A great psychological thriller about a couple Fern and Paul who move to a new house. Fern starts to experience terrifying nightmares about the woman who lived in the house before. When the couple viewed the house Fern bonded with the woman over their pregnancies. A great debut novel which I would recommend.

I love a good psychological thriller so when I discovered this book on NetGalley I was keen to read it. It didn't disappoint.

The book centres around Fern - who has recently suffered the loss of her twin sister following a road traffic accident. Keen to make a new start Fern and her husband Paul move into a large, old house on Crenellation Lane, with beautiful high ceilings and a luscious garden, the ideal spot to raise their first baby. Even before they arrive though strange things happen - Fern is shown around the property by the mysterious, also pregnant Marte, when the estate agent is unexpectedly called away. But who is Marte? Why has the house passed through so many people's hands over the past five years? Is it all in Fern's head - did she really see Marte or is she 'seeing things' - just as she has been 'seeing' her sister since her death?

There's not much more that I can say about the plot itself without spoiling things. As to the book itself, I couldn't put it down - I was glad to have the hot weather as an excuse to stop work and get back to my reading. A recommended summer read

A perfect home
When Fern and Paul move into the large, old house on Crenellation Lane, with beautiful high ceilings and a luscious garden, they think they’ve found their dream home. After the devastating loss of Fern’s twin sister, it will be a fresh start and somewhere to raise their first baby.
A destructive obsession
But as soon as they arrive, Fern starts having terrifying nightmares about the woman who lived there before. When the woman showed Fern around, they bonded over their pregnancies. Now, Fern can’t let her go. Does she have something to do with the strange things happening in the house? Paul fears his wife has relapsed, obsessing in the same way she did with her twin.
A fatal secret
Fern questions the neighbours about the previous owner, but nobody wants to talk. It’s like the woman never even existed. Refusing to give up, Fern uncovers a shocking secret and now suddenly her whole family is in danger…

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

Wow this book is great and the fact that it's a debut makes it even better. If you like physiological thrillers then this one is definitely one not to be missed. It is dark, broody, with plenty of twist and turns along the way. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

An amazing thriller with twists and turns, what an amazing debut book I was so addicted. This is definitely a highly recommended read.

A brilliant murder mystery thriller with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely read more from this author. Brilliant characters and brilliant story xx

This is a debut author? WOW! If this is the first release then I cannot wait to see what comes next.
This book has everything. Characters that have been really thought about, that are instantly believable and relatable.
The attention that’s been put into all elements of the story are amazing.
I lost myself completely in this and couldn’t get enough. This, this book right here should be added to everyone’s TBR god this summer. Just….fab.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. Truly 5 out of 5 stars. If I could give it more, I would!

This was a gripping book with twists and psychological and supernatural elements.
What is true? Who is telling lies? Did Fern really see what she says she did or is she still suffering repercussions from the death of her twin?
All these questions are answered by the end of the book with a few red herrings thrown in for good measure. Thank goodness for Tina the Cagney to Fern's Lacey to help and support her quest for truth as well as looking after the pregnant Fern.
I was left with only one question unanswered - did they ever bring the blanket in from the garden?

A gripping read from the first pages loved the main character Fern and her quest to find answers as to the woman she keeps in her mind. Paul her husband thinks it is down to her pregnancy but Fern knows something happened to Marte the woman she keeps seeing and the neighbours are keeping secrets and refuse to talk about the previous owners.
When her husband says he needs time away to think her mother in law Tina arrives and what a great character she is as she believes Fern and sets about helping to find the truth.
Highly recommend thanks to NetGalley & HQ, HQ Digital for a advanced copy.
Would love a follow up book.

I simply loved this book as it was such a great psychological thriller without the intensity of having to turn my shoulder to check that everything was okay where I was. The supernatural element made this an unusual story and gave it so much impact. I did work out fairly quickly about Marte but certainly not the full background story. I found that the characters were so well described I could almost see them in my mind and thought that it captured a traditional set of residents in a street beautifully. I considered that the way the bursts of detective work and its results about Marte were introduced at a pace that kept me glued to the book and wanting to find out more. I felt very sorry for Fern as Paul just did not understand her emotions and as such I was not a great fan of this autocratic many but his mum Tina was a jewel and displayed such a lovely personality, understanding Fern all the way.

@currentlyreading__
Book 49 of 2022

Jennifer Moore's debut thriller 'The Woman Before' was my focus last week and it certainly kept me guessing. Fern and Paul have moved into the house of their dreams on Crenellation Lane, but pregnant Fern, already grieving for the death of her twin sister, cannot settle. Fern sees her sister everywhere and Paul is worried about his wife's mental state. Cue, lots of strange neighbours, nightmares about the mysterious pregnant woman who showed her around the house, strange happenings within the house and a seemingly cruel campaign to drive out the couple and we have a mysterious yet atmospheric psychological thriller.

Thank you to @NetGalley, the author Jennifer Moore and the publisher @hqstories. #thewomanbefore is out now.


#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #instareads #currentlyreading #bookchat #bookish #books #thewomanbefore #jennifermoore

I really enjoyed this and was gripped from the beginning. A clever psychological thriller with the supernatural as part of the suspense. What is real and what is imaginary. Fern's twin sister Linnaea recently died in a horrible accident. Fern continues to see her everywhere. Now pregnant, Fern and her husband Paul move to a new house, but who was the pregnant woman who showed Fern round the new house? And who is mounting a campaign to get them out of the neighbourhood. Strange things happen and Fern is terrified. When interfering mother in law Tina comes to stay, this is the last straw for Fern - however it turns out to be just what she needed and they form an unlikely but strong alliance to get to the bottom of events. I read this in a couple of sittings. #netgalley #thewomanbefore

Totally gripping! I was hooked from the first moment. My mind spiraling attempting to work out "who done what" what was real, what was happening. I loved the characters, both the living and the no longer with us, I was totally with Fern from the start, willing her on towards an outcome that would give her and certain others peace. Her father, husband and incredible mother in law. How cruel is life, (and death) Heartbreak, a menacing mystery all add to Fern's nightmares. I as with her all through this haunting, gripping story. I'm not sure where her strength came from, hope, love, grief? Never give up. even when you doubt yourself!

I could not put this book down! Totally addictive, completely compelling, highly recommended!

Rating - 3.5 stars.

This is Jennifer Moore's first novel and I enjoyed it. The blurb reads

"A perfect home

When Fern and Paul move into the large, old house on Crenellation Lane, with beautiful high ceilings and a luscious garden, they think they’ve found their dream home. After the devastating loss of Fern’s twin sister, it will be a fresh start and somewhere to raise their first baby.

A destructive obsession

But as soon as they arrive, Fern starts having terrifying nightmares about the woman who lived there before. When the woman showed Fern around, they bonded over their pregnancies. Now, Fern can’t let her go. Paul fears his wife has relapsed, obsessing in the same way she did after her twin’s death.

A fatal secret

Fern questions the neighbours about the previous owner, but nobody wants to talk. It’s like the woman never even existed. Refusing to give up, Fern uncovers a shocking secret and now suddenly her whole family is in danger…"


The blurb read like my ideal book and I enjoyed the writing style of Jennifer Moore. The story somewhat lacked some depth for me, but that is my personal opinion and the repetition of the loss of Ferns twin did seem to pop up a great deal.

Main characters Fern and Paul have decided to move, after the death of Fern's twin sister she needs a new and fresh start. Fern is pregnant and when they move into their new home, what should be the most amazing time of their lives are firstly dampened with the loss of her sister and then secondly Fern is having awful, vivid nightmares of the woman who lived in the house before them. Both women were pregnant and seemed to have a connection immediately.

Fern starts investigating the woman who lived in the house before but know one wants to engage with Fern about her.

Thanks to Jennifer Moore, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
There is a few twists in this novel and it was a good read.

