Forced to sofa-surf after a break-up, Immi is overjoyed when she finds the perfect place - a luxury shared home in central London, with all of the millennial mod cons for a surprisingly affordable price. But everything isn't as perfect as it seems, and when a series of pranks turns into something much more sinister, Immi realises that this house share could be the worst mistake she's ever made...

The reviews I read before requesting this made it sound really sinister and creepy, with a strong cult like feel to the plot. And yeah, there were elements of that, but to me the tension just never got high enough to really feel creeped out. All of the characters felt a bit too forced, with each of them having a different character flaw so you would see them as the potential killer.

I don't really know what it was, but something about this one just didn't work for me. I struggled to care about the characters, and it just left me a little flat. Plus, I'm really not a fan of needless animal abuse, especially when it only serves as a way to try and ratchet up the tension. Yes, the plot was very unique and sounded very interesting, but the execution just didn't work, and while the ending was good it felt a bit too rushed to really be enjoyed. Lots of promise that it sadly didn't live up to.

Disclaimer - I was provided with an advance reading copy by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

A creepy read. Immi wanted a place to stay. And an ad seen made her apply for a place which seemed perfect. But wait... There were trials that she had to undergo with questions and invasion of privacy and mind games.... Some of them weirded me out. I wouldn't ever want to live in such a place. I wouldn't be able to sleep nights.

My first foray into this author's writing, I was blown away by the feeling of danger. I too felt as if eyes were upon me all the time. Shivers coursed down my back as I went deeper into the story.

Most parts found me connected to Immi and the subplots too made it exciting. But some were a little confusing. Nevertheless I continued on right to the end... And it was abrupt.

Overall, I would say it was a good dark read. Brrr... I was still creeper out long after reading it.

Immi is desperate for somewhere to live. Anything to get her off her best friend's sofa and into a proper bed. Ever since Al kicked her out she's been sofa surfing, but she, or her friendships, can't take much more. So when she sees an advert for The Dye Factory, it seems far too good to be true. En-suite rooms with a roof terrace in the middle of London, views to die for, a gym, a shared kitchen, affordable, with the aim to create a community feeling. There's got to be a catch, right? Well, yeah. First there's the audition, the vote, the trial period, the mind games, the privacy invasions... and that's before Immi's flatmate's start dying. But when she tries to leave, all her darkest secrets start threatening to come out and ruin her.

I read Kate Helm's debut The Secrets You Hide last year and enjoyed it enough to want to read The House Share. 

Told in dual point of views, I was far more interested in Immi's storyline than I was in Dex's, another applicant to join the house share, who moves in with Immi and the original house mates and has secrets of his own.

Helm did a wonderful job of creating a very sinister atmosphere throughout the whole book. The idea of a cult, the blurring of boundaries and lines between what is 'community' and what is creepy were crafted really well and kept me hooked. Despite a house of seven people, each character was individual and clear cut enough that they could have easily been the main character. 

However, there were times when I was getting lost in the storyline, and I think this was more to do with the side storylines that took my attention away from what I wanted to do. And also, with the main reveal at the end. I read it and felt I'd missed something. It happened so fast and there was not much action or even page time dedicated to it and I actually finished the book and then kept thinking I had more to read cause it felt so unfinished.

So while it was mostly an enjoyable read, I was a little let down by the end. 

3 out of 5 stars.

When I saw this novel come up in my emails I was excited right away. I live for locked-room type thrillers, so this one was impossible to resist.

The House Share was quite an enjoyable read even if I have to admit that the start of the novel reminded me of a similar book I read (down to the girl finding an advertisement and an offer to move she can’t refuse). When you start comparing it to a million dollar bestseller… it’s not the best thing to do. This story turns into a completely different direction quickly though so I was happy it made its own stamp in the end.

I don’t know why I always assimilate locked-room thrillers to be novels with people in the same room or in the same remote location with nowhere to go. The House Share differs from that precut format as Immi can walk in and out of the Factory to her job and lead a fairly normal life, the only thing is she’s bound to stay there – if she is chosen as a resident after a trial period – because of the contract that comes with the residency.

At the surface all of it seems golden and the opportunity Immi and Dex get to live at this place is enough to make anyone quite jealous (well not me but then I’m not into healthy stuff or want to be part of a ‘community’ and I can’t contribute any skills like Immi’s sewing clothes). Co-living has never looked so good, there are several perks and benefits to be found over four different communal floors: Play, Retreat, Nourish and Focus. They even have two pets there, Edward and Bella, so even I would get a little excited.

The other residents or Dyers as they call themselves (the Factory used to dye animal skins there… yes it was a veritable slaughterhouse) all have secrets to keep and Immi and Dex both have secrets of their own.

