complained of someone watching them at night.
What can I say about this book?! Author Sam Carrington started the story with a bang, building up the intrigue in every page.
And then…
It frittered away when the main character Amber made weird (read: dumb) choices. I was ready to prod and push her to the right ones. But her world existed on a viewpoint from a fishbowl.
The story had intrigue and suspense
Until
The scenes became repetitive…
I had many theories about the reasons of her house not selling
Until
The same suspects were pushed to the forefront.
The characters showed promise and made me curious about them
Until
They became caricatures and the depth in them disappeared.
The writing was great, fast paced and suspenseful
Until
It lost its steam
The plot line appeared strong and exciting
Until
The ending spoiled it all. It was so unbelievable
I read and enjoyed most parts of it. I wished it kept to the same vein it started out with. The last few chapters left me way out of the ballpark which might be a good thing for some.
Read it to believe it!!
November 29, 2020
I have only read one other book by Sam Carrington - I Dare You - which I loved so much I awarded it 5 stars.
I therefore had high hopes for The Open House. I enjoyed the way the scene was set, a house in the village of Stockwood, on the Apple Grove estate, which once belonged to Barb Miller until she sold it to son Nick and his wife Amber to raise their family in, two gorgeous boys Finley and Leo. The trouble is that is about where the idyll ends for we join the family in the middle of a divorce and a frustrated Amber because the house won't sell. She needs the house to sell in order to move away from Devon and start a new life with the boys and new beau Richard. They are headed for Kent where Richard already lives and works but my heart from the start wasn't in tune with this new relationship, romantic me wanted all to work out for a reconciliation with police officer Nick. He seems to be about the only adult in the novel above suspicion, because this is a tale about people not being who you think they are.
Barb, once a local councillor, is all out to stop any proposed building development going ahead in the village and is desperate to see Amber and the children stay because she doesn't want to lose her grandsons. She has already suffered a huge loss over the years as her eldest son Tim went missing, never to return, at the age of 17 and she is also a widow. This makes the reader empathise with Barb but only to a point as she also seems to be the class mother-in-law from hell, interfering and always knowing best.
Keen to move things along, Amber reluctantly agrees to an open house to prompt suitable buyers to come forward. Carl Anderson is the estate agent at Move Horizon who instigates this initiative and he is the one standing on the doorstep on the day of the event welcoming 13 people into the property.
Amber has the SmartRing app which means she can see who is at the door even though she is not present during the open house. She only counts 12 people coming back out though and that is where the story really begins, one of sinister goings on which unsettle and upset Amber, make her feel unsafe and make her question her sanity. Enter also pretty much the whole cast of the novel as perfectly plausible suspects in this living nightmare and you have page after page of people who could be doing everything they can to either stop any prospective sale from going ahead or prevent the family from moving out. But which is it? And who is it?
Could it be a ghost, poltergeist or real person moving furniture, taking things, breaking the doorbell and standing at the foot of the bed? And why? It is chilling and oh-so-addictively thrilling to read. I often make notes as I read to help me when I write reviews and I got to the point where there were so many crossings out with regards to who I thought was playing a devilishly dark game. I changed my mind so may times. As for working out why, my jottings were indecipherable!
Carrington happily litters the novel with red herrings and a box full of twists. These didn't get packed up when Nick had to move out of the marital home, but once those flaps were lifted, oh my goodness, the twists spewed out all over the place.
There was one right at the end which was pure genius (and leaves a terrible lump in the pit of your stomach) but it is hard to adequately explain why I felt some of the twists should not have been kept, but discarded on the moving-out skip, as I have no desire to spoil the plot for anyone. The trouble is, most of the twists became too many and too implausible. I was heading for a 5 star review and then sadly I feel the ending ran away, spiralling out of control. Yes, there were some brilliantly hidden connections and the novel did keep me on the edge of my seat, but the decisions made by the core characters near the end were monstrous, and just seemed too over the top for what had been, until this point, a dark but believable tale.
It wasn't just the decisions, it was who made them and the consequences after the reader finishes the last page that seemed out of tune with the rest of the story. The genius final twist almost pulled it back for me, but sadly on this occasion, it wasn't quite enough. And this last point is purely personal, but I would have preferred a different outcome in terms of Amber and Nick's family. I therefore award this book 4 stars.
