I really don't know how to review this book!! There were many twists, turns, and wtf moments that I'm still not sure what I just read!

I can say that I was genuinely terrified and had to turn the big light on, and I jumped at every little noise. I finished reading just before midnight and had to read a chapter or a rom-com before I could go to bed.

I loved this book so, so much! It's just just scary. It's emotional and dramatic, too. I cried a few times, which I didn't expect. It's also very character driven. Cass and James were both so complex and interesting.

This is my new favourite Louise Jensen book!

With very clever use and descriptions of sounds and visions the author has created an excellent backdrop to a chilling story.

A young couple who are starting out are offered the chance to be caretakers at an old Manor House. This has been abandoned for some time and was once the scene of a grisly murder. Cass is newly pregnant and fascinated by the house which she feels oddly at home in. James is called away for work and has to hope Cass is coping in their new home. The clock stops at 8.30, a swing in the garden moves on its own and the words run, run, run appear in Cass’s mind.

It is difficult to tell if a book will get a reader sucked into a plot but this is almost from the off. So many twists and turns and many times I thought that I had cracked it but was always a step behind the author. Great atmosphere created and the end plot twists when they came and the unpicking of what happened in the past was so well thought out.

Great thriller and one that I will be recommending.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review 📚

This started off strong and stayed that way right up until it finished. I must admit I wasn’t a fan of the character Cass she was really annoying and whiny and I definitely felt conflicted about some of the other characters but all the way through I was willing them to make the right decisions.
It took turns I was not expecting and I stayed up till the early hours so I could find out what happened.
Overall another great book by Louise Jensen she’s should definitely be on your radar if you love a thriller read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

An intricate and puzzling plot, I enjoyed this thriller immensely. At first I was a bit disappointed because I had guessed one element of the plot development, but the manner in which Jensen then twists this knowledge made for a gripping and immersive page-turner.

Moving into a tragedy house, Cass is convinced that there is some sort of supernatural at work because things are being moved, windows mysteriously left opened and, most sinister of all, a grandfather clock that always stops at the same time every evening. I loved the atmosphere that Jensen creates and felt that I would not be someone who could occupy this strange house with awful memories. The creepy messages and music that are repeated throughout the novel sent shivers down my spine and I found this added to the intensity of the setting.

Through the use of clever flashbacks, readers begin to find out about what happened at Newington House, why it is a house famous for tragedy. This element really had me on tenterhooks and there were many points when I thought I was one step ahead of the author. This was certainly not the case! There were so many ambiguities about this part of the plot and I was pleasantly puzzled. However, the more I read, the more addicted I became to this mystery and how James and Cass are part of Newington House’s history.

As the story develops, the chapters become shorter and I felt breathless with reading it. You do experience chapters from a range of character perspectives however, Jensen does not introduced these all at once. By the time the newer voices are included in the narrative, this isn’t an issue in the slightest. In fact, I was desperate to have this extra information because I knew it would help fill in the gaps of the tragic night that Newington House is haunted by.

Another great read from Jensen that was highly enjoyable throughout. Jensen is fast becoming one of my favourite go-to authors for the thriller genre, as I know she always delivers a great story.

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

This is a great thriller with a creepy vibe to it.
When James and Cass visit the house where they’ve been offered the jobs of caretaker while it’s waiting to be renovated, they’re both in awe of it.
Cass is told a family were murdered here thirty years ago which initially puts her off but she decides to go for it.
They’ve only been together six months and it soon becomes clear they both have a few secrets from each other.
Cass starts hearing a voice and smelling a lemon scent and there’s a clock that keeps stopping at 8.30 every day. James experiences a few things but doesn’t seem too worried until Cass thinks she sees other people in the house.
We also have chapters from the past and it gradually builds a picture of what happened thirty years ago.
There’s some great twists in this story which I really liked.
A great read.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

James and Cass are together and trying to save for a deposit for a home together. They get the chance to live rent free in a house in exchange for some housesitting duties, it seems the ideal situation for them.

Unfortunately the house has been unoccupied for about 30 years and there was a family tragedy there and the house holds many secrets. Strange things happen, things go missing, a window keeps opening and the main clock always stops at 8:30. Will they be able to live there after the houses reveals its secrets and are people who they seem?

This was my introduction to the psychological thriller writing of Louise Jensen. It is quite a scary book that held this readers attention. A good plot line with some good twists. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC.

Young Couple Cass and James, have been together 6 months, but feel like they’ve known each other forever.
They may be in the early days of their relationship but they know they want to be together.
When James is offered the opportunity to caretake an old mansion, he jumps at the chance and persuades Cass to join him

30 years ago, the Maddley family were subject to a home invasion which resulted in 3 of them dead. Only the toddler survived. The house has remained empty since then.

