Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital pre publication copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
I struggled a little with my rating for this one as it falls between a 3* and 4* for me. It was so similar to other novels in this genre that I kept thinking I’ve read it before. It felt too predictable in parts but although I was right about part of the reveal there was a larger part that I hadn’t seen coming. I did find it an easy read, I got through it in a couple of days. I expect some of the story pertaining to the main characters TV presenter job is quite accurate, and was quite interesting.

Where has Jason Dalgliesh gone? Homewrecker is so different from all of his other books I had to keep checking it really was the same author I have followed through so many wonderful crime and police procedurals.

Homewrecker is based in London. In one of those posh houses that are three or four storeys tall but another three deep with a garden level, a basement and vaults. All that for a family of four.

Dad ,Scott ,does something in the media that earns him loads of money. Mum, Sophie, leaves home at 3:30 am Monday to Friday to co host a morning breakfast programme. She is being "encouraged" to update her wardrobe to encourage a new audience .

Chas, at 18, is in his first year of medical school...or is he? Twelve year old budding arsonist Katie has been kicked out of her prestigious school. A tutor, Deanna, is found to teach Katie at home.

Let the fun begin.

Jason lets his mind go free. Sharing more twists and turns than the Hampton Court Maze. Each one adding another clue or access to the red herring club.

Deanna is obviously central to the plot. I read this book in one sitting trying to figure out how and why. I have been writing this review since 6am having NOT worked it out.

Well done Jason. You are going to get a new audience with this book. Psychological thrillers are much more mind bending than police procedurals and crime. Thanks for giving us some shiny knives, blood and guts towards the end though.

A big #happypubday to The Homewrecker by J M Dalgliesh and huge thanks to the author and netgalley for the copy to read and review 🫶

I couldn’t help feeling a little bit nauseated by how much the main character Sophie worshipped her husband and I could literally imagine her staring at her husband like a loyal dog admiring their owner. The set up of their lavish life and all she had at her fingertips and “woa me how hard this life is” added to this which, actually I enjoyed😂

When other characters are introduced and this starts to unsettle Sophie, things take a real interesting turn with feelings of insecurity and self doubt creeping in. I just love a perfect scenario that’s then interrupted and chaos is let loose!

Without spoilers, there’s then a whole load of gaslighting going on and at one point, I was even questioning things myself! There’s family drama, mental health, deceit, manipulation and revenge, the perfect mix for a psychological thriller!

I LOVE a good twist and this one I did NOT see coming. Totally hit me sideways. I’m also a sucker for different points of view which probably added to the twist as you start making assumptions.

This was cleverly wrapped up, I couldn’t help feeling betrayed by some of the characters here which is gold for me!

A great read with a good build up to pace

This is an amazing, draw dropping Psychological Thriller, from J M Dalgliesh.
The story follows Sophie and her family, which consists off Scott, her husband and their two children, Katie and Chas. Sophie is a TV personality and Scott is also well known in the media world, but more behind the scenes.
They have everything, a perfect house, perfect jobs and a house maid, who goes above and beyond her job to help Sophie with the running of their home. However, not all seems perfect, when their daughter Katie starts going off the rails and rebels at school by doing things that get her expelled. It is also very strained between Katie and her Mum, always bickering, not seeing eye to eye on a lot of things.
Sophie and Scott have now run out of options and are left with no choice but to consider home tutoring to get her through the rest of the academic year.
Deana is then introduced to the family, who seems perfect! She has the right credentials, Katie has an instant spark with her, even though this is a huge disappointment with Sophie, and they all seem to love her………
Well, except from Sophie. Something does not seem quite right with her, is it because she is younger, more attractive? Because she understands Katie more than she can or is it something else? Something she cannot exactly put her finger on. Or is it all in her imagination and nothing is truly what it seems to be?!
One thing is for sure, before Deana arrived, everything was perfect and after she arrives, everything is spiralling, and the breaks are well and truly off!

Where do I start? The book totally gripped me from page one, when you think you’re getting over one shock, another is round the corner with a good punch. So many twists and turns I could not put it down and with an ending I was not expecting!
A totally amazing book and if you like Thrillers, this one is up there with the best. Would most certainly recommend this and I cannot wait to read more from the author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication. Thank you to Jason Dalgliesh for this wonderful read.

This was a 4 star read for me. For those who love a Psychological thriller this is for you. This has been likened to ‘The Girl on the Train” and ‘The Housemaid’. What I loved about this book was that there were multiple twists and every time you thought you could predict what was going to happen - you couldn’t be more wrong.

