"‘You heard what I said. I know everything. Don’t ask me about it again and I’ll keep your secret. Even though it makes me feel ill thinking about it.’"

This is the third book I've read from this author. They always write enjoyable domestic suspense books. I really liked The Dinner Guest.

This book is a little tough for me to describe. Stephanie, our main character, is entangled in a mystery with her neighbors, whose son was the best friend of her son Danny. She lost both her husband and son in a car accident. We switch POVs between Stephanie and Danny as we move forward and backward in time. In the present, Stephanie has woken up after an explosion with amnesia, trying to remember the events involving the neighbors.

There really wasn't much of a mystery in the end and the ending was lackluster. After all the build up of what was in the attic, i definitely expected more than what it ended up being. This is definitely my least favorite of the 3 books I've read from this author.

Thank you netgalley and HarperCollins, One More Chapter for giving me an advanced review copy (oops 😬) in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This was such a suspenseful read. From explosions to car wrecks to jaw-dropping secrets, this story had it all. And while I enjoyed the buildup from the very beginning, I kept expecting this huge bombshell to drop, but it wasn’t as explosive as I’d hoped it would be. Was it a gross and disturbing revelation? Absolutely! But the story quickly fizzled out toward the end.

I found Jonathon’s parents to be sketchy from the very beginning, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for Jonathon getting tangled up in everything. Jonathon and Danny really were the redeemers of this story because it was a great example of two good friends exploring their feelings for one another and encountering life’s obstacle along the way. Stephanie just wanted to know why Danny had felt so depressed leading up to his death and Jonathon finally gives her some closure in that regard.

Overall, I liked the idea of the book, but the execution of it wasn’t as climactic as I’d hoped.

*Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing a copy of this book to review.*

It’s easy to see the title and jump to the obvious but incorrect conclusion that this will be a locked room mystery. In fact, it’s one of those psychological thrillers of the “can you really trust your neighbors?” variety, with the bereaved protagonist trying to understand what was bothering her teenage son, Danny, before he and her husband were both killed in a car accident. Danny was best friends with the neighbors’ boy, and Stephanie is convinced the kid can shed some light on what was going on. The story is told from various points of view and at different times in the past and the present, when the neighborhood is rocked by mysterious explosions. Red herrings are fine, but this book has large distractions that go nowhere and end up having little relevance. The boys at the center of the mystery end up being the most normal and appealing characters in the whole book; everyone else behaves strangely, is oddly abusive, or lacks interpersonal skills. Although I was vaguely interested in how it would all turn out, I didn’t care enough about any of the people involved, and this was not a page-turner for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for a digital advance review copy.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It kept me intrigued, but it was also a bit discombobulated. I felt like more should've happened.

The storyline jumps between the past and the present which I like and I think it helps build suspense. I liked it, but didn't love it.

It's not often you find a different kind of book that is really, really good, but oh my gosh, this one is. The synopsis and cover are definitely misleading, I thought I was getting a mystery/ thriller, but I'm not sure this story could fit into any one genre. B P Walter has written an original story of a normal neighborhood but given it some secrets that will literally blow your mind. When the xplosion settles, the story has changed and so will your expectations. Read at your own risk.....not really...but it really is a great read.

I have mixed feelings about this book... The pacing, the duel pov and the framing of the story.
I wasn't 100% sold on the ending and I was expecting it be more creepy with the title.

This being said I liked reading the story and I would read more B P Walter in the future

I couldn’t concentrate on this enough and I usually love Walter. The plot is trying to do too much all at once and it becomes exhausting.

The locked attic - B P Walter

I was so looking forward to this book from the description, however I did find it a little disappointing as I felt the plot was a little all over the place and I found the characters all a little annoying, but overall I am glad I persevered as I did enjoy the ending Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the e-arc, I can only apologise in the delay of my opinion

Stephanie, her husband Pete and their son Danny moved to the suburbs and have been trying to fit in with their neighbours and other kids from the school. The Franklin's who live across the street are a little strange and it is clear that something has happened between Danny and their son Jonathan. Right from the start we know that tragedy has struck Stephanie and her family, as she wakes up in hospital and struggles to piece together the information about exactly what happened to her. The rest of the story unfolds in dual timelines and from the point of view of both Stephanie and her son. Stephanie is convinced that the answers lie with the Franklin's and visits them to try and talk to Jonathan and finally discover the truth.

Firstly I absolutely loved the pace of this story. The dual timelines and alternating points of view made it incredibly addictive to read. I was also a big fan of The Dinner Guest by B P Walter and this book, The Locked Attic, had that same feel - he writes really unusual domestic thrillers with a focus on the characters rather than an event which make them stand out from other books in this genre.

