She's desperate to leave the past behind her. But fear has a way of following. Lynda McGowan knows all about stalkers. Her father, a jaded musician with local acclaim, was brutally killed by his. When a friend begs her to play a few shows with his band after their lead singer's sudden departure, she can't resist the opportunity to live out the dream she left behind after her father died. But it isn't long before a series of mysterious and disturbing events occur, and she senses she's being watched--just like her father was. Still, Lynda forces herself to refute the connection. After all, his killer is dead. Is she paranoid? Or is she being followed as part of a dangerous game? And how far must things go before someone believes her? Follow Her Home is an edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense novel. If you like atmospheric stories, determined characters, and spine-tingling twists, then you'll love Emerald O'Brien's new page-turner. Includes a downloadable original song by singer-songwriter Adrienne Ashley that features in the story.
Emerald O’Brien is a Canadian writer who grew up just east of Toronto, Ontario. She studied Television Broadcasting and Communications Media, and graduated from the program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.
When Emerald is not reading or writing unpredictable stories packed with suspense, she loves baking, bonfires, binging Netflix shows, and spending time with family.
A horror movie enthusiast, Emerald can be found watching them at the movie theatre with her best friend or while cuddled up on the couch with her favourite snacks.
Emerald O'Brien's latest novel, Follow Her Home, is a thriller you haven't read before. The premise is unique and exciting, and from the very first page I was sucked in. These characters make you invested, you want to know their story, you want it to end well. The novel played out like a movie in my head, each scene so vivid and atmospheric I could practically smell the crisp, fall air from my couch in the dead of summer. It's clear this book is O'Brien doing what she loves and what she does so well--making us care so deeply about a character as she twists us into their web. Filled with intrigue, suspense, characters you'll love, and characters you'll love to hate, Follow Her Home is the perfect fall read!
I'm not sure how this book came to my attention but, even though it turned out to be not exactly what I was expecting, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend. The writing flowed fairly smoothly and the characters were realistic although I didn't feel a real connection with any of them. The book contained the words to a few songs and a link to a recording of one of them which was quite nice. There were actually a couple of mysteries to follow and my suspicions were all over the place. The tension really ratcheted up towards the end. Well written. Oh and she's Canadian as well!
Wow! This is an intense, gripping, well-written, entertaining psychological thriller. It is a real page turner with well developed, likable, and interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, twists and turns and suspense. Ms. O'Brien is an expert at keeping her readers engaged from the beginning until the end of her outstanding novels. The poetry is marvelous, and as an added bonus, there is a link to a lovely and haunting song by Adrienne Ashley. This novel would make an amazing movie! I received an ARC of this novel and this is my honest review.
Leading up to Halloween, Lynda is more than ready to leave her past behind. An old friend asks for a favour and Lynda sees it as an opportunity for herself as well. Not long after, Lynda has a feeling she is being watched. Is her past catching up to her, or is someone just trying to scare her?
This psychological thriller had me hooked from page one. With loveable (and not so lovable) characters, and a very realistic storyline, this was a well written and fast paced book. Had it not been for work and life getting in the way, I could have kept going with this page turner and finished it in one sitting. It certainly kept me guessing until the end and I definitely recommend it. A big thumbs up from me!
Merged review:
Who can you trust?
Leading up to Halloween, Lynda is more than ready to leave her past behind. An old friend asks for a favour and Lynda sees it as an opportunity for herself as well. Not long after, Lynda has a feeling she is being watched. Is her past catching up to her, or is someone just trying to scare her?
This psychological thriller had me hooked from page one. With loveable (and not so lovable) characters, and a very realistic storyline, this was a well written and fast paced book. Had it not been for work and life getting in the way, I could have kept going with this page turner and finished it in one sitting. It certainly kept me guessing until the end and I definitely recommend it. A big thumbs up from me!
What a delightful story full of suspense and mystery. I loved it so much I read it in one sitting! Lynda witnessed a horrible event when younger, and never truly got over it. As she grew older, life continued but she always felt something was amiss. One day an old friend asked her for help and her life was never the same. Was someone trying to scare her? Or was it someone from the past coming back to haunt her? Can Lynda figure it out before it’s too late?
This story packs quite the punch. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, this author throws something into the mix to completely throw me off. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story! I love suspenseful stories and this one definitely fits the bill. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommended it!
Another fantastic novel by the extremely talented Emerald O'Brien. I absolutely LOVED every single word of this book. The story is great, the characters are even better and the continually guessing is everything I look for in a psychological thriller. I never would have guessed how this one ended and that makes a great story to me and even better is the fact that there are really two plots going here and how Emerald manages to weave them together and make it work is nothing short of amazing. If you want an edge of your seat, page turner this is the book for you!
