Our House by Louise Candlish

When Bram and Fiona Lawson separated, they decided it was in the best interests of their children to do what is known as “bird’s nest custody”—each parent would take turns living in the family home with the kids, while the other parent stayed in a nearby apartment they shared as part of the custody arrangement. Everything is going well until the day Fiona returns to find Bram and the children gone, and another family moving into her house, claiming the Lawsons recently sold it to them… but Fiona has no idea what they’re talking about. She’s able to track down her children, but only Bram can explain why he would sell their home behind her back… and he has disappeared without a trace.

I loved the concept of this story! It’s safe to say that no possession means as much to you as your home, so a book about an estranged husband selling the family home without his wife’s knowledge (much less consent) appealed to me immediately. I couldn’t wait to find out the reason for his treachery, and hoped his motive would be as shocking as the sale of the house proved to be… and believe me, it was!

Anyone who follows my reviews is aware that I love books with multiple points-of-view, and also enjoy events being disclosed via multiple timelines. As such, I was pleased to discover that was the case with Our House. One timeline deals with Fiona’s discovery of strangers moving into her home. The other timeline is set a couple of months in the future, and is told from Fiona’s perspective via a podcast she takes part in called The Victim, and from Bram’s perspective via his written confession. Each section is clearly labeled, so there is no confusion about when things are happening. This serves to drag out the suspense (in a good way!) on why Bram did what he did, and what happened as a result.

There were several events along the way that took me by surprise, but NOTHING shocked me more than the final chapter. What an ending! You could have knocked me over with a feather—that is how stunned I felt!

Final Thoughts

With a twisty plot, impeccable writing, and vivid characters that will evoke strong emotions within the reader, Our House is an enthralling read. This is a book you definitely don’t want to miss, so be sure to add it to your TBR!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Berkley via Edelweiss.

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Author: Louise Candlish
Title: Our House
Genre: Suspense
Publication Date: August 7, 2018 by Berkley
Rating: 4 stars

About the Book

From an internationally acclaimed author, a disturbing and addictive novel of domestic suspense where secrets kept hidden from spouses cause shocking surprises that hit home…

There’s nothing unusual about a new family moving in at 91 Trinity Avenue. Except it’s her house. And she didn’t sell it.

When Fiona Lawson comes home to find strangers moving into her house, she’s sure there’s been a mistake. She and her estranged husband, Bram, have a modern co-parenting arrangement: bird’s nest custody, where each parent spends a few nights a week with their two sons at the prized family home to maintain stability for their children. But the system built to protect their family ends up putting them in terrible jeopardy. In a domino effect of crimes and misdemeanors, the nest comes tumbling down.

Now Bram has disappeared and so have Fiona’s children. As events spiral well beyond her control, Fiona will discover just how many lies her husband was weaving and how little they truly knew each other. But Bram’s not the only one with things to hide, and some secrets are best kept to oneself, safe as houses.

About the Author

LOUISE CANDLISH studied English at University College London and worked as an editor and copywriter before writing fiction. OUR HOUSE is published in the US by Berkley in August 2018 and is out now in the UK, published by Simon & Schuster.

Louise is the bestselling author of eleven previous novels, including THE SWIMMING POOL and THE SUDDEN DEPARTURE OF THE FRASERS (Penguin, 2015), which has been optioned for TV by Hartswood Films.

Louise lives in South London with her husband and daughter. Follow her day to day on Twitter at @louise_candlish or get updates at www.louisecandlish.com