I've seen a lot of five star reviews for this one so please take my review lightly. I usually love Jensen, as well, so it's still a thriller that I'd recommend. But I just didn't connect with the characters very well this time around, which is always something that can stunt your personal engagement.

However, it is a book that I've thought a lot about since reading. The tension runs high throughout, and I liked the sinister atmosphere of the house, so it definitely captured my attention for those reasons.

I just wished the twist was incorporated more throughout, as it came a little too late and unexpected for me, so I wasn't anticipating how things would play out. It's definitely a dark enough twist to pique my interest though, so well worth a read if you like a thriller that will get under your nails.

I’d like to thank H.Q. and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Intruders’ written by Louise Jensen in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

James persuades Cass to come with him to Newington House to live rent-free as caretakers until the property is developed. As soon as she steps foot inside, Cass senses the presence of spirits with a chair rocking, the clock stopping every evening at 8.30 and the sound of giggling. When she hears a voice whispering ‘run’ maybe she should have taken notice of it.

‘The Intruders’ is a psychological thriller gravitating towards supernatural as James and Cass move into a property that has a horrific history. The story is told from what happened thirty years ago to the present time. The first part was exciting and gripped me with its well-thought-out plot but it got so confusing with timeline and characters that I started to wonder what was happening. I thought I knew the direction the plot was going when there were two unexpected twists that left me floundering, and although the loose ends were tied up with explanations given the final pages were shocking and not how I thought it would end.

I really enjoyed this novel. It’s part psychological thriller and part supernatural but it’s all bound up in a deliciously creepy yet addictive plot line. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing and each chapter drew you into the next one. I would rate this 4.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

What a book! I absolutely loved #TheIntruders by @LouiseJensen.
I was totally hooked and couldn’t put it down. It’s a real page turner right from the start. It’s fast paced, with a tense and creepy atmosphere. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the unexpected ending. Just brilliant.

A Manor House available rent free to house sitters is an offer too good to miss for Cass and James, who have been saving for a deposit on their own home. But shortly after moving in things take a sinister turn….
Objects disappear and turn up in odd places, the clock always stops at the same time, the house is oppressive but strangely familiar….

I liked the writing style which added to the suspense. I enjoyed the flashbacks, which take place over 30 years, written in a dual timeline of Now and Then chapters and told through the different perspectives from Cass, James and Rose.
I liked all the characters which are really well written. Cass and James are both likeable and realistic. I also enjoyed all the connections that the characters had.
A brilliant psychological thriller. Well worth a read if you like this gene.
Definitely recommend.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HQ @HQStories for an arc of #TheIntruders in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 11 April 2024.

Well this one dragged me all round the houses and back again as it ate into my brain as I was reading it. We start with Cass and James, a young couple determined to get on the property ladder but struggling to save for the deposit. They are offered free accommodation in a manor house that had been abandoned for many years, after a brutal robbery went wrong, but which is now on the cusp of being refurbished. Hence, in need of a caretaker to look after things and also allow access to workmen. They jump at the chance. But slowly, as things start to get weird, realise that sometimes too good to be true really is too good...
I think that's all you should know as it is all convoluted and interconnected and all things bump in the night. I really tried hard to second guess what was happening, especially with regard to the details of what happened in the past, glimpses of which are peppered throughout the present day narrative. But I soon gave that up as a bad job as I was getting myself into a bit of a pickle so I just sat back and enjoyed the wild ride that the author took me on.
Yes ok... it's a bit eye rolly on occasion and I did have to suspend belief along the way but, all that said, I was having too good a time reading to let any of these minor niggles irk me too much. I just went with the flow and was rewarded for my efforts with a cracking, jaw dropping, conclusion which wholly satisfied me.
Characters were all well drawn and all played their parts very well indeed. Plotting was tight and the story well executed with the pacing matching the narrative all the way through. And the descriptions were only used to illustrate and progress the story rather that add padding so the whole thing got on with itself very nicely indeed.
All in all, another winner to an author already firmly cemented on my watch list, roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

From the outset, I was drawn in by Jensen's engaging writing style and the clever twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are complex and well-drawn, making the narrative not only compelling but also deeply immersive.
However, without giving away any spoilers, there was a moment when two characters entered a tunnel, marking a plot turn that felt a bit off for me. This particular twist seemed to deviate from the logical progression established earlier in the story. Up until that point, I was convinced I was reading one of the best books in a long while. Despite this, they book as a whole stands out as an exceptional read.
Jensen's ability to craft a story that is both thrilling and thoughtfully plotted is impressive. Even with my reservations about the tunnel sequence, "The Intruders" remains an outstanding book. I am eager to explore more of her work.

Thank you #HQ and #NetGalley

This is a new author to me….. enjoyed this book but did find it a little confusing….. I thought it was a book I should have read in bigger sittings… I’m glad I finished it as did want to know the outcome, especially Jame’s story!

I've really liked all Ms. Jensen's books and enjoy her ideas and writing style.
Unfortunately though I didn't think this was one of her best. I found the timelines a bit confusing, and although it all came together nicely at the end, it felt unnecessarily convoluted to get there.
I'm looking forward to reading her next one though!
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of this book

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I absolutely loved it! The intruders is a very well crafted, deliciously creepy psychological thriller/horror story with an absolutely brilliant twisty plot throughout, there was a few I didn't see coming which kept me on my toes!

