This is unbelievably my first John Marrs (honestly, how can I call myself a thriller fan?) and what a way to start 👏🏻

I binged this book in just over a day after falling majorly behind with the readalong group due to being away for 10 days! The chapters were super short and so many ended in mini cliffhangers that I simply could not put it down. I was honestly raging on my commute this morning when I reached part 3 as the train was pulling in!!

The amount of plot twists this book has is insane. I didn’t see a single one of them coming, and I’m hugely impressed at how Marrs was able to weave these all together so intricately and drop so many big reveals. The twists had me gasping, shouting and furiously texting friends who have also read the book!

I loved the focus on dementia playing a key role in the plot but it was dealt with so well and didn’t feel at all insensitive. In the acknowledgments, John mentions current UK laws surrounding dementia vulnerability. I had never really given these laws any thought previously but the way John took the repercussions of these laws to the extreme was excellent.

I would describe the book as a mix of Here To Stay by Mark Edwards and the movie I Care A Lot, both of which you should also watch / read!

What in tarnation is happening in this book? That Paul is a character like no other. And let me say this. Eewww! This story delves a little into who and what we become if diagnosed with dementia or such other diseases that makes us lose control of rational decision making. Family members has so much that they need to take into consideration when caring for their family members. Being cautious of the new friends that they make shouldn’t be one of them. This book is a serious eye opener. I was entertained thoroughly from the victim and from one of the perpetrators point of view. I have to say the twist and turns that are revealed was a surprise indeed. As I said I had my suspicions about Paul, but the neighbors. Those are the people that you really need to monitor. Connie wasn’t bad herself. I thought that her character was good, but for me her emotional intake and output was mediocre. I wanted to read more of that raw passionate action that comes from characters when the enemy has taken over your life and what you worked for. The writer’s creativity and writing skills has great skills. I look forward to reading another book.

All the stars. John Marrs remains one of my favorite thriller authors. He always takes us on a crazy ride and really never misses.

I adore John Marrs' books- whether they are his speculative or psychological thrillers.
This was a compulsive read that can easily be read in a day if you have the time. The characters were fascinating and some were so creepy, the protaganist's situation really bothered me.
I really enjoyed this, but I think being a Marrs book, I had higher hopes. He has set such a high standard for himself!

I want to preface this by saying I loved The One by this same author but this book just could not get me interested. None of the characters seemed likable to me and I spent most of the time rolling my eyes and the weirdness of character and plot.
Sadly, this book just didn’t work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When this ARC became available on Netgalley I quickly grabbed it as I always wanted to read a John Marrs book. I dove into the book without reading the synopsis. I will tell you I was a bit skeptical when I first started reading but I pressed on and I absolutely loved it. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Reading Between the Wines book review #16/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 ½ 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Stranger in Her House
Author: John Marrs
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: This book took a turn that I did not expect. There were a few reveals that really caught me off guard. However, it was not my favorite Marrs book, but I enjoyed it enough. There is something that was missing but I cannot put my finger on it. I would suggest others read it because it definitely was suspenseful. This book is also for those who love to hate characters and gas lighters. I did not like the ending at all.

Cheers and thank you to @ThomasAndMercer and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheStrangerInHerHouse.

#TheStrangerInHerHouse #JohnMarrs #ThomasAndMercer #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

It took me a little longer than usual to get into a groove with this book. However, once I did, I was all in.

The book introduces us to Connie. A young woman who is caring for her aging mother, Gwen. Gwen is suffering from a form of dementia. Due to this fact, Gwen is sometimes forgetful of details and can easily be confused. Connie is finding it challenging to keep her mother safe but they are managing. Things are thrown awry when a charitable handyman named Paul shows up At first everything seems to be going well but it quickly changes.

This book has some interesting twists and turns. I really enjoyed it and the unique storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love John Marrs's futuristic fiction, but I am not a huge fan of his "typical" suspense/mystery novels. This was a little lackluster.