The story follows the perfect family - married, two children, big house, rich and successful careers, but all is not as it seems. Katie the youngest child gets expelled at School which leads to her requiring a tutor. Let’s just say without spoilers - that she becomes much more than a tutor and it does not go in the direction you may think!

The characters are all likeable and relatable, the story unfolds into lots of plots and turns and has you wanting to keep reading.

The only reason I have rated this a 4/5 is I felt personally, that it started off quite slow with perhaps too much story building. I know many readers love this but I was hoping that the build up would happen sooner. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this and would recommend others to read this.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Bookouture for the book #Homewrecker by #JMDalgliesh. This book is amazing and the twist ending totally surprised me. Sophie and Scott have a dream life with two children. When their daughter, Katie, starts misbehaving and gets kicked out of school, they hire Deanna to tutor her. But it seems that Deanna is getting a little too close to Scott. Are they having an affair? Why is everything so messed up and I am so confused

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and author JM Dalgliesh for the arc!

I loved this twisty psychological thrill ride from the chilling take-off to the very smooth & satisfying landing! I was pretty sure I had figured out where this one was going, but nope! Didn’t see it coming at all … and I’m usually fairly good at my guesses!

I couldn’t flip pages fast enough to find out what was going on in this house … and I was not disappointed when all was revealed!

A clever & gripping page turner with strong & well written characters that pull you into their hot mess & will not let you go until you finish that last page. Be prepared to stay up past your bedtime with this one!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my advance ecopy in exchange for a review. This book is a dark thriller based in the UK primarily set within a family household. The book flicks between Sophie the wife and mother and Deanna the new tutor for 12 year old Katie. There is something disturbing and off with all characters including the husband Scott and enjoyed finding out gradually that all is not as it seems. Secrets and lies of the past catch up with them and Sophie soon becomes convinced they have let someone dangerous and out to get her into their home. I enjoyed this book and will be recommending to others. 3.5 stars rounded up

What a cracking introduction to Dalgleish's writing style this was. I'm certainly going to be investing in more of his future psychological thrillers, this was fab!

It's a brilliantly twisty, tension filled thriller that focuses on the Beckett family and their daughter's home school tutor, as wife Sophie tries to unravel what exactly is going on between her husband and Deanna.

There are themes of mental instability, gaslighting and sexism to name but a few. Whilst they may be triggering to some, they do add to the credibility of the story.

The characters are strong, their narration perfect and coupled with the solid plot made for a gripping and entertaining read.

Firstly, thank you so much, NetGalley and the publisher, for the early copy!
 
This book was a delight! I find it hard to find psychological thrillers that aren’t predictable, but in the end, this one really wasn’t something you’d be able to predict!
 
Such an amazing twist! I ate this up from start to finish. Just from the prologue, this book immediately caught my attention. I had to know how it played out, and it did not disappoint!
 
The writing was so captivating, and the whole thing kept me guessing. I truly enjoyed this so much. Not a second was wasted. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

Homewrecker by J M Dalgliesh is an entertaining and well-written psychological thriller with a cast of intriguing characters.
Great plot & great storytelling Amy Sheppard did a great job here keeping the suspense alive and tense.
Full of twists, turns, shocks, chills, thrills and much more!
Well written, original, and sure to keep you hooked.

WOW! The Homewrecker by J.M. Dalgliesh is the true definition of a psychological thriller. This is the type of book that I found myself craving to read during those times during my day that I couldn’t read. It made me want to finish my job, chores, and errands so I could read more.

Sophie has it all. The immaculate home, the dashingly handsome husband Scott, a beautiful daughter and a handsome son, a burgeoning career on television, and the beauty to go with it. Sophie has it all - at least from the outside looking in. Inside the walls of that immaculate home is a marriage in shambles, family disputes, and a web of dark and deep secrets. At a last ditch attempt to save their daughter Katie after she’s expelled from school, her husband Scott hired a private teacher, Deanna, to come into the home. Deanna is young, smart, beautiful - and most importantly, a threat to Sophie’s very existence. As tensions grow between Sophie and Deanna, Sophie realizes that Deanna’s goal is to take everything from Sophie. The longer Deanna stays in the house, the more untangled their web of lies and secrets become.

Truly an unputdownable book, that was utterly addicting, and had a major plot twist at the end that I didn’t see coming! Just when you think you’ve figured it out, you haven’t. Most of the story is told from Sophie’s perspective with a few chapters from Deanna’s perspective. The authors writing style is flawless and very captivating; coupled with the addicting storyline - this is truly has all the makings of a best seller and I cannot wait to read more from this author!

Thanks so much to Bookouture for the gifted audiobook!

If you're looking for a quick and easy thriller perfect for fans of Freida Mcfadden, this one is for you! Talk about bingey!

