The Apartment
By: K L Slater
Pub. Date: April 28, 2020

If you are in the mood for a psychological thriller, The Apartment will certainly fit the bill! I found that I enjoyed the pacing of the novel. I liked the main character and appreciated her devotion to protecting her daughter. I was thankful she seemed like a normal mom that makes mistakes but is trying to do her best. The story itself was creepy, thrilling, and the plot twist was good. I was uncertain about the villain for most of the book so, I didn’t just see it ending quite like it did.

✅ Voyeurism
✅ Gaslighting
✅ Fear
✅ Suspicious Death
ALL included in this suspenseful read!
Add it to your TBR, just do it!

If you love authors like Shari Lapena, I think you’ll enjoy this one. It even gave me some Ruth Ware, Turn of the Key vibes.

Overall a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 star read for me. I found it an interesting and fun read.


Thank you to @Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for an advanced copy of the novel for my honest review.

What a read! Fast paced, twisty, gripping... everything you could ask for in a psychological thriller! Read in a day, and Slater is now definitely an author to add to my list!

Freya Miller and her daughter are looking for a new considering her husband’s death. By some fortunate coincidence, she’s offered a sleek apartment in the heart of London. It’s an offer that’s difficult to refuse in her financial conditions. Is Freya heading for a trap called Adder House? All it might take a yes and everything that she knows will change forever!!!

Freya Miller narrates the story, except for a few instances. Those chapters have a mention of 1920 journal entries in the narration. Freya is raised in foster care thus she has the skill set to survive in rugged conditions. She keeps her head high, despite facing a severe financial crunch and death of her husband.
Slow and steady, the story picks up the pace and the mystery build-ups with elegance. As the chapters progress you navigate through Freya’s life before she turned up at Adder House. The brilliant aspect of the book Slater created a sense of creepiness through her writing. Her writing was addictive.

The book is a depicts of today’s society (can’t say much as it might be a spoiler).

I have always loved her writing and the way she creates a mystery around the narration. She is an expert in creating clever plots. Slater has effectively used her words to convey Freya’s grief, dilemma and her feeling of losing reality.

The only aspect I wished it was different is its ending. It felt it didn’t suit the creepiness that was built at the start of the book.

That brings me to the point that I have read other works by K L. Slater and they are brilliant. This book is delightful but isn’t good as her previous ones. Nevertheless, that doesn’t stop me from reading her books.

The Apartment is an enthralling and addictive read while giving you goosebumps at every turn of a page.

My rating is 3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishers for a copy of The Apartment in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Slater has once again delivered an exciting and brilliant read. I have read her books before and was expecting a great read and I was not disappointed!!! I was hooked in the first paragraph and I could not put the book down. I was shocked to see that I was at the end of the book, I was that tied into the story. The characters are many dimensional and relatable.

Freya Miller has had to sell her home after her husband first left her for another woman and then died suddenly. While in a coffee shop she is approached by the charismatic Dr. Michael Marsden - a man in his mid-sixties. He has an apartment for rent to a person who would be the right fit. Freya and her 5 year-old daughter Skye go to view the apartment in a house that can only be described as a mansion. Freya can't believe her luck at only having to pay £500 for an apartment just steps away from Kensington Palace.

There are 6 apartments in the house. Dr. Marsden and his wife Audrey live on the main floor. In apartment #3 Professor Matthew Woodings lives with his wife Susan - a librarian. Miss Lilian (Lily) Brockley liked in apartment #4. Apartments #2 & #5 have tenants who are "away" at present. There is also an apartment on Freya's top floor but that has no number plate on it. Freya's apartment is tiny compared to the other apartments in the mansion.

As strange things start to happen in her apartment - things are moved about, strange scents linger in the air...... Things are also too good to be true - the moving men are paid for, Skye gets into an elite school.....

Interwoven through the story is the journal of Beatrice Barger and her baby son Dougie. Her story is backed up by the case study diary of Professor John B. Watson of Johns Hopkins University Hospital. How the journal and the case study relate to Freya and Skye makes for a shocking ending.

This book deserves more than 5 stars and I'm eagerly awaiting Ms. Slater's next book!

This thriller was definitely a "slow burn." There were lots of little red flags throughout the set up of the story but I wasn't really sure where the book was going. The little red flags helped build the suspense and add to the uneasy feeling I had while reading. I really liked the twist at the end and didn't see it coming. I wish we would have gotten more background on Freya and her husband in the beginning instead of in the middle/end. It was refreshing to have a narrator in a thriller be a functioning adult and not an unreliable narrator with a drinking problem. Overall, this was a good thriller with a good twist. It was quick and enjoyable to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Freya and her daughter need to find a new place to live after the death of her husband. Dr. Marsden meets Freya in a coffeeshop and offers an apartment that sounds too good to be true. You could certainly read this in one sitting. Really good! #theapartment #klslater #april2020

Welcome to Adder House a high end building and not at all affordable for Freya and her little daughter Sky.
But somehow the two of them end up living there- a dream coming true?
Strange things seem to happen. Or don't they? Is it imagination or a nightmare?
What a creepy and atmospheric story that lets you guess and double check everything! Everything a lover of psychological thriller wishes for!

