6 Ripley Avenue is not a popular place with many of the residents of that august avenue. That’s because it is a house that has been turned into what we used to call a half-way house but in current terms is now called Approved Premises. It’s basically a hostel, housing men recently from prison on licence, some of them violent offenders, hoping to make a new path for themselves.

Jeanette Macey is a Senior Probation Officer. She runs 6 Ripley Avenue and sometimes she thinks it’s a thankless task. The men are often surly, she isn’t all that well paid and not all of her staff are always on the ball. There was a lot of neighbourhood hostility to the setting up of the premises two years ago and though much of the ‘nimbyism’ has died down, there’s still unhappiness in the avenue, not least from the immediately adjacent neighbours.

Helen Burgess is one of those neighbours. A pensioner, living alone, her garden is adjacent to the garden of 6 Ripley Avenue and every day she sees the men out the back, having a smoke and hanging around and it makes her feel very uncomfortable. She campaigned vigorously against the Approved Premises which is where she met Sloane Armstrong, a crime reporter always on the lookout for stories to sell into the nationals. Helen hasn’t given up hope that the decision to base the Approved Premises in Ripley Avenue can be reversed and with that aim in mind, she now volunteers in the kitchen of the house to keep an eye on the comings and goings and so that she can report any news or violations back to Sloane.

These are the three voices that we hear from, alongside the voice of one who is simply named ‘the killer’.

Danny Wells is a violent offender with substance abuse issues. He’s a high profile offender and his behaviour since his arrival at Ripley Avenue Approved Premises has given everyone cause for concern. In a chilling chapter early in the book we hear the killer’s contempt and derision for Danny and before much longer, Danny is found murdered.

Noelle Holten again uses her excellent knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system to paint an authentic and sometimes stark picture of life in the hostel. She brings to life the stresses and strains of an underfunded system and as a reader you can feel the tension between Jeanette’s very real desire to see rehabilitation work and the under-resourced way in which she is expected to deliver that.

6 Ripley Avenue is very much a ‘locked room’ murder mystery. We know there are a finite number of suspects and Noelle Holten very cleverly keeps the finger of suspicion moving from one to another. Motivation for the killing is one of the key questions and as we learn more about a number of dubious goings on in the hostel our attention moves from offender to volunteer to the workers in Ripley Avenue – and then back again.

Characterisation is strong. In particular Sloane’s own backstory brings up a lot of information about why she is so interested in the stories that might come out of Ripley Avenue. Her relationship with Helen Burgess might be based on mutual interest, but there’s also a fondness there and that speaks better of Sloane’s character than she might have expected. As the police come in to investigate the impact of the killer’s voice becomes ever more chilling and tension runs high.

Verdict: There’s plenty of tension and lots of authenticity about this stand-alone murder mystery from former Senior Probation Officer, Noelle Holten. She cleverly keeps the reader’s attention as she switches focus from suspect to suspect and the short, tightly written chapters help to keep the plot moving and the pace brisk.

Really good gripping read. I really liked sloane and would like to see more of her in maybe a series in the future.
I didn't guess who did it but that's good as it keeps you guessing all along.

6 Ripley Avenue is an atmospheric, locked-room-style thriller. It opens with the grisly yet calculated murder of one of the residents of the probation hostel. However, with strict access controls, the murderer can only be one of the residents or a member of staff. There are 2 main characters who tell the story: Jeanette, the hostel manager, and Sloane who is a local investigative journalist. We also hear accounts from the Killer, and hostel neighbour Helen.
Through the snippets from these characters, it felt like learning their personal backstories was a natural development, almost like being able to chat with them. Personally, I thought that busybody campaigner, Helen, was a star. She reminded me of a dogged Miss Marple with a healthy side order of Hilda Ogden.

The pace is steady, and I constantly felt that the odds were mounting, and the net was closing. The clever construction made it difficult for me to play amateur sleuth and try to second guess who the killer may be.
I love it when a book stays with me and I mentally retrace my steps through the chapters, trying to figure out if I missed any clues. There were certainly a few red herrings, but the author played things smart, only revealing the absolute minimum to keep the reader engaged and the killer a secret for as long as possible. The climatic reveal was perfectly orchestrated and the pay-off was fitting. However, the final twist was most satisfying.
I usually favour police procedural and traditional detective stories, but thoroughly enjoyed investigating this terrific mystery.

This was a brilliant little read. Lots of twists and turns. I couldn’t figure out who the killer was and didn’t find out who the killer was till the correct time

This is a very interesting concept and the book is quite dark. Central to the book is 6 Ripley Avenue, the title and the place which houses prisoners out on licence.

The book is written by several characters and the titles of the chapters name the person speaking, with one voice named as killer.

In the book a death occurs at 6 Ripley Avenue and once the police and a local journalist become involved, murder is suspected.

