📚Book Review
The Brother by E.V.Seymour
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense

Thank you to @netgalley and @joffebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

📖 Description:
Sophie’s life seemed perfect — a lovely cottage in the Cotswolds, a beautiful baby, and a man she’s ready to build a future with. Until Ben’s brother, Adam, shows up uninvited. Mysterious, dangerous, and unpredictable. From the moment he arrives, Sophie’s world begins to unravel. Lies, suspicion, and fear creep in... and when Adam’s girlfriend vanishes and Sophie’s baby is taken, she’s plunged into a waking nightmare where no one can be trusted — not even the man she loves.

My Thoughts:
The Brother is a whirlwind of psychological suspense that gripped me from the very first chapter. The tension builds like a slow-burning fire — then suddenly, everything explodes. I was hooked, confused, and completely invested.

Sophie is a character I rooted for, even when her choices made me yell in frustration. She’s thrown into a nightmare where the lines between right and wrong blur, and the people closest to her can't be trusted. Yet, she never stops fighting — driven by her instincts, her love for her child, and her will to survive.

The twists? Unpredictable. The pace? Relentless. The backstory? Chilling and powerful.

It’s one of those thrillers where you keep asking yourself: Who’s telling the truth? Who’s hiding what?

If you love books that mess with your mind and keep your heart racing, this one’s for you.

✅ Recommend: 100% for fans of domestic thrillers, psychological suspense, and twisty plots!


‘The Brother’ is now available on Amazon — go grab your copy and dive into this gripping thriller!

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This is an INSTAACTION book. As you start reading it, THERE IS ACTION, and it keeps you hooked. It will keep you glued to the pages. A domestic thriller with really a bit too much tension seeping from each page - you might need an extra dose of beta blockers when reading this one. and maybe more than one, because the book is more than 400 pages long, so it's not a one-sitting read. so, maybe two extra doses of beta blockers. Thrilling, suspenseful, and tension-filled. I’d say it’s a perfect weekend read (as those 400+ pages will take all weekend to read!).

Here is my review for The Brother by E V Seymour

This was a terrific psychological story that had me hooked right from the start of the book. I found that I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know what happened next. Sophie and Ben had only been together approximately fourteen months but Sophie fell pregnant quite early in their relationship, they have called their baby Ben. She moved into his cottage and is trying to sell her penthouse flat in Cheltenham where her parents live. Ben’s parents have died but he has an older brother Adam who is coming to visit them with his girlfriend Brooke. He tells Sophie to not believe anything that Adam tells her. When Adam turns up, he is full of smiles and charm while Brooke is very fragile. Sophie can’t wait for them to go but there is something going on between Ben and Adam but Sophie doesn’t know what it is. When Adam and Brooke finally leave Sophie and Ben, it doesn’t give them the peace they hope for. Instead, it causes more anguish. This is a brilliantly written psychological thriller that just draws you in from the start and I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to finish it. The plot was superb and well thought out. The characters had been well planned, described and played their roles well. This was very descriptively written and everything was well described, I could picture everything as I was reading it with my mind. The synopsis was great and drew me to read this story, I wasn’t disappointed. I liked the author’s writing style and found it very easy to follow. I haven’t read this author before but I really enjoyed this story and I would like to read more of her books in the future.

Blurb :

My partner’s brother just snatched my baby. And I saw it coming.

I thought I was lucky before all this happened. I have a beautiful baby boy. A man I want to make a life with. A gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds that we’re in the middle of doing up. Life’s good.

Then Ben drops a bombshell. His brother Adam is coming to stay.

‘Promise me something — don’t believe everything Adam tells you.’

From the moment Adam shows up — all charm and dark smiles, his fragile girlfriend in tow — I know something’s wrong. Something is off.

He says they won’t stay long.

He lies.

First, his girlfriend disappears.

Then the stories start shifting.

And still, I let him close. Too close.

Because I never imagined he’d take my child.

A BREATHTAKING DOMESTIC THRILLER FULL OF BURIED SECRETS, CHILLING TWISTS, AND A HEARTSTOPPING FINALE YOU WON’T SEE COMING.

E.V. Seymour delivers a gripping and intricately woven thriller in The Brother—a novel that demands and rewards close attention. From the very beginning, the story unfolds with an intensity that keeps readers guessing, layering suspense with well-crafted twists that challenge every assumption.

The narrative’s pacing is expertly managed, pulling the reader deeper into a web of secrets, betrayals, and shifting loyalties. Seymour’s writing is sharp and engaging, balancing action with psychological depth, and each development is both unexpected and satisfying. As the tension builds, so does the emotional complexity, making for a thoroughly immersive experience.

