Sarah Bailey’s suspense thriller The Housemate is told from the POV of Olive Groves, an investigative journalist in Melbourne. She worked on The Housemates Homicide nine years before and it was labelled that by the papers. It took me time to really get into this book and I didn’t love all the characters. Once it got its groove the story became more captivating


Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, I’d like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for sending me this stunning work of fiction.

Even though I'm a diverse reader and read 'a bit of everything', I've read my fair share of mysteries and thrillers. Even though there are many options to go through, The Housemate has something I rarely find in a book - stone cold realism and raw emotions. It's easy to find oneself barraged by a sea of fluff, metaphors and indirect commentary and that's why finding a book like this one is so precious.

Alongside the main character, Olive Groves, multiple others are laid bare with their emotions and traumas to be seen and analyzed by us, the readers. The way The Housemate is written is extremely easy to read and I partially attribute it to how human it all sounds. Every struggle, pain, joy, obstacle and regret is none other than human. And in a way, despite being relatable, the characters' actions can almost be understood.

What I found commendable about Bailey's work is that she identifies where the old and the new blend together and addresses this blurry line in a very attractive way. This is done when talking about the theme of investigative journalism and the media as a whole, as it evolves and transforms into something more digital - something more easily consumed. I thoroughly enjoyed Olive's inner monologues about the significance of this evolution alongside her investigation of what really happened that one fateful night ten years ago. It was a greatly appreciated detail that shouldn't be overlooked.

Overall, this was a book I devoured. It wasn't to be eaten course by course, it was to be consumed as a whole - a raw compendium of all that's flawed and complicated, in other words, all that's human. I believe it was a physical manifestation of what it means to exist. Nothing's black or white but rather, everyone lives in a sea of gray. This was a riveting journey and one I can only recommend to fellow readers.

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey is a suspenseful thriller novel that blends journalism and psychological suspense. This book will definitely keep you hooked from the very beginning.

Almost ten years ago journalist Olive (Oli) Groves was able to get on the scene of the infamous Housemate Homicide where one housemate was dead, one went missing and one was arrested for the murder. Now nearly a decade later when the missing housemate is found, Oli is once again thrust into the shocking case. Teamed up with Cooper Ng, a millennial podcaster, Oli is determined to get to the bottom of what really happened all those years ago. But the more Oli and Cooper dig into this mystery the more secrets come to light.

This was definitely an intriguing novel! I really liked the contrast between Cooper and Oli especially. From the beginning of this novel I was engaged and interested in piecing together the clues right alongside with Oli and Cooper. With a plot that is jam-packed with tension, suspense and twists and turns The Housemate is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Bailey, and Datura Books for this ARC. Publication day is February 25th 2025.

This book kept my attention all the way through, it had so much intensity and suspense running throughout that kept me drawn to it.

The Housemate is an intriguing, complex mystery with an assortment of likable and detestable characters. Ten years ago, journalist Oli was sent to a crime scene on Paradise Street where three friends lived in an ordinary townhouse. That morning, one friend was discovered brutally murdered, another was missing, and the third was hauled away in handcuffs. In the present, the missing friend is finally found - dead. Oli is once again put on this story; however, this time, she is partnered with the energetic and ambitious podcaster, Cooper. Will they finally be able to solve the case and discover what truly happened between the friends all those year ago?

I finished The Housemate with mixed feelings. I found the book to be well-written with interesting, morally gray characters. The author does a good job of portraying the changing atmosphere of media today and the conflicting attitudes towards journalism and reporting. I absolutely loved Cooper! He was by far my favorite character. Oli was an excellent unreliable narrator, as was Alex. What I did not overly enjoy was the overall mystery. I felt that there were too many pieces the author was trying to force together. Between the mystery of the housemates, the Premier, the missing child, the murder of the wife, and the campus corruption - it was all just too much. By the end, I was having a difficult time remembering how everything and everyone related to the story. Then, to add to all of that, there was Oli's love life that we were following. Overall, I found The Housemate to be a decent thriller with some unexpected twists.

This was a very run of the mill thriller/mystery book. Nothing great stood out to me, but it wasn't bad either. If you are wanting a good but that is a normal thriller then this is what I recommend.

The Housemate is a dual POV suspenseful thriller that had many twists and turns that was very entertaining to read. The story is told in the present by Olive (Oli) POV and the past by Alex’s POV. I understand that in order to get the full picture both timelines are necessary but the dual POV got a bit confusing at times when I had my Kindle reading it to me (making it an audiobook basically) but I enjoyed looking at the story from both characters.