Great suspense and well written, quite dark and some serious psychological issues at the heart of the story.

thank you netgalley, and HarperCollins UK one more chapter, and the author Noelle Holten for a copy of her book to review


Jeanette is the manager of a probation hostel that houses high risk offenders released on license. At 3am one morning, she receives a call telling her a resident has been murdered. Her whole team, along with the eight convicted murderers, are now all suspects in a crime no one saw committed... will they find out who did it?


Now for my review:

5 stars out of 5 stars.


The cover says ONE HOUSE EIGHT KILLERS NO WITNESSES. So to say I HAD to read it was an understatement. As I began reading it I saw that the killer also gets to tell his/her side which I LOVED. I was hooked page 1. Each chapter focuses on a main character either Jeanette, Sloane, Helen, Danny or the killer. I usually dislike books set up like this but this one worked for me which was surprising. I’m really hoping an audiobook version is released in the future because I would love to see what they do with that. So much potential. I also love that this is a standalone book. While I definitely could see this being a series I’d love to see Sloane on other adventures. Anyway I loved this book if you like murder mystery thrillers I definitely recommend this. I’m about to see what else Noelle has written because if it’s anything like this it must be good.

I’m a big fan of the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle Holten but I’ve always got a soft spot for stand-alone thrillers and so I think 6 Ripley Avenue is actually her best book so far! It has a confidence that radiates out of the written page, delivering a gripping storyline that felt authentic and faithful to the process that we put our trust in-the rehabilitation into society of criminals deemed to have served their time. The life of a probation officer is not for many but Noelle carried out the job for 18 years before she followed her heart into the world of books and publishing, as it really shows in her finished book. The attention to detail in 6 Ripley Avenue means that you’re able to trust in the process and put your own detecting skills to the test!

There are multiple points of view throughout and the short chapters help to keep the tension high as we swap between them. The most chilling narrative is that of the killer, who’s identity is closely guarded till the very end and even then we are treated to a few more shocking twists! I really liked the investigative journalist Sloan who was determined to work out who killed Danny Wells whilst he was living in a probation hostel. Who hated him enough to murder him in such a vicious way right under the noses of those in positions of authority? Sloane has her own demons to deal with but that spurs her on even more, especially when the killer sets their sight on preventing her from solving the case.

I loved 6 Ripley Avenue from start to finish. It was a gripping, well paced read that provided a thought provoking locked room mystery in an intriguing setting! Highly recommended!

The blurb:
ONE HOUSE
EIGHT KILLERS
NO WITNESSES

Jeanette is the manager of a probation hostel that houses high risk offenders released on license. At 3am one morning, she receives a call telling her a resident has been murdered. Her whole team, along with the eight convicted murderers, are now all suspects in a crime no one saw committed…
My review:
Wow, this book kept me on my toes; with its cast of prolific offenders, rapists and murderers galore, as well as some staff who seem to have a less than professional attitude to their work, all of them are suspects to have murdered Danny Wells, one of the residents of 6 Ripley Avenue.
Jeanette, the manager, assists the police with their investigations but is also dealing with Sloane, a local journalist who has taken a keen interest in the hostel and is supported by residents who want to see the hostel closed down.
Some of the chapters are written from the anonymous killer’s perspective, but the author is careful not to give too many clues too soon. Others show Jeanette’s viewpoint or Sloane’s investigations, all of the chapters and timelines moving together to shed light on who the murderer is and why they did it.
It’s a fastmoving book, with lots of plot points to keep track of, but it is well plotted and well constructed; the story hangs together well and the final outcome was a revelation.
One of the book’s strongest points is Noelle Holton’s own experience as a probation officer. I liked how her life experiences came through in the book, it gave more nuance to the tricky balance that a probation hostel has to navigate between supporting its residents and working with the wider community.
A strong 4 stars from me – thanks!

i found this book abit slow. With short chapters told from multi POVs it took me a while to get into it but once i did it was quite a gripping read. i thought it was cleverly written and was worth persevering with for the ending.

ou know when you are following a series by an author and you love it, isn't it pure excitement then when they tell you they have written a standalone novel.
Something new added to the fold.
That was how I felt with author Noelle Holten.
I got to know this lovely lady through social media and this year when I finally got to meet her, I felt completely relaxed in her presence.
As an author, Noelle's writing I find refreshing, a new voice to the crime mix through her years of experience as a probation officer.
I cannot begin to imagine what a difficult job that was and you see it through the pages of her books.
6 Ripley Avenue is her first standalone novel and I do feel she has made her mark with it.
A probation hostel, the name itself 6 Ripley Avenue gives you a shiver. A hostel which gives offenders that have been released from prison a place to stay so that they can be reintroduced back into society.
We meet Jeanette, the manager of the hostel in this story. Thinking she has everything under control, Jeanette is called back to the hostel one evening after a body has been found.
Immediately everyone is on guard, some are frightened, few are trusted and accusations are flying.
Nosy neighbour Helen is the new Miss Marple. Having originally objected to the hostel being placed across the road from her home, Helen sets about trying to find the killer.
At some point you know she is going to poke the hornet's nest with all her questions and it is all with the help of her journalist friend Sloane.
I quite enjoyed to chit chat between the unlikely pair..
A fast paced story, so completely gripping and one I found I didn't want to put down.
It will have the hairs on your neck standing for sure and I have no doubt you will suspect everyone at one point or other.
A very impressive novel, actually the author impressed me when I heard the title for the very first time..
I loved how she brought her wealth of experience and knowledge to the pages of her story. It really gave it that added oomph..
Well done Noelle, thoroughly loved it..❤️

