When Fern and Paul move into their new house strange things begin to happen. Fern was already in a fragile state as she was mourning the death of her twin sister and she was pregnant. But now she has other things to worry about. Is she going mad, do the neighbours hate her, who can she trust and on top of all that Paul invites his mother to stay.

I wanted to like this book...I really did. But I'm not sure what it was about it that I didn't like. Maybe the fact I found it too wordy and too filled with description or scattered incessant monologuing by Fern. I'm a dialogue person. There's nothing wrong with monologuing...but it needs to be engaging and I wasn't quite sure if this was. It began OK and then I got lost. I understand that Fern's loss of her twin Linny was devastating and I appreciate that but I found it a tad depressing more than thrilling. I think the fact it was exploring the grief more than being an actual thriller, it failed to hold my attention and my mind kept wandering that before long I'd read half a dozen pages and no idea what had happened.

I do so love an atmospheric haunted house thriller but it was so shrouded in Fern's grief more than anything else that I found it difficult to see past that. Unfortunately I didn't get to finish it to find out if it got any better or got worse. I have no idea if she had a boy or a girl, who the mysterious Marte was, the truth about Linny's death or even how it ended. I would have liked to know but really...I could't get past all of the things I didn't like about this book to continue.

A pity, really, as the premise was intriguing. However, one is not going to like every book we read despite the fact that so many actually enjoyed this one. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I need to revisit this one again later when I'm in a different mindset.

I would like to thank #JenniferMoore, #NetGalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheWomanBefore in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

DNF @16% when I got to the line "what if she couldn't be trusted with her own baby?"

Depression and psychosis in pregnancy is too common to be used at as a plot device.

The woman in this story is pregnant, and grieving the loss of her twin sister. Her husband is dismissive and seems to think that "snap out of it" is a way to help his wife when she's having the most awful pregnancy nightmares and hallucination visits from her dead sister. On top of that, they're moving house. And he wonders why she isn't coping too well?

I don't care how this story goes.

Thanks for the ARC, sorry I couldn't be more positive.

The large, old house on Crenellation Lane is supposed to give Fern and Paul a new start. After Fern's twin Linny was killed, Fern keeps seeing her everywhere. Paul decides that maybe a change in scenery will remedy this irrational condition. But now Fern also sees another woman, pregnant Marte. And when Fern begins to ask her new neighbors about Marte, strange things start to happen like violent dreams, graffiti on the house, and unexplained indoor temperature fluctuations. Paul can't take the drama and chooses to abandon Fern, their unborn baby and his mother Tina. But the women of the house will solve the mystery and put Marte and her baby to rest.
I really enjoyed unraveling this mystery. In my mind, I had the ending all wrong!
And the novel made me laugh and cry. I connected emotionally with Fern and Tina in a surprising way.
Unfortunately, most of the men in this book are immature. But a few do manage to redeem themselves in the end.
Fern's internal dialogue is also confusing at times. The author chooses to include it with italic font, but I still found myself confused sometimes about if Fern actually said what she was thinking out loud.
If you like paranormal mysteries with strong female leads, this book is an interesting and entertaining read.
My favorite quote from Linny to her new niece:
"Never let anyone tell you you're not good enough. Never give up on your dream. Never do tequila slammers on an empty stomach. Never eat garlic bread on a first date. And never let your mum do karaoke in public. She' terrible, she really is."

This is a debut author?! I can’t wait to read what’s next!

The Woman Before is part ghost story, part murder mystery that will have you reading all night to find out what’s going on.

The characters are well thought out and relatable/believable. It kept me guessing the whole time and tied up nicely.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Also KUDOS to Jennifer Moore!

This was part ghost story, part murder mystery that will have you wanting to find out what in the world is happening to Fern. Having just moved into a big old house on Crenellation Lane, she is seeing people and things that no one else sees. She and her husband Paul are expecting their first child, so perhaps pregnancy hormones can explain the recurring sightings of her deceased twin, but what about the strange things that are happening at her house? Lots of relatable characters plus a very twisty mystery make this book a must read, for sure.….5 stars!

A great book, a good read but ultimately wants a reader that likes the supernatural element which I don’t.

A definite must read for anyone that fits that description though!

A gripping, very realistic novel. From start to finish I was hooked. I believe that the author had got Fern’s feelings for her dead twin quite accurate. When a twin dies and leaves the other one behind, they feel as if they have lost part of themselves, not in every case, in quite a few. How Fern was portrayed with people thinking she had had a breakdown was very realistic. I loved the way she was like a dog with a bone. Never resting until she got answers. Many people do think that if you say you have seen someone who is dead. Paul, Fern’s husband, was also characterised well. His attitude towards her was illustrated brilliantly. Although I find it hard to accept what he does, it made me discuss it. Paul’s mum was the character I admired most. She was loving, caring, full of life and a wonderful sleuth.

This was exceptionally well written. I didn’t want to put it down, always wanting to turn the page. Congratulation’s Jennifer this was certainly a fantastic debut novel, and I cannot wait for your next one.

Really enjoyed this book, excellent debut book. I love a good ghost story and a realistic one at that. A little slow to start with but then it was fast paced all thr way to the end. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more books in the future by this author.

