I have to say that I don't have a fear of attics but rather the ladders leading up to them, so there really could be someone living in my loft and I'd be none the wiser.  My first house was in a terrace and I could totally imagine builders cutting costs by not bricking all the way up between the houses.  This is what killer on the run, Thomas Brogan, finds when he hides in the loft of an abandoned house.  With access to three houses he can steal a little food from each one without anyone noticing and remain hidden from the police.

Brogan is at constant war with himself due to the other voice in his head and it's like he has whole conversations with himself.  You can see how this happened through flashbacks to his lonely childhood and it just shows you how certain events can inflict lasting damage.  Not that every lonely, bullied child becomes a serial killer, of course!  Seeing this side of Brogan makes him appear more human rather than a soulless serial killer and rather strangely I did grow to like him.

Once Brogan started to interact with the residents of the three houses, I was completely hooked.  After a close shave at one house he focuses his attention on deaf old lady Elsie and newlyweds Martyn and Colette.  After discovering that the young couple are hiding secrets from each other, Brogan soon realises that he can have some fun with Martyn and Colette whilst using Elsie for provisions.  It's just that niggling voice in his head crying out for more blood to be shed...

So very addictive, I couldn't put The Resident down and read it over the course of 24 hours.  Written with surprising elements of humour, The Resident is a darkly comic thriller that thoroughly entertained me from start to finish.  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Resident was a downright tense and creepy thriller that had me glued to the pages from beginning to end!

Thomas Brogan is an extremely dangerous serial killer and is on the run from the police.  Brogan takes refuge in an abandoned house with it’s windows and doors boarded up. To his delight when he checks the loft he finds a gap which allows him to move along to the other neighbours lofts and spy on them!

Brogan likes to play games with his victims, he has a dark sinister mind and he's messed up.  He also has a softer side too which makes you feel for him until you remember how evil he really is.

The author has a skill of making you feel totally absorbed in this story, it’s eerie but so clever. There are strong themes of voyeurism, obsession and murder in the plot.

The characters are well developed and I absolutely loved Elsie’s character she was such an adorable old dear.  There’s a cracking twist at the end that you won’t see coming!

Warning - Do not read if you scare easily and live in a row of terraced houses.  You'll be having nightmares at the slightest noise in your ceiling space.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail/Profile Books for an advanced review copy in return for an honest review.

When I started reading this book initially I kept thinking back to this 90s film with some guy living in the walls stalking someone and I couldn’t remember the name. I easily remembered the film with the same name The Resident with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilary Swank but that wasn’t it. Then I remembered Sharon Stone and William Baldwin and remembered it was called Sliver. This book…isn’t that Lol but it has all the feels from those films.

I was hoping I would be terrified by this book, I wasn’t. It did, however, make me check there were no holes in the ceiling though! Although, from what I’ve been told we do have an open plan loft though stretching the 5 houses -oh god I’m done for!

I did find this book fascinating. We are thrown in the thick of it at the beginning, there is a manhunt for Thomas Brogan. But why we don’t know. We don’t actually see any of the sadistic murders on-page, everything is left out. We don’t initially know what drove him to do this acts of violence until later.

Instead, what we have is an intense 12 days of what Thomas. Is it wrong to find him fascinating? I did have to laugh at some of his inner monologues with himself. I was intrigued by his plans to terrorise the Fairbrights and watch how his lust for one person could change his demeanour.

There is one point in the loft where I actually started to get a bit nervous for him. Yes, I was nervous about the serial killer!! Yes crazy! I became attached to him. I was enjoying the acts he carried out on the unsuspecting couple. Completely messing with their heads and marriage. I found it all quite thrilling and entertaining in all honesty.

The Resident is a different book than I expected. I expected a scary story told from the victim’s point of view. Instead, we are told the story from the killer and I ended up caring about him!!! I enjoyed the random friendship he created with Elsie. I was nervous and panicked when he was walking around the houses, scared he would be caught! Waiting for the fallout.

