I loved this twisty, dark read. This story starts off a little messed up and pretty much just gets darker as it goes along and I was 100% on board for that journey. From the title and cover, I wasn't expecting this to get as dark as it did. This is not the darkest book I've ever read, and a lot of the worst stuff is done off page, but the whole book had a really great creep factor and twisty reveals. I read through a few reviews after I finished and one said that this felt like a limited series on HBO and I very much agree with this.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline of this read, especially since we know of the connection before Connie does. This allows the reader to start guessing about connections and Eve's motivations before Connie can start piecing things together - which is always fun for me with these mysteries. We also get to see two versions of the same town and there are numerous overlaps between Eve and Connie's stories. We also get two sides of Eve - one from her timeline and the other from Connie's reflections on Eve as a parent. I also liked how each timeline had their own core mystery that ended up being connected. Sometimes these dual timeline mysteries can feel like watching two characters take the exact same steps, but in this case there wasn't a whole lot of overlap in the main mysteries (Eve looking for her daughter, Connie investigating murders). Of course, the two timelines do converge but it didn't feel repetitive when the story flipped back and forth.

This book is full with complex, often unlikeable characters which I'm finding is my preference with these gritty, darker mysteries. I loved the way the townfolk treat Connie as an outsider where they are generally polite, but also everyone tells her that she'd be better off leaving for various reasons. Connie does her best to integrate into this town and she slowly does find some sort of community in this town. This is contrasted by Eve's visit where she was more concerned about finding her daughter than with making friends in this town. We didn't get a lot of fluffy details about the side characters, but the details we do get are pretty significant and again highlight the horror under the surface of this town. I also enjoyed how the characters we see aren't overly concerned with being liked. Eve, Connie, and the side characters were all unapologetic and weren't interested in sugar coating anything. This type of character dynamic made for an interesting mystery read because while the puzzle pieces we do get are few and far between, it made each step forward in the investigation feel like a real win.

This is one of those mysteries where there are a lot of plot conveniences that, in hindsight, maybe don't feel entirely 'realistic'. There are some reviews out there that point these instances out as something that they didn't like. For me, however, I wasn't bothered by these because of the way the whole story was built up in layers. One non-spoilery example is that no one in the town wants to talk to Connie about these murders, but yet many people would give her little tidbits of information - just enough for her to research and further the plot. Is this dynamic a little strange? Sure. Did it bother me? Nope. Andersson spends a lot of time slowly exposing the underbelly of this town and, by the time we finish with the end reveals, it did feel like everything made sense in this world and I could understand why these characters didn't want to talk to Connie.

Going back to my opening comment about this feeling like a limed HBO series, the reveals and solution to the mystery do lean toward the dramatic and there are specific examples where I do question how believable that situation would be. However, Andersson does a good job addressing and explaining the more over-the-top scenarios on the page. That being said, I was fully invested while I was reading and these thoughts only really came once I finished the book and was gathering my thoughts for this review. A lot of my enjoyment of these mystery/thriller books come from being surprised at some (or all) of the reveals and this book certainly hit that mark. Andersson has done such a great job of building up the layers of this mystery between the two timelines and by the end, I was itching to see how it all comes together. There were a number of loose threads that came together at the end and I really think it worked on all fronts. I also loved the way some of the reveals answered one question, but then also caused other questions to be raised immediately.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and had a great time. I loved how dark and sinister the story got and how this little town was the perfect backdrop for this creepy story. Sure, some of the plot points and reveals might lean a bit too far into coincidental-territory for some, but I had such a fun time reading and I was so invested in the story that it didn't bother me at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC

Expected publication date is December 6, 2022

What a ride! In 1997, Eve Foster's daughter, Kelsey, disappeared to New Mexico. Eve spares no expense to find her. She ends up in Nihla, New Mexico but Kelsey's trail is cold. Eve is convinced that Kelsey is the victim of a serial killer terrorizing the area. But Kelsey's body is never found.
20 years later, Eve has died and left her foster daughters a confusing bequest. To Lisa, the entire estate, money and controlling interest in Foster Enterprises. To Connie, the troublemaker, a little red house in Nihla, NM. But why? Connie arrives in New Mexico to find a small, dilapidated red house in the desert, and the home’s mysterious caretaker, Jet Montgomery, living in a shack on the property. She learns there's been a string of women murdered in the area. Murders no one will discuss. Murders that stopped 20 years ago and started up again recently. Before Connie can get to the truth, her adopted mother’s mind games come creeping back from the dead. With a serial killer on the loose and a trove of deadly secrets coming to the surface, Connie is in a desperate race to save herself and what little is left of her shattered family

