My Husband’s House is another decent psychological thriller from Sheryl Browne.
Ben and Naomi are trying to find a house to buy for them and their two children, they fall upon a run down house close to a reservoir that hasn’t been lived in for years. The house needs updating and all that is in it is a rocking chair and an old fluffy toy. Naomi’s grandad taught her to be wary of certain things so the rocking chair goes straight in the shed. They are the first people to move into the house after the nine year old girl, Holly, went missing twenty years ago and her father found hanged in the tree in the garden told via an elderly neighbour. Naomi instantly gets on with her new neighbour, Sara, but she takes an instant dislike to Ben and Naomi has no idea why. Notes are put through Naomi and Bens door, warnings from neighbours and then a homeless woman turns up on the doorstep calling Ben by a different name. Who is Ben and what links him to this woman?
This was an eerie read that I enjoyed. I read it over a couple of days and found it to be easy to pick up and leave with the short chapters. The storyline was good although if I’m honest it’s not my favourite by this author but still enjoyable and would recommend.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Gripping, twist filled and full of tension, My Husband's Houseis a taunt psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages wanting to know more. Secrets and lies are the name of the game in this shocking book.

Ben has convinced Naomi that moving to a new home is just what they need! They have two young children and a baby on the way. Sure, this home isn't perfect. It has peeling wallpaper and an overgrown yard, but it has been vacant for some time. A little TLC is all it needs.

Naomi is happy to meet Sara, her next-door neighbor. They have become instant friends, but Sara's face loses its welcoming smile when she meets Ben. She is not the only one who doesn't appear overjoyed to meet him. Then late one night there is a knock at the door....


I loved trying to figure out who could be trusted in this book. There are a lot of characters, and many appear to have secrets. How well do we really know the people in our lives? This was a juicy mystery that kept me on my toes the entire book. I found this book to be riveting and did not want to put it down.

There is a nice amount of tension and dread throughout the book. The old home with the peeling wallpaper and creepy shed provided atmosphere and set a chilling vibe. I enjoyed the various POV's and how everything played out. This was a well written and well thought out book.

Sheryl Browne delivers every time, and this book was shocking, intense, dark, gripping, and full of twists. Just the way I like my psychological thrillers.

Gripping, tense, shocking and captivating!

Omg! Sheryl Browne knocks it out of the park again! What a creepfest! This was dark and delicious with so many twists, turns and reveals that I might have whiplash. Another great page turner that kept me up past my bedtime. And the characters were fantastic. Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley , Sheryl Browne and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

My Husband's House is about how one simple lie - or perhaps not even a lie, just an omission - that may seem harmless and indeed be told out of necessity, can go on to shape the lives of yourself and others. And how different things could have been if just one person had done something differently a bit earlier.

As the mother of two young children with a third on the way, Naomi has a lot on her plate. So she initially accepts her husband Ben's explanation that the family have had to move to a new home due to his work. But it isn't long before the questions start to form in her mind. Why, at the first sight of Ben, does their new, friendly neighbour Sara appear to express an angry frown and her partner Paul appear to regard him with open hatred? Why does Ben so strongly deny this and yet, almost at the same time, try to warn Naomi to keep their children away from Paul? And are those late night walks he takes, supposedly to clear his head, really as innocent as Naomi had always thought?

I'll be honest. The beginning of the book felt a little confused. Two of the opening nine chapters featured unexplained happenings in an old house, which briefly caused me to wonder whether I was actually going to be reading a ghost story instead of the promised psychological thriller. However, from about Chapter 10 onwards the book seemed to find its stride, the story started to flow and from there on, I remained firmly glued to my kindle. The book effortlessly switched between multiple narrators and present and past timelines - I've said previously that no-one can do this quite as well as Lisa Jewell, but Sheryl Browne has now proved that there is at least one other author who can - with many paragraphs featuring ordinary, everyday things. Ordering pizza. Looking at yourself in the mirror. Breaking up an argument between your children. In another book, by another author these could be distracting. Here - and I honestly have no idea why, or how - they have the opposite effect. They draw you in. They help you relate to each character. So that when the bigger issues are introduced, they hit the reader like a punch in the gut.

To avoid spoilers, I'll refrain from saying what all of the issues raised are, but I have to mention that they include the loss of a child. Sheryl has bravely admitted to me that this is a subject close to her heart, and I think it shows. The writing here is powerful and poignant, yet sensitive and almost beautiful, and I could almost feel my heart break for the character in question.

