The Dream House
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller
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3.9 • 64 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
‘One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long long time.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Just brilliant, loved every page, every twist and turn’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Sunk its claws into me from page one and didn’t let go until the end’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Be prepared to be glued to this story!...Absolutely all the stars!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Set aside everything that you have to do… This book will grip you from the very first pages… I loved it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea I knew it was the perfect place for a fresh start.
The place may be falling apart, but it can be fixed with some tender loving care. And as Jack and I work to repair this beautiful building, maybe we can repair our relationship too. Maybe we can make Westhill House a refuge from all the tragedies that came before.
Lori has come to Westhill House for shelter too. She says it used to be a place where women went for safety. How can I turn her away, when violence waits for her outside these high walls?
But the longer Lori stays, the more time Jack spends away. And the more she helps me restore the house, the more secrets start to be revealed.
Like the children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.
The hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room.
But why does Lori know so much about Westhill House, if she’s never been here before?
What does she really need protection from?
And now I’ve invited her into my dream house, is there any escape for either of us?
A gripping, spine-chilling read brimming with secrets and lies. If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us or The Woman in the Window then this dark, twisting psychological thriller from Amazon chart bestseller Jess Ryder is guaranteed to have you gripped.
What readers are saying about The Dream House:
‘Wow, what an amazing thrilling, chilling book that sunk its claws into me from page one and didn’t let go until the very end… Ryder will be on my top list of authors… full of thrills, chills, hearts aches, and twist & turns! Will be highly recommending.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘…I think this may be one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long, long time. I was hooked! Every time I thought I knew where the plot was going something else would happened and I’d be asking more questions. The twists and turns were gripping and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Seriously get yourself a copy when this book hits shelves on June 21st, you won’t regret it!’ Goodreads reviewer
‘Unputdownable.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
Gripping… had me in its grasp from the very first page… I could not turn the pages quickly enough to discover the mysteries hidden inside Westhill House… This is a brilliantly executed novel that I would not hesitate to recommend.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Brilliant… I could not put this one down!!! Superb read!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘What an incredible thriller! Love this author and literally couldn’t tear myself away from this book. Will definitely be reading more.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Just brilliant, loved every page, every twist and turn and I was gripped from the very first chapter… I have no hesitation in recommending this addictive page turner.’ Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘Seriously good! Very intense, could not put it down. A perfect example of a book that you are obsessed with reading - cannot wait to find out what happens but do not want it to end. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Totally gripping book that I couldn’t put down… Kept me guessing until the end, a real page turner.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘The Dream House’ is a gripping and sinister thriller with a cleverly written plot full of menace and intrigue that at times made me feel uncomfortable and worried at what was going to happen to Stella who’s gullible but understandably so. I was hooked from the beginning and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen, finishing it in a day.’ Goodreads Reviewer
‘…This was a great read, and I had a hard time setting the book down. Jess Ryder writes an extremely atmospheric tale that blends two different timelines seamlessly. Certain aspects are downright haunting, and her writing makes you 100% invested in the characters and their stories. ‘Goodreads Reviewer
‘Wow, this is an absolutely fantastic thriller! Not only is it highly addictive, but Jess Ryder also conveys some very serious topics such as domestic violence, brilliantly and sensitively into this story… This is brilliant book; gripping, character-driven, wonderfully written. I've been in a bit of a reading slump when it comes to thrillers lately, but this one really is a standout novel.’ Super Heroines, 5 stars
‘I loved this one and couldn’t wait to get to the end.’ Mrs Joe Reads
‘I'm a fan of this author and was excited to get a chance to read The Dream House! The story is clever, as I've come to expect from Ryder, and the characters are engaging and multi-dimensional. I don't want to give away anything of the plot, but there are plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes!’ The Princess and the Pen
Cooking the Books Review, 5 stars
‘A thoroughly convincing and enthralling read. A psychological thriller that is unpredictable and will totally shock you when you least expect it.’ Cooking the Books Review, 5 stars
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‘Gripped me from the start. Westhill House is brought to life with an unsettling chill. The characters are authentic and intriguing… constantly had me guessing… Captivating… grips you until the very end.’ Irresistibly Bookish
‘Wow!… I loved it, pacy and taut with well written characters. Read it now!’ Netgalley Reviewer, 5 stars
‘So this isn’t my first book by Ryder, and I have to admit, she REALLY knows how to write a gripping story!… awesome awesome book by her.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
‘…Definitely a great mystery-thriller. I was guessing every which way and found myself stymied time and time again. Loved being kept on the edge of my seat. Such a thrilling read!’ A Bookish Way of Life
Customer Reviews
A chilling read!
