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If anyone had asked me if I'd read Clare Mackintosh's novels, I would have said I have read most if not all. I think this is because I always see her name across recommendations on here so I was surprised to note this was my first novel by her (I also think I was mixing her up with Clare Douglas!).

Anyway, this is the third novel in the DC Ffion Morgan series and I hate joining a series at a midway point however, book requested, book accepted so I decided to read.

And I am glad I did. I really enjoyed this one, and loved Ffion's character (as well as Dave the dog). I am definitely going back to the first two novels in the series and will be looking out for the new novels (especially given how this one ended!)#

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This series just keeps getting better with each new installment. I love Ffion, Leo and Dave the dog.

Always a pleasure to be back on the case with Ffion. When a woman’s body is found in in a kayak on the lake, Ffion is called in to investigate. At the same time, her boyfriend, Leo is investigating a series of house break ins in a very exclusive suburb. They both have their hands full with multiple suspects and motives. While this is all happening, the country is hooked to a new true crime podcast, Ffion is trying to find a new home and Leo is struggling with his ex-wife Allie, who seems to have become part of his case.

There is so much to enjoy about this series. The setting is gorgeous, the banter between that characters makes me laugh, Dave the dog is just hilarious, and I love the Welsh language that is interspersed throughout the story. It is a clever case and not at all predictable. I do hope that we will have more of these characters, especially with that ending.

Thanks so much to Little, Brown Book Group for my early copy of this book to read. Out in the world on February 27th.

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I was completely hooked after the first chapter!
The third book about well loved characters Ffion, Leo and Dave.
Overlapping storylines of a murdered estate agent, a series of burglaries in a group of very expensive houses with very different but unlikeable residents and a cold murder case never solved with ideas from an interesting podcast.
The chapters are short, the characters come to life, the plot is gripping and the twists are jaw dropping.
I loved it from start to finish.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an ARC.

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This is the 3rd book featuring Ffion, Leo and can’t forget Dave 😁🐶, absolutely loved this book and so easy to read, short chapters and featuring more characters into chapters. Would recommend this book, have already pre-ordered this book as well to add to my collection.

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Returning to Ffion and Leo’s story is like revisiting old friends. This time we learn more about Leo’s ex Allie and his son Harris, who live at the bottom of The Hill. On the face of it, money gives you everything, but underneath lies secrets, lies and unhappiness.
Meanwhile Ffion is investigating the death of an estate agent, whose story blends with the case Leo is investigating.
Another superb book, I can’t wait for the next in the series

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I'm always happy to see Clare Mackintosh in my NetGalley inbox - she's a go-to author for me and the DC Ffion Morgan series has been brilliant to date, Other People's Houses is the third in the series and a great addition.
An interesting plot, satisfying twists and great leading characters, I'm already looking forward to book 4.
4 stars.

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DS Leo Brady is called on to investigate a series of burglaries on The Hill, a residential area of luxury homes where Cheshire’s wealthiest (and often unhappiest) live. Strangely, there seems to be a connection with the case across the border in Wales, where his lover DC Ffion Morgan is investigating the murder of an estate agent staying in a holiday let on a jolly with her workmates. As secrets from the past are uncovered, a web of corruption, lies and betrayals begins to unfold. Another cracking mystery from Mackintosh, the third in this series which combines intrigue and tension with humour and a strong Welsh flavour. Ffion is a wonderful character, chaotic and prickly but also vulnerable and deeply likeable. It is a delight to see her relationship with Leo deepening despite the misunderstandings that still arise regularly, and to see her forming a hesitant friendship with her colleague George, who is in many ways Ffion’s opposite but with whom she finds she has things in common. The darker aspects of the story are also lightened by the disastrous presence of Dave, the rescue dog who has overcome Ffion’s resistance and become part of her life. A very enjoyable read, as an excellent crime thriller that will keep you guessing and as an exploration of relationships that will have you invested in the lives of these messy but loveable characters.

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Another gripping book by Clare Macintosh. It kept me guessing all the way through and I could not put this down. Really enjoying this series of D C Morgan and already looking forward to reading the next one. It would make a great TV series.

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DC Ffion Morgan is trying to buy a new house via an unenthusiastic estate agent but when the body of a woman from a rival establishment is found any personal feelings have to be put aside. Meanwhile boyfriend DS Leo Brady is concentrating on burglaries in The Hills, an exclusive residential area which just happens to be round the corner from where his son Harris lives with ex-wife Allie. As the two cases overlap are Ffion and Leo about to discover that where you live has no bearing on what you'll do to keep your secrets safe?

Clare Mackintosh's third book in the Detective Ffion Morgan series is a compulsive page turner that continues on from the previous books brilliantly. The influence of social media and the impossibly perfect lifestyles portrayed there, the selfishness of the entitled, or those desperate to be accepted, all make this a brilliant read which I thoroughly enjoyed and didn't work out until I was supposed to.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK/Sphere, but the opinions expressed are my own. A must read series this is the best installment yet. Highly recommended.

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After thoroughly enjoying the first two books on this series, I was very keen to read the latest instalment.

The writing in this book was really lovely, I liked how the writing style was descriptive without being too literary. There was a large cast of suspects, but they were so well written that I never mixed them up or got confused. I appreciated the undertone of humour throughout the book, there was a lot of light relief interspersed with the murders.

