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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
What started out very unsettling became something else entirely and by the end I was not interested in finishing. I did just to find out what happened, but it felt a bit anticlimactic.
The story follows Sydney and Jack who have bought their new home after unbelievable luck in securing a deal- but maybe all is not what it seems?
I liked the dual POV and how it began by them telling a story from their own points as that was quite unique and I haven’t read a lot of stories like that before which I enjoyed. I also liked how Sydney’s past was being revealed slowly until it all came together as that was a really enthralling way of doing it!
The plot felt a little silly in parts, as I found it slightly unrealistic for certain things to have taken place which took me away from the story in places. The writing of Sydney’s father was particularly difficult for me to get my head round as I cannot believe there could be a person who exists like this and behaves in that way- but I’m sure there is and I just didn’t want to believe it! I also didn’t like how certain points were made quite randomly to drive the story, such as the inclusion of Sabine and her family, as 1. Jack was so unbelievably unprofessional when dealing with this and 2. It felt like it was just put in there for the sake of it which I found hard to follow.
A quick easy read but not my favourite thriller!
I liked the dual POV and how it began by them telling a story from their own points as that was quite unique and I haven’t read a lot of stories like that before which I enjoyed. I also liked how Sydney’s past was being revealed slowly until it all came together as that was a really enthralling way of doing it!
The plot felt a little silly in parts, as I found it slightly unrealistic for certain things to have taken place which took me away from the story in places. The writing of Sydney’s father was particularly difficult for me to get my head round as I cannot believe there could be a person who exists like this and behaves in that way- but I’m sure there is and I just didn’t want to believe it! I also didn’t like how certain points were made quite randomly to drive the story, such as the inclusion of Sabine and her family, as 1. Jack was so unbelievably unprofessional when dealing with this and 2. It felt like it was just put in there for the sake of it which I found hard to follow.
A quick easy read but not my favourite thriller!
My full review is here : https://alittlereadersblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/the-house-by-simon-lelic/
Acclimating to a new home in a new neighborhood can take some time, but when events of your past seem to echo in your new home, as it does in Simon Lelic's The New Neighbors, life can take a chilling turn.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jack and Syd have been looking for a place to live together for quite some time, so when they place an offer and surprisingly get the house they never dreamed they could, things seem to be going quite well - but that's just outward appearances. Syd had a rough childhood, with her father tormenting her, so when she sees a young girl in the neighborhood, Elsie, who appears to be suffering the same fate, she tries to figure out ways to help make Elsie's life better. While both Jack and Syd notice eerie things about their home, Jack finds the most disturbing things in the attic, which he decides to keep from Syd to prevent her from freaking out. When Elsie's father is murdered in the alleyway behind their house, there's plenty of evidence to suggest Jack did it, but does the story add up?
As a psychological story with narrators whose reliability you may question, the pacing was swift as the story developed from its various pieces and was passed between Jack and Syd's perspectives to offer two sides to the same story. Presenting the first portion of the story as a document to be used as evidence is an interesting notion, but it does make me wonder how and why the latter portion of the story is meant to be presented as it doesn't appear to be part of this evidence that was provided to the police. While resolving itself rather quickly, the mystery of what exactly was going on fit together a little too neatly to be entirely believable as so many moving pieces had to be just right in order for everything to have gone according to plan(s).
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Jack and Syd have been looking for a place to live together for quite some time, so when they place an offer and surprisingly get the house they never dreamed they could, things seem to be going quite well - but that's just outward appearances. Syd had a rough childhood, with her father tormenting her, so when she sees a young girl in the neighborhood, Elsie, who appears to be suffering the same fate, she tries to figure out ways to help make Elsie's life better. While both Jack and Syd notice eerie things about their home, Jack finds the most disturbing things in the attic, which he decides to keep from Syd to prevent her from freaking out. When Elsie's father is murdered in the alleyway behind their house, there's plenty of evidence to suggest Jack did it, but does the story add up?
As a psychological story with narrators whose reliability you may question, the pacing was swift as the story developed from its various pieces and was passed between Jack and Syd's perspectives to offer two sides to the same story. Presenting the first portion of the story as a document to be used as evidence is an interesting notion, but it does make me wonder how and why the latter portion of the story is meant to be presented as it doesn't appear to be part of this evidence that was provided to the police. While resolving itself rather quickly, the mystery of what exactly was going on fit together a little too neatly to be entirely believable as so many moving pieces had to be just right in order for everything to have gone according to plan(s).