Music, suspense and action—what more could a reader want? Follow Her Home has it all and was a fabulous read from start to finish.
I enjoyed the lyrical aspects of this novel and the original song by Adrienne Ashley that was included—and linked right there in the chapter for my convenience!
The last half of the book was fast-paced and action packed, keeping me on the edge of my seat as the pieces of the puzzle came together.
This was my first read from author, Emerald O’Brien, but certainly won’t be my last!
I can imagine that many may love the interspersed song texts but they weren't for me. Maybe the author would prefer writing poems to novels? Adele's feelings of being watched are relatable and her fear is palpable, her friendship with Stokes is well written, but I think there are too many suspects and too many "distractions" (Pascha) and the final twist is a surprise but too unforeseeable for my liking.
This book was awesome just when I thought I had it figured out the author threw another person into mix and another twist I didn't see coming loved the book and the characters
This was an intriguing, chilling, entertaining, gripping psychological thriller. I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to figure out what the heck was happening and who was doing it all. The music aspect was an added bonus that I enjoyed, there were song lyrics and even a link to listen to a song created, so cool !
I enjoyed the characters, as usual @writeremeraldobrien you get well developed characters that are interesting and likeable (not all of them). Also the settings she set in this one was like watching a movie in my head, everything being so easy to picture, which makes for a chilling experience.
The twists and turns were great, kept me going in multiple directions without ever being able to figure out the outcome, which is what I adore ! This is definitely a highly suspenseful novel which you you won't be able to put down.
If you're looking for a chilling Halloween season popcorn thriller jump on it !
It’s a creepy book about a band, missing person, stalker, a family secret and murder….all set around Halloween. So it makes for a fun Halloween slasher type of read.
It’s a short to the point kind of read.
It sort of reminded me of Daisy Jones & The Six at times…but with less heat/passion amongst bandmates and more distrust and thriller / murdery vibes.
I’ve come to the realization that while I love music, I don’t really vibe with books that have lyrics in them. I find myself skimming when I get to those parts. Most people love that but it’s just not my jam. Although one really cool element in this book was the link to the song. So soon as I get off of this airplane I’m totally checking it out.
There were a few times where I had to reread a sentence or paragraph because it read a bit clunky.
Overall it was a decent read and I’m looking forward to reading another book by this author.
Lynda can’t stop feeling like she is being watched. Her father was stalked before he was murdered. With her mom out of town and singing with a band for a few concerts, she can’t help wonder if she is paranoid, or really being followed? What an intense thriller!
This one kept me up all night. I had to finish it. Great human characters with real problems and the guilt that always follows a death. Very well written.
Life has not been easy for Lynda McGowan. Her father, a locally famous musician, was murdered in his own home by a crazed stalker, and Lyn and her mother were forced to witness the bloody aftermath while nearly becoming victims themselves. Though both mother and daughter have moved on in many aspects, they are not who they once were. Lyn lives a quiet and unassuming life working for her mother's dental office, never having pursued her real passion of becoming a renowned singer due to her father's discouragement. But when a childhood friend contacts her about filling in as a singer for his band, Lyn sees the opportunity to make her dream a reality. Things are looking up until she begins to feel as though someone is watching her. Traumatized by her past and afraid of making her fears known lest she seem paranoid, Lyn struggles to prove herself to the band while trying to shake off increasingly disturbing notions that she is being followed.
Follow Her Home has a great premise for a thriller: being stalked hits close to home through how feasible it is (this isn't the supernatural, there's no question as to whether or not you believe), and the unpredictability. However, the story falls short for me in its execution. The writing seems a little haphazard and there are awkwardly worded, unnecessary descriptions throughout ("I cover my face with my hands and use the darkness to wonder as usual") that keep me from being fully immersed in the plot.
There are not many depictions of strength from Lyn. The reader is frequently shown her dwelling on her deceased dad's lack of belief in her music career, her insecurity about the band's approval, her vulnerable position with a former flame who didn't reciprocate her feelings, and her fear of a stalker. There are very few instances in which she is not afraid or self-conscious. By no means is it unrealistic to feel all these things - being stalked would be utterly terrifying and I know I would be like Lyn in a lot of ways. But there is never any substantial defiance or anger from her either, which would serve the story well by breaking up Lyn's softer moments. Despite the actuality of her fears, it becomes monotonous reading her speculating in the form of rhetorical questions over and over.
