Well-developed characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. A uniquely-cool read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Thank you to netgalley I received this as an ARC. I enjoyed it very much was good solid read. Solid 3.75 Stars for me!

Thankyou to NetGalley, BookGoSocial and Shirley Day for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Insect House.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Even though I thought it was a bit slow to start, it was very compelling as the story unfolded. I can't wait to see the movie!

The Insect House is a mystery novel that is not all what it seems. In her debut mystery novel Shirley Day introduces us to Helen, a housewife who lives in an ambling old house in East Anglia. Helen is waiting for her brother to arrive after a 24-year absence. What appears to the return of the prodigal son turns out to be quite different in this ever twisting, but sometimes tedious, account of a family that is being torn apart by its own secrets.

Helen the protagonist presents herself as hard done by having to care for a her sick mother, tolerating a neglectful husband, and longing for her long absent younger brother. As the novel continues we slowly see quite different Helen emerge. There is an evil in the house that seems to be consuming Helen and her family, but as the story unfolds we realize that the evil is coming from a completely different direction. Day does a masterful job of holding the family secrets away from the reader until the concluding pages of the story.

I enjoy the twist at the end, but I have to say that it is a hard to get into the book initially. There are many details introduced that are difficult to put into context until the very end and I find it all a bit confusing. I feel the development of the husband Tim, the American Carla and the Mother are all a bit shallow. However, the character development of Helen and her brother Gareth are exceptional.

I recommend this book to people who enjoy waiting for the twist at the end of the story, but I personally only give it a 3 on 5 because I feel that the wait is too long and tedious.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Brilliant book, full of atmosphere and complex characters without being a cliche!
So excited to hear this will be made into a film as well!

4.25 stars

A good build up of tension between an intimate set of characters.... leading you further forward (or further backwards) to reveal the secret that blew the family apart.
From quite early on the drip feed of clues gives you a good idea of what that secret Is,but throughout the book,it drips more and more,until you're looking at something quite different.
Brilliantly atmospheric,with a small cast of characters and a creepy crumbling house.

This story so successfully transports you that you quickly lose track of all time. The ever present mystery pulls you along while you pull back, wanting to fully drink in the elaborate scenes and complex characters. You can easily summon in your minds eye the beautiful English landscape, filtered by the lens of harsh reality and dark secrets. The bizarre interactions between the characters are fascinating. Their dialogue keeps you guessing and wanting more. A tale so deliciously twisted, you won't want it to end.

I was not surprised to read that this book will be made into a movie in the near future. As there are only 5 (with a glimse of a 6th) people in it, and the whole story spans two days (with some hints to things that happened in the past) it is very gripping.
Despite the fact that there are only a handful of characters, the story has multiple layers that become clear one after another.
There is one relationship between a brother and a sister, who have a very different relationship with their mother. There is a second relationship between husband and wife, and these three have different relationships with two outsiders, one in the past and one in the present.
What happened 25 years ago and what is happening in the two days this story spans, inevitable leads to the very gripping and unexpected end.
Very well written, lots of suspense and interesting characters.

I find starting a new book to be exciting. The questions - Will I like it? Will I feel empathy with the characters? etc.

This book left me with more questions than it answered. A low key story that keeps you guessing - even the ending leaves you guessing. Would I recommend it - yes I would. I've never read a similar book, they may be out there, but I've never read one. Thought provoking.