Ben’s mother disappeared after a car breakdown when he was 7. Years later his wife is commissioned to create a fairy tale mural for a millionaire and finds a connection. She also finds his mother’s diaries and now she doesn’t know who to trust. Fast paced easy read.

When Ben was seven, his mother (Kirsty) was murdered after their car broke down, whilst he waited for her in their car. The killer was never found. 

Thirty years later, Ben is married to Rebecca. His wife takes on a new job painting for a wealthy businessman who starts asking questions about Kirsty.

I enjoyed the mystery in this book and how it keeps you guessing about what did happen to Ben’s mum and who Ben really is. The excerpts from Kirsty’s diary are great and tease more details about what happened.

This book was just a little too slow-paced for me personally and, as the perspective changes between the different characters, there is quite a bit of repetition and you read the same conversations twice.

The ending, however, was satisfying and pulled together a lot of the loose threads.

An enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After a car break down on the hard shoulder 7 year old Ben is left in the car to look for help. She never returns and is found murdered. This story follows Ben in adult life when his wife gets an artists job in the big old house at the edge of the woods. Her employer seems to be taking an interest in what happened to Ben years ago and as the story unfolds we wonder why and what really happened all those years ago. Bens memory is rather jaded around the event and soon things start to unfold. There are a few twists and turns and on the whole this is an enjoyable read. I did sort of guess the end.

Kirsty is driving home from her parents house with her 7 year old son Ben. She breaks down on the motorway and leaving Ben in the car goes to find help. She's then found murdered and no-one was ever found guilty. Fast forward and Ben is now married to Rebecca but still having nightmares about that day.
Rebecca takes a job painting a mural for Pieter,at Marchboys house, who takes an unnatural interest in Kirsty's death. Why is he so interested and does he know more than he's letting on.
On the whole I enjoyed this book, told in parts from the perspective of Rebecca, Ben and Pieter, I did find some parts slightly repetitive as Ben's story was similar to Rebecca's telling. I enjoyed the parts relating to Kirsty's diary. I found the ending conclusive. All in all a steady read
Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected

This was an amazing book to read, there is so many twists and turns that it will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's brilliantly written and I can't wait to read more by this author

Superb compelling reading. Excellent novel.

You have to feel sorry for Ben, not really knowing who he is. Then enlightenment happens via numerous sources.

Painters, teachers, grandparents and a mother who took the secret to her deathbed with her. A book to really get into, but not if you want an early night.

Thank you for letting me read this book.

Ben's mother was murdered when he was just 7 years old and the killer has never been found. Fast forward and hes happily married to Rebecca and they have a beautifully quiet life together living in an old cottage with their two dogs. Rebecca is an up and coming mural painter and receives a commission by a wealthy man named Pieter when things start to unfold and the past catches up with them. The House at the Edge of the Woods is a decent read with just enough detail to keep you guessing but still with a satisfying twist. The multiple perspectives were quite repetitive in the first part even down to repeating the same dialogue which I thought was unnecessary. I would pick up another book by this author as I did enjoy the plot but it could have been shorter with the same effect.

This book is really good. Couldn’t put it down, Full of twists and turns the whole way through. My only thing was a couple of times it felt a bit repetitive and it could have been cut out . However on the whole I really enjoyed it!

The synopsis sounded good but I was exasperated at the repetitive dialogue and descriptions. I read halfway then skimmed for a bit but overall not for me just feel it could've been held together and felt half-hearted.

I found this story a bit repetitive at times. From different viewpoints but basically the same story 3 times.

Fantastic!! Kept me turning pages and hooked with the twists and turns. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this stunner!

Artist Rebecca Swarbrick receives her biggest ever,in more ways than one,commission from wealthy businessman Pieter Blake, who employs her to paint a massive fairytale-themed mural across a large ceiling in his palatial Georgian mansion. 30 years previously Rebecca's husband Ben's mother was murdered and her body found in woodland bordering the house with the 7 year-old Ben found waiting in her nearby car.
When Pieter seems to Rebecca to be too interested and a lot more than casually interested in the murder she senses an ulterior motive and potentially danger.