Until now. Cass and James move in, almost straight away Cass begins to feel uneasy is she losing her mind, or have the perpetrators from the attack come back for something?

Cass is emotionally unstable and doubts her experiences, are they happening or are they in her imagination? James begin to realise he doesn’t know Cass as well as he thought and also begins to doubt her experiences.

In this story we jump from 30 years ago, to the present day. With the story mixing between those affected then and now.

It was at times quite confusing. I thought I had it sussed at one point only to be thrown a curve ball.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

What an incredible book! It is full of suspense and has so many twists and turns you could make yourself dizzy. I did have to check that it was listed as a psychological thriller and not a horror story. It was that engrossing!
Cass and James are in a new relationship with each other and have been given the opportunity to be live in caretakers of a large manor which has been lying empty for many years. On doing some research Cass found out that the previous occupants had been murdered in the house some thirty years ago. She was rightly apprehensive of moving in and on doing so some spooky things began to happen, like strange noises and windows continually opening of their own accord.
This entire book is very well written and pulls you in so far you cannot get back out of it. It's a must read. I thank Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy

They were told to leave...they should have listened...

Holy flipping moly!! This was one super creepy thriller...and not at all what I expected. I feel a touch of John Marrs with this one and boy, did Louise Jensen pull the wool ever so neatly over my eyes that I didn't see what really was at play until it began to unravel.

Newington House sits dormant, abandoned and untouched for thirty years. It has a past that is so shocking and so much more than met the eye at the time. Thirty years ago, the Madley family were brutally murdered, their secrets dying along with them.

Thirty years later, James has brought girlfriend Cass to Newington, agreeing to house-sit for a big conglomerate who intend to turn the Grade 1 listed house into a retreat. Though she was oblivious to its history to begin with, Cass soon decided it was the perfect opportunity for her and James to save a deposit for their own place as they are being paid to live as caretakers for the duration.

But it isn't long before Cass begins to hear whispers, sees shadows and movement, hears the creaking of the swing, the rocking of the chair in the nursery. The breeze from the window that is continually opened. The grandfather clock that stops at 8.30 every night. The scent of lemon. The giggling, the sing-song nursery rhymes and the strains of an old song about rabbits and running. Cass is confused. What does it all mean? Is Newington House haunted? Is the ghost of the murdered family still rattling around the rooms and creaking on the stairs? And why does he name Rose echo around her?

The same opportunity that seemed to good to be true is starting to look like it is just that. Cass starts to fear being in the house on her own and feels as if she is being watched. But nothing will prepare the reader for what is to come...

The creaks and sounds of the house echo through the pages as Louise Jensen skilfully pens this cleverly crafted plot that will fool even the seasoned thriller fan. I have read a good many of her thrillers and this has to be the creepiest...one that she takes to a whole new level! As I said, I felt tinges of John Marrs in this one, it was so creepy, so chilling and so cleverly done.

And can we just take a moment to appreciate that creepy, atmospheric and chilling cover? It gives me vibes of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and "Psycho" in one!

How very apt that this extraordinary atmospheric thriller that is an addictive read from beginning to end is my 1000th review for Netgalley. I am thrilled that this is to mark that milestone with such a fantastic read!

Easily 5 stars!

I would like to thank #LouiseJensen #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheIntruders in exchange for an honest review.

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

Thank you to HQ, Netgalley and Louise Jensen for the audio Arc of The Intruders.


This is a tense, creepy psychological thriller which grabs you right from the beginning. Cass and James, newly into a relationship move into an Old house as caretakers to make sure no one breaks in and ransacks the place. It's been empty for along time due to a murder that took place years before. As time ticks by Cass is convinced that all is not right and senses a presence within the property. The story itself has some very well placed twists and turns which leaves you wondering what direction the narrative will flow and you won't be disappointed. The ending and pay off was well executed.

A great gripping read. 4.25 stars

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

omg what have i just read.... wow

this one is a psychological thriller with a huge twist.....that i never saw coming, this one also should come with a few trigger warnings as at times it was hard to read....

but man its gripping and i couldnt put it down..... well worth a read though

📖 BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheIntruders by @fabricating_fiction @hqstories

➡️synopsis

Oh this one had all the feels - I was creeped out A LOT. My advice is don’t read this next to a child that talks in his sleep 😨

Not only was the atmosphere on point, the plot was a complex mix of a stories from the past and present day which interweaved every aspect. The multiple points of view kept up a mean pace, made it addictive and it was definitely a just one more chapter read!

