This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

In Nuala Ellwood’s latest novel The House on the Lake we find two stories entwined like the double helix of DNA. A tragic case of PTSD and the taking of a child’s liberty, plus an escape from a controlling relationship to a remote dwelling on the shore of a lake.

It was well written and descriptive but I found it a little slow. Frankly it was only curiosity which kept me reading until the end. Certain aspects lacked credibility especially taking a toddler to an unheated wreck of a building in the middle of winter.

A different read, two storylines running into one. Plenty of interesting characters Soldier, Sarge, Lisa and evening the House itself.

Domestic abuse that even has the baby as a full blown Daddy’s boy ! It’s claustrophobic at times and yet a compelling story of our times where control by parent , partner, state is a common modern theme

Well worth reading

Wow. From first word to last this fast paced, gripping story had me in its thrall. This has all the essential ingredients for an outstanding suspense novel - tension, intrigue, guilt, deception, shocks, danger and so well written. This is the story of Lisa whose controlling husband Mark has undermined her and demeaned her to the point where she takes drastic action. His poison has also deeply affected their three year old son Joe whose treatment of Lisa at times mirrors what he’s seen his father do yet it’s obvious Joe really loves Mark despite the brain washing. Lisa is on the run from Mark and she is given access to the house on the lake - Rowan House. The other part of the story is Soldier Number One who we later learn is Grace. She lives with her father in Rowan House in the Yorkshire Dales. There her father who is known as Sarge keeps her away from the villagers and they live a self sufficient life with army rules. The storytelling switches effortlessly from Lisa to Soldier number one.

The house is also a ‘character’ as it is key to the events in the book. It’s in a decrepit state, it feels malign and is in an almost unliveable condition when Lisa arrives and she struggles to survive there. It symbolises all that Mark has put her through but also is her haven. It functions for Grace and her father but it’s hardly luxury. The descriptions of the house are fantastic and you can really feel it’s presence. There are some lovely original metaphors in the book which I like too. The characters in the story are very well created too and I could picture them easily. It is obvious as you read on that Sarge has PTSD although when soldier number one is young it’s less evident than as she grows up. There are some scary and shocking moments as his condition starts to win. Lisa’ story is sad as Mark’s psychological control deepens and her sense of self worth diminishes. What both lead characters have in common is that they are being controlled, as soldier number one grows up her fathers control deepens.

The storyline is excellent and the tension rises and falls as each girl tells their story and keeps you in suspense leaving you with no clue as to what is going to happen next and tantalises you to keep reading, which I happily did! I genuinely did not see the end coming and it’s a doozy. My only thought about Lisa is that Mark seems to win which is so darned unfair but Grace seems to be embracing her future with great courage. An absolutely terrific read which I highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC

The House on the Lake left me rooting for all the wrong characters! When the truth came out I was gobsmacked. Emotional and extremely atmospheric,
I’d love a book just based on Grace. Her sections were the best parts of the story for me.
Highly recommended.

Nuala Ellwood’s novels are always highly addictive because they manage not only to be dark and twisted but also hugely emotional and often thought provoking.

The House On The Lake follows that trend as we meet Lisa, on the run from a controlling relationship with son Joe in tow, who moves into a dilapidated lake house where amenities are few. Interspersed with the diary of a girl growing up there, past and present are about to collide…

This was a clever and involving story that will often have you catching your breath- Lisa’s story is far from straightforward and this is as much a journey of personal discovery as it is psychological thriller.

The girl from years gone by has a tough, isolated life that will induce sympathy at many points- it is utterly gripping from first page to last.

The setting is gorgeous yet claustrophobic, the writing perfectly paced and descriptive and the whole novel has a beautifully melancholy feel that plays well into the story being told.

Compelling characters and an often heart wrenching narrative add up to yet another great book from this author.

Recommended.