The Real Trouble…
The old house that sits on Crenellation Lane is just perfect. Isn’t it? So think Fern and Paul. Nursing tragic events and past trauma they move, with a view to starting afresh. That’s exactly when the real trouble begins. With a well crafted cast of characters, much tension and an intriguing storyline this is a solid suspense and an immersive read.

Fern moves into her new house, a large, old dwelling on Crenellation Lane, a tree-lined cul-de-sac, with her husband, Paul after the death of her twin sister, Linny. Paul and Fern are awaiting their first child, and Fern is five months pregnant. But it's not long before Fern, who is suffering from mental health issues but is seeking help from Dr Earnshaw, is having terrible nightmares.

This was a compelling and intriguing tale with twists and psychological and supernatural elements. I had frequent changes of mind as I fought to work out exactly what was going on. The characterisation was good, especially in the case of Tina, Fern's mother-in-law who was a godsend. This book kept me guessing and it all tied up with a satisfying ending. A great creepy début.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ Digital via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I couldn't put this book down! It was THAT good.

I was immersed in Fern's story from the first chapter. Her determination to discover the identity of a mysterious woman and the secrets of her new house kept me turning the pages - it's a very addictive read.

This is a MUST read for any thriller lovers.

Fern is devastated by the loss of her twin in an accident and has struggled to accept that she has died . She speaks to her and sees her much to the concern of her husband Paul - who has grave concerns for her mental health.
As well as being pregnant they move in to a new house, hoping for a fresh start but things only get worse. Fern has awful nightmares and sees and talks to a pregnant woman who no one else has seen for six years.
I enjoyed some aspects of this book - but wasn’t so keen on the supernatural aspects - one step too far for me!

The opening of the book is a bit slow to get going but the action ramps up in the final third and I was fully engaged with the characters by the end, even if I'd guess the ending.
Paul and Fern move into a new (to them) house on Crenellation Lane. It is supposed to be a new start for them after the death of Fern's sister a few months earlier and a better place to raise their baby than the flat where they live. But as soon as they move in Fern begins having visions and hears noises. Paul is less than sympathetic and moves his mother in to help out while Fern is going through a funny phase. Previously Fern had found Tina overbearing and controlling but as she tries to get to grip with the odd happenings in the house she finds Tina becomes an ally, especially when Paul takes off, saying he can't deal with Fern's hysterics.
Much of Fern's mental state is put down to pregnancy 'hormones' especially by her husband and other men in the book. However, the story deals in quite a lot of detail with her state of mind after losing an identical twin with whom she'd shared her life until the point of her sister's death. The loss allows the author to play on Fern's vulnerability and bring in hints of paranormal and supernatural activity. Whether you chose to believe this as a reader doesn't really matter — it serves to ramp up the pressure on Fern and make sure she is an emotional wreck by the time the finale is arrived at.
There are quite an array of characters in Crenellation Lane, but all distinctly drawn, several with their own problems. I did wonder quite why someone as attractive and vibrant as Fern's sister would have been attracted to one of them, and quite why Marte was attracted to another, but that is really my only beef with the story.
A very readable and impressive first novel. With thanks to HQ and Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

When Fern is viewing a house, she is shown around by a woman she assumes is the owner. After moving into the house with her husband, Fern discovers the woman is not who she seemed and begins her quest to solve a mystery. Is Fern right to feel unnerved or is she becoming obsessed because of the trauma of recently losing her twin sister?

I could not put The Woman Before down, I loved everything about it. It was a great story which was well written and I can’t wait until the next book by Jennifer Moore.

Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. I loved the characters and all the twists. A serious must read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC to review.
Great domestic thriller from a new author.
Good storyline and well written.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

After the tragic death of her twin sister, Fern and her husband buy a beautiful house on Crenellation Lane for a fresh new start. A woman gives Fern a tour of this house and they bond over their pregnant bellies. But when this mysterious woman keeps showing up in her nightmares, Fern starts asking around about her and no one seems to want to give her any information. What she does discover, concerns her. Despite all the other issues Fern is dealing with, she makes it her mission to find out who this woman is.
This was definitely an interesting read! The who-done-it vibes were really good! Most of all, I loved the character development. I LOVED the relationship between Fern and her mother-in-law. It was so sweet! There were a few small plot holes that I noticed. But over all, it was pretty good!

Thank you #TheWomanBefore #NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Woman Before is a psychological thriller, part mystery, part ghost story.

Fern the main characters twin sister was killed by a bus while riding her bike. Ferns pregnant, not handling the loss of her sister well at all. Her husband Paul is worried about her mental health. Paul decides to buy a larger house hoping to make some positive changes in their lives. While they are house shopping another pregnant woman shows up at the house showing.

Fern starts seeing things no one else sees, she's having nightmares of this woman that showed up at the showing of the house she and her husband, Paul bought. Nightmares about the house and it's past. Is Fern crazy?

An interesting read,

Loved the picture on the front and was interested to read it but found it confusing from the start and just couldn`t keep my attention.
It was supposed to be a thriller but more supernatural than thriller a subject I'm not interested in so not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
Posted to Goodreads