Thank you very much for this ARC to the publisher and the author.

This is a great thriller! Freya is noticing stuff in her apartment is moved and she is hearing noises or maybe voices... she doesn't know if this place is haunted but she will find the truth out soon. This one will keep to up at night and question the items in your house. Be careful reading this one in the dark. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks, to Amazon Publishing, U.K., K.L.Slater, and Netgalley.
This story was completely immersive. I began reading, and I was well and truly hooked. I'd fall asleep reading this book, and it would follow me into my dreams. I love those kind of stories!. I identified with Freya almost immediately. I understood her relief at thinking she had found a safe place for her and Skye. Then finding out, to her horror, how very mistaken she had been.
This is an author that I intend to read more of.

Single mom Freya Millers is going through a very hard time. Her husband, who had left her for one of her friends, has died, and her dire financial situation has forced her to sell the family home. So she can't believe her luck when she's offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live at the luxurious Adder House. The rent is cheap and, the charming owner, Dr. Marsden, assures her that she and her five-year-old daughter will be a perfect fit with the other residents. And the Marsdens are going above and beyond to make sure Freya and Skye feel welcome and comfortable in their new home. The moving cost is paid for and they're even helping Freya make arrangements for Skye to transfer to a new school. Seems too good to be true? That's because it is.

I really enjoyed this addictive and suspenseful psychological thriller. The writing style is easy and engaging, and the creepy, foreboding atmosphere of the house kept me on the edge of my seat until the shocking twist. Freya and Skye are both likable characters and you can't help but cheer them on and hope that things turn out okay for them. I thought the author did a wonderful job of building the tension and making the reader second guess everything. Is there really something sinister going on at Adder House, or is it all in Freya's mind? I thought the conclusion was satisfying, but I wish we knew what became of little Douglas. How was he affected by what was done to him? I wish the author had answered this question since it played such an important role in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with this twisty psychological thriller and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always equally excited and dubious when I stumble upon new authors. Being the first book I have read by the author K.L Slater, I ventured with trepidation but by no means was I disappointed.

This psychological thriller is simply astounding for many reasons- no cheap gimmicks, plot flaws or predictable endings. Instead this offered suspense and unrelenting tension from the first page to the last.

I feel that Freya was an ‘investable’ character; her troubled past and harrowing circumstances led to a sense of longing, on my part, for her to find some fitting form of solace. Inevitably, the path to finding such peace, leads to a host of eerie and unforgettable events.

I was thoroughly intrigued by this book and hope that other texts written by this author follows this impressive trend... *Hastily adds ‘The Silent Ones’, ‘Blink’ and ‘Liar’ to TBR pile!*

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to have access to this ARC.

I received a free digital copy of The Apartment by K.L. Slater from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

The Apartment is a creepy little psychological thriller following single mother Freya whose husband recently died and is struggling to get by. She meets Dr Marsden in a coffee shop, an elderly man with an offer to live in the beautiful Adder House which is too good to decline. But then things start getting weird.

I really the slow-burn suspense of this novel. I was intrigued from the very beginning and didn't see many of the twists coming. Some parts were a little cheesy for me and I personally don't like it when books mention real things like Starbucks as it kills the vibe a bit, but I liked the story and overall it was an easy entertaining thriller!

This was a great book from the first sentence. Sometimes things are just to good to be true, but when you are desperate with a young child you have to do what you have to do. That is how Freya felt when looking for an affordable place to live for her and her 5 year old daughter Skye after a tragic loss. So how do you know when a good thing is to good to be true? That’s what Freya had to figure out and take a chance on.

It’s a very fast pace story that keeps you on your toes wondering what’s coming next. You will not be disappointed if you decide this is your next read.

Thank you K. L Slater and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If something appears to be to good to be true, maybe it is.

Freya has been having a difficult time. Her husband left her for someone else, has now died, and now she is forced to sell the house that her daughter Skye and her call home to pay off their combined debt. She is sure where she is going to go and is beyond stressed about the situation. However at a coofee shop, she is approached by a man named Dr. Marsden who offers her an apartment at the Adder House for a rent that she know is way below market value but can easily afford. Dr. Marsden assures her that they work with every tenant on rent as long as they make a great fit to the house. Excited that something is finally going right after so many disappointments, Freya jumps at the opportunity and quickly moves Skye and herself in. It isn't until she is their that she realizes that something isn't right, the house is strange, things in her apartment are being moved, and she keeps hearing these weird sounds coming just beyond her wall.

While I enjoyed the book, I did have a few issues with it. Parts of the story seems dragged out. It almost felt like I kept reading the same thing over and over. While I know this was meant to build the suspense, I wish the author had phrased it differently. The ending also wrapped up super quick. I was not a super impressed with the outcome, but it did explain everything. The two main characters, Freya and Skye were likable. At times I just wanted to shake Freya though. She knew something was wrong, but she never really did anything about it. Overall a good story and a quick read.

