By: Miranda Rijks
ISBN: 9781837564774
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Publication Date: 12/04/2024
Format: e-book
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
Two perfect families.
Two beautiful homes.
A one-way trip to hell.
When two families organise a house swap, it seems like the perfect holiday arrangement.
The Browns will exchange their London townhouse for a stunning chateau in the south of France, the perfect place to relax and rekindle their flagging marriage.
And the Lesters are looking forward to showing their son, Rafael, around their old haunts in the British capital.
Sounds wonderful. Except for one thing - both families are hiding dark secrets, and secrets have a way of coming out...
In France, there’s a mysterious break-in at the chateau. Then the Browns discover that a woman who lived there disappeared and was never seen again. Instead of feeling rested and relaxed, they now feel isolated and vulnerable.
Then, in London, 17-year-old Rafael vanishes without a trace.
As the tension mounts to an unbearable pitch, both couples are forced to face their darkest demons. Someone won’t be coming home…
The House Swap - the stunning psychological thriller from the best-selling author of The Visitors and Make Her Pay.
My Review
The queen of psychological thrillers, bestselling Miranda Rijks (a favorite author), returns following Every Breath You Take with her latest domestic family psychological suspense, THE HOUSE SWAP —When two families swap houses for a holiday vacation, it turns deadly in this nightmarish roller coaster ride.
About...
Elodie and Lewis need a holiday. They live in a luxury townhouse in Knightsbridge, London.
They decide to swap houses with Piers and Susan, the owners of a Chateau in Provence, France. The photos on the blog look stunning, and they are delighted for this two-week holiday. It will be the perfect getaway! (or so they think).
However, when Elodie and Lewis Brown arrive at the Chateau, it does not resemble the carefully curated blog photos. The villa's interior starkly contrasts the exterior. It is in dire need of repair, moldy, and more. Soon, their magical vacation turns into a nightmare, starting with the constant construction interruptions and more (only the beginning).
Meanwhile, Piers and Susan, a couple with their seventeen-year-old son Rafael, are excited about this posh townhome in the bustle of central London. Raf has even met someone next door. However, things in the marriage and family are tense. Little do they know, their excitement will turn into a nightmare.
Everyone is keeping secrets...
As the story unfolds, unexpected twists and turns lead to a series of shocking events. Things go from bad to worse in France, and Susan posts photos of the London townhome on her blog, and then Raf disappears.
Each night brings with it a new wave of disturbing incidents, adding to the growing unease and tension. Numerous scandalous and wicked secrets are waiting to be unveiled, each more shocking than the last!
The truth is more terrifying than they could have guessed. And as the situation spirals out of control, it’s clear that surviving the house swap may be more difficult than anyone imagines. Who is controlling the nightmare holiday narrative?
My thoughts...
You can always count on Miranda to select the perfect atmospheric settings, vivid descriptions, wit/humor, and characters in sticky situations with more secrets than you can count, with ulterior motives to keep you turning the pages.
After all, neither can go home as someone else is in their respective homes. Tantalizing and scandalous! After reading this, you will never consider a house swap!
THE HOUSE SWAP is a wild ride, brimming with tension, deception, lies, and dark hidden secrets. The constant suspense and danger keep the reader hooked, making it a perfect read for fans of psychological thrillers.
Told from alternating POVs of Elodie, Piers, and Rafael, the story delves deep into their struggles, deception, and hidden secrets. This intense family drama will resonate with readers who enjoy complex character dynamics.
Recs...
THE HOUSE SWAP is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by K. L. Slater, Daniel Hurst, Emily Shiner, Jenova Rose, Kaira Rouda, and Freida McFadden.
Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Dec 4, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
About the Author
I write psychological thrillers - many of which have been Kindle bestsellers. If you'd like to be the first to know about my new books, win free copies, get a character named after you, or chat about your favourite psychological thrillers, please join my new Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mirandarijks. I'd love you to be part of our thriller reader community!
Before becoming a fiction writer, I helped newbie entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses. In 2015, I was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and everything changed.
I live in Sussex, England with my husband and black Labradors. When I'm not writing, I'm dreaming about living in a chalet on a Swiss mountain, obsessively knitting and painting on my iPad. My books include: The Lodge, The Visitors, The Arrangement, The New Neighbour, The Second Wife, The Other Mother, The Insomniac, The Concierge, Forget Me Not, The Only Child, What She Knew, The Influencer, Roses Are Red, You Are Mine, Deserve To Die, I Want You Gone, Fatal Fortune, Fatal Flowers and Fatal Finale.
Find out more at www.mirandarijks.com and please join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mirandarijks. Thank you for reading my books!
