This tale of a home invasion does NOT play around. Dedicated to Jack Ketchum, Closing Costs delivers darkness and the absence of hope much like some of Ketchum's works. I can only think he would've loved this book.

Home invasion tops the list of scariest things that might happen for many people, and Bracken MacLeod pulls no punches. A well-developed back story helps to get readers invested and provides that much need connection when things go sour. Why should readers care how nasty things get if they simply cannot engage? And better believe that MacLeod GOES there. He needs to; the story demands it. It is all the better for it.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a book to get lost in and to experience a complete feeling of anxiety and tension.

“Closing Costs” is about buying a home, well that and a lot more. Evan and Nelle, a couple of “rockabilly hipsters” find their “Dream Home.” The narrative travels back and forth in time, both before and after the closing, with chapters identifying the time frame and the point of view. It turns out that several people have secrets, and things do not go exactly as Evan and Nelle had planned with this house.

The story centers on Evan, Nelle, and the house, of course. Immediately, readers know things are not going to go well, and soon the anticipated tranquility of the new home is shattered by horror and incredulity. Who are these home invaders? Why this house? Why Evan and Nell? Why indeed? Secrets, lies, and mistakes have unintended consequences. There is plenty of drama and action; some events push characters and readers to the very the edge of credibility. Secondary characters wander in and out of the story to add color, interest, and danger. There are perhaps a few too many since some do not really contribute a lot.

“Closing Costs” is powerful and gripping. Evan and Nelle thought that they were prepared for everything, that they would know how to react in an emergency. They were wrong. I received a review copy of “Closing Costs” from Bracken MacLeod and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing. The action increases exponentially, and there are twists and turns on every page. In the end, well, it ends, and I won’t spoil it.

A couple's dream home becomes a nightmare when they are invaded on a long weekend. This book makes the idea of a quiet home in the country take on a whole new, and terrifying, meaning. I was not quite prepared for the gore.

Put this in the hands of fans of Cj Box.

I enjoyed this suspenseful thriller. This is a story that has twists and turns that I didnt see coming as well as left me wanting to know what would happen next. This is a newer author for me which I look forward to reading more from him in the future. This is a well written story about a couple who just bought their dream house. What will happen to them when a planned attack strikes them? The problem becomes when they themselves have a secret that could bring everything down on them. They are great characters that made the story easy to read. I found this story full of action and engaging to the end. I enjoyed the growth throughout the story as well as what the characters brought to the story. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Imagine moving into your dream home.. and days later tragedy strikes and your wife kidnapped. Was is planned all along? Were you set up to buy this home? Or is it truly just a coincidence? Nelle is given a very simple task by her intruder.. just make a phone call. Seems simple but the phone call is not on Nelle is willing to make. Why is that such a hard choice for her? This book asks the question "How far are you willing to go to hide something from your family? Can you be forgiven for something you did before you met your spouse?"

I thoroughly enjoyed this very fast paced thriller. Well developed characters, lots of action, and a few unexpected twists kept me reading late into the night. Strongly recommended

DNF - Did not finish. I decided not to keep reading this title because I’d did not connect with the writing or plot. Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the early copy!

I was given an e-copy of Closing Costs by NetGalley for my honest review. This is the first book I've read by author Bracken MacLeod and definitely won't be the last!

I was hooked from the first chapter until the the last chapter.

I highly recommend this 5 Star book!

Was very excited to read this book, but was left a little disappointed. I’m all for books that jump between times and narrators but I feel this book jumped around way too much.

At its core, Closing Costs is your traditional home-invasion thriller. However, MacLeod knows that traditional just won’t cut it anymore. The reader wants something more, and he has delivered.

Right from the opening paragraph MacLeod is building the tension; we know that something is brewing, it’s just a question of: when, how and most importantly, why? MacLeod answers these questions through a series of flashbacks, this is a fabulous tool for plunging us directly into the action, yet slowly leaking all the necessary background information to the readers.

Understandably, MacLeod spends the bulk of his time building the character of Nelle Pereira, she is after all, the protagonist. She certainly has her faults. But the remainder of the characters get the attention each one deserves. The excellent character building in Closing Costs really helps in giving the full impact of the story.