I was enthralled from the very first page and for me the pace didn't let up until the very last page, I devoured this book in a couple of days, I simply had to know how it all ended after becoming so invested in the characters and the house.

I cannot wait to read more by this author, more of the same please!

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cass and James are in a fairly new relationship, but they know they are soulmates and they want to live together, so when James finds a place where they can live together and get paid for watching the house, they both agree to take the job even though the house they will be living in was the scene of a gruesome murder 30 years ago. Of course strange things start happening and Cass tries to figure out what exactly happened so long ago. We get the point of view of Cass today and Rose, who lived in the house 30 years ago.

This was a really good read for me. I have read all of this author's previous novels, really enjoying her earlier work and enjoying her more recent work as much, so when I saw this one on Netgalley, I really hesitated to request it, but I did and I am so glad I did. I was engaged from the start and really interested in what was going on. I was sure I had the gist of it, but then there was a misdirection that I did not see coming and it made it all the more interesting. I really enjoyed this one and based on my enjoyment, I look forward to reading this author's next offering.

The story starts with two intruders and how 3 family members are killed in their home - Marina, Sylvester and Tasmin. Present day, Fran welcomes Cass and James to Newington House as its caretakers for Richardson's Retreats. It is well written, very descriptive and the characters are well developed. The story is told over the two time lines. It is taut and full of twists and turns. I didn't guess the ending. I recommend this book.

This had me hooked from the start. Switching from past to present. The house is very much a character in its own right. It was chilling and gruesome, and I really enjoyed it. There were lots of twists in the storyline that I didn't see coming. I can't wait to read more by this author.

If you are looking for a story that has you with a feeling of dread and is eerily atmospheric, then this is one you should take a look at.

Cass and James have been given the opportunity to be caretakers of a manor house. A chance for them to save money so they can get a place of their own. The manor house they move into was the site of a murder several years ago. I am not sure if it is somewhere I would consider living, older large houses are creepy at the best of times! The author uses this sense to great effect with things moving or a sense of someone watching.

Cass and James are a new couple and have been together for 6 months, they do have that instant connection and feel comfortable in each other's company. They have similarities in the way things have happened in their lives and it is this sense that links them.

The author has created two characters that have troubled pasts, this is something that comes up often in stories. Cass is more vulnerable as she has been overly protected during her growing up and James is a little more savvy I feel. They are not opposites and they do muddle along quite nicely as a couple.

As the title and synopsis suggest, there is more to this story than a couple living in a house. The first half of the book deal introduces the house, some of the past and the present. The second half completely turns things on their head! This, I will admit, did throw me initially and it took me a little while to get things right in my head. When things settled though, this story took on a route that I didn't expect at all. It becomes very dark, evil and even more unsettling as the author brings in a sensitive subject.

I really enjoyed this story and the sense of dread is something that the author uses to great effect. The feeling that there is a secret waiting to be told felt like the tip of the iceberg. Many things were waiting to be revealed and this added to the tenseness of the story.

This is a great story and one that fans of darker crime and mystery books would probably enjoy, I did and I would definitely recommend it.

Some brilliant twists and turns in this for me the authors best book yet
An addictive scary read that kept me turning the pages,great ending

I have been a massive fan of Louise’s books and this is nothing short of a bestseller in the making . Days on from inhaling this I’m still thinking about the plot!
Clever, unpredictable and incredibly chilling. Written in alternate timelines and narratives you think you know the direction it’s going then boom.

Excellent storytelling and atmospheric with great characters all with their own stories to share .
Highly recommend if you like your psychological thrillers dark and twisty .

A big thank you to hq for early access in exchange for a honest review

What a spooky, creepy, sinister story. It didn't really come together until Part 2 of the book, but then wow! I found it a little confusing/difficult to keep up with who the characters were at some points but otherwise a superb read.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

I just reviewed The Intruders by Louise Jensen. #TheIntruders #NetGalley

Once again, we are astounded with Jensens writing. The way the story captures us from the off, so many twists and unexpected turns. I was so glad I got an early read of this and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy

A disturbing and dark mystery set in a mansion with a disturbing history. I struggled with the narrative, the horror aspects not to my taste and I failed to finish.

Would you stay in a house that a family was murdered in 30 years ago? Even when creepy things start happening? This is the premise of Louise Jensen's latest psychological thriller and the various narrations across two timelines easily hold your attention. Every character has secrets. The question is how do they all fit together and what secrets are they hiding? I was enjoying the novel and the pacing until the last 20%. Here the novel took an incredibly dark turn which I couldn't get on board with as it was so disturbing. I finished the book and it's well concluded but the darkness of one of the turns tainted my view. Perhaps better suited to horror readers rather than a typical thriller reader. CW: torture, domestic abuse, murder, snuff, violence, violence against children (teenager)

THE INTRUDERS

For me this was Jensons best psychological thriller yet.

The Intruders starts off at a steady pace, capturing your attention and with the perfect chapter breaks, keeping you intrigued enough to continue on.

And with an ending I really didn’t see coming.

I found this novel atmospheric, gripping, claustrophobic and totally unputdownable !!
So thank you @NetGalley the publishers #HQstories and the fantastic author #LouiseJensen for my e-Arc copy of #TheIntruders in exchange for my honest review.

Totally deserving of five stars.

#LouiseJenson #psychologicalthriller #atmospheric #claustrophopic #unpredictable