This was a spot on, character driven, atmospheric suspense. I had a hard time putting it down and I enjoyed all the characters and setting so much. I would definitely read more by Louise Douglas. I especially liked the way the family drama unfolded and how it tied into the villa.

This is a stunning family saga, beautifully written with intrigue, romance and suspense in poetic words in a mystical setting. Not my normal genre, it was a great change of pace to read about the derelict Italian villa at the heart of the novel. Sitting on my couch on a cold snowy winter weekend in Chicago. Generations of secrets, lies, love and betrayal play out.. I actually loved it and was enthralled all the way through.

Definite page turner! Well written with a good use of vocabulary. Kept me on the edge of my seat. I found my mind changing throughout the book and it wasn't until the last few pages that I "got" it. Good job.

I loved this book - such an atmospheric, poignant and engrossing read. I was drawn in right from the start and couldn't put this book down. Beautifully written, a fantastic family saga with intrigue, emotion and a gorgeous Sicilian setting. I really loved the hidden secrets, supernatural elements and mysteries throughout the story. Excellent characterisation, well paced - there was nothing to dislike about this book.

Highly recommended, I enjoyed this so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Edie and Joe’s marriage fell apart after a deadly tragedy. Edie unable to recover is still reeling from the grief, that she continues to suffer pain and anger. Joe’s mom Anna passes away and leaves both of them her Villa in Sicily. Frustrated and annoyed about seeing Joe over the inheritance, she is determined to get this done as quickly as possible. However, while in the Villa, something grips them to the mystery surrounding the home and their family.


Douglas is a master storyteller and really kept my attention from the start. I enjoyed the mysterious component and the suspenseful romance in the story. I highly recommend this book.

I loved this book. It started out from such a sad place but was ultimately so uplifting. Beautifully written, I was transported to Sicily and swept up in the story of Edie and Joe . The background of malevolence was chilling as their story and that of Joe’s mother was gradually received. The house plays a key role in the story, ultimately healing the grieving of Edie in particular. Thoroughly recommended !

This eagerly awaited new novel, from best selling author, Louise Douglas, is a family saga tale full of romance, sadness, suspense, mystery and ghostly goings on.

When Edie's ex mother-in-law, Anna DeLuca, dies and leaves her crumbling Sicilian Villa to Edie and her ex husband, Jo, she immediately thinks that this is Anna still playing games.

Edie blames Anna for the death of her young son, years previously, and wants nothing more to do with her, but with the conditions of the will Edie finds herself, along with her ex husband, at The Villa della Madonna del Mare.

At first we don't know the circumstances to the tragic accident that robbed them of their young child, but soon realise that they haven't seen each other in a long time and have very much gone their separate ways.  Coming together, therefore, at the villa, is awkward plus there is clearly someone, or something, that wants them to leave!

But this villa has many secrets hidden amongst the dust and brickwork, and as Edie and Jo find a way to come together, the mysteries and ghosts of the past are confronted.

A wonderfully written and touching novel that lingers in the mind.  Believable characters and the beautifully described setting of the villa and Sicily make this a worth while read.

A tragedy tore apart the marriage of Edie and Joe. Ten years later, Edie is still bitter and angry, having never fully dealt with the emotions wrapped around what happened. When her mother-in-law dies, leaving an old villa in Sicily to Edie and Joe, their trip to find a missing heirloom and prepare the estate to sell begins unwinding old family and local secrets - ones that someone is trying to keep hidden.

Glimpses of the past tragedy are slowly revealed as the book progresses, along with family history, and the past becomes a tool for healing and reconciliation for hurts that seem unforgettable.

The mix of past mystery with current day drama was well done (although I will admit I figured some of it out - it was still good!).

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This book took my breath away in some ways. I started it without glancing at the blurb, and since it has been a while since I had it with me, I had no recollection of the contents to help me. You know the feeling when you jump into a cold pool/water and then swim to get the feeling back? That's what I did a couple of chapters in.

