Member Reviews
Fast paced and engaging. Shows that all humans have innate evil and survival instincts supersede the good within us.
For some reason or another it is a while since I read a Mark Edwards’ book. What was I thinking! Here to stay is a well thought out story about how one man’s life can change from a “chance meeting”.
Elliot lives in a beautiful house which he has lovingly restored. When he opens his garden to the public, he meets the gorgeous Gemma Robinson. Within months they are married and she has moved into his home.
When Gemma asks if her parents and sister can come and stay for a couple of weeks while they find somewhere to live after living in France, Elliot readily agrees, not realising from that moment on his nice sedate life will never be the same.
Mark Edwards, you had me jumping at every noise, checking over my shoulder and listening out for footsteps. The creeping sense that something was amiss followed me everywhere until I had reached the superb ending and then I could BREATHE again!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy. Elliott and Gemma meet and in a couple months they end up getting married. Soon after they are married her parents and sister come to stay a few days but it just seems like they are never leaving. A dragged out story which the ending just doesn't seem to make sense. Maybe just not the type of story for me.
This novel was ICKY and uncomfortable and YUCK. In all of the best ways possible. To me, it read more of a horror for the first two thirds. And I liked that, but maybe it says more about what I find scary than anything else :) I loved this book and have enjoyed all books I’ve read my Mark Edwards. Devoured this one in a couple days and am already wondering which of his books to pick up next.
After reading a gazillion psychological thrillers with a female protagonist I picked up this novel to read from the male perspective. Gemma and Elliot have a ‘meet-cute’ beginning, a fairytale romance. marriage and a beautiful life and home. Along comes a text from Gemma’s parents that they are coming back to England from France and would it be okay to stay for a couple of weeks? Everything goes spiraling down as soon as the Robinson’s arrive with a daughter who looks like death warmed over. Elliott discovers that the family has hidden secrets and motives and he spends half the book thinking of ways to make them move. After a rash of really disturbing incidents Elliott reaches his breaking point and changes from a loving, kind, professor into a man willing to do anything g to save his wife and home. Nothing is as it seems. Great read. My first by this author.
Fantastic novel as always. Really like the style of Mark Edwards and this novel didn’t disappoint. Great build up of tension throughout.
This is the fifth book by Mark Edwards that I've read in the last few months and I've become quite a fan of his! This didn't disappoint! Read in one sitting, Here To Stay is a gripping page turner that had me intrigued and second guessing all the characters right from the start! A great psychological read!
I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards having read all of his books including the one's he has co written with Louise Voss and yet again i have to say he has written another gripping psychological thriller which is a winner all the way from page 1.Elliot meets Gemma and they get married after a whirlwind romance and all is well at first but when Gemma gets an email from her parents asking to come and stay Elliot readily agrees as he thinks it will only be for a few weeks.So Jeff,Lizzy and their other daughter Chloe arrive from France and that is when Elliot's and Gemma's lives start to get worse by the day as they quickly turn into the in laws from hell,and when it becomes clear they have no intention of leaving any time soon Elliot is forced to face the possibility that Jeff and Lizzy are also responsible for much more darker happenings that are taking place in his life.From the first page to the last this superb thriller had me gripped and also with an ending which i never saw coming it really is up there as one of the best psychological thrillers i have read this year which is no surprise really as Mark Edwards is at the top of his game when it comes to this genre of book.A massive 5 star read and,i can't wait for Marks next book as they never disappoint.
I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. Great characters and a great plot line. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.
I think I have read all of Mark Edwards previous novels and have enjoyed them all. They are a good easy reading psychological mystery and "Here to Stay" was no different. This was a wonderfully chilling mystery that is surely will make you realise that your in laws are not that bad! Lots of twists, lots of suspects, a satisfying ending! What more do you need on a rainy afternoon.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 easy to read stars
I’ve read all of the author’s previous books and Follow You Home remains one of the creepiest and suspenseful books I’ve ever read.
However I do find Mark to be a bit inconsistent with his books - you will read one that blows you away and then the odd one sneaks in that falls a bit flat.
Unfortunately this was a disappointing book, it lacked suspense and the characters were all so annoying/unlikeable/comical that I kept reading just to see how much sillier it got.
It was so implausible- how Gemma and Elliot meet, the whirlwind development of the story line - isn’t Elliot an intelligent scientist?!
However if you want a quick easy read this is one for you.
Really good story reminded me a little of the magpie which is when I fell in love with Mark Edwards novels, keep them coming!
