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A review by herreadingroom
The People Before by Charlotte Northedge
4.0
When Jess and Pete need a new start they decide to purchase a rambling, nearly derelict house in the Suffolk countryside. Their plan is to fully renovate the house and outbuildings so they can rent out some of it. But it isn’t too long until they realise that they may have bitten off more than they can chew and that perhaps they have made a huge mistake.
Coupled with the almost insurmountable challenges posed by the house, Jess has given up her job to cut down on child care costs and is feeling isolated and lonely with Pete working longer hours to make ends meet. Jess and her daughter are feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the house - Jess has a bad feeling that someone is watching her and Rose feels that it’s spooky. When Jess’ mother tells her that she feels the same and when Jess picks up on the local vibes that no one want to talk about what happened to the people that lived there before Jess gets really freaked out.
This is a gripping plot that starts with a slow, spine tingling start that feels very creepy and unsettling, and then…..and then comes a switch in the narrator….think total gear change and foot flat on the accelerator pedal!
It’s littered with dark secrets and is twisted with such a tautness in the tension that you can almost hear it twang!!
Hugely compelling! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Coupled with the almost insurmountable challenges posed by the house, Jess has given up her job to cut down on child care costs and is feeling isolated and lonely with Pete working longer hours to make ends meet. Jess and her daughter are feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the house - Jess has a bad feeling that someone is watching her and Rose feels that it’s spooky. When Jess’ mother tells her that she feels the same and when Jess picks up on the local vibes that no one want to talk about what happened to the people that lived there before Jess gets really freaked out.
This is a gripping plot that starts with a slow, spine tingling start that feels very creepy and unsettling, and then…..and then comes a switch in the narrator….think total gear change and foot flat on the accelerator pedal!
It’s littered with dark secrets and is twisted with such a tautness in the tension that you can almost hear it twang!!
Hugely compelling! I thoroughly enjoyed it!