★★★ 3.5 stars

Imagine driving several hours far from the comforts of home to the cold, draughty and remote Rowan Isle House in Yorkshire. That's exactly what Lisa did to escape the constant criticisms of her controlling husband Mark...taking with her her 3 year old son, Joe, who did nothing but cry and scream for his daddy for every one of his waking hours. But escaping Mark meant staying under the radar, which is exactly what Rowan Isle House provided. But Lisa wasn't prepared for what awaited her.

Rowan Isle House was smelly and filthy with no electricity, no heating and no plumbing. How were they to shower? Bath? Cook their meals? Or stay warm amidst the frigid conditions of Yorkshire? And Joe was having none of it. No matter what Lisa said or did to placate him, the child just screamed incessantly for his daddy. He was even doing MY head in! But Lisa did what she could, found some old cushions and blankets for them to sleep with and bought junk food from the shop in the village since she had no way of cooking anything. The house, which is decidedly creepy, sits on the edge of the village with the lake as their only water source and candles for lighting.

And then Isobel came knocking.

Isobel got the fire going in the ancient stove so Lisa could at least cook them something. She also provided them with some clean blankets, brought some groceries and soon the warmth from the stove heated the old house. Maybe it wasn't going to be so bad after all. But just who is Isobel? And why is she being so helpful? Who is she to this somewhat creepy house? And is she safe from Mark here?

One night Isobel took them to the village pub for a drink and a bite when the landlord befriended Lisa and began to regale her with the house's sordid history. But it wasn't until she came across an old leather bound diary that Lisa discovered the truth about Rowan Isle House.

In a parallel story running alongside Lisa's, beginning in 2003, we meet a young 11 year old girl known only as Soldier Number 1, as named by her father who is referred to solely as "Sarge". We don't know his name, only that he was a former soldier that had served in the Gulf war in Iraq. It obvious from the beginning that he is suffering from PTSD as he trains his daughter up to be a soldier. But the life they lead in the remote house on the lake, was anything but normal. And when the young girl, whose name we learn is Grace, meets a pretty blonde girl named Isobel when she comes to buy eggs from their stall, she catches a glimpse of life beyond the only one she has ever known.

Soon Isobel becomes her only link to the world outside of the one "Sarge" has built for them and Grace discovers what it is like to have a real friend. But what if that friendship was threatened? Then when she discovers all that her father had ever told her was a lie, Grace draws on all he had taught her to survive.

Narrated by Lisa and Soldier Number 1, with a fifteen year gap, THE HOUSE ON THE LAKE is a slow building tense thriller in which these two stories unfold until they finally are woven together with a deft hand that finally links Lisa, Soldier Number 1 and Isobel. I'm not usually one for slow builds, but this one I actually quite enjoyed.

Filled with plenty of twists, the tension is palpable as the secrets of the past that haunt the creepy house slowly come to light as those that Lisa is also hiding are gradually revealed.

An addictive and creepy thriller, THE HOUSE ON THE LAKE will soon pull you in and have you turning the pages until the very end.

Recommended for psychological thriller fans, particularly those who love a slow build.

I would like to thank #NualaEllwood, #NetGalley and #PenguinUK for an ARC of #TheHouseOnTheLake in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great thriller; told from two different perspectives in two different times., One a girl brought up by her father, suffering with the demons of war and the other a mother escaping the controlling clutches of her husband.
Grace is living at Rowan Isle House with her Dad, whom she calls Sarge, he’s training her to be a soldier - but a chance meeting with Isabel, a girl from the village, shows Grace what life could be like.
Lisa has escaped Mark, her husband who has been mentally abusing her for years. She runs with her small son Joe, to a Rowan Isle House - a friend of hers told her it would always be available for her if she needed it. But when she arrives, it’s in a terrible condition and not fit to live in. A woman from the village, Isabel, arrives and turns out to be Lisa’s saviour.
Then the house’s secrets begin to unfold and the stories are tied together brilliantly.
I read this in one sitting and would thoroughly recommend it.

This was an easy to read thriller thaylt kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend! Brilliant book :)

This book alternates between the past and present; I always become confused with these types of books, so it wasn't for me. I did think the descriptions were well written, hence the 4 stars.

4 Stars from me

The story alternates between present day and a few years ago - present day is Lisa and her little boy who are on the run from her controlling partner - and the older story is from the previous occupants of the house on the lake.