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the e-arc.*

Story of the book-

Kelsey Foster, Eve Foster’s daughter, runs away to New Mexico in 1997 and then disappears without a trace. Although Kelsey’s corpse is never discovered, Eve is certain that she is the victim of a serial murderer who has been targeting women in the area. Eve leaves her adoptive twin children everything when she passes many years later. Lisa, the “nice daughter,” receives most of the opulent estate in Vermont, while Connie only receives a meager income and a property in New Mexico. Connie, who is frequently the victim of Eve’s harshness, believes this was another of her mother’s vengeful tricks.

When Connie first arrives in New Mexico, she discovers a little, run-down red house in the middle of the desert, along with Jet Montgomery, the home’s mystery caretaker, who is residing in a nearby hut. She finds out that several women have been killed nearby, but no one would talk about them. Before Connie can learn the truth, her mother’s cruel mind tricks return from the dead, and the threat suddenly seems all too real. Connie is in a frantic race against time to save herself and what little her broken family has left, with a serial murderer on the loose and a treasure trove of dangerous secrets coming to light.

My review-

Mind games that constantly yank the rug out from under you are bleak, dark, and twisting! This book has everything, from amazing characters to mind-blowing turns. This is a masterfully written thriller with dark and compelling characters, lies and secrets, the danger around every turn, and an incredible twist. The story is split between two time periods, giving the reader glimpses into Eve’s life as she desperately looks for her estranged daughter while Constance struggles to accept the loss of the only mother she has ever known in the present.

On the opening page, the turmoil is thrust upon you, and as the novel goes on, the suspense drags you deeper and deeper down its rabbit hole. The opening line, “A deceased rich mother, one sister keeps everything, the other receives a shabby red mansion in New Mexico,” had me interested right away. I had to know the solutions to additional questions that were raised by each chapter. Be careful, it made for some unpleasant reading at times.

You must read this book because it will take you on a journey and have you talking about it for a long time. Readers will appreciate watching the several stories develop as Connie solves the mystery since the author did an excellent job of balancing all the storylines. The imperfect characters with survivalist instincts were enjoyable. The clever and inquisitive protagonist is battling. Everything a novel should have was there. The compelling, menacing people, secrets, deception, and danger with a surprise twist were what I found appealing. I won’t soon forget this suspenseful movie! Read Little Red House without holding back if you like dark, twisted thrillers with strong characters. However, you may think about leaving all the lights on.

TW: violence, rape, child abuse, physical assault, and bloodshed.

This is an intriguing read. The story unfolds through dual timelines. From the past with Eve searching for her daughter in a rundown town in the New Mexico desert and the present with Connie working through the final twisted game her adoptive mother Eve is subjecting her to by leaving her the Little Red House in that same New Mexico town in her will. This story spotlights the horrors of a twisted serial killer, the town that seemingly protect him in the past and continues to do so as the killings begin again in the present and a young woman searching for truth to preserve her own sanity. There are abundant twists and turns that keep you guessing until the final page is turned.

I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I certainly didn't expect the twists and turns. I think I got motion sickness from all the sharp curves. I absolutely loved this, and I will be reading more of the author in the future.

