Merri and Dev are happily married but sometimes struggling to make ends meet. On their wedding anniversary, Dev splashes out and buys Merri a ticket for a house raffle. They don’t imagine for one minute that they might actually win, but they do; a beautiful multi-million-pound home in the Lake District, fully furnished, and £250,000 cash to get settled in. For them, it’s a no-brainer and they move into their lovely new home.

Then begins a very clever and gripping storyline, and Merri’s hidden past comes back to haunt her. Absolutely brilliant and gripping.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, and Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I've read numerous books by this author and LOVED them, so why do I feel so utterly wretched to admit that this one just wasn’t up there for me?

This plot follows Merri and Dev. A married couple that just doesn't seem to have any luck in life. Struggling to pay the bills, let alone be able to live and in jobs that sap all of their energy, Dec takes the plunge and buys a ticket, which puts him into the draw to win a luxury home and £250k.

Merri is angry. They don't have the spare cash to be frivolous, and a raffle ticket is the last thing she would want to splurge on. So when there's a knock at the door and she is faced with a camera crew and presenter, letting her know that they have won, she doesn't know what to feel.

Told from the POVs of Dev, Merri, and The Watcher, it very early on becomes obvious that Merri has a past that she has run from, one that she has buried deep and is on alert constantly, worried it will one day be unearthed.

I found it really hard to get into this book, it just didn't have the smallest grip and it never felt like it was really going anywhere until around 80%, but then when the pace sped up, it was all over.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me, but it definitely won't put me off this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random Books for the ARC.

My first time reading anything from this author, will be checking out some of her other books for sure.
Loved the short chapters, the fast paced story & the twists and turns.
A really enjoyable psychological thriller storyline about a past that always does catch up with you eventually.
Thank you for NetGalley for the ARC.

Really enjoyed the book, it kept me on my toes. Great storyline and characters. I have read a couple of her books and I always find them gripping.

Merri and Dev are a struggling young couple when Dev buys Merri a ticket for a dream house prize draw. They are The Lucky Winners, but are they really lucky?

The story is told from both Merri and Dev's point of view, with a few chapters from the watcher as well. The chapters aren't too long which I liked. The characters are all interesting and I really liked Merri, and her relationships with Dev and her friend Paige. It felt like a realistic story, and not far fetched like a lot of thrillers can be. The story line of winning the dream house and then struggling to fit in with the locals and adapt seemed especially true.

I really struggled to get into the book and wasn't gripped at all. I felt it only really got going at about 80% and had wrapped up fairly quickly. It was a bit obvious to me what was going to happen. I think it's probably a holiday read if you want something you don't have to focus to much on.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and K.L Slater for the arc.

I enjoyed this book by K.L.Slater. Lots of lies and secrets to keep me reading with twists and turns thrown in. I liked the short chapters and the different perspectives. Kept me guessing till the end. I recommend this book and author.

My second book in a row about a spectacular house that doesn't bring happiness and leads to murder.
Merri and Dev are ordinary people who have a stroke of luck, but it doesn't make them happy. Like most characters in psychological thrillers, one of them has a secret. It could cause problems in the wrong hands. So as their worlds change, the $64,000 question is who can be trusted? And who is watching them?
This book drew me in as the pool of suspects grew, but the character of The Watcher was rather obvious. Other twists worked well though.
I did spot a few continuity errors in the book, but overall found it held my interest.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review'

3.5
In this book we follow Merri and Dev who are struggling to make ends meet. Dev buys Merri a ticket for a prize draw to win a dream house in the Windemere for their anniversary and against all odds they win. When they move to the house they are met with unfriendly locals and unwelcoming activities that make Merri question whether her past is also catching up with her.
Throughout the story we are given both Dev and Merri's POV, with flashbacks into Merri's past, as well as a character called The Watcher.
I started off suspicious of everyone but when the watcher character was introduced I then only suspected two people which made the story feel a little predictable/obvious which was a bit disappointing to me. Having said that there is a bit of a side plot along side this which adds a little extra bit of mystery.
I did like the atmosphere of the new house being a bit of a fish bowl and the perceived dislike from the locals. Those are definitely things I would worry about in this situation so it played well into real life fears.
I would say that this book is a good holiday type read/if you don't want to think about what you're reading.

I do love a K L Slater thriller so was very grateful and excited to receive an advanced copy of 'The Lucky Winners' from NetGalley, thank you very much!

Merri and her husband Dev pack up their mundane lives in Nottingham to live in a brand new glass mansion in the Lake District thanks to winning a nationwide prize draw.

Whilst Dev is keen to start his new life, Merri is a bit more cautious...there are locals who are not too impressed with 2 newcomers owning this massive home when most of them can't afford their own, plus Merri has a secret from the past coming back to haunt her.

Pros
- we get to know Merri and Dev pretty well, we get flashbacks to Merris difficult childhood .