I have to admit I was peeved when the first 'older' chapter appeared as I hadn't realised it was that style of story and I was really into the present day... However, I very soon become utterly drawn in to both timelines and can honestly say I enjoyed them equally.

The house was so well described - it sounded AWFUL! I wouldn't have stayed there for 5 minutes, fair play to Lisa for putting up with it.

The two storylines run alongside each other very well and as you would expect there comes a points where the two cross - some interesting little sidelines and a few unexpected moments, overall a good solid page turner.

This novel had a slow start and I almost laid it aside a few times. Somehow or other it didn't resonate with me. It was a reasonable read ultimately but forgettable. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books UK.

This is my 2nd book by Nuala Ellwood and wow it is just as good as the first, A fast paced, tense and gripping thriller. I simply couldn’t put it down, but I also didn’t want it to end. A brilliant read.

This book took me a little while to get into because I felt it had a slow start but it was worth persevering with. The story was told from two differing perspectives, Lisa and Grace and their stories are well-woven.

This story of extreme controlling behaviour moves between the present and 2002. Ellwood uses the subject matter to create a story-line that generates a resurging combination of exasperation and pity in the reader. Then there is the underlying mystery that makes this more than a straightforward psychological drama.
Children have to trust and inevitably want to trust a parent so how can the reader possibly accept the overbearing cruelty of the father in this? However, as we learn his actions only arise from a deep mistrust of the wider society and the need to protect his daughter, can we fully blame him? Isn’t it also the duty of a father to protect his daughter?
The modern-day chapters in this novel provide answers for the mystery as to what happened in 2002 but not via means of a simple re-telling. Ellwood almost provides two mysteries for the price of one with this.
I’m sure many will really like this but, although I know such a story-line must create a sense of confusion and questioning, I felt this lacked the continuity and sense it required – hence a star rating between 3 and 4.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved The House on the Lake. I devoured this book in one sitting, I could not put it down. Lots of twists and turns that kept me hooked. Another great book by Nuala Ellwood, looking forward to the next book.

I really enjoyed this book - two stories of abuse woven together and full of psychological suspense. I read it all in one day as I just had to find out what happened. It’s tense and well written. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book. Told form two perspectives, its an unusual read. The characters were believable and the plot was well drawn.
Overall, a satisfying read. I you enjoyed Nuala Ellwood's first book, then you will enjoy this one.

This was an ok book to read, Wasn't amazing or wasn't awful either, I just didn't engage with either main characters therefore was as invested as I could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley & publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for honest review.

This book kept me awake till about 4am. Its an excellent gripping and well written book which weaves together two stories. I would be very happy to recommend and purchase any of Ms Ellwoods work - I really like the way she writes and how she gets to to care about her characters. Really compelling

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this.
It was okay. I can't quite put my finger on exactly what didn't work for me but I think it is a case of all the right ingredients but not the right execution.
A couple of things I liked about this book were the writing and the atmosphere. It was an enjoyable reading experience but just not for me in the end. I was a little confused at times but I liked how twisty it was.

The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood was Just a brilliant book. I was hooked within the first few pages and didn't want to put it down. It is two stories that roll in to one big story Very clever, Nuala.

I highly recommend this book.....and if you start reading it before you go to bed You will find it very hard to put it down!!!! Before I knew it the birds were singing outside my bedroom window!

Big Thank you to Penguin Random House, for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review,

Whilst reading this, my kindle was glued to my hand!!! From the get go my heart was racing and i found myself having to breathe deeply!!! Everything i love about a thriller. Read in one sitting!!

An unsettling read but nonetheless enjoyable. The story is split into 2 parts; today and the past. The lives of 2 very different characters running away from sinister things.
Lisa is running from her past and stays at the run down Rowan House. It is here the other story is based (15 years previously) where we meet the child being brought up by her soldier father who treats her like a person in his regiment.
Not an easy read but kept me hooked.

This keeps you gripped with so much going on. I thought I was going to lose my way but it is written very well even though it jumps about. If you want to take your mind off something then have a read of this. I wasn't sure how it was going to develop so you keep reading. Well worth five stars.

An enjoyable read, some surprises along the way, and characters that you want to know more about.

You can't help but feel sorry for the main character, even as the story unfolds and you realise there is more to the situation that previously revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy.