Here To Stay by Mark Edwards is a book I rushed to apply for on Netgalley – I’d heard so many good things, plus it has such a great cover and intriguing storyline! I couldn’t believe it when I was approved for review, reading it pretty much straight away.
***AD: This post contains a press sample but all thoughts are my own***
Synopsis
Gemma Robinson comes into Elliot’s life like a whirlwind, and they marry and settle into his home. When she asks him if her parents can come to stay for a couple of weeks, he is keen to oblige – he just doesn’t quite know what he’s signing up for.
The Robinsons arrive with Gemma’s sister, Chloe, a mysterious young woman who refuses to speak or leave her room. Elliot starts to suspect that the Robinsons are hiding a dark secret. And then there are the scars on his wife’s body that she won’t talk about . . .
As Elliot’s in-laws become more comfortable in his home, encroaching on all aspects of his life, it becomes clear that they have no intention of moving out. To protect Gemma, and their marriage, Elliot delves into the Robinsons’ past. But is he prepared for the truth?
From the two million copy bestselling author comes a tale about the chilling consequences of welcoming strangers into your home.
(Taken from Goodreads)
My Review
Although I love thrillers and crime mysteries, I very rarely feel scared by them like I do with film (I’m not sure why – perhaps I read too many Pan Book of Horror stories as a kid). Here To Stay was different though, and I really welcomed that.
The plot is a really interesting one and suspense is built up perfectly, filling me with dread and unease as I read. What started off as your standard thriller became quite psychological and horrifying as the story went on, and I couldn’t help but feel very apprehensive as I turned each page. The pacing of the book is excellent (the best example of pacing I’ve read all year), with a very clear plot structure that somehow still manages to surprise with its various twists and turns.
Character development is also really well done – Elliot is a deep and three-dimensional main character to follow, and the passion he has for his house is very apparent. His growing resentment for the Robinsons is hard not to absorb as you read, and despite the extremities of their personalities they are all believable (which makes you feel even less at ease – could this happen to me?). I was particularly fascinated by Chloe, Gemma’s sister, and Edwards did a great job of developing her despite her not being seen all that much.
There are several quite shocking scenes that happen at various points throughout the books, and the emotion brought out from these is powerful and accurate. You feel as if you’re the one walking into them, the one that’s physically and emotionally affected by them, which is a sign of really excellent writing. Much change occurs during the story leading to a feeling of loss for the reader, and the few chapters written about the past do a good job of embellishing upon what little we know from the events of the present day.
Final Thoughts
As you can probably tell, I very much enjoyed reading Mark Edwards’ Here To Stay – it was an engrossing and high-quality read that I found myself struggling to put down. Fans of thrillers, as well as crime and mystery books, will love this one, and I’m very excited to read Edwards’ many other previous books which promise the same chilling and fast-paced experience.
Purchase Links
If you’d like to purchase a copy of Here To Stay by Mark Edwards then you can do so using the following links:
Here To Stay by Mark Edwards – Amazon UK
Here To Stay by Mark Edwards – Amazon US
Author Bio
Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people. He has sold more than 3 million books and topped the UK bestseller list nine times. His titles include The Magpies, Follow You Home and The Retreat. His latest book, Here to Stay, is out now.
(Taken from Mark Edwards’ website)
Have you read Here To Stay already, or are you thinking of reading it? Let me know what you thought of my review in the comments below, and don’t forget to like and pin!
You can read some of my other thriller/crime book reviews here:
Don’t Even Breathe – Keith Houghton
An Excuse For Murder – Vanessa Westermann
I can’t wait to dive into my copy after reading your review! Excellent review lovely!
I hope you enjoy… Let me know what you think!
Oooh this sounds interesting. I’m the same, I rarely get scared by horror or thrillers – movies or books – anymore. I’ve seen so many, it takes a lot to shock me! x
I love thriller movies but haven’t read many books in that genre. This one definitely seems very intriguing!
If you read just one thriller book then go for this one!
This sounds brilliant! I don’t usually get scared by psychological thrillers but they are definitely my favourite genre to read, so I’ll have to pick this one up and see if it creeps me out! I love the sound of the plot!
It’s really quite scary!