There’s a lot of mystery surrounding all of the characters living in the building. There’s the beautiful and vain actress Camille, laid-back IT guy Zoum, healthy Ashleigh, queen bee Bernice and slick Lucas but I couldn’t figure out who the true culprit behind everything was. To add to this great cast of not to be trusted characters was also Hanna, the housekeeper, who seemed to live there and always be around except when you need her.

I didn’t find any of these people particularly likeable but I did get invested in Immi and Dex, the underdogs of the show. Even though I didn’t know excactly what their backstory was, what they had done that was awful and needed to be kept a secret, I made up my mind right away that I wanted to stick up for them. Did they stumble into a cult, were they even safe there now that people were starting to get hurt? How can they escape when they have no money and nowhere to go?

The tone of the novel was full of menace and you don’t know anything until the end and that end is nothing like you imagined it would be. Some might find it all a bit unbelievable, I thought it was quite clever. I only wished I could have cared for the characters more and that the ending wasn’t dropped on the reader so out of the blue, it makes a great twist but it made all of my sleuthing a total waste of time. You are warned, just (try to) relax and enjoy the show.

Creepy or what? A brilliant well written book that has you gripped from page one until the end. Can’t wait for the next one by this author.

If it looks too good to be true…

Following a break-up with her boyfriend, Immi Sutton has been crashing on the sofa at a friend’s place, where she’s just about outstayed her welcome. Immi needs a new place – and fast. London rentals don’t come cheap and school teacher Immi is just about out of options when she sees an advert for a room at co-living community ‘The Dye Factory.’ It sounds too good to be true: reasonable rent, free groceries, daily yoga, and even a live-in housekeeper. Immi knows there must be a catch, but she’s desperate for a place, so she goes ahead and applies for the room. After all, what’s the worst that could happen?

Following an interview consisting of a roof-top party and a whole lot of gin, Immi, along with fashion photographer, Dex, scores a room at The Dye Factory. Immi thinks she’s finally caught a break, until that is, her new roommates start dying…

While the concept of The House Share piqued my interest, I ultimately found the story a little monotonous when it could have been a lot of fun, with a difficult-to-like cast of characters. Take Dex: he shares the narration with Immi, but his voice is entirely one-note, and I don’t feel he added very much to the story. Immi’s character is better drawn, but she is self-serving, standoffish, and difficult to like.

All that said, if you want a mystery that keeps you guessing, then The House Share could be one for you. I never did guess the dark secrets The Dye Factory was hiding behind its glossy façade, but then I like a plot twist that’s a little more grounded in reality than this one is. However, if you’re looking for a far-fetched, slightly off-the-wall tale, with a cast of characters you’ll love to hate, then you could do worse than this!


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The House Share by Kate Helm really reminded me of the Passengers by John Marrs only it is set in a shared house and has seven murder suspects. I can't say anything without giving something away but I highly recommend everyone picks this up as soon as they can.

‘Seven housemates. Seven lies. Would you dare to join?’

For some reason, I am drawn to books where there are multiple characters like this and was intrigued by the premise of this.
Immi is looking for somewhere to live in London when she comes across an advert for The Factory - a shared warehouse with luxury living but at an affordable price. A co-loving community, Immi finds herself being interviewed for a place in The Factory alongside Dex. The story is written from both their perspectives and we find out what life is really like whilst living there...

This is a completely different sort of thriller, and I found it fast and pacy which is hard in a saturated thriller market. Whilst all seems calm and idyllic to begin with, we see things change dramatically as the book goes on.
The characters are quirky, off the wall types with each of them having their own secrets and twists. I really enjoyed how the author describes them all and you can picture them quite clearly.

There is something very Black Mirror about this book, and that alongside the uniqueness of the plot made this a very good read for me. It had me wanting to read more and really had me guessing as to what was going on!

Like many young people, Immi has been trying to carve out a life for herself in the bright lights of the big city of London. But things haven’t been going so well. Prices of places to live in the capital are high. Immi has been sleeping on the sofa at a friend’s house. Unfortunately for her, she has now outstayed her welcome. The search for a new and preferably more permanent place to live leads her to a place called The Dye Factory. The Dye Factory is a shared warehouse which offers luxury accommodation with a surprisingly affordable price tag. Its aim is to combat the loneliness of big city life. Could this be too good to be true, though?

While I like the idea behind the community spirit The Dye Factory is trying to create, it sounds like my worst nightmare. Not counting my parents, I’ve only ever shared a house with the other half and sometimes even that is pushing my social skills to their limits. Obviously the seven residents have their own rooms but they are often not-so-gently pushed into joining activities, ranging from yoga to partying. A lot of partying. I have no doubt this set-up would appeal to quite a few people but as Immi soon discovers, things aren’t quite what they seem.