I was unsure of the book at first, I had to get my bearings before I settled down and devoured it in a day. The only thing I was not happy with was….. the end!! Because it ended. I was so invested, I wanted more I would have happily sat there and read many more pages!

This is my first book by Mr Jackson, here I have found a new author that I am now going to catch up on. I already have done if DS Cody books do need to get cracking. If Jackson can make me care about a serial killer god knows what else he can make me care about!!! I want to find out though!!

This is one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read!

Well written and drags you right in even if you don’t want think about what is happening.

I’m currently sourcing a company to fill my attic in with cement 😂

If you like psychological thrillers this is for you.

I was gripped to this book from page one. It's a high pace really intriguing thriller. I loved the idea as well.

I'd read from this author again.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

☆☆☆☆☆
This book had me hooked from page one. I dont think I have had so many mixed emotions about a killer before. I found myself feeling sorry for Brogan (great name btw) but then I'd turn the page and bam he would do something so disgusting I was back to hate. I pretty much flipped back and forth through the entire story like this. There were a few shocking moments in the book that made your feelings change towards other characters too (no spoilers read it to find out). The conversations Brogan had with himself were fantastic and allowed you to figure him out a little more. I would highly recommend this book it is addictive but I should warn you, if you live in a terraced house either bolt the loft hatch or check the partitions are fully bricked up between you and your neighbours.

Thank you to netgalley and Serpent's Tail / Profile Books for the arc of this book. 

The book is told in Thomas Brogan POV., He is a serial killer whom is escaping from the police and ends up in this mysterious abandoned house in whihc He ends up discovering  a loft which leads to the houses in the street so Thomas starts to play mind games with the people in the houses.

3 stars- gripping read and enjoyable bit dark and strange at times but a well written book recommend highly.

The Resident is a creepy thriller about a serial killer hiding out in the attics of a row of terraced houses. He becomes obsessed with a young married couple with secrets and develops a son/mother relationship with an old lady. Flashes of black humour lighten the narrative though the abrupt and silly ending mar what otherwise a decent read.

Serial killer Thomas Brogan is on the run from the police. With nowhere to turn, all appears lost until he chances upon a row of terraced houses, one of them being boarded up. After breaking in, he discovers gaps in the attic walls, giving him access to three other houses without ever having to go outside. Brogan likes playing games, and his unusual vantage point gives him the opportunity to spy on his new neighbours, discovering their secrets and allowing him to play the most twisted games he’s ever played…

As a huge fan of David Jackson’s Nathan Cody series, I couldn’t wait to read his next book and was intrigued to find that it would be a standalone. With hindsight, reading this in a room containing an attic hatch probably wasn’t my smartest move, although I was relieved that I have a lock to prevent this sort of activity happening!

Thomas Brogan is a very strong leading character and although the killer is incredibly frightening, David Jackson has done a good job in showing us his vulnerable side, helping us to understand why he is the way he is. As the book progressed, I found myself having sympathy for him, but never to the point where I wanted him to get away with his crimes! We see Brogan wrestling with his conflicting personalities and I thought that these conversations that he had with himself were a good way of moving the story on without having to introduce another character.

Although Brogan clearly knew how he wanted his games to end, he definitely enjoyed the build up and, again, we got to see the different sides of his personality. I particularly enjoyed his interactions with Elsie, and I grew fond of this old woman who found a new lease of life due to her time with the killer.

The Resident is one of those rare books that while containing some chilling scenes, manages to retain plenty of dark humour, making me laugh many times as I pictured the scenes the author described so well. David Jackson definitely has a hit on his hands with this one!

The Resident is the terrifying tale of Thomas Brogan, a serial killer in the UK.

Brogan is on the run after his latest kills, the police now know who he is so he takes refuge in an abandoned terraced house. As he discusses everything with his inner voice, his constant companion, he decides to look in the loft.