I am a huge fan of Noelle Holten’s Maggie Jamieson series so I was so excited when I discovered that she was writing a standalone thriller – and I was not disappointed.
The opening chapter had me glued – I love it when we get a glimpse into the killer’s mind without any indication of who they might be. It always gets my brain thinking and hooked in. Multiple points of view are one of my favourite narration devices in a story and they work so well in this book. Short chapters and different perspectives really help to build the tension. As well as the killer, there are chapters from investigative journalist Sloane, Jeanette the manager of the hostel and a neighbour/colleague. Each main character/narrator is written in a way that evokes suspicious and distrust to a certain extent and it makes the whole reading experience so much more fun.
Noelle is a master at a police procedural style story however 6 Ripley Avenue really shines as a locked room style mystery with an element of investigation and multi-agency working. Her experience, knowledge and research skills are second to none and I really enjoyed the realistic feel of the proceedings. I had so much fun trying to figure out the murder and I must say – it completely took me by surprise.
6 Ripley Avenue is riveting and exciting and I couldn’t put it down. Unreliable narrators, a sense of malevolence throughout and a few surprises make this a fabulous and entertaining novel that is full of suspense.

Ripley House is home to convicts who are out of prison on license...a stepping stone on the rehabilitation road. When one of their own is murdered,and not a popular man by any means, there's very few people could be culpable. Ripley house only houses 8,well 7 now....so someone in the lodgings is in the spotlight for murder. Housed in a community with some folks not best pleased with the thoughts of ex cons in their midst perhaps it was an outsider who's responsible? Jeanette,the administrator is doing her best to follow the rules,respect the tenants,look out for the community and keep the media at bay during this time. Then someone else dies...

This one will be keep you guessing,as it did me. It was so well written by an author who knows her stuff about this environment and the workings of prisoner life(Noelle is an ex-parole officer),and the details shows this. Told from different Points of view we even get to hear from the killer without it giving their identity away...very clever.
A fabulous 'who dunnit' and a triumph of a stand alone debut for Noelle Holten - Author.

Reading the synopsis of this book had me so excited, but I unfortunately struggled to remain interested as the storyline built and continued on. I enjoyed the characters, especially Helen, as the nosy neighbor up to no good. I wish it was a little more intriguing, although I enjoy crime thrillers and will continue to read other books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

If Noelle Holten is a new-to-you author, then my feelings towards you are a mixture of slightly incredulous and slightly envious. Incredulous because: where on earth have you been since she published her first novel, 'Dead Inside' in 2019? And jealous because: you're going to enjoy reading it. And the further four books that followed, featuring DC Maggie Jamieson and Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood. The 'police' chapters featuring Maggie are wonderfully chaotic whilst those featuring Lucy - probably because Noelle herself used to work for the probation service - are wonderfully and sensitively told.

The only slight problem was that having both the police and probation service taking key roles in a series of books, there were a lot of characters to keep track of. And this was an issue for 'Dead Inside' in particular because the number of new characters that needed to be introduced very quickly was so large as to seem a little bewildering.

If this feels like it will present a difficulty for you, don't despair. Because in this stand-alone novel, Noelle has allowed the police procedural element to take a back seat and concentrate on the probationary side. The result is - drum roll - fantastic.

6 Ripley Avenue is a probation hostel that caters for hard criminals, including murderers, in between them being let out of prison and being released into the community. As can easily be imagined, some local residents were opposed to the hostel ever being built and want nothing more than for it to be closed. Their reasons prove vindicated when one of its most notorious residents, Danny Wells, is found murdered at 3am one morning.

After an explosive prologue, the book is narrated by four characters, all of whom are splendidly portrayed. The hostel manager, Janette Macey's position is perhaps a little exaggerated - is she really the only decent, honest and dedicated person serving between bosses who are interested only in politics and image, and subordinates who have their own ulterior motives? - but I instantly knew just how she felt. Investigative journalist Sloane Armstrong has her own, personal reasons for her own dedication and there's certainly room for her to feature in another book if Noelle chooses to do so. Nosy neighbour and part time worker in the hostel, Helen Burgess does all the wrong things in the wrong way and yet is somehow still very likeable, and the unknown 'killer' is wonderfully, delightfully creepy. I have to say that I did guess the killer's identity eventually, but this was more by a process of elimination than in successfully noticing or deciphering any clues.

