Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Alice fears for her life and the lives of her 2 boys as her husband has tried to kill her. She makes a plan and finally leaves her old life, changes her name and goes to live in a house she inherited from her late uncle. The house they move to also has a reputation of it's own and her late uncle was not a very well like man. Can she keep a low profile and stay hidden in this small town to protect her boys. Her new life is as Emma and she slowly makes friends with one of her sons teachers Carla but is she in an abusive relationship too as she seems to show the same signs. As Emma starts to get the boys settled in school, someone is leaving notes inside her house, how did they get in and did her husband find them? Emma meets Wyatt when she goes to buy a gun for protection, turns out he is a local cop and he offers to take her to the shooting range to teach her to fire the gun. Having a cop as a friend may be the perfect person in Emma's life as she is going to need the protection.....Enjoy!!!

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A really good listen that kept my attention and wanting me to listen more to see how the story would play out.

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Beneath These Walls by Shade Owens was right up my street. It had that slow build I like, with just enough mystery to keep me turning the pages. The atmosphere was tense, a bit eerie at times, which I loved. It wasn’t too gory or complicated—just a solid, twisty read with real emotional pull. I connected with the characters, especially the mum, and found myself rooting for them. The ending went a little wild for me, but honestly, it didn’t ruin it. If you like thrillers that feel grounded but still give you that edge-of-your-seat feeling, this one’s worth picking up.

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I read this a while back but I love a good audiobook. It can be like a different story depending on the narrator. This narrator was perfect for the role!
This is absolutely crazy.
I did gag when they found the thing in the tunnel. It was perfect.

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“Beneath These Walls” by Shade Owens is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. The story follows a mother and her sons as they escape a traumatic past, only to find themselves entangled in a web of suspense and danger in their new home. The twists were unexpected and thrilling, making the ending both satisfying and surprising. There were moments when I genuinely feared for the main character’s life, which added to the tension. Overall, it’s a compelling read with a strong narrative that explores themes of resilience and survival. Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful thrillers.

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Thank you NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for allowing me to listen to this book prior to release in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars! This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The main character has you questioning reality versus paranoia. The relationships past and present leave everyone as a suspect. No one is safe. Check your trigger warnings as abuse and narcisstic behavior is very prevalent.

My ONLY complaint is that the ending just fell a little flat for me. Overall though, another fantastic read by Shade Owens. Highly recommend this author for psychological or domestic thriller novels!

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This was a fantastic book full of twists and turns. If you are a fan of thrillers, this is for yo. I couldn't wait to get back to th story every hand I got. I will be recommending it to all of my fellow book lovers. Get ready for a great ride!

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This is a battered woman 101 class. The author creates a character with all the missed signs that this was happening to her until the actual physical abuse starts. She overlooks the gradual controlling tactics, the slow isolation of friends and family, the disparaging remarks and she actually starts to believe that's really who she is. As is often the case, Alice, our character, believes the man she loved is still in there when the occasional generous act or remark happens.

Alice shows how hard it is to get out of the situation: it may require an instantaneous decision and the importance of knowing where to get help when you hit the limit. How to change your name, how you have to leave everything and everyone you loved in the dark because you fled, how your kids react. It's all here.

This story had an interesting twist that offered her a golden opportunity. She inherited the estate of a distant uncle that would set her financially secure but this house comes with its history as well, and that when the real murder mystery part of the book starts and her new improved life is now in jeopardy as well.

It's a life of constantly looking over your shoulder waiting to be found out, being afraid of every strange look or phone call, of ever trusting a man again and most of all shows how to regain your own personal strength from what you've experienced.

The narrator provided many voices to tell the story and provide the reader with the mental image to go with the voice.

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Breathtakingly Suspenseful and Utterly Compelling.
I loved this tale that is so well written the characters are brought to life, intriguing with the turn of each page and shocking chapters FULL of chills and thrills you gasp for breath.
Terrifying with a reality that fills you with dread and emotions that fill you with hope.
I highly recommend this book for ALL fans of the genre and it more than deserves Five Stars.
The audio version is exquisitely read.
Do Not Hesitate if you love a thriller that keeps you begging for more.