I never wanted to put it down and flew through it in a day!

While some parts were slower than others, it really didn't bother me! I was surprised by the ending and ultimately would recommend to thriller lovers!

3.5 stars rounded up for GR

She’s here to help my daughter. She wants to steal my life.

This was my first ever book by J.M Dalgliesh and I will definitely be reading more!! Homewrecker is a gripping thriller that will keep you hooked from the first page. I honestly couldn’t put the book down and when I had to (work😂) it was all I could think about and trying to figure out what was gunna happen next.

The emotion I felt for the main character started on page one as I moved through the story with her.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this arc

A very slow paced novel that turns in to a race to the final word.

I found this book very predictable, apart from Sophie everyone in the book is truly vile and this made me feel that I wanted to get to the end quickly.

I think it would be a good read for anyone new to the genre who wants a slower read.

This is the first psychological thriller from JM Dalgliesh. Wow what a rollercoaster of a ride. It took a while to get into the story and I thought, yeah that's what's going on, only for things to change. Further in I started to get a proper feel for the characters as they developed through the story. I can truly say that, after thinking I knew what was going on at least three different times, the ending was totally unexpected. I'm glad that I persevered and got to the end. I would recommend to book to lovers of authors such as Daniel Hurst. With thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley.

The book had a very slow start with no major events happening until 50%. The topic of mental health was over the top and came across as Sophie being gaslit throughout the entire book. I found most characters to be insufferable, especially Katie, the 12 year old. Even though I liked the prologue, the ending of the book left too many questions unanswered,

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie is married to Scott, they have two children, Chas 18 and Katie 12. Sophie works on a daytime TV show, initially as a weather presenter and now as joint presenter. Katie is a spoilt, unpleasant child, especially towards her mother, and has been suspended from the private school she attends. Into the family comes Deanna, young, charming and totally gorgeous, to tutor Katie at home. Deanna seems perfect and soon becomes indispensable, however Sophie becomes suspicious that Deanna has a hidden agenda.

The story moves on with great pace, dropping tantalizing hints about the back story but not giving too much away. As Sophie strives to get to the bottom of her concerns about Deanna, her mental health begins to deteriorate, slowly at first, with Scott convinced it is all in Sophie's imagination. It is clear the plot is not as straightforward as it may seem, plenty of red herrings and clever narration got me guessing. I did think I had worked it out, but oh how wrong I was! The climax of the story was unexpected - fast, furious and particularly well narrated with twist, turn and reveal on page after page. Even then J M Dalgliesh hadn't quite finished with his readers!

Sophie is very believable, her descent from random forgetfulness to more concerning mental health issues well described. It's easy to identify and empathise with her struggle to balance work, home, husband and children. She is a very likeable character and I found myself routing for her right from the start. There is an interesting sub plot involving the attitude of her boss and co-presenter, to women.

I struggled a little with Katie and a couple of times had to go back and check her age. I felt many of her actions and narrative, throughout the book, were more attuned to a 14 year old.

This is my first J M Dalgliesh book, no idea how he has passed me by! Very excited to read some more, always great to discover a new to me author and find they have already published loads of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

I was hooked from the first page and devoured this in one day. I tension throughout was on point, I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong. I gasped 🤯🫣 and even cried during the last couple of chapters, any book that can do that is a 5🌟
It follows Sophie, a very successful TV career, busy mum and wife to Scott. Life becomes very strained for them when their 12 year old daughter is expelled from school, Scott arranges for a tutor, in steps Deanna.
Sophie soon begins to feel pushed out, jealous seeing Deanna’s interactions with her family. Her working hours makes juggling family life harder but the strain seems to be increasing rapidly but why…….i won’t give any spoilers but highly recommend you reading this book!
Thank you NetGalley, J.M. Dalgliesh and Bookouture for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

📚 Book Review 📚

Sophie seems to have it all, a great television career, loving husband, two children and a beautiful home in London.

Sophie and Scott are the archetypal, high flying couple who have the insta life, until their daughter Katie’s behaviour deteriorates and she is expelled from her school. In order to preserve her education, they hire a tutor named Deanna. But is Deanna exactly who and what she seems? Sophie starts to question not only Deanna’s position in her home, but soon, she also starts questioning her sanity.

This is a great read, so good in fact, that I listened to this on audiobook as well as reading on my kindle. There are great twists and everything turns upside down about 80% of the way through, which I loved. The actual ending for me was not quite right though, there were aspects which were just a bit bizarre and weren’t realistic, hence the 4⭐️, it was going to be 5⭐️ until that ending. All round though, a great read, unseen events and shockers a plenty!

I’d like to thank Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 8th August 2024

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