I've just finished The Lucky Winners by K. L. Slater and I’m genuinely impressed. What starts as a dream come true—a couple winning a luxurious Lake District mansion—quickly spirals into a chilling psychological thriller. Slater’s storytelling is sharp and emotionally rich, weaving suspense with deep personal trauma. Merri’s unease and haunting past add layers of tension that build beautifully until the shocking twist. It’s not just about secrets—it’s about how they shape us. If you love thrillers that keep you guessing and characters that feel real, this one’s a must-read. Slater has done it again! Highly recommend.

Merri and Dev live in Nottingham in a rented place with everyday issues such as a landlord and bills to pay. One day, their luck changes when they win a brand new home in the Lake District in a national draw. Shortly, they move in and Merri is not so sure if the move was good thing to happen in their lives, as their are strange incidents occurring, which she is unsettled by. It was a story based on secrets, lies, betrayals, that come out in the present, which forces Merri to confront her past when a body is found. It was told over different time periods with multiple characters. The subplots all tie up to come to a dramatic ending.

Merri and Dev are struggling with their lives - always short of money and working extra hours to pay for everything when Dev spends their last £20 on a raffle ticket for a dream house in the Lake District.
Against the odds they win an amazing house with dramatic views of Lake Windermere.
But things are not as easy as they should be. There is vandalism, locals are unfriendly., Merri’s best friend becomes withdrawn, and then social media posts made supposedly by Merri.
Drawn out, and not the most thrilling of books but a reasonable read. Not one of K L Slater’s better ones

This suspense filled read had my attention from the very beginning, I loved the unique setting to the story - I’ll never look at those house draws the same way! The different timelines and POV really do at to the story, working together to make a great story.

What seems to be a once-in-a-lifetime bit of luck soon becomes a nightmare.
Dev and Merri are struggling to make ends meet. Both worked to the bone, there never seems to be enough money. So when Dev spends £20 on a ticket for a millionaire home giveaway it seems a step too far.
Except they win.
Before we know it Dev and Merri have moved into their beautiful home over Lake Windermere. They make some new friends and are seemingly happy. Until Merri starts to think someone is watching them. Their home gets vandalised and someone posts pictures of their beautiful home online - pictures that mean they’ve been in the house.
A nightmare scenario, but one Merri is particularly concerned by for reasons that she has hidden from her husband. When the body of one of their new friends is pulled out of the lake Merri knows she is going to have to come clean. But will it be enough?
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this.

I had a good time with this book and I did enjoy it but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. The story for me didn’t turn out like I expected to and I wasn’t gripped as I thought I would be.

I found it quite slow to read and it took me ages to get into it. I did almost DNF, but it did come together in the end and I wasn’t gripped satisfied with how it ended.

Meera and Dev - decidedly down on their luck when we are first introduced - win a lottery for the House of their Dreams -a beautiful modern home on the banks of Lake Windermere
Hoping for a new chapter in their lives -they move in and begin to live the affluent lifestyle they have always dreamt of .
However things do not go according to plan - shunned by the locals - break ins at their new home leave Meera wondering if this new life is turning into a nightmare . Dev is determined to stay put -but is Meera hiding events which may be putting thier lives in danger ?

This was just ok for me -the characters were not very likeable -which always puts me off -and the storyline was very predictable

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest opinion

This is a goodie! I really felt like I got to know all of the characters well and the pages flew by! There are a few red herrings to keep you guessing and the twists and turns do well to throw you off the scent. I enjoyed the writing and felt the storyline was well executed. There are quite a few typos in the second half of the book. I also felt that Jack just disappeared off the page after the dinner party, which was odd as his character was built up quite a bit. Mr Webb’s character did a 180 at the end - he was always nice and kind to Janey early on, seems like the whole family were nuts.

You always see these 'win your dream home' raffles everywhere but you never think about what happens if you actually win one; well this book will make you think twice about buying a ticket.

Full of suspense and so many twists, everytime I thought something was going to happen.. something else happened instead and it always took me by surprise. Brilliant writing by K L Slater.

This is a thriller with a gripping premise… for one couple, winning an awe-inducing dream house in a raffle triggers the start of a nightmare!

After being bombarded with adverts for similar “million pound house” raffles on TV recently, this book was a welcome reminder that the grass is not always greener on the other side… though in this case, unfriendly and exclusionary local residents were the very least of Merri and Dev’s worries.

Unfortunately, the story didn’t 100% live up to its promise for me. I wasn’t super gripped and I found some elements of the plot so unrealistic that I failed to suspend disbelief. By the last quarter I was determined to finish to find out how things turned out and I did think things picked up, so giving it three stars overall. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions my own!