My only complaint is that it would be really nice if, just once, a childfree by choice main character gets to remain that way, rather than always pushing the narrative that they might change their mind one day.

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Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Mackintosh and Little Brown Book Group UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. Clare Mackintosh is one of my favourite authors so this was highly anticipated and meant a lot.

If I had to make any criticisms, there are some slight inconsistencies - Haris becomes Harris, Alex becomes Alec and Emily becomes Emmy after the map page (why I should be a proof reader!) Also there are a LOT of characters, so much so that with every new introduction I was worried I’d forget who they were and what their link to the story was.

But what did I like: everything! I was glued to this story, the cliffhanger chapters were easy to read and I found myself covering up the last words of each with my hand to stop myself reading ahead! Clare has done it once again and her Ffion Morgan books are proving to be a great series. Characters that you care about, just the right amount of humour, and the twist…wow!

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Another great addition to the DC Ffion Morgan series. A wonderful cast of credible characters and a multi-stranded plot make this a compelling read.
A very well-written story, easy to read with some great humour.
Highly recommended.

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An extremely well-crafted novel Flesh and blood characters. Leo's ex-wife Allie in particular is very amusing in her attempts to social climb and be in with her far richer neighbours on The Hill. Leo is very patiently hoping that Ffion will move in with him. There is a double murder cold case to be solved and also a series of break-ins. Then an estate agent is killed. Now Ffion doesn't like estate agents as they have been giving her the run around lately over a house she is trying to purchase but even she thinks murder is a step too far! A lot of twists and red herrings and a nail-biting conclusion

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Another cracking addition to the DC Ffion Morgan series. The story opens with a body found floating in a kayak on Mirror Lake. A rowdy group of estate agents have been partying and one of the party has turned up dead. While Ffion is investigating this crime, her boyfriend, DS Leo Brady of Cheshire CID is assigned to a series of burglaries in the nearby exclusive neighborhood of the Hills. Overlapping storylines and characters quickly come to the fore., with past and present happenings and connections. The author has great strength in attention to detail and excellent character studies. She brings real intensity into the characters in the novel successfully bringing them to life.
Although this is the third in the series, it would work well as a standalone. I appreciate the opportunity for this advance copy from NetGalley and I highly recommend this book, as well as the two previous books in the series.

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A great new Ffion book, bringing back familiar characters.
The book combines a murdered estate agent, robberies from expensive houses on a very smart road with some very unlikeable residents, and a cold case of murder that has been re-opened partly due to a podcast, where may citizen journalists/cops supply their own theories.
It also focuses the spotlight on Leo’s ex-wife (not very flatteringly), and son, who both play a key role in the story.
With a lot of dry humour, the book races along, and comes to a satisfying conclusion when all the loose ends are tied up.
I look forward to the next adventure.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read this book.

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Another banger of a murder mystery with Ffion and Leo. This series is rapidly becoming my 'can't wait til the next book comes out' read, so much so I do have to slow myself down when reading it as the pleasure would be gone too soon.

Lots of twists and turns, characters new and old, and of course, a brain puzzling murder at the centre of it.

Top read!

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Ffion, Leo & Dave are back in the third book of the series. Ffion & Leo are a couple, but with reservations on Ffion’s side. What they need is a cold murder case & a body in a kayak & a load of local burglaries! Things are complicated, & sometimes helped, by a viral podcast series centred on the cold case.

I enjoyed this book, but found the podcast bits jarring. I felt they interrupted the flow of the novel, but that may be because I read an e copy, it might sit better on an actual page. I’d love to see these characters on the small screen, I think it would work beautifully.

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Another brilliant instalment in this the 3rd book in the Ffion Morgan series.
It was really great catching up with Ffion,Leo, and their growing relationship and, of course, Dave the dog.
Leo's ex-wifeI Allie was at times cringeworthy by her attempts to fit in with her neighbours on the hill, but I did find myself feeling sorry for her, I hope she's learnt her lesson now!!
Told from multiple POV that all come together perfectly.
The outcome was surprising and unexpected, which is always the sign of a story well told.
This was my absolute favourite of the 3 books.
I didn't want this one to end and look forward to Ffion and Leo's next adventure.
Well done, Claire Mackintosh, for yet another gripping read.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

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Took me a little while to get into this, but once I did, it had me gripped. Really enjoying this series and getting to know the characters and their traits a little better, looking forward to the next in the series!

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I have recently been lucky enough to meet the author of Other People's Houses @claremacwrites when she asked for some readers to attend a Q&A session with her to mark the anniversary of her book 'I Let you Go'. We also discussed her upcoming book coming out in February 2025 Other People's Houses. This book features her characters Ffion Morgan and Leo again. And of course, Dave.

Well what can I say, after receiving an early copy through Netgalley this is Clare's best yet! I read it in two days and was late for an event because I just needed to get to the end. Clare has expertly woven together three different police investigations featuring Ffion and Leo in their two police districts of North Wales and Cheshire. I am amazed at how Clare keeps all the different strands together so we never know how it's all connected. Clare told me that she has lots of post it notes and timelines on a white board and you can really see how she would need this. The result is a cracking story with suspense, twists and turns and a lot of humour!

Highly recommend getting this book on it's release date in February. Thanks to Netgalley for the pre publication copy.

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