With thanks to author #louisejensen #hqstories and @netgalley for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: APRIL 11th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

Intruders

Cass and James may have found the home of their dreams. They are to be the caretakers of Newington House, an abandoned manor house, until it’s converted into a luxury retreat. It’s virtually unsellable due to its dark past but best of all it’s rent free. They’ll be able to save for a deposit. But thirty years ago, 3 members of the family that lived there were murdered by what were presumed to be burglars. One of them also died at the scene and the other was sent to prison. Since then, the house has lain empty.
They are both excited to be moving into their first home together, albeit a temporary one, and then Cass discovers that she’s pregnant. It’s then that she realises how isolated Newington House is especially as she’s alone during most of the day lost in her painting. And slowly the atmosphere and the house’s history begin to insidiously surround her. The entrance hall clock that always stops at 8.30pm, the smell of lemons, children laughing and the garden swing moving of its own accord as if someone was sitting in it. And then there are shadows that she keeps seeing outside the house…and they both begin to experience déjà vu as if they’ve been there before.
But Cass has her own history and her own problems as does James. As Cass begins to look into her past and James with his, they realise that uncovering Newington’s secrets will unlock their own. But are they ready for what will be revealed?
This is a fast paced book with a lot of foreshadowing which I got used to although it did become repetitious. However, every time I thought I knew what was happening, the author would adroitly pull the rug out from under me and another plot shift would take place so it kept me guessing. ‘The Intruders’ is a novel concerned with family secrets told in the present with Cass and James and in the past with other characters. Slowly the reader finds out what actually happened on that fateful night and this is well explored. It wasn’t a straightforward home invasion. Also, it wasn’t about happy families to whom disaster happened but more about unhappy families with money troubles and a miserable marriage with an evil secret at its core. The complexity of family relationships and their misunderstandings is a large part of the plot.
I loved the atmosphere that the author created with the strange happenings in the house, Cass’s increasing unease and the feeling that they are not alone there were really well portrayed. But just as I was beginning to think that the book might be a ghost story and not a thriller, other plot elements suddenly appeared especially one that I really didn’t expect. It didn’t really work for me – it seemed to come out of the blue and it jarred with what had gone before with the slow build-up. Also, I have to admit that some of the characters and their connections to each other did confuse me at times especially towards the end. They felt over complicated and there were so many back stories that suddenly appeared. It did feel like there were two converging plotlines; a ghost story and almost a horror story but on the whole I did enjoy it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Intruders but that has in no way influenced my review.

Louise Jensen is one of my favourite, auto-buy authors. I read Louise's debut, The Sister, shortly after damppebbles' inception in 2016 and was blown away by its hugely compelling, twisty plot. Since then I have read and enjoyed every single one of Louise's psychological thrillers. They're always full of very believable characters, have lots of wonderfully deceptive red herrings and there's always a perfectly placed twist (or ten!) in the tale. I've been eagerly awaiting the release of The Intruders for some time now as you can be sure with a Louise Jensen that you're going to be thoroughly entertained. And what a ride it was! Creepy, so much darker than I ever expected and with Louise's trademark twists. It's another winner from a very talented author.

Newington House seems the perfect solution to James' problem. He's about to be evicted from his flatshare and his girlfriend of six months, Cass, lives hundreds of miles away with her ageing dad. But James has found a solution that could be the answer to all their problems. The only thing he has to do is convince Cass. And it's going to take a lot of convincing! Because Newington House has a dark history of its own. Thirty years ago all but the youngest member of the Madley family were brutally murdered. Since then the house has sat empty and decaying. Now Richardson's Retreats plan to turn the house into an exclusive, high-end retreat and while they're ploughing through all of the red tape, they need caretakers to keep an eye on the place. It couldn't be more perfect. Cass and James will be paid to live in the house whilst saving for a deposit on their own home. But there's no escaping the dark past of Newington House. Particularly when strange things start happening...

