I enjoyed this book but nothing nore than that im afraid, it was just ok - a steady read. The storyline was ok but could have been better and it was quite predictable, i guessed most of what was happening

This book was OK and held my interest as I really wanted to find out what had happened to Sarah. However, I struggled to connect with the characters. I am not sure as to why. I struggled to finish it but in the end I did.

This book was not the gritty crime thriller that I was anticipating. I did not experience any sense of tension or drama in this story, instead feeling like I was muddling through an awkward dream. The narrative did make me feel uncomfortable, but for all the wrong reasons.

The story begins with introducing the protagonist, Jenn. From the beginning, it is clear that she has a very unusual relationship with her son. I was questioning her behaviour and motives all throughout the story and came to the conclusion that it was her actions that made me feel so uncomfortable. The helicopter parenting that Jenn displays is painful to watch and I had anticipated that there was more to this than Jenn simply being protective. Her actions seem to have no boundaries, even going so far as to cause scenes at school, but at the same time she also displays a recklessness that I could not understand. It was this element of the plot that I disliked the most: Jenn’s erratic approach is a result of something deeper but, I was surprised that there had not been any intervention to dispel this.

Encountering a dead tenant at one of her company’s flats, Jenn takes it upon herself to investigate more about this person. With no friends or relatives attending the funeral, Jenn is shocked that someone departing this world could leave such little impact. Consequently, the story sees Jenn delving into this tenant’s connections and investigating more about them, as if she is trying to ease her own conscience. Despite readily meeting up with strangers, I found Jenn’s determination bordering on obsession and disliked how little thought was given to the consequences of her questions. It was a further irritation that I found towards the main character.

Over the story, the narrative switches back to a previous time frame where we see two little girls growing up together. Unfortunately, it didn’t take too much for me to piece together what was happening and how this connected to East’s main narrative. This significantly lessened the tension and the impact of the revelations as the novel reached its conclusion.

Yet, despite my misgivings, I felt I could not put this book down. I was drawn to Jenn as a character because she was so unpredictable. I wanted there to be more explanation for the estranged relationship she had with her parents, and I desired to see a more standard approach to her parenting. Therefore, I felt like I owed it to Jenn to finish the book to ensure that closure was reached at long last.

I was not bored with this story, merely disappointed. I think Jenn’s character dominated my attitude towards this book and, because I had such a dislike about many of her behaviours, this reduced my enjoyment of the novel. Not getting a feel for any gritty tension, I thought this story just plodded forwards, stumbling, like Jenn, on gradual answers about the mysterious tenant.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you HQ and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
What a tragic, moving story about people we don't really see and how people can fall through the cracks and disappear - a good thriller which was very well written and thought provoking.
I hope to read more by this author.

A struggle for me. Not my favourite book. I didn’t like the characters and it just didn’t grip me. However, in fairness it may be for you. A mother who keeps herself to herself in work and a death at the start of the book. Mother becomes obsessed with solving mystery.

This was a such an entertaining read, I couldn't get enough of it! Philippa is now one of my new favorite authors, will read some more of her in future! Recommended.

Strangely enjoyed this such tragic story. Kept me guessing and wondering which is credit to the author. Keeps you gripped with the overall storyline that pulls you in different direction.

It was ok………….. Jenn is a manager for a London housing association and is shocked beyond belief to discover a body in one of the flats when she turns up with some bailiffs to discuss non payment of rent- why didn't anyone notice anything strange in the block? I found this story very slow moving and Jenn annoyed me. Not thrilling, more “meh”.

A moving, heartbreaking thriller, about the lives we don't see and how people fall through the cracks and disappear - whether literally, through death, or through motherhood.

Beautifully written.

Slightly mixed feelings about this. I found the main character extremely irritating. Everything revolved around her and do people really decide that they're going to be able to do a better investigation than the police can do- but at the same time not be able to get dressed or to be able to go to work without falling to pieces. And then it doesn't ever really answer what her main fear is about the child - what she thinks is wrong with him. It's very clear that she suffered from post natal depression - but there is no good reason as to why she refused to speak to her mum. It''s inferred that they did something terrible to her when in fact they had tried to protect her - which she seems to find terrible and unforgiveable, while at the same time she is dosing up her son with Calpol in an attempt to keep him quiet so she can do her detective work. It's all very strange. But at the same time, it did keep me interested right to the end, and I wasn't able to stop reading it.