- the house and surroundings are described in a way you can picture yourself standing there

- there are plenty of creepy moments and a good amount of tension

- short chapters to keep you page turning

Cons

- Merri has a secret and she is constantly referring to having a secret, even past the 80% mark!

- I feel a certain side character wasn't developed enough for where her story took her

Overall I'd say this is an ideal holiday read, I don't think it's my favourite of Slaters novels but you know what you're getting and I'd recommend.
3.5/5 from me

Meri and Dev are struggling to pay the rent and bills when they suddenly win the prize of a lifetime. A new multimillion pound furnished home with spending money. However, not everyone is happy for them. There is an element of jealousy with some and a mysterious person watching them. Meri has a mysterious past, is the watcher about to expose her past secrets to her husband.

I have read lots of books from this author, and they are all as equally addictive as this one. I was hooked from the first chapter. I liked the characters, I thought they were interesting and the storyline was very good.

A big thank you for selecting me to read and review this novel.
I really liked the cover of this book which drew me in as well as the author, as I have read most of her books.
I really enjoyed this book and I did not guess the twist correctly at the end. The characters were well described and I felt as though I knew them well.
I felt tense at times throughout the book as the storyline continued.
Would definitely recommend this book to other thriller readers.

Fascinating storyline. Full of secrets, lies and betrayal – it kept me guessing right to the end.. Very interesting characters

Thank you #netgalley for a copy of this e book in exchange for an honest review
When Merri and Dev buy a ticket on the last day of a national draw to win the house of their dreams, they never, in a million years, expect to win.

Less than a week later, they’re receiving the keys to their new Lake District mansion.

For Dev, it’s a dream come true – no more stressful rent negotiations, or waiting for the landlord to finally fix the damp. Of course he’s delighted to be interviewed about their good luck.

But Merri feels a little uneasy. Dev doesn’t realise there’s a reason she’s never wanted to put down roots, always trying to run away from the memories of what happened the day her little sister died.

At first it’s easy to think she’s imagining the shadowy figures in the lakefront garden. It’s silly to think that someone is watching her through the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

And then a body is found in the lake. And Merri’s new perfect life is about to come crashing down…

I do love books by this author always a great one that you can get into easy and escape for a few hours the story line was good and the characters are likeable can’t wait for more books by this author defo a good summer read

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

The Lucky Winners is a compelling, creepy, twisty thriller in which we meet Merri and Dev who are down on their luck struggling to pay the bills and make ends meet. Dev buys Merri a prize draw ticket to win a dream house for their anniversary and they can hardly believe their luck when they win.

What should be a fresh start quickly descends into a nightmare after a series of events unsettles them especially Merri.

I found this book a compelling, well written book which I enjoyed, I will be recommending this one!

Thanks to Net Galley, K L Slater and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I absolutely loved this thriller - it starts with Merri and Dev, a couple struggling with debt to the point a £20 lottery ticket for a dream house causes a serious argument between the couple.

Against all odds they are the lucky winners and move to the idyllic Lake District. Despite the beauty of the house Merri is worrying about unfriendly locals as well as the secrets of her past catching up to her.

This kept me gripped - lots of short chapters from various perspectives including an unknown character simply called The Watcher.

Really easy to read and binge it - I didn’t guess where this was going at all. The claustrophobic nature of the house and the sinister inputs from the watcher made for a suspenseful tense read.

Winning a competition for a dream house should be a wish come true, but for Merri and Dev it seems the locals aren’t quite in agreement. With Merri’s anxiety about people, and in particular her husband, finding out who she really is, kept the suspense going when it seems someone has her figured out already.

This was my second book by this author and I felt this was far easier to immerse myself in. Although the story was centred around Merri, and in particular, her childhood, it would have been good to have a bit more development of some of the other characters. However there was enough to keep me reading, and who doesn’t enjoy a book about bad neighbours?!

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for providing me with this ARC.

A gripping read with a good pace and some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Thanks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I read this book in a few days
Not what I expected from the book synopsis
I expected it to be a light jolly read but it turned out to be a very gripping thriller
The centre characters Dev & Merri are adorable
Very sinister goings on in the background and the author seamlessly moves from past to present in a moment
Scenic descriptions are perfect as I know The Lake District very well and I can really picture it and the setting in my mind
It spins from character to character and each and every story has its own merit in the plot

The Lucky Winners is an immersive thriller that turns a dream house into a nightmare. Slater expertly layers trauma, secrets, and suspense, making the tension feel grounded and palpable. If you like slow-building thrillers that burst into twists in the final act, this is a perfect companion. Just know you're entering with mood-setting early chapters and a conclusion that’s compelling—even if one twist might ask you to suspend disbelief.

A great easy to read book which is set over several points of view and 2 time lines.
Whilst there are elements of predictability the twisty and tense elements make this book a really engaging read. So good I read this book in 2 sittings