Secrets, lies and obsession define this taut new thriller from Karen Perry. In Come a Little Closer we get caught up in the inhabitants of two houses, opposite each other, in a leafy Dublin suburb. A young couple, Leah and Jake, move into a basement flat, but well do they really know each? The house is owned by Anton who has been away for many years. When he returns, on release from prison it transpires for the murder of his wife Charlotte, the dynamics between him and Leah start to cause friction. Meanwhile on the opposite side of the street are Hilary and Greg, a childless couple of teachers. For a short while they lived below Anton and Charlotte who lured them in with bonhomie which belied a fractured relationship. Anton always denied the murder but few believed him. The story is all told in the present and swaps between Anton, Leah and Hilary’s POV. I enjoyed the characterisation, the creeping sense of forboding and the twists and turns along the way. None too sure about the ending though. Thanks to Penguin Random House for the ARC

Having read some other reviews of Come a Little Closer I think I'm in the minority when I say this book was not for me.Told from the point of view of Leah who has moved into the basement flat with boyfriend Jake of Anton's house who is just out of prison for murdering his wife and also Anton and Hilary who it seems is obsessed with him.To be honest I was past caring half way through the book about the outcome of the main characters.It's a well written thriller but for me it just dragged on through the chapters without much happening and the end when it came was not that dramatic.Sorry not for me.

This is a well written, creepy story that maintained my interest, despite the obvious ending. A decent read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

A really creepy psychological thriller. I was absolutely on the edge of my seat. The book was twisty and Unpredictable. Fantastic x

This is the first book i have read by this author and i enjoyed it.

Its a story or love, betrayal and hope.

Anton starts off as likeable but then things change and Lucy is so gullible and full of hope.

It isnt a mushy story but parts will leave you feeling warm whilst others will chill you.

A psychological thriller of a book. Enjoy may be the wrong word to use when you look at the story content, but it was a well written gripping and intense read.

It did take me a bit to get into this book but it was an excellent psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the way this author writes and soon got involved with all the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Yesssss at last a new author (to me) who can write a decent book!

Imagine enjoying your picnic in the park when a small child, covered in blood, emerges from a house nearby. What nightmare have they been part of?

The killer always seems to be known to their victim but is the right person convicted? How well do you really know your neighbours? What really goes on behind closed doors?

Well written with realistic characters who you can really connect with. A totally believable plot with a twist.

Seriously intense, menacing and gripping, the latest novel from Karen Perry (the pen name of the duo Paul Perry and Karen Gillece) is another winner.

Leah and Jake have been desperate to find a place of their own and when a basement flat, owned by Anton, the father of one of Jake’s friends, becomes available, they jump at the chance to move in. Anton lives alone and above them in the large Victorian house. It is soon made clear that Anton has just been released from prison after serving nineteen years for the murder of his wife: a crime he denies he committed. Gradually, Leah who is keeping a secret from her past and Anton become friends. The way their relationship develops is told with a subtle menace and some delightfully unsettling actions. Meanwhile, they are being watched closely by Hilary, the neighbour over the road, who has known Anton for a very long time.

There is an eerie atmosphere within this novel created, in part, by the creaks and groans of the old house, the echoes of footsteps and the sound of a piano being played. It is not a ghost story but a psychological thriller with ghostly overtones in the voice of Anton’s dead wife. The characters are multi-layered and well written, the narrative is absorbing and the plot is powerful and compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An intriguing psychological thriller that keeps you guessing right to the end.
The plot is well thought out and original. It was impossible to guess who did what and the suspense keeps building throughout, leading to the shocking end.
The characters have many layers, adding extra depth to the book. They have some endearing moments, though many of them are not particularly likeable otherwise., but this in no way detracts from the story.
This was a highly enjoyable read

This is a really creepy psychological thriller. It is set in the present day with a huge crime in the past. Many of the characters are still living in the area and feature in the past and the present.
The story works around the murder, the love affairs and the new to the area couple. All their thinking creates the ending with flashbacks to the situation 19 years ago.
I really enjoyed it. I felt that the story was satisfyingly complex without trying too hard and the ending was unexpected but realistically possible. There is a little tidying up at the end but as this reveals an unexpected twist, it is equally satisfying.
I recommend this book.