Little Red House
Liv Andersson
December 06, 2022

Twenty years ago, Eve Foster’s only daughter, Kelsey is not happy with home, with her mother or her father who appears to be unconcerned with her. She takes off heading to New Mexico. Eve had no idea why the 16 year old decided that was where she would go but being her mother it was her job to find her. Taking a flight she headed to the southwest state thinking it would just be a matter of finding Kelsey and convincing her to come home.
This odd suspense story begins there. Each family member discloses another version of the alarming journey that began with Kelsey’s dejected life.
Little Red House by Liv Andersson will be published by Penguin Random House Publishers on December 06, 2022. I appreciate their allowing me to read this latest novel by Andersson via NetGalley.
The book inclined to be a bit slow and confusing at first, however as I became acquainted with the family of characters, this saga became a frightening road right up until the end. This novel is quite a compelling read. I very much wanted to discover the long term consequences of Kelsy’s run. Andersson’s chronicle is an excellent suspense where the reader is never sure where the plot will take them. Looking for a good page turner? Take on Little Red House.

Little Red House by Liv Andersson is a highly recommended thriller told through two timelines.

Eve Foster’s daughter, Kelsey, has run away and her mother traces her last known whereabouts to Nihla, New Mexico. It is 1997 and while Eve searches for her daughter, a serial killer has been targeting women in the area and the local authorities seem uninterested in finding the killer, as well as suspicious of an outsider asking questions. Years later Eve has passed away, survived by her adopted twin daughters. Lisa, the compliant twin essentially inherits all of the wealth and the estate in Vermont. Connie, the head strong daughter inherits a dilapidated house in Nihla, New Mexico with a yearly stipend of $5,000 and a caretaker that contractually has to stay for three years.

The narrative switches back and forth between Eve's search for her daughter in 1997 and the present day when Connie begins to investigate and ask questions about women who are still disappearing from the area and found murdered. In both time periods the people of Nihla keep tight lips and have little trust in those who are not from the area. In Connie's narrative we learn about the cruel games her mother played with her. A serial killer is loose in both time periods and it may be the same person.

The enjoyment in reading Little Red House is found in the cat and mouse search being undertaken in both timelines, by mother and daughter. The narrative moves along at an even pace and it held my attention throughout. It should also be noted that after a strong start, you must set disbelief aside while reading the novel as there are details in the plot that will leave you shaking your head. Eve is definitely portrayed as a totally unlikable and noxious character. Connie is certainly a more sympathetic character as she tackles her investigation into the murders. Both women have their moments of incredulity.

There is no question that the twists, reveals, and final denouement are a bit over the top. However, it is also an intriguing, interesting plot that will hold your attention even while you are shaking your head. I appreciate that the many questions throughout the narrative are answered in the end. This is an entertaining and intriguing novel that should appeal to many readers.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

I loved this book!! It was amazing!! The story itself was so good!!! I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down!!! I was completely hooked from beginning to end. There were some typos but other than that the story was well written. The cover is pretty amazing too. Thank you so much to netgalley and crooked lane books for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really loved it and I will be buying a copy when it’s released.

Liv Andersson delves deep into the human psyche with her latest, LITTLE RED HOUSE —a dark, disturbing, and twisty psychological suspense thriller where sadistic mind games rise to the surface, and a woman who desperately tries to save herself and make sense of it all.

"Dark and twisty, with white-knuckle tension and jaw-dropping surprises."

Told from two time periods (1997 and present), we meet Eve, the mother. She is a vile, evil sociopath and a master manipulator.

In 1997 Nihla, New Mexico: Eve Foster is in a small town desperately searching for her 17-year-old daughter, Kelsey.

In New York City, present day, we meet Constance, Eve's adopted daughter. Eve has died and leaves most of her estate to her good daughter Lisa (Vermont), while Constance inherits a run-down house in New Mexico they never knew existed.

Of course, Eve is still manipulating and pulling strings from the grave as is specified in terms of the will, and if they attempt to alter the terms in any way, they will forfeit everything. Lisa cannot simply give her sister half of the money.

While Lisa gets all the money and properties, Constance only receives $5K for airfare, food, and initial expenses, and after that, $5K per twelve-month period and the red house. She may not rent or sell the New Mexico property for three years. If so, the estate will be sold and given to charity.

For one sister to be rewarded—the other had to be punished.

Told from Constance and Eve's POV.

Known for Eve's vicious games, Constance (Connie) assumes this red garage house is meant to harass her from the grave. She adopted both girls from an orphanage in Greece. She changed their names and asked them to call her Aunt Eve rather than "mother."

Over the years, she put them through survival tests and horrible acts of cruelty.

The desolate dry New Mexican desert is the perfect backdrop for this atmospheric, creepy, page-turning mystery!

At 13 Mad Dog Road, her new dilapidated red house is full of mystery and intrigue. Dust. Cobwebs. Broken floorboards. Peeling Walls. A gaping hole of a house. It is not fit to live in, and the area sounds unsafe.

Upon arrival, she is met by a man and a gun—Jet Montgomery's caretaker and his dog. He lives in the shed behind the shotgun house with a basement. What if he was the serial killer? A murderer?

Had she been sent here for the ultimate game of cat and mouse?

She was even given a note that said, "Don't Sleep with the Help, Constance," from her mother.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Constance soon hears about the events from the nineties from the locals: six girls over the five years were kidnapped, raped, tortured, mutilated, and dumped. And now it has started again. Two more. Constance searches for answers.

However, with a serial killer who was never caught and a town unwilling to release its secrets, especially to an outsider—can Connie solve the mystery before she is added to the killer’s list? Can she trust anyone?

Complex, richly atmospheric, and thoroughly riveting!

The author pulls you in immediately with this neglected creepy red house setting in this dark and mysterious tale. The dual timelines keep you in check from past to present. The suspense remains high, and as a reader you are on the edge of your seat.

Eve is a complex woman, and Constance is strong and determined. Between the past and present, the dark family secrets, the manipulative men, and the women who disappear —will keep you hooked, turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.

There are many facets of this story, but at the end of the day, THE LITTLE RED HOUSE packs eerie vibes, entertainment, and psychological heft into a suspense novel you will fly through in just a couple of sittings. The novel would make for a great movie or TV series.

For fans of authors: Jennifer Hillier, Megan Collins, Robyn Harding, Gilly MacMillan, and Lisa Jewell.

I look forward to reading more from Wendy Tyson—under (Liv Andersson) name. Cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. An author to watch!

A special thank you to #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 6, 2022
Dec 2022 Must-Read Books

Eve died without knowing what happened to her daughter Kelsey 20 years ago and how her daughter Connie is picking up the hunt for answers because Eve left her a small stipend and a house in New Mexico where Kelsey was last seen. Connie's had it tough with Eve, who always favored her twin Lisa. Now she's finding there was more to Eve's story than she knew. Who is Jet, exactly? He works as the caretaker of the property but there's something else going on. And what about the other young women who have gone missing in the area? This moves back and forth in time to tell both Eve's story and Connie's. It's written slightly oddly (might not be to everyone's taste) but it kept me engaged. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The twists might surprise you.

I was a bit split on this book. It began to feel like a chore to read it, but I didn’t give up and I was so blown away at the end that it was worth it for me!

In 1997, Eve Foster is in small town Nilha, New Mexico, desperately searching for her 17-year-old daughter, Kelsey.

In the present, the story follows Constance, Eve’s adopted daughter. Eve has died and leaves most of her estate to her “good daughter”, whileConstance inherits a run-down house in New Mexico. After moving to this house in the middle of nowhere, Constance discovers that numerous girls were going missing from the area in 1997, and their disappearances have never been solved.

The pace of this book was frustratingly bumping for me. I LOVED the Eve portions of the book, but found myself annoyed with Connie’s chapters.

I’m glad I hung in there til the end, because it just blew my mind.

Thank you to Liv Andersson, Crooked Lane, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I could not get into this one. I did not enjoy any of the characters and I found the situation too far fetched and unbelievable.

This author has knocked my socks off! This book has it all, from awesome characters right through to jaw dropping twists. I liked the two different timelines and the way it was captured. Connie from the present tense and her adoptive mother Eve from earlier years. Both are walking a journey to discovery truth's, lies and murderers. Some creepy effects made it so much more thrilling. Right to just before the end you will be clueless.

