The Cottage by the Sea by Keri Beevis was so good!! It reminded me a little of Pretty Girls. If you like psychological thrillers, suspense, multiple POV’s, dark/twisted and mystery then you will love this book.

It has been two years since Harper lost her husband Charlie and best friend in the same day. So she is not just dealing with the loss of the two people closest to her she is also dealing with their betrayal. She at the urging of her friend decides to join a dating app, which turns into a nightmare for her. After deciding it’s time to let Charlie go and clean out his stuff, she uncovers secrets and darker side of him she never knew.

This is my first Beevis book and it will definitely not be my last. She wrote a great storyline and plot that kept me hooked trying to figure out who Harper could trust and who she couldn’t. She did a great job with the characters, even her cute rescue dog Bailey. Reading her stalkers chapters were so creepy, he was so creepy. I love that Harper didn’t just take whatever was thrown at her and fought every step of the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and could not put it down. I thought I had it figured out but I was way off. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for letting me read the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Harper’s husband was killed two years ago and she has struggled to come to terms with this since. Knowing she needs to move on she signs up to a dating site, Into You. Soon strange things begin to happen. Has she exposed herself too much online and attracted the wrong kind of attention?

I can’t believe this is my first Keri Beevis book! I have really been missing out. This was a fantastic thriller with an interesting storyline and very dark, scary undertones. I enjoyed the online dating part and discovering who she would meet. With quite a few characters I never knew who to trust. The main character was written well and I could really feel her emotions coming across.

There is plenty of mystery and lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Although it took a while for me to get fully into the story, by about the half way mark I was gripped and could not put this down. I could really feel the terrifying atmosphere and suspense. Even though I sort of guessed the main twist, this did not impact my enjoyment of the overall story. A great thriller and an author I will definitely be adding to my must read list. 4.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Harper has had a string of bad luck in her love life. After becoming a widow two years ago, she decides to put herself back out there and meet new people.

However, along the way, she encounters some interesting characters who ultimately betray her, catfish her, and lie to her. And as if that wasn't enough, it seems like Harper also has a stalker.

The beginning may have been slow, but the build-up of suspense kept me hooked until the end. I thought I knew how it would end, but boy was I mistaken. This was an enjoyable and suspenseful read, and I'm glad I didn't let the slow start discourage me from finishing the book.

The unexpected twists were shocking and made for an exciting ending that I loved.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free copy of the book.

The story is initially one that many people have experienced - that of dating websites and how many folk are not how they portray themselves. Add to this Harper has been widowed and suspects that her husband had been having an affair with her friend who also died, she is highly vulnerable to begin with. Then we are given "the baddie" and the story is written in such a way that you are not too sure if the person is male or female, in my opinion! Plenty of twists and turns with some gruesome scenes too, this is another winner from Keri and a great page turner.

Thanks to Netgalley/Boldwood books for the ARC to review.

WOW! First of all, I'd like to say that I'm a Keri Beevis fan. All of her novels are amazing. BUT this one is the icing on the cake! Have you ever driven on a mountain road? It has tons of huge curves and switchbacks, and if you are going fast, it can be pretty scary! This is what The Cottage By the Sea is like! You could never ever guess the end. Not in a million years! This book kept me up many nights, as I turned the pages faster and faster. Thank you so much, Ms. Beevis! This one is your best, for sure!

It is an addictive, emotional and intense psychological suspense that draws you into Harper's life from the beginning and keeps you guessing. Atmospheric and emotional, it is a tale that becomes darker as it unfolds. It has a contemporary ethos and explores the pitfalls of online dating, predators and secrets. The author's clever plot and the reader's deepening connection with Harper give this a compelling uniqueness. There are parts which I found disturbing, but they were necessary to increase the suspense and tension. The story hides its secrets well with many credible suspects, especially as Harper becomes an increasingly unreliable narrator. I like the twisty plot, the gradual reveal of dark and dangerous secrets and the story's intensity and suspensefulness.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

O. W.O.W what a breathtakingly brilliant read. This had me gripped right from the start, it had me chasing my tail to try and figure out what would happen next, and just as I thought I had it figured out WHAM something else happened.. lots of twists in this book, it really is fantastic and in my opinion a must read

What a great suspense story! The first half started out slow and I wasn't sure where the storyline and characters were leading to., but then the story took off! The author kept me guessing who the bad guy was until the end. Loved this book. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

The Cottage by the Sea by Keri Beevis is a fantastic book! A super intense, insanely addictive page turner.

Keri Beevis does it again, what a cracking read, well written and one of those stories that keeps you guessing right to the end. At some points I did want to give our leading lady a bloody good shake. A great twist that I maybe should have seen coming but didn't.

Keri Beevis's books always managed to captivate me and this one was no different, I felt drawn into the danger right away and just and to keep reading to find out more.

Another brilliant book from Keri Beevis.
I love that Keri’s books are set in Norfolk as this is where I live, and I can visualise the places she mentions.
I also get a mention in the acknowledgments in this book too for coming up with name of the pub in the book.
Anyway, I need to tell you this is a brilliant psychological thriller but it will put you off using a dating app!
Harper is feeling traumatised after the sudden death of her husband, but after two years, she knows she needs to move on with her life.
I won’t say too much about the men she meets via the dating site, but she soon realises this isn’t for her.
Harper wants to move on with her life but someone is watching her every move and soon things take a sinister turn.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that I’d highly recommend.
Thanks to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow ! Wow ! This was one fantastic read that had me literally stuck to my kindle until I was finished . It’s been a while since a book held me so enthralled that I didn’t want it to end. It’s an utterly gripping psychological thriller that had me on the edge of my seat on many occasions . My head was in a complete whirl trying to figure out who the culprit was and I kept on changing my mind as to who it could be . I love when a book gets into my head like this one did . Keri Beevis has yet again come up trump with another binge worthy read packed with suspense and intrigue.