There are certainly some shining achievements in Follow Her Home as well. The climax is pretty well done; readers finally see some backbone in Lyn instead of her default setting of helplessness and indecision. The culprit is not easily determined until the very end since there are a few suspects at play throughout the story, although when the big reveal does happen, it feels a little flat. Another plus is that O'Brien includes original poems for Lyn's songs and to mark the beginning of every chapter; she even includes the link to a recorded song, "Scopaesthesia," within the text. O'Brien could have gotten away with just tossing in a few simple lines to represent Lyn's singing/songwriting passions, but she goes the extra mile by including fully developed pieces.
All in all, Follow Her Home has great potential which it capitalizes on in some areas, but doesn't seem to reach in others. It did not quite click for me although I could very well see it being an enjoyable read for others.
I had no idea that I was receiving an ARC of this book, so it was a complete surprise when I opened my email and it was there! I've only read one of this author's other books and I did enjoy that book, so I had wanted to read more from her! I then received an ARC of this book and the synopsis sounded intriguing, so I made it my next read! After reading, I can say that the plot did take me a while to get into, but it got better as it progressed and only took me a few sittings to read! The main focus of the plot was the mystery aspect and I felt like the author did a great job with it and did keep me guessing! The mystery aspect also allowed for a bit of action and suspense, which added to the plot! There also wasn't a lot of romance in the plot, but I wasn't expecting a lot because I knew that it wasn't the main focus! The characters were also great and did make the plot better! Lynda 'Lyn' was the main character, and in this book she had moved back with her mother and she was trying to work out what she wanted to do with her life! Lyn also wanted to write songs and play music and she got that in this book, but she did doubt herself because of what happened to her father! Lyn went through quite an ordeal in this book and I felt like she kicked some ass when she had to! I also have to be honest and say that I had a bit of a hard time connecting with Lyn at some points and I'm not sure why! There wasn't so much a love interest for Lyn in this book because it focused more on the mystery aspect! Lyn did sort of start to form a relationship with a character called Taylor, but it wasn't the main focus of the plot at all and there were small scenes of romance between them! There were plenty of secondary characters in this book though and they included Stokes, Cline, Royal, and Lucie! I wasn't sure who I could trust in this book because some of the characters were hiding big secrets! I will say that Stokes was an amazing friend to Lyn though! This book was only written from Lyn's point of view, which I was expecting after I read the synopsis and because of the genre of the book! I enjoyed this book only being written through Lyn's eyes and it made sense for this book to be written this way because it allowed the reader to find things out at the same time as Lyn and it helped the mystery aspect! I also don't think this book needed to be written from any of the other characters point of views because it was Lyn's story! I can also completely understand why this book is a standalone! Everything in the plot was wrapped up and all the questions raised were answered! The ending was also left at the perfect place and summed up Lyn's story and showed how far she had come! I now can't wait to read more books from this author! This is only my second book from her, so I'm excited to check out her other books and give them a read! I can't wait to see what she's going to release next as well! The cover for this book is also absolutely perfect for it! I love it a lot and how well it suits the story behind it! It would draw me to the book as well and make me want to check out the synopsis! Big thank you to Emerald for an ARC of Follow Her Home!
Follow Her Home by Emerald O’Brien Published: October 8, 2020 Emerald O’Brien This title is available for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Emerald O’Brien was born and raised just east of Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from her Television Broadcasting and Communications Media program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. As the author of unpredictable stories packed with suspense, Emerald enjoys connecting with her readers who are passionate about joining characters as they solve mysteries and take exciting adventures between the pages of great books.
“It’s not paranoia, is it?”
Lynda suffered an unimaginable family tragedy with the loss of her father. When an opportunity to not only follow in his footsteps but also live her dreams presents itself via an old friend- Lynda can’t say no. She is ready to feel all eyes on her as she takes the stage. Hopefully, she survives the encore.
Holy intensity. Every single aspect of this book is captivating—the storyline, the characters, the buildup, the twists- absolutely brilliant.
The use of lyrics and poetry with this story was so well done and so beautifully used. T helped bring Lynda to life in such a natural way. How the musicians are described and how they all used music to feel was stunning.
This book was scary! Impossible to put down, but also sleep with the lights on scary. The intensity was brewed so carefully, and as things start to spiral, you don’t know who you can trust. It’s chaos at its absolute finest.
I love that Emerald spoke so much about feeling vulnerable and victimized in this book. Lynda absolutely was victimized. And in a specific aspect, she will never get justice. So I appreciate that Emerald addressed that directly. I also love that despite being scared, feeling vulnerable, and being mentally and emotionally violated, Lynda is a survivor. A tough-as-nails woman who won’t stay down.