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
A young couple move into a new house - however once in strange things start happening; a dead cat, an odd photograph and midnight footsteps to name a few.
The female character, Syd, is abrasive and hard to like, for a reason it turns out, but it does not make for an easy read. I am not sure quite why, but I found it all too unbelievable. The scheming involved seemed so involved from all of the parties that is seemed unlikly that any of it would actually have come off.
It is a thriller, although maybe a little slow at the beginning, and if you like thrillers with a bit of gritty reality then this is the book for you.
The female character, Syd, is abrasive and hard to like, for a reason it turns out, but it does not make for an easy read. I am not sure quite why, but I found it all too unbelievable. The scheming involved seemed so involved from all of the parties that is seemed unlikly that any of it would actually have come off.
It is a thriller, although maybe a little slow at the beginning, and if you like thrillers with a bit of gritty reality then this is the book for you.
"Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it. So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake. Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door. And now the police are watching them..."
I love a Psychological Thriller, so the description of this book attracted me as did the cover so when I got the opportunity to read it I snapped it up. However, it did take a couple of weeks to read as it just didn't grab and hold my attention the way I thought it would and I found that some of the events in the story just didn't tie together as well as they should have. I also didn't really enjoy the journal format of the book.
I liked the character of Jack but I found it difficult to warm to Sydney.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin books for copy in exchange for an honest review.
I love a Psychological Thriller, so the description of this book attracted me as did the cover so when I got the opportunity to read it I snapped it up. However, it did take a couple of weeks to read as it just didn't grab and hold my attention the way I thought it would and I found that some of the events in the story just didn't tie together as well as they should have. I also didn't really enjoy the journal format of the book.
I liked the character of Jack but I found it difficult to warm to Sydney.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin books for copy in exchange for an honest review.
So what I said at the beginning of this book... it’s a bit like Stephen King mixed with Alfred Hitchcock.... well actually it’s like a bad parody of the two. The beginning was really good, it drew you in and the tenseness ratcheted up a page at a time. But then it started losing the plot there was all this dallying with a kid and the kid being abused and the social services and it just fell flat and useless and pointless. The title is a lie I think it was called the new neighbours that title makes more sense then the house... with the title you think ooo creepy house... but no it just fell flat and just a bit shit if I have to be honest. The positive is the writing it’s very engaging and well written though please stop with driveling snivelling characters they get a bit annoying especially with Jack he didn’t come across as a bit feminine and that’s not a bad thing but I couldn’t picture what jack looked like as a man. I also didn’t really like Sydney nor did I feel any sympathy.
I received a free physical copy from GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly still do not know what to think about this book...
It was interesting, it was unique, I just cannot figure out if it was good. I was entertained, I felt like maybe the end dragged out a bit and I felt like something was missing to make it excellent. I can not pinpoint my feelings though. I will have to sit a while longer on this...
I honestly still do not know what to think about this book...
It was interesting, it was unique, I just cannot figure out if it was good. I was entertained, I felt like maybe the end dragged out a bit and I felt like something was missing to make it excellent. I can not pinpoint my feelings though. I will have to sit a while longer on this...
Reviews from my blog here: http://www.lifewithemilyblog.com/2018/05/may-2018-reading-list-reviews.html
After spending what felt like forever finding their perfect home, Jack and Syd finally found it. A great location and they got it for a great price. But as the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Soon after moving in Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic meanwhile Syd begins wondering about the girl next door. Something doesn’t make sense. But each of them keep their findings to themselves as to not worry the other. But when someone turns up dead behind their house, the police get involved and they aren’t sure what to think or believe. I thought this was a fantastic book, told in two alternating perspectives of the main characters, Jack and Syd. The story gets dark really quick and the story took a surprising turn…which I was all about! Definitely give this a read if you’re looking for a quick thriller!
After spending what felt like forever finding their perfect home, Jack and Syd finally found it. A great location and they got it for a great price. But as the saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Soon after moving in Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic meanwhile Syd begins wondering about the girl next door. Something doesn’t make sense. But each of them keep their findings to themselves as to not worry the other. But when someone turns up dead behind their house, the police get involved and they aren’t sure what to think or believe. I thought this was a fantastic book, told in two alternating perspectives of the main characters, Jack and Syd. The story gets dark really quick and the story took a surprising turn…which I was all about! Definitely give this a read if you’re looking for a quick thriller!