Seven residents who quickly turn into suspects when a series of pranks start to spiral out of control. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was going on or why. I had no idea if any of these people could be trusted, as they all seemed to have something to hide. And that included Immi. Every single one of them came across as quite needy in their own special ways, vulnerable even. Dangerous? Soon you’re left with the feeling this is more of a cult than anything else. But if it is, who’s pulling the strings and what could possibly be their objective?

More questions than answers and I was unable to solve any of them. The House Share is cleverly plotted, leaving the reader suspicious of everything and everyone. There’s a delightfully creepy vibe throughout this unpredictable and twisty tale. Far-fetched maybe, but I couldn’t care less. I thoroughly enjoyed this insanely crazy ride into the wonderfully weird and wacky and found it so addictive and compelling that I flew through it in one hugely entertaining afternoon.

The House Share is a darker thriller than I thought it was going to be but one I did enjoy.
Immi is a teacher struggling to find somewhere to live in London on her salary, her boyfriend has kicked her out and her friend has had enough of her sofa surfing. She finds an advert for a house share but to be successful she needs to amaze them at the meet and greet party. Luckily Immi is successful and moves in but things aren’t quite what they seem. Her flat mates are all a little strange and the housekeeper even more so but is this house too good to be true? Affordable rent, honesty bar, daily yoga or meditation, this is like no other house share and when things start going wrong, who is to blame?
This was a good read but I did find Immi rather irritating which didn’t make me love it totally. I liked how I hadn’t figured out who the main person was until the end.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Immi, a young teacher has been sofa surfing since the breakup with her boyfriend. She is also trying to get over a traumatic event. Struggling to find anywhere she can afford to live, she sees an ad for a house share in a great area. However the Dye Factory is not an ordinary house. It is set up as a community with focus of good living & sharing. The place is amazing. The 'interview' is a little strange but having seen the place she really wants to be part of it.

Dex is on the run- we don't know why, but he too really wants to be part of this community- it seems the perfect place to hide.

The story is told through their eyes. From the start the reader begins to feel a bit twitchy. If something is too good to be true, it probably is! Never more so than in The Factory. The characters all seem to be keen to make them part of the community. But when does a community become a cult? Who is the ever present housekeeper? And who actually owns the place? When people start dying Immi begins to get really worried- who can she trust? Dex is torn between keeping a low profile & getting out. Immi seems the only one he can trust.

This was an unusual disturbing read. I found it a bit slow to start with but was soon racing through to find out the answers. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Teacher Imogen (Immi) Sutton has been living with a friend ever since splitting from her boyfriend and being kicked out of his property. With no fixed address she decides to apply for a house share in Bermondsey, London, a co-living community apartment building known as the Dye Factory. Her application, along with another submitted by Dex Shepherd, a fashion photographer, is accepted to the delight of both of them. The Dye Factory, an old shared warehouse, boasts of urban luxury, a housekeeper, a rooftop terrace, daily yoga, an attractive locale, all with an affordable price tag. But behind the stunning façade, and the glorious resplendence, is everything really as good at it seems?

A rapidly paced story, The House Share is well written and compelling. The characters are soundly developed although none of them were particularly affable. The oppressive atmosphere ably created by Kate Helm was one of the book's highlights as the feeling of claustrophobia oozed from the pages. Images of the regenerated slaughterhouse kept flashing through my mind, adding to the creepiness and general sense of unease. This original and thoroughly entertaining read had me guessing the entire way through.

If a good mystery-murder, complete with a dazzling cocktail of unreliable narration, intrigue and closeted secrets coming to the fore gives you a buzz then you will relish The House Share!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bonnier Books UK/ Zaffre via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

This book will grab you from the very start and you will find yourself totally immersed into the world of seven young people all living together in ‘The Factory’.

Immi and Dex have passed the interview and have become the latest residents at ‘The Factory’ a luxury house share in the centre of London. They both were desperate to be accepted and now they need to pass the months probation before they become permanent residents.

It soon becomes clear that behind the stunning building, the luxury rooms, a rooftop terrace, yoga lessons, live in housekeeper and so much more, lies a group of troubled people all hiding their own secrets and lies. Little be little things start to take a sinister turn in ‘The Factory’ and Immi and Dex start to doubt whether it really is as good as it looks.

This was a great twisty psychological thriller that you will become completely immersed in. If I could have read it in one sitting I would have but unfortunately life got in the way. A book full of secrets, lies, betrayal and the hint of a little love !! A great entertaining read, one not to be missed.

