A razor-sharp thriller that fires on all cylinders, delivering suspense, emotion, and stunning twists in equal measure. The plot unfolds with precision, constantly raising the stakes while never losing its grip on character. Every chapter brims with tension, making it impossible to put down. It’s a masterful, edge-of-your-seat experience from start to finish.

Creepy old house? Yes.
Long-buried family secrets? Definitely.
A twisty ending you won’t see coming? Absolutely.

This dark psychological thriller follows Hattie, who returns to her childhood home for the first time in years after a traumatic past. Her mum hasn’t spoken since the night her dad was murdered, but now – on her deathbed – she’s finally ready to reveal what really happened.

The story switches between two points of view and timelines, which added some nice layers but did get a little confusing at times. Still, it kept me turning the pages and guessing right up until the end. And that final twist - I did not see it coming.

I I am a big fan of L H Stacey and this book certainly did not disappoint. This was a gripping psychological thriller that kept me totally hooked. A tragedy befell Hattie’s family nine years ago that caused her to leave home and become estranged from her brothers. She only occasionally visits her mother who has never spoken since that night. Hattie receives a phone call saying her mother is dying and desperately wants to speak with her. Hattie really does not want to return and have to stay in the family home. One of her brothers still lives there but the memories of her father’s murder still haunts her. The murderer was never found and so there are still many questions to be answered. It appears that her mother wants to tell her about what happened that night but Hattie soon realises that someone does not want that to happen. The story is told from multiple points of view and with well developed characters and an exciting storyline it makes a highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book

I just loved this book, and enjoyed it from beginning to end. I will read more by this talented author in future. Recommended for anyone who loves a solid read that keeps you guessing until the end!
TB

A great read
A book that will have you hooked from the first page to the last
Plenty of twists and turns
You will not want to put it down
Thanks NetGalley

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy

Hattie Gilby never planned to step foot back in the family home—not after her dad was murdered there and her mom was left unable to speak. But when her mom is dying and the past starts clawing its way back, she has no choice but to face her fractured family. Secrets start unraveling fast, and what Hattie thought she knew? Let’s just say nothing is what it seems. This one had me holding my breath—because some truths are more terrifying than lies.

This four star read has already released so you can check it out now!

Thank you NetGalley, L.H. Stacey, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a candid review.

I was a little hesitant about the multiPOV and dual timeline. However, I was hooked initially and the plot really seemed to be moving at a good pace, I intended to binge this. Unfortunately somewhere along the way I got a little...lost? I found myself rereading pages and trying to sort out what was going on. ultimately, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it! Definitely one you have to read without distractions.

Perfect psychological thriller that I read in one sitting today. Lots of unexpected twists and turns leading to a jaw-dropping ending. I think fans of Freida McFadden will love this one!

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read!

I absolutely loved The Family Home. It had me hooked from beginning to end with all its twists and turns. I loved everything about it and could not fault it at all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

A Spine-Tingling, Gripping Psychological Thriller – 5 Stars

The Family Home by L. H. Stacey is an absolute triumph of a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. With its chilling atmosphere, complex characters, and heart-pounding twists, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a dark, suspenseful story.

Hattie Gilby’s return to her family home after years of absence is fraught with tension. Her mother is dying, and the phone call calling Hattie back brings with it a mix of emotions—guilt, fear, and uncertainty. The events that occurred in this house years ago continue to haunt Hattie, and she’s not sure she wants to confront the past. But as secrets begin to unravel, it becomes clear that the truth about her family’s dark history is far more twisted than she ever could have imagined.

The story is masterfully written, with each chapter pulling you deeper into the mystery. Hattie’s internal struggle is so well depicted; you feel her reluctance, her dread, and her need for answers. Her brothers, Adam and Luke, add layers of complexity to the narrative as they hold their own secrets and motivations. And then there’s their mother, Imogen, whose silence and the traumatic event that left her unable to speak make her a fascinating and enigmatic character. When Imogen begins to reveal the truth, the tension skyrockets, and I found myself hanging on every word.

L. H. Stacey has a gift for building suspense. The atmosphere of the Gilby family home is palpable—creaky floorboards, shadowy corners, and a sense of something off lurking beneath the surface. The way Stacey weaves the past with the present, revealing pieces of the puzzle in just the right moments, kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another twist would come out of nowhere, leaving me utterly stunned.

This book is not just a thriller; it’s an exploration of family, secrets, and the trauma that shapes us. It delves into what happens when the truth is buried too deep and the lengths people will go to protect those secrets. The pacing is perfect, and the tension builds gradually, making for an unforgettable reading experience.

The Family Home is an unputdownable read that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If you love psychological thrillers with plenty of twists, complex characters, and an eerie atmosphere, this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough—definitely five stars!

The Family Home
by L.H.Stacey
Nothing is as perfect as it seems.
Hattie Gilby hasn't returned to her family home since the devastating events that transpired there years ago. These events changed Hattie and continue to haunt her to this day. However, one phone call alters everything.
Now, Hattie is returning to confront her brothers, Adam and Luke, and hear her dying mother's last words.
Imogen Gilby hasn't spoken a word since the night she was beaten almost to death, and her husband was murdered. But now, she feels it's time to reveal the truth about what happened that fateful night and the secrets that nearly destroyed her family.
Hattie is still uncertain whether she wants to uncover the truth. It seems that someone close to them will go to great lengths to ensure these secrets remain hidden forever.
The author of The Fake Date and The House Guest presents another captivating, unputdownable thriller featuring realistic characters you love to love and hate, navigating a tense and twisty storyline.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have explored most of this author's back catalogue and eagerly anticipate her subsequent work. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre.
I want to thank Boldwood Books, author L.H. Stacey, and Rachel's Random Resources for providing a copy to read and review.