This book was so engaging! So twisty that you get engrossed and it was hard to put down.

Connie is the caregiver for her mother who has dementia. One day Paul shows up saying he was sent by a nonprofit to help with odd jobs around the house. Connie doesn't trust Paul and thinks he is there for nefarious reasons.

Is Paul lying? Is Connie telling the truth? Both are unlikeable and seem unreliable.

There is a twist about halfway though that really threw me for a loop. Definitely recommend this twisty tale!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An interesting read that kept my attention throughout. Whilst I guessed a couple of the twists these came quite early in the novel so I knew I’d have a few more to keep me guessing.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

Surprisingly, this was my first John Marrs book and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The characters and story were well written and he had a way of making me feel like I was part of their lives! It had many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and love how it ended. If you like psychological thrillers, be sure to check this book out!

This book was an absolute rollercoaster that I didn’t want to put down. Some twists are predictable but some had me shocked. You’ll definitely hate the characters which I thought kept it intriguing.

This was my first John Marrs book and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

In true John Marrs style - the twists kept coming. The first one was a BANGER and totally changed the trajectory of the story. The stakes were high.

This book felt longer than it was, and it dragged a tad for me in some parts.

I love how Marrs makes detestable characters - it truly is his speciality. I haaaaated so many of the characters and I was frustrated and aggravated and WHY WONT ANYONE BELIEVE HER was yelled quite a few times. But then. BUT THEN. Jeez what a mental rollercoaster.

This is a classic Marrs style suspense story with complex and well developed characters. I adore his writing style, even when I hate the people. I believe that's the point - he wants you to feel something about them.

The plot was creative. There is a trigger for dementia but it was handled in a great way for a thriller.

Book Review

The Stranger In Her House

What a twisty and dark tale! This is definitely a book that has you shouting at the pages, a couple of the characters where really getting me angry. It was so confusing as to how i should feel about a certain character as well, should I be rooting for them? At points I wanted them to succeed and other times I thought no it’s not deserved.
I really enjoyed all the twists that kept coming all throughout the book and I felt the ending was very apt.

Wow this is an interesting and intriguing read. As a long time fan of author John Marrs I was expecting no less than amazing and this certainty provides that.

The topic of caring for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s is a delicate one and touches many families so using this as a central plot line may cause some to pause for thought. However the plot, including heinous characters such as Paul and Rachel involving themselves with those who are vulnerable and at risk makes excellent reading.

On each turn there is a further twist and an unexpected turn with a one up from one character to another. There are some truly horrific scenes, thankfully not too overtly described which lead to the comeuppance of those harming others, however this is far from the end of the story.

The final chapters are a work of joy and genius and one I did not see coming. The importance of an ugly old or ornamental cat was always going to be pivotal and how cleverly it was used.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ooh this was such a wild ride. A fun and twisty read. The characters are awful oh so awful but in such a good way. You have to suspend some disbelief but the story is binge-worthy. I ate it up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the E-ARC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Emotionally Fuelled..
When a stranger infiltrates a family, it becomes the catalyst for a series of concerning events. Paul is there to help, so it is claimed, sent by a charity to assist vulnerable individuals and specifically there to help Gwen. Whilst Gwen falls under Paul’s spell, her daughter Connie does not. Does Paul have an ulterior motive that is less than admirable? Emotionally fuelled psychological suspense with a deftly drawn cast and a plot line littered with often surprising twists.

John Marrs has done it again! The Stranger In The House was full of surprising twists and a great mystery. I had no idea what was going on until the big reveal. Recommend!

Thank you to the publishers and #Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was totally hooked and enjoying every page up to almost exactly half way through. Then, without giving any plat away, the plot takes a full turn and I was just less interested or convinced by the rest. Little did I know that the big change was only one of so many. So in my opinion there was a really good idea for a book that then sank beneath the waves of changed.
I’m not saying don’t read it because it will definitely keep your surprise levels up but it was a little too many ideas thrown together for me.