The twists and turns in this story had me guessing throughout the story. The main character shows growth as she manages her way through the grief of losing her husband and starting to date after 2 years. The question is, how safe is the dating world?!

"The Cottage by the Sea" by Keri Beevis is a quick and captivating 5-star read! Harper, still mourning the loss of her husband two years ago, is finally convinced by her friend to reenter the dating scene. She creates a profile on an online dating site, where she meets some... interesting men, to say the least. However, Harper soon realizes that online dating may not be for her—or that she might not be ready for dating at all. Unfortunately, she may have made that decision too late.

This fast-paced story kept me on the edge of my seat. Much of it is told from Harper’s perspective as she navigates the unpredictable world of online dating while finally clearing out her dead husband’s belongings. Interspersed are chapters narrated by her anonymous stalker (though "stalker" might be too mild a term), offering chilling insights into his disturbing childhood and sinister plans involving Harper.

It’s important to note that this book contains potentially triggering content, so I recommend checking trigger warnings beforehand. While it may not be for everyone, it’s a thrilling read for those who enjoy darker psychological suspense. This was my first book by Keri Beevis, but it certainly won’t be my last!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Keri Beevis, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This is the 6th book by Keri Beevis that I’ve read and she never fails to disappoint. Just when I think I have the twist figured out..nope! I would check the trigger warnings before jumping into this one as it could be tough for some readers. Overall though it was another 5 star read for me!

I really liked this book and thought it had a little bit of everything! The story centers on Harper, an author who has become reclusive after the death of her husband (under odd circumstances, at that). Her best friend convinces here to sign up for a dating site and she has horrible experience after horrible experience, while also meeting a couple men outside of the app, When super creepy things start happening, she has a whole cast of potential "bad guys" from which to choose.

Harper is a believable, though sometimes naive, character. I really enjoyed her relationship with her dog as well as the dynamics between her and various people. There were full-out scary parts of this book, and the author did a great job painting the picture of her lonely house that was far from others. There were some great twists in this book and it went an entirely different direction than I thought it was going to go- I love to be tricked like that and it doesn't happen much! The story is action-packed from beginning to end. I really liked the end of the book, both when the full story comes out and how it's all tied up for Harper. There was a lot to unpack but loose ends were tied up well.

Overall, I thought this was a really good book and I raced through it. I'd definitely recommend for those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love all of Keri Beevis’ books so was very thankful when I got a copy to read. I inhale them so fast. They’re fast paced and keep you at the edge of your seat while you try to figure out who is to blame.

Bestselling author Keri Beevis returns following Nowhere To Hide with her latest twisty psychological dark thriller, THE COTTAGE BY THE SEA, proposing an ongoing question, 'How well do you know your husband?' This question sets the stage for a gripping tale of mystery and suspense.

Everything unravels when the past collides with the present, and dark and sinister secrets emerge.

A marriage built on lies. A house built on secrets...

About...

Set in Norfolk, England, we meet Harper Reed, a 37-year-old widow and romance (romcom) novel author who is now trying to write her own love story. Words were her day job, and she wrote two novels a year, but her personal life is currently not one for the pages.

Her friend, Megan, had met her husband online, and she is encouraging her to set up an online profile. She has not dated since her husband was killed in a car accident with her best friend two years earlier. She never really had closure. Now, it seems the internet and social media are the main ways people meet.

Her house was now her prison, and she needed to start living again. Her first step was to get a dog, Bailey, a black cocker spaniel. She and her husband had always planned to start a family, so they purchased the large remote home and moved to Norfolk. She now wanted a second chance.

Now, she was registered with IntoYou, where Megan met Tom. However, her journey into the dating world is not what she expected when things turn dark, and she discovers she has a stalker.

My thoughts...

THE COTTAGE BY THE SEA is a creepy, twisty, slow-burn domestic suspense about a woman who can not understand why her husband and her best friend, Alicia, were killed in a car accident. Were they having an affair? Or are things not as they appear? An ongoing mystery about her husband's past, with unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The dating world is not what Harper expects, and shocking secrets rise to the surface, putting her in danger. The first few dates were a disaster, one horrible man after another. Then, unexpectedly, she meets a nice doctor, Luke, who comes to her rescue while walking her dog, and he may not be who he seems.

