Lakeview House by Helen Phifer

Available April 8, 2022

Previously published with the title What Lies Below.

Bestselling author Maddie Hart has writer's block. She broken up with her boyfriend and moved in with her grandmother and between the stress of the breakup and the distractions of family Maddie is finding it difficult to concentrate on finishing her next novel... or for that matter starting her next novel. When her best friend Stella tells her about a secluded mansion in the fells that is in need of a caretaker Maddy decides the escape is just what she needs. Little did she know how important escape would become.

There were a few literally jaw-dropping moments in this book. It was written in exactly the style I love best, short chapters that keep the action moving with one cliffhanger after another. Some of the characters are exactly who they appear to be, some of them are hiding deep, dangerous secrets. But which ones are trustworthy? Which ones will turn out to be harmless and which ones a hiding evil intentions?

Though I was really compelled to keep reading, there were a few things that clued me in to the killer early on. A few minor changes could have made this book even more thrilling by disguising the identify of the killer until later in the book. For one thing, it was a 2 day drive from London to the Lakeview House. Had the Lakeview House been only an hour or two outside of London it would have added an immense level of suspense and shrouded the identify of the killer. There was also a character who could be been a different gender (no spoilers), if that had been the case I would not have known who the killer was.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and found it to be a quick and exciting read. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.