He finds, to his absolute joy, the four terraced houses share the loft space!

He watches the residents of the houses as he gets to learn their secrets…..he also waits till some leave the house so he can enter their homes, eat, shower and rummage through their possessions…...he has a game to play…….who will he choose?

Will it be the elderly Elsie, deaf, ill and confused?

Will it be Janice and Brian, the bickering couple?

Will it be Collette and Martyn, both with secrets?

As Brogan watches them all the tension begins…..

The Resident is terrifying…...and disturbing. It races by as you watch and wonder what Brogan will do next….as you glance at the loft door wondering whether to put bolts on it….just to make sure……! (the loft hatch in my home is in my bedroom and that really didn’t help me sleep!!!). While Brogan is undoubtedly evil, you do feel sorry for him at times too, all credit to David Jackson’s clever writing. It’s dark, terrifying and utterly gripping from start to finish. I loved every minute.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of The Resident. This is my honest and unbiased review.

A bit of a slow burner for me and I really only got invested during the second half. I felt the ending was a bit silly but I still enjoyed it overall. My eyes certainly got a workout with all the sneaky glances towards my attic hatch! 

This was my first book by this author but I intend to read more.

David Jackson has taken my worst nightmare and brought it to life. Thomas Brogan is a serial killer on the run and he seeks refuge in an abandoned house. While hiding out he discovers that he can access the attic of the neighbouring houses and so decides to have some fun with his latest victims.

This book is honestly a brilliant read. It’s dark and gripping – the kind of novel that will send a shiver up your spine. I think part of the reason that I loved this so much is because it freaked me out so much. I live in a mid-terraced house with an attic and it’s a really old building so it made the story feel infinitely believable. Every time I heard a noise in the house whilst reading this it made me nervous – if that’s not the mark of a brilliant read I don’t know what is.

The Resident is a creepy read, one that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. This is my first book from David Jackson, but it absolutely will not be the last. Thomas is a fascinating character and he makes for a very compelling protagonist. He’s a serial killer but you sort of grow to like him a bit as you learn more about his life.

There is plenty of tension and atmosphere in this one and the tension continues to climb towards the ending. I ended up reading the last hundred pages in one go, I absolutely could not look away from the book. If you’re looking for a chilling and unsettling read that will no doubt have you reading long into the night, The Resident is definitely one to check out.

Thomas Brogan. Serial Killer. Star of The Resident.  This is his story, no detective being tormented by an elusive character leaving cryptic clues to taunt the police. No reporter chasing down a story and stumbling across a killer’s legacy.  This is Brogan, a dangerous killer who from the opening pages is on the run as his latest murders have been discovered too soon.   Brogan is on the run and the police are hot on his tail.

Fortunately for Brogan (and for the story) he eludes capture by hiding in an abandoned house at the end of a row of terraced properties.  Seeking a safe place to lie low he makes his way to the attic space and makes a fascinating discovery – he can access all four houses in the terrace by moving along the loft space. Brogan’s first thought – he can find more victims to have fun with.

How do we know Brogan’s thoughts?  Well author, David Jackson, shares Brogan’s inner dialogues – he talks to himself (argues frequently). We hear Brogan’s thought process, his internal debates over the next course of action and his common sense telling him what he should and should not consider to be his next move.  This works well for driving forward the story. If nobody knows Brogan is in the loft and Brogan doesn’t have his conversations with himself then it would be difficult for the reader to understand why Brogan is acting the way he does because Brogan has a plan and he plans to have some fun while he waits for the coast to clear.

There is nothing of interest in the abandoned house which Brogan used to access the loft space.  The other three houses in the terrace offer much more interesting fare. There is the elderly woman who only gets visited by her carer each day. The arguing couple who seem best ignored and the young professional couple in the last house.  They have so much potential for Brogan and he plans to mess with their heads before he ends their lives.