One small thing that got to me was that some of the writing was a bit over descriptive, but apart from that I loved it. Well deserved 4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Wow, this was a creepy read that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! This story is told in a dual timeline switching from Eve Foster in New Mexico 1997 searching for her missing daughter, Kelsey to Constance Foster in New Mexico present day. Eve is aunt/mother of twins girls, Constance and Lisa. Lisa has been adored while Constance has been abused by Eve. When Eve dies, she leaves her very wealthy estate to her favorite, Lisa while she only leaves Constance $5,000.00 and a little red shack of a house in Nihla, New Mexico. There are plenty of creepy twists and turns in this book and I was shocked at the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this very interesting and scary read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The book started slowly and sadly never got any better. Unlike most readers who gave it 5 stars , I sadly gave up as I was bored. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

Wow wow wow. Absolutely loved this. Two stories interconnected. In 1997 Eve Foster is in New Mexico searching for her daughter. In the present she dies and leaves most of her estate to her “good daughter”, whilst her runaway daughter Connie inherits $5000 and a run-down house in New Mexico. Is the cruelty continuing beyond the grave. Is there a connection to 1997? In 1997 girls were being murdered, the same is happening again. The race is on to find the truth. Probably this is my favourite book of this year.

This book was fantastic! Keeps you guessing right until the end. It's really hard to give review without spoilers for this book. But let me tell you it's so worth the read!! If you like thrillers, with surprise endings it's for you.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: December 6, 2022
In 1997, Eve Foster’s daughter, Kelsey, disappears without a trace. Desperate to find her child, Eve travels to the small town of Nilha, New Mexico, the last place her daughter was seen, a town full of skeptical, untrusting people and murderous secrets.
In present day, Constance’s adopted mother, Eve, has died, leaving Constance a small home in New Mexico. A home that Constance and her twin, Lisa, never knew existed. Known for her vicious games, Connie assumes the little red house in the desert is another ploy formulated by Eve, meant to target Connie even from beyond the grave. But what Constance discovers leads her to start asking questions, questions the townspeople are willing to go to great lengths to stop her from asking.
“Little Red House” by Liv Andersson is dark, disturbing and utterly addictive! Told from two time periods, the reader gets snippets of Eve’s life as she desperately searches for her estranged daughter, while in present day, Constance tries to come to terms with the death of the only mother she’s ever known. Eve is immediately portrayed as a vile, evil sociopath, and both Constance and Lisa appear better off without her, but of course, it doesn’t end there. There is twist after twist in this novel, and each one packs a punch.
The desolate New Mexican desert is the perfect backdrop to this page-turning novel, and the close knit (and closed mouthed) community of Nilha is the place to go when you want secrets to stay buried. Manipulative men in power, “forgotten” and “unimportant” women who disappear, and dark family secrets all flow together in a well thought out and creative plot.
Andersson is a new author for me (this is her first novel under this pseudonym) and I am definitely intrigued. A uniquely told novel about family, murder, and secrets that don’t want to stay buried, “Little Red House” gave me goosebumps!

Unfortunately, I have been locked out of my netgalley account for a few months and was not able to see which books I had on my list or even know to check if they downloaded properly, in order to properly read and review. I do apologize and am doing a 3 for neutral. Will update once I’m able to obtain a copy and read!

Thriller. Atmospheric. Dual Timeline/Narrative. Family Secrets. And plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Little Red House is centered around Nihla, New Mexico - a small town that doesn't take to outsiders. Told in a dual timeline, we follow Eve Foster as she searches for her missing daughter Kelsey in 1997, and present-day Constance Foster - banished to Nihla after her adoptive mother Eve's death. Per Eve's will, Constance is to live in a run down house outside of town, while her twin sister gets to live in comfort with the bulk of the family estate. It seems that mind games and punishments are Eve's signature trademark, even in death.

Once Constance arrives in Nihla, she searches for the reason she's inherited this particular property, and discovers that there is a string of missing and murdered women around the town. To solve this mystery, she's got to untangle the mystery of the past.

Ms. Andersson drops the reader into this creepy, neglected red house, and weaves a dark tale that pulled me right in. The dual timeline/narrative worked really well, keeping the suspense high and the pages turning.

Both Eve and Constance are strong women, determined to find out what the town is hiding from them. Eve is a particularly complex character, as you read her first hand account from 1997 and then learn about her from Constance's present-day point of view.

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say if you enjoy atmospheric dark thrillers, don't miss Little Red House.