gripping psychological thriller

That's what describes this book but underplays the creativity of Karen Perry writing and you will be in for a treat that will grip you early on and only release you a time after you have finished but how long after depends on you I guess.
The are three main characters in this book and they each own their own chapters so you get to hear the story from each of their side of the tale.
Anton is released from prison or the hotel as he prefers to call it still declaring that he didn't murder his wife.
Hillary is his former lover and Leah the younger lady who has just rented the basement with her partner Jake. .
Jake and Mark who is Anton's son have a mutual friend and this is how Leah and Jake end up renting at a low price the basement to Anton's house just before his release from prison.
Leah has a past she wants to keep well behind her which is why she ends up playing a part of this thriller who like any of us would be drawn to someone we feel has a understanding of how we feel but it's better I let you find out what this is for yourself .
The characters are believable giving credence to this unfolding story Hillary's side of the tale is the hardest to take the wondering lady (as indeed Anton was the wondering man) she has a husband that loves her (Geoff) so although he does appear to be very dull is that a good enough reason , but she has suffered the loss that comes with multiple miscarriages. She longs for a greater filled love to enter her life and I guess excitement to take away the pain and emptiness of her existence.
This is a fantastic and gripping psychological thriller and if that's your favourite type of book then you are in for a treat.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. It took me a good while to get into this book as there is so many characters. It was quite a good storyline. The only thing is that it went on for too long, it took a long time before the story started. I thought it was quite boring at times, but it was one of those books that once you’ve started it you want to read it through to the end. I’m glad I did. It turned out a very good read.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and it certainly won’t be my last . An unputdownable psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat . I absolutely loved it . A brilliant start and a superb ending . Highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers.

This was. Very interesting and quite exciting book. Thank you netgalley fir allowing me to read this book before publication.
Leah and Jake move in a basement flat recommended to them by a friend. It’s cheap and very hard to find property they can afford.
They did not know that the man who owned the flat had just come out of prison for murdering his wife.
Mark is his son, but they are very cool to each other, obviously.
Leah has got a secret that happened to her as a teenager, and on befriending Anton when he needed help she told him her secret.
From then on the story turned very dark, and could not put it die,.
Well done Karen Perry a great story, waiting for the next one.

This book is tense and a bit creepy, the main character Leah who has moved in a basement flat with her boyfriend below a convicted murderer, he claims he was innocent and starts obsessing over Leah, Hilary is obsessed with him so we see the story through their eyes, was Anton innocent, will Leah fall for his charm or will Hilary win him back.
O found the ending a bit of a letdown but enjoyed the rest

Jake and Leah are delighted to find a basement flat with affordable rent in an upmarket suburb of Dublin. What they don't know is that their landlord Anton, has a past. Anton becomes obsessed with Leah who reminds him of his dead wife and this obsession comes between her and Jake.

I liked this psychological thriller which was suspenseful from the beginning. Leah has her own tragic secret which is slowly revealed and her vulnerability makes her easy prey for Anton. With an added element of a neighbour , Hilary who is obsessed with Anton, there is plenty of intrigue to keep you reading.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed reading this book from Karen Perry. The pace was steady and it made for enjoyable reading. A good book to get lost in.

If I'm totally honest, this kept me not only on the edge of my seat but emotionally too! It made me feel anxious at times and outbox my comfort zone which made me totally love it! I must admit I have never disliked a Karen Perry book and this time round is no exception. The book has well developed characters that you itch to learn more about as the storyline also develops. Would definitely recommend this to anybody who loves a thriller or mystery or even both together!

Come A Little Closer by Karen Perry is a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The story was dark and chilling and I didn't know what was going to happen next.
Leah and Jake have moved into the basement flat of a large house and are happy to finally be making a life together.
The owner of the house Anton has just been released from prison after spending nineteen years for killing his wife.
As Leah and Anton begin to become friendly her relationship with Jake suffers.
I was invited to read this book by the publishers and I really enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK - Michael Joseph for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.