Brogan is not a likeable character and his actions when he comes down from the attic space into the houses below re-enforce what a loathsome character he is.  He purposefully stirs up disharmony in the young couple’s marriage. He digs into their secrets when they are out and moves items around their house.  He steals food from all the houses where he can but soon finds an easier way to get the grub he needs. Being Brogan this involves upsetting another character in the book but this means little to him as the end result works to his advantage.

Following Brogan’s activities had a very real “one more chapter” dilemma, I just didn’t want to take a break from the book.  I am very much a fan of serial killer stories and The Resident has a very different feel from the “normal” murder tales because the reader travels with the killer. I powered through The Resident in very short time and was nicely caught out by a few of the unexpected details which arose. It’s different, it zips along at a cracking pace and I loved it.  Five star thrills once again from David Jackson.

I know I’m in the minority here but I’m afraid this book didn’t really do it for me. Marketed as a creepy thriller I was a little disappointed by the fact that it didn’t freak me out at all and I found the story to be repetitive and kind of predictable. The voice(s) of the main character, Brogan, were quite annoying too, which didn’t help me love the book any more.

It wasn’t without it’s good points though. I thought the concept itself was very original and the ending was pretty entertaining and, from my perspective, mostly unexpected. 

All in all not for me but I know it will be a winner for plenty of others!

With many thanks to the publisher for gifting me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thomas Brogan is a serial killer, and he is on the run. He finds  refugee in abundant house and he discover that he has access through the loft space to three other properties.

I request for this book because I found the cover and special the synopsis of the book very interesting and promising, unfortunately I guess this book wasn't  for me.. I see that a lot of people absolutely love this book but I found it easy, slow, fun read with one twist but strange ending. Writing isn't bad, but isn't compelling.
I feel that the book had a very promising story but somehow it didn't click with me, i didn't find it neither creepy neither very interesting,it was without suspense or anything going on really, just the one point view of serial killer mind which in some basis he was a very normal but in the same time he was too much disgusting.

Thank you to Serpent's Tail / Profile Books, David Jackson, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for a copy of this novel.

Finished reading The Resident by 
@Author_Dave
 and wow, he knocked it out of the park again. I just wish he could write faster! A go-to author if ever there was one.

‘They’re here!  They’ve come for us!’

Thomas Brogan is a serial killer on the run from the police.  He manages to evade capture and finds refuge in an abandoned terrace house at the end of a row.  As a temporary refuge, it is fine, but could he be trapped?  Brogan explores the house and discovers that he can access three other houses in the row through the roof space.

And so, the story begins.  Over a period of fifteen days, we learn about Brogan’s past, while in the present he manipulates the lives of residents of two of the houses he can access.  Have you ever heard a noise in the roof?  Have you ever wondered if you are being spied on?  Brogan’s intrusion into the third house will have consequences but will he be caught, or can he escape?

Mr Jackson ramps up the tension in this novel: the physical setting may be limited but Brogan’s capacity to manipulate is not.  He is a damaged character, carrying the weight of his past while cunning enough to make the most of his circumstances.  A bit of food stolen here, moving personal items to create friction between a couple, getting to know an elderly woman and he even stops a burglar.

How will it end?  Well, you will need to read it to find out for yourself. Elements of this novel are quite scary: especially if you live in a terrace.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and VIPER for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.  

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

3.5 stars - Dark comedy domestic thriller

Easy, slow, fun read with a strange ending. Writing isn't bad, but isn't compelling.

Plot: A serial killer watches residents from a joined attic system, knows their secrets and toys with their minds.

Review: An interesting premise that initially lured me (I'm a sucker for serial killer stories), but which slogged along into a disappointing space of cyclic self-commentary, and convenient plot twists. Brogan, the serial killer, is portrayed as this fun-loving killer with a split-personality disorder who's constantly engaged in back-and-forth comedic banter in his head. He survives his days hiding in an attic that connects three residences. Resident Elsie, the delusional solitary elderly woman; a middle-aged couple who barely make an appearance; and the young and passionate Fairbright couple, Martyn and Colette. Brogan spends most of his time voyeuring the couples most intimate moments through a peephole and destroying (or revealing the truth to!) their marriage.