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When Alice escapes her abusive husband, taking her two young sons with her, she thinks all her prayers have been answered when she inherits a large Victorian mansion in small town America. Soon her new life is shattered with the discovery of a body in the basement.

Told through flash backlash to the domestic violence, Alice becomes increasingly paranoid of everyone around her and their intentions. I listened to this in audio book and found Alice to be just a little too annoying that I didn’t really like her as the main character. It was an ok book but nothing to get too excited about.

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Thank you Red Raven Publishing for sharing an ARC for review consideration.

“Beneath These Walls” is mystery/thriller that will keep you guessing. It has lots of twists and turns, perfect for those who like to be kept on the edge of their seats, and an ending I definitely didn’t see coming. I appreciated that it builds on the very real and terrifying theme that is domestic violence, and the lengths that people will go to in order to control their victims. Just when I was sure I knew where the book was going, it gave me whiplash with more unexpected surprises! A great read.

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Incredible job by both the author and the narrator. I resonated so much with this story. The author did a fantastic job telling a story about domestic violence without glamorizing it. From believing things will change, making excuses, and questioning one's sanity the author gave us all the stages. I look forward to reading more by her.

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Shade Owens delivers a gripping and immersive thriller in Beneath These Walls, a novel that masterfully blends suspense with psychological tension. From the very first page, the sense of unease is palpable, as the protagonist constantly feels the unsettling presence of being watched. Owens’ writing pulls the reader into this paranoia, creating an atmosphere so vivid that it feels as though you, too, are part of the story.

The novel’s pacing keeps the tension high, leading to a twist that is both unexpected and highly satisfying. This revelation not only adds depth to the narrative but elevates the entire reading experience. The unpredictability of the plot keeps readers engaged, making it difficult to put the book down.

With compelling storytelling and a well-executed twist, Beneath These Walls is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. Owens crafts an absorbing tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page, proving once again the power of a well-told suspense story.

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This books narrator was great and you felt the fmc anxiety, and stress. The twist at the end you never see coming. The fmc goes into hidong from her ex husband with her 2 kids in an old victorian house she inherits from a distance uncle. Shortly after weird stuff happens... this book was heavy on dv talk .

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🎧The description of this book sounded very appealing to me. But it turned out to be largely about domestic abuse. I had a hard time hearing what transpired between Alice and James.

Alice ran away from James, her abusive husband, and took their two boys with her. She had recently inherited a mansion from her uncle, whom the family had thought was already dead years prior. After moving into the mansion, in a small town, Alice (although she changed her name to Emma) discovered it wasn’t going to be easy escaping her past. Shortly after arriving, her son found a secret space under the house, and a dead body.

I wish there was more mystery included around the house and her reclusive uncle, but it was primarily focused on Alice always bring afraid.

Thank you to NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for this advanced audiobook copy.

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Beneath These Walls by Shade Owens and narrated by Amanda Davidson was an excellent audiobook from start to finish especially as it had creepy vibes that just wanting more. . . . .

Six months ago, my husband tried to kill me.

"I need more!!! I need to turn my phone off and listen to this audiobook! WoW! "

The main character and her her sons are living in an old Victorian house which was passed down to her by my uncle. The house may be big, but the town is small... but, it's safe, which is something she hasn't felt in a very long time. And best of all, it's very far away from her ex.

But, as soon as they move in, she discovers that this house has an eerie reputation, and rumor has it her uncle was a mysterious man accused of atrocious things, which is drawing a lot of unwanted attention our way.

"WoW! This is so good!"

The very last thing they all need, is attention; they all need to stay invisible if we want to stay alive.

But how can they remain invisible when things keep happening in this house?

She means strange things. Horrific things that has the whole town watching. But, who else is watching them?
Maybe, even her ex husband!. They were supposed to be safe here, but it's becoming glaringly apparent to them all, that we're in real danger.

This book was excellent! I loved it!

Amanda Davidson the narrator was fantastic she just bought the story to life with every word she read.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for my ARC.