Edie is on a walk when she gets a call. Her ex-mother-in-law passed away peacefully and yet again is reaching out to her. Edie has harboured hate for a decade by the time this call comes, and she wants to hold on to it. The feeling that you are not in control of the world and how Edie comes to terms with her emotions for the core of the narrative. I was always a couple of steps ahead of all the revelations, but I still enjoyed their arrival for the sake of Edie and Joe. In the atmospheric setting of an almost abandoned villa in Sicily and a community which comes to their aid when an unknown person or persons is attacking them, Edie and Joe want to start afresh. 

This is a sweeping story even though the timeline is quite short, we do not have a dual narrative or even an older perspective-just Edie's, but through her eyes and how she watches the relationships around her moult( I loved the usage of this word in the story), she learns, grows and heals. It should have seemed absurd, the change in our leading lady's attitude from the first chapter to the middle of the book, but it did not. It felt quite real. All the side characters were very entertaining and added to the colour in the book, and the writing was very refreshing to read.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is on the lookout for a family drama with mysteries and a dark undertone throughout (almost). 

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, the review is solely based on my own reading experience.

I was thrust into this novel and was immediately intrigued by the title, synopsis and atmospheric cover.

Edie and Joe were once very much in love but have been divorced for a decade, since their 6 year old son Daniel’s death.

Edie reluctantly gets on a plane to Sicily to meet Joe and sort out the papers relating to a villa which Anna DeLuca, Joe’s mother, left to them both.

Memories, tension and mixed feelings are rife in this quick-paced yet vividly detailed thriller which I enjoyed immensely,

Thanks to Louise Douglas and Boldwood Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

I was hooked by this novel and definitely want to review more by Louise Douglas, her writing style is full of suspense and the intricacies of the lives of a couple who once loved each other but who are scarred by loss and conflict over how to move on.

5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion,

This was a great read. Edie, lost her son ten years ago, she never forgave the woman she held responsible, her mother in law, Anna. Her and her husband Joe separated soon after and she has led a quiet life since, never really coming to terms with Daniel’s death and never speaking to Joe or Anna again. Suddenly Anna is dead and has left Edie and Joe as the owners of her family villa in Sicily. Edie wants to get the place sold and out of her hair as fast as she can. She is so bitter she doesn’t even appreciate the beauty around her.

Something changes as she settles into the villa to sort things out; she can feel someone watching her and cannot shake the feeling that something is off. A buyer, an old childhood friend of Anna’s, wants to buy as soon as possible but Anna starts wondering if maybe they should keep the villa, strange things start to happen. Joe and Anna must keep their wits about them and get to the bottom of whatever is happening, including strange neighbours and strange happenings, but will these things finally reunite the couple or destroy everything.

'The House by the Sea', is an atmospheric, emotional family drama, with ghostly and menacing elements. On one level, it is a poignant family story, of loss, and the emotional damage losing a child wreaks to the parents left behind. Another level brings a story of forgiveness, new beginnings and learning to live again. Within this, there are dangerous secrets and strange supernatural influences entangled in the old villa and its gardens.

Set in Sicily, Edie and Joe are forced together, to claim and decide what to do with their inheritance from Joe's, recently deceased mother, Anna. Edie blamed Anna for the death of her son Daniel, and Joe and Edie's marriage disintegrated with his death. The villa is a character in its own right, in this story. Rundown, it still has a powerful appeal and draws Edie and Joe gradually together. There are many hidden secrets, some supernatural elements and mysteries to solve before Edie and Joe can begin their healing together.

The plot has many levels which are cleverly intertwined to reveal past secrets. Edie and Joe, are understandably complex damaged people, still grieving their lost son. This story has many poignant moments, but ultimately it is heartwarming and uplifting. The suspense builds as the story progresses, leading to an adrenaline-fueled climax, tinged with a tender, supernatural moment, which is both believable and necessary for the story to reach its positive conclusion.

The cast of supporting characters are authentic and although the story is gently paced, it is absorbing and you keep turning the pages wanting to know what next.