Thank you to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

The House Share is the second standalone thriller written under the nom de plume Kate Helm and having loved her highly original debut crime novel, The Secrets You Hide, released in late 2018, I was eager to see whether her sophomore offering lived up to anticipation. Imogen (Immi) has been sofa surfing with no fixed address ever since splitting from her boyfriend and moveing out of his house abruptly. Given her predicament, she decides to apply to live as part of a house share in a part of London her meagre salary as a young primary school teacher could not afford otherwise. It sounds like a marvellous place to live; the affluent and attractive surroundings, yoga classes, a rooftop terrace, and even a complimentary housekeeper makes it seem like a dream property. The fact that it used to be a slaughterhouse doesn't seem to bother Immi and she applies and is accepted as part of the scheme. At the same time Dex, the person she will be sharing with is also accepted. But their lives are about to change immeasurably and not for the better...

This is a well written, compulsive and very pacey read and the epitome of the phrase "if something seems too good to be true it usually is". The atmosphere was one of the standout features of the story as you could feel the oppressiveness and claustrophobia as they leapt off the page and the repurposed slaughterhouse only added to this creepiness and sense of unease. It does become a tad far fetched at times but if you can suspend your disbelief you will very much enjoy this thrill ride based on secrets and skeletons in the closet. It's an original and thoroughly entertaining read and keeps you guessing the entire way through. The characters were actually solidly developed but none of them were particularly likeable or affable. Those who enjoy mystery, murder, unreliable narration, intrigue and long-held secrets coming to the fore will find much to love within these pages. A twisty, bizarre, break from reality psychological thriller, this is a book I highly recommend for those seeking something a little different. Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book and I am so pleased that it had a good ending. The story is filled with mystery. The secrets the characters are hiding are revealed as you read the story. You don’t quite know what’s going on, finding out more as the story progresses. The characters are well written and I was curious to find out what would happen to them. I definitely recommend this book and will be looking out for more by Kate. Thank you #netgalley.

When I read the blurb for this book, it immediately had me intrigued and eager to read.
But sadly this just wasn't realistic enough for me to enjoy it. You almost have to suspend disbelief entirely to read this book and I had to force myself to keep going, instead of abandoning it completely.
The concept was interesting enough, even if it was a bit similar to another book that I read last year (which was a 5 star read in comparison). And even though the characters were well written, they weren't particularly likeable, which meant that I wasn't as invested as I could have been in terms of even caring what happened to them next.
Overall, it was pretty disappointing and not all that memorable for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read anything by this author before so requested purely based on the blurb - I've lived in my fair share of dodgy house shares so I really liked the premise.

I did enjoy the book, I think the claustrophobia of shared living was portrayed well and I flip-flopped about who was responsible for the strange goings-on multiple times. With quite a large cast of important characters, I feel like we got to know them all reasonably well.

To me the ending was very far fetched and the motivations of some of the characters pretty implausible. I will always knock a star off my ratings for books when cute pets are introduced only for them to be hurt or killed. It is an overused plot device used purely for shock tactics and adds nothing to the story.

Overall I liked The House Share and I'm glad I read it but I don't think it will be one I particularly remember a year from now.

I liked the mystery, and not knowing what to expect next. Immi was a good main character, not so much Dex, we should have known more about him sooner. But the tension and the twists were really good.

This book is absolutely bonkers. This also means that it is a fun read. It is this kind of book that reminds you that reading also means to read something completely different to reality. This is this kind of story.

The book is about two people, Immi and Dex, who a desperately looking for a place to live. Immi just got kicked out from her boyfriend and is sleeping on a friend’s sofa. She is a teacher and London is very expensive. So it seems like something too good to be true when her friend shows her an advertisement for a shared house in the middle of posh London. This house share is a bit different but Immi is desperate. And so is Dex. Both of them have something to hide as well. You can easily guess that there is something wrong with this strange house community.

The story is not very realistic and Immi is an annoying character. Lying comes to her quite naturally. But the book is easy to read and it is fun to see what is happening. I enjoyed it.

The blurb of this book completely enticed me and I was so looking forward to reading it however, and I'm sorry to say, it just didn't do it for me and I found myself becoming frustrated and annoyed with a feeling of disappointment when I had finished.

Now, don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book, it just didn't have enough going on for me. The characters, although not particularly likeable, were well developed, the story was unique and it did keep me guessing as to what was going on and what was going to happen but when the reveal/twist happened, it was a little disappointing - I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I imagined and left me a little flat if I'm honest and, like I said, disappointed.

I know a lot of people will enjoy this so please don't take my word for it and give it a go; we can't all like the same things otherwise it would be a very boring world as many 4 and 5 star reviews show.

Thank you to Bonnier Books UK / Zaffre Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for this unbiased and unedited review.