This is a head-spinning read in the best possible way—smart, unpredictable, and addictive. Fans of high-stakes thrillers will find The Brother an excellent choice, and it’s a story that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended.

Sophie and her husband Ben have what seems a picture perfect life. With new baby Rufus, the little family is happily renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds. Everything is wonderful. Until one day, Ben's estranged older brother Adam and his girlfriend Brooke show up unannounced. What was supposed to be a quick stay soon turns fraught with tension and animosity between the brothers. Soon some sinister secrets threaten to upend the peace once and for all. And then Brooke disappears. Sophie is worried that Adam has done something to her. If Adam is capable of Brooke's disappearance, what else is he capable of?

This was a pretty good thriller with a lot of tension and twists. I thought that I had it all figured out several times but then the story took a sharp turn and I was shocked! The way the story starts off is with a bang and it drew me in immediately. I did feel like it was a bit too long maybe but overall a suspenseful and twisty read!

Thank you to NetGalley, E.V. Seymour, and Joffe Books for this ARC! Publication date: June 5th 2025.

Fantastic book read it in two days. When Ben's brother Adam and his girlfriend comes to stay with them for a while after having not talked for years Sophie goes out of her way to make them feel welcome. Ben isn't as thrilled and hints not to believe everything that comes out of his mouth. So far so good he is charming and seems ok until things soon start to spiral out of their control.
A brilliant book from beginning to end.

Well, what can I say?! This book had me from page one and hardly allowed time to breathe! What a wonderful, thrilling and exciting story the author has written. As the book progressed and other little bits of information were told, I was convinced I knew who 'dunnit'! I was wrong as there could have been a few who had the background to commit certain acts. The author so very cleverly introduced new twists in her tale. Brilliant book and would give many more stars than allowed!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to download and read this book

An excellent thriller in which the author really knows how to manipulate the reader’s sympathies to support the twists in the story line. The tension is almost unbearable at times, as it is clear what is happening and where things are headed. I appreciated the effort put in to all the characters as their richness made me genuinely want to know why they did what they did and I was fully invested in their fate. Really great.

Damn you Leo was my first thought at the end of this book. So much hurt and fear and drama because of corruption, violence and greed. I also actually felt sorry for Brooke at the end when her story came out. I read this book slowly because I was on holiday and very busy with family events and weddings, but I was constantly looking forward to all the 10 minutes breaks I got to read this book which a sign that the book is very good - it even distracted me while I was waiting to see the doctor about a cat bite. So i was looking forward to it, I was suprised by it, it helped distract me and calm my anxiety so I would give this book 6 stars if I could.

Unputdownable!

Sophie, late thirties, and her much younger partner, GP Ben have new surprise baby Rufus together. They are blissfully happy renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds until one day, Ben‘s estranged for decades older brother Adam and his girlfriend Brooke turn up on their doorstep, inviting themselves to stay for what they claim is a flying visit. As soon as they set foot through the door, they insert themselves into Sophie and Ben’s lives, Sophie’s family and business. The tension and animosmity between the brothers grows and the women start to hate each other…This is a chilling unputdownable read, guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat throughout.

The Brother is a exhilarating thrilling read that stole my breath away and had me screaming more! It starts off with a bang in the form of a car accident and it gets rather sweet and then the brother arrives along with a whole lot of trouble. I was desperate to find out the truth as more and more lies and secrets were told. I felt so sorry for some of the characters but I felt unsure if they could be trusted while others I despised from the start. It is a lengthy physcological thriller but I absorbed every single word!

Thw authors writing in The Brother is clear, engaging, and full of tension. She creates a strong sense of unease through small details and realistic dialogue. The pacing is steady, building suspense gradually while keeping the reader interested. Seymour does a great job of showing emotions and relationships in a natural way making it very realistic and relatable. The tension is built throughout and I was hooked from the start. Her writing style makes the story easy to follow but still full of surprises.

This book opens with a bang — a literal car accident that jolts you straight into the wreckage, then throws you back in time to the picturesque calm before everything unraveled. Sophie, her partner Ben, and their baby Rufus are renovating a cottage in the Cotswolds, baking in the glow of new family life. It’s sweet. It’s slow. It’s got future Christmas card energy. And then Adam arrives.

Adam is Ben’s estranged brother, and he doesn’t just bring baggage. He brings Brooke — his too-quiet, too-thin girlfriend — and a suitcase full of secrets that start oozing into Sophie’s world the second he steps through the door. He’s charming in that calculated, skin-crawling way. Brooke barely speaks. Sophie’s instincts go off like a fire alarm. And Ben? He’s a doctor, trained in calm, but suddenly distant, defensive, and full of half-answers.