I enjoy crime shows and podcasts so I really appreciated that this story was from a journalists perspective which was a nice change from the usual law enforcement POV. Merging old school journalism (print) with new journalism (podcasts) was brilliant. I think it made the story fresh and current with the times. There were many whodunnit theories throughout but in the end I was completely wrong on who the killer was. The only con for me was there was too many characters to keep track of. I had a hard time following some parts and had to go back and reread some parts to understand what was going on. Overall, I would read another Sarah Bailey book in a heartbeat. Check out this book if you enjoy reading Freida McFadden or Lisa Jewell.

Thank you to NetGalley and DATURA BOOKS for the gifted E-ARC. All opinions are all my own.

I want to say so much but it all feels like it'd be a spoiler. At no point did I know where this going to end up and I don't want to use the word 'satisfying' here because I felt ill about it, but the way everything fell together was really well done. Really well written and I loved Oli, our main narrator. It really feels like you're at the front of an ongoing investigation, everything happening so fast, clawing to find out more. And Cooper, oh - I loved Cooper. Sweet Cooper. Their dynamic was the best, by far.

I really, really enjoyed this and am on my way to add more from this author to my tbr immediately.

I’m still on the fence on thrillers using a podcast scenario to help solve a crime and this one fell into my undecided pile. I did think Oli & Cooper made an original partnership but unfortunately I didn’t feel any great liking of either of them.
A deserved three stars this time.

Sarah Bailey’s The Housemate is a gripping, intricately woven thriller that masterfully blends crime, journalism, and psychological suspense. Known for her Gemma Woodstock series, Bailey proves once again that she’s a master of the genre, crafting a narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

At the heart of the novel is Olive Groves, a seasoned Melbourne journalist who once covered the infamous Housemate Homicide—a case that left one housemate dead, another missing, and the third accused of murder. Nearly a decade later, the case takes an unexpected turn when the missing housemate turns up dead, forcing Olive back into the mystery alongside the ambitious young podcaster Cooper Ng. As the two dig deeper, long-buried secrets resurface, placing Olive’s personal and professional life in jeopardy.

Bailey’s storytelling is rich with tension and atmosphere, balancing a compelling crime mystery with a deep exploration of Olive’s past traumas and emotional struggles. The dynamic between Olive and Cooper adds an intriguing layer, contrasting old-school investigative journalism with the rise of true-crime podcasting. The novel also delves into themes of media ethics, personal bias, and the cost of relentless pursuit of the truth.

With sharp twists, complex characters, and a plot that steadily unravels in unexpected ways, The Housemate is a must-read for fans of crime fiction. Bailey delivers a suspenseful, thought-provoking novel that lingers long after the final page, proving that some mysteries are never truly solved.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Datura for gifting me a digital ARC of this mystery by Sarah Bailey. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

Three housemates. One dead, one missing and one accused of murder. Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade. Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Oli is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng. What really happened to the housemates that night?

This was an intriguing mystery, with the murder taking place years ago but suddenly thrust back into the present time. I loved Cooper’s character, and he was a good contrast to Oli’s more traditional journalistic style. Oli was an interesting character as well – she’s engaged to a wealthy man from her past whose wife was killed, leaving him to raise their twin daughters. But is he hiding something from Oli?

Australia set mystery by a new author for me, in 2005 Evelyn was murdered and one of her housemates Alex was charged and sentenced to the crime. It’s almost the 10th anniversary and the other housemate Nicole from back then has been found hanging from a tree. Nicole disappeared the same night Evelyn was murdered and it was speculated that Alex also murdered her. But then questions arise if the body is really Nicole.

As a young journalist Oli was at the scene reporting on the ‘Housemate Homicide’ and now finds herself ten years on working on this new death that seems linked to what happened in 2005. She is coupled up with a young journalist - Cooper, which she isn’t impressed about but their relationship was interesting and grew throughout the story. They embark on launching a true crime podcast and their discovery’s lead them down dark paths.

Oli’s relationship with partner Dean is also part of the story and I found that was interesting and worked well within the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for my eARC in exchange for my honest review

This was a bit confusing to get through but overall the story was amazing. I love Sarah Bailey works, I love the Gemma series better. but a must to read if you love a good detective mystery thriller with lots of caracters POV.

Sarah Bailey delivers an engrossing suspense novel with The Housemate, a gripping mystery filled with secrets, twists, and intrigue. From the very beginning, the novel keeps readers engaged as they attempt to piece together the truth alongside the characters.

The story unfolds with a well-crafted sense of tension, making it both a compelling read and a satisfying puzzle to solve. While the plot is rich with unexpected turns, there are moments where deeper character development—particularly for the main characters—would have added even more emotional depth to the narrative.

Nonetheless, Bailey’s writing is sharp, and the atmosphere she creates enhances the suspense, making The Housemate an engaging read for fans of psychological thrillers. With its layered mystery and well-executed twists, this novel is sure to keep readers hooked until the very end.