Plot Summary:
After the tragic death of her parents, Stella uses her inheritance to purchase a home for herself and her partner Jack. Known as Westhill House, which is located in the small town of Nevansay, it was once a refuge for battered women unbeknownst to Stella. Now in need of major renovations, Stella is up to the task with her contractor Alan and she gets stuck into it with gusto, with the hope that this is going to get her relationship with Jack back on track and bring them closer.
But then Lori enters their lives one night, when she turns up at the house badly beaten. Confused as to why she has come to their home, she tells them that she was given their address from a domestic abuse hotline. Unable to turn her away much to Jacks disapproval, Stella let’s Lori stay just for the night. But one night turns into weeks and this causes a wedge between Stella and Jack who does not like and trust Lori and feels she is not being honest and has a hidden agenda. As Stella learns more about Lori’s life with her abusive husband, she also learns more about the history of her homes past horrors.
In addition to this story set in the present day, there is also a subplot set in the past, told from the perspective of a young woman named Kay, who after she marries her husband, becomes his victim of domestic abuse. Unable to carry on, she makes the courageous decision to flee with her daughter to a refuge. As the story unfolds you know that this it going to find its way to the present day into Stella’s life.
Characters:
The characters in the book were all very well written and developed and I could resonate with them all. Ok maybe not all, Jack definitely was not a favourite. His lack of empathy towards Lori and her situation as well as his disregard to Stella’s feelings did not win him any favours with me. I loved Stella’s strength in standing her ground with Jack insisting that Lori was staying even though it did cause tension in their relationship. We are given a glimpse into Stella’s life as a teenager and the events that lead up to her strong need of wanting to help people. I was completely sympathetic towards Lori and her situation as well as for Kay. My heart broke for them and the suffering they both endured at the hands of someone who is meant to love them.
Setting:
I love any book where the sea is a part of it. As someone who’s favourite season in Winter, as story got darker, I loved the descriptions of the grey skies with choppy water and storms, it just set the eerie tone of the book perfectly, especially with the unusual going ons in the house.
The pace of the book:
The book was written and flowed at decent pace. Not too slow or too fast. It keeps your attention right through to the end and is not drawn out.
Ending:
There was a great twist in this story. Everything was wrapped up including Kay’s story which is an integral part of it. Sometimes narrative from present to past or vice versa makes me nervous and I have read a few books where you are left scratching your head but I’m happy to report that this is not the case with this story.
Authors Style:
I really enjoyed Jess’ writing style. There was just the right amount of suspense used that kept me hooked and I felt I was not left hanging at all, except in parts that were necessary in the build up to the reveal. Domestic violence isn’t an easy subject to read about and I am sure it would also be hard to write about. I thought Jess handled the sensitivity of the subject well without going into too much graphic detail. I especially loved the dedication at the start of the book “For the survivors of domestic violence everywhere” it was a lovely touch.
Final Thoughts:
Right from the prologue I was hooked on this story. A gripping compulsive dark read that with keep you enthralled right up to the final page. This is the first book I have read from Jess and I look forward to reading through her back catalogue and I also her future work.
Thank-you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Jess Ryder for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Dream House in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions are my own and are not biased in anyway