This is one of the most amazing books I have read, you really don't want to miss it! Ms O'Brien has taken us on a ride of terror that is covered by such beauty it is different from any book I have read. Lyn has always wanted to sing with her friend Stokes's band. Suddenly out of the blue he asks if she could fill in for 3 shows Lyn is elated her dream is coming true! But oh my gosh how that one simple decision is going to totally change her life. Lyn is so sweet and loveable and it doesn't hurt that she is beautiful also even though she doesn't realize it. Her friend Stokes is absolutely amazing and the kind of friend that everyone would love to have, he is so dedicated to being the best he can be. His band is a little hard on Lyn when she's introduced to them but as they get to know Lyn they all become very close. But Lyn has been keeping pain and fear locked in her heart and she is afraid of everyone. This book has something I have never experienced before and that is that we actually get to listen to Lyn sing. Ms. O'Brien has a very talented young lady that she met and together they have exploded a new experience in reading a book that will blow you away. This story feels so true that I was scared to close my eyes at night for fear of what might happen. Isn't that what you want from a great book? To feel so immersed in the characters life that they become so real to you. I loved the suspense in this book. I have to say Ms. O'Brien has really outdone herself this time. What are you waiting for? Push the buy button you will not be disappointed! I received a free download of this book from the publisher but this does not influence my review. I loved this book and wanted to share my own honest opinion of it.
Things that go bump in the night. That creepy feeling like you aren't alone. Is someone is watching you or are you being paranoid? These are all things she feels. They make her question if she is still freaking out over her father's death or is someone out to get her? She thinks she's moved on from that day that is not spoken of but is that true? Can she ever live up to the expectations of her father? Will the past come back to haunt her future forever? Given the chance to finally be on stage doing what she always wanted, she does what she's only dreamed of but is this what has put her on someone's radar or is it something else? This author writes this into being. She makes you shudder with every noise, flinch at every shadow, cringe with every creak. You can smell the crisp air, that deep breath filling her lungs, the fear of the unknown. And as the story plays out and the characters come to life, you can feel the angst over the lost friend, the confusion over the truth when it's revealed, the pain of loss. I love this author who knows just how much to reveal and how much to hold back and the ending you never saw coming, especially when you find out who followed her home.
Music soothes the soul and allows you to reminisce about the good times and forget about the bad. For Lynda, the words come easy to her and she creates beautiful and personal poems, which she turns into poignant songs. Her Dad was a musician and she has special memories of the bond they shared over music. Her dream had always been to sing her own songs and share it with an audience. Her past was filled with sadness and heartbreak, and the present is turning out the same way. The fear of being followed is debilitating and terrorizing, and Lynda hates constantly looking over her shoulder. She only feels safe when the lock clicks on her front door and she gets a big hug from her dog, Stevie. Can she possibly escape the nightmare that is unfolding around her? Who can she really trust? Why did her childhood friend contact her out of the blue, asking her to sing with his band? Why are some of her bandmates reluctant to accept her? All Lynda wants to do is write down the words that are swirling around her mind, and lead a normal life. Is that too much to wish for?
Lynda McGowan's father, a musician, died at the hands of his stalker. A few years later, when one of Lynda's childhood friends asks her to replace the singer of his band at short notice, she accepts, believing that she could finally fulfill her dream of singing and sharing her lyrics. But then, it’s her turn to have a stalker following her.
From the very first words, we are enveloped by this aura of suspense that leaves us no respite until the end. Emerald O'Brien has managed to weave a haunted atmosphere that creeps into our guts, giving us the impression that someone is spying on us too.
Lynda's song lyrics, which reflect her anguish and fears, are scattered throughout the book and add to the anxious feeling I felt as the action progressed. The song written and sung by Adrienne Ashley adds even more intensity to the atmosphere. This book would make a great, suspenful movie. And it would be great to hear more songs from this band, with the atmosphere you find in a bar. Another amazing novel by Emerald O’Brien.
This story has a few different levels in it. There is the murder of Lynda's dad was committed by a stalker, Lynda starts to feel like she is being watched. Then an old friend asks her to help out his band when one of the lead singers leaves she is relucent to do it since her father always told her she wasn't good enough to perform. Her dad was a local singer. She does write some poems that can be put to music, but she isn't sure if they are good enough. She does join the band and is surprisingly good. But there are things happening in her home that makes her wonder if she is being followed. Her mother and boyfriend are off on a vacation, so it is just Lynda and her dog in the home. Things get pretty strange along the way with the band members and an old fling Lynda had in her past. Is she losing her mind? You will need to read the book to find out how things come out. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. It is a great psychological thriller!