The plot in this book isn't one that appears to be going in one direction, only to be turned on its head by a sudden and violent twist. It follows the more subtle route that I think I prefer; that of changing my mind almost constantly through a series of smaller findings, utterances and revelations. The tension builds up masterfully right through to an ending that is deliberately uncertain. The reader is offered one solution, but can easily imagine alternatives. By coincidence, it's not dissimilar to the way Casey Kelleher ends her latest novel, The Baby Sitter's Secret and it works wonderfully in both books.

But if the ending of My Husband's House served to remind me of Casey Kelleher - which, for the avoidance of doubt, is absolutely no bad thing - the epilogue felt reminiscent of Can You See Her? by S E Lynes. However, to make this out as a criticism would be mad. It would be like hearing a new singer for the first time and saying he sounded a bit too like Frank Sinatra.

The only minor criticism I would give is that I wondered whether more could have been made of the character of Sara. Don't get me wrong, she's wonderful. But she didn't seem to be as significant to the main story as I thought she was going to be.

My summary and conclusion, then, is this. There are a few bits of My Husband's House that aren't quite perfect. But the parts that work well - which, frankly, equate to most of the book - are absolutely fantastic. I loved it.

Look at it this way. I know full well that my dog - beautiful though she is - is never going to win any prizes at Crufts. But there is nothing on earth that could persuade me to swop her for one that would.

My thanks to Bookouture for my inclusion on the blog tour, and to the author and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

Twenty years ago, 9-year-old Holly Grant went missing and later her father, Michael, was found hanging from a tree. Holly was never found.

Naomi and Ben Felton are looking at an old house to buy a house located near a reservoir. No one has lived there in many years so it needs updating. Naomi’s grandfather had been quite superstitious and Naomi can’t help but have some creepy feelings about the house. But they decide to get the house and move in. Naomi is expecting a baby to join their other two children, Liam and Maya. Ben is a clinical photographer.

Sara lives next door with her two children that are near the same ages of Liam and Maya. Her boyfriend, Paul, lives with her.

Joan is an elderly woman who lives nearby and has been there for many years. She remembers when Holly went missing and then the house sat empty for a long time.

As the two couples get to know one another, there is a lot of tension between the men. Sara and Naomi become friends but seem to get into silly arguments. When Naomi is injured devastatingly, life gets difficult for all. There are some scary happenings and they wonder what really happened in that house all those years ago.

I was rather torn as to my feelings about this story as I read it. I was skeptical of how quickly Naomi and Sara seemed to get into silly arguments. If Ben and Paul knew each other before, why was it hidden? Sorry, if that is a spoiler but it strange. An OK read though so enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A truly wild ride leaving you unsure who to trust and what’s what! I loved this book so much and will recommend to everyone!

Sheryl Browne returns following Her First Child with her latest intense psychological thriller; MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE —a gripping, unsettling, dark, multi-layered, complex, multi-generational twisty domestic suspense—a wife and mother discover her husband's many secrets, caught up in a dangerous web of lies and deceit when the past connects with the present in this house of horrors.

First, this book is MUCH MORE than the cover (even though vibrant), the description, or the book recommendations depicted. In my opinion— these do not do the book justice or line up with what it is truly about—it needs a creepy haunted house cover.

TITLE: This title gives away the book.
However, I would love to see the title:
13 Trowan Crescent (the address where the terror takes place)

GENRES: MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE crosses between domestic suspense, horror, family drama, mystery, thriller, and profoundly psychological fiction.

An intense exploration of Nature vs. Nurture.
The scientific, cultural, and philosophical debate about whether human culture, behavior, and personality are caused primarily by nature or nurture.

We see three generations depicted in the novel passed down with mental problems and violence. Why do the parents protect, ignore, and hide the problems?

BOOK RECS: A cross between Ashley Audrain's The Push and her new upcoming The Whispers meets Jennifer McMahon/Ruth Ware's horror and creepiness, Alice Feeney's dysfunctional family dramas, and Jennifer Hillier/Lisa Unger's well-written, twisty psychological thrillers.

EERIE/CREEPINESS: From the Friday 13th date the horror began 20 yrs ago, the address—13 Trowan Crescent, the black cat, a dark and gloomy haunted house sitting abandoned for 20 yrs, the creepy rocking chair, the old earless raggedy teddy bear, the peeling wallpaper, the mysterious shed with history, the reservoir, the hidden things inside the walls, the homeless woman, the drowning of a doll, secrets hidden under floorboards, creepy letters, the many characters who are not who they pretend to be with false names, and the crazy nosy neighbors.