In my opinion, Closing Costs is a story of karma: what comes around goes around (yes, I quoted Ratt – I could have just as easily quoted Mod Sun's song about karma, but I’ll keep this review family-friendly). And the karma all comes back to the why of the home invasion – props to the author for keeping me guessing.

Closing Costs was an exciting, fun read. It kept me on my toes and flipping the pages. MacLeod really did a great job of keeping the pace up and building his characters, really stressing the point that some decisions, well, you just can’t come back from.

*4 Stars

This book was a total mindfuck. It needs some suspension of belief to believe what happens would naturally occur on the same day but overall it was a good book. I wasn't a fan of the ending though. Thanks to Netgalley for a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A city couple, who came into a large amount of money unexpectedly, move into the country to start a new life. Horrors from the past and present converge upon them.

Wow! This is a fast paced edge of your seat kind of suspense read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is full of twists and turns. I will be looking for more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Wow this was a action packed book, fast paced. What happens when your home, where you should feel the safest turns into your worst nightmare. Overall this was a good suspense story, and I would recommend it to others that enjoy this genre.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my fair and honest review.

3.5 Bracken MacLeod's new novel, Closing Costs, has just released. If you like thrillers, then this is a book for you!
Nelle and Evan have just closed on their 'forever' home. It's perfect - there's only one neighbor they can't see and their property backs onto a state forest. Uh huh....you're getting an inkling aren't you...? Nelle is alone when a man invades her home...

MacLeod uses one of my favorite devices, writing a past and present narrative from two points of view - Elle and Mack, the invader. The pivot point is the sale of the house. Where did Elle and Evan get the money for such a house? Who is Mack and what does he want? You'll be quite surprised by the answers to both questions. MacLeod throws in a nice turn I hadn't expected.

Closing Costs reads like a movie in the vein of Bruce Willis. Nelle and Mack just keep getting up again and again, going far beyond what you would think the human body could tolerate. But, like those movies, suspend your disbelief and keep turning pages. The action is non stop and the tension is really high! And you've just got to know how it all turns out.

I'm not sure I liked Elle very much, even though I was behind her need to best or escape Mack. Mack is, as my gran used to say, a piece of work - a violent misogynist. MacLeod's depiction of him gave me the shivers.

Closing Costs could perhaps shortened up a bit - the escapes, near misses and more started to lose their impact after so many times. See for yourself - here's an excerpt of Closing Costs. And make sure your doors are locked.

(Gentle readers, this one's probably not for you - there are definitely trigger situations.)

3 1/2 ⭐️‘s
Nelle and Evan have just bought a home in the suburbs away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The peace and quiet and seclusion is everything they have ever wanted in a house ... that is until the day they are attacked and tied up in their basement. Nelle and Evan have a secret and think the invasion has something to do with that secret, but does it? What does this mad man want from them and will they make it out alive? A thriller jam packed with action, this book tended to be a bit on the violent side, but might have you holding your breath longer than you should by the time you reach its ending.

Thanks for the ARC copy from NetGalley! This was a quick read with some suspense, so it's a good summer book. The characters were kinda flat though, I would have liked to know more about Nelle and Evan and why they thought they were making a good decision .... no spoilers here :)

I delayed reviewing Closing Costs in hopes that I would find something to recommend it. Sadly, time didn't help;. The premise of the novel was just ridiculous, and many of the characters were just bad guy caricatures. It is well written and well paced for a thriller, but I couldn't get past the silly plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Author for giving me an advanced e- arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a psychological thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the way it was written so that you got a progressive perspective from the different characters.

We meet Evan and Nelle who have just closed on a new home set in a remote location that borders a state park in Massachusetts. It is a nice secluded area with very few neighbors and none that are close by. It is the perfect place to find some quiet away from the busy life in the city We soon find that quiet, seclusion isn’t all they thought it would be. It is a wild, crazy ride. It isn't often that I am screaming at the characters by the end of a book but this one had me doing just that.

3.5 stars

Closing Costs is the story of Evan and Nelle who just bought their dream house that backs on to the forest.

Evan and Nelle are no saints and there is a reason why they can afford this house.

The book goes back and forth from past to present.

The pages will turn quickly and you will be checking that your doors and windows are locked.

Closing Costs was an enjoyable read, some things were a bit far fetched but I still liked the book and will check out Bracken MacLeod's other books.

Well worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Mariner Books for an enjoyable read.