Another winner for Emerald O'Brien! The suspense in this book was palpable and kept me reading late into the night to finish it. The characters were well developed and realistic. We learn background details about the others as Lynda herself learns them. The descriptions of the settings made you feel like you were there. I kept looking over my shoulder as I read. Lynda is still recovering from the death of the father she worshiped 6 years earlier. A local singer, he was murdered by a stalker fan. Lynda writes poems and longs to become a singer but her father never wanted her in the profession. She felt he didn't think she was good enough. So, after a divorce she lives at home with her mother and her boyfriend and leads a mundane life. Then a friend asks her to fill in the for lead singer in his band. From there things twist and turn to a surprising climax. I really enjoyed this book and I wish to thank the author for allowing me to read an early copy. I look forward to more from her
"If I don't keep moving, I'll let the fear stop me again, and I can't"
Holy Moly!! Talk about keeping you guessing!! I can't tell you how many times I thought - "I bet it's him" then "Ooooh, maybe it's her" then, "It's gotta be him", then "maybe she's imagining all of it", then, and then, and then. I was wrong on all accounts!!
I audibly gasped several times while reading this book. I don't know about you, but I've had that eerie feeling that someone is watching me before, or following me. But this? Yikes! Not only does our main character feel that, but there are little things that the reader notices that she doesn't seem to, that will have you on edge! And there are so many potential who-dunnits that you just won't be able to see the end coming!
What a great read!!! I have read several books from Ms. O'Brien and each one is just riveting!! Definitely grab this one!!
Emerald O Brien does it again. What a superb psychological thriller tapping into many people’s fears. Lynda has lost her father to a stalker but she’s worked hard to try and lead a normal life again. Finally the murderer dies in jail but when she starts to feel eyes watching her she knows that all is not well. However an opportunity to sing with an ex best friend has her pushing out of her comfort zone and take to the stage. It is only as the story develops that you realise how many weirdos there really are out in the world. One stalker is bad enough but do you really know your neighbours? That’s not all, Just where has Pasha Gone? Lynda just doesn’t know who to trust and I’m with her on that one. I certainly didn’t see the ending. Just who is stalking Lynda? read the book and find out for yourself. You’ll be surprised and just a little scared. Enjoy!
The story is mainly about Lyn who feels she is being watched and followed. Out of the blue an old school friend asks her to join his band for a few gigs, standing in for their lead singer, Pascha, who has left them high and dry. There are more questions than answers as not all of the band want Lyn to join them, expecting Pascha to return, only to discover she has disappeared. Lyn becomes involved with an old flame who isn't all that he seems and she also discovers her neighbour has been taking photos of her without consent. Will Lyn get the chance to follow her dream as a song writer/singer? Who is the stalker violating Lyn's privacy and entering her home? Is the neighbour involved? Where is Pascha, has something happened to her? A good storyline with twists and turns. Plenty of suspects which keeps you guessing to the end and not at all what you expect.
This is a very capable author. That is probably why I stuck with her through this book which is essentially the anxious ravings of a whiney bitch. There are two murders in this story, but they occur off stage so violence is held to a minimum. Lyn, the main character is a singer/songwriter, and the words and music for songs both she and the singer she replaces are included in the text. The plot involves triangles of love, requited and unrequited. The emotions of members of the band Lyn sits in with and her family are well-defined. I have to admit that I liked this book better the more I got into it. The author shared an advanced copy of the book with me, and I wanted to tell others about it. I probably would not have selected it based on the sales descriptions.
Suspense at its best!! A page turner. Love Emerald's books. They keep you at the edge of your seat, to see what is going to happen next. Character development is good. Strong storyline.
Will Lynda finally realize her dream to sing and perform her own songs? Will she become part of a band? Is someone stalking Lynda, just like her father? Or is she being paranoid? What happened to Pascha? Did she just leave or is there something sinister behind her disappearance? Is Pascha's leaving, Lynda's big break?
What a twist at the end. Never saw it coming. Recommend. Received an ARC and this is my voluntary honest review.
Strap yourself in for a spine-tingling, exhilarating ride that you will not soon forget with this “Follow Her Home” !! This is a novel that you will miss sleep to finish – I know that I did !!! Lynda’s father being brutally killed has severely affected her life and set her on a difficult path and when spooky things start happening, she is determined to figure out what exactly is going on.
Emerald O’Brien weaves so many creepy and dangerous aspects into this riveting thriller. And you will definitely be shocked until the twisted ending is revealed.
I received a copy of this from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.