TWO TIMELINES: 20 yrs ago and the present

TOLD FROM MULTIPLE POVs:
Naomi - Wife of Ben. Six mos. pregnant. Mother of two children, Liam (9) Maya (5).
Ben - Husband of Naomi (may not be his real name)
Joan - Older Neighbor
Sara - Next-door neighbor. Single beautiful. (currently, Paul lives with her) Mother of James and Ellie, ages similar to Naomi's children
Lily - Homeless woman

The book opens with a tragedy 20 years earlier at 13 Trowan Crescent address. A nine-year-old girl, Holly, goes missing. A father commits suicide.

Present: Ben, Naomi, and the children move into the house at 13 Trowan Crescent. Naomi knows nothing of the dark and violent past or its history. It needs a lot of work since it has been sitting empty and abandoned for over 20 yrs. But they are too busy with all the drama to do any actual remodeling. A house that beckons its owners and their neighbors toward unimaginable danger.

Ben supposedly got a transfer with the hospital. Naomi quit her job when they moved to help the kids settle into a new school and prepare for their baby boy's arrival.

She is happy to meet Sara next door with two children and Joan, another pleasant older neighbor. However, everything is tense when Sara, Joan, and Paul meet Ben. Naomi thinks this is strange, and Ben blows it off as her pregnancy hormones.

Soon very strange, unnerving, creepy things begin happening with warnings from neighbors, threatening type letters, putting doubt in Naomi's mind, and Sara, who is always stunning and she is single.

Then one day, a homeless woman shows up at their door, stating that this is her house and she appears to know Ben, calling him by another name.

Then their son Liam acts up in school. His behavior is evil and chilling. Another major tragedy, one after another. Creepy, unsettling, dark, disturbing things begin happening.

Does Naomi even know the person she is married to? He seems to be a stranger. It appears everyone else is in the know but her. Trust no one. No one or nothing is as it appears.

The ongoing mystery of what happened to Holly?

When the past connects with the present, it is EXPLOSIVE! Browne keeps you guessing with one twist after another! It is nerve-wracking and terrifying! You may want to keep a scorecard for all the characters (and their true/false names).

Keep one eye closed, a look at the primal fears that lurk within us. You cannot outrun the past. Oh, and that deliciously twisted, wicked ending!

The author cleverly explores the eerie mysteries of childhood and the evils perpetrated by the monsters among us. A wickedly entertaining ride that takes a deep dive into the meaning of family and the price we'll pay for those we love.

The author's writing is impressive, with multi-layering, complex twists and turns. And those DARK SECRETS! I hope that this book will reach the right audience to appreciate it. A read in one sitting and an ideal book club pick for further discussions.

MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE is an intense, unsettling dark riveting thriller! Immersive, disturbing, spine-chilling, evil, and thought-provoking! A must-read for psychological thriller fans.

Thanks to #Bookouture and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC for review purposes. Also listened to the audiobook narrated by Tamsin Kennard for an engaging performance and listening experience.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 5, 2023
June 2023 Must-Read Books

Another great physiological read from Sheryl. As usual there are lots of twists and turns along the way. I enjoyed this book but did find it a little bit slow to start with. It’s told from a few peoples perspectives and they are all great characters. I did guess one bit but there was so much more going on it didn’t spoil the read. If you like this genre then you should read this book.

A very captivating read, but it felt unfinished. I still have lingering questions and feel as if the main plot points weren't dedicated the amount of pages they deserved yet minor details were drawn out. I would recommend this as a quick, easy to read thriller.

Talk about unsuspecting plot twists I didn’t see coming! Reading this book was like watching an episode of a true crime show.

The writing was intense, the plot and the characters were well developed, and overall the story was so gripping I practically read this cover to cover.

There are some themes in this book that spill over into our own lives and are capable of making you question what you know or are willing to tolerate from another person.

Read If you like:
Suspense
Psychological thrillers
Mystery
True crime

I've read a lot of Sheryl Browne's books and always really enjoyed them. I found this a bit of a slow burn bit glad I stuck with it as picked up pace in the middle then I flew through the rest.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book this is my honest opinion.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I have read a few books from this author and after reading this one, I will definitely be reading more. I really enjoyed this book and all of the twists too. It was a fast read and I definitely could not put it down. Highly recommend!