OMG WHAT CRAZINESS DID I JUST READ?????!!!!! Wow that is some insane stuff but a very enjoyable read!!!!!!!! This was my first K.L. Slater book and it won't be my last. Freya Miller is a newly single mother down on her luck. Her husband recently passed away and left her and their five yr old daughter to try to figure out how to live in this world without him. Freya has to find them a new place to live and meets a Dr Marsden who seems like the answer to her prayers with his offer of an apartment. Little does Freya know this apartment will turn out to be her worst nightmare. Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for my honest review

Wow! This book was such a pleasant surprise!

I have never read a book by K.L Slater before but after reading this book, I'm very interested in checking out her previous books.

This is a psychological thriller about a woman who is struggling after the death of her husband. She doesn't have much money left and has no where to live, so when one day a man approaches her with the offer of living in a very luxurious appartment, at a smaller rent than it should be, the offer seems too good to be true, but is it?

I loved this book. The main reason I loved it was because it incorporated psychology. A very famous psychology study forms part of the plot of this book. I thought it was incredibly clever and well done.

As a psychology student I was all ready aware of this study, so I could kind of see where the book was going. If you have never heard of the study, you are likely to find it really shocking.

I also really liked the setting of this book. It reminded me a lot of Riley Sager's lock every door. If you enjoyed that book, I think you'll enjoy this one too.

The writing was really engaging. It was really creepy and eerie, had me guessing all the way through.

I loved the short chapters. I finished the whole book in one sitting. It really was a roller coaster of a ride, I just couldn't put it down.

This book was such a good surprise. I highly recommend this book. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future

TW: suicide and violence

This was a quick read for me and I finished it in one sitting. It's about a woman Freya with her 5yr old Skye who has lost her husband and is about to be homeless until a man offers her an apartment in Adder House, a beautiful apartment that's hard to turn down. It's just too good to be true!

Soon Freya starts to feel paranoid and scared, it seems her neighbors are weird and nosy but she knows nothing much of them. We really don't find out what happens to her husband. I think the book could've elaborated more on that.I

I really like K.L. Slater, but this particular book and ending fell A little flat for me. I give it 3 stars and hope to read better books in the future from this author.

A special thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and K.L. Slater for this ARC for my honest opinion.

I haven't read much by this author but her previous book I really enjoyed. This one wasnt as good but its chilling story is what hooked me. I definitely didnt expect the twists in this story. Really good read.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

I started this book yesterday and finished it within 24 hours. I couldn't put it down!!
The beginning of the book reminded me a little of Lock Every Door, but soon revealed it was different.
A single and widowed mother, Freya and her 5 year old daughter Skye haven't had it easy and Freya jumps at the chance to rent a fabulous apartment in London for a fraction of what the rent should be.
We all know the saying - if its too good to be true it usually is, and this book completely lives up to that saying.
This book is the first of K L Slaters I have read, but after this chilling and gripping read, I will definitely be reading all her other books asap!

I've been a big fan of K.L. Slater's psychological thrillers for a couple of years now, and discovering that a new title is coming out always makes me feel a little giddy inside. I saw The Apartment mentioned last year, but as it was released as an Audible Only title and I don't do audiobooks, I sadly had to pass... Imagine how happy I was when I discovered that the publisher decided to release it in kindle/physical format after all! I've been looking forward to dive in ever since for not one, but two reasons: her psychological thrillers never disappoint and the blurb sounded more than intriguing. And there is no doubt whatsoever that The Apartment is another successful read.

Those who have read a K.L. Slater psychological thriller before will know that it is best to clear your schedule before you start reading one of her stories, because once you have read the first couple of chapters you won't be able to stop. Her writing is engaging and highly addictive; one moment you sit down to start a new story, and the next suddenly hours have passed and you find yourself staring at that final page. The Apartment is no exception, and another excellently written, suspenseful and highly addicting read. The premise of this story is intriguing and both the 1920 flashbacks and the Adder House setting give the story an unique touch. The mysterious Adder House is brilliantly described and really gives the story an ominous feel... It is without doubt the perfect setting and backdrop for Freya's story. The 1920 flashbacks added extra dept to the story and definitely gave you something to think about while trying to unravel the secrets of Adder House as well as discovering what is going on with Freya and Skye.

The building up of suspense is very well handled; more and more things are starting to happen in Freya's life that will start to worry both reader and main character alike. The amount of suspense and plot twists is just right, and while I did guess part of the final reveals quite early on I still had a great time discovering the full truth behind Adder House and its inhabitants. As for the characters... I do confess that I didn't actually find them all that likeable, but their development was solid and realistically done. Especially the psychological reaction to the events happening was intriguing to follow, and it is in fact the psychology element in The Apartment that makes this psychological thriller stand out from other stories. It's an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys the genre and is looking for a couple of hours of guaranteed entertainment.