The Lucky Winners by K.L. Slater is a tense, cleverly layered psychological thriller that hooks you from the opening pages and doesn't let go. I finished this book in one sitting as It was utterly unputdownable and I just had to know what happened next!

When Dev surprises Merri with a ticket to the Dreamy prize draw for their anniversary, it feels like a sweet gesture in the face of mounting bills and daily stress. But when they actually win a stunning glass-fronted mansion in the Lake District plus a generous sum of money, it seems too good to be true. And, of course, it is. From the moment they arrive, the dream quickly begins to unravel. The breathtaking views and luxury lifestyle are quickly overshadowed by Merri's growing paranoia: the sense of being watched, strange occurrences around the house, and a haunting feeling that the past she's worked so hard to bury is about to surface.

Another fantastic novel from K.L Slater, packed with suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

The Lucky Winners by K L Slater is the story of Merri and Dev who buy a lottery ticket at the very last minute for a dream house in the Lake District. Dev bought it as a wedding anniversary present for Merri, they were both in debt and living in rented accommodation and yes they won the house and quarter of a million pounds.
They move into the sleek newly built house of glass and believe their lives will be changed for ever. They were right, but not before there are murders and death, assaults, lies and the past catches up with Merri. It is a psychological drama that only KL Slater could have written, with all the secrets, lies, twists and deceit before everything is made clear.
Highly recommended

The Lucky Winners

KL Slater

Merri & Dev, struggling with debt and the heavy weight of hard work and life in general, win a spectacular ‘Dreamkey’ house of dreams on the banks of Lake Windermere. What happens next is the stuff nightmares are made of - is Merri’s dark past catching up with her?

A well written, twisty, turny thriller which had me holding my breath towards the end. Every single character (particularly the women) was a suspect & parts were wonderfully far fetched and ott- but also very enjoyable all the way through.

We have an Omaze house close to where we live - I’ll have to keep an eye out!

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

This was an interesting read, and gave food for thought about the transition that takes place when people win life changing amounts, or properties.the main character's were slightly flaky but needed to be for the storyline to work. An easy read that’s quite enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Loved this story. Everyone’s dream to win a dream key house but the secrets and lies that come with this one are something else!

The past comes back and the lies unravel

Found the story a bit slow at times but all got there in the end!

Despite its dark themes this is an easy read and one I enjoyed tremendously. Dav and Merri, a married couple, are down on their luck doing jobs that neither really like while living in a flat that they can barely afford. On their wedding anniversary Dav decides to enter a prize draw. The winning couple will be given a £3 million home in the Lake District and £250 k spending money.

This is their story from rags to riches. Unfortunately, with all the media interest and publicity Merri’s past returns to threaten them.

Merri’s secret past is revealed slowly which makes it both harrowing and emotional when it finally comes out. There are some great characters planted along the way to throw up enough suspicion and tension and a great subplot involving her new neighbours. Slater never fails to deliver, and I am an avid fan.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

4.5 stars

One of the most enjoyable thrillers I’ve read this year. Great characters, great premise and really kept me guessing.

Merri and Dev are down on their luck—until they win a luxurious new home. As they start settling into their newfound millionaire lifestyle, it quickly becomes clear that not everyone is happy for them. Some are ready to bring them down and will do whatever it takes.

Think most of us would love to win a large house like this? Beware, as all is not as it seems! The author really had me thinking about the repercussions of this and now I think I would sell should I win!! A great read, twists, turns and lots of red herrings! Loved this book and am looking for and hoping to read many more of this author. This book makes you think just what you want and what you need.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

When Merri and Dev win a dream house, they think their old life will be over, living a debt free life in beautiful surroundings. Unfortunately, press photographs put an end to this when old secrets rise along with old enemies. When vandalism begins, Merri has to wonder if its disgruntled neighbours or her past come back to haunt her.
A good book and very easy to get into, but I was a little disappointed by the big reveal.

Haven’t we all dreamed of winning an Omaze type lottery house? Well that’s what happens to Dev and Merri who are literally down to their last penny. Dev buys the ticket as an anniversary gift, Merri thinks it’s an awful waste of money… until they win! A cash pot and an out of the world house on a lake in the Cotswolds. What could be better? However when they leave their old life behind, they find fitting in isn’t as easy as they first thought. The locals are hostile and Merri has an uneasy feeling of being watched. When photos from inside their new house after they’ve moved in appear on line everything starts to unravel.

Great read, I’ve often wondered how it would feel winning something like this. I hadn’t really put much thought into the downside and what that might bring. Quick easy read.