This was a great read. I couldn't stop readinv the entire time.
The story begins with a very likeable character Elliott. Elliott is a picture perfect catch. Well rounded, caring and the owner of a beautiful home. Elliott live changes forever when he meets Gemma. Gemma seems like a good catch until Elliott's life is changed when he meets Gemma's family. His welcomed visitors slowly start to take over his life anx everything/anything he ever cared for.
Mark Edwards did a fantastic job creating characters that made you feel everything you were feeling. I really enjoyed the character development and the twist at the end. I really enjoyed reading this. The plot became alittle strange sometimes but I did enjoy reading this thriller.
Mark Edwards is one of my favorite crime fiction authors and I try to stay always alert in order to check out his new books. "Here to Stay" was not an overall disappointing reading experience, but it certainly lacks the brilliance of many other books written by Edwards.
Everything begins, like in a fairy-tale, with Elliot, a science teacher, meeting beautiful Gemma and marrying her in a course of just two months. As it is obvious, Elliot is madly in love with Gemma and ready to do anything in order to keep her by his side. The problems begin when Gemma's parents, Jeff and Lizzy, arrive at Elliot's household supposedly for a brief stay of just two weeks. After that, Elliot's life quickly begins to fall apart as it seems that his in-laws are one of a kind and perhaps even dangerous. Things escalate at a rapid pace and finally, Elliot and Gemma will have to face the ultimate decision in order to get rid of them once and for all.
As in every M. Edwards novel, the plot evolves in a relatively fast pace and there are some nice twists near the ending that make the reader reconsider everything he thought he knew until then. Furthermore, Edwards uses a rather simple, nevertheless effective, prose that upgrades his storytelling. The narration is divided into four parts and we see things through the first-person narration of the protagonist, Elliot. "Here to Stay" is not the crime/thriller that you will remember for a long time after reading but this doesn't mean that it's not an entertaining read. Personally I've enjoyed other M. Edwards' novels more and I think that his fans will agree to that point.
I have read several of Mark Edwards books and I have to say they just get better and better. Just reading the blurb gave me goosebumps and I couldn’t wait to plunge into this story!!!
Elliott and Gemma meet when he opens his garden to the public, theirs is a whirlwind romance and after 2 months they marry in Las Vegas.
When Gemma’s parents say they are returning from living in France but have no where to live, Elliott offers them a temporary place to stay. Where’s the harm in being charitable?
Gemma’s parents Jeff and Izzy arrive with their sick daughter Chloe , but after a few weeks they are not making plans to move out and are taking over the house and Elliot’s life with dangerous consequences!!
This book had me hooked from the start with its twists that kept me guessing. The in laws were very clever, they kept on the right side of the law.They were despicable with their messiness, rudeness and both so manipulative, they made my blood boil and I was planning on how I would get rid of them!!!
Loved the twist at the end. A must read book but be warned once you have read one Mark Edwards book you will be hooked!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
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Another brilliant book by Mark Edwards. I just love all his books and this was no exception. It was the usual good storyline with the twists and turns we expect from his writing. I was so gripped I read it in 24 hours as I just had to know how it ended up. I was also really sad to finish it which is the sign of a great book. I would highly recommend this book and author.
Visitors are like fish. No matter who they are they go off after three days
What I love about Mark Edwards is his ability to write about ordinary people, living ordinary lives & something happens. It could happen to you the reader, me, neighbour, anyone. And it’s terrifying. It is also every book he writes
No visitors need ever ask to stay in my home again
A brilliant read
With thanks to the publishers and author for ARC in return for an honest review
Wow, this book will really make you appreciate your in-laws!
I so badly wanted to see these characters get what they deserved! Mark Edwards did a great job of creating truly despicable characters in Lizzy and Jeff, as well as sympathetic ones, although I do think Elliot made some stupid decisions and realistically would have had more of a backbone if this situation happened in real life. However, the twists and turns made for an entertaining read. I did find the ending too abrupt and would have liked to have a little more, given the twist in the last few pages. But, I will definitely be reading more of Mark Edwards after enjoying Here to Stay as well as his previous book The Magpies.
Another great book with a great storyline, great characters choice, lot of unexpected twists and turns. Would highly recommended this book to all my friends.
Thank you Net Galley and Amazon Publishing for an early copy of this book. Very Frustrating!!! I wanted to be rid of these inlaws immediately. I couldn't put it down, very twisted ending. Loved the book.