In addition, when she is cleaning out her husband's things, she soon realizes she never knew him. Harper's worst fears are coming true. Did he have an accomplice? What secrets are hidden in the cottage and the cellar? What goes on behind closed doors the wife does not even suspect?

The novel is dark, sinister, twisted, and creepy, especially the unknown POV, turning into horror. From serial killers, monsters, sociopaths, dark secrets, sick games, obsessions, sacrifice, and murder, the narrative is filled with tension and suspense.

While THE COTTAGE BY THE SEA is not my favorite by the author, and there are no likable characters, some may enjoy traveling to the dark, crazy side. I am a fan of this author and eagerly await her next book. I have always enjoyed her earlier works and am excited to see what she has in store.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced reading copy for an honest review.

blog review posted @
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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4
Pub Date: Oct 14, 2024
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I have mixed feelings about this book. There are things I loved about it, things that irritated me, and more than a few eye-rolling moments.

Firstly, Harper got on my nerves a bit. Not all the time, but enough of the time to need a firm shakeup. And I don't mean to be disparaging, I'm sure there are many great romances forged on dating apps, but surely after one disastrous attempt, youd think twice. Never mind four! Okay, Justin doesn't count. I do have to add that this poor woman has the worst luck with men.

I liked everything about Luke (especially the Irish bit), and I love Bailey. What a great addition he is to the story. The setting is also great, it's always a big part of any story for me. I wasn't sure which way the story was going or who the bag guy was,I dithered between 4 people until almost the end. I had an inkling earlier on but for some reason discounted it.

The grammar was a little off here and there, it was almost as if words had been left out accidentally, I had to backtrack to check if I' d missed something, but with this being a proof copy that necessary polish might still be coming. It wasn't enough to be a big issue (but would be in a finished copy).

Trigger warnings galore here for the squeamish, but thankfully none to do with animals, apart from the fish, which is glossed over. This killer means business, and I asked myself how likely it is... then laughed, remembering that as a massive Criminal Minds fan, I should know the answer.

A fairly enjoyable and easy read, I'll be looking out for others by this author. The best thing about it? Bailey is fine throughout. It was great to be able to read something without constantly worrying if something was going to happen to him.

A solid 3 and a half stars, rounded up to 4 for Bailey.

If you follow me, then you may be aware that I'm a sucker for a Keri Beevis book. She is fantastic at building tension and unease and creating unexpected twists. She's also pretty good at dark and disturbing, and this book is no different.

The story follows the life of a novelist living a semi reclusive life following the sudden death of her husband and friend. When she starts dating again, unsettling things start to happen. The setting is really well described, and the characters are interesting. The book is twisty and very dark and gruesome at times. Definitely not one to read alone! I thought the resolution was perhaps a little too neat, but that's being picky. It really kept me guessing and was a real page turner - I can't wait to see what Keri comes up with next!

The Cottage by the Sea by Keri Beevis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Holy mother of plot twists. I was not expecting this story to be so good. The author did a great job and misleading me and throwing in all kinds of curveballs.

Harper is a widow and for the past 2 years she has been mourning the death of her husband, She decides to finally put herself out there and go on a dating site. She has no luck until she meets mysterious Luke. Luke seems perfect but she begins to suspect hes hiding something. She discovers a deed to a cottage that belonged to her late husband and there she finds the unexpected.

This book makes me never want to try online dating! This poor woman has been through the wringer and just as she's ready to put herself back out there, things get dangerous and scary. A good read.

I really enjoyed this book and found the writing style easy to follow and a decent pace.
I found some of the main characters choices un believable at times and found that they were written purely as plot devices rather then what would probably happen in that situation.

However I never saw the ending coming and it had me on the edge of my seat.

You can never go wrong with a Keri Beevis book and this is an excellent addition to her catalogue.
It’s well thought out, brilliantly written with a consistent pace.
The characters are believable, and the whole thing has a feeling of suspense throughout.
If you know this author, you’re getting exactly what you know and love and if you’ve never read this author before then why not start here and see what you’ve been missing.
Thank you for my arc and the opportunity to read.

Great book. This book was so intense. It was addictive and I couldnt put it down. Loved the combination of the romance and mystery. I was kept busy trying to work out who the culprit was.

A marriage built on lies, A house built on secrets.

