This was book two in the London and Cambridge series, and I feel Ms Chase has set herself as an accomplished author. The book was well written, and worth getting stuck into! Recommended.

A very well written book with a complex plot, offering just the right measure of mystery and suspense. Well developed characters added to the intrigue leaving just about everybody a potential suspect! An original concept that really worked well.

Nicely done cozy set in Cambridge UK- loved the setting and how Chase made use of it as almost another character. Ruby and Nate are an interesting couple both looking into the murder and as a romantic pair. This is the sort of novel you want to read when you're relaxing. It's well written and not too terribly twisty. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I had not read Chase before but I'm going to look for her in the future.

This was quite a nice story. The author wrote it compellingly and I enjoyed the overall flow of events. I liked how all of the characters introduced were different, and how they all played a part in the story and weren't just there for filler. I found Ruby to be both exasperating and strong, and while that may sound like an insult, it really isn't. Ruby's curiosity and her meddlesome nature could be annoying at times and her inability to seek help when it was clearly needed was quite frustrating, but I liked that she had intelligence and smarts and wasn't just waiting for the pieces of the puzzle to conveniently drop in her lap. There were a lot of references to psychology, which I presume is because of Ruby's career (which I wasn't too clear on). I don't really think that this aspect was researched in as much depth as I would have liked, but I can forgive it because the author does acknowledge that Ruby has no real background knowledge in psychology. For once, the story was secondary to the character; I actually didn't care as much for the story as I did for Ruby and Nate and everyone else. I was drawn to the thought processes and the interactions between the characters, and I felt that the author did a great job creating convincing and compelling personalities with their own histories and identities. The ending was not my favorite but it was clean and tidy, which is always a good thing. In the version that I read, the character perspective shifts in the middle of the chapter, which made it seem a lot more abrupt and I didn't really like that; I hope that in the published version, there is a clear demarcation of when the perspective is changing so that it doesn't catch the readers unaware. Overall, an interesting novel with strong characters!

Gripping romantic mystery. It keeps you guessing! There's lots of twists that I wasn't expecting. Definitely a fun read. One of my few problems with it was that it switched perspective quite abruptly with no warning. It would have been better to have that noted, much less confusing.

Ruby has just left her husband when the perfect opportunity presents itself: house sitting. She needs a place to stay, and could certainly use the extra cash to suplement her regular income she earns as a writer now that a divorce looms on the horizon. Beautiful house, time alone to work and gather her thoughts. Separate from her husband and the rumors flying around her neighborhood. Sounds perfect, right? ...Wrong. The owner of the house is very particular, and has a long list of things he expects Ruby to do... including sleeping on a rickety old bed in the drawing room despite the comfortable guest bedrooms upstairs. The horribly uncomfortable bed is soon the least of her problems. She's soon thrust into a mystery... murders, jealous ex-lovers, and strange happenings at the house. She's a naturally curious person, and starts becoming obsessed with figuring out exactly what kind of man she's working for. The owner of the housesitting business, Nate, has a lot of experience with mysteries himself... but does not want Ruby becoming involved with anything dangerous. It may be too late.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Choc Lit, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

A strangers house by Clare Chase is a mystery and thriller and women's fiction read.
What if you were powerless to protect the person you cared about most?
When Ruby finds out that her partner has done the unforgivable, she has no option but to move out of their home. With nowhere else to go, a job house-sitting in Cambridge seems like the perfect solution.

But it’s soon clear the absent owner hurts everyone he gets close to, and Ruby’s faced with the fallout. As violent repercussions unfold, her instinct is to investigate: it’s a matter of self-preservation. And besides, she’s curious…
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the story and the characters. Especially ruby. She was my favourite character. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

My favorite part about this book was the East Anglia towns--Cambridge, Newmarket, Bury St. Edmunds, Ely, and Mildenhall. I wanted more romance and a bit more action with less introspection and guesses.

A clever mystery-suspense with a dash of romance set in Cambridge. I really enjoyed the unique setting of a home & a house-sitter. This creates unusual situations that aren't like most books of this genre.

Ruby gets lucky to land a job at a posh residence after a bit of bad luck with her long-time boyfriend. Her desire is to get away and "hide," and this new job provides both. She is lucky to have an understanding new boss, Nate, who also sparks some feelings in her. The home owner has a few peculiar requests, and then some unthinkable things start to happen. What really happened in Ruby's past? Who is the the real Damien and what is he up to? What is the meaning behind the provocative paintings in his bedroom? Is her life in danger? Can she move past the things that happened in her last relationship? Who is behind all the intrigue she's experiencing? Read to find out! Some twists that will take a bit to figure out, and you'll enjoy the journey getting there.

There happens to be another book which picks up after the conclusion of this story...I'll be reading it later this month as well!

**Thanks to NetGalley and death by Choc-Lit for an ARC to read and review!**

i really found it difficult to get into this one and wasn't for me