Best of all though, I think is that the storyline is easy to follow and feels believable and authentic. Which, given the author's own detailed knowledge of the probationary service, is probably because it is. This meant that I could see inside each room that featured in the book, form a visual image of each character and sense what each of them were feeling as the story unfolded. It managed, in the way that only a great book can, to have me torn between wanting to know the solution and at the same time, not wanting the book to finish.

My conclusion, then, is simple. For me, '6 Ripley Avenue' is easily Noelle Holten's best book yet. I therefore have no hesitation whatsoever in rating it a well-deserved five stars.

My thanks to the author, Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 27th September. I will publish my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my personal blog.

I absolutley love the DC Maggie Jamieson series by Noelle. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard Noelle had wrote her first standalone. OMG and that cover! dont you just love it?! if that doesnt grab your attention, I dont know what will….Maybe the title? yes I love the title too!

So what did I think of the story, I hear you all asking! I loved it. Grabbing me from the start I was totally hooked and in it until the end. I couldn’t put it down. Noelle uses her work experience and brings us a unquie story set in a probation hostel. We follow a story with chapters that alternate between the characters. including the killer. Jeanette and Sloane being the main ones. Giving plenty of character build up, woven into a clever compelling read.

I paritically loved the killers POV, I found myself asking how they are linked to all this. I cannot begin to tell you how intriguing and addictictive this story is. It is full of twists and turns keeping you on the edge of your sit. Infact it is Noelle’s darkest book yet!

OMG the ending! So we find out who the killer actually is and it doesnt end there..there is so much more pacted into the final punch! Wow, wow, wow….What a roller-coaster ride 6 Ripley Street is. It ticked all the boxes for me, I cannot recommend it enough….Giving it all the stars.

I would like to thank Anne for a copy and for inviting me to take part on this tour.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨
6 Ripley Avenue

When I heard about the storyline for this book I was so excited!
1 apartment building, 8 victims, and you have to solve who did it??? Yes please!!!

Unfortunately, I found this one to be a bit too slow for my liking, and the constant back and forth from characters to killer was a bit too much for me personally.

This one is out now so grab and copy and be the judge for yourself!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5

#6ripleyavenue #netgalley #netgalleyreads #bookinfluencer #bookreviews #bookstagram #thriller #whodunnit #mystery #thrillerbooks #murder #canadianbookstagram

Someone has done the world a favour and bumped off a despicable criminal. But no matter who the victim is, there’s a new killer on the street and they should be punished. What’s more, they’re somehow connected to 6 Ripley Avenue, a probation hostel, one that the local community is not happy is there.

The story unfolded in front of me from different perspectives, key characters sharing their part and thoughts on the whole situation. This narrative switching kept me on my toes as I tried to fathom who the killer was. And yes, I did hear from the killer in the narrative; their voice displayed a range of emotions from triumph at their act to nerves of being caught. This isn’t quite a cold blooded murder!

I loved Holten’s Maggie Jamieson series so a stand-alone from this author was highly anticipated. It really didn’t disappoint. Holten has curated a tense murder thriller with a slightly unusual amateur detective in journalist Sloane; this woman is tenacious to the end! The cast of suspects and supporting characters are perfectly created to cause confusion and suspicion throughout. As the story reached its conclusion, I finally remembered to breath! Wickedly brilliant crime thriller! Bravo Noelle 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I enjoyed this one, it was twisty and although it was a huge surprise at the end, it was still good! Easy to read amd quick to race through, worth picking up if you love a thriller!

I love a good psychological thriller and this didn’t disappoint. Each chapter is from or about a different character, and this format works really well within this novel. We have a couple of main characters, Helen, Sloane and Jeanette, all connected to the murder in different ways but not always working together.

There are reveals galore towards the end, and everything comes together seamlessly leaving nothing unanswered. You think you’ve solved it, then another reveal and you’re back to square one.

Very cleverly written and well thought out, a must for thriller fans.

I have been a massive fan of Noelle Holten for some time now. Binging the Maggie Jamieson series whenever they come out. So to see she has released a standalone got me very excited.

I can deffinitely say that I was not dissapointed.

6 Ripley Avenue starts with a gripping storyline that does not let you go throughout. It kept me guessing right until the very end. And I still didn't get it right!

I loved the friendship between Helen and Sloane. And the animosity between Jeanette and Sloane. They just brought a fantastic dynamic to the book. Everyone loves to hate the journalist in books like this but I actually liked her.

I cant wait to read more book by Noelle standalone or series.