A gripping and intriguing psychological thriller which I really enjoyed, although this was incredibly close to the story of Joyce Vincent, a real-life tenant of a London bedsit whose body lay undiscovered for three years As it was strikingly close to the real-life event this novel was a little jarring, but it was still a book that was difficult to put down and I did wonder how the author would take on this story. As it turns out, she did it brilliantly as I would love to read more from this author!

A wonderfully different take on a psychological thriller. We are immediately drawn in to the discovery of a dead female body and why the hell has it managed to not be found sooner as the discovery was months after the death.

Amazing suspense and intrigue and I really couldn’t recommend this enough! Will definitely read more by this Author

2.5 star rating - rounded to 3. Jenn is a manager for a London housing association and is shocked beyond belief to discover a body in one of the flats when she turns up with some bailiffs to discuss non payment of rent. This isn’t someone who has recently died though and has been there some considerable time. How could this have happened? Did no one notice anything strange in the block? I found this story very slow moving and consequently a bit of a struggle plus didn’t get attached to Jenn in the slightest - she was irritating! Well written and quite interesting as it covered some difficult topics. Sadly though not a thriller but a drama to my mind.

I did not enjoy this book at all. Very predictable storyline and not very thrilling nor chilling for a thriller. I think I’ve outrread the genre as they all seem to be the same these days. Thank you for sharing with me.

I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns in this book. The plot line was so different to what I had been expecting but it was a refreshing change and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Philippa East for this e-copy in return for my honest review. A tense read right from the start. Emotional, raw and at times gut-wrenching. Told from the perspective of Jenn, the reader is given the opportunity to understand her deepest thoughts and fears. A captivating read from the opening pages.

I struggled with this book and started it a while ago but couldnt get into it as it was quite a slow burn to start with. Finally got back into it and I am glad I finished it as it was quite interesting and got better.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This was an enjoyable thriller. Its a dark tale of living in fantasy and living in reality. I've read Philippa East's other book and thoroughly enjoyed that too and this one did not disappoint.

Highly recommended.

Thank you HQ and Netgalley

This is a real slow burn thriller from Phillipa East. Jenn works for a housing association. When. asked to visit a small London bedsit she finds what every housing officer dreads - a body. The radio is playing and the fact that the table is set for three, as well other clues, lead her and the bailiffs to think she has a normal busy life. So, how come she’s laid here unnoticed for ten months.

Jenn suffers from obsessive thoughts and severe anxiety, so she can’t leave this mystery alone. Her attention to detail is incredible and it actually makes her quite a good investigator. Her narrative voice is very anxious and I found that quite stressful after a while but it is true to her character. Sometimes she would pass her anxieties on to son Charlie, which is common in families with an anxious parent. The author takes us into her mind in such detail - the loneliness, mistrust and isolation- that it becomes a mystery in its own right? How did Jenn become like this?
I kept veering between sympathy and understanding to questioning her trustworthiness. Then there’s Sarah Jones and the mystery of her unnoticed death. It reminded me of the film documentary Dreams of a Life where singer Joyce Vincent’s death went unnoticed for months. If this person had relationships, work and in Vincent’s case presents under the Christmas tree, how did no one care? Thirdly, there are chapters from a litttle girl called Prinn. This is a very childish voice, it sounds even younger than the nine year old she says she is. Could she be lying or. Is this a case of arrested development? I loved East’s slow and psychologically thorough exploration of these characters as Jenn tries to put together a story.

This was full of twists and turns, very well placed and controlled by the author. This was an intelligent psychological thriller that I enjoyed immensely.

Jen is the manager of a housing association and with two bailiffs she goes to evict the tenant called Sarah. When they try to get Sarah to answer the door there is no answer. When they get in they discover Sarah is dead. This is just the start of the story. We get to discover there is a link between Sarah and Jen that goes back years. This is a good book that i found i got more and more involved in as the story developed.