Two years after losing her husband and best friend in a car accident Harper decides it’s time to put her life back together. She joins a dating site but soon realises the people she connects with are not who they say they are. When strange things start happening she is unsure who she can trust.

This author is quickly becoming a go to for me as I’ve really enjoyed most of the books that I have read by her. Thanks to @netgalley for the chance to read this book, one I thought I had figured out but I was wrong.

4.5 ☆

I LOVE Keri's books, and this one did not disappoint! I was lucky to get a Netgalley copy of this and am writing the review for all of you here!

This book had me literally taking sick time off work! I was hooked and didn't want to stop reading! I could tune out anything whenever I had this book in my hands!

In typical Keri fashion.... you will think you have it figured out, BUT you don't! I found myself talking myself out of the "truth" almost as often as I felt confident in knowing the ending. I was completely wrong! This book does wrap up all loose ends nicely, which is appreciated for my anxious mind that "just needs to know."

I wish the ending had slowed a little bit with more depth, which is why I felt 4.5 out of 5 was a must. These were just so many complexities and layers that I felt like the end just arrived and settled.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book and I hope everyone gives it a shot! Amazing job!!!

Keri Beevis knows how to grab the reader and immerse them in the story. You find yourself out of breath or holding your breath until the very end. This is not a book you will be able to put down!!

Fun! Suspenseful and twisted! I enjoyed this story and was genuinely surprised by the end. I wasn't sure where it was going until I was there.

Harper Reed is a recently widowed author looking for love on a few dating apps. Trying to move on from her husband's death was difficult, made even harder by the fact that he was found deceased with her best friend in the car, carrying out what she assumed was an affair.

What is really going on here? There were definitely some dark moments in this book. 100% recommend! For fans of Freida McFadden and Kiersten Modglin will love this title! Especially if you're looking for something a tad darker.

I don’t think it’s possible for Keri Beevis to write a novel I won’t immediately consume and love!

This one instantly hooked me and kept me glued to the book until the very last word.

I feel this one has a very unique storyline, unlike her other works, showing Beevis’ desire to evolve and grow as a writer.

This was darkly atmospheric, enthralling, and creepy! I was so thankful my husband was reading in bed at the same time I was when I got to the doorbell scene - so delightfully creepy!

Anyone who enjoys thrillers needs to check this out! And if you haven’t already binged ALL books from Keri Beevis as I have, I recommend you do so immediately!

3.5 stars

The Cottage By The Sea by Keri Beevis is a mystery about a woman who loses her husband in a car accident, and tries to move on using a dating app.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Boldwood Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 
My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It's been two years since Harper's husband Charlie and her best friend Ashley were both killed in a car accident.  Since then, Harper has been struggling to move on, her grief overwhelming, and her bitterness toward Ashley's relationship with her husband traumatizing.

When a friend insists it is time to move on, Harper joins a dating app.  She has a lot to learn, and quickly meets some strange and dangerous characters.  She also meets Luke, although not through the app, who she thinks may be "the one".  However. when strange things start happening, her paranoia doesn't allow her to trust anyone.

Her paranoia may be well-founded.  She has been finding out a whole lot more about her deceased husband than she ever knew....and none of it good!


My Opinions:
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the book.  When I realized it was about a dating app (ie romance), I was not looking forward to it.  However, it turned out to be more mystery than romance.  A little more suspense would have been nice.

I didn't particularly like Harper, as I felt she made some really stupid decisions, and everyone kept secrets.  It was annoying.  Apparently she had no "survival" instincts, because she was so paranoid.  However, the actual plot was very good, and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing.  The story is told from both Harper's perspective, and that of the stalker/sadist.

My main issue with this book was the pace.  It moved really, really, really slow!  I felt like I was reading for weeks, and it definitely took away from the plot/suspense.  However, it did pick up eventually (maybe the last 25%).

Anyway, it wasn't a bad book, but it could have been better.

The first thing I thought while reading this was, wow the main character truly has terrible luck with men. Some of their behavior was so shocking. This was an easy-to-read thriller that truly had so many twists and turns, at times I felt it was slightly unrealistic. Towards the end, the author did a great job tying things together. I loved the addition of her rescue dog, Bailey, and I was so thankful she was unharmed during the entire book.

I have always enjoyed Keri Beevis books, and while this one was not my favorite, it definitely had a great creepy factor that is consistent throughout all of her work.
 
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own

Review posted on Goodreads