Highlights: I thought the overall plot did have promise, could have been good. Brogan's journey actually takes an interesting turn. I thought the author represented mental health well, particularly around suicide. There's an ounce of humanity in here that does feel authentic. The arguments between the married couple feel authentic too. Also, learning about Brogan's backstory was much more gripping and atmospheric, and I would have preferred a glimpse of this earlier to nail down the character of Brogan better, and show what he's capable of. There were moments the writing and comedy was good. I liked Elsie's character, and thought the overall plot there was good.

Issues: I had trouble connecting to the mind of the serial killer, Brogan felt too normal. He had normal fears, desires and thoughts (ie. mundane). Most of the books observations are very mundane and filler, particularly every detail of needing to feed. The self-commentary took away the edge and made the comedy a bit cheesy/annoying. It should also be mentioned that it might be a bit stifling at first to get used to the inner monologue lacking any differentiation in formatting - eg. italics would be a good idea. There's moments of plot convenience that didn't quite sit well with me: sudden infidelities, an unlikely burglary, and some of the couple's secrets. Martyn's character was unlikable, and some of the Fairbrights' behaviour was unrealistic or just ill-timed. I also think people would use their logic to put things together a lot sooner. I was also disappointed because I felt like there could have been so many fun options for the plot to go! (I'll mention to publishers instead of here to avoid spoilers). And the ending wasn't satisfactory, it just felt strange and crudely assembled. Brogan's accusations also just don't feel justified, but maybe that's the point.

Notes on improvement: I would suggest less of the daily maintenance (twiddling thumbs and eating), more flashbacks or some kind of narration outside the house. Putting too much action in the house in a small amount of time becomes unrealistic, and not particularly exciting. The writing could also use some edits to avoid repetition, and less inner monologue. Also, worth considering alternatives to the lead up to the ending.

Maybe I just expected more Dexter, less perverted Master Chef, haha. I think I was just the wrong type of audience as I like dark, gritty, existentially absurd humour. But it may appeal to audiences wanting light comedy on the darker side.

Thanks to Netgalley, David Jackson and Serpent's Tail Books for this Advanced Reader Copy, in exchange for an honest review!


TW: mention of animal abuse, mention of suicide

One of the most exciting, thrilling and edge of your seat books i've read in a long time. I loved the premise and it's been a long time since i came across such a well written, fully rounded antagonist, especially one who is a main character. Brogan was fascinating and to experience a whole book in his head was quite something. I absolutely loved this book.

Do you want to be scared senseless? Do you want to feel paranoid that someone is watching you from inside your own house? Do you want a book that feels so real that you start checking how much food is in your cupboards?

Then this is the book for you!!

This is one of the most tense books I have read in quite some time. Brogan is a serial killer on the run. He finds an empty house to hide in and then discovers that he can go into other homes through connected attic/loft spaces.

What follows is a confusing kind of book as you don't really want him to be caught! Who in their right mind roots for the serial killer?! Me, it seems! While Brogan is a dangerous man, the author manages to flesh him out so that he is so much more than the crimes he commits. You feel sympathy and understanding for what has made him who he is. Well I did at least...

The impressive thing about this book is that it is based in a very limited setting but it doesn't feel stale or lacking in plot. Brogan is able to access the houses while residents are out/sleeping and the rest of the time he listens or watches from above. It is interesting how he decides which residents to mess with. As the book progesses, more and more about him makes sense.

We also find out a great deal about the lives of the residents he focuses on; a married couple and an elderly woman. They have their secrets and backstories too. All of this combined makes for a compelling and engrossing thriller. This is the first I have read by this author and it certainly will not be the last. 

Thank you to the author, Viper and Netgalley for access to this eARC.