This is a well-written book told from different perspectives by all of the main characters,with each narrative leading the reader to a different possible conclusion until the big reveal at the end. The thoughts, memories and inner feelings of those involved and how they affect their relationships with each other are a big part of the story, as are their doubts and suspicions as the truth emerges from the shadows of the past.

The book is quite slow-,moving and involving rather than exciting,an observation rather than a criticism and if you're a fan of such authors as William Wisting and Henning Mankell it's well-worth a read.

I enjoyed this book, it was full of twists and turns. The story follows Rebecca & Ben as they search for clues to who killed Bens mother.
Rebecca is an artist and is recruited to paint a mural on a ceiling. After meeting the owner of the house, Pieter, and talking about what happened to Bens mother the story starts to unravel. Ben was left in a car at the age of 7 on the side of the road while his mum went for help and she was found murdered in the woods.
The story is told by different perspectives. I liked Bens character very much.
I didn’t expect the ending and who the killer was surprised me as I thought it came from nowhere.

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 (3.5)

Thank you to Penguin Random House UK for inviting me to read this ARC.

I was invited to read this book and honesty what a cracker of a book.
If it’s a debut by the author then I certainly hope there’s more to come. I just reviewed The House at the Edge of the Woods by Rachel Hancox. #TheHouseattheEdgeoftheWoods #NetGalley

This book is fantastically written. Rachel Hancox keeps you intrigued until the end. She tells a very good story. I didn't expect the ending.

The book is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and intrigued. The story is told from the perspectives of the main protagonists and is cleverly done with interspersed fairy tale themes. The book is a thrilling blend of mystery, suspense, and family drama that will keep you hooked until the very end. I wasn’t that keen on the complete fairy tales at the end as to me the story was already finished. Even so it’s a solid 4 stars

This drew me in from the first page. The writing style makes it an easy and enjoyable read.
However, the retelling of the story from different perspectives affected the pace and felt quite repetitive at times, with few new insights provided to move the narrative forward.
It’s a good ending, I felt it completed the story.
Thank you Cornerstone for the arc.

What a lovely story. I enjoyed unraveling the mystery of who killed Ben's mother. Loved the characters and the ending proved to be very satisfying.

3.5 rounded down

In August 1993, Kirsty Swarbrick’s car breaks down on the motorway and she leaves her seven-year-old son Ben in the car while she seeks help. That is the last time that Ben sees his mother as she is murdered in nearby woods as he waits, her killer is never found. In the present day, Ben is now happily married to Rebecca after a whirlwind romance. On the surface, Ben seems to be coping with his tragic past, but he has recurring nightmares. When Rebecca gets a commission helping with the restoration of Marchboys House, once a glorious Georgian mansion, owner wealthy businessman, Pieter Blake starts asking questions about Ben and Kirsty. Is it possible that after all this time that the past can be laid to rest? The story is told via several points of view.

I really like the premise of the novel and I feel sure that Kirsty is murder could be based on fact, perhaps that of Marie Wilkes in 1988? The authors representation of Ben and how he copes is done well and he is a likeable character, as is Rebecca. There are some strange characters, odd, maybe even alarming relationships, especially between Kirsty and her parents and some situations that raise all kinds of questions. I puzzle over Pieter’s interest and Rebecca is certainly curious about him which changes to unease. The mystery of Kirsty‘s death is intriguing and that seems to deepen and the waters get murkier and murkier. There are some fortuitous finds, growing suspicions and a lot of two and two making five.

There’s an ever present Grimm’s fairytale element which starts with Kirsty’s murder and is reinforced by the work that Rebecca is doing at Marchboys. It gives a sense of unreality to the storytelling and a nightmare element with the past like a presence you cannot see. Although I really do enjoy the fairytale approach it is perhaps slightly overdone but is a balance between good and evil.

However, the book is slow at times, especially in the first half and the different perspectives adds to the pacing issue because there’s a lot of repetition which is unnecessary. Eventually, one point of view does advance the story, which is both interesting and revealing. The novel gets better and better the deeper we go into it and I find myself drawn into and invested in Ben story. Although I have my suspicions over the outcome which does prove correct, the ending is a good one and very satisfying.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone, for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This book was a great read, it had me full of questions and kept me reading until I knew the answers, recommended.