I enjoyed this book by Sheryl Browne, its the first book I have read of hers and it wont be the last

Well this was a unsettling read but it's supposed to be this way as Sheryl sets it up so it gives this type of feeling. Lots of twists, drama and a definite recommend

Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture. All thoughts and comments are my own and aren't influenced by anyone else

3.75 stars!
This book has a plot twist but there are mixed in with unpredictable and predictable ones! This psychological thriller sets and eerie environment and makes you question each of the characters. This book is definitely a fast paced/quick read and is a page turner!!! Some aspect of the books leaves you unsatisfied and wanting for more and I wish there was more character depth in this story. Usually I am not a fan of multiple POV but this book pulled it off!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookoture and Sheryl for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This was a solid thriller. Slightly predictable and a little slow at times. But I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read! I thought the husband was frustrating. Why couldn’t he just come clean about stuff to his wife.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

His dream home...her worst nightmare...and a secret that could kill...

Hold onto your hats - Sheryl Browne is back with a bang! I have read umpteen of her thrillers and she never fails to keep me guessing but has yet to hoodwink me...lol MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE is a different story of sorts in that it is more of a slow burn. But don't let that fool you because you are not bored during the build up. Oh no. Sheryl keeps us proper entertained with a little neighbourly spat here and there, a bit of sibling rivalry, some jealousy maybe, plenty of secrets, a few lies thrown in...and a whole lot of wondering what the hell was going on and where it was all going to lead.

Naomi and Ben have just moved into what they are sure will be their dream home. It's not perfect; the decor fairly dated; it's clearly in need of some love. But it's their's. And it's just the fresh start they need. Despite her looming superstitions, Naomi is looking forward to settling in here and making some new friends. One such opportunity comes along when a knock at the door reveals a smiling face. Sara lives next door with her two children, James and Ellie, of similar ages to her own Liam (9) and Maya (5). The two women fall into an easy friendship and Naomi is immediately relieved, desperately needing a friend to help her settle in.

Until she meets Ben. There's a flicker of something Naomi can't quite interpret on Sara's face but it seems from the very beginning, she doesn't warm to him. The question is...why? Ben is quick to dismiss her worries, saying she is imagining things. Baby brain, maybe? After all, she is six months pregnant. But no matter how much the two try to disguise it, it is clear they both harbour an obvious dislike for the other. But it's not just Sara. Her partner Paul doesn't seem to like him either. And when Joan, the elderly neighbour from across the street, meets him there's a sense of eeriness as the two glare at each other. Joan knows her husband. But from where? And it is clear that Ben recognises Joan. The darkened look he gave her is like one Naomi has never seen in her usually placid husband's eyes. Which begs the question as to why? And why is Ben lying to her?

Slowly but surely, Naomi's world begins to crumble leaving her wondering if they should have moved into this house to begin with. Particularly after she heard the disturbing history of the place. Her superstitious nature would have her believing all sorts from the creaking of the rocking chair that meant a ghost's spirit remains to the disturbing dreams she has of a child crying for help.

But when the startling truth is revealed nothing will prepare Naomi for the shock that is about to befall her as all the secrets and lies come bubbling to the surface.

So much drama and so much tragedy is woven into this tautly driven psychological thriller. It is thrilling, engaging and entertaining on so many levels and such an addictive read that was impossible to put down. It is one of Browne's best to date though it did leave a few unanswered questions at the end that I felt could have been clarified. Such as the drowning of the doll - I didn't understand that - nor the final pages of the book which I felt were unnecessary. But that aside, this is a five star read that is compelling and unputdownable.

Sheryl Browne, you've done it again!

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsHouse in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

I’ve read a few of this authors books and enjoyed them but I struggled with this one. I found it very slow moving with not much happening until the middle.

This authors books just keep getting better and better and I know when I pick them up everything else can wait. I enjoyed reading this in the garden on a sunny bank holiday. This was a gripping psychological thriller which had me hooked from the very first page.

This was a tense and intriguing read and makes you question do you really know people like you think you do and makes you question of people are who they seem on the surface deep down. The characters were engaging as was the subject matter and there were lots of twists and turns as the story unravelled and unveiled how the past is interwoven into the here and now and how everything fits together.

Can’t wait to read what this author writes next.

Naomi can’t tell why her new neighbors, most notably Sara, take a strong dislike to her husband Ben. Naomi and Sara have children of a similar age and the two woman begin a friendship. However, things become strained almost immediately and quite naturally this concerns Naomi. Then when Ben is introduced to Sara’s partner, the dislike turns to animosity, further perplexingly Naomi.

Moving to a new home and befriending new neighbors can indeed be daunting. Factor in lies and secrets being part and parcel in this latest thriller by Sheryl Browne, even more so. With excellent pacing, past and present collide, illustrating that hiding one’s past from those closest to you is not really a good idea. This thrilling read was so compelling that it was impossible to put down, and it managed to leave me breathless.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.