Mr Maitland led me astray several times in this book though I liked where it got me. I literally couldn't tear myself away from it. Each chapter just flowed into the next and with each chapter I was drawn deeper into Mr. Maitland's web. The characters are so richly drawn and just when you think you know them, surprise!

To me, very few writers formulate a great ending. They're okay, but I always feel just a little letdown and wanting. Nothing in this book, not a word nor a sentence, lets you down.
That was a masterful ending.

I enjoyed this book, the premise and the writing were good and I found the characters to be well written and developed and relatable. The pacing was great in some areas but lacking in.others, but ho estly I feel like this was a technique that was deliberate, in that it was slower in areas to emphasise the mundane and rigmarol of everyday life, whereas in the more suspenseful and unpredictable parts of the book the tension and pacing were much more elevated.
It kept me guessing and once I got used to the differences in pace and tension it got more enjoyable. I really liked it

I was left feeling very disappointed in this book. It was dull a lot through the book. Especially where we read the same thing over and over. But I stuck with it expecting some sort of excitement. Never had any. All I seen was a sad man with paranoia due to PTSD. The plot was lacking structure. Lacked something to get you sitting on the edge of your chair.

This one was hard to get through for me. I had a hard time with the choppy writing style and the main character was too off-putting for me. The story had interesting moments but I could not look past the troubling thoughts of the lead.

Addictive almost David Lynch type tale, leading you down different paths and to different scenarios until you really don't know where you are and who is the victim or if there is one at all.

Just when you have made your judgement as to who is right, who is wrong, who is good, who is bad - well, Iain Maitland will turn everything around and force you to change your position. This is a clever thriller which will definitely keep you guessing. The pace is cracking, all in the context of the most mundane and dreary everyday settings. I loved this book - thought it was so well written and so challenging.

The Girl Downstairs is a very well written book, so well that I’ve finished it and am wanting more. I need more! The story starts out with a man, Mr. Adams, whose family is gone and all he has is his canine companion, Fluffy. It’s hard to say what kind of man Mr. Adams is. One minute, I thought he was kind then the next….hmmm. He sees a homeless girl, Rosie, who reminds him of his daughter and he goes to great lengths to find her. What exactly does he want from Rosie? Most importantly, if he finds her…..what does she want from him?!

This is one of those books that sits with you for awhile after you read it. It definitely plays with your head! Excellent read! The Girl Downstairs was my first book written by Iain Maitland and I am definitely interested in checking out his other titles.

I struggled with this, as I just couldn't connect with the writing or characters. There was more of a creepy/sleazy factor to it than I expected.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't read a ton of mystery/thrillers, so I was excited when this popped up on NetGalley. Unfortunately, it ended up being a DNF for me. The concept is pretty cool but I just couldn't connect with the staccato writing style.

I think I expected more sensitivity from the author. The plot sounded so interesting but it just failed to keep me gripped. It was very slow and at times a bit sleazy. I just did not like it very much.

The Girl Downstairs, a carefully crafted and simply riveting mystery is about a homeless woman, Rosie who thinks she has found a kind stranger when he invites her to stay at his home. Thinking she has found a refuge she does not realize Mr. Adams has a secret and he actually chose Rosie.

Well executed with easy to follow storyline makes this a must-read!

The Girl Downstairs by Iain Maitland

He’s been watching and waiting. And now he’s found her.

Rosie is homeless and winter is closing in. So she can’t believe her luck when a total stranger, Mr. Adams, invites her to stay.

But Mr. Adams has a secret. He has chosen Rosie because she reminds him of someone very special from long ago. Maybe she can even help him recapture that distant happiness.

I did not like Mr . Adams , he seemed a creepy , sleazy character and very dark.
But without giving anymore away , I'll just say read the book to find out the very unexpected ending.

So this one was not quite as expected, but I can't say that as a positive note. A widowed middle-aged man, Mr. Adams, searches around town for a homeless young adult female that he can't stop thinking about. It's freezing cold with several feet of snow coming down and he wants to take her in and protect her from the elements. He finds her, reaches out, and waits for her to come to him. She eventually does and it feels like finally, the story can begin.

He takes it slow, trying to get her to trust him. They eat meals together, hang out playing games, and bond over his elderly dog. He doesn't have to worry about neighbors wondering who she is, as he keeps his distance from most of them. And then something happens and suddenly everything changes. Except that it really doesn't. Even though, to the author, this is supposed to be a huge turning point. I have to be vague so as not to give anything away, but I anticipated events to snowball from there on out and they didn't. It's a slow moving story so by the time the plot picks up, it's almost over.

I really expected more from this book. There was hardly any suspense and some characters brought into the story just went nowhere and seemed to be more about filler than furthering the plot. The writing was engaging enough but I can't help thinking the author could have done so much more with the premise.

Be careful who you went into your home! This book is an absolutely sinister thriller absolutely leave you on the edge of your seat the entire book. I absolutely didn’t see this one coming.

A bit slower paced than I would normally like,but then with something that made me sit up and pay closer attention to what MIGHT be going on under the surface.

An easy read (this is not an insult as far as I'm concerned) that helped me pass a long journey decently entertained.