The only negative point for me was that based the cover and blurb I thought the story might have a creepier vibe. The character development was fantastic and the general suspense really built up throughout the story, it was just different to what I was expecting. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Hillier and Louise Candlish.

<i>Thank you Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

I don’t usually read thrillers and therefore I find it a bit difficult to rate this book but overall, it was a nice reading experienced.

The story follows Stephanie who wakes up at an hospital bed after a series of explosions around the neighbourhood, suffering from short term amnesia. As the memory slowly comes back we learn of what happened in her neighbours house.

What I liked about the book:
- The story is fast paced, and I was hooked from the beginning, which I would say it is something important in the genre.
- I loved the dual POV, being Danny’s chapters my favourite ones from the story.
- I liked the way the story was written and how the time jumps made it move forward.

What I think it could have been done better:
- The characters could have been more layered. Given the importance of the Franklins I think we end up knowing very little about them.
- I’ve found the ending a bit underwhelming.

It was an interesting read and I recommend it for Thriller and Mistery fans.

I feel mean with this rating, I really do, but this book wasn't really for me.

The Locked Attic focuses on Stephanie, her older husband Pete and their son Danny and is set over a few different timelines. Danny and the neighbour's son Jonathan become friends and prior to Pete and Danny's deaths, Danny isn't his usual self and he thinks Jonathan may have the answers.

I felt like there was so much going on in this story and a few parts didn't seem relevant as they weren't tied up before the end of the story. I felt intrigued at the start and wanted to know what the titular locked attic was about but it was rarely mentioned until about 75% of the way into the book.

I will admit I felt Stephanie's grief and there were a few twists but the ending was a bit too abrupt for me.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. At times there seemed to be so many characters floating around that I got very confused. This was quite a disappointing book and it was disheartening to try and plough through it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. There are multiple PoVs and timelines. The explosions in the neighbor and Stephanie's weirdo neighbors add a dash of suspense to the story. This is further explored when Stephanie goes to the neighbor's house in search of answers. To be honest, I did not understand Stephanie's need to go their house, especially at a time when everyone was asked to stay indoors.

The Franklins are a weird lot - the couple and their kids. As the story ended, I felt bad for the kids. They are teenagers, all right. But they didn't have to suffer for their parents' bad decisions and instability.

As the story unravels, we learn there's more to Franklins than what we were initially told. The husband is always in the attic, doing god knows what. His wife is grumpy, controlling and rude. I didn't like the way they treated Stephanie.

As the story began, I was under the impression that Danny and Pete's death had something to do with the Franklins. This story had a very scattered feeling - the alternating timelines, PoVs, it was a bit confusing at times to know what was happening. Having said that, these narrations kept me hooked on to the story and I was curious to learn more about the mystery that led Stephanie to the Franklins' house.

This story had great potential. The plot-to-story execution was fabulous. The suspense was at an all-time high. Alas, I cannot say the same about the ending.

3.5 upped to 4
I'm on the fence because it wasn't what I expected, it was quite slow and it dragged a bit.
That said I generally liked the character development and the storytelling. As for the plot it's up to the reader decide if it was what they expected or not.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The family dynamics at 54 Oak Tree Close have always seemed a little weird to Stephanie. Not that she has much to compare it to - her son and husband are both gone. But she can't forget how much her son's personality changed in the days before his death, and she's betting the boy at #54 knows why.

The problem is, Stephanie, just released from the hospital, has no memory of events that occurred after an explosion rocked her town. We know that she was at the Franklin's at #5. Through chapters that hop between Stephanie and her son Danny, the weird interaction is slowly revealed. In general, there is something about B P Walter's writing that draws me in, and I enjoyed The Dinner Guest and The Woman on the Pier. But the issue for me with The Locked Attic was that the Franklins seemed a bit like caricatures. I couldn't understand why Stephanie visited with them as long as she did, and the treatment she received made it uncomfortable to read. However, the creepiness at the end made for an interesting ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advance reader's copy.

I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read this as I had enjoyed The Dinner Guest.
This is another super story with twists and turns. It follows Stephanie as she wakes up in hospital, and each chapter reveals more and more of what has led her to this moment.
Without giving too much of the story away, there are some suspicious neighbours and an underlying sadness. Five stars

Rating - 2.5 stars rounded off to 3

Having got used to heading blind into a book & going by the cover, I thought this book was about a creepy attic with a plethora of secrets waiting to be unearthed! Sadly that was not it at all. It is very disappointing when the title of a book has got nothing to do with the entire plot.

Synopsis –

Stephanie has lost her son Danny & husband Pete in a terrible accident. She thinks her neighbors have something to do with it & is determined to find out what.