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This captivating and dark thriller follows author Harper who is still trying to find a new life after her husband’s death in an accident.

Her friend persuades her to sign up to a dating site, so reluctantly she steps out of her comfort zone and soon finds herself on a few dates. With a few disastrous dates she starts to feel as if that may not be the way to find a new partner, maybe building on a new friendship instead.

When creepy and unusual occurrences start in her house, she is unsure if someone is targeting her and watching her. When she uncovers secrets in her husband’s past, she becomes even more frightened.

Is someone watching Harper? Who can Harper trust?

This thriller is dark, creepy and is also captivating, so much so that I read the whole book in a day as I couldn’t put it down.

Throughout you are wondering along with Harper who could be behind the creepy occurrences, and this builds the tension to who it could be.

With plenty of secrets for Harper to uncover and the scary world of online dating there is plenty to captivate you when reading.

Overall, a dark captivating thriller where a woman’s attempt at starting a new life leads to a frightening mystery with secrets to uncover.

Absolutely brilliant book!!!!! So full of suspense. The characters are so well written I literally didn't know who was trustworthy and who wasn't. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Holy moly! What a roller coaster ride of emotions! This is my favorite Keri Beevis book yet. It is crazy, twisty, sick, full of feelings, and everyone is suspicious.

Harper Reed, a 37 year old romance novelist, is still trying to find her footing after her husband died in a car accident 2 years ago. As she gains the courage and strength to move on from her grief, Harper is timid and cautious. The secrets and lies from her past make her apprehensive about cultivating new relationships and trusting those around her. And she has a right to be careful. There are some nutty people out there.

The Cottage by the Sea has genuine friendships, happiness, grief, secrets, lies, romance, violence, anxiety, horror, and many twists and turns. There is a lot happening, and Beevis lays it all out very clearly. I couldn’t put it down. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5! Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC.

Yet another excellent book by this author. What I will say about her is never go into a maze with her as she will constantly lead you down a blind passageway, and loving doing so, before getting you through the maze. In this book she constantly leads you down blind alleys in pursuit of the right perpetrator.
Harper, an author of romance novels, was widowed some two years previous when her husband was killed in a car crash alongside one of her close friends. Since then she has lived the life of a recluse believing her husband had been cheating on her with her best friend and the shame of that. Persuaded to join a dating agency to get her life back on track, Harper enrols in an allegedly reputable site with some scepticism not thinking anything will come of it. What does come out of it is a whole lot more than she could ever have bargained for!
A psychological thriller of a very high standard and one that keeps you guessing throughout as to who is genuine and who is far from it.
A worthy 5 star read.

The Cottage by the Sea by Keri Beevis

Keri Beevis will have readers consumed in a world of lies and terror. Harper is a woman riddled with grief over the death of her husband and friend in a car crash. The circumstances behind their deaths have ingrained disdain in Harper's mind. Infidelity? Backstabbing? All the intrinsic ingredients are needed to invoke feelings from the reader.

Harper has decided to move on. She tries her luck on a dating app and sifts through the suitors. After matching with a few gentlemen, she chooses a local pub as a safe place to meet them. While none of the dates offer much chance of a lasting relationship, out of the blue, a real-world activity stirs up someone who seems like a soulmate. Prompting her to get rid of her ex-husband's belongings for good, Harper finds out some hard truths about her deceased ex. Questioning if she knew him at all, she discovered a key. A key to what? The answer to that question will open a myriad of unthinkable horror.

I floated in a large body of water. Wondering what might be lurking below me, I shuddered at the thought. I experienced that all-consuming fear of the unknown. In a similar experience, the book teased me to put myself in Harper's shoes. How would I react? The simple answer would be to walk away. However, the beauty of humanity is to prod and question to reveal the truth within. Like a ball made of hundreds of rubber bands, the story unfolds, layer by gut-wrenching layer. Until the revelation, seemingly so elementary yet provoking you to rewind your brainwaves to recall the sequences of events.

With a resounding exhalation of my breath, I can rest easy. The novel provided me with a noteworthy amount of satisfaction. Crisp in its execution, the tale was easy to consume. It struck the right balance of horror and romanticism. I give this 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books for the ARC through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

The Cottage by the Sea is a psychological thriller that dives into the dark side of online dating and buried secrets. After losing her husband and best friend in a car accident, Harper is left with suspicions of their affair and struggles to move on. Urged by a friend, she joins a dating site to rebuild her life. But what begins as an innocent search for connection quickly turns sinister as she finds herself drawn into a web of deception and danger.

The author skillfully weaves tension and suspense, keeping readers guessing with twists and revelations that challenge Harper’s understanding of those she thought she knew. This fast-paced thriller is a gripping exploration of hidden motives, online anonymity, and the unsettling question of how well we truly know our loved ones. Perfect for fans of twisty, psychological tales.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story had me hooked from the beginning. You couldn’t tell which way it was going to go.

After her husband died, Harper is trying to slowly start living her life. Her friend Megan suggests she signs up to an online dating site. As she goes on dates, and starts to clear some of her husbands stuff, she realises that he had some secrets that he’d kept hidden from her.

The story keeps you trying to work out how it will end.

It was very well-written.

I highly recommend this book.