I would still highly recommend this book to others and highly recommend the author to others. It certainly hasn't stopped me from hunting out the Sam Carrington books I have still to read, and placing them near the top of a ridiculously long books-to-be-read list though!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for this, my honest review.
I therefore had high hopes for The Open House. I enjoyed the way the scene was set, a house in the village of Stockwood, on the Apple Grove estate, which once belonged to Barb Miller until she sold it to son Nick and his wife Amber to raise their family in, two gorgeous boys Finley and Leo. The trouble is that is about where the idyll ends for we join the family in the middle of a divorce and a frustrated Amber because the house won't sell. She needs the house to sell in order to move away from Devon and start a new life with the boys and new beau Richard. They are headed for Kent where Richard already lives and works but my heart from the start wasn't in tune with this new relationship, romantic me wanted all to work out for a reconciliation with police officer Nick. He seems to be about the only adult in the novel above suspicion, because this is a tale about people not being who you think they are.
Barb, once a local councillor, is all out to stop any proposed building development going ahead in the village and is desperate to see Amber and the children stay because she doesn't want to lose her grandsons. She has already suffered a huge loss over the years as her eldest son Tim went missing, never to return, at the age of 17 and she is also a widow. This makes the reader empathise with Barb but only to a point as she also seems to be the class mother-in-law from hell, interfering and always knowing best.
Keen to move things along, Amber reluctantly agrees to an open house to prompt suitable buyers to come forward. Carl Anderson is the estate agent at Move Horizon who instigates this initiative and he is the one standing on the doorstep on the day of the event welcoming 13 people into the property.
Amber has the SmartRing app which means she can see who is at the door even though she is not present during the open house. She only counts 12 people coming back out though and that is where the story really begins, one of sinister goings on which unsettle and upset Amber, make her feel unsafe and make her question her sanity. Enter also pretty much the whole cast of the novel as perfectly plausible suspects in this living nightmare and you have page after page of people who could be doing everything they can to either stop any prospective sale from going ahead or prevent the family from moving out. But which is it? And who is it?
Could it be a ghost, poltergeist or real person moving furniture, taking things, breaking the doorbell and standing at the foot of the bed? And why? It is chilling and oh-so-addictively thrilling to read. I often make notes as I read to help me when I write reviews and I got to the point where there were so many crossings out with regards to who I thought was playing a devilishly dark game. I changed my mind so may times. As for working out why, my jottings were indecipherable!
Carrington happily litters the novel with red herrings and a box full of twists. These didn't get packed up when Nick had to move out of the marital home, but once those flaps were lifted, oh my goodness, the twists spewed out all over the place.
There was one right at the end which was pure genius (and leaves a terrible lump in the pit of your stomach) but it is hard to adequately explain why I felt some of the twists should not have been kept, but discarded on the moving-out skip, as I have no desire to spoil the plot for anyone. The trouble is, most of the twists became too many and too implausible. I was heading for a 5 star review and then sadly I feel the ending ran away, spiralling out of control. Yes, there were some brilliantly hidden connections and the novel did keep me on the edge of my seat, but the decisions made by the core characters near the end were monstrous, and just seemed too over the top for what had been, until this point, a dark but believable tale.
It wasn't just the decisions, it was who made them and the consequences after the reader finishes the last page that seemed out of tune with the rest of the story. The genius final twist almost pulled it back for me, but sadly on this occasion, it wasn't quite enough. And this last point is purely personal, but I would have preferred a different outcome in terms of Amber and Nick's family. I therefore award this book 4 stars.
I would still highly recommend this book to others and highly recommend the author to others. It certainly hasn't stopped me from hunting out the Sam Carrington books I have still to read, and placing them near the top of a ridiculously long books-to-be-read list though!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for this, my honest review.
December 14, 2020
3.5*
The Open House is, for the most, part a slow-burn psychological thriller which brought to mind spooky classics such as Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. However, the plot seemed to veer off wildly to a reasonably neat but shocking conclusion, from about the 80% point. The closing chapters read to me almost as a different novel, such was the change apparent in pacing and characterisations. While the dramatic denouement answered many, if not all, the mysteries raised over the course of the novel, I didn't feel entirely satisfied that the actions of the characters were in keeping with their earlier characterisations.
The book is based on a stimulating premise - thirteen prospective buyers enter an open home for viewing, but only twelve are observed leaving. Who is the thirteenth person, and where have they gone?
The central character, Amber Miller, from whose perspective the majority of the chapters are narrated, has split from her police officer husband, Nick, and they are in the process of selling the family home, so that both can move on with their lives. The complication is that the home in question previously belonged to Nick's rather overbearing mother, Barb, and was his family home growing up. Barb, from whose perspective the majority of remaining chapters are related, is desperate to prevent the sale of the house and stop Amber and her grandchildren moving away. Are her motives purely nostalgic and solely motivated by a desire to keep the family together? To what lengths might she be prepared to go, in order to keep Amber and the kids in Devon?
Add in a dodgy real estate agent, a nosy neighbour and mysterious sounds in the night and Amber is fast becoming a nervous wreck, second-guessing her conviction that there is someone hiding in her house and machinations going on around her that she can't quite put her finger on.
The character development and slow-burn plotting are excellent over the first three-quarters of the novel, the reader developing an understanding for the courageous but self-doubting Amber. However, after the point at which Amber finally starts to uncover the truth - which hits jarringly suddenly - it felt almost as though the author was in a hurry to tie off all the plot threads and bring the book to a tidy conclusion. It's a complex and macabre outcome, foreshadowed to some degree over the course of the build-up, but not entirely satisfying, to my mind. Without wishing to include spoilers, the actions and explanations of various protagonists didn't strike me as particularly realistic, or as consistent with their characters as built up over the preceding narrative.
That said, I feel The Open House shows great promise, and I look forward to future excursions in the genre by author Sam Carrington.
My thanks to the author, publisher Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
The Open House is, for the most, part a slow-burn psychological thriller which brought to mind spooky classics such as Henry James's The Turn of the Screw. However, the plot seemed to veer off wildly to a reasonably neat but shocking conclusion, from about the 80% point. The closing chapters read to me almost as a different novel, such was the change apparent in pacing and characterisations. While the dramatic denouement answered many, if not all, the mysteries raised over the course of the novel, I didn't feel entirely satisfied that the actions of the characters were in keeping with their earlier characterisations.
The book is based on a stimulating premise - thirteen prospective buyers enter an open home for viewing, but only twelve are observed leaving. Who is the thirteenth person, and where have they gone?
The central character, Amber Miller, from whose perspective the majority of the chapters are narrated, has split from her police officer husband, Nick, and they are in the process of selling the family home, so that both can move on with their lives. The complication is that the home in question previously belonged to Nick's rather overbearing mother, Barb, and was his family home growing up. Barb, from whose perspective the majority of remaining chapters are related, is desperate to prevent the sale of the house and stop Amber and her grandchildren moving away. Are her motives purely nostalgic and solely motivated by a desire to keep the family together? To what lengths might she be prepared to go, in order to keep Amber and the kids in Devon?
Add in a dodgy real estate agent, a nosy neighbour and mysterious sounds in the night and Amber is fast becoming a nervous wreck, second-guessing her conviction that there is someone hiding in her house and machinations going on around her that she can't quite put her finger on.
The character development and slow-burn plotting are excellent over the first three-quarters of the novel, the reader developing an understanding for the courageous but self-doubting Amber. However, after the point at which Amber finally starts to uncover the truth - which hits jarringly suddenly - it felt almost as though the author was in a hurry to tie off all the plot threads and bring the book to a tidy conclusion. It's a complex and macabre outcome, foreshadowed to some degree over the course of the build-up, but not entirely satisfying, to my mind. Without wishing to include spoilers, the actions and explanations of various protagonists didn't strike me as particularly realistic, or as consistent with their characters as built up over the preceding narrative.
That said, I feel The Open House shows great promise, and I look forward to future excursions in the genre by author Sam Carrington.
My thanks to the author, publisher Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
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