Review –

With Stephanie’s narratives spread over multiple timelines, it got very confusing & hard to keep track of. She wasn’t very likeable & I never really connected to her.

Danny’s POV was mostly what kept me interested. New to his neighborhood, he develops a friendship with Jonathan, the 17 year old, from the house opposite. As with all teenagers, Danny & Jonathan, they meander through their share of ups & downs. Unfortunately, strange things begin to happen leading up to Danny’s death.

All through the book, I kept waiting for the attic to become the main focus. But it is astounding how until about 86% there wasn’t any mention of it at all! When it was finally brought up, it failed to create the mind-blowing effect I was expecting it to have. Where were the dark secrets? Where were the dead bodies? All we get is some utterly gross & laughable stuff.

So many threads of the plot, seemed to go nowhere & felt totally unnecessary. And if the unanswered questions & loose ends were not enough, the ending was like salt over the wound! It felt super abrupt & while I turned pages hoping for a better & solid conclusion, I was only left with acknowledgments.

This storyline had a great potential, but the execution of it was handled poorly.

Thanks to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I read the book as a part of a readalong with One More Chapter on Instagram but totally failed at it. :) Once I started reading just I had to know how it ends. I read it in one sitting and haven't recovered yet. :) A very addicting part mystery part coming-of-age story.


There is a big explosion in the city and citizens are advised to stay inside. Stephenie is living alone in a huge house. She lost her husband and son in a car accident. Son became very distant in the months before his death. He was gone before she could get any answers from him. She is convinced that there was more going on and that the neighbour kid, his best friend knows more than he tells. So she invited herself over to their house in the mids of the lockdown to find some answers.

The story jumps between what is happening now, to when she has met her husband, the move from London, and her sons' blooming friendship with the neighbour's kid. The writing is so good! I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book.

The ending was very unexpected, I had my suspicion about what was going on and what was in that attic, but I could have never guessed... that. :)

Highly recommend it!

received an ARC as a part of the readalong with One More Chapter, all thoughts are my own

The Locked Attic is a dark and intense read full of secrets and mystery. The way the different chapters moved from past to present events really kept the story moving at a fast pace.
This story kept me guessing til the very end and intrigued me completely. I thought I’d figured it out at one stage but then changed my mind time and time again as more of the secrets and lies were unravelled. As we finally came to the conclusion I must admit I was left wanting more but that’s just me.
I really enjoyed reading about the characters of Danny and Jonathan- their friendship added something to the story making it more than just another thrilling read. For fans of BP Walter’s The Dinner Guest, The Locked Attic is another recommendation from me.

EXCERPT: As I lie here, vague memories start to take shape. Edges start to appear. Clarity begins to emerge. And the image of a house arrives, clear and fully formed at the front of my mind.

The Franklin's house.

54 Oak Tree Close.

I remember what my son said, the day he first visited that place. 'Something's not quite right.' It sent a prickle down the back of my neck at the time, and it does so again now. It's all to do with that house. The things that happened there. What's hidden in the attic.

I reach for another sip of water and realise my hands have started to shake.

ABOUT 'THE LOCKED ATTIC': There’s something in my neighbour’s attic.

Something steeped in shadows. A secret to everyone. Seen by no one…

He stands sometimes at the window. Hidden in the corner of my eye.

I know he’s there. I know he’s watching.

Now my son is dead. My neighbour is not.

And I’m going to find out why.

MY THOUGHTS: I'm not quite sure why The Locked Attic didn't really work for me. I know that I didn't relate to any of the adult characters. Danny, Jonathan and Mimi I had no problem with.

There were several plot devices used in the course of the book which, while they seemed a little OTT to me, were necessary to further the story. But they did feel a little heavy handed.

I didn't have a problem with the multiple narrators nor the nonlinear timeline - but, be warned, the timeline does jump all over the place.

I thought the reason behind the boys falling out was kind of obvious, but then it transpires that there is more to it than is immediately revealed. And the final revelation - the secret in the attic - is just downright gross.

The Locked Attic is a bit of a messy read. I had a couple of false starts before I actually got into reading it, and in the end, it was only an okay read for me.

⭐⭐.8

#TheLockedAttic #NetGalley

I: @bpwalterauthor @onemorechapterhc

T: @BarnabyWalter @HarperCollinsUK

#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery

THE AUTHOR: Born and raised in Essex, Walter studied Film and English at the University of Southampton before taking an MA in Film and Cultural Management. Whilst working as a bookseller for Waterstones he enrolled in the Faber Academy which led to the publication of his debut novel in 2019.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Locked Attic by B.P. Walter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage