Deceit and the grave impact of being conned are at the heart of this story. I must admit, I was pulled into this dual timeline early on. It was the type of plot that involved a healthy dose of both paranoia and suspenseful sleuthing. Although I found the publisher description somewhat misleading, I was able to move past it and jump right into the unexpected direction the plot took.

Beatrice has been married to her husband Josh for ten years. They live in a beautiful home in a niche and wealthy area. This is the longest time that Beatrice has stayed put and planted roots. Tragedy strikes when her husband’s illegitimate toddler son is kidnapped and Beatrice and Josh must face the fact that he has been living a double life. Emma is a social worker assigned to work with a family whose preteen son has been struggling and may be neglected. While working with the family, she ends up with more than she could ever have anticipated.

The two character stories converge seamlessly and the mystery surrounding the child kidnapping was fleshed out nicely. I was keen to know who was behind it all. Where the plot lacks is in the development of Beatrice and Josh’s relationship. Since the story starts right after the kidnapping, there is very little investment in bringing the reader into the folds of their marriage so it is difficult to care whether they stay together or break up.

My favorite part of the book was actually the ending, although I will admit it was a little farfetched. But hey, whatever floats your boat!

Thank you #NetGalley and #Dreamscape for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
#LeaveTheLightsOn

While this novel was well written, I found certain plot points to be predictable. One of my biggest reading pet peeves is when I figure out twists before they are meant to be revealed, which happened more than once in this story. If you are a fan of atmospheric thrillers, you will enjoy Leave The Lights On. Andersson’s descriptions of Cape Morgan, Maine were so fantastic that I had to Google to see if it was a real place (it is not) and truly elevated this title.

#LeavetheLightsOn #LivAndersson #MiaBarron #DreamscapeAudio
In the gripping tale of 'Leave the Lights On,' set in the small town of Cape Morgan, Beatrice Wicker confronts a series of strange and unsettling events. As the story unfolds, a mix of betrayal, conspiracy, and eerie occurrences envelops her, creating a suspenseful narrative. The excellent narration enhances the novel's atmospheric tension. This advanced listening copy was a compelling experience, and I look forward to more from Liv Andersson.

I really liked this narrative but it took me a minute to get into the story line - it felt familiar and I kept getting distracted. Andersson's pacing is great and I loved the ending!

The premise of this book is intriguing and has great potential, but it did fall flat for me unfortunately.

When a little boy goes missing, Beatrice realizes that it’s her husband Josh’s son from his second life. He can’t acknowledge this to her without admitting his affair and time spent away from her. Beatrice also can’t call him out because she can’t risk her own secrets coming to light.

The unfortunate part of this book is that how it was set up is not entirely representative of what happens in the book. Maybe that’s a marketing issue, but not sure. The writing itself is fine and as I mentioned, the synopsis was intriguing. The narrator did a great job!

I don't know why I was expecting some bland family thriller, but this was definitely NOT that. I really enjoyed everything about this story. It had police procedural, family drama, crazy hidden pasts, an affair child, mental illness... Emma truly was such a good person, what she did throughout the book and at the very end... not many people would do those things. I also found it kind of poetic that Emma was renovating an old asylum campus after having dealt with mentally ill individuals ruining her life.

Leave the Lights on is an intriguing, fast-paced thriller. It follows Beatrice as strange and scary things begin happening in her small town of Cape Morgan. There are bombs being set off and children are being kidnapped and add things keep popping up on the island Beatrice is trying to turn into an artists’ retreat.

When I first started this one, I was a little nervous it was going to be another lack-luster domestic thriller, and was pleased to find out it wasn’t! While the plot still wasn’t entirely realistic, I was kept interested as there were multiple tense moments in the cat and mouse-like story. The fast pace and occasional dual timeline pieces definitely helped. The mystery aspect had a lot of pieces to it, but wasn’t super convoluted, which was nice.

The thing I didn’t fully like was the ending. No spoilers, but I felt like it was a little rushed and left some loose ends hanging.

I was lucky enough to listen to the audio of this book. I thought the narrator did a great job keeping the tension up!

Unfortunately, this audiobook missed the mark for me. I can't quite pinpoint what it was that I didn't enjoy though. With that being said, I am willing to give it another listen at some point. It seems that I need to be in a particular mood to read or listen to some books/narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this book in exchange for my review. I am on Goodreads and Instagram. look up thejulesdiaries if you are interested.

This book was extremely well written. As for the plot it was only ok. Overall the book was fun but felt a bit convoluted. But I did enjoy the listening experience and the narrator was great

Interesting storyline, but was just okay overall. My interest was peaked enough to keep reading and it was descent pace.

The plot of this book leaves a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the synopsis. Beatrice knows her husband is cheating but won't say anything because years ago she was brainwashed into doing something awful and doesn't want anyone to know. If you are intrigued, don't be. It's more of a wild experience of herding cats than following anything tangible.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Definitely an interesting mystery. Not completely what I expected and I enjoyed listening to everything unfold. The narrator did a good job.

This one really had me in the beginning but quickly lost me because it just seemed like it was convoluted with unnecessary details and just too much going on. I think I had a lot of promise but didn't really deliver. I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters and they all seemed so one dimensional. The dialogue also seemed forced and unnatural at times. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not what I expected going in. I knew it was a thriller, my favorite kind of read, but I feel there was so much more to this book.

A missing child is where the story starts. The missing child that the main character, Beatrice, has a connection with. She is desperate for this child to be found, but in this, her past comes back to her. A past she wants to keep hidden and has tried to forget. A past she has ran from.

This story has so much, the mystery of the missing child, the mystery of Beatrice's past, the relationship between Beatrice and her husband josh, and then there is the asylum renovation. All connected, all important.

I really liked the main character throughout the story. She was good inside and it never seemed to waiver. All she has done is tried to do good by others. She was had a good life going for a while but the secrets she has kept, past and present, are now coming back to haunt her.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and I was captivated.

I took a chance on this Netgalley audiobook because I liked the cover and was intrigued by the plot. Unfortunately, the book took a turn from what I expected from the summary. I did finish it, but I was confused as heck and not into it. I'm sorry but this isn't one I recommend!

How well do you truly know your neighbors. I got wrapped up in this book and kept wanting to know more. I loved the twists and turns from the beginning. Josh and Beatrice live in a million dollar house on the coast on Maine. Both live their idyllic lives while they both are holding onto massive secrets that they want to keep in the dark from each other. This book is interesting and held my attention all the way through. It was very different than books I would usually choose but I had no issue getting through it. Government conspiracies aren't really for me when it comes to books... HOWEVER I would love to watch a movie about it. Don't ask me to make it make sense because I can't.

Selfishness, asylum, entities? Deceit, scandal, abduction. Fear, loss, distrust, suspense, destruction, confusion. Where are the children, and who has them? Why keep such secrets?

Cape Morgan, Maine – Beatrice Wicker is a rich seacoast woman living a life of luxury, married to Josh, an architect and community leader. She loves her life as an architect, rebuilding an abandoned asylum into an artist retreat for creativity. But she knows a secret about her husband's second family.

Josh Wicker and his lover have seen each other for at least three years. He does not know that Beatrice is aware of his affair.

Suddenly there is an abduction of a two-year-old boy. Josh’s boy! Will Josh reveal his other life?

The narrator, Mia Barron is fantastic! Her smooth voice was easy to listen to, and she had great character, depiction, and development, allowing you to picture each event, as it occurred. The pace was steady, and the flow through each chapter was fluid. Her tonality was pleasant and appropriate, creating a very enjoyable audiobook.

Overall, I found this book to be very entertaining. The scattered pieces of confusion that I felt at the beginning between the spouse of pain and empathy, Josh is switching behavior, trying to support both parties, began to create a clear picture as the story continued and the puzzle began to sort. However, in the end, I was caught completely off guard! I never expected the abductor to be who he/she was as I went back in the story, I could see how this abductor could play its part. I just never saw it coming.

This was an excellent read/audiobook. I recommend this book to all: thriller, women, sleuth, mystery, and for the free copy of this audiobook to listen to, and provide my review upon return. My opinions are my own. investigative lovers.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Liv Andersson for the free copy of this audiobook to listen to, and provide my review upon return. My opinions are my own.

Liv Andersson has a way of building suspense with her words. When Beatrice was searching the old house for a ghost, the suspense was palpable. My heart was beating fast and I was jumpy. This is what you want in a thriller. The book shifts back and forth between Beatrice in the present in Maine and Emma twenty years ago in West Virginia. There was a little confusion in the audiobook as to which character was speaking that I don't think would be a problem in the written book. It wasn't too much of a hinderance as it soon became apparent who was speaking. The plot was interesting and tied together the dual timelines because at first the book seemed a little bland. The characters were good, if unreliable, and developed as the story went on, most in very surprising ways. The twists definitely added to the story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy. I was happy to leave this honest review because I truly enjoyed the book. Since I can't leave half stars I gave it a 4 but it was almost a 5.

Beatrice knows a lot of things are out of place in the perfect facade she maintains. Happy husband, meaningful work, and community leader. But she's got her own past, so bad that she's willing to overlook her husband's secret family if it means she can maintain the life she's built.

Author Liv Anderson crafts a perfect idyllic town, terrorized by someone that appears to want to hurt those closest to Beatrice. Twisty suspense that will keep you up at night, anxious to not be left home alone.

Leave the Lights On
by Liv Andersson
Narrated by Mia Barron

This was not at all what I was expecting. What sounds like an intriguing kidnapping mystery with hints of betrayal and secrets is actually a whole lot of "I have no idea what is going on." So, this story doesn't just take place in the present day. There are two concurrent stories being told-the present day story that you read about in the summary, and the one back when Beatrice was younger, before she was Beatrice. The two stories were both interesting, though I felt like the earlier story was a bit more prevalent in the first half.

This had so many twists and turns along the way and if you're willing to escape reality for a bit and enjoy the conspiracies, you'll enjoy this. The narration was great and lent a lot to the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and the author for the chance to listen to and review this ARC!