What follows is domestic suspense with the walls slowly closing in. Adam begins inserting himself into their lives — too helpful, too watchful, and just a little too interested in Sophie’s every move. She’s nine years older than Ben, navigating the beautiful mess of postpartum life, and while she loves fiercely, she’s also doubting herself more than she wants to admit. That’s what makes the gaslighting land. She doesn’t unravel loudly. She second-guesses herself to pieces.

This is one of those thrillers where you want to scream, “Just tell the truth,” every five pages. Because so much of what goes wrong here? It could’ve been stopped. One hard conversation, one honest moment, and the dominoes don’t fall. But instead, silence stretches. Secrets deepen. And Sophie’s left holding the weight of everyone else’s refusal to face reality.

Thankfully, Sophie is not alone in the chaos. Her family is phenomenal — a little too trusting, maybe, but deeply present. Her dad is a soft-spoken antiques expert with a beautiful vintage car and a knack for showing up just when she needs grounding. Saskia, her sister, is running Sophie’s wildly successful cookie company while Sophie’s on maternity leave — juggling clients, custom orders, and crisis texts like they can all be smoothed over in the same sentence. Her mom? She’s straight out of a mid-century sitcom — the kind of 1950s housewife who makes multi-course dinners, avoids conflict, and genuinely believes politeness can overcome almost anything. And Auntie Fen? Larger than life and impossible to ignore, the kind of woman who walks into a room and resets the entire emotional temperature. They’re not just side characters — they’re Sophie’s tether.

Seymour builds suspense through proximity and unease. There’s no gore, no over-the-top villain monologue. Just dread, dread, and more dread… until the moment it isn’t quiet anymore. When the final pieces click into place, it’s not subtle. It’s explosive. It’s a face-punch. It’s the kind of climax that knocks the air out of you, even when you’ve known it’s coming.

This one lands at 3 stars for me — not because it was a miss, but because it hovered in that weird in-between space where the tension simmers, the stakes are real, but the payoff doesn’t quite go full throttle. Still, it hit the mark for what it is: a slow spiral into suspicion with just enough emotional shrapnel to leave a mark.

Whodunity Award: For Weaponizing a Guest Room and Turning Family Secrets into a Full-Blown Psychological Siege

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC. This one made me want to change my locks, start a cookie business, and get my own Auntie Fen.

Sophie, a successful business woman, and her partner Ben, a GP, have moved into their Cotswold renovation home with baby Rufus when the estranged brother of Ben, Adam, makes an appearance. Everything with Adam is not as it seems but is Ben hiding something from his past too? But Sophie is traumatised by her past too when it suddenly resurfaces around the same time as Adam. A gripping read from the first chapter. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author & publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

oh this was just so good.so creepy. so tense. so full of unease and questions. who do we as a reader trust. who should the characters trust and do we trust what we are being told,fed,bread crumbed. but i loved it. every second of it. it had me right where it wanted it through every second and every second i just wanted to read more until i had to read more to know what was happening next and what would happen in the end.
a perfect thriller. if i could go into every thriller knowing they would all be this good the world would be a marvellous place to be, ha.
i felt everything was bad surrounding the estranged brother. but then like with all thriller twists i started thinking if i was being lied to and he wasnt bad. but gosh he just felt it. and his girlfriend, dont get me started.
a brilliant book. if you read the blurb and liked it then you will love the inside even more.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from Netgalley. Although I liked Sophie, I struggled with this book. I found the first half too slow, yet the last quarter was too fast and there was no real explanation as to how Sophie realised what was happening. However, some real tension was created in parts.

A fantastic read that sent chills all over my body from the beginning. Well paced and full of tension and atmosphere. I loved it and couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC!

I did not like Adam from the start, he gave me the creeps. Also, who does bring his girlfriend along when coming to stay with his brother? Plus, the girlfriend made my skin crawl, as well. I always wanted siblings, but this would have very much overstepping my boundaries...

Anyway, I was hooked from page one by the book and more or less did read it in one sitting while being at home all on my own this sunday. Very much recommended, you should go and grab a copy once you get the chance!

A wonderful life turned upside down by the brother- Adam. What a horrible character he is.
Great thriller with some really heart stopping moments.
I raced through this desperate to find out the outcome.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Review of ‘The Brother’ by E.V. Seymour due to be published on 5 June 2025 by Joffe Books.

When Sophie’s partner Ben’s estranged brother, Adam, announces he’s coming to visit, their idyllic life with their baby is thrown into chaos and disarray.

Adam is a deeply unlikeable character, and his young girlfriend is strange and creepy. Throw Sophie’s previous fiancé into the mix and secrets and lies explode.

An excellent psychological thriller, that’s dark and full of twists you don’t see coming.

Highly recommended read.