EXCERPT: Oli comes to an abrupt halt. Through the trees she spies the distinctive blue-and-white chequered police tape and, beyond that, a cluster of people. Two cops in uniform and two male detectives in suits and winter coats stand a little further along.
'Bowman.' Cooper points to the right of the group, where Gregory Bowman's white hair glows through the trees.
Oli's pulse picks up again. She ducks down and creeps further along the fence.
'Where are you going?' Cooper whispers.
She doesn't reply but keeps moving parallel to Bowman. He's homing in on something. She starts to jog, still bent at the middle. Not far from Bowman there's a blur of white: forensic technicians clad in body suits. She trips on a tree root and stumbles against the flimsy wire fence.
Bowman has stopped. Two of the techs are on their hands and knees a few metres from him, crouched over a synthetic sheet, but his face is fixed skyward. Oli knows what she is about to see.
She closes her eyes, opens them. Allows her gaze to scan up.

ABOUT 'THE HOUSEMATE': Three housemates.
One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.

Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade.

Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Oli is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.

As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.

What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli's relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?

MY THOUGHTS: The Housemates is a well-crafted tightly plotted Australian crime thriller in which the main character is journalist Olive Groves. Oli is dogged, determined but also slightly fanatical, and sometimes more than a little unbalanced. I often didn't like the way she treated Cooper Ng, the assistant she has thrust on her. Cooper is bright, enthusiastic, innovative and looks to the future. When Oli manages to climb down from her high horse and acknowledge Cooper's input, they work well together.

The story is told over two timelines - now (2015) and then, ten years earlier. Between numerous red herrings and the concurrently running threads of Oli's crumbling home life, the newspaper being under threat, and a state premier being charged with historical sex offences, there's a lot going on and it is easy to become distracted from the main storyline.

The denouement is a stunner and took me quite by surprise. Kudos to Sarah Bailey.

However, I do feel that the book blurb gives away too much. A less revealing rewrite would be a plus.

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey is due for publication February 25th, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#TheHousemate #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner, three children and cat.

Sarah is currently working on ​her next novel.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Datura Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Housemate by Sarah Bailey for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

One dead.
One missing.
One accused of murder.

Nobody knows what happened in that house between the three housemates, but when another turns up dead years later, Olive is reassigned to the story. Having been pulled in by the previous case as a junior reported years ago, she finds herself entangled in the case yet again. Can she uncover the truth?

It look me a while longer to get into this book than I thought it would, however once it got going there were points I enjoyed. I loved that there were lots of twists and turns throughout, however in this case the third person narrative got a bit confusing to me with so many different characters involved!

I loved this story so much with the dual POV and timeline and the case was one that was easy to follow but still had some great twists and reveals. I felt like this was one that really kept my interest the whole time! It would definitely have been a 5 star read for me but I did feel as though it could have been just a little bit shorter (around 50-100 pages shorter) and sometimes this caused it to feel like it was lagging or taking too long to get from one point to the other.

Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Bailey and Datura | Datura Books for the eArc of The Housemate.

The Housemate is a medium paced mystery/ thriller with some psychological elements throughout the narrative of this book. Oli, a journalist and a podcaster, Cooper investigate a cold case of three housemates, one murdered, one missing and one accused. When the missing housemate turns up dead, Oli and Cooper try to put the pieces together.

I did enjoy this book and the pacing, character building all seem to flow very well. It didn't grab me like most thrillers but there was enough interest for me to carry on reading. The Housemate does have some nice foreshadowing as the story unfolds and I enjoyed the ending. Not the best book but definitely not the worst. I will be seeking out more of Sarah Baileys books in the future though.

3 stars

Once again, I need to check Goodreads to see if a book is really New or just Rereleased years after the initial release with a fancy new cover.

This has become a problem on Netgalley because no where on the blurb provided does it say it was published in 2021. It just says "A new stand-alone thriller"

The book was your cookie cutter thriller. Woman searches for killer while battling her own demons.

I don't think it'll be enough to get me to look into more of Sarah Bailey.

This is my second Sarah Bailey novel and she again has written an amazing, twisty, engaging thriller with a unique plot.
In 2005, Oli Groves, an investigative journalist in Australia, wrote a story about a Melbourne homicide involving three housemates. Jump forward 10 years and there is new “evidence” so Oli teams up with Cooper Ng on a new podcast series.
As Oli and Cooper find new clues during their search, dark secrets are discovered and the unimaginable happens…
The characters are well-developed, each bringing their own backgrounds and motivations, which adds layers to the narrative. I just loved Oli and Cooper!
The author’s writing is sharp and engaging, effectively establishing a sense of atmosphere that kept me on edge the entire time.
She skillfully weaves suspense into every situation, making the entire story relatable yet intensely gripping. I was captivated until the last page.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.