I was intrigued by the description of this Swedish thriller about a young man reconnecting with his estranged father, but unfortunately this story left me feeling unsatisfied and irritated for having picked it. As a woman in my thirties, I would say this story would maybe appeal to older men or anyone that doesn't mind that the female side characters mostly consume drinks, make small talk and have their bodies and outfits described in great detail...

While I enjoyed some of the atmospheric description of the island of Gotland and learning a bit about Swedish culture, so much of the book felt directionless, boring and unnecessary. So much of this book is spent eating, drinking and traveling. The Riga sex party scene made me want to gouge my eyes out. I suspect some of my irritation was also due to the awkwardness of reading a book that's either translated or written by someone whose first language is not English because the writing felt off to me (mostly very basic with occasional strange word choice thrown in, like the word 'buttocks' that is used repeatedly by our main character who is a 26-year-old man).

Our main character has a lot of trauma from losing his mom and sister in a fire when he was six years old and I did like the slow reveals of learning what really happened to him, but I was constantly confused by the unannounced jumps into the future with the psychologist that come and go with no chapter or format change.

When we finally get to the climax, it's extremely short and could have been mined for more emotion and impact. There are some 'reveals' and a 'twist' that I had somewhat followed the breadcrumbs to figuring out on my own.

I really wish I could’ve seen the cover to this when I was reading it just so I can picture the people in my head. Harlequin romance is never miss.

I read this in one day!! Really good book. Almost a 5 star. Thanks to NetGalley for letting read this in exchange for an honest review!!

I loved Ulf Kvensler's "The Couples Trip" so was thrilled to receive this ARC. "My Father's House" is a suspenseful psychological thriller that kept me engaged until the last page. Recommended for fans of Kvensler, readers who love psychological suspense and family dynamics. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. Pub Date: August 5, 2025

#MyFather'sHouse

Another chilling and suspenseful thriller from acclaimed Swedish author Ulf Kvensler (The Couple's Trip), My Father's House takes readers on a haunting journey into a world full of secrets, lies, and psychological torment.

The story follows Isak, a man haunted by a dark and painful past. His estranged father, an incredibly wealthy and mysterious artist, has reached out for the first time in years—since a tragic and suspicious fire claimed the lives of Isak’s mother and sister. Now, his father claims to be dying and asks to see Isak one last time. Torn between his anger and curiosity, and against his better judgment, Isak agrees to visit the remote island estate where his father now resides.

What begins as a reluctant family reunion quickly unravels into a nightmarish ordeal. The isolated island is steeped in an unsettling atmosphere, and Isak soon finds himself entangled in a twisted, psychological maze. . Trust becomes a fragile and dangerous thing as Isak realizes that nothing—and no one—on the island is as it seems. He must navigate a treacherous game of manipulation, where his very survival is at stake, and uncover the truth about his family's past before it consumes him entirely.

Ulf Kvensler weaves a masterful tale of suspense and paranoia. My Father's House is a must-read for anyone who loves a dark, gothic and atmospheric thriller.

#harlequintrade #hanoversquare #myfathershouse #ulfkvensler

This was a thrilling book to read, I think it was nicely paced and well thought out, you can truely feel what the MC is feeling.

Isak grew up with his grandparents, and his father has not been a figure in his life since a tragedy destroyed his childhood. Isak lives a mostly content life now. He enjoys his job, loves his girlfriend, Maddie, and is still close to his grandfather. A phone call from his father will change all of that.
Fredrik is dying and wants to see his son before it is too late. Dubious of anything that involves his father, he agrees to visit him, bringing Maddie along for support. Frederik is a world-famous artist and lives a life with every luxury imaginable. As he introduces Isak to his idea of the finer things, Isak starts to doubt himself and everything he has believed for his entire life. Unable to decide if he has been manipulated by his grandfather, or if it is his father, who is the master manipulator. Things turn dark very very quickly.
The only difficulty I had reading this book, was that there were no chapters. It is all told from Isak’s perspective, but in two different timelines. One, for the majority of the story is the time he is now spending with his father. Occasionally though, the story would just change to him being somewhere (no spoilers) that let you know things had gone very wrong. The first time it happened, I thought I had inadvertently opened the wrong book on my Kindle. Nope, and I was better prepared for the next shift in perspective. Of course, this might change by publication date since I only read a DRC. If not, though, just be prepared.
No matter, I was hooked from the beginning, and though I might have wished for a slightly different ending, I still enjoyed every unexpected twist and turn.4.5 stars.