A lovely, poignant tale of love and loss and forgiveness.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I liked this gripping and entertaining story with the right creepy factor and vivid descriptions of Sicily.
The story has a gothic flavour and kept me hooked till the end.
The author is a talented storyteller and the plot flows, the cast of characters is well thought and I liked them.
It was a good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Beautifully and tenderly written, The House by the Sea, is a touching book. Louise Douglas is a very skillful author and I am looking forward to reading her other novels. Her descriptions are so vivid I could smell the lemons, feel the breezes, shiver with goosebumps. What a fine line Ms. Douglas had to dance upon to entice the reader into wanting to visit Villa della Madonna del Mare while also keeping us on edge with the "creepiness factor". There are scary times to be sure but also times that give hope that just because someone we loved has passed on, they may still be around us. It also shows that we may suffer grief that is so inconsolable we can't imagine ever moving beyond it; we may experience such a fracture from a loved one that we can't contemplate it ever repairing; it shows that we may start again, together. Not the way it was but a new way. It makes for some compelling reading and I am glad I read it. If The House by the Sea were a movie or a play, I would be up on my feet giving it a standing ovation. Brava, Louise Douglas, Brava.

Edie and Joe’s son Daniel died when he was 6 years old. Edie and Joe’s relationship ended after losing their son. Edie has always blamed Anna, her mother in law, for Daniels death. Anna has recently died and left the family villa to Edie and Joe. Edie travels to Sicily to meet up with Joe very reluctantly but they need to need to sort out the villa.

Wow, what an amazing book.
The setting of this book and the descriptions of the villa are fabulous. The authors writing is so descriptive and lyrical that it takes me to Sicily and to the villa. It flows so beautifully.
There are many ghostly mysterious elements to this book which gives it a gothic feel. The author built the tension so well and kept the mysterious element throughout the book.
There are many interesting characters in this book and they are developed so well by the author.
This is a beautiful book with romance, mystery and suspense.

Emotional, intelligent and engrossing, The House by the Sea is the eagerly awaited new novel from best-selling author Louise Douglas and it is well worth the wait. A multi-layered family saga with plenty of chills, thrills and intrigue, The House by the Sea deftly blends suspense, mystery, history and passion into an irresistible read which will linger in the reader’s mind for weeks.

When Edie receives news that her mother in law Anna has died, her primary emotion is relief that the woman with whom she had a contentious relationship with is dead. Edie has always blamed Anna for the accident that had resulted in the loss of her family and when her mother in law’s will compels her to go to Sicily, Edie immediately sees through Anna’s nefarious plans. Not in the mood to play her mind games, Edie just wants to close this particular chapter of her life and begin anew, but could the Italian island and the Villa della Madonna hold the answers to the questions that have preyed upon Edie’s mind for years?

Edie knows that Anna is plotting from the grave to reunite her with her former husband Joe, but she will not rise to these machinations and just wants to get as far away from her past as possible. Yet, the Villa della Madonna begins to shed mysterious secrets which Edie finds herself desperate to unravel. Who are the girls beside Anna? And why has one of them been scratched out? Why is someone determined to do whatever it takes to ensure that past remains dead and buried and that old ghosts continue to stalk the haunting corridors of the Villa della Madonna?

As the past continues to exert its hold onto the future, will Edie and Joe manage to vanquish old demons and grab a second chance at life? Or has too much water flown under the bridge for the two of them to even dare contemplate a new beginning when there is so much anguish and sorrow embedded in the fabric of their past?

With echoes of the Daphne du Maurier classic Rebecca, The House by the Sea is a beguiling, lyrical and captivating read that grabs readers from the very first sentence and keeps them entranced and engrossed until the last page. Louise Douglas is a phenomenal storyteller with a wonderful gift for atmosphere who makes her readers feel every emotion, feeling and fear which her characters are going through.

A first class read that will hold readers in thrall, The House by the Sea marks Louise Douglas’ welcome return to contemporary fiction and I cannot wait to read her next engrossing and enthralling tale.

