“All you need is one sucker.”

Inspired by her career as a forensic psychologist and by an event witnessed within her own family, Ellery Kane brings a heap load of authenticity to this psychological thriller! Like the Delores painting of the Golden Gate you’ll read about, this fabulous novel had a “palette of colours so bright and bold that it required effort to look away.”

I enjoyed all the characters, but I loved Iris Duncan! It was interesting to note that they all walked a fine line between hero and villain, sometimes choosing one over the other. Officer Maureen Shaw offered a great perspective to the story, too. Kane has taken what she’s learned in her years evaluating violent criminals and treating victims of trauma and brought it to her writing. Everyone has secrets and a past they’d rather keep buried. Kane noted that, with regards to her clients, “some struggle to get over it; some learn from it; some are changed by it; some are haunted” and we see that with Seth and Lydia McKay as well as with Iris and Maureen. What separates these individuals is what they chose to do with their past. We should take note.

Although I guessed the twist mid-book, I wasn’t sure of how the author would get there and that kept me turning pages. I loved the humour Iris brought to the story as much as the evil that Seth brought. Both were needed. I also enjoyed the nod to the gothic novel, Rebecca, and the reminder that ‘when a taker meets a giver, it never ends well’ It was an entertaining novel, stuffed with great characters and propelled by intriguing suspense.

I’m hoping the ending means that there’s a sequel in the works! It sure had me scratching my head and wondering if justice was served.

I was gifted this advance copy by Ellery Kane, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The house sitter by Ellery Kane
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Me during the reading of this book
" oh! I know .... oh wait ... nope. Never mind.
Oooohhhhh yes ! That i- ok nevermind that theory..
Ah-ha!! .... Nope ...
NOOOOOO!
I've got it.. I know . . And no I don't
AHHH ... WHAT !? "

Down on her luck Lydia seems to have caught a break when she meets 70 year old widow , Iris . Iris invites her to move in and help around her rather large home . In tow is her husband and all his nasty behaviors. But they escaped their past life and they have a fresh new start . The thing is .. should Iris trust these strangers ?

This book was full of twists and turns. Every chapter you find out something new that will blow your mind. But you end up feeling so sad and helpless for little old widow Iris . And it breaks your heart . Then truth starts flying around . And your sympathy starts moving onto to more characters. They all have something to hide . They are all hiding a secret ..

My only grievance was the ending seem anticlimactic.. I was expecting something different to come of it. After I found out the truth . Had it pegged and was actually correct. The ending was a miss for me . I feel like there was a piece of the story . A rather large chunk of perspective missing .

All in all I would recommend this one to a thriller fan such as myself . Just don't expect the ending to be the conclusion you need .

When Lydia gets the opportunity to leave her horrible job and work for one of her customers, Iris, she jumps at the chance. For Iris, having Lydia and her husband work for her is perfect as it not only helps her get things done, but also gives her company. Then one day, the police get a mysterious call from the house and arrive to find Iris gone. What has happened? A thrilling story that grips you from the start. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Another excellent mystery from Ellery Kane, with her trademark, unusual but very relatable characters, her unique descriptive phrases that get at the heart of the matter, and her psychological awareness, her books are always different from her each and different from other authors out there. In this one, we have Iris, a seemingly fragile older women who is missing and presumed dead. We also meet Maureen, an over-eager, rule breaking new cop, who is determined to find Iris and to find justice for her. She is also a former musician whose insights come in musical form and is motivated by a personal tragedy with no justice. I hope we meet her again in another installment. I guessed some of the twists, which I enjoyed but the book was not predictable but more accessible and a pleasure to read

I was immediately hooked by the first few chapters. However, after that I had trouble staying interested in the plot. The perspectives jumped around too much without providing the suspense that keeps the reader engaged in each storyline.

“The House Sitter” opens with a bang – quite literally! A frantic 911 call that ends in gunshots and a severed phone line. Blood and signs of struggle, but no victim to be found. All signs point to the conclusion that something terrible has happened to Iris, the wealthy widow who lives in the grand Victorian home that the emergency call came from. It isn’t long before the police’s suspicions fall on the young couple who have recently become Iris’s caretakers. Rookie police officer Maureen Shaw feels compelled to get to the bottom of what happened, even though she isn’t assigned to the case.

If you love your thrillers with a side of police procedural like I do, then “The House Sitter” is for you! There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings, and it’s nothing short of perfect when they all converge on the big reveal. I did guess some of the twists but was shocked by others, but thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Fun new mystery full of twists and turns. I would recommend for those who enjoy detective stories and being surprised. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

When the police respond to a desperate call from an older woman in the middle of the night, they find the signs of a violent struggle but no body. Wealthy widow Iris Duncan is missing. Lydia and Seth, the young couple she had recently hired as caregivers, appear in the morning to volunteer their help. Iris, they say, was forgetful and confused. She mixed her medications, wandered away and had bursts of anger. In fact, she had fired Seth the day before because of a mixup of paint colors. The police, however, are suspicious. Officer Maureen Shaw feels driven to find Iris and risks her career in the search. Before this case is solved there will be more twists and turns than you could imagine and an ending you will never see coming.

Ellery Kane has delivered a suspenseful, puzzling thriller with a well planned plot full of surprises and characters you will get to know and understand (but maybe not like). Kane is a forensic psychologist and her experience shows in The House Sitter. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellery Kane for this ARC.

Iris is now a widow in a big house and struggling to care for it. She meets a waitress, Lydia, and decides to hire her and her boyfriend, Seth, on as caretakers. I don't want to reveal much more, but everything is not what it seems. An engrossing read from start to finish, THE HOUSE SITTER will have you turning the pages quickly. If you like a good detective book, this is for you. I look forward to reading more from author Ellery Kane in the future.

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) on release day.

A Sprightly Tale…
A truly unexpected gem in this tale of suspense and retribution. With a deftly drawn cast of characters, an intriguing plot and an immersive and compelling narrative, this is a one sit compulsive read. Plot twists are plenty, red herrings are scattered, leading to a perfect denouement and nicely tying up loose ends. Whilst the reader may well see the way in which the plot is headed this will in no way detract from the sheer reading pleasure of this sprightly tale.

The twists and turns in this book gave me whiplash. Ellery Kane unravels a story perfectly. I felt like I was right there in that house, trying to look around with the scrappy new detective to find the clues needed to unravel the mystery. The house sitters were some of the best characters you love to hate and yet understand because of their background. This book also cements my hatred of HOAs. Such a page turner.