Author: Diane Janes
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Book Description: Is Wendy’s dream house about to turn into her worst nightmare?
From the moment Wendy Thornton first laid eyes on number 37, The Ashes, she knew she had to have it. It may seem neglected on the outside, but Wendy is convinced it’s her perfect family home. It just needs to be loved. It needs her.
When Wendy receives an unexpected sum of money from her aunt’s will, her dream of buying The Ashes becomes a reality. But as Wendy moves in with her young family and starts uncovering its past, she soon learns that The Ashes is hiding a number of dark secrets.
Is Wendy’s dream house about to become her worst nightmare? As she is drawn further into The Ashes’ dark history, Wendy’s own life starts to unravel in the most spectacular and devastating way . . .
Rating: 4 Stars
Review: This was one of the most uncomfortable books I have read in a long time, and I mean that in a great way. When the story starts, Wendy has found her dream home. When she receives money after her Aunt’s death she decides to buy the home, without much support from her family.
The Ashes (the name of the house) has a long history and Wendy starts digging into it, and uncovers many secrets. At first everything appears to be normal, but things start quickly going wrong. There is a major strain that develops within her marriage, and her oldest daughter is interested in learning about her biological father after he left them when she was just a toddler.
Wendy’s husband get’s a huge promotion,, that takes back to his hometown. Wendy defies her husband and decides at least for the meantime to stay at the Ashes to sell it and continue to uncover it’s secrets.
I do not want to give anything additional away, as the author does an outstanding job peeling back all the layers until it culminates to an ending you will never see coming. This is a perfect read to save for the fall closer to Halloween, as it has all the creepiness one would expect from this type of story, but it is such a satisfying read.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 