Book Review: The Family Home by L.H. Stacey

L.H. Stacey delivers another bone-chilling psychological thriller with The Family Home, a suspenseful tale that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. A perfect blend of dark family secrets, psychological tension, and shocking twists, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, The Family Home is it.

The story follows Hattie Gilby, who has not stepped foot in her family home for years due to the traumatic events that shattered her life and her family. But when she receives a call informing her of her mother’s impending death, Hattie is forced to return to face the ghosts of her past. Her mother, Imogen, has been mute since the night she was violently attacked, and her husband was murdered. Now, in her final days, Imogen is ready to reveal the truth behind that fateful night—secrets that have been buried for years. But someone close to the Gilby family will do anything to keep those secrets hidden, and Hattie’s return stirs up more than just painful memories.

Stacey expertly crafts a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere that draws readers into the tense family dynamics and the unraveling mystery. The pacing is relentless, keeping you hooked as Hattie navigates her fractured relationships with her brothers, Adam and Luke, and the disturbing revelations that begin to surface. The plot is filled with twists and turns that will leave you questioning who you can trust, and the suspense only intensifies as the truth draws nearer.

What makes The Family Home particularly gripping is Stacey’s ability to create multi-dimensional characters. Hattie, in particular, is a character you can’t help but empathize with—her pain and confusion feel real and raw, and her struggle to confront the past is both heartbreaking and relatable. The family secrets are slowly revealed, each one more shocking than the last, and the emotional weight of the story builds to an explosive, unexpected conclusion that you won’t see coming.

L.H. Stacey’s writing is vivid and immersive. She does an exceptional job of setting the scene, and her descriptive prose pulls you into the Gilby family’s complex world. The tension is palpable, and the book is brimming with emotions that range from guilt and regret to fear and betrayal. The psychological aspects are intricately woven into the plot, and the story is as much about the characters’ emotional journeys as it is about solving the central mystery.

The Family Home is a tense, dark, and dramatic thriller that will have you questioning everything. With its riveting plot, compelling characters, and shocking ending, this book is a page-turner that will keep you up all night. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that offer both emotional depth and spine-tingling suspense, this is the book for you.

Rating: 5/5

The Family Home is a stunningly crafted psychological thriller that combines family drama with dark, twisted secrets and an unpredictable ending. L.H. Stacey proves once again that she is a master at creating suspense and keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. Highly recommended!

A great read, fast paced with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Hard to put down once I started.

I was hooked from the beginning with this book. LH Stacey did an epic job with keeping me on my toes. This was my first time read a book by this author, and I was not disappointed. It was a very descriptive roller coaster that had me feeling a whole different range of emotions. The suspense was great and the twists....wow. I can't wait to read more from this author. I definitely recommend this book to the thriller/mystery readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Boldwood Books, and LH Stacey.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this earc! This was one Captivating suspense novel! I’m excited to look into more of the authors work in the future.

This one started off really well. But then I just couldnt connect to the characters. The ending was rushed and I felt frustrated. I also found it to be predictable .

L H Stacey has penned a chilling, terrifying and unpredictable thriller with her latest novel, The Family Home.

One horrible night had changed Hattie Gilby’s life forever. With her whole world upended, Hattie had made a promise never to return to the family home ever again. But she’s had to go back on her promise after receiving a phone call which leaves her with no other choice but to return to the place where everything had changed for her. Coming face to face with her two brothers is hard enough, but seeing her mother Imogen again brings with it a whole host of feelings Hattie isn’t sure she is prepared for.

Imogen hasn’t spoken a single word since that night. That night where she had been horribly beaten and her husband had been murdered in cold blood. Long-buried secrets that have been hidden for so long are about to come out into the light. But Hattie isn’t sure she is ready to hear the truth. Worse, there is someone close to her prepared to do whatever it takes to make sure that Hattie is precluded from finding out what really happened that fateful night all those years ago…

A shocking tale of lies, secrets and murder, The Family Home is an addictive and engrossing thriller by L H Stacey that will keep readers up way past their bedtime. L H Stacey certainly knows how to shred her readers’ nerves and have them on a knife’s edge desperate to find out what is going to happen next and with The Family Home she has outdone herself by writing a creepy and unsettling chiller that will give them nightmares.

I found that this was an easy read with a gripping plot line, however I felt that I was left wanting more. To know more about the past, about lousia and Mary.

But overall a nice quick read

It's nice to just read a good psychological thriller. It might not keep you guessing or try twist after twist becuase you might just guess them along the way. But that doesnt take from the book telling. And thsre is still soooo much i never cpuld have guessed.The thrill from books like this one is just from good suspension in the writing. Just from good writinf full stop. I was hooked all the way through. And I desperately needed to know the answers just as the children did.
I felt so much for this daughter who had her whole life turned upside down. Who had fled,and all that comes with that. And then now, had to come back to fave too many demons that one woman should have to. This is all at the same time as still being damaged from the past and now having more possible pain thrown her way. Her choices feel impossible.
I love love loved this book. I can't exactly say why. It was just brilliant. And whether it was just me having a particular liking for this author style I don't know. But who cares. I am only more glad because I've now got a new author to go read more from!
This had so much depth,family and emotions mixed in
Fab.