It has been 5 months since Fern Croft’s twin sister, Linny, died when her bike was hit by a bus. Fern is pregnant and the loss of her sister has been devastating for her. She feels like she sees Linny everywhere and her husband, Paul, is worried about her mental health.

They have decided to buy a larger house and she is revisiting one that she and Paul like. The realtor had to leave suddenly but a blonde woman, also pregnant, and named Marte, is there to show her around. But after they buy the house and move in, no one seems to know who Marte is. In addition, Fern is convinced that Linny is close as she sees her often and finds little reminders of her. Asking around, Fern can’t find out who Marte is. When Paul has had enough of her imaginings, he leaves for awhile and his mother, Tina, comes to stay with her.

Oh my. This book was so tedious and down-right boring. I did not like Fern at all. She’s a weak little person who acts as if she’s the only woman who has ever been pregnant. Tina is a life saver for Fern and for the entire story. She is strong and proactive. I think the author was trying for a Gothic and ghostly book but it fell flat for me. I am going to be very generous and give this book 3 stars.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Fern and Paul decide to make a fresh start before the arrival of their first child, they get more than they bargained for. Fern is visited by a dead previous occupant. Strange things happen and it isn't the fresh start that they were looking for. Despite the spooky happenings some good things come out of this move. Justice is served and finally they can be a happy family. I was hooked right from the beginning. This book was like nothing that I had read before. I didn't want it to end.

Wow ! What a read. I really enjoyed this twisty novel. It's a spooky tale of fern seeing a woman named Marte in her brand new house. Is she really there? What is she trying to tell her? You'll be turning the pages quickly trying to find out what is going on.

I really enjoyed the tie in at the end with Ferns deceased sister and the addition of her mother in law Tina. It had me laughing out loud at times.

This is a great change from the thrillers I normally read. Thank you to netgalley and Harper collins for this great read!

An enjoyable read.

Expectant parents Fern and Paul move to a new house for a fresh start after the premature death of Fern's twin sister. Right from the start things are strange with a mysterious pregnant lady, Marte only Fern has seen then the nightmares begin.
Is it baby brain from the pregnancy or is it something else? Fern and her mother in law Tina, my favourite character by far, decide to become detectives and track down Marte and discover .the secrets of Crenellation Lane.
For a debut novel it is a well written book and I believe the author will have a cracker of a second one. There was a few unanswered questions and I did get confused with some of the characters but all in all I would recommend it.

I would give it 31/2 stars.

Expecting her first child and grieving the loss of her twin sister in an accident, Fern and her husband move into a large house out of town, but the moment they arrive Fern begins having nightmares about a mysterious woman and a baby. In addition, Fern seems to have inadvertently alienated her new neighbours, and her husband has invited her mother-in-law to stay with them, and she is prone to interfering. However, as her relationship with her husband becomes increasingly strained as he struggles to believe the strange events she says are happening in the house, she finds her mother-in-law to be a staunch ally...
An intriguing and gripping mystery which shifts in tone as the reader comes to realise which characters are telling the truth. A tense and exciting page turner.

3.5 stars rounded up

When Fern and Paul move into the large old house on Crenellation Lane, with beautiful high ceilings and a luscious garden , they think they've found their dream home. After the devastating loss of Fern's twin sister, it will be a fresh start and somewhere to raise their first baby, But as soon as they arrive, Fern starts having terrifying nightmares about the woman who lived there before. When the woman showed Fern around, they bonded over pregnancies. Now Fern can't let her go. Paul fears his wife has relapsed, obsessing in the same way she did after her twin's death.

This is quite a good debut novel but the pace is on the slow side, but it still head my attention throughout. There's a bit of paranormal creepiness throughout the book. Fern is a conflicted character. Her main support is from her mother-in-law, Tina. The characters are well drawn and they all have secrets. You can't help but feel a little sorry for Fern and all that she's been through. I took half a star off as i felt the ending was a bit abrupt.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #JenniferMoore for my ARC of #TheWomanBefore in exchange for an honest review/