Another thrilling, shocking tale from the brilliant Louise Jensen. Cass and James are starting out on their life together but they're both carrying the burden of grief. Cass desperately wants to know more about her mother who died when she was only a baby. Her secretive father refuses to talk about his wife though which only makes Cass crave answers all the more. She has vivid memories of being trapped in a cupboard and can't help but question how she got there. Did she hide in the cupboard herself or did her alcoholic, angry father have something to do with it? James is still mourning the recent death of his mother. James is desperate for comfort from his own father but that's not the type of man he is. He's always been cold and distant to James and the death of his wife won't change that. When the opportunity to live at Newington House for a few months arises, the couple can't help but feel it's going to be a fresh start, a new beginning. Allowing them to leave the past behind. But it's far, far from it. Circumstances mean that they can't turn their backs on the past and the need for answers becomes even more urgent.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Intruders is a cleverly written, engrossing psychological suspense thriller and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I thought I had it all solved but I couldn't have been further from the truth. Jensen is a master of deception. Lulling her readers into believing they know the score when really they don't have the foggiest! Cass is an interesting character. I don't think I particularly liked her but I did feel for her as everything she thought she knew came crashing down around her. Violence is never the answer to anything but oh my goodness, I wanted to thump James. It's his idea to move into Newington House, something he applied to do without Cass's knowledge or permission. He neglects to tell her the truth about the house until it's too late. He gets her to move from one end of the country to the other. He's not there to meet her when she arrives, due to his work. And then he spends most of the book away from home, again, due to work. Personally, if I were Cass, I would have hopped on the next train home! The Intruders is told from both the past and the present as Cass and James search for answers. It's deliciously creepy, helped by the macabre history of the house. But that's only half of the story. Things take a very dark and twisted turn as you approach the end of the book and it goes in a direction I never expected. I think it's safe to say that this is Louise Jensen's darkest, creepiest book yet! All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Intruders from its chilling prologue which made me want to double check all of the windows and doors were definitely locked, to the shocking, jaw-dropping denouement. With secrets and revelations galore, I was completely immersed in Jensen's smart storytelling. You really cannot go wrong with a Louise Jensen thriller! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Intruders. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Intruders is the best psychological thriller I’ve read by Louise Jensen and can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with next.
Newington House is a house with a past and not a good one that’s for sure. After a whirlwind romance Cass and James are moving in together as caretakers of Newington House. Both are finding out lots about each other and also learning about the house as well. James feels like he’s been there before but how could he have? They both feel things aren’t quite right with windows opening on their own, things moving and the clock stopping at the same time every day. Cass puts it down to the ghosts of the murdered family but it’s only when they are moving out we get to find out what’s really happening.
This book got me from page one, the tenseness made me read more than I was going to. A dual timelined read that worked really well as in the beginning I wasn’t that concerned with the before family but that changed very soon into the book and couldn’t decide who I wanted to find out about the most. A really good read that i recommend. A book with twists and turns a plenty, so much so you’ll never guess the ending.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Told over a 30 years period and in dual timelines (then and now) this is a cracker of a psychological thriller. There are quite a lot of characters and it did take me a while to get my head around who was who, and the relationships, but once I had I fair wizzed through this. The main protagonists are Cassandra ‘Cass’ and James who met just 6 months ago and are now moving in together. The prologue grabbed me from the start; a shocking house break-in resulting in four deaths. There are a lot of unlikely coincidences but hey it’s fiction so that’s allowed!

Briefly, after moving into Newington House as temporary caretakers strange things start to happen, although mainly to Cass, and James is concerned about her mental health. The clock stops at 8.30, a window keeps opening, children’s laughter, a feeling of being watched - is the house trying to tell them something?

This is a very tense and at times difficult read. There are some shocking reveals that had me gasping, I never would have guessed that was going on! I couldn’t make my mind up if Cass was imagining the ghostly events or if there really was something paranormal going on. I’ll say no more on that. You decide. A compulsive and exciting read. 4.5⭐️

Newington House has a very dark past, thirty years ago three members of the Madley family were brutally murdered there and it has remained empty ever since, now the old manor house is going to be brought back to life and turned into a retreat but in the meantime they require a temporary caretaker to look after it. Cass and James are interviewed for the position and decide to take it on so they can save a deposit for their own place, but as soon as they do strange things start to happen and they both have a foreboding feeling that they've been there before, is it just their imagination or is there more to this house than they first thought?

The Intruders is the latest psychological thriller from this author but, with a paranormal element, it's different to her usual thrillers and makes for a dark and chilling read. It's a dual timeline, with a complex and intriguing plot which has many layers and in true Jensen style she builds up the tension throughout, producing an edge of your seat read with authentic characters and twists that you definitely do not see coming. I have to admit, as everything was coming together and secrets were being revealed, that I had to sit for a moment to get the connections between the characters straight in my head so I could grasp where the story was going, but I've got to say that Jensen has played an absolute blinder with this one and it's well worthy of the five stars I've rated it.

I'd like to thank HQ and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

This is definitely a 5 star read from this established talented author.
Newington House has a past, is it haunted? Would you want to stay there, rent free, knowing 3 members of one family had been murdered there, albeit 30 years ago?
Knowing of the tragedy James and Cass have agree to house sit, though Cass did take some persuasion. When Cass finds herself home alone she does find, the creaks of the house, the cold drafts from windows she knows she shut earlier, the swing in the garden moving on its own, the constant smell of lemons, her paint brushes being moved, hearing the name Rose being whispered, the clock continuously stopped at 8.30 all rather spooky and unnerving. Cass wonders if her imagination is playing tricks on her. She constantly feels she is being watched.
The store evolves over past and present, there are lots of secrets, twists and turns right to the very end!
Whilst reading the story, the creaks, noises and tension in the air had me a little freaked and the pages turn themselves as the tension and atmosphere of the story builds!
This is my fourth book by this author, many thanks to Net Galley and HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. A definite top read for 2024.