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What a crazy book! But, beware!!
**** It’s pretty heavy duty on Domestic Abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, etc… ****
So, if you cannot handle any of these, please move on, as some scenes are pretty intense!!

The book opens with Alice and her two sons (a 7 yr old [Lucas] and a 14 year old [Greyson]) driving in a car, in the middle of the night, running away from her husband (James)…their Dad. You can FEEL her anxiety and nerves…right from the get-go…and honestly, throughout the entire book! 😮🫣😮

Throughout the book we have TWO narratives: Then and Now.

THEN: Alice paints the picture of how they met, how in love they were, when things started changing, and how he separated and isolated her from EVERYONE who loved her…
Then when her oldest was born. And next, the baby. And her love for her boys… ❤️❤️
She tells of his attempts at making it big, as well as his business failures along the way…
And then, the drinking. And, the awful abuse.

NOW: Alice tells of their escape. All that she went through to get to this point.
And just when she thought there was no hope at all, well, destiny steps in… and changes everything!
At least, that’s what we’re hoping for! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
BUT, sometimes life is just cruel… and, things don’t always work out as planned…

And so now,they’re living in a big old house in Maine. One that’s kind of creepy, and maybe haunted… or something like that. And Alive keeps hearing things. Did James find them after all of this??

Twists and turns galore… right from the start!

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, easily rounded up to 5!

#BeneathTheseWalls by #ShadeOwens and narrated intensely by #AmandaDavidson.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #RedRavenPublishing for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
*** Release date was 3/3/25, so look 👀 for it on shelves now !! ***

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

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Alice, has left an abusive marriage and following, receiving an inheritance of her late uncles house, she is able to move herself and her 2 boys away to hopefully a safe place. Shes changed her name to protect their whereabouts from her husband who has vowed to kill her for leaving him.

Can her and her boys be safe in their new home? She is struggling to settle, she feels the threat of James everywhere she turns. Then the unthinkable happens and they discover a body in their Cellar, who was it and how did they end up trapped in the hidden room down there? When Alice, starts finding notes telling her to leave, she at 1st believes it’s James. Then she begins to doubt the friendships shes made and her sanity.

Are they safe staying there or should they run before it’s too late?


I enjoyed listening to this title, the author did a good job creating the characters and the narrator brought them to life.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title.

I am very keen to now explore more from this new to me Author

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"But how can we remain invisible when things keep happening in this house?"

Alice/Emma is on the run from her abusive husband and finds out she has inherited her estranged uncle's huge home, which is the first sign something's wrong. She moves in with her two sons, and soon learns about her uncle and his house's dodgy reputation. Murders? Kidnapping? Torture? Not cool. But she has few options, and all she has is rumours and whispers around town keeping her off balance. Alice wants to protect her children, but how can she do that when she doesn't know what is threatening them?

This book was a miss for me- I couldn't relate to Alice and the choices she makes, and of course as others have noted, the last quarter of the book is bonkers (but not in a good way). Narrator Amanda Davidson did a great job, but on the whole, this book wasn't for me.

I received a free audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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**UPDATE** The audiobook was recently released and I listened to this book and it's still 5 stars for me! Amanda Davidson did a great job making me feel all the creepy vibes the author intended to convey throughout this story.

This book was so INTENSE!! Some authors have a writing style that makes me feel creeped out reading their books in the dark, and this was one of those books. There were moments I found myself holding my breath.

There is domestic abuse in this story, but it was not the main focus point of the book. What we get instead is a masterfully crafted, suspense building plot. There was healing, mystery, suspense, and fear woven into this one. This one definitely had my anxiety on HIGH. The main character, Emma (formerly Alice), was tough as nails in her own right, and I loved her character. Owens did a great job developing Emma as a character, and I truly felt I knew her by the time this story was over. I was rooting for Emma the whole way through. I love a female main character that is courageous and determined.

The plot flows and develops beautifully. I found myself left saying "one more chapter" over and over again until I finished the book. There was a timeline from the past, that gave us a glimpse into life before her escape. This book is an ode to how far a mother will go to protect her children. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Red Raven Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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