Edie hates her former mother-in-law, Anna De Luca and blames her for the death of her six-year-old son. So when Anna dies and leaves her villa in Sicily, Italy to Edie and her ex-husband Joe, she suspects that this is Anna's way of trying to reunite them. Edie is determined to go to Italy, sell the villa as quickly as possible and go back to her life of grief and bitterness in England. But when she arrives, she immediately falls in love with the 200-year-old villa and its mysterious secrets. Who are the girls beside Anna in her childhood photos and why has one of them been scratched out? The locals think that the villa is haunted and brings bad luck to anyone who lives in it, are they right or is something more sinister going on in the little town of Porta Sarina?

The House by the Sea by Louise Douglas is an emotional and gripping story that has a little bit of everything- mystery, ghosts, and romance. The story is beautifully written and flows perfectly. The author's vivid descriptions instantly transported me to the Italian countryside and the foreboding atmosphere had me on the edge of my seat. I really liked Edie's character development. When we first meet Edie, she's overcome with grief and has nothing but hatred for Anna and Joe and blames them for Daniel's death. But as she learns more about Anna's past and spends more time with Joe, she finds the courage to admit to herself that Anna is not to blame for Daniel's death and that she wasn't a bad person. It was wonderful to see Edie come out of her shell and find peace and acceptance. Throughout the story, I was definitely questioning whether or not Edie was a reliable narrator, but even then I was still rooting for her to have a happy ending. The author did a brilliant job of building the tension and suspense, and I enjoyed watching the mystery unravel.
I definitely recommend this book and will not hesitate to read more by this author.

I received an ARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow, this was a chilling read - I loved it. The descriptions were particularly atmospheric and my heart was pounding, I couldn't wait to get to the end. If you love a bit of a mystery you'll enjoy this immensely.

A multifaceted mystery that pulled me in with the first chapter. I was drawn to the cover, and the prose tempted me with its quiet mystery. There was something in the background which played hide and go seek with me, a puzzle I needed to solve.

Edie and Joe had lost their son Daniel ten year ago, and mother-in-law Anna was blamed for it. Upon her death, Anna had left Edie a painting where one of the faces was scratched out. It was up to Edie to get to the truth of the face behind.

My first book by author Louise Douglas, I was hit by the emotions of a grieving mother who had not moved on, right from chapter 1. Every page I turned hushed me to go about slowly, reading every word. There was a hint of timelessness in the house left behind, daring me to discover its secrets.

The house was captivating in its descriptions, I was awed by the words chosen by the author. The writing flowed like a gentle brook stepping over the stones, yet giving me powerful imagery. Louise Douglas is a brilliant writer whose lines captured the poet in my soul. I wished I had better words to describe it.

The story did become suspenseful when someone tried to sabotage their restoration. It pulled at my senses. It was lovely to see Edie coming out of her shell, I liked how her grief was transformed. There was an aura of peace around her, except for the troublemakers.

Haunting descriptions, lyrical prose, and characters which touched my heart along with the underlying mystery made this a beautiful read.

The House by the Sea is the 1st book I have read by Louise Douglas, but it will not be the last. It has all the elements I love, mystery, ghostly shenanigans, a beautiful house and a touch of romance, The story is about Edie, a woman who is paralyzed with grief since the death of her son, Joe her ex-husband, and Anna the mother-in-law that she blames for the death of her son, The story opens with the death of Anna who leaves her Villa in Sicily to Edie and Joe. Edie is angry and frustrated that she has to reconnect with Joe over the inheritance, She goes to Italy with the intention to quickly sell the house and go back to her life of bitterness and pain, but then the Villa works it magic and maybe Edie does not want to live that life anymore. The mystery of the story kept me turning pages. Why does it seem that they are not wanted in the Villa? Who or what is trying to chase them away? The story started with such sadness and grief, but ended with hope and redemption.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Louise Douglas for the chance to read and review this book.